Maple sausage roast

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Simple meals don’t have to be boring  

I have been on a mission to make simple and tasty meals. I aim to create recipes that can be prepared and cooked quickly on a busy weeknight. We all struggle to make healthy and delicious meals while keeping on top of everything else in life. So this recipe is designed to be healthy, delicious and easy to make. You can cook this meal on a single tray in the oven. The preparation takes no more than 20 minutes and is portioned to feed four adults.  

Updating as we go

Early in 2021, I made the move to relocate and update my website; I’ve been making changes and improving all of the things as I go. This recipe is one of the many things I’ve tried to improve. This recipe is one of the first one-tray meals I came up with back in 2015. It has remained a regular meal that I crack out when we get some good quality sausages from Pokeno.

One tray of awesomeness

This recipe is one of the very first one-tray meals I made back when we started eating clean. I was big on throwing dinner in the slower cooker before heading off for a busy day at work, but it was always nice to have something a bit different on the weekends. The combination of tasty sausages and fresh vegetables always won on a Saturday afternoon after a day with the kids. We don’t spend our weekends running around playgrounds with the kids, but we still love a one-tray maple sausage roast.

Maple sausage roast

Ingredients

  • 8 pork sausages cut into 3rds
  • 1 red onion cut into 8th
  • 2 red apples cut into chunks
  • 2 red peppers cut into chunks
  • 2 courgettes cut into chunks
  • 2 sweet potatoes cut into chunks
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp. thyme
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Instructions

Preheat oven to 210 °C/ 410 °F. 

Line a roasting tray with baking paper or a silicone liner.

In the roasting tray, mix together all ingredients but keep the maple syrup to one side. 

Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove the roasting tray from the oven.

Stir everything up and pour the maple syrup on top of everything.

Bake for another 10 minutes.

If your sausages are thick, you may need to cook them longer.

  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats 

Ingredients

  • 8 pork sausages cut into 3rds
  • 1 red onion cut into 8th
  • 2 red apples cut into chunks
  • 2 red peppers cut into chunks
  • 2 courgettes cut into chunks
  • 2 sweet potatoes cut into chunks
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp. thyme
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 210 °C/ 410 °F. 
  2. Line a roasting tray with baking paper or a silicone liner.
  3. In the roasting tray, mix together all ingredients but keep the maple syrup to one side. 
  4. Bake for 20 minutes.
  5. Remove the roasting tray from the oven.
  6. Stir everything up and pour the maple syrup on top of everything.
  7. Bake for another 10 minutes.
  8. If your sausages are thick, you may need to cook them longer.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 292 calories; 13g fat; 26g carbohydrates; 18g protein

Equipment 

  • Chopping board
  • Knife
  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper or silicone liner
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Tongs
  • Spatula 

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Garlic Pulled Pork

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Revisiting family favourites

I’ve been revisiting recipes that have been some of my old-school recipes and family favourites that were our staples when we got started as clean eaters. I first posted this recipe in 2015; at that time, the kids were fussy, vegetables had to be hidden and disguised, and there was no potential for intense flavours or spice. 

Times (thankfully) have changed, the kids have grown (like man-sized grown), and they now enjoy a wide range of foods. Things like vegetables are enjoyed, spice and chilli are consumed without complaint, and new ingredients are tried without tantrums.

As the kids have grown, my recipes have changed organically to meet their palates and preferences, I’ve updated this recipe because of that, but fear not; all I have done is make it a little bit better.

Converted to love pork

I never really liked pork. I always found it dry and bland or very chewy, so I stayed away from it. Now I know a little more about the different pork cuts and the differences between good quality meat and mass-produced meat. Good quality meats well-raised make all the difference. 

Pork shoulder

Pork shoulder is one of the meat cuts that I have come to love over the last few years. It is cheap to buy, easy to cook and can be used in many different ways. Pork shoulder is excellent; you cook it once and end up with about five meals. When buying pork shoulder, pick a joint that has the bone in, as it will have more flavour, and the best-tasting meat is right by the bones. This recipe is basic; it lets the natural flavour of the pork shine and makes it a perfect base for other meals.

Garlic pulled pork recipe

Ingredients

  • 1-1.5kg pork shoulder
  • 6 garlic cloves, mashed
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. chilli powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Place the onions in the bottom of your slow cooker, and build a little platform for the meat.


Place the pork shoulder on a chopping board.


