Yeehaa, I no longer look like a hot-air balloon and can walk
un-penguin like with a new hunger for the year that for me, begins now.
Where have I been? I was making a human of course. It was
mind-blowing and wonderful and I now have a set of 2 perfect little
boy-monsters with crazy-long eyelashes.
I have roused out of my spew-filled life and realised that
it is already the beginning of March. Summer is starting to cool and this is
the time that most peoples’ shiny New Year gumption is starting to flail.
Don’t hit the slump guys, I have some second-wind resolutions
to make life a little easier without sacrificing flavour.
Top 3 time-saver tips:
1. In between being
the food in the last 4 months, I found myself squirreling away at large batches
of one-dish wonders and easily reheated casseroles. I hardly had to move a
muscle, except my microwave finger – warm up, steam some veg and you’re done.
2. Online shopping – my absolute biggest time-saver
of all time. Stock up with the basics weekly, it is seriously easy and you don’t
end up screaming around the shops whilst forgetting half the stuff. Sign up to
Pick ‘n Pay or Woolies and surf away.
3. Ready-made sauces and spice mixes. These really
save time for yummy things like curries that usually take longer to make.
Top 5 deliciously easy meals:
1. Pesto pasta with baby tomatoes and goats cheese:
this is one of my favourite dishes, it takes 10 minutes from start to finish.
Add bacon for a meaty edge.
2. The perfect chicken stir-fry: healthy and fresh
for an Asian twist.
3. Cheese and biltong frittata: this is a real winner, every time.
4. Hot chicken pitas:
you don’t even need cutlery, just grab and devour.
5. T-bone steak with a mustard sauce:
serve with a gorgeous salad and oven-chips.
It’s great to be back everyone, here’s to a cooking 2011!