Pesto Sauce

In a food processor blend 3 cups fresh basil leaves, 4 cloves peeled garlic, 1 & half cups chopped walnuts and quarter cup parmesan cheese, pour in 1 cup olive oil slowly whilst still mixing, add salt & pepper to taste. Use to stir cooked pasta into (microwaved variety if you must save time)!

Try sage pesto instead of  the more traditional italian pesto:

Blend 2 cups loosely packed sage leaves, half cup extra virgin oil, 2 tbsp (30ml) lemon zest, 2 tbsp slivered almonds (or almond paste) 1 tsp sugar, then refrigerate.

Fresh coriander version with garlic, 60g pinenuts, 125ml olive oil, 60g parmesan, black pepper.

If you have more time try this recipe from my Just Food blog to use the home made pesto described above:

Codparcels with Parma Ham & Pesto

INDEX: Links to my established blogs

Ozzy Spaniel Quotes for Life

http://spanielquotes.blogspot.co.uk/

A guide on what herbs to use & why;& vitamins & minerals for health:

http://rosesblog4herbsspicesallthingsnices.blogspot.com/

My Additional interest blog links:

Drying herbs:

http://rosesblog4herbsspicesallthingsnices.blogspot.com/2012/03/drying-herbs.html

Quick overview of cooking with herbs:

http://rosesblog4herbsspicesallthingsnices.blogspot.com/2012/02/quick-overview-of-cooking-with-herbs.html

Just puddings, cakes & treats:

http://rosesblog5justpuddingscakesandtreats.blogspot.com/

Just (microwave) Food

http://rosesblog7justmicrowavefood.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-blogs-index.html

English springer spaniel dog training blog & worth a look articles I rate as interesting

http://essdogtraining.blogspot.com/

These links describe the importance of other elements & vitamins with easy tasty recipes to try (click title to link)

Fenugreek
Dill
Bee products
Vitamin C
Chives
Vitamin Q

Smoked Mackeral Paste sandwich filling or topper

Using tinned smoked mackeral make a smoked mackerel paste by blitzing with cottage cheese, low-fat natural yogurt, cracked BLACK PEPPER, & a squeeze of lemon juice. Use as a sandwich filling or a topping on oatcakes or crackers for a nutritious snack.

Other blogs I have (click title to link):

I'd like to share links with these blogs:

Tried and tested quick to make & tasty recipes - Just Food

A guide on what herbs to use & why; & vitamins & minerals for health - Just Herbs...

  
http://rosesblog5justpuddingscakesandtreats.blogspot.com/

English springer spaniel dog training blog & worth a look articles I rate as interesting

Salmon Pate

Flaked left over cooked salmon into a bowl. Add 2tbsp cream cheese, a handful small chopped chives, 1tsp horseradish, 1tbsp capers or gherkins (small chopped), a squirt of lemon juice & mix well. Add ground BLACK PEPPER to serve using as a topping for toast, baked potato or as a dip.

Substitute cream cheese for greek yoghurt, crème fraiche or mayonaise to your taste.

Quick easy kedgeree

Cooking rice doesn’t get any easier than measuring the water with your finger & setting the timer. Key is to find the right sized pot for the amount of rice you need:

Place the dry rice (any amount you choose) into a saucepan which is sized so the rice fills it 1/4 to 1/2 of the saucepan depth (a larger saucepan will throw off the water ratio, & a smaller one may overflow). Fill with cold water until the water covers the rice from the tip of your finger to the first knuckle. Cover & cook over moderately high heat until it starts to boil (the lid will start to rattle).

Turn off the heat but leave the pot in place & covered, & let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a rice paddle or fork.  To turn it into a quick & easy kedgeree, heat 1tbsp sesame oil in a frypan stir in a tin of smoked mackeral, 2tbsp peas, 2 tbsp sweetcorn, & 1 egg, keep stirring til heated through.

If you want to save even more time & also have a lower calorific value:
Mix mackeral, peas & sweetcorn into the cooked rice & microwave for 4 minutes.

Cheesy Crab

Remove crab meat from the shell of a dressed crab, mix in 2tbsps breadcrumbs, lemon juice from half a lemon, 1tbsp malt vinegar & 1tsp cayenne pepper & mix well. Spoon mix back into crab shell, sprinkle few breadcrumbs over & then 25g any grated hard cheese. Bake 15 mins at 220c, fan 200, or gas 7.

You could also use tinned crab baked in a small dish if you wish.

Quick low fat home made soup

Tinned tomatoes make a delicious, low fat, home made tomato soup in minutes by sautéing an onion with some crushed   GARLIC until soft. Add tinned tomatoes, a generous splash of red wine vinegar & heat through. Finish with a handful of fresh BASIL (or use a little pesto) & a splash of milk. Blend until smooth.