Simply by knowing when and what my next meal will be, leaves me content with life. If I don't know what I'm going to be eating next (this occurs very rarely), I'll feel flustered & slightly panicky. "It's been two hours", "we don't have rice", "Oscars asleep I can't leave the house", "oh my GOD I need food now"
Something like that... Thats normal right?
Lately, I've been eating generous, nutritious, soul-warming meals, packed with potatoes & rice. It's winter, and I'm breast feeding- I really don't need an excuse for the abundance of carbs.
My lunch go-to's have been a rotation of these two delights;
So simple, so healthy, and you don't even need a recipe! Going back to basics is the only way I can eat at the moment, as being in the kitchen for longer than 5 minutes results in some serious protests from the tiny humans.
As for dinner time, being prepared hours in advance is the key. Hello slow cooker you little beauty! Our favourite recipe at the moment is a classic "Beef & Tomato stew"
(Apologies for the crappy pic, steam was scolding my hand)
Ingredients;
500gm chuck steak, chopped in 1cm cubes and dusted in peppered flour
1 tin diced toms
2 cups beef stock
3 large chopped carrots
3 large chopped potatoes
1 large chopped onion
2 cloves garlic crushed & diced
3 bay leaves
2 tbs tomato paste
Splash of olive oil
3 sprigs fresh thyme
Dried oregano
Salt / pepper
1 c cooked basmati rice to serve
Method;
Put the olive oil & garlic in the bottom of the crockpot, then place the meat, vegetables and herbs on top. Pour over the tinned tomatoes, stock & tomato paste. Season well. Cook on low for 7-8 hours, or high for 4-5 hours. Serve with rice!
This meal is absurdly easy to prepare, and is a great meal to freeze for those nights when you really can't be f'd cooking. It's also handy for fussy toddlers who refuse most meals Mum cooks (gritted teeth), but she (not naming names) loves this batch!
As for dessert, our IGA across the road started stocking Cadbury Black Forest blocks. Hmmm.
Oh, and Abbey, brought this slab of heaven over for us on Saturday;
Black Forest cheesecake
She insists it's her first cheesecake attempt. Ummmm. I would definitely give up my day job to pursue a new career in cheesecake making. Australian Martha? Impressive. And far too tasty. Oli doesn't like cheesecake either, so.....
Tonight we are off to a seminar by the Australian chef Pete Evans on 'Paleo Living'. Should be interesting, hopefully learn a thing or two about living a cleaner, greener life. Although I hope he doesn't bring up chocolate. I can't deal with everyone bitching about something so beautiful- not to mention something always aiming to please people, yet it gets the worst rep. Let's leave chocolate alone eh?
I'll let you know how it goes this eve,
Au Revoir
Gemma
Ps my crafty cot is coming along;
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