Butter Chicken

Here is a great make-it-from-scratch recipe

25g butter
1 onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, crushed (or 3 tsp of crushed garlic)

1/2 tsp each of; ground ginger, cinnamon, salt, turmeric
1/4 tsp garam masala
Pinch - 1/2 tsp of chilli, depending on taste (1/2 tsp is hot)
400g cubed chicken meat

100g tomato paste (I am needing to make my own)
3/4 cup of cream

Mix the spices together and add chicken meat and set aside.

Melt butter and saute onion and garlic for 2 mins. Add chicken and saute for about 5 mins. Add tomato paste and cream and simmer gently for 5 mins.

This recipe is very flexible - you can use more cream or less cream and top up with water. You can cut down on the tomato paste or boost it to your taste.

Real Food Challenge

I am doing the Real Food Challenge

The hardest thing, is definitely missing chocolate :( I admit, I am a chocoholic, and I know that I had let it get too far for me, this challenge was a great kick start to not eating any chocolate. But I made it, no chocolate at all! I had a tremendous headache on the third day, I think from withdrawals from the caffine, I shudder to think how much chocolate I ate to make me have withdrawals.

It was a little tough to find local meat providers, but I managed to find one, which is great. Local fruit and veges were much easier, there is a local greengrocer and we live on the edge of the "rural" part of our area, so that was perhaps the easiest thing about the pledge.

I definitely will be more intentional and conscious when choosing food from now on, there is so much junk on the shelves of the supermarkets. Cooking from scratch is so much healthier, and saves money, I am determined not to use any jars of pre-prepared sauces etc.

My health, well, I have lost 2.5kgs, which is great! And I am feeling healthier in myself, especially when I am not eating so much junk.

So here is to a healthier, more intentional me :)

Food for the challenge

Okay, so I have worked out my meals for the 10 days, I will share a few with you.

Shepherds pie - it was always pretty processed free, but this time I am making my own stock.
Omlets - I cannot wait, I love omlets
Honey Soy Stir fry - I again, fairly processed free, but I need to make sure I source local meat and veg.
Butter Chicken - I have a chicken farm close, so can get some good, local chicken easily.
Chow Mein - I have worked out how to do it without any "meal bases"
Apricot chicken - have to make it a little differently, I always made mine with a sachet of French Onion Soup
Hamburgers - Fairly easy, just making sure that the bread is whole wheat
Spaghetti Bolognaise - I am going to try to make my own spaghetti

and many more, but I am feeling very optimistic on making it through the 10 days

You capture - Signs

This week's theme is "Signs", so I thought I would post the signs I have around my house...



Some bible verses to memorise while I brush my teeth



A bible verse to remind me when I leave the house



And my "control centre"for the house, full of signs to remind me of all I need to do

Planning for the Real Food Challenge

I am going to do the 10 day Real food challenge
I need to make sure I plan for this, I have taken stock of my pantry and freezer, figuring out what I need to get rid of, and we will see how we go.

I need to now decide what to cook, I am looking at recipes.

There are lots from American sites, and I am going to see what fits into our likes/dislikes, and what I can source locally. I am looking up websites like
http://www.healthy-quick-meals.com/


I cannot wait to try out new recipes, and get healthier :)

A day in the life

I thought for the fun of it, I would record everything I do in a day.... so here goes:

Woke
Fed Rona
Got Dressed
Changed Rona's nappy and clothes
Ate Breakfast
Cleaned teeth
Played with Rona
Did the dishes
Put a load of nappies on to wash
calmed Rona
Made bed
Hung up washing
Turned Laptop on and checked emails
Put on another load of washing
Changed Rona's nappy
Sang to Rona
Hung up the load of laundry
Put away dried dishes
Took food out of freezer for dinner
Fed Rona
Settled Rona
Sat down for a couple of minutes
Started this post
Got Rona up (she doesn't sleep long during the day)
Changed Rona's nappy
played with Rona
Got the dry laundry down from the line
Folded said laundry
Put the laundry away
Ate lunch
Wrote shopping list
read a couple of pages of the Lord of the Rings to Rona
Settled Rona
Wrote email to Husband
Got Rona up and changed nappy
Kept Rona happy as she was still tired but would not sleep
Fed Rona
Put Rona in the baby swing to keep her calm
Changed her nappy again
Checked some websites
Started dinner
Washed more dishes
Took laundry down
Folded laundry
Put laundry away
Served dinner to Husband
Ate dinner
Sat down for a couple of minutes
Had a shower
Fed Rona
Changed her nappy
Settled Rona
Watched TV
Go to sleep

I think I have left some stuff out, but that is the essence of a "restful" stay at home day

And I wonder why I am so tired :/

10 days of real food

I have decided to take the challenge, 10 days of real food.

The challenge is here: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/

While I don't agree that the guidelines are necessarily the greatest, I think that having a challenge to make sure that unprocessed foods aren't eaten for a little time, it should make us more attentive towards what we eat.

I will be starting soon, and will blog about my progress.

Society, body image and becoming counter-cultural

First, here are some articles on the subject, food for thought

What can happen to sexualised girls, and how to prevent it
Too much, too young? Retailers still selling over-sexualised clothing to kids
Body & Mind: Your Mirror Image?
Bratz V. Barbie: Are Our Little Girls Growing Up Too Fast?

I have been thinking, the best way to get Rona to be counter-culture is to surround her with women who strongly demonstrate good body image and strong Christian values.

One of the best ways is for me to demonstrate these qualities. I need to work on my body image, I personally struggle with society's expectations towards women and how best to work this out in my life.

Obviously, a relationship for Rona with God, is the most important thing for her life, in this area or any other.

I just pray that God will give me wisdom in guiding Rona through this and many other minefields.

You capture - Morning

Here is my morning - playing with my wonderful 4 month old daughter. She has a beautiful serious face when she is playing

Links for September

Here are some great blogs to read:

I Should Be Folding Laundry

Rocks in My Dryer

Pea Pilly Bean

We Are That Family