Showing posts with label four week dinner challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label four week dinner challenge. Show all posts

Thursday, 7 July 2011

Week Three - Day Four: Potato and Leek Soup

A creamy favourite and just SO yummy!
New potatoes have a lower GI that their big brothers and lentils for protein and mineral omph!

New Potato and Leek Soup (EP, GF, V&Vn)

Prep time - 15 minutes
Cooking time - 25 minutes

1/2 c dried red lentils
extra virgin olive oil
2 medium leeks (remove green parts, halve, wash and slice!)
1 brown onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic minced
4 c water
2 t powdered vegetable stock (heaped)
12 new potatoes
small handful of parsley
wholegrain or sourdough bread

Like we've done before prepare the lentils by washing thoroughly and taking out the greatly discoloured ones and set aside. In a stock pot or large pot heat a splash of oil. Lightly fry the leeks and onion for 5 or so minutes until soft. Add garlic and saute' briefly.

Now add the lentils to the pot, water, powdered stock and potatoes. Mix and cover bringing it to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes and lentils are soft. Remember to stir occasionally.  Once cooked allow it to cool for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile wash the parsley and shake off the excess water. Finely chop the leaves, discard the stems.  Add to the soup. One batch at a time process the soup through the food processor until smooth. Serve with toasted bread.


~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~
Roast Lamb!
(with leftovers for a tagine!)

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Week Three - Day Three: Crispy Pesto Chicken

This has a beautiful light batter, a favourite with the kiddies!

Crispy Pesto Chicken (EP, GF)

Prep time - 15 minutes
Cooking time - 15 minutes

2 large sweet potato
1/2 c milk (preferably soy)
2 T Parsley Pesto (click!!), or store brought basil pesto
2 T wholemeal flour
1/3 c water
extra virgin olive oil
600g chicken thigh fillets, sliced into 2cm (I used just 200g chicken and 75g tofu)
1 head of broccoli
2 c frozen peas
sea salt
black pepper
lemon juice (optional)

Peel and dice the sweet potato, steam for 10 minutes and mash with part of the milk season with salt and pepper. Add more milk to make it creamier. Set aside. In a flattish bowl mix the pesto, flour and water together. Dip the chicken into the bowl to coat. Heat 1 T of oil in a pan and cook the chicken in batches until golden and cooked through. Using a steamer steam the peas and broccoli for 3 minutes or until cooked to your liking. Optional - squeeze lemon juice onto your greens, nice!




~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Tuesday, 5 July 2011

Week Three - Day Two: Rainbow Fried Rice

What a colourful sounding dish and really yummy! I was a bit unsure about this one but soldiered on regardless! This is a nutricious and energising meal with antioxidant rich ingredients!


Rainbow Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng) (GF, EP, V&Vn)

Prep time - 15 minutes
Cooking time - 20 minutes

2 c basmati rice
4 eggs
extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 t grated ginger
2 heaped handfuls of mushrooms
3-4 spring onions (chopped including green parts)
1/2 c corn kernals
1 c frozen peas
1 red capsicum
2 handfuls of been sprouts
1-2 T soy sauce

First cook the rice using the absorption method on the packaging......



~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Monday, 4 July 2011

Week Three - Day One: Lemony Baked Salmon

I'm going to do this one..

By this I really mean eat it. Buy the salmon, cook it using the salmon, eat it.. the salmon. I really am stepping out aren't I? Quite a few of these dinner ideas (mainly at the start) were from the 'seafood' section and I am not a fan of any of that. I wont say no to fish 'n' chips or pre crumbed fish.. I'm too scared to buy my own and crumb it or venture out and put it in a what seems flash dinner idea. So this really is branching out for me. I don't know what I'm scared of.

So far all of these meals have been just divine, or soothing as they were hearty and filled my soul with food love! Wish me luck.. I'm venturing in to the kitchen after this with my cookbook turned to page 205 and uncertainty in my heart!


This meal is rich in omega-3 (healthy brain development and glowing skin), vitamin D for strong bones, diety fibre for colon health and lycopene for a healthy heart and skin! Did you know children who eat fish are less likely to develop asthma?!