Season the meat with salt and pepper, then sprinkle over the onion powder and chilli powder.


Spread the mashed garlic all over the meat, make sure to get it in all the little pockets around the shoulder.


Place the meat on the onions in the slow cooker.


Cook the meat on low for 8-10 hours.
Once the pork is cooked, you can pull it apart using forks or claws!

Garlic pulled pork

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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1-1.5kg pork shoulder
  • 6 garlic cloves, mashed
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 tsp. onion powder
  • 1.tsp. chilli powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Place the onions in the bottom of your slow cooker, build a little platform for the meat.
  2. Place the pork shoulder on a chopping board.
  3. Season the meat with salt and pepper then sprinkle over the onion powder and chilli powder.
  4. Spread the mashed garlic all over the meat, make sure to get it in all the little pockets around the shoulder.
  5. Place the meat on the onions in the slow cooker
  6. Cook the meat on low for 8-10 hours.
  7. Once the pork is cooked, you can pull it apart using forks or claws!

Nutrition

Per Serving: 236 calories; 13g fat; 1g carbohydrates; 30g protein

Equipment

  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Forks 
  • Slow cooker

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Banana blueberry cake

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Updating as we go

Earlier in 2021, I moved to relocate and update my website; I’ve been making changes and improving all of the things as I go. This recipe is one of the many things I’ve tried to make better.

Something sweet but healthy

Sometimes we need something sweet to get us through the day. In the spirit of not eating crappy processed food, I like a simple recipe that is easy to whip up and reasonably healthy. This cake is easy to make, uses pantry items you should have already and will only take a short time to sit down and enjoy.

Banana blueberry cake

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour, sifted
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 bananas, ripe
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 3 tbsp. honey
  • 1 cup blueberries

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, mix together the coconut flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon and nutmeg.

In another bowl, mix together the eggs, bananas, coconut oil and honey.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Fold in the blueberries.

Take a spring-form cake pan and line it with baking paper or a silicone liner.

Pour the batter into the cake pan.

Bake the cake for 30 minutes or until the cake is cooked through.

Remove the cake and allow it to cool slightly before removing it from the cake pan.

Banana blueberry cake

  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats 

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour, sifted
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 bananas, ripe
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 3 tbsp. honey
  • 1 cup blueberries

Directions

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together the coconut flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon and nutmeg. In another bowl, mix together the eggs, bananas, coconut oil and honey. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in the blueberries. Take a spring-form cake pan and line it with baking paper or a silicone liner. Pour the batter into the cake pan. Bake the cake for 30 minutes or until the cake is cooked through. Remove the cake and allow it to cool slightly before removing it from the cake pan.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 166 calories; 12g fat; 14g carbohydrates; 3g protein

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl x2
  • Fork
  • Wooden spoon
  • Cake pan
  • Baking paper or a silicone liner
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Apple slaw

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Make your own

If you are like me and you try to avoid mass-produced processed foods, the best option is to make your own. When you make your own, you get to control which ingredients you use and how much or how sweet you want it to be. Once you have a go at making your own and realise how easy it is, you will never go back to store-bought again. 

Reinvention

Years ago, I was looking for something to go with my garlic pulled pork. I had a great recipe from my former mother-in-law for a classic slaw that I decided to tinker with. This recipe is what I ended up with. The crisp apple goes so well with the crunchy cabbage and tangy honeygar. Like the normal slaw, it is quick and easy to make but packs a lot more punch in the flavour stakes.

If you have the attachments on a food processor, I recommend using the shredding and grating features to make it even faster to make your slaw. 

Apple slaw recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/2 head cabbage, finely sliced
  • 2 carrots, finely grated
  • 2 apples, finely grated or diced
  • 2 tbsp. honey-gar
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice

Instructions
Mix vegetables together in a bowl.


Add in the honeygar and lemon juice, mix and serve.
This makes enough slaw to go with a 2kg pork shoulder and will easily fill six grown and hungry men.

“Apple

  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1/2 head cabbage, finely sliced
  • 2 carrots, finely grated
  • 2 apples, finely grated
  • 2 tbsp. honey-gar
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice

Directions


Mix vegetables together in a bowl.
Add in the honeygar and lemon juice, mix and serve.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 71 calories; 0.2g fat; 17.5g carbohydrates; 1.8g protein

Equipment

  • Chopping board
  • Knife
  • Grater
  • Vegetable peeler
  • Mixing bowl
  • Fork 

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Primal Fish

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Are you looking for a way to make that white fish fillet more interesting? What if you could have a creamy fillet with a crunchy crust that takes 15 minutes to cook? Would you be game? This take on a crusted fish fillet is easy to make, tasty and a great weeknight option.

