Low Calorie Carbonara Recipe

My biggest weakness in this whole clean-eating diet would have been pasta, if you ask me.  Seriously, if it does not contain as much carbohydrates, I swear I am able to eat pasta every single day.  To satisfy my pasta cravings, here is a slightly low calorie Carbonara recipe adapted from Laura in the Kitchen.

 

 

Ingredients (Serve 1)

• 1 slice of bacon chopped into pieces
• 1/4 onion
• 1-2 oz. of whole wheat spaghetti
• 1 egg
• 1/2 - 1 tbsp. of heavy cream (depends how much taste you want)
• 1 handful of grated Parmesan Cheese

 

Directions

 

1. Mix the beaten egg, heavy cream and Parmesan Cheese.  Set the mixture aside.

 

2. Chop the onion and bacon into pieces.

 

3.  Boil the water.  Once it is boiled, cook the spaghetti for around 10 minutes.

 

4. While you are cooking the spaghetti, heat the non-sticky pan with olive oil.  Once it is heated, cook the bacon until it is crispy.  Add in the onion.  Cook for 2 more minutes. 

 

5.  When the spaghetti is cooked, put the spaghetti and mix it with the bacon and onion in the pan.   Stir-fry for around 1 minute.  Turn off the heat.

 

6.  Drop the egg mixture onto the pan of spaghetti and mix well until every spaghetti is covered with the sauce.

 

Enjoy! :) 

Clean-eating Recipe - Blueberry Oatmeal Pancakes

I have always been a big fan of pancakes, so I have been testing different flourless pancakes recipes in the past few months. Below is the one recipe which I've found to be the healthiest and easiest so far.  There are so many varieties to this recipe, just add in whatever toppings or ingredients to the oatmeal mixture.

 

I paired this blueberry oatmeal pancakes with strawberry puree and low-fat maple syrup.  Tastes divineeee!

 

 

Slices of banana and blueberry jam are also an alternative for healthy and tasty toppings.

 

 

On a side note, pancakes taste even better when served with Assam tea.

 

 

 

Ingredients (Serve 1)

• 1/2 c of rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp. of baking powder
• 1/2 c of skimmed milk / almond milk
• 1 beaten egg
• A handful of blueberries
• Any kind of toppings you want (sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, butter, maple syrup...the choices are endless!)

Directions

 

1. Put the oatmeal into the food processor and blend it until it is flour consistency.

 

2. Mix the blended oatmeal with baking powder, milk, egg and blueberries.

 

3. Swipe the non-sticky skillet with olive oil and turn to low heat.  Once it is heated, drop 2-3 tablespoons of the batter onto the skillet (depends on the size of pancakes you want).  Once you see bubbles on the batter, flip it to the other side and cook the batter until it is golden brown.

Clean-eating Recipe - Overnight oatmeal

Can't think of anything for breakfast?  Overnight oatmeal is definitely my go-to.  It only takes you less than 5 minutes on the night before, put the mixture in the fridge and there you go, you will have a tasty and filling breakfast the next morning!

 

Ingredients (Serve 1)

 

For the overnight oatmeal

• 1/4 cup of rolled oats
• 1/4 cup of skimmed milk/almond milk
• 2-3 spoons of non-fat yogurt/Greek yogurt

For the toppings*

• A handful of granola
• A handful of cereal
• 4-5 sliced strawberries
• A handful of blueberries

Steps

1. Mix the rolled oats, skimmed milk/almond milk and the yogurt together.  Put the mixture in the jar and fridge it overnight. (If you don't have a jar, you can also use a container, but it has to be covered.)

 

2. In the next morning, add in the toppings of your choice.

 

* Any toppings of your choice, really.

 

Enjoy your breakfast!  Stay fit and healthy! :)

 

 



Homecooking - Rosemary Lamb Chop and Quinoa

I have been clean-eating for quite awhile and I feel that from time to time, you just got to treat yourself, give yourself 1-2 cheat meals once a week.  Having tried my first yoga class today, followed by an hour cardio exercise, I think I deserve something nice tonight.  So I decided to make rosemary lamb chops sided with quinoa for dinner.

 

Lamb Chop is definitely one of my favourite foods apart from beef (I try to have less red meat now that I have started clean-eating.) For those who doesn't eat lamb, don't worry, the quinoa recipe below is a must-try, it tastes so good and it is so easy to make.  It would be a great lunch too.  Trust me, you will fall in love with it just like I do! Plus, quinoa has so many health benefits.  It contains complete proteins and it is filling that won't make you bloat.  It's such a great alternative to rice.

 

 



Ingredients (Serve 2)

For the lamb chops

• 6 lamb chops
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to season
• 1/4 cup of fresh rosemary

For the marinade of lamb chops

• 1/2 tbsp. of butter
• 1/4 cup of white wine
• 1/4 cup of chicken broth

For the quinoa

• 1 cup of quinoa
• Salt and Pepper to season
• 2 tbsp. of olive oil
• 1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup of fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup of sundried tomatoes
• 1/4 cup of feta cheese

Steps

1. Marinate the lamb chops with olive oil, fresh rosemary, salt and pepper.  Leave the marinade on the lamb chops in the fridge for at least 1.5 hours or more.

