Waiting for Spring....

I don't know about you but I am extremely excited about Spring. I can't believe Spring will start in 10 days. This is definitely my favourite period of the year. The weather is starting to warm up and the days are sunny, brighter and longer. I am already day dreaming about all the outfits pairings I can come up with, now that the weather allows light layering. I can't wait to start going for long strolls along the coast or visit small villages and their local markets. 

Around this time of the year my husband and I love going out early, especially during the weekend, buying a sweet pastry for breakfast and eat it somewhere nice before we go for a walk. This is also the perfect time of the year for picnics, jogging, family outings, shopping and dining outdoors. And it's also Easter time which is the perfect holiday for all those of us who love chocolate and figolli. I also believe that Spring is the perfect season for getting inspired and being creative. 

While I am waiting for Spring, I decided to share few PRE-SPRING posts with you. These will range from outfits inspiration boards, outfit of the day pictures, recipes, fashion trends and much more. I hope you enjoy these months which are going to follow and make the most out of them, especially if you like me live in a country where Winters are cold and Summers are extremely hot.

STAY FAB

30 Days Healthy Meal Plan

This month I finally did it! I have been telling myself, I need to get back to planning my meals for the entire month so that I can write a full groceries list for that month and purchase most of it in one go. By having everything I need to cook healthy delicious meals, I have no excuse to continue eating brown sandwiches almost every day. And purchasing most of your groceries all at once, will save you time, diesel and will make it less likely for you to get tempted in buying things you don't need each time you visit your local supermarket. Planning your meals ahead, and shopping at the beginning of the month, also makes it easier to set a budget and stick to it.

Every day, starting today, for the next 30 days I will be sharing my main meal with you. The meals are going to be diverse, healthy, balanced and most important tasty. There will be vegetables meals, pasta meals, panini meals, warm salads (since it's still pretty cold), pies, wraps as well as meals featuring chicken, salmon and mince pork.

In each daily post I will be showing my meal with pictures and sharing my recipe with you. Since I have a food blog, I figured it makes more sense to have this 30 days meal plan series of posts up on it rather than here. You can click here to visit my food blog, AlessiAs CUEs or click on the links below which will direct you to each individual meal post.

Day 1.....Lemon Pepper Soba Buckwheat Noodles with Green Beans

Day 2.....Lentils, Tomatoes and Eggs with soy buttered wholemeal toast

Day 3.....Chicken Veggie Wrap with Hummus

Day 4.....Ciabatta with Wurstel, lettuce, and cheese 

Day 5.....Smoked Salmon Pasta with Soy Cream & Peas

Day 6.....109 Calories Salad for Sandwiches

Day 7.....Lemon Buckwheat Noodles with Green Beans, 1 egg & hummus

Day 8.....Cauliflower Chowder with soy milk, cheese, grana padano and sundried tomatoes

Day 9.....Wholemeal Ciabatta for a Quick Lunch

Day 10....Spinach & Artichoke Creamy Casserole with a wheat wrap

Day 11.....Potato Mayo Veggie Salad

Day 12.....Chicken Veggie Crusted Pie

Day 13.....Spinach Frittata with cheese & tomatoes

Day 14.....Broccoli, Green Olives & Tomatoes

Day 15.....Cauliflower Cake for Lunch

Day 16.....Potato & Turkey Ham Pie with Buttered Rosemary Dill Carrots

Day 17.....Wheat Wrap Under 600 calories

Day 18.....Pink Salad with Crunchy Crostini

Day 19.....600 Calories Crunchy Bruschetta

Day 20.....600 Calories Pasta Salad

Day 21.....French Toasted Ham & Cheese Crostini

Day 22.....Smoked Salmon Cannelloni

Day 23.....Scrambled Veggie Frittata on a flour tortilla base

Day 24.....Salad Pasta Rolls (650 calories)

Day 25.....500 Calories Thai Fish Broth

Day 26.....Creamy Gnocchi with Zucchini & Tomatoes (600 calories)

Day 27.....Spinach & Sundried Tomatoes Cheesy Baked Roll (800 calories)

Day 28.....Spinach, Chickpeas, Egg Mayo Salad (625 calories)

Day 29.....Baked Gnocchi with Spinach, Carrots and Tomato Sauce (650 calories)

Day 30.....600 Calories Fish Wrap with Eggplant & Chickpeas

I really hope these posts can be helpful in planning and making your meals. But most importantly I hope that this series inspires you to eat healthier every day, if you are not already doing so. The key to eating healthy for life, and not for a week or a month, is to understand that you can eat healthy and still enjoy what you eat on a daily basis. And of course, nobody said you cannot eat less healthy foods every now and then.

