Category: Fast Receipes

Posted in Fast Receipes, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

My review of Weight Watchers food boxes

Posted on by Theworkingmum

Last week I discovered a new program that I thought was a game changer and could be the answer to all life’s problems. I’ve always been keen to try loose a few kilos (who doesn’t!) and saw advertised the Weight Watchers Fresh Box  and gave it a go.

Heres my review from the point of view from a working mum who’s life gets a little cray cray around dinner time.

The Food-it comes in a lovely big box all delivered in 2 days to your door. The program is linked to Aussie Farmers Direct so the produce is super fresh and did last really well.

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Bacon, capsicum, kale pasta with mushroom sauce.

 

 

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The recipe cards, great coloured photos

 

The recipes- Easy to follow, clear and concise but have lots of preparation is required. The meals generally took 30-40 minutes or longer to make. The pasta dish was much quicker but the rest were quite time consuming.

To sum, the meals have been super delicious and full of flavour and surprisingly decent serving sizes! And I even ate Kale! It has definitely increased our vegetable intake and provided some inspiration for new meals to try. However a big down for me and my lifestyle is the time frame for preparation. I don’t have time to be rolling chicken and stuffing it on a normal night in my house. If you have a bit of time up your sleeve or are great at food preparation then go for it! If dinner time involves feeding the masses and town is limited this program is not the best option for you. I have definitely enjoyed the new meals and the healthy ideas though!

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Chicken stuffed with baby spinach and sundried tomatoes
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Posted in Activities with Kids, Recipes, thermomix

Rock Cakes

Posted on by Theworkingmum

imagePerfect sunny day here. All ready for a long weekend. Catching up on some baking today. A quick easy go to for my faintly has always been the traditional Rock cake! Low in sugar and super delicious and the biggest criteria.. Fast! Find the Recipe here. My mum has been baking these for years and I kinda stole it from her! We are to the beach for some sand play and sunshine!

Posted in Recipes, thermomix

Nutella Cheesecake

Posted on by Theworkingmum

It was a great challenge to try a new recipe every day last week! I finished it off with a bang… Nutella Cheesecake!! Not the dinner inspiration I started out looking for but I saw it advertised on social media and wanted to try it for myself! I mean who doesn’t love Nutella. I personally could it eat it straight from the jar! I used the Nigella recipe. Find it here. Ridiculously easy to make and no baking requires so it was super fast! Mr 3 helped and was super excited to lick the Nutella spoon!

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Nutella cheesecake

To summarise it was super easy and fast to make, but it needs berries and cream or something on top to break up the sweetness. It is super rich and sweet. Raspberries would be perfect.

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Posted in Recipes, thermomix

Try it, time it, taste it, blog it Pt 2. Beef ragu.

Posted on by Theworkingmum

The Challenge continues… read about it here! New recipe no 4 for the week was slightly clouded due to sick kids and no desire to go the shops. So it became a game of ‘what’s in the cupboard’? Still wanting to complete the challenge I found some beef steak in the freezer and went about investigating something new to cook. Enter good old Jamie Oliver and a few modifications and we have delicious Beef Ragu.

Find the original recipe here.

I had a few ingredients missing and added a few of my own.. So here’s my Recipe…

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Easy Beef Ragu

1kg Beef Rump Steak chopped into small pieces (in thermie reverse sp 6 20 sec)

1 clove garlic

2 carrots

500 g of tomatoes chopped ( I had lots left from the inlaws!)

2 tblspn vegetable stock

500 ml water

2 cups of red wine

oregano

basil

bay leaf

Method

Blitz garlic and carrot Spd 5 for 10 sec.  (or grate carrot and chop garlic finely)

In a large pot brown garlic and carrot. Add the beef and fry till brown.

Add stock, water, tomatoes and red wine and bring to the boil.

Add the herbs and let it all simmer until most of the liquid evaporates. (approx. 40 mins on low)

Serve with your favourite pasta.image

 

Letting it simmer slowly until liquid evaporates makes the flavours stronger!

To sum up for the challenge, it was delicious and the red wine in it gave it a lovely winter feel. It takes longer than a bolognaise to make so its not ideal for a work night but it could be done. While its simmering away im sure there’s many other things to get done! Bath the kids while its cooking then eat!

 

 

Posted in Fast Receipes, Recipes, thermomix

Try it, time it, taste it, blog it!

Posted on by Theworkingmum

*I lost my cooking mojo over the last few weeks. With 1st birthdays to organise (which I love doing) and then Easter, things went a little off skew in the dinner department. Yes the kids had baked beans one night and heaven forbid we did eat McDonalds! Guess what? They survived! But I needed to get my mojo back and with the return to work drawing closer and closer I need to increase my go to meals. So I set myself a challenge this week. A new recipe every day. Test it, try it, time it, blog it! I have to say I feel a bit like the girl in the movie Julia and Julia ( I think its called that) but I’m not cooking my way through the Julia Childs cookbook, that’s way too big a challenge for right now!

