Squirrel's homemade burger with Cypriot New Potatoes

I have always loved making homemade burgers, my mum and dad both made them for me growing up. Its been a while since I've made some so when the I came across a challenge to write a recipe using Cypriot New Potatoes I thought it would be a great idea to cook them in my air fryer. 

Ideal for dipping if cut long ways and perfect to go with homemade burger, garlic yoghurt and a spicy salsa. The big test would be if my 13 month old son would eat it. He didn't have the sauce/salsa but loved the Cypriot New Potatoes and homemade burger.

Spicy salsa, Cypriot New Potatoes, Homemade burger and garlic dip.

Here's what I started with after my trip to tesco. A couple of things where already in my cupboard.

Squirrel's homemade burgers

Ingredients

500g mince beef

1 Onion

1tbsp light soy sauce

1tsp mixed herbs

half a tea spoon of salt and pepper

1 egg

Approx 100g of bread (can be dry/old bread for bread crumbs)

Method

Put the bread into a blender to make into bread crumbs. Dice the onion into small pieces. Put the mince, onion, bread crumbs, soy sauce, mixed herbs, salt and pepper in a bowl together and give a good mix.

Next beat the egg in a cup with a fork, then add it to the bowl. Mix together with a spoon or fork but you might find it easier to mix the meat into one piece using your hands.

Next mould the meat into burgers, I recommend not to do them too thick because its harder to cook the middle bit but the size doesn't matter just the bigger the burger the longer the cooking time. So I did some smaller ones for harry :)

Next its time to cook the burgers! Yey! But first lets get those yummy potatoes on!

Cypriot New Potatoes 

Cypriot New Potatoes are available in Tesco stores nationwide.

To go with my burgers I bought a 750g bag. I cut them in half down the long side of the potato and then again into quarter or each half into 3 depending on the size of the potato.

It was then time to wash/dry the potatoes ready for the air fryer.

Next I poured 1 tbsp of oil all over the potatoes and put it on for 40 minutes.

Spicy Salsa

Ingredients

6 tomatoes

1 pepper

1 onion

1 red chili pepper

1tsp mixed herbs

splash vinegar

half a tsp of salt and pepper

Method

First chop up the tomatoes, pepper and onion . Then finely dice the chili pepper. Cook the onion in a pan with a little bit of oil just until it softens then add the rest giving it a good stir. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the tomotoes and peppers soften on a medium heat. Stiring regularly.

Garlic Dip

Ingredients

200ml natural yoghurt

1 clove garlic

hand full of chives

salt and pepper to taste

Method

Finally dice the garlic. Add enough salt to the garlic to be able to crush it with the side of the knife. Keep crushing until the garlic and salt resemble a paste.

Slowly add the yogurt to the garlic paste. Finely chop the chives and stir into the mixture.

Add pepper to taste and salt if needed.

The verdict

We all loved it! The salsa complimented the garlic sauce on the burger and the Cypriot New Potatoes where great for dipping and just so yummy. My son couldn't get enough of them. I'll definitely have to do some more!

Yummy yummy Scrummy!

Harry enjoyed peas and sweetcorn with his tea in the interest of getting his 5 a day into him ;) Oh and he doesn't know how to nod yet lol

#CypriotNewPotatoes

Money, Body and Mind challenge update

The running has taken a back seat for now so lets call the start of February as Take Two! I went as planned for my second run it went well even though I was very achy from my first run. I went to the beck this time hoping for more level ground. Thankfully it was much better then the woods. One big thing I noticed about my second run is I didn't need my inhaler big improvement so definitely motivation to carry on. The last time I went was a week ago on Tuesday 24th January. That day I forgot to re-download the mp3 track so just kind of guessed with the amount of running oops. Hey I guess I'm not doing as bad as I thought in 2017 so far 3 runs is better then none!

Left: Wed 18th, Right: Tue 24th.

I'm hoping over the year I'll see a difference. Fingers crossed tomorrow goes as planned. Over and out, Ellie xxx

2017 Aims, Wishlist and a very dry January

I've been meaning to write a post about 2017 Aims and my wishlist for a while but I've not had chance or the energy. Last 2 weeks Harry has been ill and before that constant teething so I don't think I've slept properly in 2017 at all ok over exaturation but close enough. Forget the amount of times I've ran up and down the stairs when he's screaming his head off. That's got to burn some calories right? Tomorrow we go into February and so far as usual 2017 isn't going to plan. Time to get back on track hopefully, there's still 11 months left so here goes nothing!

Time to talk about my aims for 2017. I've already talked about my Money, Body and Mind challenge in my last post and a little bit about my aims for this year in my first ever blog post. To remind myself about what I want to do this year to and to keep myself motivated I have done a colourful poster to put on the wall. Kept it simple and eye catching.

Doing well for that bottom one as you know (I did this before I started blogging) but I'm going to try do more posts more regurarly. The Gryffindor hoodie is one the other half ordered for me months ago that doesn't fit and I love a cosy new hoodie.

I've also made one for my prize wishlist. If you don't know me I like to enter competitions well you could say I'm addicted to it but I love to have fun at the same time not just entering your run of the mill entry form competitions but creative ones with photos or making/baking things. I'm trying my best to make more effort with these types as so far January has been so so dry for prizes. Not one prize this year at all, no reason that can't change.