I will really love to get your feedback. So feel free to comment here on on my food blog.

STAY FAB

Monday Lunch (10/12/2012): Dill hummus egg toast

Lately I have been eating smaller portions and more simpler meals. I find that this is the best way for me to not only stay fit but most important stay healthy. In fact complex meals and large portions make me sick from a digestion point of view and also me feel heavy and uncomfortable. Of course I still eat whatever I like whenever I like it, but I just keep in mind my own well being so eat heavier foods in moderation and only every now and then. This makes me stay healthy, fit and happy!

If you are wondering what I eat on a normal week day here is my last Monday Lunch. It consisted of 2 slices brown bread toasted and buttered with soy butter. Then I topped each slice toast with one slice cheese, 1 small hard boiled egg and some fresh dill hummus I made. If you want the recipe simply follow this lemon hummus recipe I made but replace the lemon pepper and lemon juice with ground dill tops (as much as you like). My drink was a barley cup with soy milk. 

You can see my Christmas decor here.

What about you? What did you have last Monday?

STAY FAB

Carob Spelt Cake with Carrot & Orange

Last Monday I had boiled several carrots to make a carrot and lemon dip. Since I had some leftover carrots I decided to make a healthy cake with no sugar, spelt flour and carob powder instead of chocolate. Because it came delicious I decided to share the recipe. So here it is...

INGREDIENTS
3 medium carrots peeled, chopped and boiled
2 oranges juiced
2 small eggs
200g spelt flour
2 tablespoons carob powder
2 tablespoons melted soy butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
some honey syrup

PREPARATION
1. First blend the carrots with the juiced oranges.
2. Then mix the carrot and orange blended mixture with the rest of the ingredients until you achieve a smooth consistency.
3. Then pour the cake batter in a cake casserole previously greased.
4. Bake in a preheated oven for about 40 minutes (in the middle of your oven).

CAROB SAUCE
I covered my cake with a carob sauce made with 2 tablespoons carob powder, 2 teaspoons vanilla essence, some honey syrup and enough soy milk to achieve the right consistency. Mix over your stove until it tickens enough to pour onto the cake. Finally sprinkle icing sugar.

STAY FAB

Hummus Dip.....with extra lemon & no tahini

Whether you are going Black Friday Shopping or have decided to enjoy the day relaxing at home, this is the perfect recipe to make quickly and enjoy with no guilt. Eaten with either some chopped veggies like lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, peppers or with few wholemeal rusks or crackers, this fresh low calories hummus is perfect to detoxify yourself after your Thanksgiving big lunch or dinner. The great thing is that you can make more of it and save it for up to one week. You can give it to your kids for school on some fresh healthy sliced brown bread and take it to work. So here is the recipe...

INGREDIENTS

1 tin chickpeas (about 200g drained) washed and drained

6 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil (or more if you prefer)

salt, pepper and lemon pepper (as much as you like)

BLENDING THE INGREDIENTS

Simply put all of the above ingredients into your blender and press on. Low speed blending/chopping is enough for this recipe. I used my Grundig BL5040 which I reviewed here. It's really great to make many recipes including dips like this one. 

STORE YOUR HUMMUS

Transfer the hummus obtained in a small bowl (which is what this recipe makes; you can of course double the ingredients if you have a large family or want to freeze the hummus). Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate.

What are you eating this Black Friday?

STAY FAB

October Favourites

This month I really feel like sharing my favorites with you. I think because October it's a transition month,  many of us are trying out new beauty products, fashion trends as well as foods and decor pieces. Hence the many favourites.

BEAUTY FAVOURITES: MAKEUP & SKINCARE

1. My Vichy Aera Teint Liquid Foundation (see review)

2. La Roche Posay Toleriane Soothing Protective Skincare Moisturizer for Normal to Combination Skin (review coming soon)

3. Lipsticks in general since throughout Summer I have been using lip glosses. I will soon be posting my favourite Fall lip products. 

