Showing posts with label preparation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preparation. Show all posts

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Menu Plan Monday - January 13-17

Alright, it's Sunday, I know. But this is when I plan, okay? Nice. And this is a much nicer way of reminding myself than the scribble week plan (which sort of coincides with a busy week and the cleaning schedule....)



Monday 13 January

Lunch: Bacon & Egg Pie and Curry leftovers for him
Baked stuffed potatoes for me
(Making pizza and naan bread in the afternoon)
Dinner: Red Lentil Dhal with naan bread

Tuesday 14 January

Lunch: B&E pie, leftover dhal, pizza for him, dhal for me.
Dinner: Falafel and/or Lamb Iskender

Wednesday 15 January

Lunch: falafel wraps
Dinner: vegetarian Shepherds Pie, salad, and roast chicken for him

Thursday 16 January

Lunch: vegetarian shepherds pie
Dinner: Frittata, fresh corn and chops for him.

Friday 17 January
Lunch: Frittata and coleslaw
Dinner: eating out.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, August 18, 2013

It's been so busy, thank goodness for soup!

Well, term three began with a hiss and a roar, followed by a great deal of cold. Sickness threatened. And almost won out. However, soup was the total hero! Between all the frozen soup and easily made soup, we made it through the worst of it all. (I hope). Spring is in view, and soon the weather will warm.
This morning has been a great time to make more of the Kumara and Leek Soup, still my favourite of the season.



Preparing my favourite soup


Knitting designs have slowed down with the busy-ness of the season sadly, but at least my Doctor Who Scarf is finished!  I love it completely; even if it is a challenge to wear.


I also have a Doctor Who Scarf Beanie... made from the scraps, and this pattern will follow.


Currently I am working on a Bearded Beanie and Minion Mittens, as one reader has issued the challenge, so watch this space for a pattern.
With the Drama of the Earthquake (6.5) in Wellington on Friday when I was in town with 50 students, a few hit but not gaining more than minor scraps by falling ceilings, and all our transport cancelled, I am happy for a dull and dreary few days.  (Here's hoping anyway).

Saturday, July 13, 2013

5+ a Day Challenge: Day 5

Well, the last day of term, and the one I had dreaded most. Usually a sugar fed high of chaos.

Breakfast
- Special K
- peaches

Lunch
- lasagne (vegetarian)
- Kumara soup
- 2 bread rolls
- mandarin



I was too full for the pasta salad or kiwi.

Snacks
- nuts
- scone with jam
- Pringles chips (it was a movie, alright!)

Dinner
- falafel Iskender

Portions: 8

And how was I feeling? Together. Usually at the movies I eat all sorts, and drink juice. This time I went with peanut m&ms and didn't even touch them. I drank a bottle of water and was happy.

I know I need to eat as many fresh vege as possible. In my counts I've only been using the vege portions of things that were fresh or whole. And I made it.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday, July 8, 2013

5+ a Day Challenge: Monday

Well, I made it through one day. And I am pleased so far. While I still wanted to eat deep fried, high sugary goodness in amidst assessing the end of terms work, I didn't.

Breakfast
1 serving peaches
Special K

Lunch
Lasagne (vegetarian) 1 vege serving
Kiwi fruit
Mandarin

Snacks
Mixed nuts
Cheese and crackers

Dinner
Mushroom and Leek soup 1 vege serving.



I'm being fairly tight on the soup and lasagne, just to be fair. The soup has loads of mushrooms that evidently count as vege, but I've kept it conservative.

Tomorrow I shall attempt a banana!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, July 7, 2013

5+ A Day

We all know we are supposed to have 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, but who really manages this? I know it is a challenge for me at the end of term, as its just a busy time of performances, assessments and general chaos. Often I find myself running on chocolate and energy drinks, macaroni and cheese, and plenty of toast. Then the guilt settles in.



This year I have been working hard to have things actually growing in the garden over winter, with some success! It's still not enough to cover us for a vege supply over winter, but it has been wonderful. The perpetual spinach has been thriving with the silver beet (chard) both making regular appearances in husband lunches.




