CONVENIENT FOOD WITH A TWIST

So we all love anything that will make our live convenient right? Well I have been thinking a lot about this lately, quite a lot actually. Since I have entered the world of storing food for short and long term use. I have thought about ways in which I can have a supply of ingredients always on hand so that in a time of crisis, be it small or large I can always turn to my pantry/cupboards/fridge/freezer and find something to feed the family.  Now I know to some of you food isn't everything, but I believe if you have something to eat, that is one less stress in any situtation. I love 'me' food, I really do. When I do the family budget food is at the top, it comes before petrol(gas) and other bills. It has to be there, I have to know that we have food to eat and to make us full and happy. Think about it, a family gathers around a good meal and discusses the happenings of their lives and chats and enjoys each other's company - just run with the idea, I know it doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it makes us feel good and more together! In a time of crisis, if you have food to sit down to it can make you feel like their is hope, and a light at the end of the tunnel to whatever it is that is causing stress or concern.

Food storage is a term that I have grown up with. I am a Mormon, or Latter Day Saint. We believe strongly in storing food for short and long term survival.  Across my travels on the web and blogging world, it has also be termed as stock piling. Both terms, are good. They mean what they say and say what they mean. But I'm kinda getting over using these words. I have decided to rename the whole food storage thing. Modernise it make it contemporary to our generation.  I have chosen a word that we all know and recognise, but will alter what you understand as its meaning. I introduce.....Convenient Food.  I strongly belive that food storage really comes down to convenience. If you have it on hand, it is convenient. If a cyclone tears through your town, if you have been storing food, toiletries and the like it is convenient, are you catching my drift?

If we can store convenient food on a regular basis, you can make your lives a little more convenient, you know, one less thing to think about. It can even be convenient even when there is no natural disaster or finanicial strain it can just be convenient!  So how do we do it?

I have already posted some recipes that incorporate convenience food. You can take a look at my posts to find them.  Basically, anything that can be stored short or long term, is a convenience food.  Don't get me wrong, I do believe in fresh is best. I don't want anyone to be misguided about that. But convenience food can easily be incorporated with the fresh is best food to make delicious and nutiricious meals.

I will continue to bring you recipes that use convenience food or at least incorporates it. I will discuss and show you what kinds of foods are convenient foods and how to store them, use and rotate them. It is also good to have convenient goods aswell. So things like toiletries, baby needs, matches, candles, etc. I will mention these too, but my main focus is the food, because I love it and it makes my world happier!

My convenient food cupboard is looking a little scarce lately becasue I have been working and not had the time to shopn properly. I am trying to not cop out and buy take out, so I have been using up my convenient food. Now I have to work on putting it back so I will have a good supply when I need it again. So, I decided to 'borrow' some pics to show you how your cupboards can look when you get on a roll and store your convenient food. Keep in mind this is just pantry food. You can also store your convenient food in the fridge and freezer.

PASSIONATE ABOUT PESTO!

I love pesto! I really do, I think its one of those amazing ingredients that can be used in so many different ways.  You can make it with specific ingredients, or you can throw together leftover items or things that you don't want to go to waist. Nothing can really be wrong to add, if you like it, then you will eat it!

A little while ago I had a taste for rocket and as I have continued to procrastinate in growing my own, even though I 'know' how easy it is to grow and how quick it is! Do as I say and not as I do, I think that's the saying that comes to mind!LOL Anyway, I had purchased some then forgot I had it and purchased another packet of it. I did not want to waste it so I decided to make a pesto. So with some spinach,  my trusty jars of minced garlic and chili paste, some semi dried tomatoes I had to use up, and some great parmasean cheese.  I made something quite marvelous.

This is what I did:

Ingredients
1 packet of rocket and baby spinach - Woolworths brand
2 teaspoons of minced garlic from a jar
(1-2 cloves of fresh garlic can be used)
1/2 teaspoon of chili paste from a jar - 1-2 small chilis if you prefer
left over semi-dried tomatoes - I had about 6
dash of sea salt flakes and cracked pepper
2-3 smallish chunks of paramsean cheese
a drizzle of olive oil


Method:
Add all ingredients expect the oil to a food processor or blender and blend until combined.
Drizzle a little oil and allow the mixture to moisten. I don't believe in heaps of oil at this stage, and sometime I add just a little oil and a bit of water/stock too.

Pesto can be added to hot pasta for dinner or a snack. You can add it to some mayo and have it in potato salad, pasta salad, chicken salad, or used as a dressing (add vinegar of choice) for a green salad. I added some hommus(not homemade, this time but I usually do!) and used it for a spread for my sandwiches. You could if you wanted to also add some cream for a creamy pesto dish. You don't have to store fresh cream all the time either.

