Wednesday, October 8, 2008

CORE Ham Minestrone Soup in 10 minutes

A quick, easy, cheap and filling soup.

Serves: 6-12 (makes about 5 litres, but can be scales down easily)

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • vegetable stock cubes/powder
  • 1/2 pack french onion soup mix
  • 1 cup small sized pasta
  • 1kg bag frozen mixed vegies
  • a couple of cubes of frozen spinach
  • handful of chopped smokey bacon/ham
  • crushed garlic
  • 1-2 tins diced tomatoes
  • Italian herbs mix

Method:

Boil a large pot of water, add everything
Cook on medium with lid on until pasta is tender (about 10 mins).
Season with some Italian herbs mix and pepper.

Not on Core? With 200g ham off the bone and 100g pasta, the whole pot is approx 10-12 points, depending on how much peas and corn are in the mixed vegies.

Friday, September 26, 2008

CORE Thai Turkey StirFry (or Pork or Chicken)


I used diced turkey fillet for this and it was lovely and moist. You could also use diced chicken thigh (breast may be too dry) or pork fillets.

Serves: 2

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

The stir fry:
  • 400g turkey fillet, cubed to 2cm (or chicken thigh or pork fillet)
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 small red capsicum, sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups green beans (frozen is fine)
  • lemon wedges


Thai Marinade:

  • 1 tsp mint
  • 1 tsp lemongrass (or juice of 1 lemon)
  • 1 tsp chilli paste
  • 2 tsp coriander

The "nest" - choose 2 of the below in contrasting colours:

  • bean sprouts
  • baby spinach
  • grated carrot
  • shredded lettuce

Method:

Mix the herbs in a non-metallic bowl and add a few tsp of water to make a thinish paste (I use commercial tubes of wet crushed herbs. If using fresh, the quantity given is once pulverized - you could throw it all in the food processor).
Add the turkey to the herbsand stir in. Cover and marinate for 20 minutes.
Spray a nonstick frypan or wok with oil and heat to medium-hot.
Add the capsicum and onions and a few TB of water and cook for a few minutes.
Add the turkey and a few more TB of water. Water helps to steam fry food and reduces oil needed.
Cook turkey for about 5 minutes, then add beans (I added still frozen)
Stir fry for a few minutes until beans are done.
Meanwhile, prepare the nest on the plates/bowls by adding a layer or ring of nest vegetable 1 (I used 2/3 cup bean spouts per serve)
Add nest vegetable 2 leaving about a 2 cm ring showing vegetable 1 (I used a generous handful of baby spinach)
Serve the stirfry on the center of the nest with a wedge of lemon (the lemon is the "sauce" and dressing all in one)

Not on Core? The only points here are for the meat - 4 points for 200g of turkey, chicken thigh or lean pork fillets.

Monday, September 22, 2008

CORE Savoury Beef & Veg Crepes

Pictured with optional light mozarella topping (+1 pt)

Serves: 14-ish crepes depending on size (I ate 4)

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • Basic crepe recipe cooked as per recipe
  • 200g premium mince fried with half an onion (aka savoury mince mix)
  • 1 cup vegies chopped small (I used frozen mixed veg)
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 1 cube frozen spinach
  • 1/2 cup plain tomato pasta sauce (like Sugo Bello)
  • Italian herbs mix
  • 1 Spring onion

Method:
Microwave the mixed vegies, spinach and corn.
Add the beef mince, tomato sauce, spring onion and herbs and mix. Allow to cool as hot filling and fingers don't mix.
Spoon 2-3 heaped teaspoons of the beef mince in a line down the center of the crepe, roll up and place on serving plate, 4 or 5 to a serve.

Optional - sprinkle with 20g shaved light mozzarella (+1 pt) and 1-2 TB of the tomato sauce.

Microwave for 1:30 - 2:00 minutes and serve

Not on Core? The total of the beef mix is approx 8 points + the total of the crepes 9 = 17 points to make 14 crepes (2.5pts for 2)

CORE Basic Crepes


Recipe is suitable for sweet or savoury crepes
This recipe keeps nicely in the fridge, cooked or in batter form.
Cover tightly with plastic wrap so it doesn't absorb other fridge flavours


Serving suggestion - a platter of sliced fruits and vanilla yoghurt (cream for non-watchers), build your own style for desert of breakfast.


