Sexy Seasoned Scallops!

I had the opportunity to cook something I have always wanted to cook last week but never had the chance to before! So i'm thankful to be able to do so!

This was a fish dish... easy to cook and very tasty! Yes Scallops... and very enjoyable ones at that!

I was really surprised that it only took about ten minutes to prepare this meal so if you want to cook something in a hurry and spend more time entertaining and taking good care of your guests then this is the perfect dish.

RECIPE: Sexy Scallops seasoned with Chili and Coriander served with a Spinach and watercress salad and a drizzling of balsamic vinegar.

You will need:

1 pack of M&S pre-seasoned Scallops

1 pack of Spinach and Watercress salad

Splash of balsamic vinegar

To make:

1. Heat a frying pan with a drop of olive oil

2. Once heated add the Scallops

3. Keep turning again and again for around 5-7 minutes until browned

4. Serve with a side salad and some balsamic dressing.

This makes a really great light and fresh meal.

It is a classy, tasty and flavourful meal perfect to share with someone special! White wine will compliment this dish delightfully but make sure you have someone to pour it!!!... and for dessert I recommend my Duckey Carrot cake.

Duckeys Chocolate Coated Strawberry Dream

Dessert lovers! Listen up! This one is for you!

I was having a good girlie night and every girl needs a chocolate treat from time to time! It is a woman's prerogative after all!

I love strawberries and I love chocolate so what better than to combine these tasty little treats together. To make this a true dessert it needed something extra so i made a coconut and honey yogurt to dip the chocolate coated strawberries in.

RECIPE: Dark chocolate dipped strawberries accompanied by a luxurious coconut and honey flavoured yogurt topped with dark chocolate shavings and chocolate dipped Brazil nuts.

You will need:

A dozen strawberries
1 bar of Green and Blacks dark chocolate
A few Brazil nuts
1 pot of low fat natural yogurt
1 teaspoon honey
1 dessert spoon of dessicated coconut

To make:

1. Melt the chocolate in a bowl this can be done in the microwave or over some hot water on the hob

2. Take your individual strawberries and dip the all the way into the chocolate then arrange them evenly on a plate (you may also like to try this with some Brazil nuts)

3. Allow to cool in the fridge for about an hour

4. Take a martini glass

5. In a bowl add some low fat natural yogurt then add the honey and coconut and stir

6. Grate on some chocolate shavings

7. Arrange on a wooden platter and serve with the strawberries nuts and some chocolate chunks!

True heaven on a platter! mmm!

Duckeys Italian Antipasti!

I have to say that one of my favourite Italian dishes must be antipasti! One reason I love this tasty little treat is that its great finger food, you can really get stuck in and involved with it!

The flavours of a traditional antipasti combined are magnificent and completely complement each other with smokey, garlic tasting food.

I also love the assortment of colours as you can see by the photos this dish just comes alive.

I like to serve an antipasti in two occasions usually, the first would be if I had company and I wanted to serve some light nibbles and the second would be when I want to veg out in front of the TV with a good movie and bottle of pinot!

So here is how I assemble my antipasti and what ingredients I use!

You will need:

Vine tomatoes (it is actually the vine that creates the beautiful tomato fragrance!)
Stuffed vine leaves (from the Deli counter)
Fresh Mozzarella cheese (from the Deli counter)
1 bag of fresh salad for garnish
A handful of fresh parma ham (also obtained from the meat counter)
Rustic Italian bread (fresh toasted)
Sun dried tomatoes
Assortment of olives
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
(this bit you can do yourself or buy pre-prepared) roasted courgette, red pepper and aubergine!
1 platter board (wooden)


To make:

OK guys how easy is this, once back from the supermarket, unpack all of your ingredients!

Get out your wooden platter board!

Neatly arrange the ingredients around the board.

Toast the bread roast the vegetables and serve the olive oil and balsamic!

How easy is that!




If you are serving this at a party be aware it might not last that long!

This is the roasted vegetables, I did mine on a George Foreman for about 5 minutes with some Rosemary and Oregano however you can also bake them in the oven for around 20 minutes.

So if you have guests or just want some easy food then veg out with my Italian Antipasti solution!

Duckeys Healthy Banana Cake...

OK folks this was something I was working on before I came home to Suffolk. I was going through my cake phase and really wanted to try a loaf cake. So I thought what better than banana cake.

This was a really easy and simple cake to make which had immense banana flavour and a moist texture.

RECIPE: Moist fluffy banana cake perfect served cold from the fridge or warm with a cup of tea.

You will need:

75g softened butter
75g brown granulated sugar
1 large beaten egg
225g plain wholemeal flour
2 level tsp baking powder
1 tablespoon low fat natural yogurt
4 small ripe bananas or 2 big ones!
50g chopped walnuts / nuts

To Make:

1. In a bowl add the butter, caster sugar and egg intoand whisk then add in the flour and baking powder.

2. In another bowl mash the banana and add some natural yogurt.

3. Add the two mixtures together and combine.

4. Stir until all ingredients are well mixed.

5. Line a loaf tine with some greeseproof paper and add the cake mixture into the tin. Add this into a pre-heated oven of 180 degrees.

