Monday 29 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Zucchini Slice Tiger Box

You know I love my zucchini slice (recipe here) and we have it often while they are in season. Here's one of the quick-to-consume lunches I was talking about earlier in the month.

Zucchini slice (made in a kugelhopf mould) with sliced sausage. Top layer is grapes.

Served in Tiger Tiered Lunchbox from Omai Australia.

Did you know Omai are in the process of re-launching their website? It's looking brilliant, I can't wait to see the finished product! You can pop over to their Facebook page here and let them know what you think of the new design (and send them some Loving Lunches love too)

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Sunday 28 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Roast Sandwich

OK, so maybe I lied a little about my aversion to sandwiches looking back through my month of Mummy Lunches. If they're warm, they're acceptable.

Here we have milk; leftover roast with bread below; chocolate mini muffin; gravy in a Tupperware Midget.

Served in Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Friday 26 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Mexican

Leftovers reign supreme when it comes to Mummy Lunches in this house. One of our current winning meals is Mexican wraps/fajitas.

These square silicone muffin moulds fit beautifully into my Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus and they mean that I can heat separately whichever ingredients I choose. They contain from top left:
Mexican mince; shredded cheese; sour cream; salsa.

Also included in this lunchbox is lettuce, some lamington bites and a Mintie. You can also see my Sistema Cutlery to Go in the left hand compartment. I love this set! It lives in my lunch bag :-). Not pictured is the tortilla used to wrap this up.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Thursday 25 April 2013

ANZAC Recipe


They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

From For the Fallen, by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

What do you think of this recipe card? Theory is it should print out regular photo size, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.





1 cup Rolled Oats
1cup Plain Flour
1/2 cup Sugar
3/4 Cup coconut
125 g Butter
2 TBsp Golden Syrup
1/2 Tsp Bi Carb Soda
1 TBsp boiling water








Combine oats, sifted flour, sugar & coconut












Combine butter & golden syrup, stir over gentle heat until melted












 (or microwave if you like to cheat like me)










Mix soda water with boiling water, add to butter mixture












Stir butter mixture into dry ingredients










Place tablespoonfuls of mix on a lightly greased tray, allowing room for spreading

Cook in a slow oven (150 C) for 20 minutes


Loosen while warm, then cool on trays

Makes approx 2 1/2 cups of mixture




This batch I made into a slice & only cooked for 15 minutes






I used my FunBites Cube-It to cut some bite-sized morsels & then cut the rest the old fashioned way.




 The slice version is particularly lovely when drizzled with dark chocolate :-)


And these bite sized morsels are perfect for little fingers and/or big appetites.











They also make a great ice cream sundae topping. I think my next experiment with this recipe will be to make an ANZAC apple crumble. . . .hmmmmm
Our thoughts & prayers go out to those who have served & those who continue to heed the call today.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Sausages

Apologies for the poor picture today.

Here we have grapes, chocolate, Pepperoni from Walkerston Country Meats with cheese; sausages with bread; strawberries; container with tomato sauce. Above is the portable Bento spoon from affiliate Bento USA. There were also crackers, not pictured.

Served in Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Monday 22 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Steak Burger

This doesn't' count as a sandwich as it's really a burger - completely different!

I made up the burger with salad, but left off the lettuce, steak, beetroot & sauces. I popped some paper towel in the compartment with the steak & lettuce. This helped to keep the lettuce fresh & allowed me to reheat the steak at work without making a mess of the microwave or creating more washing up :-) Thank you to Kristie from Beneficial Bento for the tip! You can check out her post on pre-preparing/batch cooking your lunches in this post.

Served in Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus with the sauces (tomato & BBQ - I like one of everything) in smidgets.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Sunday 21 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Salad Sandwich

A simple one today.

Milk popper; salad sandwich; tomato & beetroot; chocolate biscuit snack

Served in Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Friday 19 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Chicken Casserole

More in the month of Mummy Lunches! Again served in Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus and square rounds. The smaller container is Decor.

