Nightwolf's Den

#14DaysOfThermo

14 Days of Thermo

I wasn’t sure how I’d go with this, especially when hubby said he wanted a chook roast but we managed and we got to try some new recipes, so it’s always a win.

Day 1 saw me making the salmon in the Varoma.

Salmon Steaks with Cucumber & Spiced Yoghurt

Day 2 was homemade pizza dough from the EDC (Everyday Cookbook). I love this pizza dough recipe. I made smaller pizzas this time so had dough left over and have frozen it for quick pizzas for lunch or tea (or a late night snack). We had a garlic pizza to share, I had BBQ base, ham, onion and cheese, hubby & Miss K had tomato base, salami, ham and cheese.

Day 3 – we were out all day but I whipped up the 5 second chocolate coconut slice. I love this slice and will often whip it up if we’re going somewhere and I want to take a little something.

Day 4 – savoury mince (with a side of wedges, sour cream & sweet chilli). So yummy. Might add some more herbs next time. Made enough to feed 2 adults and a 4yo. Hubby had seconds and there was still heaps to freeze for another night.

Day 5 – first time cooking a roast chicken in the Thermo. Used the recipe from the ThermoFun Cook Along. Super moist. Downside was, even with putting it in the oven for 15 minutes, no crispy skin. I can live with that.

Day 6 – Chicken mornay with leftover chicken. Yes the recipe is tuna but we substituted chicken for tuna. Very nice. Served with rice. Would be yum mixed with pasta and sprinkled with some cheese

Day 7 – Sausage casserole from ThermoFun. Hubby thought this had too much tomato. I loved it, mixed with some sweet chilli sauce. Miss K loved it & has 3 helpings!!

Day 8 – Yoghurt (using the ThermoFun recipe – this is one of the best I’ve tried and turns out nice and thick) & berry coulis (EDC). So much cheaper than buying it. And I forgot to photograph it :/

Day 9 – Ended up staying at Mum& Dad’s for tea but had made some brownies earlier in the day. LOVE these brownies

Day 10 – Creamy tomato & bacon pasta. A quick, yum family favourite

Day 11 – Bourbon chicken (a ThremoFun club recipes). Mixed responses. Was nice but not sure if we’d have it again.

Day 12 –Honey Mustard Lamb roast (before cooking and served with roast veg)

Day 13 – bread. The BEST every white bread (so far). Super crispy crust and soft bread in the middle. Delicious – especially strait out of the oven spread with butter *yum*

Day 14 – Finally… curried sausages from the recipe community. Always yum. I added a bit of coconut this time and it’s yum.

Would I give this a go again? Hell yeah. I’ve enjoyed trying new recipes and using my Thermomix more. Maybe I’ll make it a monthly project.

A fortnight of thermo cooking

We’ve had our thermomix for just over a year now and I still don’t use it enough as I could/should. So for the next 14 days I am going to make myself use it everyday. I’ll be sharing photos and links to the recipes I cook unless the recipe is from the ThermFun recipe club.

Tonight’s meal was a ThermoFun recipe – Salmon Steaks with Cucumber & Spiced Yoghurt

I’ve never cooked fish in the thermo and I know how touchy salmon can be so jumping in at the deep end LOL

The salmon was perfectly cooked and melted in your mouth. I’d change the sauce slightly next time I made it – less coriander – but that was very yum too and would make a nice refreshing dip.

I’ll be back at the end of the fortnight to let you know how I’ve gone but you can follow along daily as I’ll be Instagraming what I make – follow me @nightwolfs_den

Frocktober 2014 – Days 11-22

More dresses. A few the same. And then 2 not dresses
You can sponsor me at my Frocktober page.


Oct 11	Oct 12	Oct 13	Oct 14

Oct 15	Oct 16*	Oct 17	Oct 18**

Oct 19	Oct 20	Oct 21	Oct 22

* Yeah same dress two days running
** Oh yeah, two days of jeans (different tops but I forgot to take a pic on Sunday). I went to Longford Show on the Saturday and the weather was cold and windy. Sunday I had work and can’t imagine climbing in a wrestling ring in a dress 😉

My goal for 2014: $700
Total so far: $220.50
Donate here

Frocktober 2014 – Days 6 -10

Late namely cause I forgot to post :/
This year’s Frocktober theme is Every Frock Has a Story. I’ll be sharing the story behind each of my frocks in a weekly post. You can sponsor me at my Frocktober page.

Wanted to share this before we get into my frocks

Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF)

• 16 Oct 2014

Thank you for supporting Frocktober!

100% of the funds raised for this campaign go towards funding research into an early detection for ovarian cancer to save women’s lives. Our aim in 2014 is to beat last year’s funds raised of $328,000 to enable us in 2015 to fund our very own Frocktober Research Fellow and follow their progress as part of next year’s campaign.

Please help us spread the word among your family and friends. It’s not too late to get involved! We have two more fabulous weeks to raise funds for a “frockin great cause”.

