FINYS FABULOUS FOODS AND FINDS

Potato salad is another one of my favourites. Yes, I know, my lovelies, I have a lot of favourites - probably because I eat to live, and not live to eat! I tend to make potato salad in the hotter months as it is a cold meal or accompaniment, and have always wanted to try one that would be good for the colder months, and indeed during winter. This recipe hit all the right buttons, and I was able to have my potato salad in winter! Potato salad is something that is easy to make as you can put whatever you like in it.  I tend to make the same one over the over in summer, as it is so good, and do not often vary it.  However, that recipe is for another day when it warms up here in Australia! This is a simple, yet very tasty main meal or serve it as a side to a main meal.  For vegetarians, the bacon could be omitted and a bit of salt added for flavour.  I do not add salt to meals generally if I am putting bacon in them, as bacon has so much salt on it's own. ...

SO YOU WANT TO EAT HEALTHY? Quinoa is one of the latest healthy seeds which can be cooked or sprouted, if you want a totally raw food.  It is supposedly a "super food" but then again, half the "new" foods that are brought out, are said to be "super foods". Quinoa is said to be a great source of protein, and even  includes nine amino acids.  Quinoa is also low in fat and carbohydrates, making it great if you are on a diet! In this recipe I have used another "super food" - Chia seeds.  So this, my lovelies, must be a SUPER recipe! I also used almonds which have wonderful health properties, and this recipe tastes excellent, as well as being easy to make and obviously healthy. You could eat it as a main if you are vegetarian, or have it as an accompaniment to a meat or chicken meal. Preparation Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Makes: 3-4 servings Ingredients 2/3 cup quinoa (any colour) 1/2 cup dried apricots, diced 2 ...

Salads are a favourite of mine, my lovelies!  However I do perhaps say many things are my favourites, as I love to eat. Which reminds me, do you eat to live, or live to eat?  Guess which one I am! Although this is a salad, I will sometimes have just a salad as my main meal as it is healthy and if you eat enough, quite filling. In this instance however, I  have eaten it with leftovers I had from my chicken filled with apricots , and the two meals married very well together. If you want to be really healthy, cut out the chorizo and make it vegetarian! Chorizo is a Spnash type pork sausage, and is not the healthiest of foods, as it is so processed, however once in a while I think Chorizo is fine, and it IS delicious. You could also use bacon instead of the Chorizo - well that is just as unhealthy and also very good.  I always use Short Cut bacon as this cut has little fat on it - so you see, even if you do eat bacon, you can buy one that is healthier! Pr...

Lovely ladies and men - Do you ever get tired of having plain salads with tomatoes and lettuce, and similar ingredients?  I certainly do and am therefore always looking for great combinations that are both easy to make, as well as healthy, and this recipe ticks both those boxes. This recipe also gives you sliced beetroot, or you could always increase quantities to keep more of this healthy snacks or accompaniments. I used a green apple (a Granny Smith which I believe is only available in Australia) as these, although slightly sweet, are the most tart apples we can buy.  This goes very well with the slightly sweet vegetable, beetroot. Although it takes longer to make, I usually always make my own beetroot as I find the tins or jars of these are just too sweet, and my recipe included no added sugar whatsoever! This is probably a European salad, or possibly even Israeli, and it turns out a bright pink, though I didn't put in a lot of mayonnaise. You could serve it as a ...

This is a classic vegetarian combo which features several simple ingredients put together to make an easy, stunning and tasty dish.  It could be served as a main or as an accompaniment to anything. Here, I have served it with my vegetarian carrot and zucchini cheesy fingers Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 13 minutes Makes: 4-6 servings Ingredients ¼ cup sesame oil ¼ cup low salt soy sauce ¼ cup smooth peanut butter 2 tbs brown sugar 2 tbs lemon juice 1 tbs minced ginger 2 cloves garlic minced 1 tsp chili-garlic sauce 200g spaghetti or wholegrain linguine 1½ cups thinly sliced celery ½ cup chopped celery leaves, plus a cup     of torn leaves ½ cup chopped roasted peanuts, or more if desired up to ¾ cup Instructions Cook the pasta in boiling salted water as per the packet instructions. Drain and cool in a strainer for about 20 minutes, tossing occasionally to prevent it sticking. Meanwhile process the sesame oil, soy sauce, pe...

