Call Me Cupid!

I am not hugely romantic when it comes to Valentine’s Day so am happy to forego the red roses and heart-shaped gestures. But I’m not a killjoy either and will enjoy a celebratory meal with my husband whether it be breakfast, lunch or supper – or even all three!

We rarely go out on Valentine’s Day to eat – leaving plenty of room for those much younger to enjoy the festivities. So I cook at home and these are my chosen dishes for this year. One is a simple enough warm salad to be followed by a smooth and devilishly good coffee panna cotta (made with a protein drink – but no-one would know). And then there is a ready-made option of a vegan burger that caught my eye in the supermarket (sorry but only available in the UK) which we may have for breakfast or lunch. Here are some things to eat your heart out ….

 

 

For a winning dessert that coffee-lovers will especially enjoy why not try this panna cotta recipe. The beauty is that it uses an iced protein coffee drink (I used a ready made one but you can use your own made-up one from your favourite protein powder). It’s also something those who are on the whole fluids and soft food stages after WLS can also enjoy and so do not feel left out of the celebrations. Spoons at the ready!

 

ARCTIC MOCHA PANNA COTTA

Ingredients

METRIC/US

2½ sheets gelatine (or equivalent veggie gel)

330 ml/1¼ cups protein enriched coffee drink (I used Arctic Blast 15 g Protein Shot)

grated unsweetened chocolate and mint sprigs to decorate

 

Method

1.  Soak the gelatine sheets in cold water for 5 minutes (or if using veggie gel follow the pack instructions).
2.  Pour the coffee drink into a pan, squeeze out the gelatine sheets and add to the coffee. Heat whilst whisking so that the gelatine dissolves but the coffee does not boil.
3.  Pour the mixture into 2 (or more moulds) and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight to set.
4.  When ready to serve, dip the moulds briefly in warm water then turn out onto small serving plates. Sprinkle with grated chocolate and decorate each with a sprig of mint.

SERVES 2 

WLS PORTION: ½-1

V suitable for Vegetarians (if veggie gel is used)

 

CALORIES PER PORTION (using Arctic Blast 15 g protein shot): 90

PROTEIN: 8.6 g

CARBOHYDRATE: 8.4 g (sugars 6.4 g)

FAT: 1.8 g

 

Image courtesy of arcticicedcoffee.co.uk

 

EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

I LOVE YOU VEGGIE MUCH!

Not every one wants to cook from scratch on Valentine’s Day and maybe you have been following a Vegan regime since New Year? If either of these are the case then there is a new product (sorry, only in the UK) that is ideal for wooing a plant-loving lover to consider for a celebratory meal. It’s a heart-shaped vegan burger that’s packed with beetroot, mushroom, sunflower seeds, natural smoke flavouring and a kick of red chilli. Made by PECK (Heck Foods) they are gluten-free, high in fibre, approved by the Vegetarian Society and registered by the Vegan Society. They go on sale in Asda between 6 and 26 February 2020, costing £2 for a 228g pack (two burgers). I really liked the slightly nutty and smoky flavour with just a hint of chilli.

Each pan-fried burger (cooked in a little oil, but you could reduce calories and fat by using low-fat cooking spray or mist) comes in at:

179 Calories; 4.7 g Protein; 11.5 g Carbohydrate (with 3.6 g sugars); 10.5 g Fat

I have served mine here on the bariatric portion plate (details here) with an egg and some sliced tomato – since it will make a wonderful lunch or breakfast idea.

 

Image copyright © Bariatric Cookery (UK) Ltd