Warmest regards from the Frocktober and OCRF teams

So let’s get fundraising people! Onto the frocks

Oct 6
Dress from Rivers
Story: This dress is so not a good pick for breast feeding

Oct 7
Dress from Ripe Maternity
Story: I’ve had this dress since I was pregnant with Miss K. It was bought for my auntie’s birthday. Must say I love it. Except it’s no good for feeding little ones.

Oct 8
Dress from Breastmates (again) and yes it’s cold enough to need one of my fav woollen cardis (which is nearly longer than my dress lol)

Oct 9
Dress from Breastmates (again)

Oct 10
Dress from ? I have no idea, it doesn’t have a tag
Story: A dress bought by mum and given to me last year when I was pregnant. Again not the best for breastfeeding.

My goal for 2014: $700
Total so far: $115.50
Donate here

Healthy lunches

This post originally appeared on From the Wolf’s Den.

This week (6th October) is Healthy Lunchbox Week. It’s about packing more healthy choices in kids lunchboxes and limiting treats and sometimes foods.
I love cooking and providing healthy meals for Miss K but sometimes I fall back on the easy, prepacked foods & snacks for her day care lunchbox. I do always pack at least 2 types of fruit though so yay for that lol

Anywho, today I thought I’d share our plan for her lunchbox this week on the two days she goes and also provide some ideas and links for you, my awesome readers, to help give your kids a healthy lunchbox (or pack yourself a healthy lunch).

So what is a healthy lunchbox? A healthy lunchbox should aim to include at least one food item from each of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating food groups in your child’s lunch box every day. That is:

Vegetables & salads
Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties
Fruit
Dairy
Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes/beans

This week’s lunchboxes for Miss K:

Day 1

2 mini egg & bacon pies (meat, eggs and grain)
apple (fruit)
banana (fruit)
carrot sticks (vegetables)
fairy dip (YIAH Beetroot dip)
yoghurt rice cakes (dairy, grain)Day 2
pasta salad (grain, vegetables)
banana muffin (grain, fruit)
watermelon (fruit)
cheese (dairy)
tuna & biscuits (fish, grain)

Lunchbox Ideas from around the web:

The Organised Housewife How to pack a healthy lunchbox
Yoghurt Snack Pancakes
Planning with Kids Lunchbox ideas
Octavia & Vicky Lunchbox Ideas
Road to Loving my Thermo Mixer Lunchbox ideas
Healthy snack & Lunchbox ideas
Healthy lunchbox snacks
Lunchbox ideas for Grown ups

What’s your favourite go-to healthy lunchbox treats?

Frocktober 2014 – Week 1

This year’s Frocktober theme is Every Frock Has a Story. I’ll be sharing the story behind each of my frocks in a weekly post. Here’s the first 5 days. You can sponsor me at my Frocktober page.

My last day in jeans for the next 31 days. God I hope it warms up!

Oct 1
Dress from Target, T-shirt – Hawthorn FC
Story: A total bargain from Target, found when looking for maternity wear. On special for $20 when it was near $80 at full price. Yeah there is a little bit of celebrating there too. Spent the day at the Hawthorn FC celebration of their AFL Grand Final win. 12 Premierships. Back to back premiers (2013-2014), 25 years from our last back to back (1988-1989)

Oct 2
Dress from Breastmates
Story: A gift from my Mum. One of a few breastfeeding friendly clothes from a great little online store (who I’ll be reviewing soon on my other blog – From the Wolf’s Den)

Oct 3
Dress from Breastmates
Story: Another breastfeeding friendly dress. Not quite warm enough to wear just the dress alone yet.

Oct 4
Dress from Rivers
Story: A pick up from a Rivers end of year sale a few years back. It’s a constant summer favourite.

Oct 5
Dress from Millers
Story: Another sale find. Still not warm enough for just dresses so long sleeve tops over dresses is the go.

My goal for 2014: $700
Total so far: $115.50
Donate here

Frocktober 2014

is almost upon us again – like tomorrow!

So here’s my first selfie for the month – the last day of jeans until 1st November.

After our rainy, cold weather today here’s hoping the weather improves.

To donate you can go to my Frocktober site. You can donate using your credit card, using PayPal or by using BPAY

Foodie post ahead

I’m often posting recipes here on the blog so have decided to create a list so you have an easy way to access them. So up there in the menu bar there is now a Recipes tab and you can pick what section you are interested in. Or you can just use the search feature 😉

I’m slowly adding to the list so not all the recipes will be there. Another thing I’m doing is re-writing the recipes to make them easier for you to print out.

Enjoy, yeah right….

um, cooking
hanging out the laundry (cause I love being outside)

that’s it. I hate doing housework but it has to get done cause I hate living in a mess LOL

The Frocktober challenge

So while everyone is challenging everyone to do the Ice Bucket Challenge (which I have been challenged to do) I’d like to put out another challenge. Donate to my Frocktober page and help raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Research. Oh yeah and then take a photo of you in a dress and share it.
So don those frocks, donate and share this link, I’ll be interested to see who is game to Frock up

I’ll be blogging my Frocking efforts here (along with my frock stories), on Instagram & on my Facebook page.
Let me know if you’ll be frocking up in October so I can follow your journey in the dress 🙂