Your Slimming Essentials – The Weekly Pinch of Shopping 20.10.23
Grab a pen and paper! The Weekly Pinch of Shopping has arrived. The Halloween buffet planning is underway, and we’ve got you off to a frightfully good start…
One friendly neighbourhood supermarket is stocking ready-to-decorate kits for Chocolate Orange Pumpkin Macarons, and you can have so much fun adding icing to their spooky faces.
Plus, we couldn’t walk by without grabbing Sainsbury’s limited edition Amaretto Tiramisu. We’ll take any excuse to try a boozy pud, and these creamy, chocolatey pots do not disappoint!
Plus, we’ve got plenty of ideas to help you liven up your midweek meal plan, from taste bud tingling chicken goujons to breadcrumb-coated cheese balls.
Don’t forget, our newest cookbook, Pinch of Nom: Express, is now available to pre-order! It’ll be with you on the 7th of December and it’s bursting with recipes that prioritise your time, without compromising on flavour.
We revealed our gorgeous new cover on Instagram and Facebook last Friday. The video’s down below…in case you missed it!
Our socials are a great way to keep up with the latest book news. Pre-order now and your copy will arrive right on time for Christmas!
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You can share your recipes and photos by posting over in our Facebook group, where you’ll also find our members having a good old chat about lots of these shopping items too. You can join the group by clicking here. Make sure to let us know if you spot any yummy-looking, slimming-friendly new products on the supermarket shelves – we might just feature them in our next article!
Our Weekly Pinch of Shopping list aims to show you slimming-friendly products that you can find online or in one of your local supermarkets. We try to make it as easy as possible for you to pick up these items as part of your usual weekly shop, and we’ll always include the calorie information and the RRP for you.
Please remember that, although all prices are correct at the time of writing, supermarkets can change their prices often, so this should be used as a guide only.
Along with our favourite new finds from the supermarket shelves, each week we include details of the Aldi Super 6. Every fortnight Aldi discounts a selection of 6 fruits and veggies that you can pick up for a fraction of the price. This week we’ve given you a reminder of the current selection, so hurry down to Aldi to pick up some bargains before a fresh selection goes on offer next week!
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**A note on our shopping list: we do not take payment, promotion or gifts for including any of the items mentioned in these articles. We bring them to you because we love them and hope you will too!**
Japan Menyū Cabbage and Edamame Slaw – 97 calories per 1/2 pack
The Japanese-inspired Menyū range at Waitrose has a number of restaurant staples you can mix and match, from gyoza to miso-glazed cod fillets. We fancied livening up our lunch with Japan Menyū Cabbage and Edamame Slaw.
It arrives with a pot of punchy, citrus-flavoured ponzu dressing, for drizzling over the finely-shredded cabbage, carrot, edamame beans, onions and seeds.
Slaw instantly levels up any recipe, including our Fish Finger Tachos. Stuffed with crispy, bite-sized fish fingers, crunchy homemade slaw and even crunchier nachos, we’ve finished it all off with a mild sriracha-mayo sauce.
They don’t look or taste low in calories, and yet they’re only 327 calories per tacho!
Japan Menyū Cabbage and Edamame Slaw is available from Waitrose, priced at £1.87 per pot.
Lindahls Protein Snack Coconut – 129 calories per snack bar
You can find Lindahls Protein Snack Coconut with the refrigerated snacky bits at Asda. High in protein with no added sugar, the chocolate sponge sandwich slices hold together a chilled, velvety, coconut cream centre.
They make for a healthier alternative to picking up a full-fat Choc Ice, and they’re far more filling than you’d expect.
Fans of coconut flavours are bound to appreciate our Piña Colada Ice Cream. Based on a certain famous cocktail, we’ve blended low-fat coconut Greek-style yoghurt with a low-fat single cream alternative, and all-important juicy pineapple.
Our recipe’s just for adults, but you can skip the alcohol if you’re letting the kids dip their spoon in – or use a little splash of rum flavouring instead.
