Lamb Chick Pea Fritters

The age old question.... what can I do with 'left overs'??

We had a great 'Lamb Roast Salad' for dinner last night, however was left with quite a bit of lamb for today. Had planned to use it for lunch but it just didn't eventuate so dinner it was.... Certainly didn't feel like doing another dinner 're-run' and so the following is what we ended up with!!  

 Lamb Chick Pea Fritters

(I believe this recipe would still work by taking out the yoghurt and cheese if needed)

1 cup Chick Pea Flour (Besan Flour)

¼ cup of Water, or enough to make a pancake style batter

1 tbsp Greek Yoghurt

¼ tsp Lamb Herb mix (inc Rosemary, Garlic, Marjoram, Thyme, Oregano, Mint, Basil)

¼ tsp ground Cumin

¼ tsp ground Coriander Seeds

1 cup finely grated Sweet Potato

1 cup finely grated Zucchini

½ - 1 cup diced Roast Lamb

½ cup grated Tasty Cheese

Grape Seed Oil or Coconut Oil cooking spray

  - Mix together the Chick Pea Flour, Cumin, Coriander, and Lamb Herb mix

- Add in the Water slowly until the ingredients form a batter

- Add in the Yoghurt and mix

- Add in Sweet Potato, Zucchini, Cheese and Lamb. Mix together

 

- Heat a pan with your choice of oil (Initially I used Grape Seed, however found it to heavy for the fritters. I then used Coconut Spray Oil and found it worked perfectly!). I kept the heat of the pan around medium

- Add about a tablespoon of mixture to the pan for each fritter ( I was able to cook three at a time)

- Cook till fritters become golden brown, about four mins each side

 

Wah-la!!! Done....

I served the fitters with some more Greek Yoghurt and a Spinach, Pumpkin and Pine Nut Salad....

Made a great Sunday Night dinner and no unnecessary food wastage - perfect! ;) 

 

 

 

Freezer Rissoles - quick and easy meals

I always have a stash of these in the freezer... particularly for week nights when everyone is simply tired, hungry and keen for an early night!

Rissoles

500g Lean Beef
1/2 Onion, finely chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, crushed
Handful of fresh parsley, chopped (can use dried but don't need as much!)
1/2 cup Linseed, Sunflower and Almond Meal (LSA)... Normally I use just Almond Meal however found this last week at http://grandmaspantryonline.com.au/shop/index.php - tastes awesome!!
1 tbsp. Coconut Amino Sauce (healthier alternative to Soy Sauce)
1 egg
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup Almond Meal, save to roll rissoles in before freezing.

- add all ingredients together in a bowl and mix (I used my hands)
- roll  into Balls/Rissoles, you pick the size. I usually aim for just a bit bigger than a golf ball
- roll through Almond Meal for a light coating
Done!

To Freeze
Place into a 'freezer safe' airtight container. If you need to stack rissoles on top of each other, cover the bottom layer with some baking paper to prevent 'sticking'.

To Bake
Heat oven to 180. Take required number of rissoles out of freezer and place on baking tray lined with baking paper. Cook for 30min or till cooked through.

Don't forget.... can always cook a few extra for lunches the next day. Taste fantastic on a sandwich!!

Sunday Night Chicken and Vegie Bake

Dinner tonight was based on a lunch I had with Tania and Eric a number of weeks ago. It was also inspired by my need to use up a number of vegies and my want for a very quick and easy dinner....!!!

With all the cooking and experimenting I've been doing with recipes of late, I've developed a real love for adding spices and flavours to all my meals... I never realised how boring I cooked before, definitely another bonus from this journey of 'Cooking 4 K'....

So anyway, the following is my Sunday Night Dinner... you obviously change the quantities to suit what is in your fridge and the size of your family! Don't forget to make some extra for lunches too....!!

