5:2 Baked Parmesan crust Chicken Schnitzel with no oil

I recently started the 5:2 lifestyle with 2 days of fasting* (loosely followed at the moment).

After, watching the full documentary Eat , Fast and Live Longer from Michael Mosley and the science made sense to me with my nursing background. It is also recommended for those who want to reduce their cancer risk.

You can forge your own 5:2 path with any type of healthy 'diet' - Paleo , Vegan / Vegetarian using this basic plan. Google it , there is so much to learn.

There are 5 days of week to eat normally (obviously not pigging out excessively if you want looser pants) and 2 days of only 500* calories (women) 600 (men).

I am also joining in with Kirsten and Co for #operationloosepants - be careful with the #hashtag though #operationlosepants sounds more fun.

Last week was #4 and I'm late to the party - the mission to get looser pants by Christmas.

I've been following my own #operationskinnyjeans path and already have weeks 1-3 nailed.

I am in perpetual motion - doing 70,000 steps a week running , walking and incidental exercise. Plus I've been following a 30 day (day 25/30)  challenge involving sit-ups, lunges, push-ups, planks, wall sits and tri-dips. I've passed 600,000 in only a few months.

Paddling training will also resume 3 days a week now it's daylight savings (if I make it to all sessions). 

As Kirsten says - it's all about little steps…that don’t lead me to the fridge

 I digress - Week Four:  Try A New Recipe = get in the kitchen and give a new recipe a go!

Without a drop of oil ...I made healthy Chicken Schnitzel with Parmesan crust

I used this 5:2 recipe found at Lavendar and Lovage - for inspiration -  around 300 calories a serve (about 2 pieces because I used tenderloins here).

I didn't have time to style my food because my husband thinks eating food is more important than instagramming or photographing it.

Serves 2

250 - 300gms Chicken Breast or Tenderloins
1 egg white lightly beaten.
2-3* Tablespoons Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
2-3* Tablespoons Dried Breadcrumbs (I used homemade with wholemeal bread toasted)

(I prefer more crumbs and to have some over then trying to get every last crumb)

1. Slightly flatten your chicken breast or tenderloins until they are an even thickness.
2. Lightly beat one egg white.
3. Rub breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese together - put them on a plate.
4. Dip the chicken schnitzels into egg white , then crumb mixture and coat evenly.
5. Place the onto a non-stock baking tray or onto baking paper (then bake in the oven until golden and cooked through (depending on thickness of chicken used) . I used my Actifry and they took 12mins.

I decided to use lightly beaten egg white to bind my breadcrumbs because the Actifry has a grooved base. I skipped the garlic and herbs this time because of my fussy lad.


Parmesan Crusted Chicken Schnitzel passed the particular husband test too !Served  with steamed vegies or grilled tomato - it was so delicious.

The ActiFry 2 in 1 made it so easy and it took 12 mins. I have used a similar recipe in my oven before. 

Today, I made a tasty chicken schnitzel, avocado and rocket sanga for lunch with leftovers.

Linking up to #IBOT and Essentially Jess

  ♥

Trials, Tribulations , Termites and Tales from Harry Potter and Half blood Prince.

Saturday dawned bright and beautiful and I had high hopes for a little home decorating, room re-arranging and making space for the change of season clothes.

Instead it turned into a living nightmare. You could say we learnt some major life lessons. Keep Calm - yes I nailed that !

 Why ...because we found termites had infested invaded the shipping container where most of our furniture and stuff is stored. It was a HUGE mess.


It all started because I wanted to rearrange things ...luckily I did is all I can say because it was just in the nick of time.

We spent all Saturday and Sunday removing boxes and furniture from the container , then cleaning the mud out and assessing damage - mainly to one heavy TV entertainment/storage unit plus dozens of books/things damaged /dirty or destroyed.

The white ants were most partial to cardboard boxes and books , even fabric - they really got their teeth into Harry Potter and Half Blood Prince. They gouged out  a huge, neat 'grater' tunnel ( mind you it is almost 10 cm thick) , then they set up camp inside the spine. I couldn't save it unfortunately.

