Basel Dragons

If you don’t have the time to read a book, here are 20 proven and effective tips for getting rid of your spare tyre.

(more…)

Healthy Lamb burger * Martin’s favourite*

Ingredients
1 onion, very finely chopped or grated
1 free-range egg, beaten
450g (16oz) minced lamb, extra lean
1 stick celery, very finely chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp dried mixed herbs
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
50g (1¾ oz) fresh breadcrumbs

This is a Grub Club recipe.

Method
1. Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands until well combined.
2. Divide the mixture into eight and form each portion into a ball. Using your hands, press the mixture together firmly. Turn each ball onto a lightly floured surface and press down with the palm of your hand to form burgers.
3. Grill or barbecue for 5-8 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Serve with whole meal bread rolls and salad.

Healthy Chicken stir fry

Ingredients
3×125-150g/4½-5¼ oz chicken breast fillets, skinless
1 tbsp corn flour
¼ tsp Chinese five-spice powder
4 tbsp vegetable oil
125g (4½ oz) cashew nuts, un-roasted and unsalted
2 medium carrots, halved and cut into strips
4 spring onions, sliced diagonally
1 medium courgette, halved and cut into strips
125g (4½ oz) sugarsnap peas
1 ripe medium mango, stone removed, quartered, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tbsp dry sherry
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
whole meal rice or Chinese noodles, to serve

Method
1. Cut each chicken breast in half lengthways, slice thinly and place in a bowl. Mix together the corn flour and Chinese five-spice powder. Sprinkle over the chicken and toss well together.
2. Heat 2 tbsp of the vegetable oil in a wok and stir fry the chicken pieces for 3-5 minutes until cooked and lightly browned. Remove from the pan and keep warm.
3. Add the remaining oil to the pan and quickly stir fry the cashew nuts until lightly browned. Add the carrots, spring onions and courgette and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the sugar-snap peas and mango slices and cook for a further 1-2 minutes.
4. Return the chicken pieces to the pan and add the dry sherry and soy sauce. Stir fry for 3-4 minutes, then serve immediately with boiled rice or Chinese noodles.

Healthy Potato Wedges

Ingredients
450g/1lb medium new potatoes
a few tbsp olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
optional fresh herbs, such as thyme/oregano/rosemary, chopped

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Place the potatoes into a glass dish, cover with cling film and pierce with a fork. Place into the microwave on a medium heat or until almost tender.
3. Cut the potatoes lengthwise into wedges and place into a roasting tin. Drizzle with the olive oil and season. Add the herbs if you like.
4. Place in the oven for about 30 minutes or until golden-brown.
5. Drain on absorbent kitchen paper and serve.

Steamed Scallops with ginger, Soya and spring onion.

Classic oriental ingredients – ginger, salad onions and soy sauce add a delicious flavor to simple steamed scallops – a great dinner party starter.

Ingredients
16 scallops in the shell
1 tsp finely chopped fresh root ginger
120ml/4fl oz sesame oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp fresh coriander chopped
3 salad onions, finely sliced

Method
1. Fill the base of a steamer with water and bring to the boil.
2. Sprinkle the scallops with the ginger. Place in the steamer and steam for about 4 minutes until only just set.
3. Put the sesame oil and soy sauce in a small pan and warm through.
4. Arrange the scallops on four plates and pour over the sesame oil and soy sauce. Sprinkle on the coriander and sliced salad onions then serve.