Note - these cook very quickly and need all your attention for 10-15 minutes. Keep the kiddies occupied somehow :)

Makes: 14 crepes the size of bread and butter plates

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 2 eggs
  • 200ml nonfat milk
  • 1/2 cup cornflour (80g or 6 TB)
  • oil spray

You'll also need paper towel

Method:
Whisk eggs, milk, then add flour and whisk a little more.
Heat a small non-stick skillet (I used a 18cm) until very hot. A heavy based skillet is best.
Spray skillet lightly with oil.
Pour 20-30ml of the batter into the pan (I measured 30 ml in a medicine glass) and QUICKLY swirl the pan. The batter will cook in about 20 seconds, so be quick!
When the batter no longer looks shiny, flip and cook other side for about 20 secs.
Get a plate and put one sheet of paper towel on it.
Flip the crepe onto the plate.
Repeat, stacking the crepes with a sheet between each one (stops them getting soggy and sticking together.

To serve, put a few teaspoons of cold filling and roll up (or fold up). For hot crepes, microwave for about 20-30 secs each.

Not on Core? The total of this recipe is 9 points (2 pts for 3 crepes)

Note - the acceptability of using of corn flour in "Core" cooking is debatable, as not all brands corn flours are Core. If in doubt, the amount used is 4 points, divvy up.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

CORE Steel Cut Oats Porridge

I have recently been exposed to steel cut oats and they are fabulous!
What are Steel cut oats?
Steel cut oats are whole grain groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) which have been cut into only two or three pieces. Also known as Scotch or Irish oats. They look like a chopped up rice grain.
Rolled oats have usually been steamed, rolled and toasted (sometimes more than once), so steel cut is significantly less processed than traditiional rolled oats or quick oats.
Steel cut oats are different in texture and taste from rolled oats. They are a little chewier, have a nutty flavour and need to be cooked longer (like brown rice compared to white). They also take longer to digest and keep you full a lot longer! When I eat Steel cut, no snacks necessary between meals.
Generally not in supermarkets, but cheap from health food shops ($3-ish for 500g) or loose in bulk from grain/organics type places.

This recipe reheats well. I make a batch and put in 4 tubs.
I put 1/4 cup milk on the cold oats and microwave for 2-3 mins.


Serves: 4

Difficulty: Easy
Time: about 30 minutes

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup steel cut oats (200g)
  • 1 TB olive oil (oil is optional, dry toasting works well in non-stick pans)
  • 1 tsp mixed spice or cinnamon
  • 1 cup nonfat milk
  • 3 cups water
Method:
Warm a large non-stick pan with 1 TB olive oil.
Note, if you have a good non-stick pan you can dry toast without the oil (ie a pan which is black inside - eg Circulon, or any of the new post-Teflon breeds)
Add 1 cup steel cut oats and toast for a few minutes (go by smell and colour).
I like to add 1 tsp of mixed spice or cinnamon when toasting.
Then turn down to lowest heat, add 3 cups boiling water, cover and simmer for 20 mins WITHOUT STIRRING (hence the nonstick).
Stir, add 1 cup milk and simmer for another 5-10 mins.
Serve with a splash of nonfat milk and your favourite toppings.

Click here for lots of flavouring ideas

NB - if in a hurry, don't toast, but flavour is greatly improved by this
Not on Core? The total for this recipe is approx 15 points (4 points for serve)

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

CORE Caramel Couscous Upside-down Cake

I suggest using a short round silicone cake tin.
Mine is 20cm wide and 3cm high and it filled it to the top - perfect.
It's a moist cake and using a high tin might break the cake when you turn it out.
Great for breakfast
Serves: 4+

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup dry couscous
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 3/4 cup Cottees Diet Caramel Topping (1 pt)
  • 400g tin of pineapple slices in juice, drained
  • 1/3 cup frozen berries
  • 1 egg
  • 100g vanilla diet yoghurt (or natural low fat and 2 tsp vanilla)
Method:
Mix couscous, water and 1/2 cup of the topping in a microwave bowl.
Microwave on high for 4 minutes (5 mins for under 1000W).
Stir, add the remaining caramel and let cool (15 minutes or so)
Mix in the egg and yoghurt.
Spray a baking tin with oil.
Arrange the pineapple rings in the base, adding large frozen berries in the center of the rings and filling the gaps with little ones.
Pour the couscous mixture over the top and smooth off.
Bake at 180*C for 30-35 minutes until firm and pulling away from the edges.
Put a plate upside-down on top of the cake tin. Gently flip the plate and tin and remove tin.

Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting - it's a moist cake that is a litle fragile straight out the oven. You can always serve neat slices and warm in the microwave :)

Core + 1 pt for the recipe
If eaten at mealtimes, the cake is Core, but there is 1 pt, which rounds to "zero" if you have 4 serves
Not on Core? The total of this recipe is approx 8.5 points (2 for a quarter size serving)

Monday, September 15, 2008

CORE Potato, Cannellini Bean & Yoghurt Mash

A delicious twist to mashed potato.
Great for serving under your meat with a salsa or sauce poured over top
(see picture of Beef & Couscous Patties next recipe down)

Serves: 6 (or 4 large servings)

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 600 g potato, peeled and cubed
  • 1 x 400 g can cannellini beans, rinsed well
  • 2 tsp crushed garlic
  • 150 g natural low fat yoghurt (2/3 cup)
  • 1 1/2 tsp Italian herbs (or oregano)
  • 2 tsp dried parsley flakes (or 1 tsp fresh)
  • 1 x spring onion, chopped, green only
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 tsp olive oil

Method:
Cook potato in boiling water for about 15 minutes.
Add cannellini beans and cook for 5 minutes.
Drain and mash just the potato and beans, then add rest and mash a little more.

Not on Core? The whole recipe is approx 13 points (2 pts a serve)

Friday, September 12, 2008

CORE Beef & Couscous Patties


Moist and tasty beef patties with couscous, tomatoes and herbs
Serving suggestion: on a bed of mash with a dollop of salsa
Pictured with Potato, Cannellini Bean & Yoghurt Mash

Serves: 4 large muffins (the 1 cup "American" style)

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup dry couscous
  • 2 tsp powdered beef stock (or 2 cubes)
  • 250 grams savoury mince mix (uncooked weight), or 250g premium mince, cooked with 1/4 onion and garlic and cooled
  • 1/2 cup tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup "creamed" style cottage cheese
  • 1 spring onion
  • 2 egg
  • 2 tsp Italian herbs mix (or your favourite herbs/spices)

Method:
Add couscous, stock powder and 3/4 cup boiling water to a large mixing bowl.
Allow water to absorb and cool.
Add all ingredients and mix well.
Spray muffin pans with oil.
Divide mix between muffin trays
Bake in preheated oven at 180*C for 35-40 mins.

The easiest way to de-tray these is to run a knife or spatula around edge of pan. Invert a baking tray or chopping board on the top. Flip the whole arrangement and give a firm tap on the kitchen counter and they will pop out easily.

Not on Core? The total of this recipe is approx 21 points (5 pts per muffin/patty)

Recipe modified from Buttermint's couscous muffins

CORE Berry Couscous Muffins / Puddings

Great for breakfast or dessert.
Hot or Cold
Particularly nice with vanilla diet yoghurt and strawberries

Recipe is 9 points - I made 9 muffins so that if I have for "snacks", 1 muffin is 1 pt.
Feel free to make 8 or 10, or whatever.

Makes: 9 small muffins (the 1/2 cup ones)

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup dry couscous
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup frozen berries
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • 1 1/2 TB Splenda
  • 1 x 200 g diet yoghurt in strawberry or other berry flavour
  • 2 tsp vanilla

Method:
Add couscous, and 1/2 cup boiling water to a large mixing bowl.
Allow water to absorb and cool.
Meanwhile, microwave the frozen berries for 2 minutes, then lightly mash with a fork. The object is to squish out some juice and break up the larger berries into smaller pieces, not to have puree!
Add all ingredients and mix well.
Spray muffin pans with oil.
Divide mix between muffin trays (they were about 3/4 full in 9 x 1/2 cup trays)
Bake in preheated oven at 180*C for 30-35 mins

Not on Core? The total of this recipe is approx 9 points (1 per muffin)

Recipe modified from Buttermint's couscous muffins

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

CORE Cubed Potato Bake

Serves: 2

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 300 g potato, peeled diced into 1cm cubes
  • potato sprinkle seasoning
  • oil spray

Optional - diced bacon

Method:
Steam potato for about 8 mins (it should be very slightly underdone)
Add half of the potato into 2 small ramekins.
Spray with oil and sprinkle with seasoning.
Put the other half in, spray and season again (if using bacon, add here).
Bake in a very hot oven until golden brown, darker around the edges.