The coffee table was ok :)

Two days later , a wheelbarrow full of mud , dozens of boxes we had to empty and clean mud/dried goop or poop off stuff. It was physically and mentally exhausting as well. Burning the boxes gave me a little satisfaction. We bombed the container with cockroach bombs first as well.

DH called it the big guns and heavy machinery ...AKA the Bulldozer [his Dad's] to move the container by dragging and hopefully breaking their contact with the nest. Then he used the bulldozer to lift each corner and put it on concrete blocks with ant caps [shutting the gate after the cows had bolted maybe]

Saturday night DH casually told me his sister had mentioned they had white ants in their shipping container (in Queensland). I didn't say it but I thought it ... ! He was shattered enough already . It is what it is blaming saying anything was pointless.


SO did not finish anything I planned - I couldn't even get my head around starting. I also planned to finish writing my new giveaways.

Friday we had already spent cleaning a caravan full of our office/business stuff covered in diesel smoke/soot - it damaged the caravan but hubby can repair that mostly.Soot still covers a lot of stuff. It cannot be wiped off fully - creme cleanser did a fair job. Hubby had transported it up here, on his truck, Thursday, and the exhaust went in under roof panels.

Needless to say we were both SO OVER IT . Then yesterday we found more live termites inside our cabin/shed where we live. (They already wrecked havoc in our bedroom last year )

After I took boys the school we set out to do what I'd wanted done on Saturday. A place for the boys to do their homework from under my feet ...A homework station to leave pencils,textas and homework books out,and not have to pack it away every night from the kitchen table (to eat dinner).  

Thankfully, the termites were contained next to only one wall and with mud casing around and/in one cupboard box containing a Lego table, Lego baseplate ( the boys were happy we found these) and Thomas Tank engine large poster book.We only need wash mud off them. 

DH moved all other boxes off the floor , up onto the table tennis table. We are going to do very regular checks ... daily and we are getting exterminators out to spray.


The Drummer Boys now have a lovely space and table to draw , complete homework and craft . Nearly all the books are out (even Mr 18 Chapter and series books). DH could have cared less about the books but not me *sob* burning them was horrible.

We are still chipping away at the mess from three incidents and the mantra Keep Calm - Carry ON has been muttered constantly.
Life is good enough again

It is what it is *. 

Things are still very tightly packed in here but not against the walls. I cannot believe the cr@p we have accumulated over 22 years of marriage ... and wonder how we used to fit it in our house.

The silver lining is I found a few treasures I was missing like my Tupperware scales , Bamix and  clothes.


* Termites cause $780 million in damages to homes across Australia each year.

♥

Digital dilemmas ~ pulling the plug on cord clutter

Digital age dilemmas First world problems are the cause of much angst in this house .

So if you're anything like my family , you'll have a multitude of electronic devices requiring USB cables and AC chargers - for phones, iPod, kids game consoles and camera battery chargers. 

That is not to mention the fact that you too, have also amassed quite a collection of miscellaneous cords that you either aren’t using anymore or saving because you might need later on (or just you are Hoarders like me)

My husband refuses to be held responsible for my lost cords/cables and misplaced chargers.He rolls his eyes  shrugs his shoulders and asks me what I want him do ? when in a panic I rush around looking for a particular item.


Our problem is also complicated because we travel to the farm and home again. Often the cords get packed in unusual places (stop pointing the finger at me !)


Many times a day I am ringing him to ask him where 'X' cord is ?

Frustrating him no end and leaving me cursing , profanities under my breath in no particular order at him and the 'stupid' cord  in a dither.


Kate - also reminded me yesterday in her post on faking it (...not what you think) - where you remove everything off benches and out of sight when you have unexpected guests arriving. In our case house it's house inspections.


My problem is then remembering where I stashed all the cords... (I don't know how I put in the pot drawer or there ! )

Then this brings me to my biggest issue with the storage of electrical cords and chargers - what  do I do with all these odd shaped plugs & wires ?

How do I stop the cord clutter ending up in a tangled mess in half a dozen drawers or cupboards throughout the house, in a box, or dangling off counters for kids to swing off ?

The next hardest part - figuring out which cord goes with what gadget ?
  
I saw this idea ?

removing the shoes of course ?  $20.95

Just not sure - would it be too fiddly ? Easy to add labels or write on each pocket.

