Friday Favourites – Mango & Avocado Salad

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This week I want to share what is probably my favourite salad.  The recipe for this Mango and Avocado salad came from the Women’s Weekly BBQ cookbook which was published about 20 years ago.  My copy of the book has disappeared in the intervening years but I make it pretty well as it was in the book apart from the dressing.  The finished salad looks appealing and has a combination of textures.

MANGO & AVOCADO SALAD

Lettuce leaves
1 large avocado
1 large mango
2 – 3 rashers shortcut bacon
¼  cup walnuts

Spread the lettuce leaves on a large platter.  Slice the avocado and mango.  Lay the slices over the lettuce.  Dice and dry-fry the bacon until crisp.  Allow to cool and sprinkle over the salad.  Chop the walnuts and sprinkle on the salad.

DRESSING

100g natural yoghurt
1 teaspoon French mustard
1 dessertspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Combine the ingredients.  Add a little milk if necessary to make it a pouring consistency.  Drizzle the dressing over the salad immediately prior to serving.

HINTS & MODIFICATIONS

Since I no longer have the book I cannot be certain of the original.  I know the dressing was based on cream and quite rich so I changed mine to suit our tastes.  I have also used pecan nuts which make a nice change from the walnuts.  Canned mango may be used if you do not have access to fresh mango.  Young loose-leaf lettuce is best but is you are using larger leaves you can roughly tear them into smaller pieces.

2011-12-09 01Here is the salad without the dressing or the walnuts.  Some of the dinner guests have food intolerance issues so I just serve the chopped nuts in a small side bowl to be added as desired.  I usually drizzle the dressing over the salad at the last minute or it tends to become soggy.

This salad has become a firm favourite with our family and friends and I hope you have an opportunity to try it out.

Mend & Make Do

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It is a sad indictment on our current Western society that we have to be reminded to consume less with the catch-cry of “Reduce, Re-use and Recycle”.

2011-12-08 01One of the most important ways to consume less is simply to repair what you already have.  For some things this requires a degree of lateral thinking and sometimes it is nearly impossible, but we should try wherever we can.  When buying a new item it is important to give consideration to whether or not it is likely to be able to be repaired or is it designed to be thrown away as soon as part of it fails.

Repair would have been the first (and probably only) option available to our forebears 50 – 100 years ago.  If something no longer functioned you fixed it with whatever was to hand as they did not have the option of tossing it aside and getting a new one.  This was due to a variety of factors, including isolation, availability of replacements as well as cost.

Most of us have lost many of the skills needed to maintain and repair household items.  This has mainly been due to the accessibility of relatively inexpensive replacements as often as we wish.

2011-12-08 02This week I took one of The Duke’s belts to the bootmaker to have the rivets replaced.  This is a quality leather belt that will last many more years so it made good sense to have it repaired rather than throwing it out (to landfill) and buying another.  A new belt would probably be made overseas by someone who is not even paid a living wage.  You also need to consider the environmental cost of transportation to Australia, the raw material and the resources used in creating the item.  Instead, I have supported a local business, used 2 rivets and created no packaging by carrying it to and from the repairer in a re-usable bag.  It cost $5 to repair and now has many years of wear left in it.

Although I had to outsource the mending of the belt, there are plenty of things we can repair at home.  I have mended 3 pairs of socks this morning instead of throwing them in the bin.  I hesitate to call it darning as that would significantly devalue the handiwork of generations of women before me.  At least my efforts close the offending hole and extend the life of the socks.

2011-12-08 03What do you repair ?

Comments and Spam

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Just a brief housekeeping message to my loyal readers.  Due to an increasing number of spam comments, I have decided to moderate all comments on my blog.  This is not a reflection on you, but rather, an attempt to keep the blog as clear and user-friendly for everyone as possible.

Please do not be put off commenting.  I love your comments and they add lots of value to the blog.

I look forward to continuing to read your thoughtful and caring comments.

