Friday 29 June 2012

Pizza, Wine and Lara Bingle

I was uber inspired by my friend Dee and her pizza making she did the other week, so thought I better give it a go.

I have done home made pizza before and I must say I'm pretty good at whipping up a pizza muffin for the kiddies. But it has been a very long time.

So off I went to the shop to buy some yeast, seeing this isn't a pantry staple for me. I picked one up, got it all the way home and then got it out to make some dough and couldn't be bothered with mixing it, waiting for it to activate, resting the dough, blah, blah, blah.

So I thought maybe a simple flat bread recipe would work just fine.

In short it did.

Flat Bread
1 1/4C Sifted Plain Flour (used wholemeal)
1tsp Salt
2Tbs Oil (used Rice Bran Oil)
2/3C Hot Water

Put sifter flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well and add your oil and water. With a knife bring together. Then on a floured bench knead dough for about 3 min. then cut into 2 balls and rest covered for 30min. Roll out and either cook under a grill or of actually using for small flat breads cook in an oiled fry pan.



I am extremely anal about having a hard crust bottom to my pizza. So I think what I did was a little over board but the pizza was super great.

Once I had rolled the flat breads out to cover my baking tray, I oil it and then put it under the grill. I then pulled it out flipped it and then added the toppings.

Crazy yes. Worth it hell yes!

I whipped up 4 pizza's in the end (so did 2 batches of dough). I was surprised that hubby and daughter said it was the best they have had in a long time.* Insert big happy mummy smile here

Our pizza of choice was a simple Ham and Pineapple - daughter requested and Tandoori Chicken.

I know you know how to whip up a Hawaiian but fi your unsure about the Tandoori this is what I did.

Cut up 2 chicken thighs (only chook I had) into small pieces and out in a bowl, then used a tablespoon of store bought Tandoori paste and a heaped teaspoon of greek yogurt and mixed all together. Cook in a pan and set aside.I then cut up 1/2 a red capsicum and fried off in a pan.

So after I rolled out the dough and did my anal one side grill. I spread on a layer of leggos pizza sauce and added the chicken, caps and a heap of grated mozzarella. It then went under the grill for about 3-5min. Once out I topped with baby spinach and more Greek yogurt.


Yum..yum..yum!

So then it was on to having a glass of wine.

I have not had a glass in almost 3 weeks as I have been sick with this virus that is in everyone's houses at the moment.

So I had a glass and it was great!

I had been to the bottle shop today and got a few nice bottles for the school holidays (I know I will need it). My new favourite is Mr Mick Rose it's from the Claire Valley - simply delish! I recently tried Rodger's and Rufus Rose and am in love with that also, but cant find it anywhere to buy. So if you know of a place PLEASE let me know.

So what's with the Lara Bingle you ask?

Well when I saw the ad's for her show I told my friends I WILL get sucked into watching it. And I have and am hating myself for it!

Why of why do I watch. It's like a car accident - you just cant look away. Sad but so true.

Oh Well..hats off to you Ms Bingle you have sucked my in. See you next week.


Tuesday 26 June 2012

How's the healthy eating going?

I have been a little bit impressed with the last few days, even though I am still under the weather I have managed to cook some healthy meals and pack a half decent lunch box.

So Sunday night was Roast Chook night, I did cheat a little by using Chicken Chops. They are just a great size and the skin crisps up really well. I pan fried them skin side down for about 6mins, other side about the same then put them on the roasting tray (veg underneath) and cooked for about 30-40min.Family were very happy - even got big kudos for my gravy! Thanks guys!

Then Monday came around pretty quick. Seeing I was at the school most of the day I really wanted to do something quick and easy but still full of veg. My daughter just had a fundraiser at the school where they could buy these gourmet pie's so she wanted one of them. Fine by me I just popped that in the oven for 15min and then gave her all the veg I out in our dish.