So how do you manage the physical storage ? (I know you can't tell me how not to lose my stuff)

Do you have any other DIY cords & cables storage and organising methods or tips you’d like to share?

 What did you say? You need to charge your i Phone  ? well I've got a couple ' i' chargers but can't damn well find them and my hubby lost the car charger 12v adapter thingy.

Yes, I know you can buy expensive gadgets that act like a charging station ... and others with interchangeable tips to suit most devices ..just saying we don;t need any more devices.

♥ Never miss a post

Too busy to blog

Backlog alert !
Amongst other things ...today I've been Spring cleaning.

Yes in 'Autumn' (or fall for those in USA ).
It's been on my can't be bothered to do list for ages.

1. I rearranged my Tupperware cupboard (found a huge stash of lollies & chocolate in the meat keeper thingo = SCORE for good Karma & good housekeeping)
2. Cleaned and rearranged the deep freezer ...unearthed a few frozen fossils. I am so glad I don't have to defrost it.
   
3. Tidied all 4 of the cutlery/utensil/junk drawers & vacuumed the crumbs & crud.
4. Tidied the general plates/bowls/cups/casserole dishes/plastic paraphenalia.Wiped out cupboards and I did it all by myself.
   
5. Cooked homemade sausage rolls for lunch using leftover turkey I found in said freezer ...Teen,his GF & small boys ate them all. Shhh -I didn't tell them it was leftover Christmas turkey !
   
6. Rode my exercise bike a few times in 20 min stretches.
7. Went shopping for white wine milk & bread ...though I had to buy the 'icecream' (strawberry, chocolate swirl & vanilla tubs) on special ...half price people so 3 x 2l tubs, 6 mini Magnums, 4 caramel crud Magnums later ~ My freezer now has more icecream than regular dinner food. So ? is there a problem ?
   
8. Also used up more leftover chicken to cook Teen,GF & my dinner. Chicken Alfredo, with bacon, mushroom , garlic, peas and parmesan cheese (seriously 12 mins tops using the Alfredo packet mix).
   
9. I also oven sprayed & cleaned the microwave convection oven (way overdue especially from the Teen who doesn't always use plates/ trays/baking paper or even bother to wipe it after use)
10. Still managed the regular washing, made the 'bed', unpacked the dishwasher, washed up 3-4 times , picked up toys , play referee ... yell " sit down, stop jumping, stop running, put that back,don't hit him, give that back " 100 times etc.
    
11. I even used a can opener to open baked beans for dinner one small boy ...now that truly exerted me. I haven't used the can opener in weeks...lucky I found it . The other small boy chose Number-gettio's (with a ring pull) so that made life easier =).
    
12. Distributed numerous snacks/drinks & bribes, over the course of the day, to said small boys in order to do all of this.
13. ...Finally I sat down with a toasted waffle & vanilla icecream with (frozen) blueberries.Then finished up with a dose of HOUSE !
    

I know my DH may not notice all my hard work ...*sigh*

...*shudder*...lucky for me or he might expect it all the time !!!

Still I am feeling slightly blissfully domestic.

& P.S. I am so hiding the Magnums now I have so many Tupperware containers with lids...

♥

Never miss a post

Banana Bread for dummies

or busy mummies ...
Ok I admit I am no Masterchef .
Though I like to bake I am not a supercook.
I found this recipe for Banana Bread from a twitter link and it was so easy even my 3yr olds could have made it...well maybe a slight exaggeration. I had a similar recipe once before but lost it.

Banana Bread Recipe

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
  
• 3/4 sugar ( I used brown sugar for a more caramel flavour or you can use caster sugar)
  
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of plain (all-purpose) flour

The best thing is you don't need for a mixer for this recipe.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Mix melted butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl using a wooden spoon.
   
3. Stir in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle in the baking soda and salt , mix in well.
   
4. Lastly add flour , mix to smoothish batter.
   
5. The mixture will be thick , pour/spoon mixture into a buttered or baking paperlined 4x8 inch loaf pan.
   
6. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

Serve warm ...it doesn't last long.
Ps still chipping away at the mountains ...and wishing I had a rewind button.
♥

Never miss a post