Recipe 1 Skinnmixers Pork Belly with Apple Sauce Recipe Here!

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Pork belly with Apple sauce

Having never cooked Pork Belly before I was a little apprehensive. It was super easy using the thermomix (yes it can be done without of course). I loved how easy it was, and it was superbly delicious! The boys discovered the joys of crispy crackling and devoured a plate full of veggies with the apple sauce. Winning! The only down fall was it took an hour and half all up to prepare and cook. Not one I’ll be putting on the weekly rotation but a fabulous one for a Sunday night roast!

Recipe no 2 was Homemade Chicken loaf.Recipe here!

This is perfect for sandwiches for the next few days and obviously has way less crap in it that store bought stuff. Master 5 gave it the big thumbs up and will have it for lunch tomorrow! Super fast and easy to prepare, cooking took about 30 mins then 2 hours in the fridge. Was quite surprised by this one.

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Home made chicken loaf

And finally Recipe no 3 (yep 2 today!) is Malaysian Satay Chicken with rice noodle stir fry. Recipe for satay chicken here! Skinny mixers again! 

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Malaysian satay chicken with rice noodle stir fry

 

I’ve had tremendous luck in the taste department this week but this one is a definite pre- prepare meal. No way I can marinate and thread meat on a stick while I have three starving beings around. The marinate was super yum and made the chicken really juicy. And let’s face it kids love anything on a stick! For the stir fry I pre boiled the rice noodles, stir fried some ginger, lemongrass and garlic and added any veggies I could find in the depths of the fridge. Stir fried it all up added 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, a pinch of Brown sugar and about 100 ml of coconut milk. It was pretty delicious if I do say so myself! So to sum up, if I had the meat already marinated and on sticks it could be a great quick meal full of nutrition, so long as I’m organised…😜

I I haven’t decided what to try tomorrow but I’ve got my mojo back! Stay tuned!!

 

Posted in Recipes

Savoury Muffins

Posted on by Theworkingmum

As a long time lover of sweet muffins I was a bit apprehensive to try a savoury muffin. However I was pleasantly suprised! The original receipe I had used olives and sun dried tomatoes however the fridge was quite bare! So instead I used bacon, egg and zucchini with a pinch of rosemary. With the help of Mr. 5 on his pupil free day we whipped them up in Thermie and had a delicious lunch. The advantage is they freeze well, and the kids love them.. I say that’s a win! Here’s the receipe…

Savoury Muffins

250g bacon diced

1 egg

1 zucchini grated

1 cup SR flour

1 cup grated cheese

pinch paprika

Sinply mix all together and spoon into muffin tray or muffin cases. Bake at 180 for about 30-40 mins until golden.

So easy and delicious! I’m now a savoury muffin convert! image

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Posted in Lifestyle, Recipes, Time Saving Tips

The kids plan the menu!

Posted on by Theworkingmum

One thing I’ve been dabbling in over the years is menu planning. I’ve always wanted to do it ‘better’ so I set myself a challenge to do a meal plan each week  then do one big grocery shop for the week. Well I did it!! I went once to the supermarket and did not step foot on one until the following week!! I’ve done it now for 3 weeks and it’s fabulous!! The best thing is I seriously spent less money on food and there was no wastage. All over the Internet you’ll find weekly menus and plans.. Anyone can make one! I needed to make sure that the meals chosen were gong to be eaten by all members of the family. Sorry Mums but I’m not one for making separate meals for the kids.. So I asked them!

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I literally asked each member including dear husband to choose one meal. I was immensely surprised by the results. Not only have the meals been healthy but everyone has enjoyed eating ‘their choice’. Each night the kids seriously discuss who’s choice the meal was and who’s meal it is tomorrow night. At first I was unsure what they might come up but some of their choices have included lasagna, burritos, chicken kebabs and cous cous and chicken curry. The kids love having some power over what we eat and it makes for a great discussion with them! Give it a try, see what meal plan your tribe comes up with!

I’m hoping to develop a spread sheet for weekly plans in the near future. 😳

Posted in Recipes, Time Saving Tips

Pinwheels and Pullaparts

Posted on by Theworkingmum

Well I’m officially a school mum now, lunches everyday, uniforms organised.. I have a new appreciation for school holidays and it’s only week 1! Mornings are chaotic with the three being so young but we’re getting better at it! They are learning their jobs and roles for the morning so it’s getting there.. Slowly!!