So hubby and I had a really quick pasta dish - Chorizo, Spanish onion, Red Peppers, Peas, Garlic and oil. I served it with a bit of Afghan Garlic Bread (naughty but so nice).
As you know I always use wholemeal pasta and this just taste great with that. I must say though there is one dish I cant do wholemeal pasta with and that's Marinara, I don't know what it is but I'm just not a huge fan. Oh well.


If you are wanting to try and convert over to wholemeal but are a little bit worried try doing a half and half mix. Just cook half wholemeal first as it takes a little bit longer then throw in your normal pasta. I found that worked with my family. Now they are just use to it.

So whats on for tonight's healthy dinner you ask?

Nothing to crazy - Chicken wraps.

I think the brand is Misson not sure but they do a spinach tortilla and it is really good - probably not that good for you but its bright green and the kids love it! So more get's eaten and I'm happy with that!

Just as a side note - has anyone tried these drinks?

We noticed them only last week in our local shop and bought a couple. My daughter love's them and I was really happy to see no added sugar and not made from concentrate.

I googled them today and saw a fair few mum's have said they taste like nothing and not really big fan's, but I would be interested to hear your thoughts?

They are a hit at our place.

Monday 25 June 2012

Feeling like Super Mum today!

So off I trotted to the fundraising meeting at the school this morning. We are trying some different idea's to last year to raise a heap of cash for the outdoor area.

Just an FYI...out school has no grass. Or I should say had no grass till about 4 weeks ago. The outdoor area is under mass reno's. And it is looking amazing.

My daughter started prep this year so we are one of those families that are going to get years of benefit out of the new areas. I do feel sorry for the families who have rallied for years to try and get it changed only to enjoy it for one last year!

Anyways....I was up baking at 9.00am and really felt like a super mum walking into the school with freshly baked goods.

It also made me feel ultra cool that all these little kids walked up to me saying "you're Emelia's mum aren't you?"

Yes I am!!

So my muffins were a hit with the other mums/teachers which made me feel pretty super mumish also.

I like cakes, muffins and slices but I don't like the overload of sugar. So whenever I get a recipe I ALWAYS trial a batch with half the sugar the recipe recommends. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

This one works a treat! I also always use wholemeal flour and raw sugar, I personally think it makes these amazing little muffins.

Hope you enjoy.

Carrot & Pepita's Muffins

2C of grated Carrot
1 1/2 C of Self Raising Flour (sifted)
1/2C Oil (I use Rice Bran)
3 Eggs
1/4C Pepita's (I think they are a type of pumpkin seeds you can omit and use walnuts)
1/2C Raw Sugar
1Tsp Cinnamon

Best part of this recipe is chuck it all in a bowl and mix and your done!
Put in Muffin Tin and the chuck in a 180 oven for 20 - 25min. Just like a cake if they spring back they are done.

I sometimes grate in a heap of ginger too. YUMMO!

Saturday 23 June 2012

But Friday is the day I DONT cook...

As most of you know, we are all under the weather in house Hutton!

I am actually the worst by far - 2 weeks of illness that doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Hubby is back at work and after the last day off school saga, daughter happily kept going to school.

I try to claim that my food is all about being simple and nutritious. Of late that has not been the case! 

I have looked back over the last week's meals and I'm really upset with what I have put up. So no matter how sick I'm feeling I need to pull my finger out next week! And seeing it's the last week of term I'm sure I'm really going to be in the mood ;)

So when I am actually a fully functionally mum after a week of home cooked meals I give myself Fridays off.

I really look forward to it.

But for some reason in my ill stricken stupor I decided to cook this past Friday. I posted a pick of our dinner and got asked for the recipe, so here it is!

Salted Chicken Ribs is one of my daughter and my fav's when we go out for dinner. So I tried to recreate them one night at home and I must say they turned out pretty dam good!

We have them with some Steamed Asian Greens and Red Rice and it really is a yummy Friday/Saturday night (unhealthy) meal.