 

2. Heat the non-sticky pan with olive oil.  Once it is hot enough, cook the lamb chops with the pan.  Cook each side for 3 minutes if you want them medium rare. 

 

3. When the lamb chops are done, put them aside on thick paper towels to absorb the excess oil.  On the non-sticky pan, add in the butter, white wine and chicken broth to the remaining marinade. Let the mixture sizzle for 3 minutes or so or it thickens a bit. This would serve the sauce for the lamb chops.

 

4. While you're cooking the lamb chops, you could cook the quinoa at the same time.  To cook 1 cup of quinoa, you would need 2 cups of water.  Cook the mixture together with a handful of salt to taste and some olive oil to make the quinoa more fluffy.  Once it boils, turn to the lowest heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes with the lid on. Then turn off the heat and let it sit for 5 more minutes.

 

5. Mix the cooked quinoa with salt and pepper, olive oil, fresh mint leaves, fresh parsley, sundried tomatoes and feta cheese.

 

6. Serve the lamb chops with the sauce and sided with quinoa.

Hope you like this recipe! 

Leave a comment below and tell me what you think and tell me what is your favourite quinoa recipe!  Enjoy :)

Cleaneating Recipe - Satueed Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, Balsamic Vinegar and Goat Cheese

This is one of my go-to clean-eating recipes.  It is so simple and easy, and most importantly, it's so delicious! Who says healthy food cannot be tasty?

There can be a lot of variations to this recipe.  I normally like the combination of this sauce with chicken fillet and some rocket leaves.  This the perfect dish in this hot humid weather in Hong Kong!  I have also tried the sauce with toast, and it is equally delicious!

 

Ingredients (Serves 1)

• 1 garlic clove
• 2-3 chicken breasts/fillets
• 6-8 cherry tomatoes (you can also use the big tomatoes, but I find cherry tomatoes fresher and sweeter)
• 4-6 olives (I bought the preserved ones in a jar)
• 2-3 tbsp. of Balsamic Vinegar
• Salt and pepper for tasting
• 4-5 tiny cubes of goat cheese (feta cheese is another option, but goat cheese brings out the flavor of the sautéed!)

1. Heat the non-stick pan with extra virgin olive oil.  Cook the chicken fillets on the pan until they are fully cooked.  I suggest to cook 3 minutes on each side of the fillet.  Put the cooked fillets aside.

2. On the same pan, cook the garlic and let them sizzle for 30 seconds.

3. Add in the tomatoes with the garlic, cook them for about 1-2 minutes until they are softened and you can see the juices coming out. Then add in the olives and cook for 1-2 minutes.

4. Drizzle the sautéed with Balsamic Vinegar and cook all the ingredients together for 30 more seconds.

5. Place the sauce on to the chicken fillets and serve with goat cheese.

Enjoy your meal!

*Recipe adopted from Laura in the Kitchen

My Recent Essentials

Striped Top | Red Jeans | Handbag | Crystal Studs | Leopard Loafers

My recent closet essentials have been a pair of red staple jeans with a black and white striped top, and of course, my new favourite leopard prints loafers! I'm sure everyone should have the moment when they are stuck with what they should wear every morning, right?

What are your closet essentials?

Spring Wish List

Chinese New Year is around the corner, which means 1) Spring is on its way 2) Time to get a new wardrobe (with the red packets we will soon be receiving!).  There are a few things that I have been eyeing for spring, for which, for those who know me, are all colourful items.
So what is your spring wish list?

 

1. J.Crew Biennial Satchel | 2. H&M Coral Ballet Pumps | 3. Kate Spade Be Mine Pendant

4. Essie Mango Bango | 5. Benefit fine-one-one   

January Favourites

 

 

There are a few things that I have been loving in January:

 

1. China Glaze Champagne Kisses : I bought this for Christmas and I have been loving this since then! The gold is something that is not too sparkly/over-the-top and there is definitely a pink undertone to it. The formulation is superb and the coverage is good.  Two coats and you are good to go. 

 

2. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-place Foundation : Since my Missha Signature Wrinkle Filler BB Cream is running out, I decided to try out something new (as Missha makes my oily skin even more oily, especially Hong Kong has such a humid and hot weather!).  I have read a lot of good reviews about this Estee Lauder foundation so I decided to give it a try and this is just THE foundation I'm looking for.  12 hours and the foundation is still good on my skin.  Plus I don't have to do any touch-ups at all! It gives you a very matte finish so this is definitely a good foundation for oily skin!

 

3. Revlon Betwitching : I believe this nail polish has been out for quite awhile.  I got it for HK$25 only in Hong Kong and I just think there is nothing better than this formulation so far!  It is even better than OPI /Essie etc..  It is very creamy and the colour is just perfect for winter!

 

4. Korres Lip Butter (Pomegranate) : I've recently ordered this from ASOS as I cannot find this in Hong Kong.  For just roughly HK$98 this is a great lip butter!  Not only does it smell good and is very tasy (yum!) but the colour pigmentation is brilliant! Absolutely a must for this dry winter time!

 

5. The Carrie Diaries : Who wouldn't love The Carrie Diaries?!  Love the 80s fashion, love the music, love the cast! A must-watch after the end of season 4 of Made in Chelsea...which I have been loving...