More nut challenges

I am one of those unfortunate people that are allergic to not only peanuts but also tree nuts. When it comes to food options, not having nuts on the menu can be challenging at times and frustrating at others. There are so many foods I would love to try or eat regularly but will never get the chance, thanks to nuts. Not eating nuts doesn’t have to be the end of the world; there are always replacements and alternatives that mean you can have a nut-free option. This recipe is my attempt to create a nut-free version of a usually nut-packed recipe.

No almond crust, thanks

At a restaurant a few years ago I saw almond-crusted fish that looked and sounded delicious, but there was no way I would get to find out how delicious it was. Thankfully I love the challenge of making something I’ve seen but never tasted. I set about trying to make a crust full of flavour that had a great crunch and would make everyone in the family happy. This is what I came up with. The sunflower seeds give the fish a great crunch; toasting them adds an extra level to their flavour and makes them a great alternative to nuts. 

Primal fish recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. Avocado oil 
  • Salt and pepper 
  • 300g halibut fillets
  • 1/2 cup easy mayo
  • 1 1/2 cups toasted sunflower seeds, finely chopped

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C/ 375 degrees F. 

Line a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone liner.

Lightly grease the liner or paper with the avocado oil. 

Take a large frying pan and place it over medium heat.

Add half the sunflower seeds to the pan when the pan is warm.

Move the seeds around, so they don’t burn, but so they can get some colour. 

When the seeds are golden, transfer them to a plate to cool slightly.

Repeat with the remaining seeds.

Place the seeds in a food pressor and blitz to break up the seeds. 

Take care not to over-process them; you don’t want sunflower seed meal.

Place the seeds on a plate and put them to one side.

Place the fish fillets on a flat surface and season them.

Once seasoned, brush the fish with a coating of mayo; you can do this with a knife or a brush.

Roll each of the fish fillets in the seeds, and be sure to coat them all over.

Place the coated fillets on the baking tray.

Bake the fish for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. 

When the fish is cooked, remove it from the oven and squeeze the lemon over the fish. 

Serve with a salad or roasted vegetables.

Primal fish

  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats 

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. Avocado oil 
  • Salt and pepper 
  • 300g halibut fillets
  • 1/2 cup easy mayo 
  • 1 1/2 cups toasted sunflower seeds, finely chopped

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C/ 375 degrees F. 
  2. Line a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone liner.
  3. Lightly grease the liner or paper with the avocado oil. 
  4. Take a large frying pan and place it over medium heat.
  5. Add half the sunflower seeds to the pan when the pan is warm.
  6. Move the seeds around, so they don’t burn, but so they can get some colour. 
  7. When the seeds are golden, transfer them to a plate to cool slightly.
  8. Repeat with the remaining seeds.
  9. Place the seeds in a food pressor and blitz to break up the seeds. 
  10. Take care not to over-process them; you don’t want sunflower seed meal.
  11. Place the seeds on a plate and put them to one side.
  12. Place the fish fillets on a flat surface and season them.
  13. Once seasoned, brush the fish with a coating of mayo; you can do this with a knife or a brush.
  14. Roll each of the fish fillets in the seeds, and be sure to coat them all over.
  15. Place the coated fillets on the baking tray.
  16. Bake the fish for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. 
  17. When the fish is cooked, remove it from the oven and squeeze the lemon over the fish.
  18. Serve with a salad or roasted vegetables.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 471 calories; 37.7g fat; 14g carbohydrates; 25.2g protein

Equipment

  • Measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons
  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper or a silicone liner 
  • Fork 
  • Frying pan
  • Spatula
  • Food processor

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Omelettes

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Master the basics

Eating clean gets a lot easier once you have mastered a few essential recipes. This recipe is basic; not like basic unicorn basic, more like beard and flannel basic. Back to the point (which isn’t Unstable unicorns), having basic skills and recipes in your arsenal means you will never be left with only Uber Eats as your weeknight option. Once you master this recipe, the possibilities are endless.