Organisation and Finances

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WARNING – Long post ahead.  So perhaps you would like to grab a cuppa and snack before you start. 🙂

This is for Anna** and I.  Anna feels that she is falling behind financially and I can see that the things I need to do are fast outweighing the available time.

The first part of this post is about me.

I do not have a lot of preparation to do for Christmas with only a couple of gifts to buy and the only meal I am hosting is for 5 adults on Christmas morning.  However, there just seem to be lots of relatively minor things I need to attend to that are getting squashed into the time before Christmas (17 days).  Without the aid of a list, I am completely lost so here it is.

Ring telecommunications company re phone charges
Pick up belt from repairer
Move furniture for carpet cleaner (coming tomorrow)
Add photos to Christmas letter
Write and post Christmas cards with letter
Make phone calls re extended family BBQ in January
Set up email list for recipients of Christmas letter via email
Defrost the freezer (and do a stocktake of the contents)
Buy Christmas presents for Missy & Belle (I know what to buy, just need to do it)
Finish home-made gifts and package them up
Check on changing health insurance cover

Even my menu planning has fallen a bit by the wayside recently, although I usually have a rough idea of meals for the next couple of days in my head.  This is not ideal and I need to get back on track.  Having a written list for the week saves space in my head and leaves room for thinking about other things.

Anna feels as though she is chasing her tail, both time-wise and financially.  Does that sound familiar?  With a young family there are many competing priorities and every time you feel like you are getting ahead something else rears its ugly head.  Many of us see paid work as the only way to get ahead (or back on track) financially.  Earning money is certainly the most obvious way to make ends meet but the other thing to remember is that the time spent earning that money is time that you cannot devote to money-saving activities.  I am not about to suggest that Anna stop working but it is worth keeping in mind the things you can do to prevent leaks in the budget.

One of the most significant costs in the family budget is food which is absolutely essential.  As my post yesterday discussed, there are savings to be made in this area by making meals from scratch.  This is easy to say but can be difficult to achieve when you are working so a menu plan is definitely your best friend.  Having a plan helps to stave off the “grab a takeaway on the way home” syndrome.  Stick to simple meals and cook a couple of meals in bulk.  It does not have to be presented as the same meal but you can use the same base.  An example is bolognaise sauce which is extremely versatile.  Serve with pasta, as topping for baked potatoes or top with mashed potato for a Shepherd’s Pie.

Do not try to do everything but focus on one or two changes that are manageable and reap the rewards.  If you put a modest amount of money aside each pay (perhaps, $20 if you can manage) you will soon have a fund to start to cover the unexpected expenses and the budget will not look so bleak.

As I have shown many times before almost everything can be traced back to being organised.  We all slip-up from time to time but it is important not to a) lose heart and give up or b) beat yourself up about it.  Regroup and try again.

The most important thing is to be kind to yourself and make sure you take time out to rest and relax.  I hope you all have an opportunity over the Christmas break.

**not her real name

Where Are the Savings?

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I was debating what to write tonight when I came across this post from Jennifer Lorenzetti at Fast, Cheap and Good.  The final 2 paragraphs are the crux of the matter as far as I am concerned.

For many people it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet financial commitments and this is a clear reminder that simply making at least some meals from scratch can be a huge saving on the budget.

If you can manage to grow even a few vegetables it can make an even greater difference.  Here in Australia, we have the benefit of being able to grow something almost all of the year round in most parts of the country.

Lettuce, bok choy, pak choy and broccoli

Compared to the USA and Europe we are still in relatively good financial shape but it is anyone’s guess how long that will continue.  Therefore, it is prudent to consider what changes we can make to the way we prepare our meals that will both save us money and reduce our reliance on ‘just in time deliveries’ to the major supermarkets.

Have you made any changes to the foods you eat or way you prepare meals?

Christmas Preparations – A Shopping List

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I have a deep-seated aversion to grocery shopping so I do it as rarely as possible.  I particularly dislike the madness that reigns in the lead-up to Christmas and other holiday periods.

