you are telling me this because ...

• a] It is a "fast food" innovation that will open up new opportunities and deals for Aussie farmers.
• b] I need a good frying from the Food police (click away now)...
• c] For a start  - I am not here to convince you to eat more KFC.
• d] It's menu plan Monday and I need a night off cooking this long weekend and I want to give you a night off cooking

A few weeks ago six 'mummy' bloggers were invited to KFC store in Sydney Airport precinct . I flew down from Western NSW because I was interested ; not for lure of a free lunch. Though, I didn't refuse it .

I honestly tried, and enjoyed, the fresh salad despite claims no one goes to KFC for the salad - it is certainly a menu choice I personally make.

We had been invited because KFC are completely open about the inner operations of their 'restaurants' , ingredients (excluding the 11 secret herbs and spices ) and to hear the back story, from Nikki Lawson, about KFC Australia switching from the use of palm oil to to Australian grown and locally sourced high oliec canola oil~ Hocan

Many times as we have driven from Central West to Sydney, we have gazed at the awe inspiring fields of golden canola.

Canola - Gold

I think it is certainly a move which will help support Australian farming communities. I've noticed local TV has been playing the ad quite often - I rarely watch TV. Local radio has mentioned it too, as many of the farms are in close proximity to us.

The first trial they did in Tasmania in 2010 showed there was no change the taste of the food. It is a healthier option than palm oil too. KFC have also been reducing the use of sodium (salt) with an aggressive salt reduction program across the menu.

KFC will be the main buyer of high oliec canola , having spent the past two years working with 250 Australian farmers to help build a canola industry – from seed to farm to milling.

So it's a win-win - KFC ensures it retains the iconic KFC taste.

I was also impressed by the high standards of quality control, hygiene, storage of fresh raw chicken and other products. The store manager is very hands on, in checking temperatures several times a day.

As well as sourcing mostly 100% Australian produce , KFC also recycle their frying oil - it gets filtered and recycled to third world countries. I not about to bore you with the details.

The Goodification Project is a journey of continuous improvement. KFC realise for most people their product is a treat and can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet (in moderation) and one that includes EXERCISE... of course I walked the 1.5 km to the store instead of catching a Taxi.

Nutritional information is available on all menu boards now too, to help you make informed and better choices.

We eat KFC as our choice of fast food option on route from the farm to Sydney or home again. It's my husband's favourite junk food preference.We know our expectations for choice, quality and ease of parking (with a long trailer or caravan a top priority) plus clean rest rooms -will be met !

Given, it is rarely a dinner at home choice, especially since we moved to the country, I'm looking forward to a night off.

In other news I'm also going back to menu planning...

Tuesday - Homemade Chicken drumsticks with homemade chips or Honey Mustard Chicken - steam vegies (WW website -anyone can use this recipe section but not access to 1500 recipes)

Wednesday - Baked pea, ham & oregano rissotto 

Thursday - Meat and Vegie Bolognaise with noodles (sneaky lentils)

Friday -  Trio of soups -  Roasted pumpkin and ginger soup, Tom Yam soup and Chicken and sweet corn soup (We have visitors - I'll share my Tom Yam soup recipe later this week )

Saturday - Homemade wood fired Pizzas

 

Sunday - Chicken or roasted pumpkin and feta filo parcels or a variation for the small boys ( think healthy chicken sausage rolls with carrot/zucchini/oats)  

Monday- Queen of the house' night off in honour of Long weekend ...

 

Thanks to KFC, I have a $30 KFC voucher to giveaway. Treat your family or a friend to a free dinner and enjoy a night off cooking.


To enter please leave a comment telling me:

Why you deserve a night (or day) off cooking ?

1. Australian residents only.

2. Giveaway closes Tuesday 12th June ~ 11.59pm 2012.

3. My Little Drummer Boys takes no responsibility for any delay, loss or damage to the voucher sent to the winner - with an expiry of 31/8/2012

4. Winner will be contacted by email and they 5 days to make contact or a new winner will be selected.

DISCLAIMER: I will be reimbursed for my travel expenses to the event, I was not paid for this post or asked to write about it. They are my own personal genuine opinions.
 

♥

Matters of the Heart

reflections on romance ...

I had so many 'boys' as friends in the church youth group I'd joined at about 16.5 yrs. I could talk to the 'boys' for hours. . I did have a soft spot in my heart for one but he only had eyes for my dear friend MS (we've been friends 25yrs). I knew she couldn't bear him but I tried ... for me LOL . Another fellow I was quite keen on only wanted me as friend too ... both came to my 21st birthday party. Secretly, I hoped for some jealously here at one stage .I had lots of males in the youth group as 'mates' -that's all it seemed.

A few youth group guys asked me out on 'dates' or to be a girlfriend (when I hardly knew them) .The ones who unfortunately fancied me where definitely not my idea of a life partner. I had high ideals.I wasn't into playing time. I had already been went on one disastrous date as a teen .

