Tag Archive | calories

Clever Cocktails

Sep9

Here they are as promised!! Try these fun cocktail recipes, which have some healthy rehydrating ingredients to help balance out the effects of the alcohol (provided you do not over indulge of course!). Most cocktails you find on menus are packed with syrups and sugar, whereas these are as pure as possible.  They are vodka or tequila based and super quick (and fun) to make.  #Shake it ;-)

THE CUTEINI

A refreshing clean cocktail

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

- 1 cucumber, juiced

- 8 Shots of ice cold vodka

- 1tbs agave nectar

- a handful of fresh mint

- 2 cups of ice

METHOD

Combine your fresh cucumber juice with the ice, vodka, mint and agave in a food processor, blitz,  strain and serve straight up with a slice of fresh cucumber on the side of the glass

 WATERMELONKA

A thick fruity cocktail without the aggressive sweetness of added sugar or syrup

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

- 1/4 of a large watermelon

- 8 shots of vodka

- 2 cups of ice

- A splash of blood orange juice

METHOD

Combine the ingredients in a food processor and serve in champagne glasses with fresh watermelon to garnish

THE McQ

A hybrid inspired by the ever popular Mojito, the crisp Caprioska and the merry Margarita

The Agave plant is the source of both Agave Nectar and Tequila, so by combining the two here you achieve a harmonious smooth flavour

INGREDIENTS
Serves 4

- 2 limes

- A large handful of fresh mint

- 6 shots of tequila

- 1 tbs agave nectar

- Ice

- Salt

METHOD

- In a cocktail shaker smash the limes, mint and agave together

- Add the tequila and ice and shake

- Rub a wedge of lime around the top of the glasses and twist them in some salt on a board so they are coated around the top

- Strain and pour the cocktail into the glasses

- Garnish with fresh mint. Enjoy (responsibly :-) )

Its Party Time! Fancy a drink?

Sep8

 

 

In honour of the upcoming COSMO BLOG AWARDS party in London, I thought it would be fitting to post an article about cocktails!

I am working on the recipes now and will post them as soon as they are perfect!

I find that whenever I pick up a cocktail menu, there is rarely an option that is not laden with sugar and calories.  Vodka soda is relatively calorie free, but it is not exactly the most exciting drink in the world.  I am devising some sugar free cocktail recipes now, containing fresh ingredients such as mint, cucumber and lime.  As you already know, I am a massive fan of Agave Nectar as it is low GI and has fewer calories than honey. Tequila is made from the same agave plant as my beloved sweetener, so it will be one of my signature cocktail ingredients.  I am about to give my friends the taste test now, so stay tuned to EmmaMcQueen.com for the recipes and results ;-) xxx

 

Fat Free Fresh Lavender, Agave and Lemon Frozen Yogurt

Sep3

Coming home with my Barbarac Ice Cream in St Tropez

I absolutely love frozen yogurt, as you can see by my review of Snog London  - Snogging is Good For You -

Here in St. Tropez there is a Legendary Ice Cream Parlour called Barbarac, which has put Hagendaaz and Ben and Jerry’s out of business.  It reigns supreme in the Port serving delicious home-made ice creams and sorbets, and stays open till 3 am.  There is always a queue snaking out of the door and the ice cream is delicious.  The range of flavours is wide and varied, from caramel to bubblegum and stracciatella.  I love the mint chocolate flavour, dark chocolate and of course their signature yogurt.

Delicious Home-made ice creams, beautifully presented in the bustling Port of St Tropez

The attention to detail is lovely – the other day I bough some to take home and put inthe freezer, and they presented it in a flower shaped bowl, with lots of mini cones for serving.

Barbarac Ice Cream and Mini Cones

#ModerationNotDeprivation :-)

I was inspired by them to make my own frozen yogurt here in France.  Of course, in true EmmaMcQueen.com style I tried to make it as fresh and healthy as possible.  I used lavender from my garden, fat free yogurt and agave nectar to sweeten since it is low GI and has fewer calories than honey or sugar.

