Fitness Risotto

I'm three days into my fitness kick.

Can it be called a fitness kick yet? Is it a hobby? A faze? What's it called after only three days?

A start. That's what I'll call it.

I was planning on joining the gym, but I haven't even managed to get the meeting to join! So I decided to make the most of what I've got. Which is a lot easier than I thought it would be. We have one of those home gym thingos in the shed. We also have a Wii Fit. So far I've done an hour 1:15 on Thursday on the Wii and 60 reps of chest press, arm pull downs and 40 leg lifts (my legs are weak). Same on Saturday.

It's made a difference. I can feel it. I'm more patient, more enegetic. I feel better about myself and hold myself better. I actually want to excersize.

Which is surprising. I'm uhh...

 Lazy.

Won't even try to sugarcoat it. Why bother? It won't help me at all. It's not going to help me be the mum running around with her kids at the park. It's not going to improve my blood pressure...

So I'm going to stop lying to myself.

And I hope that I keep this up. I'm sure I can, because it's all done at home. I don't need to go anywhere or pay any money to do it.

So now I just need some healthy recipes to go with my excersize.

Here's a favourite risotto recipe. (Risotto is healthy, right?)

base recipe found at bestrecipes.com

Ingredients:

·         30g butter.

·         1 onion chopped

·         3 cups stock

·         1 cup aborio rice

·         1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a large deep sided microwave dish (I used my Tupperware Ultra Pro - I haven't done a plug in AGES and this product is amazing - google it) melt butter on high for 45 seconds. did I mention this is a microwave recipe?

Stir in onion and cook on high, uncovered for 2 minutes.

Add rice and mix in until well coated with butter. Cook on high for 1 minute.

Add stock and cook on high, uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir well.

Cook on high uncovered for another 8 minutes.

Remove from microwave and stir in parmesan cheese and season with pepper if desired. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

To this recipe I added a very ripe avocado, chopped and mixed into the risotto so it's almost mashed in, and four cooked chicken thighs chopped up. Amazing.

The recipe says that it only feeds 2 people, but I think it would easily feed four.

I'm going to attempt a chicken and mushroom version today, will let you know how I go.

(Seriously though, IS risotto healthy?)

Insert Witty Title Here

Apparently that's one of the things I'm doing wrong.
My titles aren't catchy. Buuuuuuttttt... I'm just not that good at catchy titles.
SO.
you'll just have to deal with great content instead ;)

Because I love you guys so much, I'm going to give you TWO, yes you read right, not one, but TWO yummy recipes today. And they are both ridiculously easy.

So. Recipe One:

Chicken & Sundried tomato risotto
You need:
1 1/2 cups rice. (Probably best to use risotto rice, I didn't though)
Chicken. (We had half a bbq chook left over - stripped it and used that)
3/4 cup of sundried tom in oil, chopped into strips.
4 - 5 cups vege stock
1/2 block light cream cheese.
You do:
Chuck first 4 ingredients into the slow cooker on high (go for 4 cups of stock first). Check after two hours. If the rice is still crunchy, give it a little longer. Add extra stock if need be (I needed to).
When rice is satisfactory, stir in the half block of cream cheese - probably best to cut it into chunks for easier stirring.

Enjoy!
This recipe is adapted from one I found here. It's a slow cooker recipe GOLDMINE

Recipe Two (dessert. Or snack. Or whenever really)
Jaffa Fudge
375g packet nestle melts
1 can sweetended condensed milk
Finely grated rind of one large fresh orange.

Melt the first two together in the microwave and stir so they are mixed well.
Stir in orange rind.
Pour into a lined slice tray and fridge for at least two hours before cutting.

(it's very sticky to try and cut - but soooooooooooooo good.)


The fudge was made this morning for some friends who graced me with their presence. And i just want to say I have the best friends in the world. They are so, SO wonderful. They are even brave enough to ask me if anything is wrong. To tell me they are worried about me because I haven't been around a lot lately. To stand up for me if people ask about me. I love them. And I'm lucky to have them.



xx

Thursday Morning Markets.

Well, at least that was the plan this morning.
But when I arrived, my favourite big fruit and veg stand wasn't there. It completely through me out.
I went to the local fruit/veg mart instead, but I'm still a little out of sorts because they've completely destroyed my usual thursday morning!

So anyways, the weekly meal plan is as follows:
Mango Chicken
Chicken Laksa
Sausage Slowcooker
Chickpea Curry
Salmon - is what Pat wanted, but I'm not entirely sure that's what he's getting
Quiche
Pumpkin Pasta.

We have all the chicken and the sausages in the freezer...

Recipe for Mango Chicken:

1/2 red onion finely diced
4 chicken thighs cubed
1 tin mangos (drained, keep juice/syrup)
1 can coconut cream.