4, Fast & Fuchsia Nail Polish by Rimmel

FAVOURITE PURCHASES

1. New handbag in a shade of red (I will soon be posting pictures)

2. Leather and crystals cushion cover for only 5 euros during a warehouse sale

3. New blender (review coming soon either on this or my food blog)

4. Pink sports padded bra for only 3.50 at a local market 

5. Tally Weijl multiple studs earrings pack for only 5 euros

6. Kitchen table centrepiece (Parisian inspired)

FAVOURITE FOODS

1.Carob powder (see my Halloween treats and Fall drink recipes)

2.Fresh Basil (many recipes coming soon)

3.Plums with my weetabix for breakfast

4.Homemade Mediterranean hummus (which I made twice with my new blender)

5.Homemade fresh egg pasta (if you want me to I can share my recipe; let me know in the comments)

FAVOURITE PLACES

1. Sliema at night

2. Mdina on Sunday morning

3. Zurrieq market

4. Piccolo Padre restaurant (for the charming decor but not for the food)

5. Zara (I could spend a day looking at and trying on clothes)

6. Blue Grotto for the view

7. Orienta warehouse sale (was full of bargains)

8. Taqali Farmers' Market (I enjoy it every time)

FAVOURITE OUFITS

1. White sequin skirt

2. Fall OOTD

3. Fall Monochromatic Outfit

4. Fall Layering

5. Christian Dior Inspired

FAVOURITE WEBSITES & YOU TUBE CHANNELS

1.Free tv video

3.Le floof tv

4.The style diet

5.Brit pop life

OTHER FAVOURITES

1. My Kettler cross trainer

2. My grey cotton blazer (see outfits above)

3. My black H&M cross body bag (see outfits above)

4. My patent black flats (see outfits above)

5. Jane by Design (unfortunately no season 2)

6. Photoshop book (review coming later)

7. Giving maths revision lessons

8. Michael Kors watches

This month my favourites have been grouped under categories to make it easier for you to go through the post. Feel free to share your own favourites in the comments and Happy Halloween!

STAY FAB

Halloween Treats....Rame di Napoli (with carob powder instead of chocolate)

Halloween is on its way. All of you who celebrate it must be super excited and planning all your outfits, makeup and organizing scary and fun parties. In Italy I never used to celebrate Halloween but around the same dates we used to celebrate the feast of all saints which was a way to remember our dear ones who unfortunately had left us. In Malta Halloween is being celebrated more and more through kids parties or by simply getting your kids dressed up and we can find scary decorations in most home decor shops. And lots of teenagers and younger as well as older adults celebrate it by attending club and disco parties with scary themes. Anyway, I have never really experienced the real Halloween atmosphere I saw on American films and also on you tube. And I have never done trick and treat around my neighbours' houses. The main tradition linked to this time of the year for me is eating Rame di Napoli which are traditional Sicilian treats for the all saints feast. So this year although I haven't decorated my house for Halloween and have no plans to celebrate I felt the need to relive my one tradition. That's why I made Rame di Napoli, which by the way aren't available for sale in Malta. 

So if you are Sicilian or love Sicily or are simply looking for a new Halloween treat or want to try a different dessert no matter the time of the year, here is my recipe for le Rame di Napoli or i Ram' Napoli in the Sicilian dialect. My recipe used no chocolate which is great for those of you who are allergic or want to avoid caffeine or even try healthier dessert options. Although the taste is not identical to the original ones it is definitely tasty and worth trying.

INGREDIENTS

320g flour 00

1 tablespoon Sweet Freedom natural sweetener syrup

50g granulated sugar

50ml orange juice (2 small oranges)

100 ml soy milk

40g carob powder

1/2 sachet lievito per dolci pane degli angeli (an italian baking powder with vanilla used for desserts)

40g soy butter

pistachios whole but peeled

for the icing:

40g carob powder 

40g soy milk

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

1 teaspoon natural sweetener syrup

1 tablespoon icing sugar

PREPARATION

Simply mix all the ingredients for the biscuits (except those for the icing) until you get a sticky quiet hard consistency. Then spoon the mixture on your baking dish covered with baking paper. Top each biscuit with few pistachios and bake in your preheated oven for about 20 minutes.

In the meantime you can mix the ingredients for the icing in a pot and cook them over heat until you get a creamy consistency.

When the biscuits are ready let them cool and then top with the carob icing. 

