Yesterday was one of those days where I was running around on all cylinders. My plans were changing from minute to minute and at one point, we were going out to dinner so that stress fell away and I focused on all the other small stuff. All that small stuff that you are not supposed to be sweating, like dust bunnies under the bed and the spiders coming out of hiding. In the end, I ended up back home with the boys 40 minutes before our regularly schedule dinner and I rolled up my sleeves! I made beef-barley soup with some help from some premade broth, but I made it my own by adding veggies and making some fresh barley. The boys and hubby love barley! That makes me so happy! I grew up on the stuff and never thought that it would appeal to hubby since he is actually the pickiest eater in the family.
In the end, that little bit of effort was worth it. I paired the soup with some fresh rye bread with butter and marble cheese. Everyone was happy, especially my waistline and bank account!
Friday, 13 January 2012
Monday, 9 January 2012
Upside down week
My meal plan looks great for this week, but I had to make some changes. The cabbage I picked up at the store took up too much room in my fridge so I am starting off by making cabbage rolls and opening up some valuable space there.
Cabbage rolls
1 head of cabbage- boiled and leaves separated
3-4 cups of cooked white rice
1 large onion, sauteed in grape seed oil/butter
1 lbs of ground turkey
salt and pepper to taste
Tomato paste mixed with water for sauce (3 tablespoons of paste mixed with 1 1/2 cup water with salt and pepper)
Start by making the rice and sauteing the onions. After boiling and separating the leaves of the cabbage, let them cool. Mix the ground meat - you could use whatever you like, my mom likes pork- with the rice and onions and season well with salt and pepper. I added a little parsley to the mixture because I had some already chopped. Place one to two tablespoons of stuffing into the leaves and roll up. Line them up tightly in a casserole dish and pour the tomato paste over the cabbage rolls so that they steam while they cooks. Cover with a few cabbage leaves, a lid or aluminium foil and place in the oven at 350 C for 1- 1 1/2hours.
While the cabbage rolls are baking, make extra sauce for serving.
Enjoy! Smacznego!
This batch made 18 large cabbage rolls. I divided them up and froze the second half for another day. To prepare them, simply place in the oven for an extra 30 minutes. Easy peasy!
Hubby and I gobbled these up, but the boys only ate the stuffing and left the cabbage. I am OK with that. Baby steps are necessary with some foods, especially ones that have a strong taste, texture and smell. We've already made progress because before, the boys refused to sit at the table when we ate things that they didn't like. We have enough for another dinner, and I am hoping that I can get them to try a bite of the cabbage. Here's hoping!
Cabbage rolls
1 head of cabbage- boiled and leaves separated
3-4 cups of cooked white rice
1 large onion, sauteed in grape seed oil/butter
1 lbs of ground turkey
salt and pepper to taste
Tomato paste mixed with water for sauce (3 tablespoons of paste mixed with 1 1/2 cup water with salt and pepper)
Start by making the rice and sauteing the onions. After boiling and separating the leaves of the cabbage, let them cool. Mix the ground meat - you could use whatever you like, my mom likes pork- with the rice and onions and season well with salt and pepper. I added a little parsley to the mixture because I had some already chopped. Place one to two tablespoons of stuffing into the leaves and roll up. Line them up tightly in a casserole dish and pour the tomato paste over the cabbage rolls so that they steam while they cooks. Cover with a few cabbage leaves, a lid or aluminium foil and place in the oven at 350 C for 1- 1 1/2hours.
 |
| Straight out of the oven |
 |
| Dinner is served |
While the cabbage rolls are baking, make extra sauce for serving.
Enjoy! Smacznego!
This batch made 18 large cabbage rolls. I divided them up and froze the second half for another day. To prepare them, simply place in the oven for an extra 30 minutes. Easy peasy!
Hubby and I gobbled these up, but the boys only ate the stuffing and left the cabbage. I am OK with that. Baby steps are necessary with some foods, especially ones that have a strong taste, texture and smell. We've already made progress because before, the boys refused to sit at the table when we ate things that they didn't like. We have enough for another dinner, and I am hoping that I can get them to try a bite of the cabbage. Here's hoping!
Friday, 6 January 2012
Another meal plan
While trying to eat more healthy and getting ready for back to school, I have been on a meal planning spree. This coming week looks good!
Mon: Soup and garlic bread with salad (potato-leek)
Tues: left over lasagna and salad
Wed: Shrimp and broccoli stir fry
Thurs: Cabbage rolls (with turkey)
Fri: Beef-barley soup with veggies and dip
Sat: left over cabbage rolls
Sun: Roast chicken with root veg.