Mash the flesh of the mangoes. Then, add EVERYTHING into a slow cooker on low for 8 hours and you're done! So simple! Serve with rice =]

Lazy Sundays

Last night I was sitting here reading food blogs (as one does on a saturday night) and I found the AMAZING thestonesoup

Her recipes look delicious, simple, healthy and quick to make. She even has 2 free ecookbooks in the archives. In particular, I want to make the Laksa from her first free ecookbook and the LAMB_CURRY. So with these in mind and some inspiration to be healthy, using locally grown produce, I headed off to the markets to do my groceries.

Remember the $50 budget I had? Today I tried sticking to it. I had $50 and some coins in my wallet. So I got:

From the markets. That's mushrooms, bananas, apples, caps, lettuce, onions, sweet potato, zuccini, squash, cucumber, broccoli and fresh basil. All for $25.00

Then I went to the supermarket. And got:

(And looking at that, I've just realised I've forgotten coconut cream for the Laksa)

Any way - We have Lamb, beef, cream, spinach leaves, laksa paste, tuna, salmon and noodles for $29.77

Plus a couple of dollars for the Coconut cream I will have to go back for (we're having the damn laksa!)

And there is my reason for deciding to become predominantly vegetarian. We've played with it in the past. We both (Pat and I) felt healthier. Pat didn't get so bloated and lethargic. But I usually revert to meat dishes because I have no inspiration or because it's easier. Looking at the price difference though, there really isn't any reason to make excuses.

So there you have it. We will probably still have a meat dish once or twice a week. Although, I am really looking forward to the Lamb and Spinach Curry that I linked earlier in the post (HERE it is again in case you missed it). It just looks so fresh and flavourful!

Let me know what you think of that site. And if you have any other favourite foodie blogs, please, send them my way. I have a lot of hours to kill and there is only so many brownies I can eat.

The Pram is Here!

So, this is my new pram:

The Joovy Caboose Stand-on Tandem. And I must say, I'm really impressed. I'm a crazy person who saw this pram on the internet and thought it was really cool. I liked that I could put a capsule on it and I liked the concept of the older child being able to sit or stand on it, giving both you and them more freedom. I had no idea how big it was. I heard that it was compact. (I have a Toyota Corolla Hatch back so I hoped the reports where true). I heard that despite what it says on the website, the older child CAN sit while the capsule is in place.

So the first photo is to show you that it IS compact. Actually, all the photos show that. But this is as narrow as a capsule. No joke. It's narrower than my normal pram! Middle photo is with the capsule in place and Dex sit/standing on the seat/platform. And last photo is to show you just how little the pram actually is.

Things that impressed me that I didn't even know about? The front seat folds all the way back into a laying position (they need to update the website) and there is a 5 point harness for the child sitting on the toddler seat if you wish. AND it only cost me $360 including the caspule attachment. I think that's pretty darn impressive. (and no, I'm not getting paid for this advertising... I should be though!)

The other thing I want to show you is this:



I'm not sure if it looks as impressive as it tastes, but it tastes REALLY good. It is also fairly cheap to make. So, recipe time.

Garlic Buttered Roast Pumpkin and Bacon Pasta.

(very descriptive title)

1/2 Butternut pumpkin - small cubes

3 rashers bacon - diced

TBSP (?) Butter/margarine

tsp (?) minced garlic.

Pasta

Prehead oven to 180 degrees celcius

Melt butter, add garlic.

Put pumpkin in to an oven safe dish. Drizzle butter all over and mix well so all pumpkin is covered.

Chuck it in the oven. Took me about 45 minutes to cook it.

About half way through (so 20 minutes-ish) Add bacon.

Stir around a couple of times throughout cooking time to make sure everything is garlic-ed and buttered.

Cook your desired amount of pasta (I used fettucine)

When pumpkin and bacon is cooked (pumpkin should be tender but not mushy) add pasta to the dish and mix everything together so pasta gets garlic buttered too.

Serve and enjoy =]

Grandnanna's Cooking.

I'm lucky enough to have known my Great Grandnanna. She died when I was 16. That's a lot longer than a lot of people get to know their great grandmother.

She was a beautiful lady with a passion for life. She was always up to something mischievious. We'd go on family holidays and she's sneak into our bedrooms when we were meant to be asleep and tell us jokes and we'd get in trouble. She'd tickle us in church. She was always having fun. We always had fun with her.

When she died, I remember my Dad coming in to my room to tell me. I'd never seen him cry before. Never. But he did that day.

I was lucky enough to get her recipe book when she died. She used to try and give you things when you went to her house. She would always ask what you wanted. I told her I wanted her recipe book, but not right now. It's amazing. It my Great Grandmother's recipes. With some of HER Grandmother's recipes in it.