Lemony Baked Salmon (GF, V&Vn)

Prep time - 5 minutes
Cooking time - 25 minutes

1 1/2 c brown rice
1/4 kent of pumpkin
1 punnet of cherry tomatoes
125g of baby corn
extra virgin olive oil
1 medium lemon
3 salmon fillets (or 1 whole rainbow trout )
small handful of flat leaf parsley
2 t minced garlic

Preheat the oven to 220oC. Bring a large pot of water to the boil and cook rice for 25 minutes. Once the rice is cooked drain well. Meanwhile cut off the pumpkin skin and dice the flesh. Microwave in a small amount of water for 3 minutes to make the pumpkin partially soft. In a large baking tray lined with baking paper place the pumpkin, baby corn and tomatoes on top. Drizzle with 2 t of oil and bake for 10 minutes.

While they're cooing marinate the fish by grating the rind of the lemon to make up 1 t of zest. You can add more if you wish (I will!). Juice half of the lemon onto a plate and add the garlic also. Marinate the fish and then lay it amongst the vegetables. Sprinkle on more of the of the lemon juice, lemon zest and and the parsley, chopped. Bake for 10-14 minutes. Check after 7 minutes as cooking time does depend on the thickness of the fish. Serve on a bed of rice.



NEED DINNER IN 12 MINUTES?

Buy rice that's ready in the microwave in 2 minutes, steam the fish with garlic for 10 minutes using a steamer. Vegetables can also be microwaved and the tomatos served raw. drizzle with oil and lemon before serving!



~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Sunday, 3 July 2011

Week Two - Day Seven: Shepherd's Pie

Today's an easy one, and we all love something easy!
Today you're going to use your leftover Spag Bol so this is really straight forward!!


So the only extra ingrediants you'll need today are:
2 medium-large sweet potatoes
1/2 c milk
1/2 quantity of pre-made Spaghetti Bolognaise mince mixture
Melted butter


Peel and dice the sweet potato - the smaller the better! Steam the sweet potato for 10 minutes. Mash until smooth. Add the milk and mix well. Meanwhile heat the cooked mince with either the microwave or a saucepan. Now you can present this as one big 'pie' or as mini pies in ramekins. So spoon in the mixture filling half of either a large baking dish or ramekins. Then top with the mash and spread with a fork. Brush the top with melted butter to give it a toasted golden look and bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve on it's own or with a nice fresh salad!


~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Friday, 1 July 2011

Week Two - Day Five: Chicken Paella Leftovers!

Leftover day woohoo!

This means you can sit back and relax. Let your microwave (or if you prefer, a pot) do your defrosting errr... I mean cooking for tonight! This will still impress your family as they reflect on their delicious mean 2 nights ago.

My partner was so stoked "OH YUM!" I felt absolutely marvelous because I did no work (well, did the work on wednesday) and still got the compliments as if I'd slaved away in the kitchen for an hour. Preparing meals ahead is so ideal when you have a little one.. or several!

Leave this out to defrost during the day so you cut down defrosting/heating time! :)



~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Sunday, 26 June 2011

Friday, 24 June 2011

Week One - Day Five: Emergency Pasta

Made entirely out of your "pantry essentials" this is a great recipe to have at hand for when unexpected guests show or when you just can't adapt a recipe for your vegetarian partner like me!


Emergency Pasta (GF, V&Vn)

Prep time - 5 minutes
Cooking time - 10 minutes

400g pasta (penne, fettuccine, any will work)
1 brown onion
2 cloves of garlic
15 black olives
1 x 800g chopped tomato or 6 fresh
1/2 bunch of parsley, spring onions or basil
extra virgin olive oil
Optional:
1 red onion
10-15 capers

Bring a large pot to the boil and add the pasta, usually simmer it for ten minutes.
Chop the brown onion, garlic, olives (and capers if using) as finely as possible. If you're using red onion cut into big chunks for added yumminess! Heat a splash of oil in a non stick pan. Add the brown onion and garlic and saute' for 2 minutes.  Now add olives, red onion and tomatoes (also anchovies and capers if you're using them). Simmer until the pasta is ready. Remove from the heat and mix in the parsley.

Add anchovies if you're a non-vege for a twist on this simple recipe.




~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Thursday, 23 June 2011

Week One - Day Four: Lamb and Soba Noodle Stir-fry

Lamb and Soba Noodle Stir-fry (GF)

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat. This is great for lunches so make it in large batches to freeze, great time saver and makes for an easy thoughtless meal pre-prepared!! Use chopsticks to add in an element of fun!

