MAIN LAMB COURSES FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAY

English spring Lamb is traditionally served for Easter and good lamb remains in the shops for weeks afterwards. These recipes are family favourites; they're easy to prepare and fat levels are much lower than usual.  

It's a long holiday so the post's recipes run the range from classic roasts and stews to exotic variations from far-away places and wallet-friendly cuts like ribs and mince.  Enjoy!

Note from Blogger: Waitrose is offering generous discounts on lamb this week; prices include, depending on availability:

1/2 lamb shoulder, 3/4 k      £13

2 lamb leg steaks                   £6+

lamb mince, 500g                  £6.50

lamb ibs, 1/2k.                      £4

              

Couples' Roast Lamb with Savoury Mint Gravy,

with easy sweet potato mash & broccoli 

 Small households needn't miss out on traditional Easter lunch. Just the smell of the mint gravy is amazing and gives the very tender lamb a wonderful lift.  It's so simple, and wise use of the oven leaves only two pans to wash up. 

Lamb Mongolian Style: 

Lower-fat gutsy crispy lamb; lettuce pancakes at the ready: exotic and fun

 Slow cooked in a cocktail of spices a & cooled overnight, the joint's (substantial) fat solidifies and is easily removed.  The meat is shredded, crisped and served wrapped in lettuce (a low-cal duck pancake) with the thick braising sauce and 67's low-sugar Sweet Chilli sauce. adding flavour and richness 

Italian-Style Lamb Shoulder with tomatoes: 

low-fat one-pot wonder; wallet-friendly

A glorious change from English style lamb; delightful flavours
Half a recipe feeds 3. 

Lamb Koftas with Sensational Tahini Sauce
spicy but not hot; great for the entire family 

 Luscious Greek-style koftas, preservative-free, delicately layered with spices and herbs are an early start to BBQ season.  Easy-peasy, prep the night before.  Even if the weather's horrible, the koftas warm body and soul. (If you like, replace tahini sauce with a vegan harissa yoghurt mayonnaise)

Slow-Roasted Crispy Lamb Ribs

 more frugal than most cuts

Easy crispy meaty lamb ribs are slow baked to form a crusty brown surface.  Aimed at the heath-conscious they are absolutely NOT dripping with fat.  The ones here came from an independent butcher; supermarket ribs will likely be smaller and need less cooking.  

Stir-fried Lamb Steaks with Sherry Soy Sauce & Rice

 Singletons' Delight

 Lamb Steak with vegetables & rice: just 10 mins prep singleton's supper after a day at the workface.  'Beautifully tender meat, crunchy green beans and gorgeously separate rice grains. Fabulous!' Retired writer

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This recipe has  been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission

GLUTEN FREE DESSERTS FOR PASSOVER (They work for Easter, too)

 

Lower-Sugar Cherry & Coconut Macaroons
Indescribably yummy lower-sugar Cherry Coconut Macarons inspired by the London Royal Opera House: low fat, quick & easy

Italian Chocolate Flourless Torta

Easy indulgence a la Angela Hartnett; gorgeously rich, intense chocolate treat;

ground almonds replace wheat flour

Almond Chocolate Meringue Cookies

Flour & dairy-free gorgeous little amond cookes are the bees' knees

 10 mins prep; super easy 

Mango Mint & Ginger Instant Sorbet: 
vegan, no sugar, fat, preservatives.  
Sorbets are a terrific substitute for the sugar, cream and preservative laden ice creams that kids demand. Replace mangoes with any soft fruit. Budget-friendly.

Frozen Banana Pops with Chocolate & Nuts 

Better than ice cream or chocolate bars; Dairy free, no added sugar

(Sorry no photo yet!)

Pomelo (Chinese Grapefruit) Fruit Platter with Cinnamon Yoghurt
Easy-peasy, dairy-free option, low sugar
A touch of the exotic perks up a simple sweet & juicy fruit salad

Luscious Lemon Pudding:

 Gloriously gorgeous crowd-pleaser; diary-free option; yoghurt lightens & enhances creaminess and flavour; 67's Foolproof lemon curd instead of shop-bought elevates the dish and reduces the cost!