Of course I picked a cold and windy day to show my gardens. The leeks are coming along, spring onions are ready, and various lettuces coming along as and when they like. The citrus trees are also doing well, it's lemons ready, mandarins soon to follow, and tangelos in the wings.

My challenge to myself this week is to make sure I have the 5+ a Day during my school week. I will attempt to blog my progress on this or I will lack accountability!

I also plan on making a mushroom soup this week as well.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Apple and Berry Crumble

This weekend Dad came over to help the husband install some sound system. Yes, I bribed with food. And praise. And beer. Shamelessly. Long time readers will be aware of all the berries we grew over summer, and how after washing them briefly, they got frozen. Now it was time for a comeback.



Ingredients
4 apples
1 cup mixed berries
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup flour
1 knob butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup (honey or golden syrup can be used)
1 tablespoon brown sugar

Peel and slice all the apples, and place in an oven proof dish. Sprinkle the frozen berries over the apples, stir in a little. Sprinkle the cinnamon on top of the fruit.


In a separate bowl, combine the flour, rolled oats, maple syrup and brown sugar. Rub in the butter. When combined, spread over the fruit.



Bake for around 20-30 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Serve with custard or whipped cream.






Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Soup, wonderful soup.

It's officially winter. Here is my fridge, clearly soup is in my future.



I've been making a lot of the stuff, and doing several things with it.
1. Eating it. Duh. It's delicious.
2. Freezing it. I can't make it through a full pot of soup in my own time.
3. Taking it for lunch.

Freezing has been a revelation. I've been putting it in 2 cup full bags - glad medium sandwich zip top baggies specifically and labelling the stuff for the deep freeze. I usually make the soup with less water so that when I defrost the stuff, I can add more water and have soup easily... For dinner and lunch.



I've been taking it for morning tea and lunch. Morning tea is like 11:20, and lunch 1:20, so it's a long time from my leaving home without 2 meals! Lol. The stay fit soup container is great for morning tea, and the soup is still warm then, but by lunch it is cold. I bought a small thermal cuppy thing from Kathmandu, and it is burbling.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday, April 7, 2013

A lesson in Mastercheffing.

Alright... I am not a masterchef.... but.... sometimes I cook like one.  Alright, so once a week I cook like a masterchef.  Why?  Because I can.

PAH!

No, it's because otherwise I end up spending over 100 bucks a week on buying lunch and/or breakfast or takeaways for tea.  And I would rather buy ridiculous leggings (Blackmilk), geek supplies (thinkgeek) or travelling.  (I am aware that without my other obsessions I would be able to travel FAR more often than I do now).

So I use Sundays for preparation.  We go grocery shopping on a Friday night, so I have to be rather organised mentally for what we buy.... but generally I am at a loose end, and we grab the usuals, with whatever fresh is on special/in season.... and whatever is growing in the garden.  Saturday becomes housework and garden... by which time I am mentally prepared for the week ahead.  We also make curry with all the fixin's, yep, the husband is Indian and a week without curry isn't worth living I have been told.  Also, it's the time that I would have seen my mother and my sister and a bit of a swap of fresh veg occurs.  (The sister has tomatoes and blackberries aplenty atm and the mother is a great source of lemons...)

Today broke all records I believe....
  • Red Lentil Dahl made.  The sister wants some, and it is super easy, so I made it. ;)
  • Bombay Potatoes.  The husband wanted these... and they are super easy...
  • Frittata
  • Mac 'n' Cheese
  • Pasta salad
  • Vegies prepped for a mid-week vegetable soup and a leek and mushroom penne.
I hate boiling potatoes for one reason... so I end up doing a double batch- hence the frittata and the Bombay potatoes..... and Pasta seems to come in bags that are too big for one dish.... but I hate half bags that the mice, dogs or clumsy elbows get into and cause a pantry mess.... so the pasta salad.

The plan.

