Before the Christmas season comes and we end up overindulging on cakes, chocolate, and Turkey – it is a great idea to start losing a little bit of weight to get lean and healthy before the celebrations.
Today we are going to share a few of the recipes you can add to your diet to help you shed a few pounds and feel more confident and lean for the winter season.
Stuffed butternut squash
As well as drinking more green tea and taking weight loss pills to help you shed some weight – trying to eat more vegetables is a great idea. This recipe is packed full of vitamins and will digest easily helping you to stay full without feeling bloated.
Ingredients:
- 1 butternut squash
- 200g minced beef
- 300ml tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp mixed herbs
- Cheddar and Parmesan
- Mixed salad leaves
- 1 tsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- Cut your butternut squash lengthwise in half. Scoop out the seeds and stringy flesh.
- Poke holes in the butternut squash, drizzle with a little oil, and cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes covered, and 10 minutes uncovered.
- Meanwhile, fry some minced beef in a pan, and add mixed herbs. Once browned and cooked, add to tomato sauce and mix well.
- Once the butternut squash is cooked, use a fork to fluff up the interior and add the meat mixture.
- Sprinkle some cheese on top and bake for 10 minutes.
- Make a simple salad by mixing leaves, olive oil, and red wine vinegar in a bowl. Toss to coat and serve with your butternut squash.
Salmon and Romesco sauce
This amazing recipe takes a superfood and vamps it up to a whole new level with one of the most amazing fragrant sauces.
Ingredients:
- 2 salmon fillets
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- 2 roasted peppers
- 4 sun dried tomatoes
- 50g almonds
- 1 tbsp Sherry vinegar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 garlic clove
- 200g green beans to serve
- Add your roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, almonds, Sherry vinegar, smoked paprika, and garlic in a blender. Blend until smooth, adding a little olive oil to loosen. Set aside.
- Allow your salmon to come to room temperature while you heat up a pan.
- Season salmon with salt and pepper, coat with some oil, and place skin down on a hot pan.
- Fry for 4 minutes on each side for a beautiful soft interior and a crispy exterior.
- Heat up a couple of tablespoons of your sauce, and steam some green beans.
- Serve and enjoy!
Wine roasted chicken
This irresistible wine roasted chicken is a great excuse to enjoy a Pinot Grigio with your Friday evening meal. Healthy and hearty, it’s perfect for date night.
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, butterflied
- Salt and pepper
- 1 garlic clove
- 250ml Pinot Grigio
- 1 shallot
- 1 bulb fennel
- 200g baby potatoes
- 200g asparagus
- Parsley to garnish
- Season Chicken with salt and pepper and olive oil. Add to an oven safe hot pan and pan fry for 4 minutes on each side, take out and set aside.
- Add oil to the same pan, followed by chopped shallot, chopped fennel, and chopped garlic. Cook out for a few minutes.
- Add your chicken back into the pan along with wine, and then roast in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Poke holes in your potatoes and boil them for 10 minutes until tender. Boil or steam the asparagus.
- Serve your chicken with potatoes and asparagus as well as parsley.