I was quizzing my 86 year old grandmother (who is/was the queen of kitchen management and cooking) about how she used to make her gorgeous lamb curry - but being an old lady (and actually knowing how to cook) she told me that she can't remember exactly and besides "it used to change depending on the ingredients I had available", Urgh!
Damn you people who can cook!
All was not lost though...because she doesn't cook very much anymore she said she probably has a couple of cookbooks in the cupboard that I can have....there's me thinking "yeah whatever probably crap ones, I have tonnes of cookbooks each one having 'one' good recipe!"
So about a week later I am there for her birthday and suddenly remember the promise of cookbooks! On hands and knees trawling through the back of the cupboard I come across some *uuuuuuugly!* looking cookbooks, "thanks grandma" I say with as much excitement as I can muster and take them home
WELL!
They are *faaaaantastic*!!!!!! Needless to say grandma got a much more excited telephone call to say "thank you VERY much"!
They are filled with 'normal' recipes, using stuff from the cupboard and no 'one teaspoon' from a large jar of processed condiments! Oh relief - this is *exactly* what I have been looking for!
Be prepared for many, many more recipes to feed your family!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Adelaide Showgrounds Farmer's Market
Well, what can I say?!? I have died and gone to food shopping heaven!
My sister our friend and our babies all ventured out one fine sunday morning to this market that I had heard about on the grapevine but had never visited (right down to the strange fact that I have been on their mailing list for over a year!)
What we found was a beautifully organised food shopping experience.
The entrance area served breakfasts/lunches and coffee with families and friends eating together and chatting - wow I couldn't wait to get in the door, this place is popular! so it *must* be good!
The first stall I encounter is selling Australian native bush flavoured ice cream, flavours like macadamia and lemon myrtle mmmmmmmmmmm *drool*
The next is selling organic wines....yes we got to taste them all! Next is homemade cordial with the *exact* same ingredients as my recipe (click on condiment recipes)
The entire market *is* wholefoods - some organic others just homegrown and homemade with ingredients you would find in a human's pantry :)
I did my weekly shopping and it was surprisingly cheap! One of the big benefits of heading out to a farmers market - especially as a family - it you have the ability to share bulk purchases
Crystal and I went halves in a 30 tray of organic eggs with worked out to about $3.50 for 15 eggs, now for organic eggs that *is* a bargain!
Us girls returned home to watch a scary movie and polish off out latest organic wine purchases
*hick*
My sister our friend and our babies all ventured out one fine sunday morning to this market that I had heard about on the grapevine but had never visited (right down to the strange fact that I have been on their mailing list for over a year!)
What we found was a beautifully organised food shopping experience.
The entrance area served breakfasts/lunches and coffee with families and friends eating together and chatting - wow I couldn't wait to get in the door, this place is popular! so it *must* be good!
The first stall I encounter is selling Australian native bush flavoured ice cream, flavours like macadamia and lemon myrtle mmmmmmmmmmm *drool*
The next is selling organic wines....yes we got to taste them all! Next is homemade cordial with the *exact* same ingredients as my recipe (click on condiment recipes)
The entire market *is* wholefoods - some organic others just homegrown and homemade with ingredients you would find in a human's pantry :)
I did my weekly shopping and it was surprisingly cheap! One of the big benefits of heading out to a farmers market - especially as a family - it you have the ability to share bulk purchases
Crystal and I went halves in a 30 tray of organic eggs with worked out to about $3.50 for 15 eggs, now for organic eggs that *is* a bargain!
Us girls returned home to watch a scary movie and polish off out latest organic wine purchases
*hick*
Monday, July 12, 2010
sorry for the delay
So sorry for the hiatus I have been finishing a minor thesis for uni and ment all my computer time was spent not blogging!
I apologise and will be much more regular now I am on holidays!!!
Please enjoy some new recipes.....
I apologise and will be much more regular now I am on holidays!!!
Please enjoy some new recipes.....
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Shepherd's Pie
This is one of my favourite 'easy, cheap eats'. Originally this was a recipe to use up leftover roast meat, gravy, veggies and potato BUT times have changed a little.
Unfortunately now because we are eating pasture fed meats the roast meats are much more expensive than mince, so we tend not to buy roast with the view of having left overs. So, economically this dish is probably cheaper to create with mince!
Please enjoy my classic Shepherd's Pie, everything is from the pantry, remember this also purees well for baby (freeze in ice cube trays or portion tubs). If it is a little to thick for baby just add some puree veggies when reheating.
Unfortunately now because we are eating pasture fed meats the roast meats are much more expensive than mince, so we tend not to buy roast with the view of having left overs. So, economically this dish is probably cheaper to create with mince!
