muesli muffins

These are really ugly muffins, but they are so versatile and really easy to make.  Not to mention somewhat healthy.  Please forgive me if  I have posted this before.

Oat and Fruit muffins

1 cup chopped dates

½ cup chopped dried apricots

1 cup sultanas

½ cup chopped almonds

2 cups quick oats

½ cup brown sugar

1 cup SR flour

1 cup skim milk powder

1 cup water

2 beaten eggs

¼ cup vegetable oil

Vanilla

Cinnamon.

Mix dry ingredients together then add wet ingredients

let sit for 2 min.

Pop into muffin tins.

Put in preheated oven on 170C for about 20 minutes

I often will add chocolate, or banana.  I dont use dates or almonds, I use 2 cups of mixed fruit with cranberries, apricots and other dried fruit.

If your fussy about what you give your kids, maybe go the organic ingredients.

But apart from that they are great to have in the freezer to throw into your bag.  I often take them to work as I know I can eat them quickly. 

Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

Week of slow cooking day 3

I was lucky enough to go to my sisters house for dinner tonight, and although I didnt cook it, it could still be slow cooked.  Its found here and its really really simple and yummy!  My sister did it on the stove top, but it could have been done in the slow cooker as well.

Enjoy :D

Week of slow cooking day 2

So was planning on having left over beef goulash for dinner tonight, but had already started to thaw out some chicken so decided to have chicken curry instead.  Similar to yesterday, used a packet mix (artificial free of course) and it was so very very yummy!  I used chicken steaks with the bone and skin removed.

Normally when I make a cury I use cardomen, chilli, cinnamon, corriander and garlic.  Fry it up with some onion, and then add chicken, potato and other veggies.  Pop in some chicken stock and a few hours later there is a georgeous curry!

Im sorry about the spelling errors, but the new blogger seems to be missing the spell check!

week of slow cooking

Inspired by this blog  I decided that I would attempt to do a full week of crock pot cooking.  I bought myself a new slow cooker/ crock pot that takes up to 5l (a big one) and am on the move.  Of course a crock pot that holds 5l is used for more than 1 meal, so I may not get to cook 7 meals in this slow cooker this week, but at least 3. 

So tonights recipie was Beef Goulash.

I cheated and bought a packet mix (that was atificial free and MSG free) but this also looks like a good recipie.

It was actually quite yummy.  Tomorrow there is enough for another meal (as I used 1.5kg of meat)...  maybe goulash pies.

FAILSAFE does work!!

This is for people who think that taking artificial stuff out of the diet doesn't work- I have proof that it actually does!
Yes I know I sound a little cranky, but I am fed up with the rubbish that is commonly found in our foods, and the effects the authorities ignore!

We have 4 kids, I want to mainly talk about the behaviour of my middle daughter.

Over the school holidays I noticed that her speech was declining. She was no longer telling me to 'come and look', rather she would grizzle and drag my hand. Tantrums were thrown over the smallest of detail. The peak was last week of the holidays when for the whole week she refused to take herself to the toilet, I had to stand at the door and watch her go, which can be very difficult when I am still breastfeeding the youngest bub.  Even her FDC lady was suprised at how much her behaviour and attention span had changed.

Some of this you might think was normal behaviour, before the holidays this was not normal behaviour for my little girl at 3.5yo! And when it can be as simple as changing diet, I don't think it should be seen as normal.

Yes we were out of routine, yes we were in the school holidays... but another contributing factor I believe was diet!

(Don't worry, my kids do still throw tantrums, but they are usually age appropriate and about real things)

We went to a few birthday parties in play centres were we were not allowed to bring our own food. The kids were exposed to fairy bread and party pies and other foods that I would not normally let them eat- due to the additives in them.

So starting on the Monday back from holidays, which was a week ago, we were back into a normal routine, and also eating normal foods.

It took over a week for my darling to start talking to me again.

A week for the rubbish to get out of her system!

So for those who want to give this lifestyle a go, head over to Sue Dengates web site. And please give it a good 2-4 weeks before you make the judgment. These effects can take a few days to take place, and weeks to get rid of!

So we are back to artificial colour free sprinkles, smarties and Bakers delight bread. Back do block (not spreadable) Philly cheese on plain crakers, back to normal healthy diet.