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This recipe has  been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission

SIDE DISHES FOR PASSOVER

These side dishes from the 67goingon50 Archives follow the Passover rules of no wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye.

Created at a time in the Blogger's life when Easter was a greater focus, many of the recipes are not traditionally Jewish in preparation or presentation --  but they do contain typically Jewish ingredients which can appear during the week's celebrations.  

Even with the slight twist in approach, however, they are more-ish and offer intriguing flavour combos.   And they'll work for Easter, too.

Most of the dishes are low-fat and easy to prepare.  The ingredients are readily available at most supermarkets.  

If you're strictly kosher, Waitrose and Kavanagh have thriving Kosher sections for meats, fish, vegan cheeses and staples like noodles and sauces.  The ultra-posh Panzers in St John's Wood and workaday Kosher Kingdom near Golders Green are worth a visit.

One-Dish Green Bean Salad with Dill & Mustard

Vegan, no added preservative,Make Ahead,Sugar-free,No dairy

Wheat free Tabbouleh 

Lighter brighter; you won't miss the Wheat; utterly refreshing

Fat free,Low-carb,Fast & Easy,budget conscious, Dairy free 

Beetroot, Zucchini, Orange & Walnut Salad:Vegan, high fibre 

A colourful, succulent spring-like salad with sweetness, crunch, tang and colour -- lots of vibrant colour.  If you're aiming to impress guests, it's a knockout!

Tumbet: Ratatouille & Potato Pie

Low-fat, vegan with vegetarian option; prepare ahead

Canary Islands version of ratatouille but with potatoes; it's baked in layers in an oven. Designed to cut fat sharply.  A few extra steps but worth every minute.  

Vegan Mayo-free Potato Salad

Easy-peasy; No sugar; lower-salt; low preservative, Wallet-friendly; Healthier

Dieters' Delight Stir-fried Melange of Veg

High fibre, low-carb/fat, easy, low-preservative 

Tasty, colourful, many textured, a vegan's dream but loved by non-dieters

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These recipe has  been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission

SMALL HOUSEHOLDS SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN SALAD: easy,some prep-ahead, healthy, wallet-friendly, dairy-free option

Finding an exciting tasty not-too-difficult recipe for leftover chicken without buying lots more ingredients can be tricky.

But here's one that's got everything you could want...and more

This recipe, inspired by Waitrose Food magazine, is rather glorious: layered with fabulous flavours, attractive, part make-ahead and easily assembled.  It won't make a big dent in your weekly food budget.

67goingon50 has focused on small households - singletons, couples, pensioners - but the ingredients are easily doubled for 4 people.

Ingred:

50ml red wine vinegar

min1/3-max 1/2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp orange zest

1 bay leaf

equivalent shredded meat of at least 2 cooked chicken thighs 
25gms/4/5oz pine nuts (or seeds: sunflower, pumpkin or both)
60gm/2.1oz fresh or reconstituted cranberries or other dried fruit (medjool dates, raisons, apricots)

4-6 sunblush tomatoes, from supermarket or make-your-own (see  below)

10 gm fresh basil, torn OR 1/3 tsp dried basil

45gm/1.5oz rocket, rinsed 2-3 times, drained, dried 

2 tbsp virgin olive oil

zest and juice of 1/2 clementine

membrane-free segments of half a clementine  

2 tbsp dairy or plant Parmesan

salt & pepper to taste

Method:

STILTON NUT TWISTS: Indulgent, dairy-free option

Stilton & nuts are a classic combo; folded in scone dough and twisted, they are a delight...

Stilton & Nut Twists: low sugar, high fibre, fab complex flavours!

For the lactose intolerant, cheese is mainly a no-no but it's very hard to resist the fantastic variety of English cheeses.  So treating oneself to small quantities of cheese every few months is understandable; it staves off cheese cravings and, even better, boosts calcium for good bone health  

If you like the intensity of something blue, classic Stilton is the usual choice but  camberzola, a rich wodge of creaminess with thick blue veins OR award-winning Blackstone Blue, delicate and cheddar-like, are popular, too.  (Vegan stilton and other blue varieties but have not yet been tested by the blogger.)