Salted Chicken Ribs

500g Organic Chicken Ribs
1/4 C Plain Flour (I only ever use wholemeal flour and it is fine)
1tsp Chinese 5 spice
2 1/2tsp Salt
1 1/12tsp White Pepper
Oil for frying (I use Rice Bran oil)

Just put all the flour and spices into a bowl chuck in the ribs and coat well.
Shallow fry in the oil in batches. Drain on some paper towel or even better on a wire rack.

It really is that simple.


I copy the restaurant and fry up a couple cloves of garlic, 2 chopped spring onions and 1 red chilli and pour over the fried chicken at the end.

So YUM! 

And if your looking to do the Red Rice, also easy.

Red Rice

1 1/2 Cups of  Cooked Rice (I use organic Brown Rice)
1Tbl Tomato Paste
2 Cloves of crushed Garlic
1-2Tbl Fish Sauce (taste to see)

Put your cooked rice in a wok with all the other ingredients, stir through till rice is hot!
Tip here for the best rice is to use day old rice. Also season with pepper once cooked.


*Sorry the photo quality is poor - think it needs a clean.







Tuesday 19 June 2012

Choose your own adventure


I really enjoy doing DIY meals.
The kids also love it. I guess they feel a little bit special making their own plate of dinner up and also making their own combination of flavours up.

Mexican is a great one for this. Just cut all the fillings up put on a platter and away you go!

Even a simple chicken and veg meal can be done kind of the same way where the little ones can just take what they want from a center plate.

So we have all been under the weather in our house. I think I am on the mend…finally!

With such an icky house I didn’t really feel like cooking much over the weekend. But I had no inspiration either, so I asked my daughter what she felt like and hoped it was something easy.

Her answer was Sushi!

I thought that the hubby wouldn’t be too thrilled with that, but he was in no state to cook either so sushi it was.

We have never had sushi for dinner so I wanted to do something a little bit different with it.

After a quick brainstorm – Saturday Night DIY Sushi was invented!

It actually turned out better than I thought. Hubby & daughter were impressed and even said they would like it again.

I just cut up some carrots, cucumber, mushrooms, lettuce, cooked off some prawns and Char Sui Chicken, opened a can of flavoured tuna and cooked up some Sushi rice.

It may sound like a bit of work but it really wasn’t at all!

I cut up the Nori sheets into quarters to make them more of a finger food and that way you can try lots of toppings. We just placed the toppings in the middle and rolled up like an ice cream cone.

Hopefully the photo’s do it some justice.

I think I ate about 10 in the end…yum..yum!



Friday 15 June 2012

Sometimes it's the little things that make you happy

We recently returned from a trip home to Adelaide.

Cold is not the word to best describe the weather, I'm not sure there is a word actually.

Since moving to Melbourne 4 years ago you would think I'm use to cold weather. As most of you know it is bone chilling cold here most winter days.

But Adelaide must of been feeling left out, so it bought so bitterly cold days and nights to our mini getaway.

Not enjoyable at all.

So where am I going with this?

Well we have all come home sick!

This week I have been up to my elbows in tissues and Vick's. And my poor little bub is just as sick as me and he cant really pop a few Cold & Flu caps and try and get on with it. So he has been a little grumpy and snuffly.

With all the cough's and splutter's my bubba boy has been up a lot more during the night to feed and just try to breath (I have had his vapouriser going flat out, but not helping as much as I would like), so late night/early morning TV has been going hard.

When your feeling at your worst you are looking out for anything just to put a small smile on your face. Not a whole smile that would completely crack the rest of your dried out skin around the nose area after blowing it for 15hrs a day! So when I saw this clip on America's NBC Today show I crack a rye half lip smile.

The show was talking about the best Ad's for 2011 I think, and this was voted number 1! When you watch it you will see why. I have since watched it about 20 times and put it on full screen so the bubba can have a sway along too.

I think the message is just honest and it take courage for business to think about what they have done, where they want to go and actually doing it! Well done to Chipotle. We never ate there when we were in the states last but again bravo!

I must say I have always liked Willie Nelson but this version of Coldplay The Scientist is truly amazing. I will have to pop out to iTunes and pick this one up!

So this is all it took this week to make me happy when I was at the peak of illness.

