50´s inspired circle summer dress

I rarely sew anything to fit myself anymore. Perhaps because it is difficult to get just the right fit. I started looking for a easy way to make a full skirt to a dress I had in mind and stumbled over a few websites. Ruffles and roses crafts was a huge help in creating this dress as the measurements and the simple pattern fit perfectly to my measurements.

The South Beach diet

Well I have decided to start South Beach phase 1 again. I have learned so much the years I have done this diet, better yet lets call it a lifestyle change. Even though i haven´t been totally faithful to it since my daughter was born I do however enjoy the wonderful recipes (especially dinner) from my South Beach cookbook. This taught me to enjoy food without cutting out any major food groups and still loose weight!

Most wonderful book that explains every phase and how it really works!

Phase 1 however is the strict detox phase and is somewhat limited. This phase is to be followed for 2 weeks only, it kickstarts your weight loss. It is definitely worth it to get rid of your cravings for those refined and processed foods and focuses back on stabilizing your blood sugar levels.

Phase 2 you start introducing carbs back into your diet, however there are still some restrictions and as this is the weight loss program you keep to this phase until you get to your desired weight.

Phase 3 is the phase that gives you the change to maintain the life style and your desired weight. I have never gotten to this phase because I become "bad" after a while on phase 2, so my goal in 2012 is to loose the weight and the ultimate goal is to get to phase 3!

In my South Beach cookbook I have seen the most delicious recipes for phase 3. Some I have even tried at dinnertime as I have ever since the first time I tried South Beach, kept our dinners quite healthy.

So since I have started this again you might see some recipes from my South Beach cookbook or perhaps some inspired by what is allowed on this diet. I already have some great ones in the blog, so my plan is to clean up and make the blog a bit easier to surf through. From now on South Beach will be called S.B. on my blog, just to shorten it a bit ;)

Hope you guys enjoy following me on this, and I will update how my weight loss is going.

Mashed vegetables

If you have a picky eater like mine you might be having difficulties in getting them to eat their vegetables. My daughter is 18 months now and very determined not to eat bites of vegetables. So I thought back to when we made homemade baby food, she use to love sweet potato mash. Sweet potatoes are rich in iron and beta carotenes and are one of the best vegetables to give your child. Then I remembered back on my south beach diet, their "mashed potatoes" made from cauliflower. So how do you get your child to eat different types of vegetables? I suggest you try this one and see what your little one thinks. Sweet potato can be your basis vegetable and then you can switch up having cauliflower, broccoli, or perhaps carrots. There is no limit I think, just try different ones to fit your child's liking.

(recipe makes many portions, great for freezing)

3 medium sweet potatoes
1/4-1/2 cauliflower
water

Steam, boil or bake the vegetables until soft. Mash the veggies in a large bowl with a potato masher. Add some water till you get the nice consistency your child likes. If steaming/baking you will need to use fresh cooked water, otherwise you can use the boiling water that you used when boiling.

We have tupperware's smartsteamer, I have to say this is incredibly easy and fun to use especially for making kids food, healthy is it as well.

And there you have it, a nice potato mash that your child might enjoy just as much as mine does.

(I add a little butter and pepper for my girl for extra fat and a little spice).

I love using my Wean Meister freezer pods for freezing these types of food for my little one.

Then you just run over one of the pods with hot water and pop it out like you would an ice cube. This saves time and energy for those busy parents, and your child still gets their favorite food heated up!

Bon Appetit!

Lemon and garlic scampi with couscous salad

I just love scampi, not only for the taste but they are so quick to make!

This one reminds me of summer, but even in the winter I can enjoy this quick meal when I have very little time. This one is inspired by the South Beach diet, and is great for phase 2.

Since I am alone these days with my little one as my husband is working out at sea I decided to make a dinner for my self after my daughter went to sleep, so this recipe is for one.