6. This will take around 30-40 minutes to bake in the oven. Usually bread and loafs will take a bit longer due to their shape and size. You can test the cake with a cocktail stick if it comes out clean you know your cake is ready!

7. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool.

8. Once cool cut the cake into small slices and serve!

This cake is the perfect simple cake to serve and store and great for all those cheeky monkeys who love to eat cake!

Duckey is BACK!

Hi Guys! Did you miss me???!

Well first i'm so sorry! Its been a while!

Due to personal circumstances I can say my creativity within my cooking has been lacking some what lately. To fill you guys in it didn't work out for me in Brighton.

Whilst there were many things I learnt while I was away and it was hard... the positive thing is that I feel I have finally come out of my three years of confusion and being lost. I have realised that sometimes the things you have in life before you leave them... aren't so bad after all! But if going away made me appreciate them well... I honestly do now!

It's been a difficult year away from home but in that time I have learnt to eat well, cook great tasting and inventive food and learn some Independence!

I would also like to take time to thank all of those who stuck through things with me while I was away and those who have been my rock since I've returned!

As you all know sometimes the last thing on your mind when you are going through hard times is to keep up with your blog... but have no fear Duckey is back... with a few new kitchens to cook from.

Love to you all

Duckey x

Duckeys Quorn Pittas

For a quick and easy supper here is a perfect suggestion.

I really like quorn mince as a good substitute for beef, so I though well why not create some tasty pitas using this and making a Mexican like meal.

RECIPE: Quorn filled spicy pittas layered with fresh salad and natural yogurt in a mustard and tomato sauce.

You will need:

1/2 packet quorn mince
Tomato sauce
1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard and dijon mustard
Salt and pepper
Garlic
Salad
Spring Onions
Spinach
2 Pittas

To Make:

1. In a sauce pan add a little olive oil and fry the quorn mince

2. Add in the tomato sauce, garlic, seasoning, spring onions, spinach leaves and mustards


3. Stir and cook for ten minutes

4. Toast two pittas and cut in half


5. Add the mixture with fresh salad to the Pita slices with a dollop of natural yogurt and green Pesto to serve.

These make a really nice light sandwich alternative.

Why America is Fat!

Well here I am back from my long trip to the states!

I had a wonderful time and along my way I found out one very concerning fact about America! They LOVE fast food!

I must admit being quite a healthy eater I really struggled on my trip to the states, I found it very hard to eat food in the hotel that didnt turn up either processed, with added MSG or food flavourings, or some fattening gunky sauce spread on top.

My diet for the first few days consisted of a side Baked Potato (Jacket Potato to us Brits) and a plain salad.

We went shopping one morning to a mall and the only healthy thing I could find was a baked potato, it was all Cinnabon, Burger King, BBQ chicken you name the fast food they had it and in Extra extra large portions.


There is so much hidden sugar in the foods and becoming wise to this I created my own USA food survival guide.

Survival Guide:

• Order your food plain
  
• For breakfast choose oatmeal and order a side of fruit
  
• For lunch opt for Plain Salads if you do not ask for plain you may have a sauce put on it
• Only eat fresh meat if it doesnt say fresh it may be processed
• Order small mains and pick healthy sides
  
• Skip the dessert unless its fruit
• You can order fruit on the side in most places
  
• Do not orer coke instead re-hydrate with water
• Always ask for grilled not fried
  
• Many Korean establishments cook fresh and dont add flavourings most of the food is natural
• Go Sushi! It was certainly my favourite lunch whilst there!!

Luckily the last past of the week we stayed with our Korean Grandmaster and his wife. We ate breakfast everyday at Denny's in which I could order my oatmeal (porridge) as I did at the hotel with a side of banana followed by a coffee.

I must admit though it was rather daunting watching the size of the people who came in for breakfast each morning to order their triple round of pancakes, syrup and bacon! They must have been worth three of me!


The worst of the unhealthy food can be found at the Steak houses! Texas is known for its meat but as a small meat eater and more veggie I would say as you can see from the look on my face I dreaded going here!


It really concerned me when I imagined the effect this was having on some peoples health and why in the States the word "healthy" is almost laughed at?

For lunch we had salad or salad wraps and most evenings we ate Korean Food. I have decided to learn how to cook Korean as I enjoyed eating it so much.

My favourite Korean foods are Noodles, Kimchi and Baloogee.


So if you are planning a trip to the states soon, don't be tempted by fast food. Listen to my survival tips and you'll be fine! Please note this post is of no offense to my American friends, I am sure not all of America are unhealthy eaters and are fat however I am reporting my findings from my personal trip!