Ingredients

3 Chicken breasts (I used free range)
1 medium sweet potato
2 medium potato's
Small pumpkin
1 Spanish onion
2 small zucchini's
Small Broccoli
5 Cloves of garlic
Hand full of dates
2 good pinches of Ground Cinnamon
Himalayan Salt
Grape Seed Oil

- Heat oven to 180c
- Line a large baking tray with baking paper (I do this to stop everything baking to the bottom!)
- Cut each chicken breast into thirds
- Cut sweet potato, potato, and pumpkin into small chunks (smaller the piece the faster they cook!)
- Peel and halve onion
- Add everything to the baking try and add whole peeled garlic cloves, dates, sprinkle with salt and cinnamon
- Pour oil a bit at a time, whilst giving everything a good mix, to make sure all covered (I used my hands)

- Place in the oven for 15mins
- Cut zucchini into chunks and broccoli into small florets, add to pan and give everything another mix-up
- Place back in the oven for another 15mins or until everything is cooked....

The smell of the cinnamon goes right through the house whilst its cooking, beautiful!!

Once cooked, I poured everything into a large bowl and sat it in the middle of the table allowing everyone to help themselves - easy!! I also served with some Greek yoghurt and a  slice of Almond Meal & Chia Seed Bread - yum! http://www.taniaspantry.com/gluten-free-grain-free-dairy-free-nut-free-recipes/gluten-free-grain-free-paleo-yeast-free-baking/gluten-free-grain-free-yeast-free-dairy-free-bread-paleo/

 

Synch!!

A Chicken Parmigiana Version

Looked in the fridge tonight for inspiration on what to cook for dinner.... a half jar of 'Dolmio Pasta Sauce' and some chicken breast tenders.... the following is what I ended up with....


Ingredients
600g Chicken Tenders (I use Free Range)
2 Eggs
1 Cup Almond Meal
Salt & Pepper
1 tsp Mixed Herbs
275g Tomato Sauce (equivalent to 1/2 jar Dolmio or home made)
1/2 cup of Tasty Cheese
Grape Seed Oil

- Pre heat oven to 180
- Whisk eggs in a bowl
- Mix Almond Meal, Salt & Pepper and Mixed Herbs in another bowl
- Pour 1/3 of Tomato Sauce into a 'slice' size baking dish
- Dip chicken into egg and then roll through Almond Meal mix
- Shallow fry chicken in a pan with the grape seed oil to crisp outside of chicken pieces, then place on top of tomato sauce in the baking tray

- Once all fried off and in baking dish, cover with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese
- Bake in oven for 20mins (or until cooked and cheese nice and melted)
- Finished.... DELISH!!!

As usual.... I served the kids meal with their favourite 'stick salad' (carrot, capsicum, cucumber), however I attempted a more fancier 'Green Salad' for Zutty (my husband) and I....

 

Enjoy!!

 

 

Even healthy kids get sick!!!

We had a wonderful Easter with our extended family - 12 adults and 4 kids! For four days we all swam at the beach, played various games, caught up with more family and friends, and then of course had late nights... and K kept up with us all!!! By Monday afternoon K was completely exhausted and so we headed home earlier than planned to allow her to rest. By Tuesday night K was spiking temps of 39+, was chronically tired, and had a runny nose… and I turned into a crazy woman assuming the worst! 

As previously blogged, K had been living with high temps and similar symptoms since she was seven months old. This all ceased with the understanding of K’s dietary requirements and changes made from December 2012. Since then, whilst still battling with stomach issues, K had not had one temp…

I started to go into ‘panic problem solving mode’ asking questions like ‘Had K managed to consume gluten and therefore crashed her immune system?’ (as was previously occurring) and ‘OMG, perhaps K had developed another intolerance to something and that is making her sick?’….. Fortunately I then remembered the warnings from my Doctor, Mother and even my husband that even though K is well and truly on the mend, even normal healthy kids get sick!!

For anyone who has faced the emotional horrors of dealing with a chronically sick child and then have them make a full recovery, perhaps could relate to my initial panic…. Going from ‘sick’ to ‘healthy sick’ is a bit of a transition…. And I’m soooooooo grateful to be going through it!!! I am also really happy to report that whilst K has slept all day, the temps have gone and she is back to being her normal cheeky toddler self!

The main point to this blog was simply to remind us all that despite our best efforts with food, exercise etc, kids get sick!! In fact it is expected and assists them to strengthen their immune system…. so don’t naturally assume the worst!! However if you are ever concerned, go see your Doctor (like I do! J ) ….. xx