Fairy Bites...

Today I was visited by an old school friend that I haven't seen in years. I obviously had to bake something to celebrate this wonderful visit! :)

I wanted to bake something cute and tasty and after browsing Pinterest last night was inspired by these cute little shortbread cookies and just had to have ago at myself. As usual I gave them my own little twist and flavoring. (They are a lighter version too..woohoo)

Ingredients

1/2 cup light butter, softened
1 1/4 cup flour
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp sweetener (you can of course just use sugar)
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
GOOD sprinkle of 100s and 1000s (try get the very bright ones if you can as mine faded slightly)

Method

1. Cream the butter and sugar together and then mix in the Vanilla.
2. Combine with the flour and salt and then sprinkle in your 100's and 1000's.
3. Using you hands bring together to form a ball of dough.
4. On a floured surface press out the dough, you want it to be about 1/2 cm thick. Then using a cutter cut out your cookies. ( you can also bake it as one sheet and then cut into cubes.)
5. Place the cookies on a lined or greased and floured baking tray and bake for 15 minutes.
6. Once done leave to cool completely.

These cookies are deliciously crumbly and the 100's and 1000's add a little bit of texture and colour. They would be a fabulous treat at a little girls tea party or even given as a gift in a pretty jar.

Strawberry milk is optional but always a winner in my book :)

recipe - inspired by pinterest but mine

syns - around 3 syns each

Saturday Night Fakeaway - Meatball Curry with Rice and Red Lentils...

Its Saturday night and that calls for a takeaway or in our house a fakeaway!
We spent the afternoon in the garden again and with winter creeping in the evenings are getting quite chilly so we wanted something filling and warming. A reward for our hard graft but one that wouldn't get in the way of reaching my target!

As you can tell I am rather fond of  meatballs, in sandwiches, with pasta, in a calzone... they are always a winner. So I thought why not in a curry then! And with a few spices and a little squishing and shaping I was on my way to curry fakeaway greatness.

Ingredients

for the meatballs
500g Lean mince meat
1 clove of garlic. crushed
heaped tsp of medium curry powder
good squeeze of tomato puree
1/2 red chili, finely chopped
handful of mint chopped
salt and pepper

for the sauce
1 onion, chopped finely
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 tsp medium curry powder
1 can chopped tomato
500ml tomato passata
squeeze of tomato puree
salt and pepper
1 tsp sweetener

1/2 cup red lentils
1/2 cup of rice
2 cups water
1 chicken stock cube
handful of coriander
1/2 red chili, finely chopped
1 lime

Method

1. Combine the mince with the garlic, tomato puree, mint, curry powder and chili. Mix well and then set aside for 30 minutes or so. You want the flavors to develop. I made mine in the morning.
2. With wet hands roll the mince into balls and brown them off in a pan. Do this in batches and then drain on some kitchen paper.
3. In the same pan start your sauce. In a little frylight cook down your onion and garlic and then add your curry powder and tomato puree. Once combined add your chopped tomato and passata along with the sugar. Once bubbling away gently add the meatballs and let them cook through in the sauce.
4. While the meatballs are cooking make your rice and lentils. Put into a pan with the water and stock and bring to the boil, after about 5 minutes turn off the heat and cover and let steam.
5. Once everything is cooked garnish with coriander and fresh chili and serve with a wedge of lime.

This is a great family dish and the sauce is so rich and delicious. I would actually recommend having a few naans on the side to lap up the sauce at the end. That's if you not watching the waistline like me ;)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Recipe - mine

syns - none