Not on Core? 150 g of potato is approx 1.5 pts

CORE Beef Schnitzel

Serves: however many, quantities listed are for 2.

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • blade steak that has been tenderised by the butcher (150 - 200g each person)
  • 2 TB corn flour (you won't use all of it)
  • 2 tsp your favourite seasoning (I used 1 tsp of lemon pepper and 1 tsp Italian herbs)
  • olive oil

Method:
In a tough plastic bag (like those from the green grocer), add corn flour and seasoning, twist the top securely and give a little shake to mix up and check for holes.
Heat a large nonstick frypan with some olive oil until very hot.
Drop the first steak into the bag, twist off and shake the bag until the steak until evenly coated.
Add into sizzing pan and cook for a few minutes, turn ONCE and serve.

Not on Core? A 200g steak is approx 4 pts and tenderised is HUGE!

Monday, September 8, 2008

CORE "Smokey BBQ" Chicken Breast


Slicing grilled chicken is a good way to control your serving of chicken breast when the fillets are enormous and shows the lovely coloring from the smoky BBQ seasoning.

Serves: 2

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 2 medium chicken breasts (about 400g)
  • powdered "Smokey BBQ" seasoning

Method:
Put chicken on a plate and sprinkle seasoning over both sides. Allow to sit for at least 10 mins.
Heat a grill or frypan (I used a Foreman grill) very hot and cook chicken until done, turning only once (no need for a Foreman).
Slice and serve with a big plate of vegies.

Not on Core? A 200g chicken breast fillet is approx 4.5 points (raw weight)

The "enormous" serving pictured is 200g on a very large plate.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

CORE Slow Cooker Lemon Roast Chicken

A lovely moist roast chicken with subtle lemon flavour. It will fall off the bone.


Serves: 4+ (I used a 1.6 kg chicken and it served 6)

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 2 large lemons (or 4 small)
  • a chicken (or chickens) of size to suit your family

Method:

Cut the bumps of the end of the lemons. Cut 1 or 2 thin slices off each end. This will leave you with lemon chunks about 4 cm thick. Cut these in half so you have 2 lemon rings each about 2 cm thick. Put 2 or 3 lumps in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl - we're using these as "legs" to prop up the chicken to dry roast it.
Insert a few of the lemon slices into the carcass, making sure you have 4 slices left.
The chicken will cook better if you close the legs/carcass "hole". You can do this by tying the legs together, or use the "Chicken Shop Crossed Legs" method - stretch one leg away from the body, with sharp knife cut a 1 cm slit in the loose skin, pop opposite "ankle" through, then the other.
Put chicken on props, lay a slice of lemon on each breast, one on the tummy, and half slice each on the leg/thigh.
Put chicken in slow cooker bowl.
Optional - If you have time, put lid on and fridge at least overnight. Take out of fridge an hour or 2 before putting onto heat.
Add a thin layer of boiling water to bottom of slow cooker bowl, about 1/3 -1/2 cup.
Cook on low heat for about 8 or 9 hours or high for about 4.
Serve.

Optional - if your other family members are skin eaters, you may wish to brown off in oven/grill as the chicken is pale.

CORE Guilt Free Guacamole Dip


Is also lovely spread on sandwiches or as a hot/cold sauce to grilled beef, chicken or lamb.

Serves: About a cup

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 1 x 340g tin asparagus in spring water, drained
  • 1/3 jar of mild salsa
  • 1 "clump" of coriander
  • 1 spring onion
  • 1 tsp garlic
  • cracked pepper
  • carrots or other crudities (raw vegies) as dippers
Method:
Whiz all until mixed. Peel a carrot or 2 and dive in.

Note: If you make the day before, it will seperate a little in fridge overnight. This is fine - it's 2 "wet" vegies :) Just stir it before serving

Not on Core? This recipe is ZERO points

CORE - The Perfect Omelette

Serves: 1
Instructions are for 1 x 2 egg omelette in a bread and butter plate skillet. Double for a 4 egg omelette in a dinner plate sized pan.