Honey Soy Marinade (click!!)
400g lamb steaks, (I used 200g and 150g tofu, chopped)
extra virgin olive oil
300g soba noodles
2 t freshly minced garlic
2 large handfuls of green beans
4-5 spring onions, ends trimmed and chopped
1 small red capsicum
1 handful fresh coriander (or 1 t dried coriander)
soy sauce
sesame seeds (optional)

Coat the lamb in the marinade if you did not do so the night before. Cover, place in the fridge and leave for at least 20 minutes (1 hour is ideal, overnight works best) Heat a splash of oil on high, when it is very hot cook the lamb for a minute the turn and cook for another minute. Remove from heat and allow it to rest on a plate.

Bring a saucepan to the boil and add the noodles and boil for 3-4 minutes (or as directed on the packet). Drain and rinse in cold water and then coat noodles with a teaspoon of oil to prevent sticking. In the same pan with the lamb heat a little more oil and fry the garlic. Add green beans, capsicum, spring onions for 2 minutes stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in the coriander.

Refresh the noodles buy running them under hot water briefly. Drain and add to the stir-fry, top with the remaining marinade, once heated through top with soy sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Now slice the lamb into strips and place on top of the noodles.

NOTE:
If you have have blood sugar problems use angel hair pasta.
GF - check the noodles!



~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Week One - Day Three: Sunshine Soup with Dipping Sticks

So this is so simple to prepare and is full of skin loving minerals! This says that there will be leftovers but my partner and I decided on large bowls/helpings so that did leave us left overs but if there were two other mouths to feed there may not have been enough left over for all. So, next time i make this and there's an extra mouth or two to feed I might 1.5x this recipe. So if you're a family of four (or more, you daredevils!) then adjust ingredients accordingly :)

Click here if you missed the shopping list!



Sunshine Soup with Dipping Sticks (GF, EP, V&Vn)

Prep time - 15 minutes
Cooking time - 35 minutes

extra virgin olive oil
2 large brown onions, peeled and diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 T Thai red curry paste*
3/4 c dried red lentils
6 c water**
2 t (heaped) powdered vegetable stock**
4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
8 slices of sourdough or grainy bread

In a large saucepan , heat a splash of oil on medium heat and saute' the onions for 1 minute. Add the garlic and curry past and cook for a further 1 - 2 minutes until fragrant. Prepare the dried lentils by rinsing them thoroughly and remove the greatly discoloured ones. Once that's done then add them to the saucepan along with the water, powdered stock and sweet potato, mix and bring to the boil. When boiling reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.


While the soup is simmering away toast the bread and drizzle with a little oil. You can also use other toppings like basil pesto or a small amount of butter. If using bread cut them into 4 pieces. Once the soups has simmered for the 30 minutes set soup aside and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Using a food processor blend the soup in part batches to create a smoother consistence. Add 1/4 - 1/2 c of water if needed. Freeze half and serve the other!




* - V&Vn, check the ingredients before buying as some contain dried shrimp.
** - Replace with 6 - 7 c chicken stock for a non-vegetarian option.




Timesaving tip!
Marinade the lamb (and/or tofu) ready for tomorrow night dinner!!


~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Week One - Day Two: Marinated Chicken Legs with Crispy Roast Potatoes

Well worth the wait, this dish is a balanced meal that is bursting with flavour. Check this meal regularly and baste often is the trick to making this dish impressive! Serve with a salad for a great balance of flavours.


If you have no idea what's going on click here for the first post!
(includes the Marinade and the dinner shopping list for the week!)


Marinated Chicken Legs with Crispy Roast Potatoes

Prep time - 15 minutes
Cooking time - 1 1/2 hours


8-10 chicken legs (drumsticks)
tofu*
Honey Soy Marinade (click!!)
10 new potatoes
extra virgin olive oil
rosemary
iodised rock salt (do not grind)

Half an hour before cooking dinner preheat oven to 200*c. Remove the skin from the chicken leg - widest side down pulling backwards. I leave my skin on (naughty! indulge a little. . ) but it is easy to remove if you wish!
Now if you didn't take my advice to pre-marinate you need to do so now. Place in the refrigerator for one hour (overnight is best). It should just cover the chicken. Scrub your potatoes, cut into half or wedges. Smaller will reduce cooking time.
Place in a bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil and toss. Line your baking tray with baking paper to cut down the mess and also prevent sticking. Place in the tray sprinkle on some rock salt and rosemary.
Once marinated (or if you have done so already, great!) place your chicken in a baking tray that fits the chicken in nicely. Too much room will make your marinade spread and burn, and we don't want that do we?! So pour over the left over marinade and baste the top side. (Don't use the remainder in the jar! . . but if you like to keep things saucy go on, use it up (I did say indulge a little didn't I?), you'll just need to make extra for our stir fry - Day 4!)
Great news! If you took my advice and pre-marinated you only should need to wait an hour for your chicken and potatoes to turn into goodness! If not it's okay your potatoes should have gone in before you started to prepare your chicken - yes. .  I'm a little bit all over the show but I assumed you'd follow suit! ;)
Remember to regularly baste your chicken and turn your potatoes for even cooking. While this is all cooking feel free to start a salad of your choice! I made a spinach and strawberry bomb salad.