Simple meal

The omelette is stupidly easy and only takes a few minutes to make. The omelette is one of my go-to recipes when I’m short on time and low on options. They are an excellent option for breakfast, lunch or even a simple dinner with a salad. The method is simple, and you can add extras whenever you want to make some tasty meals.

Omelette recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A small knob of butter

Instructions

Crack eggs into a mixing bowl and beat them well.

Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

Over low heat, melt the butter in a frying pan.

When the butter has melted, and the pan is hot, pour in the eggs.

Make sure the eggs are evenly spread in the pan.

The eggs will set and start to firm around the edges; if you have any liquid egg on top, gently push the egg away from the edge and allow the liquid egg to move into the space created.

When all of the egg looks set, use your spatula to fold the omelette in half. 

When the bottom is golden brown underneath, it is ready to serve.

Transfer the omelette and serve.

  • Servings: 1
  • Rating: ★★★★
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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats 

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A small knob of butter

Directions


Crack eggs into a mixing bowl and beat them well.
Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Over low heat, melt the butter in a frying pan.
When the butter has melted, and the pan is hot, pour in the eggs.
Make sure the eggs are evenly spread in the pan.
The eggs will set and start to firm around the edges; if you have any liquid egg on top, gently push the egg away from the edge and allow the liquid egg to move into the space created.
When all of the egg looks set, use your spatula to fold the omelette in half. 
When the bottom is golden brown underneath, it is ready to serve.
Transfer the omelette and serve.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 173 calories; 14g fat; 0g carbohydrates; 12g protein

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl 
  • Whisk
  • Frying pan
  • Spatula  

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Avocado mousse

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Did you know you could freeze avocado? 

I only recently discovered that you could freeze them, with that piece of information you now get to have avocado all year round. With this potential abundance of avocado in your life, you will need to find new and interesting uses for avocado. 

Enter avocado desserts

I love this dessert because it is quick, easy and packed with healthy ingredients, what more can you ask for? 

We are working hard to eat clean with no slip ups so having a dessert that tastes like really rich chocolate while being good for you is a big tick in the win column. 

This mousse passed the little (and big) boy chocolate test, they thought it tasted just as good as mousse that you buy.

The beauty of this dessert is that you can make it before dinner and put it in the fridge.

Avocado mousse recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 avocados
  • 125ml milk
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1 tbsp. chia seeds
  • 1 tsp. stevia
  • 1 tsp. maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend until everything is smooth.

Put the mousse into glasses and chill for an hour before serving.

Avocado mousse

  • Servings: 4
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Chocolate and avocado are a match made in heaven, this rich mousse is perfect for a weeknight treat



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 2 avocados
  • 125ml milk
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1 tbsp. chia seeds
  • 1 tsp. stevia
  • 1 tsp. maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions

  1. Place all of the ingredients into a food processor and blend until everything is smooth.
  2. Put the mousse into glasses and chill for an hour before serving.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 60 calories; 2.2 g fat; 7.8 g carbohydrates; 2.7 g protein

Equipment

  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring jug
  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Spoon 
  • Food processor
  • Spatula
  • Glasses  

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

No Sugar Meringue

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What are Meringues?

The meringue started as little cookies that were crispy on the outside and chewy inside. There are a few different types of meringues from across Europe that have slightly different ingredients and techniques. Meringue has been used for cookies, pavlova, Eton mess, and lemon meringue pies.

Big on sugar

There is one thing that all meringues have in common is a considerable amount of sugar, which isn’t my bag. Some recipes take a long time to get right from a technical cooking perspective and others from a flavour perspective, it is usually one thing or another, but in this instance, it took a long time to get the flavour and the technique right. I will save you the tale of woe and the many failed experiments to get a recipe that gave me silky meringues that once baked were crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. All you need to know is the best combination of cream of tartar, apple cider vinegar and monkfruit sweetener. 

No sugar meringue recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp. Cream of tartar
  • 3 tbsp. Monkfruit sweetener
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla bean powder

Preheat to 135 degrees C / 275 degrees F.

Crack the eggs and separate the egg whites from the yolks*.

Place the egg whites into a large, clean bowl or a mixer.

Using an electric whisk, start to beat the egg whites, use a medium speed setting on the whisk.

Beat the whites until they become foamy.

Whisk in the apple cider vinegar.

Add the monkfruit sweetener one tablespoon at a time, then whisk in the vanilla bean powder.

Keep beating the egg whites until they are stiff peaks and look glossy.

Line a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone liner.