Mon: Soup and garlic bread with salad (potato-leek)
Tues: left over lasagna and salad
Wed: Shrimp and broccoli stir fry
Thurs: Cabbage rolls (with turkey)
Fri: Beef-barley soup with veggies and dip
Sat: left over cabbage rolls
Sun: Roast chicken with root veg.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
A New Year
The gluttony of the holidays is over, though there are still a few tempting leftovers in the fridge. Now it is time for some healthy meals.
Goals for the new year:
1. Get healthy by being more active- walk the kids to school, use my yoga ball, do Wii Fit 4 days/week, sign up for something new
2. Get healthy by eating better - go meatless more and eat more seafood, plus try some new recipes
3. Get out more- with friends and family
4. Get organised- laundry and basement!
5. Read more
6. Yell less
Recipes to try in the new year:
More quinoa!
More kale!
Sweet potato gnocchi
home-made granola bars
air-popped popcorn
more roast chicken!
more seafood
Meal plan:
Wed: Turkey breast with gravy and roasted potatoes with honey glazed carrots
Thurs: Tilapia fillets with pesto and sweet potato fries & salad
Friday: Potato-leek soup with baguette
Sat: Brunch- waffles, fruit salad, sausage and devilled eggs
Dinner- Pizza and salad
Sun: Turkey lasagna with steamed broccoli
Goals for the new year:
1. Get healthy by being more active- walk the kids to school, use my yoga ball, do Wii Fit 4 days/week, sign up for something new
2. Get healthy by eating better - go meatless more and eat more seafood, plus try some new recipes
3. Get out more- with friends and family
4. Get organised- laundry and basement!
5. Read more
6. Yell less
Recipes to try in the new year:
More quinoa!
More kale!
Sweet potato gnocchi
home-made granola bars
air-popped popcorn
more roast chicken!
more seafood
Meal plan:
Wed: Turkey breast with gravy and roasted potatoes with honey glazed carrots
Thurs: Tilapia fillets with pesto and sweet potato fries & salad
Friday: Potato-leek soup with baguette
Sat: Brunch- waffles, fruit salad, sausage and devilled eggs
Dinner- Pizza and salad
Sun: Turkey lasagna with steamed broccoli
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Wishing you all the best over the holidays and into the New Year!
Eat, Drink and Be Merry!!!
Eat, Drink and Be Merry!!!
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
November - the month that never was
So this radio silence that I've been on has been because I have been sick since Thanksgiving. It started with a bad cold, followed by a virus or two, bronchitis and an ear-infection culminating in pneumonia. It has been a tough two months... I have never been this sick before. I could not eat and had a fever for almost five weeks straight. I am still not 100% and the doctor told me it would be a good two to three weeks before I would be back to myself. I basically lived on soup, tea and toast. After a while, my stomach got so messed up by all the antibiotics and anti-viral that I couldn't even drink tea! Crazy! Basically, I lost all of November. All the things I wanted to do around the garden, the house and with cooking went up the window. And this was going to be the year when I would be really prepared for Christmas. I did manage to do almost all of my shopping on line, but I was quite worried that I would not be able to do anything to prepare us for Christmas. The only positive thing has been that I lost 13 lbs! But I have been to sick to enjoy it!
But I am feeling better, relatively speaking.
But I am feeling better, relatively speaking.
Monday, 7 November 2011
Another week...
Monday: Spaghetti with tomato sauce
Tuesday: Pork chops with roasted veggies and coleslaw
Wednesday: Beef tacos with all the fixings
Thursday: Turkey pot pie with Cesar salad
Friday: Pierogi with sour cream
Saturday: tba
Sunday: tba
It's a pretty straight forward meal plan. I like to keep the weekend meals open to see where we are and who we see, also what may inspire us! We're going to have friends over for brunch so I am planning that out already - definitely some kind of waffles, baked bacon, fruit salad and something eggy. Fun! I baked the pumpkin cupcakes again, and we are really enjoying them! I will also make some soup so that we can have it for lunch and in case of emergencies!
Tuesday: Pork chops with roasted veggies and coleslaw
Wednesday: Beef tacos with all the fixings
Thursday: Turkey pot pie with Cesar salad
Friday: Pierogi with sour cream
Saturday: tba
Sunday: tba
It's a pretty straight forward meal plan. I like to keep the weekend meals open to see where we are and who we see, also what may inspire us! We're going to have friends over for brunch so I am planning that out already - definitely some kind of waffles, baked bacon, fruit salad and something eggy. Fun! I baked the pumpkin cupcakes again, and we are really enjoying them! I will also make some soup so that we can have it for lunch and in case of emergencies!
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