Slice Of Slim: March 2015

Friday, 27 March 2015 -

4 comments

Hot Off The Press NEWS : Blogging for Gemini Fashion and a few thoughts on body image!

In the world of blogging, you never quite know where you might be going next.

So, I was thrilled when Georgia-part of the vibrant young social media team at

Gemini Fashion, got in touch with me to see if I'd like to be a regular contributor of my low fat Slice Of Slim recipes on the blog section of their brand new website.
(All my recipes have approximate calories and WeightWatchers Propoints calculated for you)

Gemini is a fabulous triple bay-fronted shop right in the heart of Stratford-Upon-Avon. They house an array of inspirational brands with offerings from companies such as Great Plains, Sandwich and Avoca to name but a few. They carry a large variety of styles to suit all tastes, shapes and sizes and helpful, knowledgable staff to advise you if you wish.

They have just launched their new website which is fresh, inspirational and informative. It's packed full of details of current trends, offers, lifestyle tips and of course an online shop so you can purchase their gorgeous stock wherever you live!

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They invited me to a styled photoshoot so that they could show me their Spring/Summer 2015 ranges and introduce me as their new blogger on their website. Of course, I couldn't arrive empty-handed, so I made the team some of my famous chocolate-dipped grape fruitypops!

(See above)

Before I arrived, I had sent them my sizes, height, colouring etc., so that their stylist (the lovely Elizabeth) could pick out some suggested outfits for me.

The equally fab Hannah, their photographer, really put me at ease once I got there.

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This experience alone made me realise that losing my weight four years ago had not really made me ever reflect on how I could change my style or colour palettes to suit the new me.

I think it's quite common when you lose a few stone that although it's fun to fit into smaller jeans or more fitted clothes, it takes a while for our brains to catch up with the new person we represent from the outside. Many of my personal body hang-ups haven't really gone away. Infact sometimes I still feel like my large old self, 4 1/2 stone (62lbs) heavier than I weigh in today. I've even walked towards myself more than once in shop mirrors because I don't recognise myself!

So, Gemini did me a huge favour as they gave me a couple of hours to really try new styles and colours and experiment with what suited me. It was refreshing to have had outfits picked out for me because I probably wouldn't have considered many of the colours, patterns or styles-discarding them before I had even tried them! I can highly recommend this process-especially if you have reached your goal weight and need to find your new personal style. What an incentive to keep the weight off too if you treat yourself to a few key pieces!

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Here's a link to the feature they wrote about me and it lists all the brands I was wearing in the images with links to the items on their website.

(Click HERE)

You can also sign up to their free newsletter where you will receive a weekly email sharing information and, from April, recipes from little old me!

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Inspirational gems from Gemini

Saturday, 21 March 2015 -

0PP IDEAS, Bonfire Night, FILLING AND HEALTHY, RECIPES (all), Salads, Side Dishes, SIMPLE START- Salads, SIMPLE START- Vegetarian, Snack Ideas, SOMETHING FOR NOTHING (0pp), Vegetarian, ZERO PP IDEAS

3 comments

RECIPE : Coleslaw

I have always loved coleslaw, but not the shop-bought kind, only homemade. I find the commercial stuff very sickly, artificial and acidic to taste. Another reason is probably because my Mum makes the best coleslaw ever-so I learnt how to make it from her.

I've stuck to her technique and some of her ingredients, however in true Slice Of Slim style, I've swapped the mayo for Total 0% Greek yoghurt. This means you can still have lashings of dressing which is the trick to a great coleslaw.

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This WHOLE bowl is 1pp/approx.180kcal and is enough for 4 generous portions, so each portion is 0pp/approx.45kcal!

(When you compare this to a shop-bought coleslaw which is around 3pp/140kcal PER TABLESPOON I think you'll agree I'm onto a winner here!)

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YOU WILL NEED : (Serves 4)

2 medium carrots

1/4 white cabbage

2 Spring onions

For the dressing;

80g Total 0% or 2% fat Greek yoghurt

juice of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lime

1-2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or seasoned rice wine vinegar

1-2 teaspoons granular artificial sweetener

lashings of freshly ground black pepper

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In a large mixing bowl, weigh out the yoghurt. Add the lemon/lime juice or vinegar depending on your preference.

Mix really well until smooth and creamy, then add the sweetener and black pepper. Sweetening the dressing is so important as it balances out the acidity. Keep tasting until it's just how you like it- more tangy, extra creamy, a pepper kick etc.

Once you're happy with the flavour, slice the Spring onions and add to the dressing.

Depending on the gadgets you have, either pop the cabbage and carrots into a food processor on a course grater mode....or grate coarsely by hand...or if you have the patience, grate the carrot but slice the cabbage really finely with a sharp knife for a great texture.

I bung all mine in the food processor as it literally takes 30 seconds!

Now add the shredded veggies a handful at a time to the dressing and coat well with the dressing each time using a metal spoon. You just seem to get the best coverage with this technique and everything ends up with an even coating. (Thanks Mum!)

Taste again, adjust any flavours then transfer to your serving bowl. It's just so fresh, clean and delicious!

This will keep for a couple of days in the fridge but is at its best when freshly made.

I served mine with a baked sweet potato for 6pp/approx.250kcal and a tablespoon of yoghurt-the colours are just amazing together!

I love it with some chicken, tuna or a piece of griddled salmon. Just remember to calculate any propoints/calories for anything you add to the dish.

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Coleslaw Heaven!

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To Ring The Changes...

Try using red cabbage instead of white for a dramatic colour combo.

Add caraway seeds for an aniseed tang.

Add dill or chopped chives to the dressing.

PRINT RECIPE HERE

Thursday, 5 March 2015 -

4PP IDEAS, Desserts, RECIPES (all), SMASH AND GRAB (all), Snack Ideas, Vegetarian

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SMASH & GRAB : Greek Yoghurt with Banana, Tahini & Chocolate

This delicious pudding is the simplest little dish to make yet has fast become my favourite sweet fix.

The combo of creamy Greek yoghurt, sweet banana, rich sesame tahini and silken chocolate drizzle is just a joy to behold! You might think tahini is a strange ingredient to add-but think along the lines of salted caramel-it's that savoury-sweetness that adds a new dimension to these ingredients.

It literally takes a couple of minutes to prepare too-another winner in my book.

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This works out to 4pp/approx.236kcal per portion

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YOU WILL NEED:(Per portion)

100g Total 0% fat Greek Yoghurt

1 tablespoon cold water

1 medium banana

1 teaspoon tahini

3 teaspoons/15g Choc Shot

(Either the original or Orange Spice variety)

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Weigh the yoghurt into your serving bowl and add 1 tablespoon cold water.

Mix well to thin down the yoghurt slightly. I've recently discovered that by adding a little water to the 0% fat Greek yoghurt, it improves the texture immensely, otherwise it is very thick.

This gives it a silken creaminess reminiscent of the full fat version.

Slice the banana on top of the yoghurt.

Measure 1 teaspoon tahini.

Drizzle on top of the banana.

Pop the bowl onto kitchen scales and drizzle 15g of Choc Shot straight from the packaging.

You will have this delightfully rustic, messy pudding.

Mix and swirl the flavours together gently before savouring this sweet, filling, yummy bowl of low fat decadence!