Invasion of the Messy plates and Feast nights

OK so for a while the kids will eat anything if its on a "messy plate". It is a Toby translation of a Mezze plate so a little selection of things. Originally created as a slap dash not much stuff left in the fridge type of thing but it is great because you get to use up bits and bobs and can cater for individual tastes and can have a healthy balance of goodies. Toby is not happy though if his plate doesn't have olives. Sharlie loved cheese and grapes - either one is not there and its an inferior messy plate. Oh and she is particularly partial to an egg cup full of humous with carrot and cucumber around.

However we are now diverging into breakfast messy plates and horror of horror pudding (yeah yeah i am English) messy plates. I suppose the brekkie messy plate is more like a continental breakfast so is fairly acceptable but the pudding one i find turning into a fruit salad or a smorgasbord of rubbish. I need to find some healthy options which arent solely fruit.

We have been doing feast nights based on a particular country. Each week we spin the globe and choose the next country to have. So far we have done Italy, India, Spain and next we have Moroccan. We go completely overboard but really enjoy trying new foods with the kids and learning about different countries. Toby does some research and does a powerpoint presentation and a talk on the country. Last week for the Indian feast i painted lots of henna/mehndi on the kids hands and feet.

So Simon hasnt worked out i am using this to snag new kitchen equipment all in the name of feast night pmsl. I am loving the new Roti pan and i can't wait to buy a beautiful new tagine ;)

Packaging

This is more of a vent. I get confused by packaging and storage. I want environmentally sound options but can't work out which methods are the worst. Why isn't there an environmental rating system or something like the heart foundation tick? I get that single use non-biodegradable stuff is bad. However i think tupperware has its place as it is used for so long and saves the use of single use items - however will never break down in landfill and its production produces lots of chemicals blah de blah. I have weaned myself off alfoil and clingwrap but my failings is ziplock bags. Not that i use them very often and Simon does laugh when i wash them and re-use them but they are a vice that i need to give up.

I also need to sort out the whole lunchbox idea. A bamboo bento box i am assuming is better environmentally than your bog standard plasctic style box. I do use a few paper bags. But why do paper bags come in a plastic bag FGS - how hard would it be to put them in a paper wrapper?
Someone suggested an army surplus store may have stainless steal canteen style lunchboxes so i will check there next. I also need new SS bottles for the kids.

Well i am trying to get back to basics. I am cooking as much from scratch as i can. I really need to start thinking about winter veggies. At the moment we are cropping lettuce, tomatoes, cherry toms, limes, rhubarb, eschallots, rocket and of course all the herbs.

I need to plant more eschallots, carrots, spinach maybe some beans and sugar snaps. The fig tree i planted down the side of the house is going completely crazy and so hopefully next year we will be feasting on figs. Simon's favourite salad is blue cheese and fig. Still no mangoes which is very sad - seems like we have had storms when they have been flowering for the last 4 years which seems to be the cause of the lack of fruit.

I am really looking into frugal living. Not because we need to financially but more for our spiritual well-being. I hate waste and packaging and damaging the environment. So i have gone back to meal planning, walking as much as possible and focusing on the garden.

Today i have baked mascapone and blueberry tarts and some mini quiches. The mascapone and blueberries were really marked down (blueberries $1.49 and the mascapone $1.29) So all up 24 tarts cost about $3 to make.

1st Blog

Well this is my first post in my first blog.

There is no theme as i seem to always be changing what i am into to. I love growing things, exercise, soduko and cooking in no particular order. I have no specific religion although i do hold many pagan beliefs. 

I am currently detoxing on my usual 12 week stint. I am trying to be as fit and healthy as i can and hopefully drop a few kg's along the way. I have signed up again for netball so really really have to work on my cardio prior to the season starting in March. I don't know why i keep doing it as i am dreading it already. The older i get the more i realise i am not a team player. 

So i have been walking the dog a lot and walking the kids to school and pre-school. We make quite a sight - boy on scooter, girl on bike (with handle pushed by me) and a manic dog leaping all over the place. When i meet knew people they always say "ooh you are the one that walks the kids to school with that massive fluffy dog" uhuh apart from he is now Naaaakiiid. He looks like a different dog. I don't miss his dreadlocks but its nice for him in this weather.

Well i am kid free so am off to have some me time at the beach. I am going to take the Iain Banks book i am reading "the Steep approach to Garbadale" and i may even have a snooze - what luxury.

Well i have done an hour and a quarter walk today and i will do the dogs usual 1 hour walk tonight - so all is good in my little world.