Veggie tots…meat free lunch ideas for toddlers

June 19, 2015August 7, 2016Leave a comment

My son is vegetarian, apart from tasting some biltong at around 10 months he really doesn’t do anything meat based, fish and poultry included…in fact he tells me last night, “Mommy ate a fish *big shocked, you realise I have a pet fish right, eyes* I don’t eat fish okay”

making cheese crackers

what is this marshmallow bussiness

And naturally it’s okay with me, I don’t eat all that much meat myself, but I’m not a vegetarian, just ask the sushi and lasagne.
I feel like it started textural, he didn’t want to chew it since it’s not crisp like crackers (his all time favourite) but it’s grown into, I can’t eat the animal you let me feed at the farm the other day or ask me what sounds it makes, A cow goes moooo mommy not nom nom nom.

Meat aside he is a rather annoyingly picky eater…(I spoke to Dr, dietitian and nutritionist, none of their tips have helped thus far…but I keep on trying, I also have books given to me by friends who know I worry about his eating)
This is his”never struggle to get him to eat these things” meal plan
– oven baked chips (don’t think you are going to confuse him by giving him chips of any other vegetable)
– yogurt (he will spit out fruit pieces so don’t even attempt)
– provita with cheese spread (trying to replace cheese spread with cottage cheese, wish me luck)
– grapes and apples
– juice (I try to make these veg based) when in a hurry I use the Solal 24-in-1 he likes it, well he will have half a glass and that’s good enough for me
– popcorn (we bought a air popper and he will get bowl and everything ready himself)
– chocolate (preferably dark Lindt stolen from his mother)
– rice cakes (pnp has nice ones I can pass off as chips)
– raisins
– dry fruit sticks
*pizza, noodles, cupcakes,marshmallows – which most kids love – he hates that.

THIS IS WERE IT ENDS he doesn’t even do those pouches anymore 🙁

Here are some lunch ideas I want to try, PLEASE comment with ideas you might have…supper time he just gets small portion of what we have (it doesn’t go down too well, but we keep trying)

Kick out the store-bought, processed boxes and make these scrumptious homemade animal crackers instead!

homemade crackers

Lentil Chickpea Burgers from Feast on Weelicious

Chickpea and lentil burger

cereal bar cookies

carrot sticks

hummus

The books I’m reading…

Yummy butter bean curry recipe

June 12, 2015August 7, 2016Leave a comment

It’s no secret that on this side of the world my husband does the cooking… its his hobby/way of relaxing (apart from xbox) and I’m pretty lucky or unlucky judging by my waist line… One of my favourite dishes he prepares is butter bean curry so I asked him to share recipe… *it’s a pleasure 🙂

Ingredients
1× tsp mutton masala
1× tsp dhania powder
1x tsp jerra powder
1x tbsp canola oil
1x cup water
2x trays lamb knuckles
1x cube mutton stock
2x tablespoon honey
1x small bag of mixed veg
1x tin butter beans in tomato sauce
2x tomato paste

What to do
Heat oil in pot,add onion and fry till golden brown, add masala and water and let it simmer for +_ 5min add lamb knuckles and cook for +_ 2hrs. After +_2hrs add stock and mix veg and simmer for 45min then add tomato paste and honey and let it continue to simmer for another +_ 30min stirring continuously add butter beans and simmer for another +_ 20min

R200 for four…braai away

May 3, 2015August 7, 2016Leave a comment

When Braaiboy announced his blogger challenge I was one of those first in line!!! Pick Me Pick Me oh braai master, hehehe.
The thing is I’m known for many things, my cooking is not one of those. The dangers of having a husband who loves cooking, people are so quick to say I’m lazy or incapable when truth be told, I’m just lucky, hehehe.
When I do cook, it’s light lunches and salads and that sort of thing (The twice a week cleaning lady says she doesn’t “get” my green cooking and why don’t we have instant coffee, proper tea or real sugar in this house … anywho…)
So this is my chance to show that I can make actual meals, and on the fire nogal and it’s man size so my dad can stop telling people I’m more of a “first course chef”… (Okay Rob helped alottile hehe)

With our R200 we bought the following which cost us R197.60

So what did I make? (with Rob’s help)

Pear and Apricot Beef sosaties (R74.98)

This was the most costly part of the meal, but each person got two and I have tons of braai sauce left

-Beef

-Basting sauce

-Dried apricots

-Dried pears

Cut beef into blocks marinate in basting sauce and then put on sosatie sticks, that’s two apricots on each side and pear in the middle… braai

Kudu wors spirals (R21.70)

Just cut wors into sections spiraled it and put on sticks, I’m big on portion size and presentation

Grilled Butternut (R16.99)

I just steamed butternut till tender and braaied to get some nice grill marks and it brings out a yummy no need for seasoning taste

Jacket Potato, potato salad (R25.72)

Pre-boiled potatoes a little then wrapped in foil before braaing. Once tender, I cut open and covered in light mayo and parsley, with salt and pepper to taste… Was awesome because not only does it taste great you are rationed and goodness knows I need to be rationed with potato salad.