Potato salad makes a perfect side dish, or snack, however I ate this one with bread and some raw salad as a main meal. I often eat potato salad and you will find several recipes on my blog for different versions of potato salad. I like anything with potatoes in it and my recipes will reflect this - I far prefer potatoes to the sweeter, more healthy sweet potatoes! Potato salads are also great to take on a picnic with some thickly sliced buttered bread! This recipe has no mayonnaise in it like a conventional one, and is a nutty version of a conventional potato salad. Once again, I have used one of my favourites, peanut butter and I now always buy the "no added sugar" version of this amazing ingredient. Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Makes: 3 servings, as a main Ingredients 3 medium potatoes 3 tbsp crunchy peanut butter (I used a natural one which is not as sweet as supermarket ones) ½ tbsp whole grain mustard ½ tbsp vinegar 1 tbs...

This is a simple, yet quite filling, salad that works as a main meal too.  I often have a salad as a main especially when the ingredients are a balanced meal.  This is especially good in summer and I like to eat it on my back patio area on a hot night, as it is refreshing. It tastes better with fresh peaches however it also works just fine with canned peaches, as I've used in this case. Using tinned peaches means you can make this salad at any time of the year, and they are far cheaper than fresh ones.  Note:  If you use tinned peaches, the recipe is slightly sweeter than if you use fresh peaches. This is also a fast recipe which requires no cooking, so can be made at the last minute as it is so quick! Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 0 minutes Makes: 4 servings Ingredients 225g cottage cheese ¼ cup sour cream 1/3 cup raisins ½ cup chopped, canned pineapple 1 tbsp lemon juice 4 fresh, or canned peach halves 2 carrots, grated Meth...

I love potatoes in any form, and particularly my potato salad which I regularly make.  As the weather was slightly cold, I felt like a warm potato salad, so checked in my pantry what I could add to this, and the result was I added a tin of smoked oysters, mushrooms, and an avocado. All these ingredients "married" very well together with the textures of the potato being very good with the avocado and the saltiness of the oysters. However, if oysters are not your thing, or you do not like tinned oysters, just leave them out as this recipe could have many other things added that would also be nice teamed with this warm potato salad. However, please note that these oysters taste nothing like real, fresh oysters, and I sometimes eat them in a sandwich, and like both kinds.  Fresh oysters are very expensive nowadays and hence these tins are somewhat of a substitute if you have a craving for oysters! Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Makes: 3 serv...

I love apple sauce however I have trouble getting buying one that has no added sugar, or even little added sugar. So, I decided to make my own as it is really so easy to do. You COULD add a bit of sugar if you want, however I found this was just right even though I used a mixture of green Granny Smith apples and the sweeter Kanzi and Pink Lady.  Any red apple would work out find for this. I usually eat it as a dessert with cream, however it would be excellent with roast pork, and other meats, as well as on sandwiches. It is also healthy and can be given to children who do not like to eat raw apples, which is a distinct advantage. Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: About 35 minutes Serves: 4 as a dessert Ingredients 3 - 4 large red apples 3 Granny Smith apples Method Peel the apples - you can vary this and even cut out the Granny Smith ones for a sweeter dessert. Chop them up and put them in a saucepan - if you are not worried about sugar, add a teasp...

This is an unusual salad and is has all healthy ingredients in it. Eat it as a whole meal or as an accompaniment with a meal. If you don't have both sorts of mustard in your fridge, just use all Dijon. Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 1 hour minutes Makes: 2 servings Ingredients 1 large beetroot, washed 1 avocado, not too ripe 3 tbsp chopped walnuts 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp grain mustard 1 tsp Dijon mustard 2 tsp Apple Cider vinegar 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice ½ tsp agave nectar (you could use sugar) 2 tsp chia seeds Method Preheat oven to 200°C/180° fan forced. Wrap the beet in foil and bake for about an hour, until tender.  Set aside to cool, and then remove skin. To prepare the dressing, combine olive oil, two mustards, vinegar, lemon juice, agave and a bit of salt in a jar with a lid.  Shake vigorously, add chia seeds and let sit for a few minutes. Meanwhile, thinly slice the beetroot and arrange slices on 2 salad plates....

Ever have one of those nights when you just do not feel like cooking a large meal? I have this quite regularly, and in this instance I decided to make this salad and use it as a main meal instead of an accompaniment. Although it IS a salad, we had it one night as a full meal, as it has vegetables, fruit and cheese and is therefore quite balanced. The combination of these ingredients is unusual and very good.  It is also very healthy as beetroot has many health qualities as they are high in immune boosting Vitamin C, figre and essential minerals, all of which are important for overall health.  Beetroots also contact folate which is a Vitamin  B.   No cooking required for this recipe! Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 0 minutes Makes: 3 servings as a main Ingredients 2 Large beetroots 2 ripe pears 100-150 g feta cheese Lemon/oil dressing Pepper ½ bunch mint (optional) ½ handful sunflower seeds (optional) Method Peel the raw beetroots...