These Stilton Nut Twists, a variation on an earlier Cinnamon Nut Twist recipe, are a lovely afternoon treat with tea or a crispy dipper for soup.  The robust, complex flavoured cheese is  wrapped along with crunchy nuts in scone dough, like a parcel and prettily twisted.

They are not as complicated as they look.  Or as unhealthy.  And because they're small, the recipe goes a long way.

They are sugar-free, with some flour replaced with oatmeal to slow down blood sugar.  

The recipe is generous with butter but because the twists are small, they aren't as lethal as they could be.  Vegan butter like Tomor will cut cholesterol significantly but add an scant extra tbsp to the recipe to reduce dryness.


Cost:  £3.25' ish (2025), more for dairy-free
Makes: maybe 12 twists; recipe doubles easily

Ingred:
   210 gm/6 oz self raising flour LESS 3 tbsp flour (add 1 tsp baking powder to the flour if it is not self-raising,)
   3 tbsp pinmeal (or blitzed) oatmeal
   1.5 tsp baking powder 
   1/4 tsp salt 
   2.5 oz/70gm cold dairy or vegan butter, in small cubes

   1 egg
   3.5 tablespoons very cold dairy or plant milk

   Filling:
      57gm/2 oz nuts, chopped small but not fine
      75-100 gm/2.5-3.5 oz rindless stilton, crumbled or sliced 
      softened, spreadable dairy or plant butter (opt)

Method:

1. Sift dry ingred into a bowl; rub in butter with fingertips or with paddle beater in a free-standing mixer Aid until they form little globs the size of peas; make a depression in the middle
2. Beat egg and milk in a jug; pour into the flour; bring together, dragging flour from the outside in with a spatula; the dough will begin to clump together but there will be lots of loose bits - don't worry, it will all come together in due course
3. 
   Dump onto a lightly floured board; press lightly until all the bits hold together. Form into a rectangle twice as long as it is wide and pat gently until flattish.   Mentally divide the rectangle into three; fold the left side onto the middle; and the right side onto the middle & left sides.  (see photo, right;  the method introduces layers into the dough, like puff pastry, which makes the twists very light). Repeat twice, pressing down lightly between each folding but handling dough as little as possible. 
4. Preheat oven to 210c/200fan/410F
5. Dust a rolling pin; lightly roll dough into a rectangle 1 cm/1/2in thick, twice as long as it is wide   
6. If you like, lightly spread with softened butter.  Leaving a 1/4 inch border all round, sprinkle generously with nuts, then with slices or chunks of stilton; carefully roll up dough like a jelly roll, pressing gently as you go. 
7. With a sharp serrated knife, cut into 1/2 inch/1 cm slices 
8. Lightly pinch each slice in the middle and twist
9. Arrange on a lined baking tray, leaving a space in between
10. Brush tops with milk or a beaten egg mixed with a little water  (opt)
11. Bake in the centre of the oven 12-15 minutes or until light brown
12. Leftovers can be frozen, defrosted overnight and reheated for a few minutes at 160c/320F

Comments:

'My cheese-starved body adored the twists -- the outer layers were crisp and crunchy, contrasting with the pillowy centres, rich with melted stilton and  nuts.'   Retired writer  

Tips:

• if you liked these, you may also like Choco-Nut Breakfast Twists

                    Please leave a comment        

This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.  

MOTHER'S DAY EASY LUSCIOUS LOW-FAT DESSERTS

Don't forget Welcome to the Blog (on the nav bar above);

 there is plenty of news from North London  

No-bake Easy-Peasy Luxury Pistachio Cheesecake: 

Pale richly creamy fillling, studded with bright green pistachios, slathered over a generous crumb crust; make in advance

Dieter's Delight Skinny Chocolate Peppermint Mousse 

Rich deep dark chocolate pudding; no egg yolks or butter; cream optional.  Replace mint with fruit soaked in liqueur.  

Light & lovely but still intensely chocolatey; 
no-bake, butter-free, cream optional

VEGETARIAN NO-BAKE WHITE CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY CREAM PIE 

Lower-fat with full-fat flavour; this is quick & easy loveliness.  A store-bought pie shell saves time.  Just 5 ingredients and it works with dark chocolate, too.

REDUCED FAT LEMON & GINGER CHEESECAKE

easy-peasy; tasters said the 'consistency was that of a good French patisserie'.