It has quite a refreshing tart taste giving it a rather ‘grown up’; it makes a brilliant palate cleanser at the end of a meal.  If you want to make it sweeter, simply add more agave.  Experiment until you get it  just the way you like it. :-)

Fat Free Fresh Lavender, Lemon and Agave Frozen Yogurt

INGREDIENTS

A small handful of fresh lavender

1 cup of cold water

4 tbs agave nectar

A squeeze of lemon, optional

250 ml Activia yogurt

METHOD

In a pan on a high flame, allow your lavender, agave and lemon to simmer in the water

After about 20 minutes it would have reduced

Allow to cool before whisking into your yogurt

At this stage put it in your ice cream maker or into a freezer proof dish

If you do not have an ice cream maker, whisk the mixture frequently as it freezes to make sure it is free of crystals

Serve with a sprig of fresh lavender for decoration

Enjoy ;-)

 

Bip Ling’s Bikini Body – Super Juices!

Aug30

Juice Party! ;-)

Fresh vegetable juices are healthy healers, full of immune system boosting, cancer fighting, skin, hair and nail illuminating goodness.  On our quest for Bikini Body perfection, we enjoy them as a meal replacement, or healthy snack.  Bip said she felt like she’d had a glass of champagne after sampling the juices!  They give you such an incredible energy boost and taste great.

It is best to make your own fresh juices, since bottled juice is high in sugar and loses some of its goodness when pasteurized.  Here are 4 fantastic juice recipes and 1 delicious smoothie that is a great for breakfast.

CARROT SUPREME

3 Carrots

1/2 Cucumber

3 sticks of Celery

2cm piece of Ginger

Ice

This is one of my all time favourite juices.  The carrots add sweetness, and are full of Beta-Carotene which helps eye and skin problems, strengthen your immune system, to help reduce your chance of catching flu, other infections, and even cancer.  The ginger gives spice and awakens all your senses.  You will also get a good dose of vitamin K, which is essential for healthy bones and plays a role in correct blood clotting functions.

APPLE ZINGER 

2 Apples

2 sticks of Celery

Half a Cucumber

2cm Ginger

Juice of half a Lemon

Ice

This is a sweeter juice, but still has some pretty impressive health benefits.  With the afore mentioned benefits of celery and cucumber, this juice also has apple which has been shown to reduce the risks of all kinds of cancer, from breast to bowel, lower your cholesterol, help you lose weight, ease asthma, protect your bones and even may stave off Alzheimer’s Disease.

RED DRAGON

J U I C E

3cm raw un-peeled Beetroot

2 Apples

1/2 Cucumber

Handful of Kale

Ice

Beetroot is an cancer crusher! It also reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes whilst being packed with folic acid. It is a notorious blood cleanser, and helps treat anaemia and fatigue since it also has a high iron content.

There are plenty of other juices and I will update this section of my page with as many ideas and combinations as I can.  But anyone can invent their own healthy and delicious juice, so get experimenting.  See what works, see what you like, adjust the quantities – if you like it spicy add more ginger, if its not sweet enough add some more apple.  The juicing world is your oyster – get involved!

Bip & the Beetroot

GREEN GODDESS 

Handful of Kale

Handful of Baby Spinach Leaves

1/2 Cucumber

5 Sticks of Celery

Ice

Green Goddess

Green juices are the best of the best as they contain the most nutrients of all juices, and they are sugar free.  You may find them too bitter at first, and if so you may add 1/2-1 apple to sweeten the taste but over time your palette will adjust to love these flavours.

Here is a recipe for a delicious breakfast smoothie – Bip loved it! It contains oatbran which helps prevent the absorption of fat in the gut and provides fibre which is essential to a healthy diet.  Yogurt has also been proven to help with weight loss, and the healthy bacteria are also necessary for a well functioning digestive system.  The berries provide antioxidants and garnish with pomegranate seeds for an extra superfood boost!