I need to restock some of my bulk stores plus buy a few special things for Christmas so I will be going to Simply Good and Aldi on my way home from work on Friday.  I always shop with a list as it helps me to buy only what I actually need and also ensures that nothing gets overlooked.  This is particularly important as it is an 80km round trip to Simply Good from home.

I have checked the stocks, including the bulk buckets that are in the cupboard downstairs.

My shopping list will look something like this:

SIMPLY GOOD

Rolled oats
Wholemeal plain flour
Puffed rice
Sultanas
Raisins
Glace cherries **
Psyllium husk
Pepitas
Sunflower seeds
Coconut
Prunes
Bran flakes
Icing sugar
Cornflour
Cashew nuts

ALDI

Cheese
Corn chips
Butter
Turkish bread rolls
Milk
Ice-cream
Juice
Cat food
Toothpaste
Canned tomatoes
Chocolate **
Fancy savoury biscuits **

The items marked ** are special for Christmas but everything else is part of our normal shopping.

I aim to not have to go to Simply Good until early March if my calculations of quantities are correct.  I only go every few months now but my aim next year is to actually quantify it and go once per quarter – March, June, September and December.

I will probably go to Aldi once more before Christmas for more cheese, milk and juice.

There should be enough meat to last until early in the New Year and fruit and vegetables are usually bought every 7 – 10 days to supplement whatever is growing in the garden.

What are your Christmas shopping plans?

A Quick Update

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Today I made and bottled the ginger beer.  The bottles I use are from The Duke’s Coopers brew kit.  They are 740ml plastic bottles.  I made 9 bottles and here they are.

2011-12-04 01They are now in a box in the under the stairs where it is cool and it will be ready to drink for Christmas.

The other thing I wanted to show you is the linen top I made a few weeks ago.  I finally remembered to get a photo of me wearing it.

2011-12-04 02

Minimalist vs Survivalist

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I have never considered either minimalist or survivalist as terms I would use to describe myself but I have read a couple of things recently including this post from Kim at Extra Organized which have made me stop and think.

Over a period of months, even years I have been slowly but surely divesting myself of ‘stuff’ that does not add value to our lives.  I have made considerable progress but there is always more to be done.

However, at the same time I have created and maintained a well-stocked pantry.  I also keep back-up supplies of toiletries and general household needs such as batteries and light bulbs.  This may seem to be the complete antithesis of minimalism but I do not believe that is necessarily the case.  There is one basic principle which must be adhered to in order for a stockpile to work:

“Eat what you store and store what you eat”.

This is my stock cupboard in the kitchen.  On the other side of the refrigerator is my pantry (shown below).

The wire baskets under the shelves on the left-hand side hold spices and other small jars.

My pantry is where I keep the items for day-to-day use and I replenish as needed from the stock cupboard and also from the buckets of bulk dry goods (flour, cereals, dried fruit etc).  These are stored in a cupboard downstairs.

I do not hoard massive quantities of food but I work with a level of supply which I believe would easily feed us for 3 months and could probably be stretched to 6 months with some creative meals.  It means that I can shop when it is convenient for me and not have to shop every week or even every fortnight.  I am not dependent on the ‘just in time’ supply lines that supermarkets use nor will I be in the panic-buying queues in times of impending natural disaster such as flood or cyclone.

By having a relatively uncluttered house I have plenty of room to store extra food.  I also minimise the trips to the shops which in turn minimises petrol use and wear and tear on my vehicle.  Less time at the shops offers less temptation to spend on unnecessary items.

We usually but enough meat at once to last about 2 – 3 months.  This tends to be used up before we buy more, so in theory, depending on the timing of a disaster I could be caught with next to no meat but I do not see this as a major problem because we eat plenty of vegetarian meals now and that would just become the ‘norm’.

I also ‘shop’ from my garden and we always have eggs from the chickens.  Our menus are based on seasonal produce, either from our own garden or what we buy from the local markets.

I am not what anyone would truly describe as a minimalist, although I do have a lot less ‘stuff’ than many of my friends and colleagues.  On the other hand, I know I would not survive long-term if left to my own devices as I simply do not have the skills and knowledge to fend for myself completely without outside help and support.

