Milly White's Blog, page 57

It's A Cracking Easter April Menu of the Month!

Gluten-Free Easter Celebration Chocolate CakeFor April’s Menu of the Month we’re celebrating the long Easter weekend with magical chocolate egg treats, gluten-free baking the whole family will enjoy and delicious ideas that will take you from a fabulous fish dinner on Good Friday through to afternoon tea on Easter Sunday. 
Good Friday Fish Supper Good Friday Fish Supper served ‘En Papillote’Fish is traditionally served for supper on Good Friday but it can be tricky to cook perfectly especially if you are serving a crowd. Why not try cooking your fish ‘En Papillote’, which is not only a really easy way to guarantee succulent, moist and tasty food but also provides some real “theatre” when serving. It’s not just the children that will be thrilled to have their own parcel to open, the grown-ups love it too! Read more about cooking ‘En Papillote’ here.



Low-Fat Mini Brownie Easter Eggs  Mini Brownie Easter EggsNot only are these Mini Brownie Easter Eggs super fun to make, at only 101 calories and 2.8g of saturated fat per serving, they’ll keep both Mum and kids happy too. I’ve been saving my egg shells as I’ve been cooking over the last couple of weeks, thoroughly washing out the shells and allowing them to drain dry on kitchen towel. I’ve then used the egg shells as the cases to cook my Not-So-Chunky-Monkey Brownie Bites recipe (featured in my Quick & Easy Low Calorie & Low Fat Desserts, Cakes & Bakes Diet Recipe Cookbook).
Gluten-Free Easter Celebration Chocolate Cake For a show-stopping treat that the whole family can enjoy, why not bake my gluten-free Easter Celebration Chocolate Cake for afternoon team on Easter Sunday? With a rich, whipped chocolate ganache frosting, and decorated with pretty chocolate eggs, this is a real crowd pleaser. It’s completely gluten-free and organic chestnut flour is one of the secret ingredients that I use to help make this the ultimate chocolate cake! There's lots more tips for perfect gluten-free baking in my 

However you celebrate the Easter holiday, I hope it’s filled with joy, fun, family and tasty food! 

Have you tried cooking En Papillote?

Have you ever tried cooking ‘En Papillote’? This is a fabulously simple method of cooking where each individual portion is “parcelled” up in either baking parchment or kitchen foil and baked.  Effectively, a papillote creates a fully sealed mini-oven, so food cooked this way remains succulent and retains all its flavour. It is also quick and super-healthy, and it looks and smells amazing when you serve it too! 
Cooking ‘En Papillote’ The trick is to make sure that your parcel is fully sealed, so that the steam and juices can’t escape. And this trick can at first seem tricksy, especially it you are using parchment rather than foil.  
So here’s my 3 top tips for creating perfect parchment parcels: Perfect Parchment ParcelsTake a generous rectangle of parchment paper, say 30cmx45cm (12”x18”) approx and place onto a baking sheet. If appropriate, spritz the sheet with olive oil or sunflower spray to prevent sticking.Add your recipe ingredients to the middle of the parchement sheet, remembering that this dish creates a little dining theatre when served, so take a little extra care to make sure you layer up your ingredients prettily. Now is also time to season well as you can’t add seasoning whilst the dish cooks.To seal each papillote, bring the parchment over the fish and vegetables, join together the long edges and fold over to seal.  Double-fold each end and tuck under to make a sealed parcel. The parcel should not be too tight, as steam will puff it up in the oven, but the edges do need to be fully sealed to prevent steam/liquid escaping whilst cooking. Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for according to the recipe.  Garlic & Herb Roasted Cod with Fennel En PapilloteTo serve, place a papillote on a warm serving plate and allow each diner to enjoy opening their own papillote before eating - bon appétit!
You can find this particular recipe for Garlic & Herb Roasted Cod with Fennel En Papillote in my Two Day 5:2 Diet Plan Fast Diet Book Recipe Cookbook (see below).
Have you ever tried this method, what did you think?

The Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan Fast Diet Recipe Cookbook

Are you intrigued by a diet plan which offers an effective solution that will help you lose weight fast and improve your health, whilst still allowing you to eat all of the foods that you love? What about a diet plan that allows you to be relaxed & free to eat well on five days a week? Does this sound to good to be true?
The Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan & Fast Diet Recipe CookbookThis plan is an extremely popular way to both lose weight & improve your overall health. On the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan you simply "fast" or rather, diet strictly for 2 days per week. For the remaining 5 days, you eat healthily but normally, with no calorie counting on those days! This makes this diet:
SimpleConvenientEasy to follow.It also suits anyone who has struggled to maintain their will-power or become very bored of the routine when dieting over a sustained period of time. With the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan & Fast Diet Book, as you diet for just two days a week, you:
only need to maintain will-power in short burstsdon't get bored as within 24 hrs you can eat whatever tickles your taste buds! It includes a Beginners Guide to the 5:2 Diet, which explains:why the Fast Diet has become so popularwhether it can lead to weight losswhether it is a healthy diet plan and suitable for anyonethe Easy Three-Steps to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Planwhat to eat on the diet days on the plan including example Diet Day menu planners for 500 calorie & 600 calorie dayseating well on your 5 non-diet daysAll recipes are under 300 calories:You will find a delicious selection of easy, tasty recipes to help make your diet days successful. What's more, you'll be able to eat Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on your Fast-Diet-Days, keeping hunger (and boredom) at bay, such as:
Typical 5:2 Diet Menu only  465 cals
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner New Yorker Deli Breakfast Slice 97 cals Crunchy Sesame Duck & Orange Salad 143 cals Grilled Ruben Sandwich 197 cals Courgette & Chickpea Balti 195 cals Indonesian Chicken with Asian Slaw 186 cals Turkey Pot Pie 254 cals The recipes provided are Complete Meal Calorie-Counted ie if you need to serve the recipe with veg or rice etc, these have been taken into account in the calories, so no nasty surprises. Each recipe comes with a Per Serving Calorie Count of every ingredient, so if an ingredient is not to hand; or just not to your taste, you can simply adjust the recipe to suit your needs. Vegetarian Options are included for most recipes.

Gluten-Free Potato Farls for a Happy St Patrick's Day Breakfast!

Gluten-free Potato Farls with Sautéed MushroomsTop of the Morning to You All this fine morning (well, actually it's not so fine, more a bit drizzly and chilly)! So what could be a better start on such a St Patrick's Day morning than a Vegetarian Cooked Breakfast featuring crisp, golden Gluten-free Potato Farls with delicious Sautéed Mushrooms?
If it's too late for breakfast, then these would work just as well as a light supper dish before an evening of St Patrick's Day celebrations.  Whatever you're doing today, I hope you enjoy the craic!

This featured dish along with lots more gluten-free breakfast ideas can be found in my Gluten Free & Wheat Free Diet Brunch & Breakfast Recipe Cookbook. You can find it  from Amazon using the links below:
  

Get Set to Impress with 5 Amazing Mother's Day Cakes & Bakes for Afternoon Tea!

When it comes to making Mum feel extra special on Mother's Day, nothing can beat a home-baked, delicious treat to show you really care! So get set to impress with one of these delicious baking ideas! From Gluten-Free Victoria Sponge Cake or Pecan & Carrot Bake, to low-fat Lemon, Blueberry & Buttermilk Cupcakes and Cheddar, Walnut & Apple Scones, you'll find the very Best Mother's Day Cake & Baking Recipe Ideas right here!
Gluten-Free Victoria Sponge CakeThis Victoria Sponge Cake is would make a spectacular centre-piece for afternoon tea. What's more, not only is this vanilla-infused cake gorgously light and moist, it's also completely Gluten-Free. You can find all my tips for perfect gluten-free cakes and this recipe in my Gluten Free Wheat Free Easy Baking, Bread & Meals Cookbook (see below).







Gluten-Free Pecan & Carrot Tray BakeIf you're looking for something that is super easy to bake, what about my Gluten-Free Pecan & Carrot Tray Bake? Cinnamon, ginger and mixed spice add warmth and a more-ish twist to this perenial favourite and the carrots and pecans means it will store well for several days (if you have any left over, which, frankly is highly unlikely)! 