I made Pinwheels for an afternoon snack on Friday. They are super easy and delicious, could be made healthier if you’re so inclined! I was quite surprised to learn a friend had never had them!

Pinwheels

On a sheet of Puff Pastry spread a layering your favourite sauce.

Sprinkle evenly with cheese and ham.

Roll the pastry into a tight scroll and cut into 2-3 cm pieces.

Bake for 10 mins or until golden and ‘puffy!’ (Yes very technical I know!)

Anything can be used as fillings in pinwheels. Ham and cheese, cheese and vegemite, basil and cheese, tomato and basil, the opportunities are endless!!! Get creative! They freeze well too so they are great for the lunch boxes or after school snacks!

Sunday Pullapart

 

For a quick and easy Sunday lunch I made a pizza Pullapart. Made a quick dough, let it rise, then roll it out to a flat rectangle. I spread it with pizza sauce, ham cheese and pineapple. Twisted it all up and baked for around 20mins. Super yum!!! Again any filling can be used. Pizza, ham and cheese, cheese and vegemite, basil and feta (oh this is delicious!) feta and olive.. Mmmmm.. X

Posted in Fast Receipes, Time Saving Tips

Morning caos avoided.. Hopefully!

Posted on by Theworkingmum

Picture this, cold coffee waiting patiently to be drunk, baby clinging to legs demanding Weetbix, Mr 3 having a passionate debate about not eating or getting dressed, Mr 5 can’t find his left shoe as he runs around with only jocks on. A typical morning in our house and as of Monday we now have the thrill of getting out the house by 8:30 with hopefully everyone dressed and fed.

In order to save precious moments of sanity in the mornings I am making sandwiches to freeze and pre chopping fruit and veggie sticks to last at least a few days. In the evening I will pack the lunch box with fruit and various snacks and put the whole lunch box in the fridge. In the morning all I have to do is pull out the box, add a frozen sand which and we good to go! The sandwhich defrosts by lunch time with the advantage of staying cool.

Some sandwhich fillings are not good for freezing–

-anything with salad, it has too much water content and when it defrosts it makes the bread soggy!

-cottage cheese

-tomatoe

-cucumber

-egg

However there is so much more you can freeze and if you are so inclined you can add your salad in the morning or send it separately.

-ham and cheese

-chicken and mayo

-tuna and cream cheese/mayo

-vegemite and cheese ( a staple in my house!)

-fritz, sauce and cheese

-schnitzel and cheese, pickles

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The options really are endless, the big tip though is to butter your bread. This stops the bread going soggy on defrosting. I have found that snap lock bags work best for freezing as they are much easier to get airtight and stop freezer burn. I pull out the frozen sandwhich and put straight in the lunch box and reuse the bag!

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Enter a caption

 

I wouldn’t keep sandwiches in the freezer longer than 2 weeks but for an exercise that takes 10 minutes to pre make a pile of sandwiches it’s a huge time saver in the mornings. Chuck in some chopped up fruit and sultanas and walah!

imageEasy right?! 😏

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Recipes, Uncategorized

Vanilla slice- oh so nice!!

Posted on by Theworkingmum

Happy Australia Day! We do live in fabulously free Country where we can be ourselves and do what we want and live the life we dream. Today lots of people are celebrating in various ways, friends are having beach days, bbqs and fireworks. And of course the cricket. The boys are a little obsessed with all things sport at the moment so we are endeavouring to take them to the international 20/20 tonight. We’ll see how that goes!

I wanted to do some ‘Australian’ cooking today.. I looked up lamination recipes and pavlova (which I must say I love a good pav) but decided on my Mums Vanilla Slice. Biscuits, custard and icing- how can you go wrong?!!

Vanilla Slice (Thermomix style)

2 packs of Arnotts Lattice Biscuits

50g of cornflour

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1tsp vanilla extract

500g milk

1 quantity of icing- I choose pink!

coconut for sprinkling on top.

METHOD

-to make the custard I use the Thermomix but of course I can be done on the stove top.

  • place corn flour and sugar in bowl and mill sp9 for 10 secs.
  • Add eggs, milk, vanilla and set at Sp 3 90 degrees for 7 mins. ( using the stove top- continually stir until thickened) it needs to be quite thick.
  • line a slice tray with baking paper, and place a layer of Lattice biscuits on the bottom.
  • Spread the custard out on top of the Lattice Biscuits.
  • place another layer on top of biscuits on top of the custard, and place in the fridge for at Least an hour.
  • Spread a layer of icing on top of the biscuits and sprinkle with coconut.

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My hot tip is to cut the biscuits in half when serving (use a serrated bread knife) so the custard doesn’t ooze to much when you bite into the creamy deliciousness!!

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