Chicken Dinner in a Hurry !

I don't know about you, but I am constantly disappointed with take-away food ! For me I find it actually quicker and easier to either, whip up something at home from scratch. Or, do a half take-away half home cooked meal. On our way home from the Italian Shoe Fair, on a buying trip, this week, we discussed getting take-away. We were exhausted after four days of buying shoes for the Australian 2012 summer season. With my natural adversity to take-out, I suggested we grab a cooked chicken and add the vegetables at home. I find this works well for me, because I have young children and surprisingly, it is more time efficient. Instead of sitting at the take-away restaurant waiting for my order, trying to amuse the kids, because they are super tired after vacation care. I can already be home, with kids in the shower, while I am whipping up something yummy. Occasionally with a small wine in hand, all is happy in the house! With this in mind I decided to share what I made.

I call it "Chicken Dinner in a Hurry".

As I mentioned we collected a chicken, from Red Rooster (quick, cheap and easy)

 Next, I just grabbed whatever baking vegetables I had in the crisper, this time it was sweet potato, potato, carrots and pumpkin. I chopped these into "quick" baking sizes, with the oven ready on 200 degrees Celsius. Just quickly peel and cut, should take around 5 mins. Then blast the little buggers while you check on the kids.

I find when I use "Carotino" it gives everything a great colour and it is healthy and great for cooking anything. I love oil, so I probably add too much! This is the benefit of cooking at home, you know whats in the food and you can add as much or as little oil and other ingredients as you like.

 I also love greens and I go nuts for nuts, so I grabbed what I had, which was some spinach and zucchini, some tired tomatoes, an half an onion. Chop chop chop, messy don't be fussy, you are in a hurry. Chuck in some oil, garlic and get the onions going. I am checking on the kids while these are heating up and changing into something more comfortable

(and maybe pouring one more mouthful of wine)

Stir in the Zucchini when the onion has started cooking, then add three dollops of a pesto mix preferably capsicum or sun dried tomato. Stir through, when the pan is really hot and about to burn add some water, it helps steam the veggies without the need to add more oil and helps cooking faster.

This time I added a packet of pre-browned almonds. I got these from Aldi, along with the pesto jar (I always have these things as staples in my pantry) cheap cheap and yummy. In the last 5 mins of the veges cooking and setting the table, just bang the chicken in the oven to give it a re-heat.

Serve and you are done !! The kids love it and there are heaps of veggies in the meal.

Hope you enjoy, I have heaps more of these quick cook meals, so I will keep sharing - whether you like it or not - hehe xx

Coke vers Pepsi - The Great Debate

Firstly and straight up I have to say I am a Coke lover, and no diet Coke for me. I want the real sugar stuff,  full strength is the only thing I will have. I would rather go without or reduce my intake than to drink a diet copy !

Same goes for Pepsi, I can not stand that fake sugar after taste !! So I just don't go there. I also think Coke is much classier than Pepsi, if that's possible? Most Pepsi drinkers I have met are total Pepsi drinkers, and like me, will not opt for any other cola.

I especially do not like it when I go to a food supplier that only has Pepsi for sale. In these instances I don't get a drink, I get my meal and then either have water or look for another store nearby if I really need a Coke. I sound like and addict, but I really don't drink that much Coke, maybe two a week. When I do, I have to have "the real thing" , because Coke, "add's life", and you "can't beat the feeling". Ok I'm stopping - "Make it real" - heheh, couldn't help myself.

What do you think, Coke or Pepsi ? What's your poison ?

New Years Resolution - Plan plan plan !

This year I am actually making a New Years resolution, which I dont normally do. I'm not really one to take part in such folly, however, this resolution is more of an experiment. I am about to embark on plannning out the next 12 months personally and for the business. So this means I will be locking in days and dates, events and appointments.
I believe, that if I do this, the year will be much less stressful, and of course more organised and professional. The proof will be in the pudding or Christmas Pudding - because I will find out the full outcome of this experiment at the end of the year, when 2012's Christmas will be a breeze - because I'm so organised !!

To achieve this goal I will also be syncing all our phone calenders, work diaries and calenders and texting friends with these dates as well. I think I am going to be super annoying and quite possibly not very flexible, but I will be organised. I will keep you updated as I travel through the year. Big breath - off I go xx

Aldi - You have to love it !

Yes, I am an Aldi lover, for a couple of years now, it did take some time though! In the beginning I was not very trusting of this new comer on the block. The old saying - You get what you pay for, came to mind several times, as I trawled the store that fateful first day. But I soon found that there was very little to disappoint me, except that I can't do an entire grocery shop here. A couple of my close friends "Get" my Aldi crush. However, most of my other friends, who haven't fallen for the addictive Aldi as yet, just don't understand. It's now a running joke when I offer a delicious morsels of food on my platters, or I get super excited about another cosmetic purchase. When they ask I just say "Aldi" ! More often than not, they say, "wow", I really do have to check it out. Anyway, the reason I decided to write about this ongoing love affair with Aldi, is that I found this, today:

Lacura French Manicure Set - $7.99. So I bought one for my Mum as well (of course).

3 Nail varnishes, 1 nail pencil, 2 rosewood sticks, 1 nail file, 1 toe separator, 100 nail forms in each pack.

I am not showing you my first attempt at application, I am useless because I don't let the polish dry and then I bump it. You simply can not bump any stage of a french manicure - Yuuuk! So I will do a post in my updates page once I get it down pat. I think it's going to look great - hehe.

 Tel me, what are your thoughts and experiences with Aldi - are you a lover ?