It makes me feel special. Like I'm holding a bit of family history in my hands. (I AM holding a bit of family history in my hands, I know).

Now don't be fooled. There isn't only recipes in here. There is also "Helpful Hints for the Housewife"
Some of the hints are actually helpful.

Then, there is also article like This:

Who has that much linen? Who has room for that much linen? That much linen doesn't need it's own cupboard, it needs a bedroom with an ensuit to wash itself, because I sure as hell am not. Guests at my house can use the same towels as anyone else, thanks. I'll make sure they're clean and smell pretty and I'll try and give you the big ones. How does that sound?

But, the point of todays post is to give you a recipe. From the old days. Because nothing quite tastes the same as one of Nanna's recipes.

Cream Cheese Slice

2 packets lattice biscuits.

4 oz cream cheese

4 oz butter (I didn't say it would be healthy)

1/2 cup caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 TBS lemon juice

1 tsp gelatine, dissolved in a little boiling water.

Line lamington tray with foil (11x 7 - inches I'm assuming)

Place biscuits along the base.

Beat cream cheese and butter until combined thouroughly.

Add sugar, then add the other ingredients

Speard over biscuits and place remaining biscuits over top.

Ice with a THIN (underlined twice) lemon icing.

Refridgerate.

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today, so I think i'm going to make this. It's one of those things that tastes like home.

Over did it a bit

Ok, so I spent a little too much on groceries the other day. BUT I only spent $100 which has been a lot better than my more recent efforts.

And I've been thinking... i don't know HOW I used to spend $200 a week on groceries. My cupboard has never been as full as it is now. I don't know where all that money was going. Really, I don't. I can spend $100 now and literally not have room for all my groceries in my fridge/freezer.
It's scary to think about all that money that I have no idea how I spent. I think we threw out SO much food instead of giving it to the dog or freezing it for later.
I'd buy expensive pre cut chicken stir fry strips instead of buying skin on chicken breast for $6.99 a kg (yup - at Leonards) and cutting it myself. It seriously takes 3 seconds to remove the skin and it's a whole $5 a kg CHEAPER to buy it with the skin on! I'd be afraid of buying home brand. The shame! What would the checkout person think?!? My guess is the only thing they are really thinking about is when their shift ends. Unless you buy a cucumber, some condoms and lube. BUT if that's what you're purchasing, you have no shame anyway so....
I would never dare look at the seconds trolley at the fruit store. I would buy enough capsicum (or any other fruit and veg) that I could throw out what I didn't use and cut open a new one for the next recipe!

Now I think about these things, I shudder. I can't believe I was that careless. NOW I made bolegnaise the day before shopping day and ALL veggies go into my sauce. I chop them up in my Turbo Chef (youtube it, they are amazing!) and it all goes into the dish. So much goodness not being wasted, so mch extra food on our plate! I usually make a quiche too and use leftover veggies in that.

But, in saying this, I know I still have a long way to go. For one, I have rarely succeeded in my $50 budget. For another, I still throw out too much food. Yep. I do. At least I recognise it now, but that doesn't really help me get it back. I'm actually really excited, Pat (the wonderful man he is) got his work bonus and told me to buy myself some Tupperware with it. To be specific, the modulars - because we've been talking about FINALLY organising our pantry for ages.
And I know I rant on about Tupperware, but only because it works. I had to throw out a container of dried Shitake mushrooms the other day because they were mouldy. That's depressing. I had flour with weevils - I'd used about a cup out of a 2kg bag. I have stale saladas, ice cream cones and biscuits.
This is why I can't wait to get my modulars. I want everything to be fresh. I want everything to be organised. I can't wait to see all those pretty containers (with their lifetime garentee) stacked and packed and labelled neatly into my cupboard. No, I do not have O.C.D. I just have a serious case of being sick of wastage.
I realise it may sound a little depressing, but think about how much food you throw out because it's a bit stale. Or it got left out over night because you couldn't be bothered to put it in the fridge. Or because you left it in the fridge instead of putting it in the freezer. It's just laziness that's costing us so much!

Ok, end rant. I made a really yummy soup/stew thing last night, because Pat is on the tail end of a cold so I figured I'd give him a healthy dose of good food to get rid of it.
Ingredients seem like a lot, however this filled a 4lt saucepan - so plenty of leftovers!

2 Carrots - thick chunks
2 potatos - cubed
1/2 butternut pumpkin - cubed
1 leek - cliced into rings.
6 mushrooms - halved then into thirds.
1 tin or corn
2 Chicken Breast - chunky cubes
3 rashers shoulder bacon - diced
2 cups pasta (I used macaroni)
1 lt vegie stock
1 lt water
Pepper to taste
Good amount of garlic (cold fighting)

Method -
Chuck everything into the pot except pasta and let it all simmer until everything is cooked and it smells delicious.
Add the pasta and Let it cook until the pasta is done.

