15 Easy Tips to Help Reduce or Prevent Food Waste …

June 14, 2015

  How much food do you find yourself throwing out at the end of the week? It breaks my heart and it’s something we’ve all done but a few simple tricks will reduce what goes to waste, which will ultimately save you money:   Meal Plan … start by creating a weekly Meal Plan then you will know what you are eating each night. Incorporate items into your Meal Plan that will need to be thrown out soon if not used.   Create a Family Schedule … then you will know how many people will be eating at each meal and know what quantities to … read more

Broccoli Soup …

December 10, 2014

I’ve always been lucky that my kids love broccoli but if your little munchkins give it the cold shoulder, here’s a yummy soup recipe that they just might be willing to try. My guys gobble this one up as soon as the plate hits the table. This will make enough for two meals, freezes beautifully and is super quick and easy. Enjoy! Broccoli Soup …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 2 tablespoons butter 1 onion, diced 1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped 1 potato, peeled and cut into small cubes 2 sticks celery, chopped 1 clove garlic, … read more

Tomato Soup with Celery and Fennel …

October 27, 2014

Although winter is almost a distant memory, I still love making soup all year round. It’s perfect to freeze and is a quick, easy, nutritious option for lunch or when you need dinner in a hurry. This soup is so delicious and really didn’t take all that long to make. Garnish with some basil and accompany with some toast with melted cheese or parmesan and you’ll have dinner on the table in no time at all. If fennel is a vegetable that you haven’t tried before, give it a go in this recipe as the flavour is quite subtle. Enjoy! Tomato Soup with Celery and … read more

White Chocolate Apricot Balls …

October 25, 2014

Here’s a yummy recipe that will be perfect for your next party, great for the kids lunch boxes or ideal just as a sweet treat. These are best refrigerated and served the next day as it gives them a chance to firm up a little. Enjoy! White Chocolate Apricot Balls …   Print Prep time 20 mins Total time 20 mins   Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 24 Ingredients … ¾ cup white chocolate bits 200g packet dried apricots, roughly chopped 1 cup desiccated coconut 2 teaspoons orange zest ½ can sweetened condensed milk extra desiccated coconut, … read more

Orange and Poppy Seed Muffins …

October 15, 2014

Here’s a great new muffin flavour I tried over the weekend. They were gobbled up super quick leaving me only 4 to freeze for lunches … next time I think I’ll make a double batch! Orange and Poppy Seed Muffins …   Print Prep time 10 mins Cook time 20 mins Total time 30 mins   Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 14 Ingredients … ¾ cup milk 1 tablespoon vinegar 2 ½ cups self-raising flour, sifted (I used gluten free) ¾ cup caster sugar 1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds 125g butter, melted 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 orange rind, grated finely ¼ … read more

Pumpkin Bake …

October 9, 2014

I love this dish for loads of reasons … it’s perfect for those occasions when you’re asked to bring something, you can prepare it a day ahead if you like, it’s healthy and best of all … it’s scrumptious! My kids love it and usually come back for seconds (and sometimes thirds)! A word of warning though! Please be extremely careful when chopping the pumpkin. It’s such a difficult vegetable to chop up and I’ve often thought that if I ever lose a finger, it will happen when I’m chopping pumpkin … melodramatic I know! Perfect job for hubby if you ask me! Pumpkin … read more

Beef Rissoles … Packed with Vegie Goodness …

October 1, 2014

I love making the humble rissole and here are some of the reasons: Rissoles are quick and easy to make using simple ingredients that you’ll most likely already have in the fridge and pantry. Rissoles are kind on the family budget. Mince can be purchased fairly cheaply and this recipe will make enough for 2 meals (for a family of 4 – 5) as well as up to 25 meatballs for lunches or snacks … that’s great value! Depending on what you put in them, rissoles are quite healthy, especially if you use “Heart Smart” Mince and don’t use too much oil … read more