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggs
  • olive oil or spray

Method:
There are 2 keys to the perfect omelette:
(1) use a non stick pan
(2) for every egg you use a half egg shell of water - thank you year 9 Home Ec teacher! This works for any type or size of egg (I've done with duck eggs)

Spray pan with oil (or use paper towel).
Heat pan on high (eg 8/10 setting) until pan is very hot.
Add 2 eggs and 2 half eggshells of water to a bowl and whisk (or blender or shake) until very fluffy.
Pour into pan, gently rolling the pan to give good coverage (it should look like a weird cappacino).
Turn down to medium-low (eg 2/10) and cook without a lid until only the top 1mm or so isn't set (the fluff will still be there).
Sprinkle with salt/pepper/herbs and spread "filling" on half of the omellet (warm it a little if you are putting heaps in)
Cook a further couple of minutes until egg is set and doesn't look "wet"
With a big spatula (try 2 spatulas for large omelettes), fold in half and slide onto plate.
Serve immediately! Omelettes lose their fluffiness if they sit.

Filling suggestions:

  • grated low fat cheese (family friendly). You could also add bacon or ham
  • ricotta/cottage cheese, tomatoes (deseed), Italian herbs, bacon
  • asparagus, corn, capsicum and salsa
  • cooked mushrooms
  • mince, salsa, baked beans
  • ham, mushrooms, olives, tomato, pineapple, touch of grated cheese, Italian herbs (think like calzone - your favourite pizza flavour is great!)
  • left over roast chicken, and chopped vegies with cottage cheese
  • have a half serve of "left overs"? Many leftovers can be used in omelettes (ask, "would I put it in a toasted sandwich?")
  • MY FAVE - cottage cheese, smoked chicken breast, asparagus, corn, capsicum, spring onion, basil

If you put a decent filling in, you probably won't want toast with it.

Not on Core? The basic omelette is approx 3 points for 2 eggs, plus whatever you use as filling

CORE Perfect Rice, Every Time

Serves: adaptable

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients Ratio:

For every cup of rice, you need 2 cups of boiling water
ie 1/2 cup rice and 2 cup water, 2 cups rice and 4 cups water

Absorption Method:

Add rice and water to a pan, simmer with lid on, stirring occasionally until all water is absorbed.

If you have a pot which "sticks", use an extra 1/4 cup of water and stop when there is a thin layer of 1 or 2 mm of water at bottom and strain off.

  • White rice: 12 - 15 minutes
  • Brown rice: 25 - 30 minutes

You do not need to drain or rinse the rice if you are using straight away.

Microwave : use a large container with a steam venting lid to prevent making a mess of your microwave. If you don't have one, then a microwave jug with plate on top works well. Timing depends on microwave and quantity, but when the water is all absorbed, the rice is done.
Brown rice can be done in the microwave, but I think is better on the stove.

Left overs:

If you cook too much rice, tip into a strainer and wash with cold water.
(Why? It stops from continuing to cook in it's own heat and also stops it sticking together).
Drain and fridge/freeze in sealed container or tub.
To reheat, simply put in strainer and tip over a kettle of boiling water.
You can microwave cold rice, but I only recommend this when there is a sauce on top as it can stick together.

Flavoured rice:

Add stock cubes and/or strong herbs like garlic, parsley, coriander, rosemary to water.

I often add frozen vegies in the last 5 minutes to flavored rice for a quick side dish.

Hints

  • If you are cooking a stew or curry and it won't thicken, considering adding some rice and simmering for about 12 minutes. Add about a cup of rice (recipe for 4 or 6) and if it starts looking a little dry before the 12 minutes, add a dribble of water.
  • To make a hearty casserole, add up the liquids you've added and add slightly less than half the quantity of rice.
    eg a can of tinned diced tomatoes and 2 cups of stock would be approx 3 or 3.5 cups, so add 1.25 to 1.5 cups white rice.
    Rice takes close to an hour to cook in a lidded casserole. If your casserole is cooking for a lot longer to
    tenderise the meat, add rice about an hour before end.
  • Rice and slow cookers can equal mush. Add about 2 hours from end and don't stir it.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

CORE Tuna and Zucchini Paella

Picture coming - food doesn't photograph so well when it's hot ;)

Tuna, rice, lemon pepper and vegies.
Nice hot or cold as a salad.


