Healthy cheat’s pizza

Pizza photo 2

This ‘pizza’ is the fastest, easiest meal you could ever make and so tasty as well. I use tortilla wraps as pizza bases and they make a lovely thin and crispy crust. They are also a whole lot healthier (and cheaper) than frozen or takeaway pizzas. I made this twice this week, varying it by using different cheeses. I used Buffalo Mozzarella on the one in the picture but goat’s cheese or cheddar cheese work really well also. They are great when you need to make something quickly and for using up leftovers as you only need small quantities of the toppings (depending on how many you are making of course!). Children and teenagers love ‘dressing’ their own pizzas – in my house everyone has different tastes so they make their own. My son, for example doesn’t like cheese so he makes his pizza with lots of peppers, salami, pepperoni etc. My own favourite is goat’s cheese, caramelised onion jam / marmalade, asparagus and rocket. You need to use two tortilla wraps to make the base firm enough. Once you top it with the tomato purée you can be as creative as you like. They take approx. 10 mins in an oven heated to 160°C / 325°F.

Ingredients for 1 pizza

2 tortilla wraps (preferably wholemeal)
Tomato purée or passata
Mixed peppers, diced
Black olives, sliced
Buffalo Mozzarella
Olive Oil
Rocket

  • Place two wraps on a baking tray
  • Spread with tomato purée making sure the surface of the wrap is fully covered
  • Scatter peppers, olives and torn mozzarella plus any other toppings on top
  • Drizzle with a little olive oil
  • Bake in the oven for 10 mins until the cheese is melted and bubbling
  • Serve with rocket scattered across the top and a further drizzle of oil (optional)

My food and fitness journey!

Weekly food shop

A couple of years ago I was in a big of a slump and I decided that I needed to make a few changes in my life so I (voluntarily) said goodbye to a career in financial services that had spanned 36 years. While I was mulling over my future career I decided to try and get in shape, now that I had the time and also because it was now or never!  For the previous 2 years I had begun swimming 2/3 mornings a week. While I felt I was reasonably aerobically fit I wanted to try and see if I could become even fitter and stronger (despite my age!) and lose some of that excess around my midriff! Continue reading

Lemon Curd Cupcakes

 

Lemon Curd cupcakes 2

These delicious, light pillows of soft lemony sponge couldn’t be easier to make, just put all the ingredients into a food processor or mixer and whizz for 1-2 mins. Done! The lemon curd filling turns ordinary cupcakes into something really special.

Lemon curd is widely available to buy but I urge you to give making your own a try – it is absolutely yummy, really easy to make and will keep for approx. 2 weeks in the fridge. Great to use as a cake filling but also delicious and very ‘moreish’ spread on fresh bread as an alternative to jam! Continue reading

Butternut Squash & Coconut Soup

Bnut Squash Soup 2

I felt like the need for a warm, comforting soup during the last week as I found myself shivering with the sudden, early arrival of Autumn. This delicious soup is creamy, rich and full of flavour. You will be pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it is to make. Butternut squash is one of those rare vegetables that keeps for ages in the vegetable drawer so it is something I would always have in stock. I always like to have coconut milk in my press as well so I can make this soup without having to go shopping! This will last in the fridge for 2-3 days.  Continue reading

Flapjacks

 

Flapjacks 3

These tasty, healthy ‘back to school’ flapjacks are quick and easy to make and perfect for a lunch box or snack. I like to put these in my teenage daughter’s school lunchbox along with some cheese, fruit and a sandwich. They are great for anyone who has to eat ‘on the go’ and / or re-fuel after exercise when you want to try to avoid sugary snacks. You can play around with the basic recipe and add fruit, nuts and / or seeds depending on what you have available or just to vary them according to your own tastes. The recipe uses coconut oil which is a good, healthy source of saturated fat and oats which provide a slow release of energy.  Continue reading

Smoked Salmon with soft boiled egg and quinoa

 