Low-fat Lemon, Blueberry & Buttermilk CupcakesJust because Mum's on a diet, doesn't mean she has to miss out on a Mother's Day treat. Buttermilk adds a delicious but low-fat tasty tang to these low-fat Lemon, Blueberry & Buttermilk Cupcakes and each cake is only 165 Cals with just 3g of fat. You can find this and lots more low-fat, low calorie treats in my Quick & Easy Low Calorie & Low Fat Desserts, Cakes & Bakes Diet Recipe Cookbook (see below).








Heart-healthy Cheddar, Walnut & Apple SconesAfternoon tea is only complete if comes with a scone. For something completely different, why not try these Heart-healthy Cheddar, Walnut & Apple Scones from my Easy Low Fat, Low Cholesterol Mediterranean Diet Cookbook (see bel0w). With just 2g saturated fat and 147 calories per scone, these make a great choice if Mum's keeping an eye on her cholesterol-levels.





Courgette & Orange Drizzle CakeHowever, if you're after a low-fat show-stopper for Mother's Day, look no further than this spectular Drizzle Cake that really has the wow-factor. You'll never guess the secret ingredient that helps keep this cake super-moist.  It's Courgette/Zucchini! And at only 200 calories per serving, this gorgeous Courgette & Orange Drizzle Cake means that this Mother's Day, Mum can have her cake and eat it (guilt-free)! Find it and more than 40 other guilt-free recipes in my Quick & Easy Low Calorie & Low Fat Desserts, Cakes & Bakes Diet Recipe Cookbook.

Menu of the Month March - Let's do Brunch (or Breakfast)!

For March our Menu of the Month focuses on what is often the ‘Cinderella’ of our daily meals, Breakfast! So let's remedy that and take a look at some really tasty, easy, healthy breakfast and brunch ideas.
3 Healthy Ways to Improve Your Mornings - Healthy Breakfast & Brunch Low-Fat Walnut, Apple & Cinnamon GranolaDuring the week, breakfast can help provide a great foundation for a busy day ahead, whether at work or for children at school. Research which found people who ate breakfast tended to be more active during the remainder of the day in mostly light-intensity activity (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Apr 2014). Granola is a great choice for quick, easy weekday breakfasts and if you make your own you can make sure it is really healthy too, such as my Walnut, Apple & Cinnamon Granola. It's low-fat & low-cholesterol and packed full of heart-healthy ingredients such as oats, wholegrains and seeds but without any refined sugars. You can find this recipe and lots more healthy family breakfast ideas in my Easy Low Fat, Low Cholesterol Mediterranean Diet Cookbook.
Gluten-Free Tropical Fruit Breakfast
Salad with Warm Granola SprinkleIf you follow a gluten-free diet, breakfast might seem to be one of the most challenging meals to find tasty, easy ideas that meet your wheat-free dietary requirements. Ready in only 15 minutes, this Tropical Fruit Breakfast Salad with Warm Granola Sprinkle is also Dairy-Free and suitable for Vegans. This is a fruit salad but not as you know it, the dressed spinach leaves add a savoury twist.  If you've not yet tried a breakfast salad yet, check out my Gluten Free & Wheat Free Diet Brunch & Breakfast Recipe Cookbook for more fabulous Breakfast Salad ideas.
Gluten-Free Baked Huevos Ranchero for BrunchIn contrast to the rush and bustle of work-days, weekends give us the opportunity for a double indulgence – a lovely long lie-in followed by a leisurely, indulgent brunch. Bring the Mexican Fiesta to Brunch with these gluten-free Baked Huevos Ranchero feature spicy flavours, heart-healthy black beans and protein-packed eggs, let's get the Breakfast Party Started!
You can find both these breakfast and brunch recipes and lots more gluten-free breakfast ideas in my Gluten Free & Wheat Free Diet Brunch & Breakfast Recipe Cookbook.

Ultimate Gluten-Free Chocolate Recipes

Gluten-free Chocoholics rejoice! You can enjoy all these decadent, indulgent and downright naughty (but oh-so-nice) chocolate recipes without the gluten (unfortunately, they do still have the calories). 
Clockwise from top left: Gluten-free Chocolate Celebration Cake, Gluten-free Choc & Nut Choux Buns, Gluten-Free Hazelnut  Crunch & Chocolate Cream Tartlets, Gluten-free Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova, Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Brioche, Gluten-free Brownie Bites Gluten-Free Chocolate Ganache CakeDid you know that Chocolate Cake is the most searched for cake recipe on Google? This Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake has a rich, whipped chocolate ganache filling and frosting, making it the ultimate chocolate cake.  It's great for any special occasion such as birthdays, anniversaries or (to be honest) just-because-I-need-a-chocolate-fix days!
Gluten Free Choc & Nut Choux BunsIt's claimed that if you can't eat gluten, then you've said good-bye to Choux Buns, Chocolate Éclairs and Profiteroles.  Well, these light-as-air Choc & Nut Choux Buns put paid that particular fib.