Creamy Pineapple Pudding, thrifty, easy, dairy free opt, choice of fruit

Luscious Lemon Pudding: gloriously gorgeous crowd-pleaser; diary-free option; yoghurt lightens & enhances creaminess and flavour; 67's Foolproof lemon curd instead of shop-bought elevates the dish and reduces the cost!

These recipes have been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission

Mother's Day Breakfast & Lunch Treats 2025: lower fat, easy, attractive

 

Don't forget to have a look at Welcome to the Blog (nav bar above) for the latest food bargains and restaurant openings  

Keeping Mum happy on Mother's Day...

The thing about Mother's Day, 67 gathers, is that Mums love the idea of having a (sort-of) day off but worry about calories and fats they'll consume in the process.

For Dad and the kids the problem therefore becomes not what to cook and serve but making sure meals and treats are as healthy as possible while still being   lovely to look at as well as delicious.  

With one or two exceptions.  67goingon50 thinks breakfast should be the exception.

Serving Mum breakfast in bed seems to be what kids and mums love best. Pancakes, waffles or similar are kid-friendly in terms of preparation, look lovely on a tray and are easy to eat.

Lunch can be a one-stop meal that won't make Dad break into a sweat -- a roast, say, with plenty of vegetables cooked in one pan.

Supper can be a protein-rich salad (especially if the weather is spring-like) or a tasty soup.

Dessert is ideally something creamy or fruity but with as few carbs and fats as possible.

Have a look at some of these favourite recipes from the archive:

BREAKFAST

BREAKFAST STICKS WITH MAPLE WHISKEY DIP

(OR maple syrup, jam, Nutella or lemon curd)

Really easy, oven-baked, great taste & texture

Slightly decadent but ever-so-scrumptious with more-ish crisp challah fingers

  

CHOCOLATE FLOWER PANCAKES:

prep-ahead, lower-sugar/fat/preservative, easy, child friendly 

Doesn't matter if they end up pretty or like Impressionist art; it's a mum-delighting treat which kids adore making

DOUBLE DIPPED CRUNCHY FRENCH TOAST

Ultra easy, ultra frugal delicious low-added sugar treat for leftover bread

Perfect for mums, kids and dads.  All that's needed is bread & egg, and a bit of vanilla, sugar and cinnamon.  An extra slice will definitely not break the bank 

EASY-PEASY BUT DELICIOUS LUNCHES

SLOW COOKED BEEF BRISKET:

 so tender it cuts with a fork;easy, wallet-friendly, dairy-free

(Note: Beef & venison half price; other roasts 25% off at Waitrose for Mother's Day 2025)

DIETERS' DELIGHT SPICY UN-FRIED CHICKEN & LOWER-FAT POTATO WEDGES

Just like you-know-who's but much better for you: low-fat, low-calorie, beautifully spiced, turns economy chicken into a special treat

Beef Meatloaf & low-fat scalloped potatoes: 

Prepare ahead, bake in oven; lots of leftovers for another meal 

         Add peas, green beans, cauli or broccoli for an inpressive plate

PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS, PEAS & CHIVE OIL: VEGAN

Delicious,satisfying multi-textured with layers of gorgeous flavour

SUBLIME AVOCADO PILAFF, VEGAN

low-cholesterol & salt; multi-layered flavours & texture

'When I tasted this, I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven' 

These recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.

St. Patrick's Day Menu

 Better late than never!  

With apologies due to a much-needed break, this Irish themed menu will be as delicious, impressive and user-friendly AFTER celebrations for the famous Irish saint.

Starter: Double Smoked Salmon Bites

prep-ahead, wallet-friendly, good fibre

 

Slow-cooked Beef & Dark Beer Stew

the sensational dark side of beef and beer; easy, wallet-friendly

Vegetarian Spinach Roulade

Popular at buffets and dinner parties, eliciting many ooh's and ah's.  Welcomed by guys, including die-hard carnivores. 

  

2-POTATO CHAMP

Healthier, more colourful, easier version of classic Irish mash

Sensational No-bake Irish Coffee Cheesecake, 

lower-fat, lower-cal; leaves diners speechless with delight & disbelief 

Please leave a comment

This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  They may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.