Eating It

This weekend was a family birthday, so we packed up the car and ventured out to have a special picnic.

The spring weather here is just lovely, and it is always a great time for a picnic.

I designed a “high tea” type spread with pikletes with jam and cream, finger sandwiches, chicken and vegetables, bruschetta, mini prawn cocktails, cupcakes, brownies and fruit salad cups.

None of the elements to this are difficult. The appeal comes in the presentation.
I arranged most of the food on a large platter around a central upturned lunchbox, upon which I placed the
pikelets. This replicated the “high tea” look I was after.

I also manged to do this for under $36 to serve 3 people.  Even if I include the cost of the items I already had in the pantry or fridge, it would still have come in at under $50.

This was our main meal for the day, and we were all satisfied without being “stuffed”

I am happy with how it all turned out. The family felt they had been thoroughly spoilt  🙂

This is what I made ( with recipes where applicable)

I picked up a packet of Soy and Linseed rolls at the supermarket the other day.

They were on special and they looked really yummy. 

When I got home and looked at them again, I thought they were quite large.   I am not gluten free, but I do try to keep my bread down as I find I do get a little bloated with too much.

I was going to cut them in half like this…

Then I saw an ad on the TV for ( of all things) a MacDonald’s  Big  Mac.
I came up with the clever idea to split my bread rolls into 3!!

Now I have 6 rolls and 6 slices of yummy Soy & Linseed bread for toast under my eggs in the morning.

What a great way to stretch those more expensive “artisan” rolls.

A couple of months of crazy days has seen us eating some “creative” meals of late.

My main focus has been to feed us reasonably healthy meals that do not require too much in the way of preparation or fuss. Some days there may have been time to do things like cook a roast for a couple of hours.  Other days were “we need to eat in the next 30 minutes” type days.

We very rarely eat takeaway, as mostly we find we can do better at home, cheaper, faster and healthier. We do however look to fast food for concepts.  I have seen some blog/facebook groups that term this as “Fake-away” or “Takeaway at Home”.

Often our version of fast food turns into a “clean out the fridge special”.  Some “recipes” for Clean out the Fridge specials are…

• A packet of mince ( which we buy in bulk and freeze in 250g pieces, whatever veges are in the fridge simply chopped and fried together with a bit of beef stock made from powder and a dollop of tomato paste get a tin of tomatoes added and simmered for 15 minutes or so while some pasta cooks sees a satisfying meal on the table in well under 30 minutes and reduces wasted food.
• A similar dish can be done with veges and a cheese sauce added to a tin of tuna and pasta or rice,
•  Veges sauted with a bit of butter or oil and add some chunks of beef, lamb or chicken. Pour over 2 cups of water with a tablespoon of gravy powder, add any herbs you like and simmer until the meat is pull-apart tender. This one might take about 50 minutes to an hour.

Other ideas for “Fake-away” meals include..

• Make your own pizzas. This is great for using up leftover deli meats.  You don’t even need a “proper” pizza base for these.  Put two pices of bread in the toaster together so just one side the bread gets toasted.  Spread some tomato paste or sauce onto the untaosted side.  Pile the taost nice and high with yummy toppings and sprinkle over some tasty cheese.  Pop them under a hot grill until the cheese is melted and brown.  Cut each slice of “pizza” into 2 and serve.
• Fish and Chips are a good standby to have in the freezer. Frozen crumbed fish fillets and frozen chips are simply put in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes and “voila” dinner in half the time it would take to drive to the takeaway, wait for the order and drive home.
• Burgers are easy to make with either rolls or bread. Serve with chips from the oven

While all of these ideas are fast and affordable, the easist way to have superfast meals ready to go in to always cook far more than you need and have meals ready to go in the freezer.  We have always got something for those days when we really just could not bothered.

What are your favourite “Fast, Fuss Free” meals??

I have (again) decided I need to lose a few kg’s.

I really do not bother too much about my weight, and do stick to a fairly healthy diet, but I know I have been a bit slack lately.  Tripping up and back 400kms to see my Mum has seen me not eating the best.

Yesterday I thought I did not want my regular eggs on toast, but still wanted eggs.  I came up with this yummy little omelette on salad.

It is a simple dish that is made by gently beating just one egg with a fork until just fluffy add some chopped onion and a bit of grated cheese. I then lightly greased two egg rings and cooked until the egg was cooked through and golden brown.

I then placed them on a bed of store bought salad leaves with a bot of chopped tomato, onion and capsicum. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar, and breakfast was ready ?

Who says dieting has to be boring?  🙂

Ps. Balsamic Vinegar is a fabulous addition to your pantry. A quick drizzle elevates any dish to “restaraunt” quality.