Tonight:  Curry.... We have lamb, Bombay potatoes, dahl, roti and I'll make rice.  (Some of this will become onigiri balls)
Monday:  Lunch - leftover curry for him, mini-mac-n-cheese, frittata and salads.  Dinner... leftovers!
Tuesday:  Leek and Mushroom Penne for him.... I'll have leftovers.  Wraps for lunch.
Wednesday:  Vegetable soup for me, stuffed peppers and roasted chicken legs for him.  Penne for lunch for him.
Thursday:  Chicken stir fry - either noodles or rice... depending on how much time I have after work.  I'll have soup.
Friday:  Stir-fry for his lunch.  I'll be lunching in Wellington on a school trip.

All that remains is to put things in containers.... I'll make rice tonight and container-ise his leftovers.  I'll do a set for the sister as well who with 3 kids under 5 tends to forget to cook for herself.  I'll end up with 4 meal servings of mac and cheese... which I COULD freeze.... but they never last long around here... and 12 mini-macs.  And 6 servings of frittata for lunch during the week for both of us.  The vegies are all prepped and bagged ready to go during the week for stress-free cooking.  Or at least... that is the plan.

Mince selected and bagged, labled and frozen.


I can't believe it's not bacon! Fritatta

 Well, I can believe it's not bacon, but the husband doesn't pay that much attention. ;)  This is my potato oven baked fritatta with red onions.  It is super easy, and fantastic for cold days when a sandwich for lunch is unappealing.  I like it cold, the husband likes it re-heated.

Ingredients (for 6 large servings)
8 eggs (I used 9 because I didn't want to leave one all lonesome in the fridge...)
2 Tbs milk
6 medium potatoes (I use the red ones because I like the colour)
1/2 red onion (diced)
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated cheese
Slice the potatoes, about 1cm thick.  You want these as similar as possible.  You could use a mandolin, but I have been showing off my newly accquired knife skills ;) (well, I didn't cut myself so that is a skill).  Boil the potatoes until ALMOST cooked.  Let them drain in a colander.

 Place the eggs in a bowl with the milk and salt and pepper.  Add a bit of salt to create the bacon-esque illusion.  I don't like salt, so I keep it to a minimum.  Whisk until all combined.  There should be a bit of "air" in the mix.


In an oven proof dish, layer the potatoes across the bottom, sprinkle diced onion, then pour some of the egg mixture on top.  I do this 3 times.... but generally until you have run out of potato slices or egg mixture.


Sprinkle cheese on top, with more salt and pepper.  Then place into a hot oven at 180 degrees.  Watch the fritatta.  Cooking times will vary.  Mine was thick so took like 45 minutes.  A thinner fritatta takes less time.  Just wait until the egg is solid and the cheese is browned.


Cut while warm into servings.  We had 2 servings for dinner, and the rest were cooled, wrapped and refrigerated and sent in lunchboxes.  It holds up well over the journey to work/school, and tastes great hot or cold.  I have also been known to include corn kernels,  peas, carrots, capsicum or other bits and pieces leftover in the fridge... but this was made at the end of a grocery week.  

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Apple Pies... in the apple!

So, I saw these apple pies cooked in whole apples on pinterest.  It was great.  So, I tried to make them myself.... and it was delicious!

Firstly, you will need apples.  I went with 4.  Because I am not patient.  (and I have 4 large ramekin dishes).  I chopped the tops off (well, 2 I cut the bottom off, but the smaller end works better).  Using a melon baller, hollow the apples, leaving between 5mm and 1cm of "wall" with the skin on.

Remove the pippy bits from the extracted apple.  Stew the fruit with cinnamon, nutmeg, a little ginger and brown sugar.  When soft, spoon the stewed fruit into the apple cases.  Place each apple in a ramekin dish.  This will stop them falling over, and be WAY easier to deal with if they explode!

Cover the tops with lattice work puff pastry.  I used bought stuff because... well... I am only as masterchef as buying pastry.  One day I will make it, but it seems really hard!  Press the edges of the pastry down onto the apple, about 1cm down from the top opening.  Using a blunt knife, trim any excess pastry from the sides just to make them pretty.

Bake at 150 degrees C.  For about 20 minutes or until the pastry is browned.  Don't leave it longer or the apples will explode.

I ate one straight from the oven with yogurt - YUMMO.  I even packed one in my lunch, and it was a great treat cold with lunch.