You can use a spoon to put the whites onto the baking tray; alternatively, you can use a piping bag to create shaped meringues.

Bake at 135 degrees C 275 degrees F for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, turn down the oven’s temperature to 100 degrees C 210 degrees F and cook for another hour.

After an hour, turn the oven off and keep the meringues in for another 2 hours.

When the oven has cooled completely, remove the meringues and put them into an airtight container.

You can store the meringues at room temperature until you need them.

*keep the yolks. You can add them to your homemade mayo to make it more creamy

No sugar meringue

  • Servings: 24“
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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“These



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats 

Ingredients

– 3 egg whites – 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar – 1/4 tsp. Cream of tartar – 3 tbsp. Monkfruit sweetener – 1/4 tsp. vanilla bean powder

Directions

  1. Preheat to 135 degrees C / 275 degrees F.
  2. Crack the eggs and separate the egg whites from the yolks*.
  3. Place the egg whites into a large, clean bowl or a mixer.
  4. Using an electric whisk, start to beat the egg whites, use a medium speed setting on the whisk. Beat the whites until they become foamy.
  5. Whisk in the apple cider vinegar.
  6. Add the monkfruit sweetener one tablespoon at a time, then whisk in the vanilla bean powder.
  7. Keep beating the egg whites until they are stiff peaks and look glossy.
  8. Line a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone liner.
  9. You can use a spoon to put the whites onto the baking tray; alternatively, you can use a piping bag to create shaped meringues.
  10. Bake at 135 degrees C 275 degrees F for 15 minutes.
  11. After 15 minutes, turn down the oven’s temperature to 100 degrees C 210 degrees F and cook for another hour.
  12. After an hour, turn the oven off and keep the meringues in for another 2 hours.
  13. When the oven has cooled completely, remove the meringues and put them into an airtight container.
  14. You can store the meringues at room temperature until you need them.

Nutrition

Per Serving:14 calories; 0.1g fat; 0.3g carbohydrates; 3.3g protein

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Electric whisk
  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper or silicone liner
  • Piping bag
  • Star piping tip 

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Lamb Stew

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Freezer meal

Hands up if you are busy. Who is way too tired to get in the kitchen to cook at the end of the day? Definitely not me.

My days are filled with meetings, to-do lists, emails and telling people what to do; by the time I finish work, the last thing I want to do is get stuck into cooking a meal and then cleaning up afterwards. I want to work out and spend some time with Jaime. That is why freezer meals are my favourite solution to the challenge of a busy life. A few hours on the weekend, you find yourself with a stack of options for dinner that can be thawed and cooked for a healthy, delicious meal for the family.

An oldie but a goodie

This is an easy stew recipe; it was one of the first clean-eating stews and one of my go-to recipes for the winter. It was so easy to chop everything and bag it up for the freezer. Nothing was easier than putting the bag of vegetables and meat in the slow cooker and turning it on. So easy to prepare and make. This recipe is one that works great in the slow cooker but works just as well on the stovetop. It’s delicious on its own or with some buttered greens.

Lamb stew recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 onions, diced
  • 2 courgettes, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 sweet potatoes, diced
  • 1/4 cabbage, roughly chopped
  • 500g stewing lamb, cubed
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. rosemary
  • 1 tsp. fennel seeds, ground
  • 1 tsp. caraway seeds, ground
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest
  • 500ml vegetable stock

Instructions

For a slow cooker.

Place all of the ingredients into your slow cooker. 

Turn the slow cooker to a low heat setting for about 7 hours.

For stove cooking.

Find a pot that will be large enough for all of the stew. 

Over medium heat, brown off your meat in batches. 

Try not to overcrowd the pan. 

When the meat is browned, set it to one side.

Add the onions to the same pan and cook them off until they soften slightly.

Add the carrots, courgettes, sweet potato and cabbage to the pot with the stock, herbs and spices.

Add the meat into the pot, and bring the stock up to a simmer.

Let the stew cook over low to medium heat for about 2 hours until the meat is tender.

