Category: Food/ Recipes

Terrific Thursday

Posted on by Libby Withnall

Woke up this morning feeling very much like my normal self (but with a runny nose and croaky voice). I was going to take the dogs on a walk but then thought I could take them on walk after dropping the girls at school. Much better than braving the cold morning air.

I went downstairs for a cup of tea, showered, dressed and had some breakfast. I finally got around to eating 1/2 of the breakfast cookie I made the other day. It was a little on the dry side but still okay.

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I got my bag all packed with water for both myself and the dogs… and I threw in a nut bar just in case.

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We had a fantastic walk, which you can read all about here. It took us about an hour and ten minutes and I was exhausted and happy at the end. Will definitely do this again.

Came home and enjoyed a green smoothie.

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I then got busy in the kitchen – making potato and leek soup, zucchini slice (for tonights dinner) and some of Angela’s Tropical Muffins.

Lunch was the last of the Mushroom Rissoto.

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Had an easy afternoon. Enjoyed some soup for afternoon tea.

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Followed by the last of the oatmeal cookies.

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and a handful of tiny teddies…

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The girls had singing lessons this afternoon. I wanted something when I was out but knew dinner was ready when we got home. Just had to prep some veggies.

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Supper was, predictably, a tropical muffin. Oh, and a smidge of lemon fudge.

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Canteen dinner

Posted on by Libby Withnall

Woke feeling good this morning. Got up ready to get dressed and workout – only to realize I didn’t feel so good after all. So no workout today. Instead I had a green smoothie while working on plans for our UK trip.

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Since I wasn’t feeling I was planning an easy day with a quick trip to the shops for groceries. Instead I ended up at the school reorganising the uniform shop cupboards (which had been relocated) and lifting boxes!!!! Then I did my groceries and came home rather exhasted.

I was suprisingly feeling like food so made up some pita breads with spreadable cheese, tomato, cucumber and sprouts – YUM!!

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I vegged out on the lounge in between putting the groceries away. Around 1pm I was hungry enough for lunch. An easy one today – leftover rissoto.

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And a little while later…

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Like yesterday I was feeling better as the day went along. When the girls got home I had some watermelon and kiwifruit – but the kiwifruit was too hard so I fed it to Bailey.

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I also had some hummus and pita bread.

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Still had some hummus left so grabbed a handful of tortilla chips.

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We had to head out at 5.30pm to attend a High School Expo (the one Amy is very hopeful of getting into). No-one was yet ready to eat so we decided we’d buy something at the canteen (I’d checked out the menu and they had some reasonable vegetarian food). I ended up getting a veggie burger.

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It was quite nice but seemed to just sit in my stomach – I assume because of the white bread. When we got home an hour later I was still feeling ick and wanted ice-cream. Why is that stodge and ice-cream go together? I always want it after Chinese as well! Instead of ice-cream I had a Billabong (which is pretty low fat/sugar).

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I actually struggled to finish it and don’t really know I enjoyed it but I was feeling better afterwards!

Feeling blah

Posted on by Libby Withnall

I still felt very blah when I woke up this morning so reluctantly I gave any up on any thoughts of an early morning walk. Instead I cuddled with my pup, eventually getting up for a cup of tea, some cruskits with spreadable cheese and my laptop.

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We were able to have a slow morning as the girls had a 10.15am doctors appointment and didn’t have to race off to school. I had the breakfast cookie in the fridge ready to eat but I wasn’t feeling it this morning. Luckily Kevin had been given some garden fresh spinach so I was able to make a nutritious green smoothie.

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Eventually we had to leave for the girls appointment for swine flu vaccination. I had to resort to bribing Christy with a chocolate if she had the needle so we had to visit the chemist. It was here I spotted some m&ms – which I had been craving since seeing them on someones blog. I bought some to enjoy later :-).

I dropped the girls off at school and happily headed home. I did a few necessary chores and made some oatmeal raisin cookies. I have a sneaking  suspicion Tina is also responsible for the m&m’s.While they were cooking I had a banana.

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Yes, I know it looks rather brown and past its best but these organic banana are still always great on the inside.

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Eventually I felt like some lunch. I wanted something super nutritious (to help fight this cold) and had been seeing roast brocolli all over the health food blogs so decided to try some today. I popped the brocolli and some brown rice bites in the oven. When they were cooked I microwaved some leftover quinoa and some snow peas. Served with some organic BBQ sauce. Yummy!!!

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Oh, and the cookies turned out great. I sampled one to see what it was like – oh, boy, they are good!

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The rest of the afternoon was spent on the lounge with my laptop and a box of tissues. Kevin also ended up at home early as he’s suffering with the “man flu”. This, of course, meant I had to share my m&ms – which is probably a good thing.

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When the girls got home from school I sat with Amy and had some afternoon tea – mountain bread with hummus, grated cheese, grated carrot and home-grown sprouts.

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While putting away Christy’s hi-fibre (white) bread the end piece proved too tempted and I enjoyed it with a bit of butter.

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Dinner tonight was Mushroom Risotto – comfort food with plenty of nutritious veg. It’s old, old recipe (I think from Weight Watchers) but it’s been some time since I made it. You can find the recipe here.

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I finished the night with a cup of tea and an oatmeal cookie. I feel better tonight so I’m hoping to be back to normal in the morning.

Mushroom Rissoto

Posted on by Libby Withnall

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
300 grams aborio rice
3 1/2 cups chicken stock
125 grams button mushroom
1 carrot, diced
2 zucchini, diced
1 bunch bok choy, trimmed
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
30 grams cheese, grated

 

Method

Heat the oil in a wok and add the onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft. Stir in rice and coat with the oil.

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Add the stock and simmer, covered, for 10 mins.

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Remove from heat and stir in vegetables.

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Cook gently for 5 mins. Allow to stand for 10mins, covered.

Serve sprinkled with cheese

 

Serves 4 (above photos are for 2 serves)