Pumpkin Scones …

September 29, 2014

Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen is famous for her Pumpkin Scones and, although I’ve never baked her recipe, I have baked Mum’s Pumpkin Scones for years. These are perfect for morning tea and school lunches and are a great way to use up leftover pumpkin from other recipes. Enjoy! Pumpkin Scones …   Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 15 mins Total time 30 mins   Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 10 Ingredients … 2 cups self-raising flour ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 2 tablespoons cold butter, chopped 1 cup cold mashed pumpkin ¼ cup brown sugar 1 egg, … read more

Meal Planning with Mrs Organised …

September 15, 2014

Meal planning is one of my favourite things for helping me get organised. It saves me time, saves me money, definitely saves my sanity and prevents the 5.00 o’clock “What’s for Dinner” panic! It’s been a couple of weeks since I shared a Meal Plan so here’s what’s on mine for the coming week: Monday: San Choy Bow with Fried Rice Tuesday: Roast Chicken with roast potato, sweet potato, onion, & capsicum with steamed carrot, broccoli & gravy Wednesday: Mexican Beef Tacos with tomato, cheese, lettuce, avocado and sour cream Thursday: Spaghetti and … read more

Spaghetti Bolognaise …

September 13, 2014

Most families will have their own recipe for Spaghetti Bolognaise but, in case you don’t, here’s my version … so simple to cook, full of flavour and oh so tasty! When the kids were little and invited friends for sleepovers, I usually cooked “Spag Bol” because it’s popular with most kids and used to be a fairly safe bet. Enjoy! Spaghetti Bolognaise …   Print Prep time 25 mins Cook time 1 hour Total time 1 hour 25 mins   Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 6 Ingredients … 900g lean mince 3 celery sticks, chopped finely 2 medium … read more

Breakfast … on the Run …

September 9, 2014

Like most families, our mornings are super busy. Hubby is racing out to work, I’m trying to get ready for work, Miss 21 is usually still asleep following late night study sessions (such is the life of a university student) and Miss 16 has to get ready for school. So we tend to reserve “sit down” family breakfasts for the weekend when everyone is home, not rushing off and we’re all a bit more relaxed. I do, however, insist that everyone eats breakfast every day and also that it’s something healthy ….. so important to start the day especially for school kids who need … read more

Cheesy Bacon and Corn Muffins …

August 30, 2014

I baked a batch of these just after lunch today so the kids could come home from school and uni to a yummy afternoon tea that would keep them going until dinner. I also love that it presents an opportunity to sit down quietly with the girls and have a chat and catch up about our day before they settle down for homework and assignments. In winter I’ll serve some hot chocolate and in summer, a nice cool drink. I love it and I hope you enjoy these yummy muffins. Cheesy Bacon and Corn Muffins …   Print Prep time 10 mins Cook time 20 mins Total … read more

Meal Planning … My Top Tips …

July 21, 2014

  Yesterday I shared my thoughts on why meal planning is a great idea, what did you think? Today I thought I would share with you my top tips for creating a Meal Plan: Pick a day of the week and a time that suits you to do your planning. Ideally, you will want to sit down uninterrupted so you can focus on your plan. You might choose a day that coincides with pay day or you might do it on a Friday so you can shop on the weekend and do some cooking and baking … it’s really up to you and what works for your family and your circumstances. Before … read more

Meal Planning and Why it’s a Great Idea …..

July 19, 2014

“What’s for dinner Mum?” Those four words used to send me into an absolute panic because most days I didn’t have a clue! I often used to think about that night’s dinner when I arrived at the supermarket and then I’d race up and down the aisles throwing things in the trolley in the hope I didn’t forget something and trying desperately to remember the ingredients for a particular recipe. Not very organised, was I? For the last couple of years, I’ve worked very hard to change that and one of the best things I now do each week is prepare a Meal Plan, and if that sounds … read more

How to Make your Meals “Vegielicious” and Outsmart the Cleverest “Food Ninja” …

July 3, 2014

Like everyone else, my kids have their own likes and dislikes when it comes to food, which can sometimes make it tricky when cooking. Generally they’re pretty good but I have to own up to “smuggling” or hiding vegies in my cooking whenever I can. And don’t let the fact that they are now older lead you to think things have changed … because they haven’t. Admittedly, they are now more willing to sample things they may have rejected in the past but that doesn’t always happen. So although the variety of what they all eat is pretty good, I still like to “smuggle” some … read more