Africanaussie

This Sunday when I did my meal prep it was all about beans.  I had seen a recipe for a black bean burger on minimalist baker  - love her recipes :)  I used ground almonds instead of the walnuts, and added two eggs, and left out the sugar and barbeque sauce.  I processed the mixture in the food processor , and they held together very well.  As you can see the mixture was still a little chunky. I cooked them in a skillet, and popped them straight into the freezer for lunches or dinners during the week. I also had boiled a big pot of chickpeas, so made some green pea curried hummus.  Something different to your normal hummus for sure!  Grated ginger, lime peel and juice, green curry paste and tahini were added along with the chickpeas and green peas.  Next was falafel,  and our local supermarket puts out a monthly magazine. I regularly try their recipes.  I often find regular falafel a bit dry, and loved the cauliflower addition...

I have a daughter in law who cannot eat eggs or milk, so am always on the lookout for recipes that I can use when she is coming around. On Saturday we had 7 people to dinner, and I cooked cassoulet again.  That is fast becoming a favourite meal for a crowd.  I serve it in my big bessamer pot, and I like to make it in advance so the flavours can meld as it simmers slowly on the stove.  This means I am not rushing around preparing dinner at the last minute.  Alongside I served a big salad with spinach and a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers,red onion and chick peas marinaded in a lemony olive oil dressing.   Of course there is bread to mop up the juices!  Oh!  and bubbly (not French my budget doesnt run to that,)  and French red wine.  For dessert I had to do a bit of research and planning.  I have had this recipe  for vegan chocolate cake on my evernote feed for quite some time, and eventually tried it, and it is a keeper! ...

We have my stepson staying with us this week, and I thought I had better get a bit organised with my menu plan.    What  I normally do is write down on the left hand side of the page a few dinners that I would like to cook for the week, and then on the right side of the page write the ingredients I need (after checking what I have on hand).  Breakfast and lunches are normally leftovers or regular rotation, so certain things are purchased every week.  I have being doing intermittent fasting for about 6 months now, so each day is only two meals.  Lunch and dinner over the weekends, and then breakfast and lunch during the week.  I thought I had better do a bit of baking to have some things on hand.  A staple growing up was my Moms crunchies, and they changed over the years to a healthier option.  Every time I make the recipe I change a few things as I use up whatever is on hand. This time they are walnut and date based. Sunday: Roast chic...

Last weekend we didn't go grocery shopping.  I implemented a no shop week on the spur of the moment - no pre-planning, no notification so we could stock up!  My dear hubby is quite used to my impulsive nature by now.  He calls it my "shoot from the hip attitude."  This was mainly brought about because I got stuck in to cleaning the sliding glass doors on Saturday which turned into a major living room clean, and I didn't want to get cleaned up to go into town and shop for groceries. I did a quick inventory of the veggies and fruit and fresh stuff and knew that the freezer was well stocked.  I always have a loose menu plan for the week in mind and thought I would be able to wing it. On Saturday we had a nice little barbeque in the back yard.  Home made boerewors (South African sausage) baked potatoes and a salad. Sunday, hubby was busy doing a bit of reduce, re-cyle and re-use which I will tell you about in another post. Luckily I was inside with the airco...

I have a couple of linkys that I am joining in to do my weekly menu plans - It is great as I can get tips and it also keeps me doing it These are the places I am linking to organized junkie darling downs diaries at home with Mrs M Here is my weekly menu with costs. Week 1 Lunch Dinner Shopping list Mon  Lentil soup Leftover curried chicken with rice and dahl. oats .99, granola 3.85,greek yoghurt 5.00, chocolate chips 3.10, milk 2.70 Tues prawns with salad Indivual meat loaves, sweet potato, salad Wed Tuna patties with salad Pork chops with Jamies stir fried vegetables Prawns 4.76, Frozen pizza on clearance 3.00, T bone steaks 7.48, Porterhouse steaks 11.28,  eggs 3.50,   Thur Curried lentil soup Chargrilled chicken drumsticks with tabbouli Fri Leftover chicken with salad Frozen pizza with salad Mushrooms 2.98, slaw 2.25, leek 1.98,...

While the weather has been too miserable for gardening I have been doing some spring cleaning (Ok autumn cleaning... you know what I mean) Cleaning out the clutter that was a conglomeration of torn out recipes, printed out recipes and scribbled out recipes led to this idea: I will choose at least two new recipes a week to try They will be posted on africanaussie-recipes if they are worth keeping, and will be added to my most treasured recipe box right there on the blog. Requirements are that they will be: Healthy, diabetes friendly, relatively easy and economical . I try to have meatless mondays and maybe vegetarian one other day of the week. I am just posting the main course, unless I find a marvellous soup, salad or dessert. I have otameal for breakfast every day (I know it is boring but it works and doesnt require much pre-planning or forethought. I take my lunch to work, mostly just a soup or salad or leftovers. Join me if you dare...... Link back here  here every w...