Chicken is cooked when it's no longer pink inside and there should be no blood near the bone of the chicken. Cook for longer if necessary. Same goes with the potatoes! If you like them crunchier follow your heart and leave them in. .  just don't forget!


* - Because of my darling man I also marinated some of his tofu overnight so that he didn't miss out and still had protein! Cook with the potatoes. I didn't pour any extra marinade over otherwise I would have had messy potatoes! It absorbed a lot overnight. I did however make a few scores on the sides of the tofu  to help with the marinading process.


~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Monday, 20 June 2011

Week One - Day One: Pink Fish on Sticks

FOLLOW ME!
Although I'm not exactly talking about my blog or twitter...
(although feel free to do so!)

I mean follow me on this journey.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO!


I am taking on the "Healthy Family, Happy Family" Karen Fischer 4 week menu advice! It comes with recipes and even the shopping list - BRILLIANT! You can start this at any stage. Make 'Day One' the day after your supermarket shopping so you start the HFHF challenge with a full cupboard! If you start after me you can read how it went and what I'd change to make it easier etc etc! This is supposed to make your money go further, eat healthier and give you a variety of foods/ideas to try!

LET'S GO!!


This brilliant lady, Karen (BHSc, Dip. Nut.) has worked out your WHOLE weeks worth of meals. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack! All provided with a recipe, not just the idea. All recipes are for 4 people, but you could always halve (like I could be) or double (or one and a half it) to get the right amount for the size of your family! I just freeze the leftovers so I will have back up meals for sad and busy days where you just don't want to cook anything! So just for posting sake I'm doing dinners.

I reccommend this book just cause it has al this juicy nutritional information with lunchbox ideas, how to get your children to eat healthy "marketing magic", kitchen essentials such as what you should always have in your pantry and fridge to whip up easy dinners - ingredients that are useful and/or long lasting!
(by the way I'm 'promoting' this on my own terms and discovery of this book!!!!)


Click here to get this weeks shopping list!


Pink Fish on Sticks (GF, EP, V&Vn)

Prep time - 10 minutes
Cooking time - 10 minutes (20 if using chicken)
*Brain foods and vitamin D for strong bones!!*

12-16 bamboo sticks (soak for 20 minutes so they don't burn in the oven!)
2 Boneless salmon fillets (I used chicken and tofu for my partner-150g)
Honey Soy Marinade (click!!)
1 1/2c basmati or brown rice
--Fruit and veges--
- 1 small red capsicum
- 1 small zucchini/courgette (I used less and will save some for the spagbol!)
- 1c chopped pineapple (or a can of pineapple chunks if cheaper option)
- 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, I just used your usual size, 3, cut as you would an orange
- 8-10 button mushrooms (saved some for the spagbol!)
Anything goes really!

Preheat the oven to 200*c. Remove skin from the fish (or chicken)  and cut into 1.5cm cubes. Place fish (or chicken/tofu) on a plate and using less than one-third of the marinade, coat the fish (chicken/tofu) and leave to marinate in the fridge for 15-30 minutes (at least 1 hour for chicken).
Meanwhile in a medium pot boil the rice for 10 minutes, if brown rice, for 25. Drain and set aside once cooked. Prepare fruit and vegetables ready to skewer. Leave a large space at one end of the skewer, to use as a handle, and thread on the fish (chicken/tofu) alternating with the fruit and veges right to the end. Baste your skewers in the left over marinade on the plate. Cook for 10 minutes (or 20 if chicken) and serve on a bed of rice.


I'm not a fish fiend so the chicken was just amazing! Worked just as well although required extra marinading and cooking time. My partner LOVED these. We choose to eat all the kebabs between the two of us (no leftovers to freeze) and just did not cook the rice. I also used red onion and might try apple next time!

Timesaving tip!
Make double the rice and freeze for another time you need it :) Save the remainder of the marinade in a jar, refrigerated. This will be used for 2 other recipes this week, great!! To get ahead marinade your chicken legs now. .


