This past week...

I made this really nice WW Tuna pasta bake using fennell and spelt pasta spirals.  I've always thought that spelt pasta would taste like cardborard...how wrong can you be?

These are all the ingredients...

The final dish after baking and topped with lemon, parsley and parmesan cheese (gremolata)...

So goood!

I have cucumber plants escaping my Vegepod!  I've been getting one or two a week since that last lot.

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Points free baked potato and pumpkin to add to my dinner dish...

Still walking...I walked every week day 19th to 23rd...

Porridge in the morning... 1/3 cup of rolled oats, 1/2 a cup of milk, microwave in a large-ish bowl for 3 x 1 minute bursts, stirring in between.  Then add a 1/4 cup water and stir in.  Top with mashed banana and a chopped medjool date.  3 points!

This was another yummy warming dinner that will be on repeat through winter...  Turkey and leek casserole...

...except for one thing - Woolworths didn't have turkey breast so I used chicken instead.  Still delicious!

On one of my morning walks, I saw these rags tied to the fence.  The kindergarten close by had tied them there for World Harmony Day...

How cute!

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Lots of beautiful sunrises, which are right about 7am at the moment.  It's so dark out earlier!

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More porridge!  Added a bit of cinnamon to this one.

Lamb steaks with veg, gravy  and a little pot of thinly sliced potatoes, baked in chicken stock and just topped with finely grated parmesan...

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Bloody corellas!

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Friday night pizza - Gus and I shared this one then had the other one on Saturday night when we got home from a Winery Bus Tour...this is packed full of veggies!

This batch of choc chip cookies were made and delivered to a family member in hospital.  None for me!

Oh, dear - more porridge!  But it is so goooood! 

Sunday night - home made fettucine and Gus made pork meatballs in a tomato sauce.  We had his mum out for dinner.  I made apple and rhubarb crumble for dessert - it was divine!

Last night I made these chicken breast parcels - lay down a large piece of foil then baking paper, place chicken breast on that.  Top chicken breast with a sprinkle of French Onion soup mix, spinach leaves, tomato and zucchini slices, mushroom slices then sprinkle with low fat cheese (I use Bega Country Light 50% less fat Tasty grated).  Gently fold up the foil to make a parcel and place on a baking tray.  Bake at 180 for 30-40 minutes, opening the parcel for a final 5 minutes to brown up.

The chicken is beautifully moist and tender.  Serve with your favourite veggies and drizzle the 'sauce' from the parcel over the chicken.  You are welcome!

Well that brings me to Monday's weigh in...

Start weight - 20/02/18 ... 86 kgs

Current weight - 26/03/18 ... 82.4 kgs

Loss of 3.6 kgs in 5 weeks

I'm not that impressed with that as I had hoped to get to a 4kg loss or more.  I actually weighed in at 82.1 kg today so hopefully the weekend was just a hiccup.  I definitely do not want to blow it all this coming Easter weekend!

Cheers - Joolz xx

Baked Vegetable tart...

I made this tart to have last Saturday night for dinner.  We had lamb chump chops with it...

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I pan roasted eggplant, sweet potato, red onion, zucchini, mushrooms, capsicum and garlic cloves, tossed with 2 tspns olive oil.

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I used 8 sheets of filo pastry, each sprayed with olive oil spray...then it was pressed into a paper lined flan dish...

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I placed the veggies into the dish then poured 6 eggs (supposed to use 8) over the vegetables...

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Sprinkle with 2 tbspns grated parmesan cheese and bake 20-30 minutes until egg is set and golden...

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Cut into 6 wedges, each wedge is 6 points.

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Cheers - Joolz xx

Life and food....

This beautiful card arrived by snail mail on Friday...very thoughtful, as I just love succulents!

Thank you Kathleen
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WW Chicken and chickpea tagine - full of Morrocan spice flavours, it was a winner!

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Another pretty morning sky...

I walked every week day last week! 

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I worked out how to successfully microwave scrambled eggs so they’re just right and not using butter.  Two eggs are zero points.

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A filling breakfast which takes me through to lunchtime, no problems...

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I was given some quinces last week so I grated them up and made quince jam.  It’s very sweet so I think it can be used for quince paste with cheese and biscuits...only I can’t have any! 

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Sunday mug muffin...apple and cinnamon...

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BLT - lean bacon, lettuce and tomato with beetroot thrown in...

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Sunday night, Gus did this lovely chicken in the Weber kettle...it had lemon, garlic and rosemary paste rubbed in under the skin...

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I had plain breast meat - no skin for me!  I made that Waldorf salad to have with it - delicious!

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Monday morning brekkie!  I still love Vegemite on toast!

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Now for my Monday weigh in...

Start weight - 20/02/18 ... 86.0 kgs

Current weight - 19/03/18 ... 82.6 kgs

Loss of 3.4 kgs in 4 weeks

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Slow but steady...

Cheers - Joolz xx

Vegepod update...

The pod has been growing for 9 weeks now.  I must say, I wish I had just grown tomatoes in there but its been a good learning experience anyway.  

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Having said that - we have some produce to harvest today! The Lebanese cucumbers are about the right size to pick...

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The cukes have taken over the pod and the beetroot is not doing that great...

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I have several bunches of tomatoes but I don’t know when they’ll be ready...

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Here is my bounty! I did get a small one earlier in the week and it was delicious, how a good cuke should taste so these will be great in salads and wraps.

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Cheers - Joolz xx