Pinterest Challenge

Monday, March 18, 2013

Individual Lasagne all set for Lunch

I've been a bad blogger of late.... in fact, since I had my technology stolen from my car.  However, my cooking and lunches have actually been better than... well.... usual.

2013 was MEANT to be the year of eating well.... but generally it has become the year of eating a lot.  And I am okay with that. :D

Here we have an easy-lunchbox with a joyous lunch.  Dried bananas and fresh grapes... with a cucumber and lettuce salad with.... INDIVIDUAL LASAGNE! 

Generally this was a genius idea and I shall do it again.  This week I have baked stuffed potatoes and the man has chicken and lentil pies (yeah, I've been hiding vegetables in his food again)... and I have a giant pot of pumpkin soup!  It's amazing.  Sundays have become ultimate preparation time.  I have become a veritable masterchef!

Watch out for this week as I need to make a Rainbow Cake for a work shout on Friday, and the potatoes will make a showing... as well as some awesome apple pie.  :D

Thursday, November 15, 2012

T-Bar Fruity-Nutty bars

May the record show that I love Tupperware..... but I hate Tupperware parties.... with a burning passion.  However, my sister loves them. >.<  This means I get dragged along to buy Tupperware.  I was excited with the T-Bar maker thingy that was released, so I raced away and spent WAY too much on the plastic device.  But it works really rather well.

Basically it is a muesli bar maker, that comes with little carry containers.  And a recipe booklet.... which I promptly lost >.< (but I found it again..... evenutally).  In the mean time I discovered how few internet recipes there were for the T-Bar maker.... and I started thinking I was the only person who bought one.  

But, this is my recipe for like a fruity, anti-oxidant rich muesli bar.  A whole one is like massively difficult to eat, so I recommend cutting them in half... part for morning tea, part for afternoon tea or sharing.

Ingredients:
1 cup wholegrain rolled oats
1/3 cup dried banana chips (break them a bit)
1/3 cup dried blueberries and cranberries
1/3 cup dried apricots (cut up a lot)
1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter (much better than smooth)
15g butter
1/2 cup honey

 Combine the oats and dried fruits in a bowl.  It will need to be a bowl that can withstand a bit of heat.  I usually use a pyrex jug, but I think the husband has 'put it away' and I can't find it in my kitchen.

In a saucepan, melt the butter, honey and peanut butter together.  I didn't have crunchy peanut butter- because I had eaten it all.... and used the smooth.  It works, but it is not as good.  Boil the mixture, don't be tempted to taste it.... I usually can't resist and then regret it.

Then pour all the runny mixture into the dry ingredients.  Mix it all in.  You will get a really solid mix.  Using a dessert spoon, spoon into the T-Bar thing.  You won't need to oil it or whatever because the butter kinda helps it all slide back out.  Keep packing it all in.  Use the plunger to force it solidly into place.

When it's all crammed in there, place on the lid and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, pop them out.  I use a plastic knife just to release them around the sides and I run hot water over the bottom of the container, but they come out easily enough.

Store in the fridge in the carry containers, and just throw in the bag/lunchbox.

My tip- if you are likely to lose the carry cases, just wrap in gladwrap... they are expensive cases.  I like the idea of knowing EXACTLY what is in these things, and not having any added salt.  They are rather messy to make, but easily sorted with a dishwasher.  They store and carry well, so that is a bonus.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Making some Hummus


I LOVE hummus, oh, if I could go to Turkey, I would come back so filled with hummus, tabbouleh and felafel.  Yum!  But, I was so keen to eat Turkish, but so lacking in hummus..... I sorta had eaten it all!

Shocking....

So I made my own, and was really impressed with the result.  I also got to use more of my Fernridge Olive Oil, infused with Garlic.  (It is spectacular, and made by an ex-teacher of mine)

This is the recipe.  Oh, it would pay to REALLY like Garlic to try this.  Or just omit the garlic and use regular olive oil!