BERRY OAT-BRAN BLITZ

Berry Oat-Bran Blitz

INGREDIENTS

100g Frozen Berries

2tbs Natural Low Fat Yogurt

1tbs Oat-bran

A little Apple Juice to loosen the smoothie

A little Agave Nectar to sweeten if desired

Pomegranate seeds and mint to garnish

In a food processor, blitz all the ingredients and serve immediately.  Enoy ;-)

See my article ‘JUICY‘ for more nutrition facts and juice recipes.

JUiCY

The Olympic Torch – Feel the Burn!

Aug8

The London 2012 Olympic Torch

Today I held the London 2012 Olympic Torch!  After finishing another fantastic full body workout with Roger Frampton, Head Trainer at Re-Model-Me, I passed through Hyde Park to find the Torch on display at an event sponsored by Coca Cola.

The Re-Model-Me workout was brilliant as always.  Roger and I found a fantastic ‘studio’ to exercise in – the canopy of a beautiful old tree!  We attached the FX Pro bands, and used them for balance whilst doing one legged squats and pull ups, proving that you can workout anywhere! My calf muscles are very tight, and Roger tells me my beloved stilettos are to blame :-( .  I practically walk on tip toe even when I am barefoot, so it looks like it’ll be lots more stretching for me.  If your calf muscles are tight, try lying on your back, holding a band around your foot with your leg straight in the air.  With every exhale, try to stretch the leg a little more.

Stretching the leg muscles

One Legged Lunges

Roger Frampton

One Legged Squats using the FX Pro

Push UP

Pull UP
Roger Frampton, Head Trainer at Re-Model-Me

It is a question of strength and balance when it comes to your muscles, which is why I love training with Re-Model-Me, as they know how to get it just right :-)

See the Re-Model-Me website for more information on personal training and fitness.

On my way home, I saw one of my favourite landmarks, The Albert Memorial. I Love London :-)

I am so happy that EmmaMcQueen.com has been shortlisted for the COSMO BLOG AWARDS. Please click the cosmo logo link and vote for me in the FOOD CATEGORY. Thank-you x x x

Spring Onion and Coriander Turkey Burgers with Chilli Gogi Salsa

Aug5

Turkey is a fantastic protein source, and is lower in fat and calories than chicken. There are 90 calories and 1 gram of fat in a 3oz skinless turkey breast, as opposed to 165 calories and 5 grams of fat in a chicken breast of the same size.

The Chilli Gogi salsa is delicious, and packed with superfood goodness – avocados are a great source of good fats, gogi berries contain more beta carotene than carrots, and also 500 times more vitamin C by weight than oranges.  The chilli adds a kick, and and also speeds up metabolism.  They taste delicious wrapped in iceberg lettuce leaves, and therefore are bread-free burgers, which makes them perfectly bikini body friendly.

INGREDIENTS
Serves 6

2 packets of Waitrose minced turkey

1 bunch of  spring onions, finely chopped

1 handful of coriander, finely chopped

salt and pepper

For the Chilli Gogi Salsa

2 avocados, mashed

1 thai chilli, very finely chopped

juice of 1/2 a lime

2 tsp of gogi berries

salt and pepper

To serve

4 Sliced tomatoes

3 Sliced red onions

12 iceberg leaves, whole

Chill Gogi Salsa

METHOD

- In a large bowl, combine the turkey, spring onion, coriander, salt and pepper.  Kneed it with your hands until it is all evenly mixed

- Take a small ball of the mixture and squeeze it into a burger patty between your palms, then lay it on a piece of parchment. Repeat till you have used up all of your burger mixture

Making the turkey burgers

- Allow the burgers to rest in the fridge for an hour so they set

- To make the salsa, combine the mashed avocado, chilli, lime, gogi berries and seasoning, then transfer into a bowl to serve

- When you are ready to cook the burgers, put a griddle pan on a high flame and grease with a little olive oil.