Here is what I store in my pantry so I know I always have cream. It can be whipped as well, all you have to do is refridgerate it for an hour before you whip it. You find it where the jelly and custards are at the supermarket.

BARGAIN PARTY!!!!

I mentioned a week or so ago that I was planning my son's birthday party. Poor Chris is 7 years old and hadn't experienced the blissful joy of being king for a day at his very own birthday party! I am working atm so I had to think pratically about this. I thought of Hungry Jacks and McDonalds but I wanted better. I decided to have something at home because I thought it would be easier for me. I didn't want to rush out with all my kids to get somewhere before the guests would arrive. I did however make the commitment to myself not to invite more than 12 kids, I've made that mistake before!

My internet search led me to a great science site called Fizzics Education. I figured this was it until my daughter reminded me of a time the kids got their faces painted at a shopping centre and how much they loved it. So my internet search for this type of thing led me to Nats Fancy Faces. She only charged $150 to paint everyones faces and they loved it! I have to say its the best value for money I have spent and the kids loved every moment of it.

This is my son Christopher. He looked so different, as he is such a placid little boy, he looked very out of character, but he loved it!

This was one of my favourites as he looked just like a tiger should! It was just amazing!

Of all the beautiful girly things my daughter could have chosen, she decided she wanted to look like an insect! Go figure!

My nephew wanted a character from Ben10, not sure of the name of it, but Nat did this from her creative memory, how awesome!

While the face painting was huge success, I do want to mention my amazing bargains. I did want to have some cool prizes so I searched around the Hot Dollar type shops but found nothing good. Then I came across an amazing find in Target.

This cool toy cost me a whopping 5cents! Yes you read right! I couldn't believe my luck. I purchased 7 of them and I also scored some watches at CottonOn Kids for $1 each! What a find! 

Basically, my whole party cost me just under $300 including Nat's fee for face painting.

One tip I want to pass on is not to spend too much money on food! I purchased some chipolata sausages and cut hotdog buns in half. I had some fairy bread, which was hardly touched and some chips (not hot) which were only nibbled at. I purchased some SuperHero drinks from the Reject shop which were in date and only cost $3 for 4 bottles. Each kid got one and then I had iced water or cordial which some kids prefered to drink.  The kids had heaps of fun and there was no need to spend very much. Granted, I did get some great bargains which helped. 

If you are planning a party keep your eyes peeled at Target for things like this.  The same day my daughter found some novelty/plush roses and flowers also for 5cents each!  You never know what you will find!

Forgot to mention my husband's cake decorating skills! Personally, I think he is a closet cake decorater! He does all the kids cakes and he does the best jobs. When he retires from being a software engineer I won't be surprised if he takes it up as a hobby!!!

FOOD STORAGE DINNER - SUPER HEALTHY AND EASY TOO!

A friend of mine had this amazing homemade salsa that I just had to recreate! Mine doesn't have black beans, mainly becasue here in Australia, they aren't easy to come by. I did throw in what I had, and I used chicken tenders from a packet that I wanted to use up. You could use the Honey dipped chicken recipe also. It is super tastey and super healthy.

Recipe
1 large can of supersweet corn
1-2 tomatoes deseeded - I used roma and prefer roma tomatoes
1/2 capsicum diced - I used red, but any colour works
1/2 red/spanish onion diced and chopped.
1 tspn crush/minced/dried garlic or 1 clove of fresh
1 lime or lemon (small) juiced ( or concetrate is also handy)
1 cucumber diced
salt and pepper to taste

I used fresh coriander aswell. Not sure of amount just a good handful and I tore the leaves, I didn't chop them. If you are using dried, I would suggest a tablespoon.

You could also add:
some kidney beans
three bean mix
white beans
avacado

1 packet of chicken tenders cooked

Method

Add all ingreadients in a bowl and mix through juice. Serve with chicken tenders or other meat of choice.
You could also serve with corn chips.

VEGE SATAY - QWIK AND EASY

Well I did promise a while ago that I would post a pic of one of the recipes I have made from my FREE Sanitarium Cookbook. Check it out on my previous post as I have had reports they are still posting them out if you live in Australia. Its a great little cookbook with some great ideas and tasty recipes.

The best thing about this recipe is you can add whatever you want!

Recipe to follow when I find where my book is!! LOL

DON'T YOU JUST HATE IT WHEN.....

Your 4 year old wakes you up in the middle of the night and says:

" Muuuum, I need to go to the toiiilet!"

To which I reply softly and encouragingly:
"Off to the toilet then hunny!" With a reassuring pat on the back.

 Everso trustingly I fall back to a deep sleep and wake up in the morning to find my 4 year old laying horizontally across the base of our bed in a large moist patch of smelly urine. ARGGH! When will it end!!!!