Please enjoy my classic Shepherd's Pie, everything is from the pantry, remember this also purees well for baby (freeze in ice cube trays or portion tubs). If it is a little to thick for baby just add some puree veggies when reheating.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Interesting thoughts from an episode of "Cheese Slices"
I have recently started watching a program on the ABC called Cheese Slices. The host who is a master of cheese takes you to different parts of the world and explains the hows and why's of artisan cheese. I had to have a small giggle to myself checking out the website as there are 'cheese photos' which are like cheese lover's porn....seriously have a look!
This week's episode was on Parmigiano-Reggiano, coming from the north of Italy from the town(s) also famous for parma ham. It was actually facinating to hear how this process has not changed for hundreds of years - what was really interesting is the government regulations on how the cheese is made, to keep its authenticity and quality.
The cows only come from certain areas close by and only certain slopes on the countryside - they are also only fed grass and hay from the local area!
Interesting that in one country they value the differences between grain and grass fed cows milk yet most westerners would be hard pressed to know there WAS a difference!
This was very interesting that quality went hand in hand with natural-ness - now that IS food for thought.
The other interesting part of the episode is when the host sits down with the cheese maker's family and eats a pasta lunch with lots of grated parmigano-reggiano on top. The comment is made about "eating like this everyday" to which the family replied "we eat this for lunch everyday".
This to me shows the difference in western diets again, we are so hung up on choices! I am starting to wonder what is really so wrong with eating only a small selection of foods everyday?? (providing they are good...of course!)
This week's episode was on Parmigiano-Reggiano, coming from the north of Italy from the town(s) also famous for parma ham. It was actually facinating to hear how this process has not changed for hundreds of years - what was really interesting is the government regulations on how the cheese is made, to keep its authenticity and quality.
The cows only come from certain areas close by and only certain slopes on the countryside - they are also only fed grass and hay from the local area!
Interesting that in one country they value the differences between grain and grass fed cows milk yet most westerners would be hard pressed to know there WAS a difference!
This was very interesting that quality went hand in hand with natural-ness - now that IS food for thought.
The other interesting part of the episode is when the host sits down with the cheese maker's family and eats a pasta lunch with lots of grated parmigano-reggiano on top. The comment is made about "eating like this everyday" to which the family replied "we eat this for lunch everyday".
This to me shows the difference in western diets again, we are so hung up on choices! I am starting to wonder what is really so wrong with eating only a small selection of foods everyday?? (providing they are good...of course!)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Baby Food
I don't know how anyone else likes to feed their babies but I like to cook most of my daughter's food. There is of course definite need for baby food in the shops and I do utilise the fruits to give for desserts because lets face it, I ain't going to find stone fruits right now to stew and apples get a little boring after a while!
The way I usually do it is making large portion dinners and freezing them in those little portion 'ice cube' trays, then removing the amount of cubes I need for her lunch or dinner. I also tend to freeze plain cauliflower or pumpkin etc to 'add' to meals I make that are too thick or to jazz things up.
Some of my favourites meal combinations are 'sweet potato, tuna and creamed corn' this is sort of like tuna mornay without the fuss. I also do Ratatouille, I saute tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, onion (sometimes capsicum if I have it) until it is soft - sometimes to this I add some tomato sauce and puree just as a veggie mash or add tuna, chicken or mince OR rice or small pasta! - it really goes nice with any of these.
Another favourite is to start with a mash base like potato or sweet potato then steam any other veggies I can get my hands on broccoli, cauli, carrots, peas - this is the best way I find to use some veggies that really won't last another day (sounds bad but why waste them if they are still good?!?). This base also works because I tend just to make extra veggies or mash at dinner so I am not cooking twice for baby and us - she especially likes it when I add some of our gravy from dinner to the puree, mmmmmm
This homemade food ensures that I know what she is eating - as for her 'sweets' I am now buying "Only Organic" as it is cheaper than the Heinz organic version, I have seen the Only Organic brand in Coles and Foodland but haven't been to Woolworths to see if it is there.
As for breakfasts I use the Bellamy's Organic range of cereals and porridges to which I add a few tablespoons of the Only Organic fruits to change the flavour, they really are easy to use and I use far less than the other brands making it cheaper overall.
Something else which I have recently had to buy since I stopped breastfeeding is formula - man that is an expensive exercise!!! I wish she hadn't decided to wean herself! But, there is an organic formula now! This is again done by Bellamy's which have 3 stages the price is comparable to the S26 range so no big deal - but one small bonus that I noticed between the two is the scoop. In the S26 range the scoop has one hole in the top and when I tried to put it into a bottle of boiling water it would always get stuck in the scoop and on the rim of the bottle! I haven't had this with the Bellamys one as there are 2 holes in the scoop so it always seems to fall out easily - I know its not much but these things frustrate the hell out of you at 5/6am!!!