Gluten- free Hazelnut Crunch &
Chocolate Cream TartletsThese Hazelnut Crunch & Chocolate Cream Tartlets combine a rich, delicious chocolate mousse with the nutty crunch of my Flour-Free Hazelnut Sweet Tart Crust - yum-licious!
Gluten-free Chocolate Chip BriocheOh-la-la, how very Parisian.  What could be more lovely than golden, rich, buttery brioche?  Well how about taking out the gluten and adding in chocolate chips. Mais Oui!
Gluten-free Brownie BitesIntensely chocolatey, satisfyingly fudgey, these Gluten-free Brownie Bites go perfectly with a cup of tea.

You can find all these gluten-free chocolate recipes in my cookbook Gluten Free Wheat Free Easy Baking, Bread & Meals.  Available as a paperback from Amazon. It's also available as an ebook at Apple iBooks, Nook Books, Kobo and Amazon, and is currently on sale at only 99c/99p!

Healthy & Easy 5:2 Diet Recipes for One - Part Four Low Calorie Dinners & Main Meals

5:2 Diet Quick & Easy Creamy Roasted Pepper, Tomato & Caper Pasta 274 Cals3 Top Tips for Single-Serving Diet Dinners Between 200 & 300 CaloriesIt’s not a good plan to be wandering the oh-so-tempting aisles of the supermarket on your fast diet days, nor to get home after a hard day in the office and be faced with “what should I cook tonight”? Sticking to 500/600 calories on two diet days per week is essential on this diet plan as it’s this which creates the weekly calorie deficit. Single-serving meals can be difficult at any time, but it’s even more so when you want something that is healthy, tasty and filling and only between 200 and 300 calories! Healthy cooking for one can seem like a lot of work and effort.  However the key to success for fast-diet day dinners is to combine:
delicious foods that are naturally low in fat withhealthy cooking techniques andportion control.Following these principals, you will be able to enjoy fresh, flavoursome salads, super single serving vegetarian meals and delicious individual fabulous fish & chicken meals, like the Quick & Easy Creamy Roasted Pepper, Tomato & Caper Pasta (pictured top) at only 274 calories for a hearty and filling serving and ready in 30 minutes.
Still need inspiration for Diet Meals for One Between 200 & 300 Calories? Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet
Plan & Meals For One CookbookIf you are looking for more inspiration on filling, tasty and healthy Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan dinner receipes, then why not take a look at my  Meals For One Diet Recipe Cookbook  which also includes a  Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan . The single serving calorie-counted recipes in this book make it so easy to enjoy delicious, perfectly portioned meals for one, such as: 

Fruity Asian Prawn & Pepper Rice Bowl - 241 calories Roasted Butternut Squash Dahl Bowl - 246 calories Chicken Florentine Bake - 254 calories. Packed full of flavourful, natural, healthy ingredients, prepared in advance and ready and waiting for you, these delicious recipes won't leave you feeling hungry or unsatisfied after eating. The Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan Meals For One Cookbook is available from Amazon here in either paperback or as an ebook.

You can also find more information on  this Healthy & Easy 5:2 Diet Recipes for One  mini-series:
Cooking for One on the Two-Day 5:2 Diet  - read more here To Breakfast or not of the Two-Day 5:2 Diet?  - read more here Filling & Easy Solo Skinny Lunches Around 200 Calories  - read more here

