Meal Planning for $200 + Banana Pikelet Recipe

So food shopping is all well and good but steamed vegetables and grilled meat is really not that appealing week in week out. I love bulk-ish type meals where you can cook a meat dish and just add veges later, you may not like curries, but I also love them and they are surprisingly healthy when cooked right.

Pea & Bacon Soup and Home-made Rye

Also you will notice a few coconut milk recipes, I use full fat but that is just my preference, fat does not make you fat ;-)

Most recipes are paleo / gluten free / sugar free for those with restrictions, I still eat some grains and sugar and ice-cream but all in moderation I say.

What I made this week:

Friday night (Date night meal):

• Oysters Kilpatrick - http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/880/oysters+kilpatrick
• Chilli, Garlic and Prawn Spaghetti - http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/27928/garlic+chilli+prawn+pasta
• If you want to make zucchini spaghetti just use a mandolin slicer 
• http://www.kitchenwaredirect.com.au/Kitchenware/Mandolin-Slicer?gclid=CPmQv4-NsLgCFQghpQodg2YAJw
• Nutella Pizza - http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pizza-Dough-237338 
• Made this pizza dough and just topped with Nutella and a little banana

Friday Night / Date Night Dinner

Special Sunday Dinner:

• Sesame Crusted Beef - http://www.mindfood.com/?recipe=sesame-crusted-beef-with-ponzu-dressing-recipe 
• I used Rump Steaks, I overcooked them by a fraction but it works all the same way!
• Kohlrabi 3 ways - http://www.notquitenigella.com/2012/07/02/4fourteen-surry-hills/
• Great blog on 4/14 my Kohlrabi 3 ways wasn't quite the same as Colin's but that's ok
• Char-grilled Baby Eggplant - I just roasted over the gas stove then cut in half and grilled - Easy!
• Ice Cream... Connoisseur... http://www.connoisseuricecream.com.au/black-label-range/the-connoisseur-black-range/#caramel-honey-macadamia

Sunday Special Dinner

Weekly Meals:

• Beef Rendang - http://www.healthyhelpings.com.au/
• Michelle's cook book is a constant go-to for me!
• Gobi Masala - http://www.amazon.com/Step-Authentic-Curries-step-guide/dp/0864119542
• I think I used this cook book at home and didn't deep fry the cauliflower - Google any old recipe and I'm sure it will be similar
• Pumpkin Coconut Curry - http://paleomg.com/pumpkin-cashew-coconut-curry-coconut-rice/
• Aloo Gobi - http://paleomg.com/paleo-aloo-gobi/
• Creamy Avocado & Spinach Chicken - http://paleomg.com/creamy-avocado-spinach-chicken-pasta/
• Shredded Lamb with Ginger and Prunes - http://emmajanetrains.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/shedded-lamb-with-ginger-prunes.html
• I make this almost every week!
• Pea & Bacon Soup - http://www.mckenziesfoods.com.au/product/115/McKenzies_Dried_Peas
• I got the recipe off the pack of split peas! Only difference is I only had 100gm of bacon instead of a hamhock so I used that instead  - also I used zucchini instead of celery as I had none & I blended the whole lot, it turned out fine :-) 
• Home-made Wholemeal and Rye Bread - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10121/bread-in-four-easy-steps
• 300gm Wholemeal / 200gm rye Flour for this one

Weekly Meals

Treats:

• Wholemeal Banana Bread - http://thehealthyfoodie.com/2012/02/07/spelt-banana-bread-or-the-last-banana-bread-recipe-youll-ever-need/ 
• I substitute spelt for wholemeal when I have none, yoghurt for buttermilk, home-made date paste for apple sauce and normally omit walnuts and raisins as they aren't things I regularly stock - just use this recipe as a base
• Pear & Hazelnut Scrolls - 
• Original - http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/24802/sticky+apple+walnut+scrolls
• My version - http://emmajanetrains.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/wholemeal-apple-and-walnut-scrolls.html

Home-Made Rye Bread & pear and Hazelnut Scrolls

I also attempted garlic mayonnaise with my garlic shoots but over whipped it and it split - such a fail :-(

Failed Mayo

I'm away again for work this week, Tasmania won't let you take fresh fruit and vege but cooked meals are fine so I should have almost everything I need, I'm not preparing for a comp or anything I'm just sick of eating at restaurants for 11 days straight and want my own food! There is a Woolworths not far from where I am staying and I can buy extra vege if need be and have a small kitchenette in my hotel room.

This morning I cooked 4 batches/30 banana pikelets. Woo 7 1/2 pikelets for breakfast everyday! It also means that everyday I'm away I only have to zap my breakky in the microwave.

Pikelets: 4 serves, makes 30.

• 2 bananas
• 480ml Egg Whites
• 60gm Quinoa Flakes
• 2 tsp psyllium husks

Method:

1. Mix it all about with a stick whiz
2. Lightly grease a large skillet
3. Use a 1/8 measuring cup to pour batter
4. Flip when they look bubbly on top
5. Enjoy