Spar Braai Rolls (R20.99)

Because it’s cheaper than buying ingredients for bread and quicker, yeah for quicker

Drumsticks (R25.08)

Not sure what the point is of having them on sticks but that’s how they come and they are called knop kieries

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT…

Ten 100cal snacks and soups

May 1, 2015August 7, 2016Leave a comment

There is something about winter that makes me want to eat everything within a 1 metre radius.
NOM NOM NOM get in my face!!!

I know I’m not alone in my struggle so I thought I’d share some low cal recipes from around the web… so you can stuff your face without stuffing your jeans 😉

Delicious cauliflower soup without all the dairy. Under 100 calories and apparently quite tasty. We all need this now...

Cauli Soup

Tomato Basil Soup

Butternut Soup

Make your own "100 calorie packs" using baby food containers. These are ham & cheese (60 cal. Cheese 40 cal. Ham). I also use the jars for nuts (~16 almonds=100 cal.)

Ham and Cheese snackers

Crustless Spinach Quiche

Single serving brownie

Cinnamon Pancake

Skinny Moose Munch....100 calorie bag of popcorn and dark chocolate chips!

Dark choc popcorn

Apple cinnamon muffins

Biscotti

*Have not tried them all myself yet

Barley salad is awesome! Who knew?

April 17, 2015August 7, 2016Leave a comment

I certainly had no idea barley could be used for anything but hearty soups (Def not the next Masterchef over here) my friend brought me some salad to try and it got me thinking… This has to be pretty doable – not only doable, improvable (She bought it as a take away so there was no recipe)

The next day I made a big pot of the stuff
(Kinda like rice – instructions on the pack) figured since it can keep in fridge for a week I had time to experiment…

What I used:
Barley
Feta
Cucumber
Little cherry tomatoes
Corriander Pesto (not pictured as it was a last minute brain wave)

What I did:
Layered ingredients (to my taste) in a carry along container and shook up and decanted at work…

I love love love
-It’s got a creamy almost pasta like texture and is low gi for my insulin issues
-yesterday I was running late ans only had with pesto and feta and it might have even been yummiest 🙂

hot cross buns, mostly sugar free…

April 2, 2015August 7, 2016Leave a comment

I’m not nearly as good as I should be with the whole your body does not appreciate sugar thing and holiday’s are the most difficult… I looooove me some hot cross buns, simply LOVE so it’s awesome that Canderel has issued this (mostly) sugar free recipe….
wish me luck with baking 🙂

Serves: Makes 15

Ingredients: For the buns:

4 cups self-raising flour
6 sachets Canderel Yellow
1tbsp mixed spice
large pinch salt
1 sachet yeast
60g cold butter, cubed
1 cup (125g) sundried fruit cake mix
2tbsp (25g) candied citrus peel
zest of one orange
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup warm milk

For the crosses:

1/2 cup self raising flour
about 1/4 cup milk

For the glaze:

2tbsp fine apricot jam
splash boiling water

Method:For the buns:

Sift together the flour, Canderel, mixed spice and yeast. Add the butter cubes and work through the flour using your hands, rubbing the butter to combine with the flour, until it forms a grainy consistency.
Using a wooden spoon, stir in the fruit cake mix, citrus peel, orange zest and egg. Add the milk and stir until combined.
Tip the mixture onto a floured surface and knead for 10 to 15 minutes until the dough reaches an elastic and silky consistency.
Place the dough in an oiled bowl and rub with a little oil to prevent a crust from forming. Cover with cling wrap and leave in a warm spot for 1 to 2 hours until the dough is doubled in size.
Once risen, remove the cling wrap and punch it down. Divide the dough into 15 buns (about 75g each or 1/4 cup size) and roll them into smooth balls on a floured surface.
Grease a baking tray and place the buns on the tray, about 2cm apart. Cover with cling wrap or a damp clean cloth and leave to stand for another hour. Heat the oven to 200°C.