Today we have:
yoghurt with preserved mango (mango in sugar syrup & frozen); chicken casserole with rice; muffin sized patty cake/cup cake; cheese & Pepperoni from Walkerston Country Meats. Not pictured is the crackers to go with the cheese & pepperoni.

Above you can see the portable cutlery from affiliate Bento USA.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Another Sandwich

I hope you've been enjoying my Mummy Lunches! Here's another one :-)

Yoghurt with frozen passionfruit pulp (a great way to enjoy out of season fruit, simply freeze in an ice-cube tray & store in a zip lock bag); leftover roast sandwich; grapes with peppermint balls (I am planning on posting that recipe one day) and some cheese with pepperoni from Walkerston Country Meats. Not pictured are the crackers to go with the cheese & pepperoni.

Served in Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus.

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Monday 15 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Mexican Stack


I do have plans on posting the recipe for this simple Mexican Stack when I get the chance. It is an easy win in our house at dinner time. I'm sure it's because it's served with sour cream, but I'd like to think it's my 'mad' kitchen skills. . . ha!

Here we have milk popper; Mexican stack; chocolate; sour cream

Served in Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus, Square Round & Smidget

~J

This lunch is linked:
Grown-Ups Gotta Eat
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Sunday 14 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Round Sandwhich

I've said before that I'm not really a fan of sandwiches myself. I can go a toastie, or if we're at a cafe I'm happy to have a wrap or a fresh made sanger, but as for pre-prepared lunches they just don't do it for me.

When Helga's Sandwich thins went on a good special, I thought I'd give them a go. After all, there's not so much bread & the texture of them is more like a burger bun. And if I didn't like them I could always give them the Pingu treatment & send them to daycare with Miss M :-)

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised! I actually enjoyed my ham & salad sandwich, prepared the night before. I didn't find it soggy or stale, it was just right. Having said that I have not purchased another pack as I do feel they are a *really* expensive way to get me to eat a sandwich! I have recently changed my day job and now I only have a 15 minute break rather than the 45 minutes I used to have. I will be looking for filling lunches that are quick to consume without being too unhealthy, so these may just re-appear from time to time now.

In my Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus this day I had yoghurt with passionfruit (also in Tupperware); mini cup-cake/patty cake; my round ham & salad sandwich; tomato; cheese. Not pictured is the crackers to go with the tomato & cheese.

~J

This lunch is linked:
Grown-Ups Gotta Eat
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Friday 12 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Zucchini Slice

Further in this series of Mummy Lunches we have:

Yoghurt & Peppermint balls (I will get around to posting a recipe one day); Zucchini Slice (recipe here) with sausages; carrot sticks with corn relish dip; some Choc-Chip biscuits.

Served in Tupperware square rounds & sandwich keeper plus. Dip container is a Tupperware Smidget, the yoghurt container is from a cheap shop.

~J

This lunch is linked:
Grown-Ups Gotta Eat
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Shredded Beef

It's not that often I enjoy a sandwich, but when I do, it's normally a warm one.

Here we have grapes (did you notice one of these things is not like the others. . . ); shredded beef in gravy & bread.

Served in a Decor Quarters means that I can reheat the beef without having to worry about the grapes (or Easter Egg treat) getting hot.

~J

This lunch is linked:
Grown-Ups Gotta Eat

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Monday 8 April 2013

Mummy Lunch - Tuna Dish

Since returning to work I've attempted to pack lunches for myself that are as interesting as Miss M's. However I find that I'm a very fussy lunch eater! I'm not big on sandwiches and wraps, preferring to go for leftovers.

Seeing as Mother's Day is fast approaching us here in Oz (it falls on Sunday 12th May this year - hint hint Hubby!) I decided to share a Month of Mummy Lunches.

Here we have some flavoured peanuts, Hershey's kisses (just because I can), some cheese & crackers; Tuna dish on rice (recipe here); strawberries; yoghurt.

Served in Tupperware Sandwich Keeper Plus; Square Rounds & some smaller containers from the cheap shops.