Ingredients

1 cup chick peas.  You could use a can, but rinse the peas first. 
1/4 small onion
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon (or a little more, I lost track) olive oil

Soak the chickpeas overnight.  Rinse the water off and drain well. 
Cut up the onion and chop the garlic.  Throw this either into the food processor, or a container.  I used a stick blender because the clean-up is WAY easier, and nothing additional has to smell of garlic.
Add chick peas, and sprinkle with olive oil and lemon juice.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
Blitz that stuff.  Go slow to start because it takes time for the oil and liquids to mix with the dry ingredients.  Pulse til smooth.

Transfer to an airtight container and store.

Look out for how I used the hummus....


One of my students tried to steal some today because it smelt so good.  I know, awesome... Always good to find another garlic lover.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Cookbook Review: My Favourite Recipes {Series}


It has been a while since I reviewed a cookbook.... so why not come back with a series?

I'm not sure who else has come across this series?  I picked up the "Chicken" one early on, and ordered the rest.  Mainly as I never know what to do with meat (being a vegetarian).  The first section is all the basics and dealing with whatever the theme is.  I now have about 7 of the books.

I have made a few things.  All of them seem to work out fine.  Nothing too flashy, just good honest food.

I decided to look at the Soups, Snacks and Salads book for a change... and to help with the ol' lunch preparation.



As I had leftover French Bread (Baguette) and a husband who declared that he didn't want 'snacks' in his lunchbox (thanks, by the way.... always good to have a heads-up AFTER doing the groceries!)... so I threw these together...

Waiting for the oven

Hot and tasty

Okay, so I deviated from the recipe a little... I can't make anything Pizza without Basil....  And I only had white mushrooms, not the brown.  Otherwise, I was pretty darn impressed.  I never have put corn on anything pizza before, but it worked well here. 


So, my opinion:
Information:  5/5 points
Recipes: 3/5 points
Originality: 3/5 points
Pictures: 4/5 points
Overall: 4/5 points

This brings us to 19 points, which isn't bad.  The pictures are accurate, and the information is excellent.  The recipes are nothing earth shattering, but they do have common, easy to locate, fairly economical ingredients.  I have been impressed, and glad I subscribed to the series.  As the first book was only a few dollars, and each subsequent one has been about $12, it is not bad for a good recipe book with accurate pictures.


Sunday, November 13, 2011

It's been a while

Well, it has been a while....

And with my world slowly turned back the right way, here's to the universe.

Just a brief update... my Kitchen!  I blogged about the turmoil a while back, then hinted that it was done.  And I have pictures at last!

It's a long way from the teracotta and 70's orange we had when we bought the house....  And, I love it.  The benchtop matches the carpet in the house, the blue is just plain awesome, and the pictures on the wall are of foreign cafes.  The rubbish bin is 80% Beagle proof.  And the splash back is a beautiful black glass.

Check out the dishwasher!  My last one up and died while I had a broken leg, so, this one meant a lot to me.

You may notice the juice machine in the background.  My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer about 6 weeks ago, so it has been a mammoth change of everything.  He had surgery, which went well, and has been recovering nicely.  He will get chemotherapy in the new year.  But for now, and the reason for mentioning all this here, it is all about diet.  We are having a lot of broccoli, a lot of vegetable juices, and he is even eating vegetarian!  Big changes from the red-meat-lover.

So we are back in business, and ready to roll with lunch updates.

Also, please visit my new blog, "Beyond Island Hopping".  It is my travel blog, with tips, stories, and general awesomeness about traveling.  We just started a great new linky party, "Destination Friday" where you can link any blog posts or articles on the internet of your favourite vacation destinations, whether they are on your doorstep or the other side of the world.


Monday, January 10, 2011

Easy Tabbouleh

I love tabbouleh.  But, I do tend to find that most recipes make too much of it for me to eat in 3 days... so I have adapted my standard tabbouleh to something more user-friendly, producing a more workable amount of the salad for myself and my lunches.  It also has a larger proportion of the fresh ingredients, and less wheat.  :D

Easy Tabbouleh



1/4 cup bulgar wheat
3/4 cup boiling water
juice of one lemon
Handful of fresh parsley
A few sprigs of mint
1 firm tomato

In the container you plan to story the tabbouleh in (I warned you this was easy, did I mention it is also the lazy version?) place the bulgar wheat and boiling water.  Leave to stand for 30 minutes.
Cut up mint and parsley to a reasonable size... I don't like it too fine, but go crazy if it is your style.
Dice the tomato.
Add into the container with the wheat.
Squeeze over the juice of the lemon.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper if you wish.
Refrigerate and use as desired.

