Romantic Meal In

It can be tough to be following any weight loss program and keeping the people around you happy/not bored of hearing about it all the time. Support is so important but you don't want to be shoving it down peoples throats either. I've always been into cooking, and it was something I like doing for my boyfriend. He is so supportive of  my weight watchers but I still want to be able to cook him a dinner that doesn't feel like its a 'diet' meal.
The easiest way to do this is to adapt a regular recipe and just adjusting it slightly and taking a smaller portion for yourself (bulk up with 0pp veggies). Despite the fact that some of the weight watcher recipes (esp desserts) can seem quite diety, and recipes are for portion sizes for a weight watcher, there are actually some fantastic recipes out there. Again easily adjusted for someone not following the plan, a larger piece of meat or fish or just a larger portion in general.  Both of the next recipes are found in the complete kitchen cookbook and both are really delicious and easy enough.

Wine-glazed Duck Breasts with Figs
Serves 2
7 Smartpoints per serving
7 Smartpoints on no count
7pp per serving

Ingredients:
low fat cooking spray
2 x 125g skinless boneless duck breasts (i found it hard to get this size, 150g is 4sp/5pp so adjust the pp for bigger duck breasts or cut one down to size, also adjust cooking time for larger duck breasts)
4 fresh figs, halved
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 heaped tsp clear honey
125ml red wine
150ml chicken stock
1/2 a cinnamon stick



Heat a non stick pan over a medium heat and spray with low fat cooking spray.
Add the duck breasts and cook for 5 mins. Turn and cook for 2 more mins before adding the figs cut side down and the shallot. Cook for 3 mins and then remove the duck breasts to a plate and keep warm.
Add the balsamic vinegar and honey to the pan and turn the figs over in the mixture for 30 seconds and then remove them to the plate with the duck.
Add the red wine and stock to the pan with the cinnamon stick and boil for 5 mins on high until reduced and syrupy.
Briefly return the duck and figs to the pan and turn to coat in the sauce. Serve immediately.

I served this with baby potatoes and asparagus roasted with garlic (always need garlic with my meals) and it went very nicely.

Marbled Meringues with Chocolate Mousse

Serves 6

8 Smartpoints per serving

5pp per serving

Ingredients:

2 egg whites

100g caster sugar

1 heaped tsp cocoa powder

75g dark choc (75%)

2 heaped tsp clear honey

150g Quark at room temperature

400g strawberries sliced

Preheat the over to Gas2/150C/fan 130

Whisk the eggs whites (in a perfectly clean bowl) starting on a slow speed and then speeding up gradually until they reach stiff peaks.
Gradually add the sugar to the egg whites a little at a time and beat well between additions. When this is all added you should have a stiff shiny mixture.
Transfer a large spoonful of the mixture to another bowl and fold in the cocoa powder. Add this back to the main bowl and fold until lightly marbled.
Spoon the meringue into 6 mounds onto a tray lined with parchment paper and using the back of a spoon genntly hollow the centre of each mound. Bake for 40mins until the meringue feel crisp and can easily be peeled from the parchment. Turn off the overn but leave the meringues in there until it cools. (These will keep for a couple of weeks in an airtight container)

For the mousse, melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Leave the chocolate to cool to room temp.
Stir in the honey and then the quark mixing well until smooth. It should thicken almost immediately.

You can serve this straight away, kept at room temp for 30mins or refrigerated until ready to use. It should be returned to room temp before serving.

To serve, divide the mousse between the meringues and top with the sliced strawberry. I don't have a picture of it but it looked as good as it tasted.

All you need for a perfect romantic dinner (or just a random weekend dinner even) Enjoy :-)