Smoked Salmon & Egg Photo bw

If you haven’t tried quinoa before I urge you to buy some this weekend and include it in your diet from now on. Quinoa is a great source of protein, fibre and is rich in minerals, B-vitamins and vitamin E. It cooks in 15 minutes and is also wheat-free, gluten-free and contains anti-inflammatory compounds. I am a big fan because it is so versatile, adds protein and substance to salads to make them more filling and satisfying (fuller for  longer!) plus it’s a keeper i.e. cooked quinoa keeps in the fridge for 2-3 days. It doesn’t have a huge amount of flavour in itself(same as pasta or rice) but has a nice nutty flavour and fluffy texture. This quick lunch was made from some left-over white quinoa to which I piled on some beautiful Irish organic smoked salmon and a soft boiled egg. This would also make a great breakfast. It was topped off with some of my homemade mayonnaise (see previous post) to which I added some chopped dill. You will also find another recipe using quinoa in a previous post – Butternut Squash & Quinoa salad.

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Homemade real Mayonnaise

Mayo b1 photo_opt & wtrmrkd

I always thought for some reason that making your own mayonnaise was difficult. Then recently I was in Ballymaloe Cookery School where Rory O’Connell showed us how to make it as part of his ‘How to Cook Well’ course. I couldn’t believe how easy it was and I made a promise to myself never to buy a jar of mayonnaise again. I am hoping that when you read this that you will have a go and do the same.  Continue reading

My Grandmother’s Orange Cream

Grandmother's Orange Cream_opt logo

Ok so you are feeling under the weather, not sure what you want to eat but know you should eat something. What you need is my Grandmother’s Orange Cream. This recipe is one that has been handed down through the generations in our family and is the ‘go to’ dish for anyone who is ‘off’ their food or just not themselves. It is tasty, nourishing, goes down so easily and gently that you are guaranteed to feel a little bit better after eating it. Of course, you don’t need to be feeling ill to eat it, this is delicious any day of the week, in fact this is my daughter’s favourite dessert. Make it in one large bowl or in smaller individual bowls or glasses just like you would with jelly. Continue reading

Mini Pancakes

Mini Pancakes bwtrmrked

Wondering what to have for a lazy breakfast this weekend ? Why not treat yourself and try these easy to make pancakes. These are a real favourite in our house for breakfast, lunch / brunch, we love  them too with Bucks Fizz on Christmas morning every year. They are quick and much easier to make than the thin traditional pancakes and I bet that once you master these you may never bother with the thin more labour intensive pancakes. These are easy for kids to make too – not a bad rainy day activity? They are wonderfully versatile…  you can serve them with crispy bacon & maple syrup, a squeeze of lemon & some sugar or your own favourite toppings e.g. golden syrup, chocolate spread, raspberry jam etc. You do need to have a reasonably good non-stick pan that you use only for making pancakes and / or omelettes. The recipe will make approx. 20 pancakes but the mixture will keep overnight in the fridge, if you don’t want to make them all at once or rather eat them all at once! One thing guaranteed is that whatever number you make, they will all be eaten! Continue reading

Roasted Butternut Squash & Quinoa Salad


I absolutely love this salad, it’s colour, taste and texture not to mention all the nutritious goodies it contains. The recipe is one from Derval O’Rourke’s book “Food for the fast lane”.Quinoa is the real deal in terms of plant-based protein and is both gluten-free and low GI. The pomegranate seeds are like shiny ruby-red jewels scattered over the top of the salad – how could you not love it. (Having said that I still haven’t mastered the art of getting the seeds out of the pomegranate without the red juice squirting over my clothes!)

I don’t really need an excuse to make this but I find it a really good lunch option as the protein content leaves you feeling really satisfied. It is also a very good meal to have after exercise  / training of any sort. The fact that it doesn’t take much time to prepare is a ‘clincher’. The salad can be served either warm or cold so it works as a great healthy lunch-box option too.

Handy Tip:  Cooked quinoa keeps well in the fridge so I always make enough for 2/3 days. I also roast the full butternut squash as this keeps well also and means tomorrow’s lunch is sorted too!

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