10-12 scampi (devein and butterfly them)
1/2 solo garlic (minced)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
good drizzle of olive oil
sea salt
blended salad leaves
1 small red onion
olive oil
50ml whole wheat couscous
100ml water


Devein and butterfly the scampi, chop up garlic and mix in with the scampi. Add oil, chili powder, lemon juice and salt. Let it sit in the marinade while you boil up the water, add couscous and take off heat and let sit with the lid on for 5min. Rinse salad and chop up onion, and place on a plate and drizzle with a little olive oil. Fry the scampi on high heat in a pan, place scampi on skewers if you like, only turn them once otherwise they will get dry. Scampi are done when they turn orangepink! Serve with couscous and salad.

Bon Appetit!!

Carrot and red lentil soup

The flu season is here, and my family and I have already had our share over Christmas. I don't mind so much having a cold, but loosing my taste buds is the absolute worst. A sore throat is also not a wish because food is anything but pleasurable. Looking for healthy easy meals to eat might seem difficult when you are sick but what could be better then a fresh homemade soup made in 30 minutes?!

Carrots are high in beta carotene and packed full with vitamin A, C and calcium. Red lentils are high in iron and are great in soups as they cook quicker then other lentils and can be a good substitute for meat or when they are the only thing available in your cupboard.

The south beach Indian soup that I have shared before is one of my mostly viewed posts, and is definitely the inspiration of this delicious carrot and lentil soup.

I wanted a good healthy soup that did not need to be chewed, therefor it became a vegetable soup, and the chicken bouillon can easily be substituted with a vegetable bouillon for a vegetarian dish. Now that the family is better we still enjoy this soup that is inexpensive and quick to make on those colder days :)

500g carrots (chopped)

1 cup red lentils

1 medium onion (sliced)

3-4 garlic cloves or one whole solo garlic as I used here (minced)

1 tablespoon fresh ginger (minced)

2 chicken bouillons 

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1 liter water

1 teaspoon curry

1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

salt to taste

Cilantro (koriander) for garnish *optional*

Start by washing, peeling and chopping carrots, slice the onion, and mince garlic and ginger. Heat the oil in a large pot and fry the vegetables for 5 minutes.

Stir in the lentils and pour over water with the bouillons.    

Let simmer 15 minutes and then mix everything in a blender or use a stick blender and then return to the pot. Season the soup as spicy as you like, but the amount I have here is a pleasant one.

Garnish with cilantro and serve with bread if you like, but this soup alone is great!

Bon Appetit!

Homemade Salsa

What is salsa really? Well in America it is a spicy, tomato-based hot sauce inspired of central american cuisine. 

But what is actually in salsa? and what do you use it with? Depending on what type of salsa you make, it can be served with so many things. It can be red, green, chunky, spicy or even sweet if using fruit.

I have a very simple recipe for salsa roja that I scrambled together when I found out we were out of store bought salsa only minutes before dinner was ready. Let me tell you, I will definitely not buy store bought again! This one can be served with Mexican food, Tex Mex or even your scrambled eggs in the morning :)

1 can or box of chopped tomatoes(I buy the 200ml box with chilies)

3-4 garlic cloves

1 big pot of cilantro (koriander)

1/2 yellow onion (optional, I use it if I have it)

* If you enjoy a really spicy salsa you could always add a fresh chili *

Chop up garlic, cilantro and onion.

 Mix in the tomatoes and chop up as finely as you like your salsa, if you want a chunky salsa do not chop the tomatoes, only mix in.

Serve with tortilla chips as a dip or a good mexican dinner!

Bon Appetit!

On a personal note

I have opend a new blog, called Alvemamman. It is more on a personal note and is written in Swedish, but I thought to share this one with those of you who can read the language and who wish to perhaps get to know me a little better then my various hobbies I share with you.

Take a look www.alvemamman.blogspot.com

(picture borrowed from google)

I wish everybody a Happy New Year, may 2012 be a great one! :)