The Blackout of 2013

I have to hand it to our parents. They managed to raise us to be good people, cook countless dinners, get all the housework done and teach us all the childhood lesson - and all without ABC2. 

Our TV isn't working. Well, that's not completely right. The aerial is broken. We've had zero TV reception since last Thursday. At first we put it down to the storm that had been raging around us for the previous few days, but when the sun came out and the signal stayed away, I figured it was more than the weather. 

Thankfully a few months ago I bought an AppleTV and that has, literally, saved my sanity. Without it, we'd be eating takeaway and I'd be saving all my toilet time till Hubby got home from work! 

But it makes me wonder, how did parents get by without the Peppa Pig distraction at 5pm so I can get dinner cooked? I know we did have kids shows on in the afternoon, was that the only time we watched TV? My sister was addicted to Pokemon in the mornings but I was too busy getting ready (doing my hair) for school to watch anything. We'd come home and have a Milo and grapes at 4pm, homework, piano, dinner and than, finally, TV before bed. 

Besides the ease of distraction when I need to do something, I'm actually enjoying not having the TV accessible so much. I know that tonight I'll curse it as I'm missing MKR and Revenge, but the rest of the time it's not that bad. I can play shows and movies through the AppleTV for Noah while I cook dinner and a movie as quiet time during the day, but knowing it's not just a click away is...liberating. Hubby and I have been watching a movie at night, rather than potato'ing in front of bad shows. We're even going to bed earlier at night.

Now I just wish Phoenix would get the memo about sleeping past 5:30am.....

But if someone had said to me, pull your aerial out and see how you go, I'd've laughed at them. Why is TV so essential?Because we all enjoy it. As much as Hubby bags it out, I love watching MKR at night, after a long day, seeing other people cook and whinge and get booted out. Not have to think about what needs cleaning and washing and be able to sit for an hour is so nice. 

And if it doesn't get fixed soon, I might get Peppa Pig withdrawals of my own! There's only so much Mickey Mouse I can take.....

Oregano and Garlic Roasted Lamb

This dish, I was quite 'meh' about. In the end, after cooking, it all seemed very bland and I don't know if I under seasoned it or there was not enough flavour... But the dish all tasted the same after the first mouthful and Hubby and I didn't enjoy it all that much.

I think it might have been the wrong cut of meat too as the lamb leg was nice and pink but there was so much fat left on it that hadn't rendered down. It would have benefited from a long slow cooking more, in my humble opinion.

So a few days later, that's what I did. Cut up all the leftovers, added a crapload of veggies and baked it with some beef stock into a pie. The meat was falling apart on our fork and the stock and rosemary I added gave it a much richer flavour.

Waste not, want not. Was a great second dish.

Grilled Prosciutto and Lemon Thyme Haloumi

So I seem to be a little lacking in the ingredients department lately. No lemon thyme out here. Not to worry, I used good old regular thyme and some lemon zest. Worked a treat.

I love Haloumi. Have I told you that yet? I mean, I seriously love Haloumi. Cheese that doesn't melt when you cook it. Furthermore, it goes crispy and golden. What's not to love?!?

I hadn't yet baked this cheese in the oven so was excited to see how it'd turn out. Carefully and lovingly wrapped in gorgeous Prosciutto and drizzled with oil with the thyme and zest tucked in there all nice and snug, I roasted them till golden.

Then gobbled them all up.

Yum. Give it a go!

Chilli and Kaffir Lime Beef Skewers

In all honesty, I've only just realised that I left out the two main ingredients in the title of the recipe.

The chilli I omitted on purpose as I'm not only cooking for Hubby and I, but also our two young kiddo's who wouldn't agree with chilli all that much. And good luck finding Kaffir Lime Leaves out there. You've got better luck growing your own than you would ever buying from the supermarket.

But, I did include the rest of the ingredients and still resulted in a nice dish. So all in all, win!

As always, I made too much noodles and while I intended on keeping the leftovers for veggie patties the next day, just because it's a good intention doesn't mean it'll happen. Which it didn't. But oh well.

Lovely BBQ recipe. A little different from your average kebabs so it's a nice spice up. You could even add in the chilli...