“Lamb

  • Rating: ★★★★★
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“This



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats 

Ingredients

  • 2 onions, diced
  • 2 courgettes, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 sweet potatoes, diced
  • 1/4 cabbage, roughly chopped
  • 500g stewing lamb, cubed
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. rosemary
  • 1 tsp. fennel seeds, ground
  • 1 tsp. caraway seeds, ground
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. lemon zest
  • 500ml vegetable stock

Directions

  1. For a slow cooker.
  2. Place all of the ingredients into your slow cooker. 
  3. Turn the slow cooker to a low heat setting for about 7 hours.
  4. For stove cooking.
  5. Find a pot that will be large enough for all of the stew. 
  6. Over medium heat, brown off your meat in batches. 
  7. Try not to overcrowd the pan. 
  8. When the meat is browned, set it to one side.
  9. Add the onions to the same pan and cook them off until they soften slightly.
  10. Add the carrots, courgettes, sweet potato and cabbage to the pot with the stock, herbs and spices.
  11. Add the meat into the pot, and bring the stock up to a simmer.
  12. Let the stew cook over low to medium heat for about 2 hours until the meat is tender.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 398 calories; 6g fat; 32g carbohydrates; 39g protein

Equipment

  • Measuring spoons
  • Scales
  • Measuring jug
  • Slow cooker
  • Stockpot
  • Wooden spoon

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Fajita Chicken Casserole

1 Comment

Revisiting family favourites

I’ve been revisiting recipes that have been some of my old school recipes and family favourites that were our staples when we got started as clean eaters. I first posted this recipe in 2018; at that time, the kids were fussy, vegetables had to be hidden and disguised, and there was no potential for intense flavours or spice. 

Times (thankfully) have changed, the kids have grown (like man-sized grown), and they now enjoy a wide range of foods. Things like vegetables are enjoyed, spice and chilli are consumed without complaint, and new ingredients are tried without tantrums.

As the kids have grown, my recipes have changes organically to meet their palates and preferences, I’ve updated this recipe because of that, but fear not, all I have done is make it a little bit better.

Can you improve fajitas?

Maybe you can, by turning them in to a casserole. So, full disclosure, I first made this recipe because of a brain fart. One Friday night shop didn’t go to plan, so I had all of the ingredients for fajitas, except for tortillas. What is life without a little challenge? Not wanting to make another trip out to the supermarket, I decided to do something different with my fajita ingredients. Some melted cheese and bite-sized chicken chunks combined with the fajita vegetables make perfect comfort food.

Fajita chicken casserole recipe

Ingredients

  • 10 boneless chicken thighs
  • 1 pepper, sliced
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 250g cream cheese, softened
  • 205g cheese, grated 
  • 2 tbsp. fajita seasoning

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ 350 degrees F. 

Place the chicken in the casserole dish and cover the dish with foil.

Bake the chicken for 30 minutes or into the chicken, is cooked through.

When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and set it to one side to cool.

Drain any liquid from the casserole dish.

In a frying pan over medium heat, cook the pepper and onion until they are golden and soft.

When the chicken is cooled enough to touch, chop it into bite-sized chunks.

In a bowl, mix the cream cheese and half of the cheese with the fajita seasoning.

Add the chicken, onion and pepper to the cheese mix, give everything a good stir to coat all of the chicken with the cheese mixture.

Put the mix back into the casserole and sprinkle it with the remaining cheese.

Bake the casserole for 30 minutes until the casserole is hot and the cheese is bubbling.

  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 10 boneless chicken thighs
  • 1 pepper, sliced
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 250g cream cheese, softened
  • 205g cheese, grated
  • 2 tbsp. fajita seasoning

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ 350 degrees F.
  2. Place the chicken in the casserole dish and cover the dish with foil.
  3. Bake, the chicken for 30 minutes or into the chicken, is cooked through.
  4. When the chicken is cooked remove it from the oven and set it to one side to cool.
  5. Drain any liquid from the casserole dish.
  6. In a frying pan over a medium heat cook the pepper and onion until they are golden and soft.
  7. When the chicken is cooled enough to touch chop it into bite-sized chunks.
  8. In a bowl mix the cream cheese and half of the cheese with the fajita seasoning.
  9. Add the chicken, onion and pepper to the cheese mix, give everything a good stir to coat all of the chicken with the cheese mixture.
  10. Put the mix back into the casserole and sprinkle it with the remaining cheese.
  11. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes until the casserole is hot and the cheese is bubbling.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 486 calories; 26 g fat; 3 g carbohydrates; 34g protein

Equipment

  • Scales
  • Measuring spoons
  • Knife
  • Fork 
  • Chopping board
  • Casserole dish
  • Frying pan
  • Wooden spoon
  • Tongs
  • Mixing bowl
  • Spatula 

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.