~ ~ ~ ---***TOMORROW***--- ~ ~ ~

Monday, 21 June 2010

Healthy Mayonnaise

(ignore the blog date, just don't want to clog up recent posts!)

This tasty mayo is a good source of B vitamins and anti-cancer flavonoids. it's also free of raw egg white so it's a healthy alternative to store brought varieties! The vinegar works as a natural preservative!

3 egg yolks
2 t apple cider vinegar
1 T lemon juice
1/4 t ground cumin
dash of yellow curry powder
8 T extra virgin olive oil

Using a food processor beat together the egg yolks, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, ground cumin and curry powder until smooth. Then while it is still running add the oil one tablespoon at a time. Process very well after each tablespoon until thick and creamy. Taste and adjust to your liking. Add more lemon juice, add minced garlic, salt and pepper. This will keep 3-4 days if refrigerated. Makes one cup!

Honey Soy Marinade

(ignore the blog date, just don't want to clog up recent posts!)

This delicious antioxidant-rich marinade will turn you into a gourmet chef in less than 5 minutes! Perfect for fish, chicken, tofu and red meat dishes.

1/2c salt reduced tamari or soy sauce
3T honey
4T quality tomato sauce (ketchup)
1t fresh grated ginger
2t minced garlic
1t wholegrain mustard (optional - I used it, YUM!)
small handful of coriander or 1t dried coriander

Mix all ingredients together in a jar.
Taste it and adjust it to your liking i.e extra garlic and such.
And you're done!

*This will do about 2-3 meals, easy! Use within a week.

Parsley Pesto

Parsley Pesto

3 large handfuls of parsley
1/2 c extra virgin olive oil
1 c unsalted cashews
1 T apple cider vinegar
freshly minced garlic to taste

Cut half the stems off, place all into a food processor and blend well. Taste test and add more vinegar for added zing and/or black pepper! YUM and oh so easy! (I never knew it was this simple!)

It'll make 3x the amount you'd buy from a store and is so cheap..
Did I mention easy?!!

Sunday, 20 June 2010

Ingredients for WEEK ONE!

(ignore the blog date, just don't want to clog up recent posts!)

All the shopping lists also include the ingredients for breakfast. .  snacks, baking ideas, lunches. . .  SO I'll just give you the ingredients you'll use if you choose to join me. .
PLEASE SAY YOU WILL!!!

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
baby spinach, 1-2 pkts/6 handfuls
carrots, 4
red capsicum, 2 small
zuchinni/courgette, 1 small
pineapple, 1 (alt. tin)
button mushrooms, 8-10
cherry tomatoes, 1 punnet (or 4 regular)
new potatoes, 10 small
garlic, 1 bulb or 1 jar minced (not chinese garlic!)
ginger root (I broke off a 2cm piece and that was more than enough!)
green beans, frozen or 4 handfuls
spring onion, 1 bunch
brown onion, 6 large
red onion, 1
avocado, 2 ripe
optional: beetroot, 1 can


GRAINS, BAKING
soba noodles, 300g (could also use udon)
wholegrain bread of choice, low GI or sourdough


REFRIGERATED, FROZEN, EGGS
boneless salmon fillets, 2 thick (if not using chicken)
chicken legs/drumsticks, 8-10
chicken thigh fillets, 500g skinless (if using instead of salmon grab an extra 300g)
lean beef mince, 500g
lamb steaks (or any boneless lamb), 400g
frozen mixed veges diced, 1kg


CANNED, JARS, PACKETS
mild wholegrain mustard
thai red curry paste, mild
canned tomato soup, 2x 400g
canned green/brown lentils, 2x 400g
canned tomatoes (V-Emergency pasta-Day 7)


VEGETARIAN
(I wrote this myself as the list didn't include V ingredients)
This is for one person for the week (adapt to your numbers)
Tofu, 2x 300g
Vege Patties, 2
'meat'balls (optional)


PANTRY ESSENTIALS
(If you don't have these get them!!!)
basmati/brown rice, 1kg
dried red lentils, 1pkt
spaghetti, pasta
wholemeal self-raising flour (for muffins, brilliant!)
ground cumin
dried mixed herbs
smoked (I use normal ground) paprika
powdered vegetable stock (freeze extra if liquid is better moneywise)
honey
tamari/soy sauce
tomato sauce (ketchup)
extra virgin olive oil
ground coriander, if not using fresh (not as good as fresh!)