Lindahls Protein Snack Coconut snack bars are available from Asda, priced at £1.29 per bar.
London Essence Orange and Fig Soda Water – 19 calories per 100ml
The blend of blood orange and honey in London Essence Orange and Fig Soda Water is perfect for autumn. Enjoy it as a refreshing sip on its own over ice, or infuse it with a dram of whiskey or vodka, to make your new-favourite seasonal spritz.
There’s a Raspberry and Rose flavoured bottle you can pick up for the same calories, if you’re not in the mood for citrusy bergamot and fig.
Our Syrupy Cinnamon Figs with Greek Yoghurt is brimming with the underrated taste of figs. With warming cinnamon and a swirl of maple syrup, you can transform a humble serving of fat-free Greek yoghurt into an impressive dessert.
London Essence Orange and Fig Soda Water is available from Tesco, priced at £2.00 for a 500ml bottle.
Sainsbury’s Roasting Vegetables and Hot Honey, Taste the Difference – 70 calories per 1/4 pack
You’ll want to make some room on your roast dinner plate for Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Roasting Vegetables and Hot Honey. A ready-mixed tray of chopped root veg, red onion and butternut squash, each limited edition medley comes with a mouth-watering sachet of sticky hot honey.
For proof of just how magical a honey glaze can be, try our Honey and Mustard Chicken. In true, time-saving traybake fashion, we’ve kept things nice and simple by laying our ingredients on one tray, so there’s no need to worry about a pile of washing-up afterwards.
While our homemade glaze keeps the thighs nice and juicy, it’s always a good idea to spoon some extra sauce on top right before serving.
Sainsbury’s Roasting Vegetables and Hot Honey, Taste the Difference is available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £2.85 (or £2.50 with a Nectar card).
Bol Middle Eastern Harissa Stew Pot – 320 calories per pot
If the colder weather has you looking for warm, nourishing lunchtime options, cuddle up to a Bol Middle Eastern Harissa Stew Pot. As well as 2 of your 5-a-day, each bubbling pot has a whopping 36g of fibre and 21g of filling protein.
Slow-cooked until tangy, garlicky and rich with spice, the tomatoey sauce gets added depth from the smokiness of harissa paste.
We’ve noticed a lot of love for harissa paste in our Facebook group lately, especially since we shared our guide on what harissa paste is and how to use it.
A punchy pot of harissa paste is a great addition to your store cupboard. You can use it to warm up with a bowl of our Harissa Chilli with Crispy Potatoes tonight (the full recipe is on pages 68-69 of Pinch of Nom: Enjoy).
Bol Middle Eastern Harissa Stew Pot is available from Tesco, priced at £3.00 per pot.
Morrisons Red Crevettes Prawns – 107 calories per 1/2 pack
With Morrisons Red Crevettes Prawns in the freezer, you can make a quick, high-protein stir-fry or salad at a moment’s notice. Once the ready-cooked prawns are thoroughly defrosted, they’re ready to serve or gently reheat as part of a saucy pasta dish or aromatic curry.
Fancy a tapas-inspired picky tea? These crevettes would make for a show-stealing small plate of Garlic Chilli Prawns. Stir them into the pan once the olive oil, garlic and chilli is bubbling away, and zhuzh up the flavours with zingy lemon juice and paprika.
Waste not, want not – don’t forget to wipe the plate clean with a crusty wholemeal bread roll!
Morrisons Red Crevettes Prawns are available from Morrisons, priced at £4.99 per pack.
Heinz Beanz Cheesy Balls – 54 calories per cheese ball (ovenbaked)
If you can’t say no to beans and cheese, these Heinz Beanz Cheesy Balls are for you. Each bite-sized ball is coated in crispy, golden breadcrumbs, and wrapped around an oozy centre of mozzarella, soft cheese and Heinz Beanz in tomato sauce.
At 54 calories per cheesy ball, we have a feeling these could be a hit for the upcoming buffet season!