If you make tabbouleh a lot, you will notice I have left out the olive oil and spring onions, as well as the step de-seeding the tomatoes etc.  This way I can have tabbouleh with very little effort, just 30 minutes of standing time (which today I used to make the dahl). 

Watch this space for tabbouleh in my food tomorrow.... :D

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Avoidance of things that should be done...

Well.... I should be painting the spare room.... but I lack enthusiasm for the next coat.  Sigh.  Will do that tomorrow after work. 

So I wanted pancakes for breakfast, but am out of maple syrup (how do I only remember these things when I am NOT in the supermarket....).... I do however have ample lemons growing on the tree outside.  So I made crepes!


Not the prettiest crepes ever made- but they have loads of fresh lemon juice and only a teaspoon of sugar... so I was kinda impressed with myself there.  And.... I have extra crepes for bento's later on.  :D

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Mini-Bagels.... nom nom nom.

Well, Bagels are stupidly expensive, but I loves them so..... when I have time (or more like when I have LOADS to do but am avoiding it all) I make my own.  Here is my recipe for mini-bagels- adapted from a cookbook I have, so that the bagels can fit in a bento.

Mini-bagels

Ingredients:
- 2t sugar
- 1 1/2 c warm water
- 3t active yeast (not the baking kind)
- 4c flour
- 1t salt

- 1 egg and water for the glaze

- 3/4 cup sugar and 2 jug-fulls of boiling water for dunking the bagels in


Add the sugar and the yeast to the water, and cover with cling wrap.  I do this to keep nasties out (like beagle fur) and all the warmth in.  Let it get all fluffy.... and frothy.  This will double the liquidy stuff in size- and then some- so make sure to use a large container!


See......  I like to use a 1 litre jug because it makes the pouring easier in the next bit.



In another bowl, sift the flour and salt.  Add the frothy yeasty liquid.  Kneed into a dough and make a large ball.

This is when today I decided to make 3 types.  I left just over half as plain, about a 1/3rd as cinnamon and currents, and the last wee bit as pumpkin seed and paprika.  Basically I just made a ball, flattened it a bit, sprinkled the ingredients on top of the flattened ball.... and kneeded them all in.


There's the big wad of plain, medium wad of cinnamon and small wad of pumpkin seed.  Let the dough sit and double in size.  I usually just do some dishes at this point....

When bigger, start boiling the jug and get a large pot ready to boil water on the stove.  Throw the 3/4 cup of sugar in the pot, and boiled water to speed things up.... have the pot blasting away.


Roll the bagels into balls... and place on a rack.  They will keep expanding somewhat, but it saves time doing it this way.  I tend to leave the hole out of the bagel as the hole is just annoying!  I always end up covered in fillings that have escaped.


Drop the bagels with a slotted spoon into the boiling water for like 30 seconds, rolling them over every 10 or so seconds.  Please ignore my shocking temporary stock pot.... my sister borrowed my lovely one, and somehow managed to break the handles off of it.... so this budget model that burns with anything thicker than water is just tying me over until I find a nice one I like.  Take the bagels out after 30 or so seconds and place on the cooling rack.


Glaze the bagels with an egg wash (whisked water and egg) and give the left over egg-wash to the eagerly awaiting beagles.


Throw them on a baking tray (I use baking paper because I don't like the sticking or the clean-up) and bake for like 20ish minutes at 200 degrees C..... or until they are golden brown.  I don't like an over cooked bagel as I will toast them before eating anyway.


Voila!  Mini bagels ready to go.... or maxi bagels... whatever size you like really.  I like them to be different sizes, so that they look homemade.... and then I can brag about my kitchen exploits... :D