My creative space - the kitchen

My creative space has definitely been in the kitchen this week.
Partly it's just the mood I'm in, and it's partly to do with the fact that I'm trying hard to be more thrifty, and it's partly because I'm on weight watchers, and I'm trying to re-motivate.
Not sure I have the low budgets meals verses low fat meals sussed out yet....I mean there's nothing like a bit of mash to bulk things up a bit, eh?  If anyone has any suggestions, they would be most welcome! 

From my kitchen this week, I have made....

{eat summer}

baked nectarines after pressing halves into a little brown sugar, made the most luscious syrup...

served with an organic full fat yoghurt (yum!), and sprinkled with a little cinnamon...

Does anyone remember 'the Enchanted Broccoli Forest' cookbook?   I like Molly Katzen's way of making quiches, starting with the base, adding cheese first, then the filling, and gently pouring the 'custard' in last.

I've decided I'm going to stop buying pre-made quiches at $12.00 each, and start making them again from scratch, the way I used to years ago.   Although the book doesn't recommend doing it, I need to start blind baking first, as the base on this was a bit undercooked. 

But, it wasn't bad for a rusty ol' quiche comeback. 

Comletely inspired by Rhonda's blog, Down to Earth, I am especially loving the 'simple living series', and the post called 'food waste and cooking leftovers' compelled me to make a yummy dish from the leftovers of our roast beef...

Firstly, I chopped up the beef, and added some leftover steamed veg (white bowl)

Since I had no gravy left, I sauteed some onion, celery, garlic, then added stock, worc sauce, and finally some chopped up mizuna - this made a sauce which binded the meat and veg together.  (frypan)  oops..almost forgot, used cornflour to thicken this all up.

Lastly, I combined these together, popped in a baking dish and topped it with a combo of mashed potato, and sweet potato, and some mozzarella cheese....

Voila!  served with some homegrown bok choy, and sweetcorn.

   This was completely yummier than I expected.

Now, when I buy mayo at the supermarket, I can never decide whether I get the brand that uses free range eggs (would they really be anyway, I'm wondering?), and no artificial colourings, or choose the brand that appears to use 'normal' eggs, but has no nasties...

So...again, back to the drawing board,

homemade mayo...simple, I know what's in it.

eggs, (from truly happy hens) olive oil, lemon, salt, pepper.

Check out the colour difference, but my son says he prefers the shop bought one...of course he does, he's been conditioned that way! by me!

..I am trying to change things, I guess it's going to take time.

Anway, this was a good week, some weeks, it's baked beans on toast, and take-away chicken.

Oh..by the way, I ate a whole bar of Lindt chocolate last night, I'm feeling guilty it wasn't fair trade, but I was desperate.  Hope you can forgive me?

Can't wait to see what other creative spaces are happening over at Kirsty's.

xx