I do know that I am happy and contented with my life as it is, my demands on the planet are relatively light and I have taken reasonable steps to be as self-reliant as possible.

Introducing Friday Favourites – Best Banana Cake

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Today is the beginning of a new feature, ‘Friday Favourites’ where I will share one of my favourite recipes.  I hope to include a photo as well as the hints, tips, variations and shortcuts that are what makes a ‘tried and true’ recipe so appealing.

How often have you made a recipe that simply does not live up to the description or the photo which attracted you to it in the first place?  Here is an opportunity to bypass the less than stellar successes.

Streamline and simplify your cooking and recipes, then you will be more inclined to cook.  Remember the line, “whip up a batch of scones”?  It was what women of my grandmother’s generation could do when company was imminent.  The recipe and method were simple, ingredients always to hand and they knew the recipe off by heart.  I do not pretend to be able to make scones so I will stick to what I can do well.

It seems that there as many banana cake recipes as there are people in the world and I feel as though I have tried most of them.  In my opinion this one is as good as you will get.

BANANA CAKE

1/3 cup oil
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed banana (2-3 bananas, depending on size)
½ teaspoon vanilla
2 cups plain flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup milk

Beat oil and sugar until smooth.  Add beaten eggs, one at a time then beat in mashed banana and vanilla.  Sift flour and combine dry ingredients, add alternately with the milk and stir until mixed well.  Pour into a greased, lined loaf tin.  Bake at 180 degrees for 45 mins or until an inserted skewer comes out cleanly.

That is the recipe, now for the reality.

This is a great recipe and it can be made using 2 utensils – a mixing bowl and a wooden spoon.

I do not sift the flour – in fact I do not own a sifter!

I use 1/8 cup of skim milk powder mixed with the dry ingredients and add ½ cup of water in lieu of the milk.

The eggs are not pre-beaten before I add them at the same time.

I use an empty butter wrapper to line the base a halfway up the side of the tin.  I keep used wrappers in the refrigerator specifically for lining cake tins.

The cake may be iced with your choice of frosting but it is just as nice plain.  I slice and freeze the cake in a container in the freezer.  Individual slices can easily be removed for snacks or packed lunches.

Enjoy and have great weekend.

Windows – Cleaning and Curtains

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When we moved into this house 6 years ago there were no curtains.  There are still no curtains.

Since we moved we have had all of the windows replaced and redecorated all of the rooms except for the bathroom.  We live on a local road in a rural area with no immediate neighbours.  The native shrubs planted on the verge provide quite a good screen and privacy is not an issue.

I have half-heartedly debated the need for curtains and until recently my laziness has won.  However, a couple of months ago I was actually contemplating getting blinds/curtains to suit the living room as well as 2 of the bedrooms and the study.  Sanity prevailed and I realised that I would be spending money on soft furnishings that would make the rooms look smaller, need maintenance and were really not required.  What was I thinking?

We have stunning views of our gardens and surrounding vegetation which are far better than the fanciest window treatments so we are going to keep the windows ‘au naturale’.

The only exception is the living room where it would be nice to draw something across the wide expanse of glass during the winter evenings.  Now I have to try to decide what is the most suitable covering.  There are floor to ceiling louvres at the end of the room as well as other louvres immediately above a low bookcase and yet more near the fireplace.  Whatever I choose needs to be simple and streamlined to stay in keeping with the style of the house and be safe near the fireplace.  I would love to hear your experiences and suggestions.

2011-11-30 01These are the louvres at the end of the living room.  It is very obvious that they definitely need cleaning which is  the only downside of no window coverings.  Today I have done the kitchen windows as well as the laundry and toilet windows.  I hope to finish the rest of the house on the weekend.

2011-11-30 02A view like this makes washing up almost fun.

2011-11-30 03I need to work out a schedule for cleaning windows and I think that I need to do the kitchen and living room every 2-3 months.  The bedroom ones can probably go a little longer.  How often do you clean your windows?  Do you do all of the windows or do you completely clean room by room?