I hope you enjoy it too.



Wednesday 6 June 2012

Comfort Food Part 2.


I don’t know what it is about dumplings but they are just the most adorable little things to put in your mouth!

Lately we have been eating dumplings A LOT! We just love them, my daughter will eat them by the bowl full and take them to school for lunch. It can get a little out of control at times. I have been known to eat a few in the morning even…eekk!

As you know you can simply steam dumplings or cook them in a broth. We do both ways as we make up a lot when we get cooking. 

I would suggest a nice broth packed full of veg and noodles topped with some of the below dumplings as a mid week meal. It really is that next generation of comfort food, the kind that is light and clean, very filling and packed full of nutrients.

Below is my very simple and easy peasy recipe for dumplings and even further below is a quick broth recipe. I hope you give it a try – I bet you too become addicted to these!

Just before we get to it though, let me start with a few tips and pointers.

You can have so many different fillings and flavor combos (I have stuck with this simple one purely because it is just delish!) so go crazy and get inventive.

Include the kids! My daughter can now make these with her eyes closed.

Make sure the broth is ready to go before you start making the dumplings if you’re going down that path.

Make lots! Even freeze any mixture you have left for next time.

Cook these for someone who doesn’t live in your house. Every person I cook these for think they are amazing and that makes you feel the best!

Prawn and Ginger Dumplings
250g Raw Prawn Meat (Remember if you’re buying shelled prawns 500g = 250g of meat)
Big knob of Ginger
A few drops of Sesame Oil
Dumpling Skins (you can use wonton wrappers or dumpling skin from your Asian grocer)

Ok so you can do this 2 ways, you can chop up your prawn meat with a knife or whiz it up in a blender to break it down to a thick paste.

Totally up to you. I prefer to chop my prawns up really little; it gives the dumpling a bit more character.

Then how much ginger can you take! I like a lot so about a thumb size grated into the prawns will give it a nice kick. Now add a few drops of the oil to the prawns and ginger give it a nice mix and you are done my friends!

Get out a small bowl and fill with water – this is used to seal the wrappers.

Then get out the dumpling wrappers and let’s get started.

On a clean bench lay out about half a dozen wrappers, put one teaspoon of prawn mix on the wrapper.

Wet the outer edge of the wrapper and fold in half. This is where you can get creative and pinch the edges together and make it look pretty. I’m hoping the pictures will help explain it better.

Now repeat the above until all your mix is gone. Some days it makes 20 dumplings some days it makes 30. If this is too much for you just use less prawns and ginger, it will still taste amazing.

So that’s really it to making these dumplings…easy peasy!

So if you’re wanting a nice broth this recipe is also pretty simple. What I tend to do though is see what I have in the pantry and fridge and just add a little of everything, as long as you taste along the way you should be ok.

Simple Broth (serves about 4 as soup)
3lts of Stock (Chicken or Veg)
½ Cup Light Soy
3 Spring onions
2-3cm of Ginger - sliced
1 Large Garlic Clove – grated
3tbs of Fish Sauce
1 Star Anise

So in a big pot pour in your stock, add your soy. Chop up 2 on the spring onions and add to the liquid along with the ginger and garlic. Now add in the other ingredients and bring to the boil.

It’s up to you if you want to cook this for 15 mins or 1 hour, either way once at a boil reduce heat and let simmer till your ready for the dumplings. Once you’re ready to cook the dumplings bring it back to a boil. Just remember the longer it simmers the more liquid will reduce so keep that in mind for how many you’re planning to feed.

Just before I’m ready for the dumplings I strain out all the onion, ginger, etc. Return the broth to the pot and bring back to a rapid simmer. 

If my doing veg (like some Asian greens and mushrooms) I add these now along with the dumplings.

Also if you’re doing noodles, cook separate to the broth as per packet instructions and put in your bowls once cooked (the broth will reheat them).

Let your dumplings cook for about 2-3 minutes then you can ladle it all into your bowls. 

I also like to add some fresh spring onion just before I gobble it all up!