{recipe} Tomato & Chickpea soup (low fat)

This has become a favourite low fat lunch or dinner that is really quick and easy to make (again with stuff in your pantry, so it's always handy). It's perfectly suited to my new low fat, healthy way of life and everyone in this family eats it, which is always a bonus. I've found it hard in the past if I have to make different meals for everyone (why shouldn't they be eating healthy too?)

 to make
add a can of condensed tomato soup (I used Big Red), half a can of skim milk, 1/4 can water to a saucepan and bring to the simmer.

Serve sprinkled with sliced spring onions and some grated low fat cheese...and some crusty bread if it's lunchtime (I don't have the carbs at night, so if it's for dinner, I'll have it with steamed veggies on the side)

{recipe} 3pickles Bruschetta topping

Yum, I LOVE Bruschetta! But I've been cutting back on the carbs (more about that soon), so I've just been making the tomato topping.

It's a simple salad and not really a recipe, but I just wanted to share it anyway. 

A few months ago we planted tomatoes (my first time with starting tomatoes from seed too!) We planted Santorini (I got the seeds from the cover of Burkes Backyard magazine), Tom Thumbs, Grosse Lisse and a cherry tomato variety. They grew really well, but Mr3P and I have learnt to pick them while they are still green and let them sun ripen on the window sill or the possums tend to eat them all. Our window sill is still overflowing...here's a few pics and the "recipe". 

The really wrinkly looking tomatoes are the Santorini's, they grow really well and have a mild flavour, not as sweet as a Grosse Lisse or cherry tomato. I'll be saving the seeds from these tomatoes. I can do a post if anyone wants to see how to do it. Let me know..K?

 If you're about to plant tomatoes, try planting basil next to the tomato plants...they love each other in the garden (and in this salad). They make great companion plants.

 For the salad (or bruschetta topping)

chop up your tomatoes (room temperature tastes best)

add some finely chopped, fresh basil

grated garlic

salt & freshly cracked pepper

drizzle with a really good, extra virgin olive oil

mix together (let stand for a bit to let the flavours get to know each other)

enjoy on toast or as a salad

Buon appetito!!