Big Batch Cooking... What took me so long?!

Honestly! What the hell!?

I have spent the last few months looking up all these big batch recipes online and wanting to join up on some cooking groups and such... But I was going about it all wrong!

Early last week, I decided to do a triple batch of the old standby tuna casserole recipe. Yes, those are peas in there, old standby recipe thank you to my dad. After no extra energy wasted I had three dinners in the time it took to do one. I popped one in the fridge for later and the other two in the freezer. 

Last night was the moment of truth. I took out one the freezer meals to thaw in the fridge overnight, and had pretty much the whole afternoon naptime to myself. Tidy up, vacuum, dishes, and finally sit down to finish up some crocheting. I'm such a nana, I know. 

Dinner time came, put the thawed meal into the oven, made a quick salad and that was it. Brilliant! Too easy!

I know a lot of people do this and have been doing this for ages, but it was such a lovely break for me to have. And I was all concerned about trying all these new recipes, when really, it was taking something I know how to make in my sleep and just making it bigger, doubled or triple, maybe even quadrupled! Wooooooo!

I have a strange suspicion that I made start secretly saving for a deep freezer in my piggy bank... Just saying...

Happy Weekend!!!

xx

Kale & Silverbeet Pesto - Meatless Monday!

We are always facing the 'Neverending Kale Dilemma' at our house. It's one of those veggies that always turn up in the fridge. The same goes for chard and silverbeet. It never ends! I've almost come to hate it, but I'm always trying to find good and easy ways to use it. It's so good for you, it's horrible to have to toss it in the compost!

But a couple of days ago, this recipe came across my iPad. Brilliant! Why haven't seen this before?! So here is our version, with the tweaks of things I have here at home.

What you need...

An afternoon in the kitchen..

After a bit of a windy, hilly walk with the dog-boys and a quick stop off to the fish and chip shop, I came home to a free afternoon to do some cooking. 

We've been trying out a couple different organics deliveries and had a couple problems with the one we liked, but we are back to using Commonsense Organics which have been good in a pinch. After some rearranging of fruit and veg, I realised that we've had a lot of citrus to use. So... out with the good old Juice-O-Matic!!! 

This is my favourite kitchen tool ever! I think I've had it since I was about 21. I have my lovely high-school friend to thank. She would be the one that got me interested in antiques and all things vintage. One year for Christmas, I decided to seek out an old juicer for her. For some reason in my mind, it had to be red and chrome and stylish beyond all reason. After about two weeks of searching all the local shops, I found it! It was gorgeous and I was secretly gutted to have to part with it. 

When Christmas came around, we exchanged gifts and I was so excited for her to open her fancy juicer! She opened it, looked at me, laughed, told me to open my gift. I opened it to find something red, chrome and stylish beyond all reason! Yes... it was the Juice-O-Matic!

How funny.. we had basically sought out and purchased the same gifts for each other. But of course, at that age, we were completely convinced we were psychically connected, could read each others minds and thought dating twins was the best idea we had ever had. We were awesome in our early-twenty-somethings.

Anyway, the rest of my afternoon was something completely new! I made fresh pasta for the first time! 

Fresh homemade pasta, homemade sauce and meatballs! So yum! It was one of those moments where I was rather proud of myself! Making pasta is a bit liberating!

I'll have to have a few more attempts at it until I'm completely comfortable with it, but if you have a pasta maker, use it!!

*lovey lovey lovey - Valentine's Day Recap

I like to believe that J and I are like any other married couple out there. We can get under each other's skin very easily, but we also have many days where we are all cuddly - you know - that couple you see on the street holding hands and trying to be all secret about their PDAs.

I've also never been one to celebrate Valentine's Day. Bah Humbug! But this past Sunday was different. J got up and made me a fabulous soy flat white, handed me that and a little gift... !!!! Awwwwww!!! I know!!!!

Yes. Those are EXACTLY what you think they are... Barrel of Monkey earrings! Made by UbuLala.
And some very nice handmade non-soap soap (as I've found out recently, that I'm pretty allergic to regular soaps) made with olive oil, rice bran oil, coconut oil, water, lye, and essential oils. Made by Starashan...

He got everything at Olive Grove over on Sydney Rd... (I don't think they have a website!!) But yeah... he's a lovely boy!

After a trip to the Vic Markets for our usual veggie and seafood shop, I came home and made some prawn alfredo pasta. I have to admit, I've never made a white sauce from scratch before. But holy cow! Easy as! Granted, I will probably need to watch my cholesterol and my fat intake after that meal, but it was worth it!! So much cheese. So much butter. So much yum!

Hope everyone had a lovely day!!!
xoxo