This recipe makes 16 medium to large biscuits. Each biscuit has 123 calories if topped with the icing and 108 calories without it. Except for the flour (which is not the healthiest) it is quiet low on sugar and has carob instead of chocolate. So it makes a healthier desert than many other ones. If you want an even healthier but delicious treat check my spelt rock cakes.

Tell me in the comments below which is your favourite Halloween treat? Happy Trick & Treat!

STAY FAB

Smoked Salmon Lasagna.....Quick & easy!

Now that Fall has started, we are on our way to starting eating lots of soups (at least I am). I love making chunky vegetable soups and have them with crunchy bread as well as meat or poultry broths with pasta in them. So before we get to the point where I forget all about salads and cold meals just because it gets too cold to have those, I am enjoying lots of cool meals. The smoked salmon lasagna was one of them. In my opinion, the beauty of smoked salmon lies in eating it fresh and not cooking it. Also, I don't really like it when cooked because it gets too salty for my taste. So last Sunday, I decided to give this cold smoked salmon lasagna a go. Because I really liked how simple and easy it was, and of course how good it tasted, I want to share the recipe with you. 

INGREDIENTS

6 fresh egg lasagna sheets (250g for 2 people)

200g fresh (not frozen) smoked salmon

pepper, lemon pepper and dill

lemon juice

soy butter

grated parmesan

MAKING THE LASAGNA

1. I started by boiling my lasagna sheets, which I divided each in 2 halves, in boiling water with salt

2. I seasoned the smoked salmon with pepper, lemon pepper, dill and lemon juice

3. I used 6 halves of lasagna sheets (originally 3) for each person and spread each with soy butter.

4. I topped the first lasagna sheet with the salmon and parmesan. Then layered a second one and repeated the process until I used up all the six half sheets. I repeated the same process for my husband's plate to which I added sliced cheese.

5. I finished with lemon juice and served with a side lettuce salad.

This Sunday meal was quick to make. It only took me about one hour to cook the pasta, assemble the lasagna and wash the dishes. It's the perfect dish to make when you want something a little fancy but don't want to waste a lot of time. After all Sunday mornings are great for walks, outdoors markets shopping as well as cafe breakfasts.

STAY FAB

Rye and Millet Flour Flat Bread....Served with zucchini and tomatoes

Today I decided to try and make flat bread using my favourite healthy flours: rye and millet flours. The result was delicious, crunchy and crispy with a hearty filling taste. So here is how I made it and what I served it with it.

FOR THE FLAT BREAD

Ingredients
about 50g rye flour + 30g extra
about 50g millet flour
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper
about 50ml water

I mixed all the ingredients, except for the extra 30 g rye flour which I used for kneading and rolling flat the bread.  I then kneaded and let the dough stand in the shape of a ball for few hours. Later, I simply used the extra flour to continue kneading and rolling flat my bread. I heated a skillet, sprayed some 1 calorie olive oil spray and cooked the flat bread on each side until crispy and brown.

I served it spread with soy butter and some sliced cheese. I ate it with zucchini and tomatoes which I cooked in a pot seasoned with salt, pepper, basil, oregano and olive oil. 

The flat bread reminded me of a brown pita bread which I really used to love eating. I really enjoyed making it and especially eating it. I am looking forward to making more and may be freezing them to have them ready for on the go meals.

And you, what did you eat today? Share it in the comments below.

STAY FAB

Pink Gourmet Panino

Everyone loves panini. They are delicious, easy to prepare, a quick meal to assemble, great for on the go meals but also for quick lunches or dinners at home. And the best thing is that they can be both healthy and as tasteful as the finest meat or fish. The key is in choosing a great bread and fresh top quality ingredients for the filling. Although everyone knows how to assemble a panino or sandwich I couldn't pass blogging this panino. Its colours, the great taste and the combination of ingredients make it in my opinion a gourmet one. And the pink colour makes it a great option to serve in pink themed parties. So here it is.....

This delicious panino was toasted multigrain or wholemeal (I am not sure) and the filling included: soy butter, the pink dip, freshly cut turkey ham, lettuce and sliced cheese.

If you are asking yourself what the amazing pink dip is made of, it's actually beetroot and hummus dip. I bought it from one of my local supermarkets but I liked it so much I plan on making it myself. 

