Too much happened today to not post again! I feel like I have done a megga boot camp workout, yet in reality, I was contained to my garden for a large part of my morning. Before I get into my day, look at this stunning scenery! Our evening walk last night was worth it for this. I'm glad I asked hubby to make it to the bridge- what a sight.
Even the incoming tide looked stunning in the evening light. I love the patterning in the sand.
I love the contrast and detail in monochromatic pictures. I also love this part of the creek. It has special memories for me.
Before getting into how the garden problem was solved, let me first show you my healthy lunch- steamed chicken and cottage cheese salad.
I cooked 1 small chicken breast in a hint of olive oil to sear each side for 2 minutes, added a little boiling water, covered it and turned the heat down low, essentially letting it steam to cook- approximately 7-8 minutes.
While this was happening, I prepared a layered salad: dry coleslaw mix on the bottom, topped with chopped red onion and red capsicum.
When the chicken cooled, I sliced the chicken, layered it around my salad base, put a heaped spoon of cottage cheese in the middle, added 2mls of olive oil, a splash of brown vinegar and pepper. So healthy and fresh.
Feel privileged, dear readers, for you are about to see me in my fabulous pink PJ's, thanks to my non teen who helped me garden this morning. I'm in all my natural glory. Old me wouldn't have allowed a photo, let alone post it, unless I was picture perfect. I like this me better- way less uptight. Sometimes anyway :)
I was stressing about how on earth I was going to get rid of a huge volume of dirt piled high on my garden and make it tidy before my newest teen arrives in less than 2 days. This morning, my non teen came over to do her usual Thursday bubby sister sitting. We had also planned an exercise routine starting today too. I suggested she go for a garden workout with me. It was overcast anyway, and gardening is actually quite a workout at times.
What resulted was an effective team effort. One side of the mile high dirt pile was quickly removed- me squatting and digging with a trowel, my non teen holding the Aldi bags open as I shoveled sandy dirt in before she lifted them away. Who'd have thought those 12 zillion Aldi bags we never remember to take shopping would actually come in handy :)
I was surprised at how quickly the work got done. It was painful, but it was fun too. My non teen loathes gardening, so that made it an extra special time. Her respect for me is something I treasure.
My non teen carried some bags to the bin- something I currently don't have the strength to do. A pile broke outside the gate- it is now raked out ready for grass re-seeding. Several bags are now full, tied up and out of the rain, ready for disposal too. But with no mess everywhere, i am tangibly far more relaxed.
Due to my non teen hating 'nature', I ended up braving the other side too- and I have insect bites galore. Worth it for the progress we made. Why I like this picture, other than my fabulous pink jammies, is that i have proof that i can kneel again. The knee nearest the camera has been the painful one. Just after this, I did request the kneeling pad as the pain was getting too much. Considering I could barely walk on it a few months back- I'm over the moon.
What happens when children find your phone :) My beautiful non teen being her gorgeous self. Love my fabulous dish washing gloves! I find they make the best gardening gloves out :)
My industrious one, wearing her gym clothes to garden. She shoveled and raked and lifted for me today. Honestly couldn't have done it without her help. And this is the view outside our new gate- green space. Sigh. It's all just so worth it :)
This Kookaburra hung around our garden a fair bit this afternoon. I have no doubt the fact that we unearthed frogs, lizards and many insects has attracted his attention.
Today I also decided to experiment with a no processed sugar banana bread recipe. Bananas are sweet and high in natural fructose- or fruit sugar. Flour converts to sugars in the blood stream. Why on earth add more?! It no longer makes sense to me. Look below for my version...
Banana Bread
Refined sugar free.
Ingredients:
3 frozen bananas, defrosted
1/2 cup chopped dates, soaked in enough warm water to cover
1/3 cup melted butter
1 egg
vanilla extract or 1 bean, insides scraped
1 teaspoon bi-carb
pinch of salt
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 cup unbleached SR flour
teaspoon cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
Method:
Pre heat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
In a bowl, mix bananas and melted butter together with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Add egg, vanilla, soaked dates- with liquid, mix.
Add bi-carb and salt, mix again.
Add flours, fold mixture together- don't over mix.
This time, I didn't use a loaf tin but a baking tray. I lightly spray oiled the tin, lined it with baking paper and smoothed the batter in, gently pushing to the edges. Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes if in a flat tin, or up to an hour if in a loaf tin.
The cake felt a little soft in the middle after 35 minutes, so I covered the top with foil and turned the oven down to 150 and cooked the batter a further 10 minutes.
I allowed it to cool for 5 minutes before carefully lifting it from the pan.
This recipe made 12 slices. It was a total hit and I am definitely making it again for treats :) It can be frozen until needed.
Lastly, another chicken dish to end on- tonight's dinner.
Hot Chicken Wraps
Serves 4.
Ingredients:
4 tortilla wraps
2 small chicken breasts
1 small avocado
1 tomato
hummus
seasoning of choice
1/2 cup passata tomato sauce
1/4 cup mexican taco sauce
1/2 cup grated cheese
Method:
Slice chicken breast into long pieces. Fry over medium heat in a little oil until just cooked. Add seasoning, passata and taco sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes on reduced heat.
Place chicken with a little sauce in middle of tortillas.
Add cheese, hummus and then grill til cheese melts.
quickly add a quarter a sliced avocado per person, sliced tomato and serve.
I must say, i didn't eat this, but it looked so good!
I am told, no hummus next time. But as hubby isn't a fan, I will keep it in mine :)
And here we are again, at the end of another post. I hope you enjoyed the read, and making these dishes. I have a busy few days coming up, but i will aim to keep you posted on meals. Tomorrow night will be my very veg, sugar free spag bol. The family can have the pasta- I will use shredded cabbage. Stay tuned!
Again, thanks for reading. Until next post :)
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