Menu Planning and a Celebration

This week coming the Beau an I will have settlement on our first home.  I am so excited to have our own place and be able to have privacy and be free to do whatever we like.  At the moment we live in a noisy building in a popular spot.  For example, even though it's 11 am on a Tuesday I can hear building works, cars, people walking past, lifeguards on a megaphone and a garbage truck.  So it's good bye to to all that - though I will miss the view and the spectacular weather changes we get to see coming in from out at sea.

Here are some pictures that we have taken from our time here:

This is the view from the kitchen

This is Dee Why Beach at sunset.

An amazing storm front moving out to sea

This is the crowd we get on a public holiday

This is Beau with the other end of the beach in view - Long Reef

A beautiful rainbow after a quick sun shower.

I am back to menu planning this week so here we go:

18/3/10

B: Brown rice, gomashio and miso soup

L: Lunch out - shopping day - probably sushi

D: Greek salad (from Nigella's Forever Summer p 62), Pumpkin and Red Lentil Soup (Vegetarian Cooking)

19/3/10

B: Porridge with pear 

L: Falafel (from a box mix) with salad on whole-wheat pita bread.

D: Pappardelle with zucchini, sultanas and pine nuts (Nigella's Forever Summer p 32)

20/3/10

B: Toast with peanut butter

L: Leftover soup and bread

D: Grilled eggplant with feta, mint and chilli (Nigella Summer p 7), Cacik (Nigella's Forever Summer p 57) and lamp chops (for the boys)

21/3/10

B: Brown rice, gomashio and miso soup

L: Leftover eggplant and Cacik on pita

D: Prawn Curry (Nigella's Forever Summer p 73) - chickpeas for me and brown rice

22/3/10 - Settlement Day

B: Fruit salad with yoghurt

L: Leftover curry and rice

D: Celebration dinner

Bloody Mary and Oyster shooters Rouille

Avocado and verjuice jellies (Maggie's Kitchen p 83)

Homemade gnocchi with pumpkin, ricotta and spinach

Grilled octopus with (Maggie's Kitchen p 84)

Baked yoghurt tart with figs and hazelnuts (Cooking deserts p 125)

24/3/10

B: Summer Bircher

L: something leftover or a meal from the freezer

D: Mum's

25/3/10

B: Miso soup and fruit

L: Caponata (Nigella's Forever Summer p 152) and Zucchini Fritters (Nigella's Forever Summer p 156)

D: Grandma's

The books this week are some I have used before (click titles for more information):

Nigella's Forever Summer

Maggie's Kitchen by Maggie Beer

Vegetarian Cooking - A Commonsense Guide

Cooking Deserts

   

MIA

I know that I haven't done a post now for about 2 (or maybe it's 3) weeks.  I have not been keeping up with menu planning because I have been busy tracking calories over at Livestrong so I can fit into my wedding dress (the wedding is in August)!

But money has been an issue lately as I still have not found a full time job for when we move (April 1oth) and since I have not been planning the menu I have been spending about an extra $50 a week and have been throwing away a ton on food - which I hate doing - especially when it's meat.

I also have a few photos of things that have been going on:

After reading a few blogs talking about a Middy hair cut I decided to go and get one.  It is great and the hairdresser I had was an older lady and I explained it to her and then she said "It sounds like you want a Middy".  I am so glad she knew what I was talking about.  In the past I have bee a bit reluctant to tall the hairdresser what I want thinking that they may laugh at me etc - but all the other vintage girls having amazing hair gave me the confidence!

This photo was taken the day after I got it cut and this is what it looked like after being pinned for the night (but not a wet set or done very well at all).

The Beau and I went to the Blue Mountains for the day.  It was freezing - the first real day of Autumn that we have had - the leaves were beginning to change colour there and while walking around in the bust our breath was coming out frosty.  Here is a picture of us both together from a look out where the Three Sisters are:

I have also been trying out some new things in the kitchen.  This is my new regular breakfast.  It is like a healthy version of Bircher muesli.  

It is:

• Oats soaked in a but of water
• Half a grated apple
• Some blueberries
• Greek yoghurt (I make my own using the Easiyo because it has no sugar)

I have found that it really fills me up until lunch time.  Especially when I drink it with my whole pot of coffee.

This is what I made for the Beau's Valentine's Day present.  It is a paella kind of.  I used paella rice but did not add chicken or chorizo so I could have some.  It does have seafood - prawns, calamari and Moreton Bay bugs.  It was delicious.

Here is another breakfast I have made to try and use up things in the pantry for when we move.  It is just gluten free pancake mix with pear jam and greek yoghurt.  I couldn't believe how well the pear works in a jam.  I love pear and am so excited that it is Autumn and I can eat as many as I like.

Finally, as I mentioned it is getting colder so here is my jacket of choice for the moment.  It is a 60s number I think that I got a Salvation Army store.  I love the colours and collar but best of all is the sleeve length.  It would be perfect for showing off one of those bracelets with coins on them.  I have never yet seen one at the shops - but fingers crossed one will turn up at Vinnies.