{Forrest Gump Party}

Each year for our birthdays we do a joint themed fancy dress birthday. Since we are 2 years and 2 days apart, it's easier to celebrate together and we have been doing so for many years now.
This year was a movie theme and we chose Forrest Gump.

 

We were in awe at some of the costumes! The film gave so much scope for imagination and our guests definitely took advantage of the many ideas! We had people dressed up as peas & carrots, a shrimp, hippies, a box of chocolates, the feather, waitress Jenny, the bus driver Dorothy, we even had (an almost) naked Jenny! 

{Menu Chalkboard}

A few months ago I went to the treasure shop with my boys and I bought a frame that I wanted to re-use. The frame cost me a few dollars.

I saw potential in this discarded old thing.

With a little bit of black board paint left over from another project and some bright red cherry paint on the frame, I made this board to put up the menu for the week. It sure beats the handwritten paper on the fridge. My family love knowing hats coming up too!

Enjoy;

Lauren x

{Freezer Meals & Making Life Organised}

You can tell spring is coming, the cleaning bug has hit (but maybe for me its an all year round thing). I cleaned out my freezer, did an inventory and created space.
I ashamedly had to remove a few 'mystery packages' too. This means unlabeled food which, knowing my label obsession, I clearly lost my mind before putting in there in the first place.


I was armed with my sharpie, big ziplock bags and foil trays with lids. Then I did a big food shop, put little munchkin to bed, left big munchkin with Lego and got into the kitchen.

I prepared a whole lot of meals that are easy to reheat and then all I have to focus on is adding fresh veggies and salads etc... To the main dish.

So what dishes did I make?

*Leek and Mushroom Risotto
When I defrost, I will add sone fresh parsley, Parmesan and pepper.

*Sweedish Meatballs
These were inspired by the ones I love at ikea. So all I have to do is add green veggies (like beans, asparagus and broccoli), gravy, cranberry sauce and mashed potato (could even freeze this, but I like fresh).

*Lasagna and 'Spag Bol'
I did a BIG batch of Italian style mince. Using foil trays with lids (woolies sell these in packets of 2) I made 2 lasagnas and put the other half of the mixture into a zip lock bag for 'Spag Bol'.

*Schnitzels / nuggets
I crumbed up 1 kg of chicken breast. I cut each Breast into half to get two thin schnitzels per breast. Any of the tenderloins I crumbed and packed separately as nuggets.

*Beef Burritos
I made up sone Mexican style mince. Add garlic, red onion, Mexican chilling powder (no additive and salt version of taco seasoning), corn, capsicums, mushrooms, coriander and a tin of diced/ pureed tomato.
Place into tortillas, fold up tortilla, wrap in double glad wrap and place all in a zip lock bag. Take one out and microwave for individual serve or use all and bake as normal 'enchilada style'.

*Teriyaki style Chicken
This was easy, I just filled a zip lock bag with soy sauce, some brown sugar, sweet chili sauce and kecap manais. Then put in chunks of chicken raw and freeze. This marinades it before cooking.
Serve with an Asian green stir fry and rice.

*Beef Curry
Similar to above, cut beef up and add into the bag with curry paste.
Add peas or preferred veggies when cooking and serve with rice and naan bread.

*Shredded BBQ chicken.
I got a free range bbq chicken and took all the meat off so I can use it in things like omelets quiches, pies, etc... Without much effort!


I realize zip lock bags aren't very 'green' but for me they work, because they store a big meal in a flat bag, making the most out of freezer space.
Just take a meal out of freezer and put it into the fridge at night it should be mostly defrosted by the next night's dinner time (depending on the dish). SO simple.

So that's my overview of my very productive day.
I am keen to try and keep this up as it is one busy day that has made the next 10 -15 meals preparation free!!! Love that!!!


Lauren x



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Menu Monday

Today is usually a 'get the house back into order' kinda day. Weekends can usually be a little hectic for us, so it is my day to re-gather, plan for the week ahead, spend time with my boys and also shop for the groceries. I am one who likes lists, I always have. One way this translates into my regular routine is my menu plan. I don't shop for food without this step because I find it helps me plan my cash too. I always start off with a template much like this one here at Super Healthy kids. This way it gives me an overall balanced view of what we are eating and I can get a good variety of meals between things like vegetarian, crabs, fat, red meat etc...
I always work out my menu and then I transfer the ingreadients onto a template I have printed out with the headings *Cold/ frozen *Fruit/ Veg *Groceries *Cleaning/ personal/ other.
This helps me while in the supermarket to be efficient and save $$$!

Here are some of the ideas that are often on our menu.
Breakfast Staples:
* Smoothies - cheap as i buy frozen berries on special and all you need is milk, natural yoghurt and some honey. I have also freeze bananas sometimes and it makes it extra cold in summer.
*Pancake {tuesdays} - I make a pancake batter on monday nights and have electric frypan ready to go so it doesnt take an extra long time. They are cheap and easy to make. I like making chocolate by adding cocoa and a little veggie puree like pumpkin, carrot, beetroot etc...to make it extra healthy.
*Eggs - usually scrambled but i like making an 'omelet bar' which gives you a great opportunity to chop up a few ingredients and get kids to pick and choose what they want in their omelet. I use things like cheese, capsicum, spring onions etc.... My 3 yr old loves chopping with plastic knife and mixing it up too. You can also add puree to eggs for extra nutrtition (i heard someone adding a green veggie puree to it and made their kids "Scrambled Shrek Swap Eggs")
* Porridge - I always mix the plain oats with honey, cinnamon, honey, sultanas and a little ground cloves. I like keeping it healthy and cheap.
* Weet Bix / Toast - I factor in 'normal breakky' for crazy mornings which in our house is usually wednesdays and fridays.

Some Snacks Ideas:
* Veggie plate : I usually make a rainbow of veggie stcks and serve it with hummous to dip. Baby corn, capsicums in all 3 colours, carrots, cucumber, zuchinni etc....
* Fruit Rockets : I have a packet of pop sticks (safer than skewers for little ones) and thread fruit onto them. Serve with yoghurt dip (stir in some honey, cinnamon, vanilla if you like too).
* Banana wraps : Miz cream cheese with cinnamon and honey. Spread onto a mountain bread or other flat bread. Slice up bananas and roll up to a wrap. Place on frypan/ grill press and lightly toast.
* Apple snow : Grate an apple into a bowl and give them a spoon....they love it. Can add yoghurt dip on top if you like.
* Muffins : these are a GREAT snack as you can bake with the kids and get them involved with cooking. They love tipping the ingredients in and mixing it through (especially if they have a kids apron like my little precious). You can even make a base batch (in sweet or savoury) and make a few different flavours. They are cheap and freeze very well making them very handy.
* Nibble mix : never know what to do when you get that little bit of cereal in the bottom of the pack thats not enough for a full serving? I usually add these (cheerios are good for this) to some sultanas, dried fruit, a few mini marshmallows and put it into a little bowl. They love it.
* Choc fruit bites : Melt some milk or dark choc on stove and mix through dried fruit (apples, sultanas, apricots, craisins etc), some nuts but not peanuts....almonds are good, a few mini marshmallows and blob onto baking paper in bite size pieces. sprinkle with a few sprinkles or coconut and pop into fridge.


I might pop back with some of our lunch and dinner staples later. Have a great Monday everyone :)

Lauren xo