Cheesy snacks don’t come much tastier than Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese Balls. Our croquette-inspired recipe bundles reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, cauliflower and mashed potato into an irresistible blanket of breadcrumbs.
Whether you crisp them in an air fryer or bake them to perfection in an oven, dipping them in the homemade cheese sauce is a must.
Heinz Beanz Cheesy Balls are available from Iceland, priced at £3.50 per pack.
Halloween Aaahmazing Chocolate Orange Pumpkin Macaron Kit – 76 calories per decorated macaron
It’s never too early to start thinking of scarily good ideas for your Halloween spread! Aldi’s Halloween Aaahmazing Chocolate Orange Pumpkin Macaron Kits are available starting from this week, but you’ll have to brave the aisles to find them – they’re an in-store only purchase.
The box of tricks comes with chocolate-filled, orange-flavoured macaron pumpkin heads, sugar decorations and icing, ready for you to give each adorable little snack-o’-lantern their frightening face.
They would look spookily effective as part of a wider spread of haunting goodies, and we’ve got plenty of ideas for you in our Halloween Party Guide.
Nothing gets us in the end-of-year spirit quite like that first sip of Pumpkin Spice Latte. Our easy-peasy blend can be made at home for a fraction of the cost of nipping to a coffee shop, and it’s far lighter than sugar-loaded versions at 109 calories per mug.
Halloween Aaahmazing Chocolate Orange Pumpkin Macaron Kit is available from Aldi, priced at £2.99 per pack.
Sainsbury’s Amaretto Tiramisu, Limited Edition, Taste the Difference – 230 calories per pot
Add effortless extravagance to the end of any meal with Sainsbury’s (Limited Edition) Taste the Difference Amaretto Tiramisu . You’ll find the usual coffee liqueur soaked sponge that you’d expect from a traditional tiramisu, but these pots take things up a notch, with an added glug of nutty-sweet amaretto.
Topped with velvety mascarpone, boozy cream and chocolate shavings, you’ll feel like you’re eating out – at home!
We have to raise a toast to our Espresso Martini Trifle. Our very own creamy, coffee-flavoured showstopper, we’ve used layers of boozy coffee jelly, brownie pieces, chocolatey yoghurt and cream to build up the indulgence.
Grab a spoon and tuck in for only 284 calories per luxurious-looking dessert!
Sainsbury’s Amaretto Tiramisu, Limited Edition, Taste the Difference are available from Sainsbury’s, priced at £3.35 for a pack of 2.
Iceland Chicken Breast Fillet Strips Scarily Spicy Ghost Chilli – 258 calories per serving (ovenbaked)
Can you handle the heat? Iceland Chicken Breast Fillet Strips Scarily Spicy Ghost Chilli are not for the faint-hearted. A crispy-coated, dinnertime challenge, they’re layered in a breadcrumb that’s infused with one of the hottest ingredients you can get hold of: ghost chillies.
If you are going to give them a try, we’d recommend having a cooling dip on standby (our Tzatziki recipe might just do the trick).
For a less dangerous batch of chicken strips, you could always rustle up our Chicken Goujons, and add spice to your liking. Our top tip for the breadcrumb coating is to use stale bread – older slices are easier and crispier to work with.
Iceland Chicken Breast Fillet Strips Scarily Spicy Ghost Chilli are available from Iceland, priced at £4.00 per bag.
REMINDER Aldi Super 6 Fruit and Veg Selection
We love Aldi’s fortnightly selection of fresh fruit and veggies! They choose different items for a special offer where you can pick them up for much less than the normal price.
Here’s our reminder of this week’s Super 6 selection:
- Royal Gala Apples – 52 calories per 100g
- Baby Potatoes – 75 calories per 100g
- Red Onions – 41 calories per 100g
- Closed Cup Mushrooms -17 calories per 100g
- Sweet Potatoes – 86 calories per 100g
- Chantenay Carrots – 35 calories per 100g
**Remember: we do not take payment, promotion or gift for any of the items mentioned in these articles. We bring them to you because we love them and hope you will too!**
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