The way I usually do it is making large portion dinners and freezing them in those little portion 'ice cube' trays, then removing the amount of cubes I need for her lunch or dinner. I also tend to freeze plain cauliflower or pumpkin etc to 'add' to meals I make that are too thick or to jazz things up.
Some of my favourites meal combinations are 'sweet potato, tuna and creamed corn' this is sort of like tuna mornay without the fuss. I also do Ratatouille, I saute tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, onion (sometimes capsicum if I have it) until it is soft - sometimes to this I add some tomato sauce and puree just as a veggie mash or add tuna, chicken or mince OR rice or small pasta! - it really goes nice with any of these.
Another favourite is to start with a mash base like potato or sweet potato then steam any other veggies I can get my hands on broccoli, cauli, carrots, peas - this is the best way I find to use some veggies that really won't last another day (sounds bad but why waste them if they are still good?!?). This base also works because I tend just to make extra veggies or mash at dinner so I am not cooking twice for baby and us - she especially likes it when I add some of our gravy from dinner to the puree, mmmmmm
This homemade food ensures that I know what she is eating - as for her 'sweets' I am now buying "Only Organic" as it is cheaper than the Heinz organic version, I have seen the Only Organic brand in Coles and Foodland but haven't been to Woolworths to see if it is there.
As for breakfasts I use the Bellamy's Organic range of cereals and porridges to which I add a few tablespoons of the Only Organic fruits to change the flavour, they really are easy to use and I use far less than the other brands making it cheaper overall.
Something else which I have recently had to buy since I stopped breastfeeding is formula - man that is an expensive exercise!!! I wish she hadn't decided to wean herself! But, there is an organic formula now! This is again done by Bellamy's which have 3 stages the price is comparable to the S26 range so no big deal - but one small bonus that I noticed between the two is the scoop. In the S26 range the scoop has one hole in the top and when I tried to put it into a bottle of boiling water it would always get stuck in the scoop and on the rim of the bottle! I haven't had this with the Bellamys one as there are 2 holes in the scoop so it always seems to fall out easily - I know its not much but these things frustrate the hell out of you at 5/6am!!!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
GM foods
So I don't pretend to know everything but I will give you my take on genetically modified foods and what the big deal is.
I am most definitely pro-science and GM foods are an amazing achievement to be able to produce high yeild, low disease crops - just by shifting around a few genes!
In essence, if we think of this in 'human' terms it is like moving/changing genes around to ensure the 'child' is strong, has healthy bones, skin, eyes, and low probability for disease. So what is wrong with that? Nothing really, if something is less likely to get disease there is less need for pesticides, if there are higher yeilds in crops then farmers are ensured good crops every year.
However...
The problem with GM foods is not the food but the politics. One has to think logically about the investment of money to make a you beaut' 'perfect' crop - who owns that GM seed?
Large companies will invest money to make the perfect seed then have farmers grow it for them. The farmer is locking into using that seed and selling to that company - only! If the seed it the property of one company the farmers cannot shop for the 'best price' for their goods they are stuck with what the company contracts the price to be.
Takes a lot of the competition out of the market, further more, I think it takes a lot of the 'farming' out of farming. While GM crops are the way of the future to feed out ever increasing population the seed that is produced from it 'should' be public property, rather than private.
Otherwise those 'perfect' crops will always sell to the company who made it and who else is left to sell to - the best price should really go to the best crops, but at what cost?
I am most definitely pro-science and GM foods are an amazing achievement to be able to produce high yeild, low disease crops - just by shifting around a few genes!
In essence, if we think of this in 'human' terms it is like moving/changing genes around to ensure the 'child' is strong, has healthy bones, skin, eyes, and low probability for disease. So what is wrong with that? Nothing really, if something is less likely to get disease there is less need for pesticides, if there are higher yeilds in crops then farmers are ensured good crops every year.
However...
The problem with GM foods is not the food but the politics. One has to think logically about the investment of money to make a you beaut' 'perfect' crop - who owns that GM seed?
Large companies will invest money to make the perfect seed then have farmers grow it for them. The farmer is locking into using that seed and selling to that company - only! If the seed it the property of one company the farmers cannot shop for the 'best price' for their goods they are stuck with what the company contracts the price to be.
Takes a lot of the competition out of the market, further more, I think it takes a lot of the 'farming' out of farming. While GM crops are the way of the future to feed out ever increasing population the seed that is produced from it 'should' be public property, rather than private.
Otherwise those 'perfect' crops will always sell to the company who made it and who else is left to sell to - the best price should really go to the best crops, but at what cost?
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