Sizzle Griddle ;-)

- The burgers should take about 8 minutes to cook, turning them all the time, depending on the thickness of your burgers

- Prepare your board to serve with the lettuce, red onion and tomatoes, and serve your turkey burgers and salsa. Enjoy ;-)

Turkey Burgers with Chilli Gogi Salsa

Spring Onion and Coriander Turkey Burgers with Chilli Gogi Salsa

EmmaMcQueen.com – Nominated for the 2012 Cosmo Blog Awards

Superfood Fest! Chargrilled Salmon, with Avocado Salsa and Quinoa Salad

Aug1

Superfood Fest!

Certain foods are accredited with being healers and re-juvinators – we have come to know them as ‘Superfoods’.  They are high in anti-oxidents, rich in nutrients and even sometimes good fats as well.   The avocado is a leader among this super healthy group.  Avocados are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins C, K, and B6. Half an avocado has 160 calories, 15 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fat, and only 2 grams saturated fat. One whole avocado contains more than one-third daily value of vitamin C, and more than half the day’s requirements of vitamin K.

The Mighty Avocado

There are many recipes I will publish using avocados, but here is one that I made for a post workout lunch.

Chargrilled Salmon and Avocado Salsa -

Ingredients

1 avocado

Juice of 1 lime

1 handful of coriander, chopped

1 red onion, finely chopped

4 Salmon fillets

1 lemon

Method -

To make the salsa -

-Cut the avocado into small cubes

-Squeeze over the juice of one lime, which will stop the avocado going brown and is also an antioxident

-Mix with the finely chopped red onion and the chopped coriander

Simply grill the salmon for 6-8 mins per side depending on how thick the fillet is.  When the fish flakes easily, you know it is ready.

Serve with slices of lemon and season to taste.

Salmon is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin-D and selenium.  Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids, and we need them for good health, but our body cannot make them so we need them from sources such as salmon. They play a role in brian function, normal growth and can help prevent eye and heart disorders.

Another Superfood which is a great accompaniment to the salmon and avocado salsa is my  -

Spicy Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

1 cup of quinoa, with twice the amount of cold water in a pan

1 red pepper, finely chopped

1 red chilli, finely chopped

1 handful of coriander, chopped

1 handful of mint, finely chopped

1 handful of flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

1 red onion finely copped

1 large tomato, finely chopped

olive oil to dress

Mehtod -

-Rinse the quinoa well, then bring the quinoa to the boil then cover and simmer for ten minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed.

-Combine all the other in a large bowl, and when the quinoa has cooled slightly, add it to the mixture

-Dress with a little olive oil and garnish with more fresh coriander leaves

Quinoa is an ancient grain and a super complex carbohydrate source.  It is gluten free  and packed with hytonutrients, antioxidants and can help balance your blood sugar.  It is also full of protein, fibre and a very versatile ingredient for healthy recipes which I will be adding to EmmaMcQueen.com soon.

I am so happy that EmmaMcQueen.com has been shortlisted for the COSMO BLOG AWARDS. Please click the link and vote for me in the FOOD CATEGORY. Thank-you x x x

Make Merry Whilst the Sun Shines!

Jul26

MAKE A SPLASH!

After suffering through a record breaking ice cold ‘Summer’, finally, we have been rewarded with some decent weather! We could all be forgiven for not recognising that giant orange ball in the sky after the relentless rain, but now its back, lets make the most of it!!

Here are a few photos of what we have been upto.  Tweet me your fun Summer pics @Emma_McQueen :-)

Picnic Time :-)

DUDE

Go for a brisk walk in the country or your local park – burn calories whilst you take in the scenery

Feed the swans

A refreshing dip in the lake

I love fresh berries!! Full of anti-oxidents and delicious! Squeeze on some fresh lemon or lime. No need for cream. #YUMMY

Discover new outdoor activities

Enjoy light fresh salads – Saute some red onion in olive oil and garlic, blanche some green beans, ensuring they are still fresh and crispy so they retain their goodness, drain, combine with the onions and their oil, and crumble over a little feta cheese. Delicious

Think of the London 2012 Olympics and get some exercise outdoors and soak up that Vitamin D.l Pull ups using the FK Pro Bands with Re-Model-Me. Read my article about yesterday’s Riverside Re-Model-Me workout here.

