La Chatte Gitane (or The Gypsy Cat) was the name we chose for our cottage in France at the time. We chose it while on the road, moving house the first time round, from Ireland to France with 2 dogs and 7 cats in the car.
This blog began its insignificant life as a recipe book for friends and family who would ask me repeatedly for a recipe of this, that and the other.
Since then it has taken many different directions, like we did and like gypsies tend to do. Sometimes making a U-turn and revisiting familiar roads and taking a break when necessary.
You'll find recipes here, but also musings about the places we've called home, the gardens that we've established, not always successfully, the homes we've improved and the environments we've lived in. Currently, after yet another stint in Ireland, we're back in France @ Le Mas d'Ayen

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Overview of 5:2 Recipes

I thought that as an interludium in my blog I would put the low calorie and low carb recipe links in one post. Making it easier for you if you to find if you needed them. 
Oh, I've got plenty more recipes written down on paper. The problem is getting them on this blog (I could do with a secretary ;-) )Sometimes life just gets in the way of the things we really want.


Halloumi Salad - 255 cal

Tofu Stir Fry - 235 cal

Grilled Nectarine with Quark - 50 cal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia xxx...x

 

 
 


Monday, November 12, 2012

Spiced Chicken Meatballs with North African Aromas - (295 cal) - 5:2


Very odd quantities,agreed, but that's just how the cookie crumbled.
serves 6 on the IF diet - 295 calories per person - 4 meatballs per person

Chicken Meatballs
ingredients
24 meatballs
  • 692 grs chicken mince (174 cal/100 grs)
  • 350 grs grated courgettes (30 cal/100 grs)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp ginger powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • fresh coriander leaves, chopped
preparation
  • Put the grated courgettes in a colander, in the sink, sprinkle with some salt and cover with a plate and a weight on it on top. This is to extract as much water from the courgette as possible.
  • Leave for 10 minutes and squeeze the bejayses out of the courgettes.
  • In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together well. 
  • I would not add any salt to the mince mix as the salt used for the courgettes will still be there to some extent.
  • Divide and shape into 24 balls.
  • Set aside (fridge preferably)
North African spiced sauce

ingredients
  • 130 grs onion, chopped (44 cal / 100 grs)
  • 290 grs carrots, cut into rustic chunks ( 43 cal / 100 grs)
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated (15 cal / clove)
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 5 crushed cardamom pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • chillies, fresh and chopped or chilli powder (to taste)
  • 2 tbsp tomato concentrate (77 cal /100 grs)
  • 1 tin (400 grs) peeled tomatoes (19 cal /100 grs)
  • 1 chicken stock cube) (15 cal /100 grs)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (100 cal / tbsp)

preparation
  • Heat oil in the pan and add onion, garlic and carrots.
  • Sweat down for a couple of minutes before adding the spices and tomato concentrate.
  • Cook out the tomato a little before adding the tinned tomatoes and stock cube.
  • You may want to add some water if the sauce gets too tick.
  • In any case put the lid on and simmer for 20 minutes, till carrots are pre-al dente.
  • Place the meatballs and place on top op the sauce and cover up again with lid.
  • Simmer for a further 15 minutes. The meatballs should be cooked through by this time, but you might want to open one up to check.
  • Serve with rice or cauliflower 'rice' (recipe to follow).

Thanks for visiting.
Patricia xxx...x
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