And you're done =]

I'm sure this would go really well in a slow cooker too, and the meat would be interchangable or completely removable depending on finances/food preference.

Back to the Budget

I apologise.
I've been pretty slack lately.

I've had a lot going on (practically on bedrest or I'll go into labour) so things like grocery budgets haven't been the top most priority on my list.
BUT Because we'll definitely need a budget if she does decide to come early (contingency planning and all that jazz) I best get back into it.

So, I have the pram on layby - And I found a cheaper one on the internet and am NOT going to be afraid to ask the stroe to price match it. They have a store policy that cancelled laybys get the money they have paid credited as a store voucher, so I really have nothing to lose. I have a capsule on its way. I have enough MCN's (modern cloth nappies - if you don't use them, you should) to cover TWO newborns. She has a ridiculous amount of clothing. I'm not even kidding. She has more clothes than Dexter and I put together.

So really, all we need under control is our food shopping.

A good CHEAP recipe for you guys.

Quiche
Box of frozen spinach (about 80c from Aldi)
10 Eggs
Splash of milk
2 sheets puff pastry
1/2 block ricotta/fetta/cream cheese (up to you really)

Line dish with sheet of pastry, fill in gaps with second sheet.
Whisk eggs, add as much milk as you normally would.
Add defrosted spinach and whichever cheesee you choose to the eggs and mix in
Pour into your dish and bake on 180 degrees celcius until it's cooked.

(will be solid... kind of like an omlette - you'll know when it's cooked and you can't really burn it...)

Enjoy =]

Curried Apple and Lentil Dal

I got this recipe from here

Very helpful blog when it comes to saving me money. Apparently, this recipe works out to be about 60c per serve.

So:
Ingredients:
1 Small onion diced fine (I used half a large one)
4 cloves garlic (TBS-ish of minced garlic)
tsp minced ginger (I guesstimated with dried ginger)
2 apples diced (I used granny smiths - skin on)
2 1/2 tsp garamassala
1 1/2 cup red lentils
2 cups vegetable broth (I used stock)

Recipe says to:
In large pot, heat onions, garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add apples and garamassala. Stir.
Add lentils, broth and stir. Drop to med low heat and simmer uncovered until lentils and apples are tender

What I did: chucked it all in the slow cooker for 4 hours on high... Will let you know how it turns out.



The website that it's from says that it needs no accompaniment. I think I'm going to do it with rice though.

Food for Fifty (dollars)

So, up until now, that ^ has been my plan.

But looking at our bank account this morning, which contains a grand total of $4.28 I figured I may need a more detailed plan to becoming a scrooge thrifty.

So, my plan is:
Number 1 - buying an easy-yo (? I think that's what they're called) yogurt maker. These are about $19 and the cost isn't coming out of my weekly $50. Why? Because then I'd have to feed us on $30. No, it's actually not, because I count this into preperation costs.
Number 2 - (quite simple, really) write a shopping list and STICK TO IT.

The stick to it is the hard part. I'm not sure why, really. All that product placement temptation that has me subconsciously buying more expensive brands.... Who am I kidding. It's because I'm weak willed and I go for whats easiest.

So, the meal plan for the next week. We have:
(keep in mind, I do have some ingredients in my fridge already e.g. cream that need using)

Curried apple and Lentil Dal (w/ rice)
Fettucine Cabonara
Chicken Basil Pesto
Vege Spaghetti
Chickpea Curry
Wild Rice Casserole
Spinach & Ricotta puffs.

Going to make Chocolate Wheaties and Muesli Bars for snacks too.

The curried apple recipe I got from: http://http//cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2009/01/65-cheap-healthy-one-dish-meals-with.html
Which has been a real inspiration to me to set this task for myself.

And the Chickpea Curry recipe is one that I found:

1 onion (diced)
Minced garlic
Ginger
1 tsp cummin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp tumeric
1/2 TBS garammasala
1 can chickpeas
1 can diced tomatoes
1 large sweet potato

Peel and cut up sweet potato into chunks. Throw everything except the Garamasala into the slow cooker on low for 8 hours. Add garamasala just before serving.

(keep an eye on it through the day and make sure it doesn't dry out. You can use vegetable stock or plain old water to keep it going)

I added the sweet potato to the recipe. I also usually add pumpkin and maybe snow peas, depending on whats on sale/what you like. Maybe capsicum would be nice? It's a good base recipe to add things to and play around with.





And to the person who sniped me on eBay for the Joovy Caboose pram that I really wanted - Sucks to be you. You paid $270 and I found out where to get them Brand New for $320. Sniper.