Make new animal friends ;-)
feed the Giraffes at Longleat

We should try Goat Racing like they do in Tobago – Looks like fun!

Caution

Cat’s Eyes

Enjoy a candle lit warm summer evening

I wish I could slide off their boat right now :-)

Discover new flavours – here’s my latest purchase ;-)

Funk up your Summer Style – Nail art is all the rage so I went for it full throttle ;-)

Tickle those Ivories

Spot the cupcake … ;-)

I am so happy that EmmaMcQueen.com has been shortlisted for the COSMO BLOG AWARDS. Please click the link and vote for me in the FOOD CATEGORY. Thank-you x x x

Saw these on the COSMO BLOG AWARDS PINTEREST Board today. #Awesome #VoteForMe ;-)

Spicy Shrimp Summer Salad

Jul26

Enjoying my Spicy Shrimp Summer Salad in the Sun

The sun is still shining bright, so what better than a crisp zingy salad, full of flavour and goodness.  The refreshing taste reminds me of ceviche, and is the perfect light lunch to enjoy on a hot day like this.  It is also #BikiniBody friendly, since it is carbohydrate free, the shrimp provide protein, and the tomatoes are very hydrating.  As I have mentioned on EmmaMcQueen.com before, avocados are a superfood, so I have included them for their delicious taste as well as their amazing health giving properties.  I have served them in little gem leaves, so they are perfect for picnics, as you can just pick them up and dig in, and they are great to share with friends.

INGREDIENTS (serves 4)

2 packets of cooked king prawns

1 red chilli

4 little gem lettuces

4 Tomatoes, finely chopped

1 avocado, scooped out with a t-spoon into small pieces

2 eggs, hard boiled, finely chopped, to sprinkle at the end as a garnish

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Juice of 1/2 a lime

3 Spring onions, finely chopped

A handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped

Salt and pepper

METHOD -

- Combine all your ingredients in a large bowl

- Divide evenly between the little gem cups

- Sprinkle over a little chopped hard boiled egg and serve

I found there was no need to add olive oil or mayonnaise as the ingredients formed their own dressing when they released their juices, which makes it even more figure friendly ;-)

I am so happy that EmmaMcQueen.com has been shortlisted for the COSMO BLOG AWARDS. Please click the link and vote for me in the FOOD CATEGORY. Thank-you x x x

Re-Model-Me Riverside Workout

Jul25

Pull ups using the FK Pro with Re-Model-Me

Today, Roger Frampton of Re-Model-Me put me through my paces under the baking rays of the seldom seen London sunshine.  It was a full body workout, starting with lunges and dynamic jumps which encourage fast twitch muscle action, and burn lots of calories.  We worked on my core by alternating the plank with single and double leg raises.  He taught me how to do proper push ups – they work the entire body from head to toe, if you ensure your abs are tight and you keep your body straight as you move up and down.  Correct breathing is also key, as when you push the air out it helps to tighten your stomach muscles. Tone your entire body, strengthen your arms and perk up your bust all at the same time – what are you waiting for?! ;-)

Roger showing me how its done, like a pro ;-)

Roger’s one-on-one personal approach is designed to focus each exercise perfectly for you, so it is as effective and efficient as possible, whilst not causing any other referred pain or tension in areas such as the neck or lower back.

Before some intense hip-flexor and hamstring stretches to finish, we worked with the FK Pro bands, which are fantastic for toning and help achieve a long lean physique.

 

My legs felt like jelly by the end of our session and every muscle, even those I didn’t know I had felt tired! Roger reminded me of the old faithful mantra ‘no pain no gain’ and that got me through to the end. I love the sculpted results of my Re-Model-Me workouts, and so I know soon I will be back for more.

Bikini body time is upon us, the sun is out and the London Olympics Games are but 2 days away, so get up, go out and get fit! :-)

One armed pull ups – focus on keeping the core engaged and breathing correctly

I am so happy that EmmaMcQueen.com has been shortlisted for the COSMO BLOG AWARDS. Please click the link and vote for me in the FOOD CATEGORY. Thank-you x x x