Serves: 6

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 1.5 cups basmati rice
  • 3 tsp vegetable stock powder (or 3 cubes)
  • 1 x 420 g chunk Tuna in Spring Water
  • 1 tin diced tomatoes
  • 2 or 3 zucchini, sliced in 0.5cm slices
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 2 tsp grated lemon zest
  • cracker pepper
  • 4 tsp olive oil
  • 3+ cups of frozen beans
  • 1 cup corn kernels

Method:

Heat a large nonstick pan, add 2 tsp oil.
Sautee onion and zucchini until onion goes clear and zucchini skin is bright green.
If like me, you prefer al dente zucchini, remove onion and zucchini to a bowl, otherwise leave in pan.
Add last 2 tsp oil and dry rice, stir to coat.
Add 2 cups of water, stock powder/cube and the tin of tomatoes and simmer over low heat, stirring frequently. Add extra water as water absorbs (I used 2 3/4 cups water in total)
After about 20 minutes, add the tin of tuna (don't bother draining) and the frozen veg (still frozen).
Simmer for 5 minutes, add zucchini back.
Season with a good dose of cracked pepper and add the lemon zest.
Simmer for 5 mins and serve

Not on Core? The total points for this is approx 22 points (3.5 pts per serve)

Saturday, August 30, 2008

CORE Roasted Asparagus

Pictured with Stuffed Capsicum and vegies
Entertaining tip - tie 5 asparagus spears into a bunch with 4 or 5 chives before baking

Serves: 4

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 1 bunch of fresh asparagus (choose thin ones rather than thick ones)
  • olive oil
  • salt and cracked pepper

Method:

Trim cut end of asparagus stems.
Spray baking dish with olive oil.
Arrange asparagus in single layer, tips all at same end.
Spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Roast in oven for about 8 minutes or until bright green and tender crisp.


Not on Core? The points for this recipe is only for the olive oil used

CORE Stuffed Capsicums


Capsicums filled with rice, beef, tomatoes and Italian herbs.
Great served hot or cold.


Vegetarian option
Instead of beef mince, use:
finely chopped mushrooms, eggplant or zucchini and grated carrot lightly sauteed with onion and garlic. You may wish to add a few capers or olives.

Serves: 4

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 4 red capsicums.
    They need to be round, about the size of a softball or grapefruit with a flat bottom so they will sit reasonably flat.
    (Alternatively, use long red capsicums and cut in half top to bottom to make "boats". You may wish to cover the rice mix with alfoil so it doesn't dry out)
  • 2 /3 c dry basmati rice
  • 200g premium beef mince
  • 1/2 large onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp crushed garlic
  • 3 TB tomato paste
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 TB chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp dry basil or Italian herbs

Method:
Add rice and 2/3 c water to microwave container with lid (one that lets steam vent)
Microwave for approx 9 minutes. Most of the water should be absorbed, and the rice should be chewy not crunchy.
Heat frypan, add oil, mince, onion, garlic. Cook until brown.
Add the mince to the warm rice, with tomato paste and herbs.
Cut the top off capsicums, about 1 cm from top (pair capsicum lids with their bottoms)
Spoon the rice mix into the capsicum "cups", compact with the back of spoon and put lid back on, lining up ribs if possible.
Bake in moderate oven until capsicum begins to brown and "wilt".



Not on Core? This recipe is approx 12 points (3 per capsicum)

CORE - Tropical Fluff / Mousse

This tropical mousse is made just from jelly and yoghurt,
so is Core for snacks or dessert.


Only 0.5 points per serve.
Serves: 4

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
  • 1 packet of raspberry diet jelly crystals
  • 1 packet of peach and apricot diet jelly crystals
  • 2 x 200g tubs of non fat vanilla yoghurt (I used Nestle Diet)

Method:

In a 6 cup capacity bowl, add jelly crystals and 1 cup boiling water.
Stir with fork to dissolve and allow to cool on bnch for 30-60 minutes.
Add 1 cup cold water and yoghurt and mix with hand beater or whisk.
Pour into four 200ml glasses or glass bowls.

Try different combinations of jelly flavours, just be mindful of the colours you will create (ie green + orange = looks disgusting, even if it tastes good)

Not on Core? The total for this recipe is 2 points (0.5 pts per serve)