I don't expect to win all these just 1 or 2 would be nice. Its just good to have a list to search for instead of randomly entering competitions which is what I do when I'm far too tired. Now to set up google alert for my wishlist. Fingers crossed 😉

Money, Body and Mind challenge

Money, Body and Mind challenge

My aim in 2017 is not just to diet or just try and save but try to improve on my health and money at the same time. Hopefully my mind will follow suit if I feel clearer in those areas. Oh and I'm working on some bits to organise my mind at the same ie bullet journal. I'm unbelievable scatty and forget to do stuff all the time. I guess being a sleep deprived parent doesn't help.

On to my grand scheme so the first part 'Money'
I need to learn to save!
Challenge: Save £1000 by December 1st 2017
Aim: Create a plan to save £1000

At the start of January I decided I wanted to save £1000 by the 1st of December. I’ve never been good at saving or had enough money to save never mind £1000. Why not though? Things can change. Right? I can change!
I needed a plan. I looked on the internet and came across a spreadsheet screenshot. Of course why not I’m obsessed with spreadsheets of all kind at the moment. That’s when Harry isn’t keeping us up all night. I wrote my own plan and it didn’t take as long as I thought.

There you have it my plan! I used the SUM formula (in the right photo) in column B as well as C. I put amounts in as I saw fit, putting less in January knowing I would have less money but made up for it in other weeks. If you wanted you could just divide the amount your aiming for by the weeks and use that.

Next its time for the body challenge!

Challenge: Couch to 5k

Aim: The aim of Couch to 5k is to get you to run 5k or 20 minutes in 9 weeks

This is a free on the nhs website, you can get the app or download the podcasts as listen to them in your headphones.

My motivation behind this is so I can take part in a colour run in July with my 2 younger sisters. I've always wanted to go on a colour run but why not have fun with my sisters at the same time fulfilling my aim to spend more time with family and have more adventures. Oh and there is the added bonus of finally getting fit for once in my life. Anyway I will track my journey on here and hopefully that will give me a boost :)

First run attempt

I'm sat here contemplating my plans of starting coach to 5k. Yes I'm incredibly unfit and i plan on running in public with my son in the pushchair hmmm it could be a disaster. Then again I really want to prove to myself I can do this. I can loose weight and get fit! Right wish me luck! (before first run)

Just come back from my run. Well I've done shopping, fed Harry, had lunch with the OH and talked his ear off along the way. How did it go? Well it was tough I'm not going to deny it part of me wanted to give up but I was determined to prove I can do this.

I walked to the other side of the town towards a wooded area thinking about my wobbly bits and red beetroot face the less people the better. I started down the track towards the woods. It was steeper then I remembered. To start with going up the I ran as much as I could manage, at least running for a bit every time she said run. I have to admit I needed my inhaler a few times. In the end I turned back and went back and forth down the flatter bit. Definitely a wiser idea!

Each 60 second run slowly got easier and the last one I managed to run the whole 60 seconds. So proud of myself I feel really energized! Can't wait to update you on Wednesday on my second attempt at week 1 of coach to 5k 😃

People must have thought I was crazy running with a pram. Haha but it did my arms too. I'm aching all over today especially my shins and legs. I've learned a few things. I will have to leave harry with mike after this week, I need better clothes, shoes and head phones that don't fall out my ears. Fingers crossed for a better nights sleep tonight ready for tomorrow eek :P

Lets make 2017 fantastic

We are just going into the new year and I thought I would start a blog. I don’t know exactly what to start writing about, I have a few ideas from money saving tips, competitions to enter, recipes and a bit about my life. Of course if anyone has any advice or suggestions I will be happy to listen.

My name is Ellie, I’m from Yorkshire in the UK. I’ve always struggled to fit in just feeling out of place no matter where I am in life. Like Bridget Jones I always manage to do something daft or I miss read a situation and put my foot in it. I’ve finally decided that enough is enough I’ll be myself and hopefully those that love me will stick around despite me being crazy and weird at the best of times.

 This is me! See crazy?! Haha!

A few weeks ago I went out to the shop for something for tea and a few bits. It was windy, dark and raining hard, the back end of a storm was battling hard against my car as I ran into Sainsbury’s, I quickly got some cash and jumped back into the car to get fish and chips for tea. Trying to hurry as the wind and rain flung my car door open I started to hear an alarm go off, thinking it was my car alarm I pressed the button to lock my car. Nothing happened the alarm was still going off. My car is my dads old car so I phoned my dad in a panic worrying that the rain had broken my car alarm. He never had this happen before so I had no choice but to drive home with the alarm going off and wait for the rain to stop. A few hours later after getting my son to bed I went to check my car, hoping the problem had sorted itself. I opened the car door and thought strange the noise is fading and coming more from the door area. I had a look and then I saw my rape alarm from my keys trapped between the chair and the car door. See I told you I’m as daft as a brush, everyone found it hilarious. I was just happy it wasn’t my car. Needless to say the rape alarm isn’t on my car keys anymore!

2016 was definitely an interesting journey, learning to be a new mum and struggling to adjust to the endless sleepless nights was fun and challenging all in one. At times I’ve wanted to scream and then there is the other times when my son Harry does amazing things and gives me the cheekiest little smile that melts your heart. Its certainly been a year of extreme highs and lows. I’ve moved out of the small 2 bedroom flat that was driving me mad and moved into a house in a better area.

This is Harry on his new bike from Christmas, my little cutie :)

2017 I’ve decided to set this blog up to motivate myself and to share my journey. My main aim is to have a much healthier lifestyle with money/diet and concentrate on the good things instead of the bad. I want to do more creative things, cook more and have a lot of adventures big and small. I hope anyone reading this can join in and also share their experiences. Lots of love Ellie xxx