Thursday 24th September '09

Jocelyn was in the kitchen making her salad to take to work. She got really excited at how nice the avocado looked when she cut it in half.


Chicken Burritos
Ingredients:

1 Tbpn olive oil

1/2 large brown onion, chopped

1 tspn crushed garlic

200g diced chicken thigh

1 340g can mixed beans, rinsed well in water

1 packet Old El Paso burrito seasoning

1 cup water

wholemeal tortilla wraps

grated Tasty cheese

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan and sautee the chopped onion until it turns translucent.
   
2. Add the crushed garlic and chicken and sautee for a few minutes until chicken is almost cooked through.
   
3. Add the beans, sprinkle the burrito seasoning into the pan and pour in the water. Stir through well.
   
4. Simmer on low heat with the lid on until the sauce reduces by about half. Add a little water as required, stirring often.

To make the burritos, place a few large spoonfuls of the chicken burrito mixture onto a wrap, sprinkle with some grated cheese, roll it up and bake in the oven for a few minutes until the tortilla crispens up and the cheese melts.


I also made my Chicken, Risoni & Vegetable Soup

Supper
Fish & Prawn Bee Hoon Soup with Tang Oh

Wednesday 23rd September '09

Lunch
Toasted Lettuce & Cheese Sandwiches

Yes, as usual I had two of these sandwiches in the car on the way to work. I always make a mess with crumbs down the front of my shirt and have to shake myself off once I arrive at work.

Tonight is the last shift before my five days off! *Alas!* when I went to move my car, I didn't see one of the stupid little raised pillars that are about 20cm high, and I drove right over one and burst the front driver's side tyre. Right on the top level of the multi-storey carpark. That's ok - it's about time I got something back from my RAC Roadside Assistance!

Dinner
Mum's Roasted Chicken Pieces & Sauteed Garlic Spinach

Tuesday 22nd September '09

Dinner at Work
Banh Xeo - Vietnamese Crepes

Mum's employers at the deli are Vietnamese, and they made these crepes for her. She gave me half to take to work tonight for dinner. I remember the first time I had these at Long's house - See for yourself!

Inside, there was pork, bean shoots and mung beans. I took a little tupperware smidget with fish sauce to drizzle over it after heating in the microwave. Yum!

Mum also made me a fruit salad.

Monday 21st September '09

Last night I dreamt that I was making breakfast. I was making toast, and then buttering it and spreading jam on. I love butter and jam on toast, although I'm not much of a toast person for breakfast.

When I was younger, I tried skipping breakfast before school, much to Mum's annoyance. I just didn't like to eat anything for breakfast. When we went on family holidays to Singapore, I remember that while Christina and Jocelyn were busy pigging out on the cakes and breads that my Aunty or Mum would bring home fresh from the markets in the mornings, I was after the nasi lemak. Or the leftover noodles from dinner. Or the hot rice porridge that they made for me.

During highschool and the early uni years, I started to eat "breakfast", which usually consisted of microwaved leftovers from the previous night's dinner. Sure, I liked cereal. But I would eat cereal, without milk, at night by the bowlfuls infront of the computer as if they were popcorn. My favourites were those weet-bix with fruit from Sanitarium. I'd have to wash those down with a glass of milk.

Even now, I always eat when I wake up, whether it be in the morning or afternoon, depending on the shift I'm on. But I will always eat something for 'breakfast'. It's usually heated leftovers from last night, as you would have noticed.

Anyhow...my dream. Yes, I dreamt that I was making the toast with butter and strawberry jam. I also dished up bacon and eggs and by the time I woke up, I was craving a big breakfast. I didn't have time though, so I made do with half my dream.

Breakfast
Wholemeal Toast with Butter & Strawberry Jam

Sunday 20th September '09

Today we had a BBQ to celebrate Ivy's birthday. The weather danced between sunny and overcast, with a few bouts of drizzle inbetween. We were all beneath the patio, sitting as close to the BBQ as we could for warmth.

These pork pastries were soooo yummy!
I don't know who made them - Benoit's dad!?

Upon request to make a salad, I roasted some pumpkin last night, then this morning threw the cold pieces into a container with fresh rocket, sliced red onion and pinenuts. I made dressing with some olive oil, honey and balsamic vinegar. I had to heat the dressing in the microwave for about twenty seconds to melt the honey before I could pour it onto the salad. Yum! Would have been really good with some goat cheese or fetta.


The photos I took while outside under the patio are gorgeous! I love taking photos in natural lighting. However, my photos of Ivy cutting her cake inside aren't that great - I've discovered that whenever I use the flash, a wisp of smoke comes out. Even though the warranty holds out until December, I doubt I'll be able to get it repaired here in Perth because I bought the camera in Singapore. *doh* I guess I'd better go shopping when I come off the night shifts.


Supper
Instant Ramen with Wantans, Chicken & Stuffed Chillies

While I was in the kitchen, I spied the empty cardboard box of ice cream sticks, so after my large bowl of noodles, I went looking in the freezer for some dessert. Yes, so at 3am in the morning I sat in my room eating an ice cream. Yum!

Saturday 19th September '09

I still had a headache when I woke up today. I only managed to get about four hours of sleep before I got woken up with the noisy water pipes between my bedroom wall and the laundry. *Aargh*

By the time I shuffled into the kitchen to find something to eat before work, Mum had made some wantan dumplings. I made some soup by boiling just water, some Vegeta stock, soy sauce and dried chilli flakes. I also added some vegies that one of Mum's elderly friends grew in his vegetable garden. He supplies us with different Chinese vegetables throughout the year. What he brings us depends on the season. But they're healthy looking, fresh and organic. They last forever in the fridge too.

Lunch
Wan Tan Soup with Tang Oh

'Tang Oh' is a variety of chrysanthemum that the Chinese people regard as a garden vegetable. Growing up, I remember Mum used to grow it every winter and we'd have it in soups and particularly steamboat. She hasn't grown it for a long time, and this is the first time I've had any for years. I did try to grow some last year when I was hit with the gardening fever, but the plants died out while I was on holiday.

Supper
Steamed Tofu with Pork Mince

This is a dish that Mum hasn't made for many years. She slices tofu, layers it into a dish and then spreads mince (usually pork), that has been seasoned, over the top. She then steams it.

Friday 18th September '09

Lunch
Spaghetti with Tuna & Champignons

One of my all time favourites. The champignons make this dish.