STAY FAB

A day of HEALHTY but DELICIOUS MEALS

Today is Saturday and everyone, including me, likes to enjoy good food in the weekend. This, however, doesn't necessarily imply you have to consume more calories than usual. By using your imagination and thinking a bit you can come up with delicious healthy meals which are still within your daily calories. In my case I don't feel I need to staff myself and eat unhealthy to enjoy my Saturday. In order to prove my point to you I am going to share my meals of the day with you.

BREAKAST

If you want to have a different breakfast from your usual cereal and milk, you could go for one slice of fitness bead with soy butter and plum jam topped with 2/3 of a banana like I did above. I also had half a cup of soy milk with the rest of my banana chopped in it. To me adding the banana to my soy milk gives me that extra taste which makes me enjoy my milk. Without the banana I would like the soy milk. This is what I had yesterday because I wanted to change my breakfast for one since I always have weetabix, banana and soy milk. I think it's a great breakfast for either Saturday or Sunday. And it has the same or may be less calories than what I usually have.

LUNCH

My lunch consisted of 5 baked chicken wings, boiled green beans and baked potatoes. The green beans were simply boiled and seasoned with salt and pepper and olive oil. The potatoes were sliced, boiled and then baked topped with salt, pepper and rosemary and sprayed with 1 calorie olive oil spray. The chicken wings were marinated with lemon pepper, salt and pepper, basil, barbeque seasoning, lemon juice and honey syrup. Finally they were baked for about 30 to 40 minutes. My lunch was delicious but still healthy since I only used half tablespoon olive oil per person for the veggies and no oil on the potatoes. The chicken wings seasoning was all herbs except for the healthy lemon juice and reduced sugar honey syrup. No artificial sauce were used, except for a little ketchup on my potatoes.

AFTERNOON SNACK

Normally I do not have a snack but today I felt like it, especially because I wanted to use the apple cookies we opened last weekend. So I gave loads to my husband and I had 4 plus one different biscuit together with a soy vanilla ice cream by Valsoia. This is a perfect way to have a sweet treat without overdoing it. Since each cookie has already about 50 calories with about 5 cookies and a yougurt you get up to 350 calories which is the same amount of calories I tend to take for breakfast and my evening snack. Ideally I prefer snacking on yougurt and either fresh or dry fruit, but as I said today I made an exception. Also I prefer cookies which are wholemeal and rich in cereals and fibre rather than very sweet ones.

DINNER

Like every other day, dinner for me is more of a snack a time. I like to have 1 banana with some cornflakes and soy milk. Sometimes I will add few grapes, or a peach or have a soy yougurt depending on how hungry I am. I like to eat light at night because I have problems digesting my food at times. Other times I am still full from my lunch that I don't really feel like eating much. But it's important to never skip your main meals otherwise you will end up slowing your metabolism.

And you what did you eat today? Share your meals with us in the comments below.

STAY FAB

My August Favourites

Another month has passed and we we will soon say goodbye to Summer. But I am sure that as the new season starts we will get to enjoy new favourites, at least I will. Here are the things I have been loving this month from clothes and shoes to food and locations and lots more. If you haven't read my July Favourites you can do so now.

FAVOURITE PURSES OF THE MONTH

My animal skin clutch from Elle's

My Accessorize whimsical purse

 FAVOURITE SHOES OF THE MONTH

My new Pink Wedges from Tip Toes

FAVOURITE NAIL POLISH OF THE MONTH

Light baby pink in shade 131 by Catherina Arley

(I have been wearing this on my toes)

FAVOURITE FOOD OF THE MONTH

Alpro creamy yougurts

Peaches and plums

Rye flour

FAVOURITE BLOG POST (MY OWN) OF THE MONTH

  

Beach & Resort Outfit

FAVOURITE LOCATION OF THE MONTH

 Golden Bay Malta

FAVOURITE OUTFITS OF THE MONTH

My Black Outfit featuring Zara cigarette pants

My White Sequined Skirt Look 1

FAVOURITE WORKOUT OF THE MONTH

10 minute Mountain Climber Workout, Burn Fat to the Max! by Tiffany Rothe.

FAVOURITE BLOG OF THE MONTH

Fairytale beginning

FAVOURITE YOU TUBE CHANNELS OF THE MONTH

Britpopprincess

Myhousewifelife

FAVOURITE TV SERIES OF THE MONTH

Keeping up with the Kardashians Season 7

FAVOURITE SHOP OF THE MONTH

 

Zara in Sliema, Malta

Which are your favourites of the month? Feel free to share them in the comments below.

STAY FAB