The fellow who had the name 'Johny Walker'[think scotch] seriously - he was a complete loser I met him at a Blue Light (Police sponsored) disco - and danced with him. Later that week my friend W, gave him my phone number [ he knew where she worked] and he asked me to a movie (daytime). We went by train. JW tried to impress me with his bird cruelty stories and criminal activities OMG - that was final time I saw him. I forgave my friend though (we are still friends after 28years)

The other guys I saw regularly were all only youth group ~ outings to movies, putt putt golf and quiet parties. Oh , one guy was a patient and he gave me a flower on Valentine's day and card ... to ask me out LOL - no way.

Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink...
At 21.5 yrs I left this church for greener pastures and hopefully better men.I was busy shift working as a registered nurse and attending a new church at 22 with another good friend Deb . The guys there were very nice (a lot attended the local university) but were mostly all taken ...not that I was looking hard(: ) wink).

One night 27/9/1988 I was driving home late from hospital (RN nursing) .I switched from music station to talk radio to avoid an ad. I heard the spiel from this guy and I thought he sounded interesting. I thought 'I might write in'.

It took me a few days to stay up late enough to write the matchmakers address down ... which I did eventually in the dark one night and put it under my pillow.

I wrote my letter at work ... alone in the Isolation ward (in a children's ward) and when there was only a few children and they were asleep I did my own thing. (I didn't want anyone to know)

The hardest letter I ever had to write . After 10 drafts in the bin, I posted my letter to the radio station . I got a phone call a week or so later from Matt. It was pre-Internet / pre email / pre mobile phones ... not that he uses the computer or Internet much at all. He bravely went on a radio matchmaker program and I was blessed to hear him at that moment in time.He was my hero.Our paths crossed mysteriously or maybe collided LOL . I think only 1-2 girls wrote in... he still isn't sure (hhmm)

Back to the phone call ...we chatted for a hour with airplanes droning in the background {Air show}and my noisy young cousin in my foreground. I made sure he knew that.

So I met M , October 15th , 1988 the same night... a blind date. We met in Parramatta at a restaurant. I was so nervous ... we both were. I could barely eat but we muddled through and talked. He seemed quiet though confident , charming and funny -- all of the things I knew I wasn't. I hoped I was enough to get him interested.

One of us suggested a movie ...and while I got into your car leaving mine behind I had visions of Jack the Ripper.But I still did it. No one knew where I had gone or who I was with. I can't even remember the movie we saw.Gee, I was pleased when you dropped me back my car but sad to say goodbye. .

I went to your church - girls flocked to see you (or me) and I even met your mother soon after after we went to your home and she came out of her room. I wrote to you .Then heard nothing for a week or more ... I was very sad .I hoped you would call me. I was shift working one Friday night I missed your call.No one gave me the message -it was to invite me as a guest to wedding . By the time I got it you were busy ... I had to go to a wedding too (one of two still going strong).
Then we talked by phone and you invited me to dinner on a Tuesday night November 15th ,1988 ... your mother was away. We had Chinese takeaway reheated. We joked and chatted ... you asked me how many pairs of shoes I had ? and a few other odd questions ...
perplexed ? so was I - did he have a shoe fetish or scared he was choosing an Imelda Marcos fan club member.

I think he asked a few more Q’s (obviously I passed the test … still here are we not !)

Then you asked me what I thought of you and to be your girlfriend. I can't remember the exact words ...

Then oh woe to me ...2 weeks later I went on an overnight 1000km bus ride to Melbourne / then a 14 day return 1100 bike ride from Melbourne to Sydney terrified that someone would steal you away. LOL I wrote most days.I returned home from my long bike ride. I had to see you I missed you so much.

Days later I moved into a shared house with girl friends from my old church .I think it was time and also I had had enough of my younger sister, T and her friend, E (still T's friend but nicer now).(I digress my sister met her husband on the Internet 8 yrs ago). T & E had been writing to other guys on the matchmaker show pretending to be me- I found the letters.GRRRRR

My house mates always had guys over after church /youth group (only in the lounge & kitchen). It was fun but I didn't stray for one moment my eyes were set on you. (Plus my cross eyed eye on all those girls that hung around us at your church and also my own friends ... just in case).

On my birthday, 8 months later, you asked me did I want to spend the rest of my life with you ... simply Yes !

A lot of serious things, concerning my future health, happened in the months leading up to this but he loved me in spite of it all.We got married 7 months later.

I know I have a daughter but she isn’t with me …I can’t change it but I lament that I will never be able to share mother / daughter talks with her … Like

I’ll never get to tell her that no matter how many times I thought I was in love, no matter how many times I wanted the guy of-the-moment to love me back, I’m so thankful none of them panned out till, M, her father.

Not one of them could ever come close to comparing to her father. He is my rock and my soul mate. I am sorry sometimes I treat him so badly… but he forgives me.That’s Love !

I thank God for unanswered prayers (I could name more than a handful but they don’t matter do they) in this matter of the heart .I give grateful thanks for this today …

So here we are after 19 years. This is still one of my favorite stories to tell about the beginning of our friendship.

ps... My Dad and M's friends encouraged him to call the radio station the eve our wedding to share our story .They taped it and played this at our wedding - everyone was ROFL.