Healthy & Easy 5:2 Diet Recipes for One - Part Three: Solo Skinny Lunches

Yummy Diet Lunch For One - Spicy Chicken & Mango Quesadilla with tangy Yogurt Dip 214 CalsSolo Skinny Lunches Around 200 Calories If you do your two fast diet days during your working week, it’s very likely that convenience will be a major factor choosing your diet-day lunch, as well as also wanting to make healthy choices. This is not always as straight-forward as it seems, though. Even making supposedly healthy choices when buying lunch-on-the-go can be fraught with problems – for example, it is not unusual for shop-bought Chicken Sandwiches to actually contain almost 500 calories – that’s a woman’s fast diet day allowance all in one go!  
However, with a little bit of planning, diet-day lunchtime doesn’t need to be about fraught purchases from the nearest shop or fast food outlet. 
Lunch is a great opportunity to enjoy delicious, fresh, healthy, flavourful ingredients that help keep you filling full and satisfied until dinner. Toasties, wraps, pittas & quesadillas all naturally lend themselves to excellent choices for solo diet lunches, such as the low calorie, low fat Spicy Chicken & Mango Quesadilla with tangy Yogurt Dip (pictured top). Only 214 calories, this satisfying lunch will keep you feeling full until dinner time, even on your 5:2 diet days.
Still need inspiration? Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet
Plan & Meals For One CookbookIf you are looking for more inspiration on filling, tasty and healthy Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan Lunch receipes, then why not take a look at my  Meals For One Diet Recipe Cookbook  which also includes a  Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan . The single serving calorie-counted recipes in this book make it so easy to enjoy delicious, perfectly portioned lunches for one, such as: 
Olive, Tomato & Feta Pitta with Basil Yogurt Drizzle - 193 calories Sweet Chilli Prawn & Pepper Wrap - 194 caloriesHoisin Duck Summer Rolls - 147 calories What's more, it's currently on sale at only 99c/99p (for a limited period).

Packed full of flavourful, natural, healthy ingredients, prepared in advance and ready and waiting for you, these delicious recipes won't leave you feeling hungry or unsatisfied after eating. The Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan Meals For One Cookbook is available from Amazon here in either paperback or as an ebook.
You can also find more information on  this Healthy & Easy 5:2 Diet Recipes for One  mini-series:
Cooking for One on the Two-Day 5:2 Diet  - read more here To Breakfast or not of the Two-Day 5:2 Diet?  - read more here Single-Serving Diet Dinners Between 200 & 300 Calories  - read more here

Healthy & Easy 5:2 Diet Recipes for One - Part Two: Breakfasts

Low Calorie Two-Day 5:2 Diet Breakfast Recipes - Creamy Tomatoes on Toast 106 calsIn Part Two of Healthy & Easy Cooking for One on the Two-Day 5:2 Diet, we'll take a look at Breakfast, often described as the most important meal of the day.
To Breakfast or not of the Two-Day 5:2 Diet?  If you think about the word Breakfast, there is a clue that lies within. It’s the meal with which you break-fast. When we wake up in the morning, breakfast can help provide a great foundation for a good day ahead. It can help us be more active during the day and keep us feeling full and much less likely to snack until lunch time. All of that remains the case, even on your two diet days per week. 
However it is likely that on those days you will want to keep your breakfast to around the 100-calorie mark. Smoothies and fruits naturally lend themselves to quick and easy low calorie solo breakfast options, but with careful choices you can also enjoy a hot breakfast for 1 on your fast day, such as these tasty Creamy Tomatoes on Toast as only 106 calories!
Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet
Plan & Meals For One CookbookIf you are looking for more inspiration on filling, tasty and healthy Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan breakfast receipes, then one not take a look at my  Meals For One Diet Recipe Cookbook  which also includes a  Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan . The single serving calorie-counted recipes in this book make it so easy to enjoy delicious, perfectly portioned breakfasts for one, such as: 
Blueberry, Lemon & Honey Parfait - 98 caloriesMelon, Kiwi & Blueberry Salad with Lemon-Honey Drizzle - 101 caloriesEgg & Cheese on Rye - 95 caloriesWhat's more, it's currently on sale at only 99c/99p (for a limited period). The Beginners Guide to the Two-Day 5:2 Diet Plan Meals For One Cookbook is available from Amazon here in either paperback or as an ebook.




You can also find more information on  this Healthy & Easy 5:2 Diet Recipes for One  mini-series:
Cooking for One on the Two-Day 5:2 Diet  - read more here Filling & Easy Solo Skinny Lunches Around 200 Calories  - read more here Single-Serving Diet Dinners Between 200 & 300 Calories  - read more here