~J
This lunch is linked:
Grown-Ups Gotta Eat

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Saturday 6 April 2013

Peppermint Ice Cream Dessert (Easter Egg Re-Purpose)




A friend of my sister introduced this idea to me many years ago. I must admit I have a thing for peppermint, ice cream and chocolate, so what could be better than combining them all?





I started with a good old 'Scalliwag/Golliwog' base (crumbled chocolate biscuits with melted butter).

Freeze until firm. 















Top with softened Peppermint Choc Chip Ice Cream. I've never been successful at making my own, but I quite like the Bulla one.



Freeze again until firm (best over night if you can)




And here comes the Easter egg Re-purpose part.

I tried microwaving one peppermint egg with about a dessertspoon of cream for 10 seconds but found it too runny so I added another egg & zapped for a further 10 seconds.








My next trial of 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon of cream & 20 seconds worked much better, although 15 seconds might work better.

















I couldn't resist bringing out the 'fine china' for this one :-)





Drizzle with your warm chocolate sauce & enjoy



I did try muffin size with some Mint Slices for the base, but once frozen the biscuits were too hard. You can of course make this 'family size' in a spring form tin, but I prefer mine ready-portion controlled.


~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Popcorn Rocky Road (Easter Egg Re-purpose)










This recipe has been on my 'to make list' for a while. You can check out the original version over at Kambrook's new blogsite A Perfect Pantry here.














I only made a quarter batch due to the lack of 'excess chocolate' of Easter - that & I really don't need any more excuses to eat more yummy sweet stuff :-)












Mix your dry flavour ingredients together in a bowl. I used the popcorn, coconut, mini marshmallows & nut (granulated peanuts because they're easy as suggested in the recipe, but I also added a handful of chopped Jubes. I must admit I think it was a good call - I love the sweet bursts you get from them.




I also melted my chocolate in a saucepan with some cream over a low heat. I wasn't sure how Easter Eggs would melt, but they seemed to work just fine.

















Add your dry ingredient mix, stir well & press into whatever lined or greased container takes your fancy.



















My quarter batch yielded 4 muffin size serves.




One of which I just happen to have added a Caramello Egg to -because I can




And there you have it - Popcorn Rocky Road!

Next time I think I'll try less cream, or perhaps some condensed milk as the chocolate didn't quite set hard the way I like it - or maybe I was just impatient waiting for it to set. I think I'll also use mini muffin moulds next time. Not that I couldn't handle a full muffin size - more like I really shouldn't be eating a full muffin size :-)

Stay tuned for a full review & giveaway of Kambrook's Flutter Butter Popcorn Maker!



~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Cube-It Chocolate Pastry (Easter Egg Re-Purpose)



I had planned on doing this post as an Easter Egg re-purpose. . . problem with that is, you need 'left-over' Easter Eggs. . . .











Here I used Nutella, but melted chocolate would work just fine as well.




This is a crumbled Flake, but if you happen to have any Easter Eggs hiding still. . .


 I love using my FunBites Cube-It like this - everyone gets the same bite sized (portion controlled) bundle of yummy


And you can layer multiple times within the unit. Just be sure to spray lightly with oil so that the puff pastry comes away easily.










I tried a few variations here. . .

Cadbury rolls, open & covered; Nutella; Flake; Fantales. . . strangely enough all the Easter Eggs disappeared before cooking. . . hmm. . .







Spray lightly with oil & bake at 180 degrees C until golden & puffed







Or until the smell is too good to leave them in the oven :-)






My favourite was the Nutella squares




The Cadbury Milk Chocolate rolls were a little too big for the pastry cut-outs


But they still tasted pretty good


I think the 'sandwich' style ones were nicer - I like the crunch factor.


The stacked Flake worked well too, although I think I prefer the flavour of the Nutella


So simple, and a great way to use up any chocolate that just happens to be on sale floating about the house :-)

FunBites is having a 'Spring Clean' and are offering 25% off you order, using the code:  Springintofun

FunBites are also available in Australia through affiliate Neat2Eat and internationally through affiliate Bento USA

~J

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. This post was written for Loving Lunches. No product was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own, based on personal experience with the product.
Pin It button on image hover