TIPS & TRICKS
An array of tried and tested , practical life hacks on well-being , fitness , food , home and gardening ,
Useful tech tips for the tech-averse :)
Useful tech tips for the tech-averse :)
Disposable foil tray placed inside a regular baking dish makes for clean and sturdy handling with zero clean up effort  Bonus tips !
Pork roast timing - 220 degrees open for 20-30 minutes (in a preheated oven) , and then 35-45 minutes per kg at 180 Degrees and covered with foil . Let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing thinly 🔪🔪🔪 Add in veggies 🍅 🌶 🌽 plus a couple of garlic pods , an hour before the end , doused with maple syrup , cayenne pepper , paprika , olive oil , and of course salt .
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 When is a banana stand not a banana stand ? On a bookshelf in my den where headphones hang ! 🎵💜🎵😊😊
 Read the complete article at www.nirandfar.com/tech-distractions-addictions/
Lentils lend themselves to lazy cooking ! Soak them overnight . Put them on a stovetop and they get right to work with little or no help from the chef . Freshly cooked lentils are comfort food for my family , especially on a cold day 🤎🤎
 Don’t you just hate it when painstaking cutlets turn out dry ?
Here are some of my tried and tested tips for succulent and juicy Shredded Chicken Cutlets , originally perfected by my Aunty Phyllis : 1. Use large size breasts SKIN-ON , for the cooking process and discard just before shredding. Cooking with skin is a great tip for moist meat and a rich taste. 2. Sautee sliced onion , finely chopped ginger , green chilly , tomato , a little turmeric , garam masala (allspice powder) , fennel powder in a pan before adding the chicken. (( It is so boring to just "boil" as recipes instruct )) 3. Avoid whole spices since they sometimes break up and land in a hapless person's mouth. Stick to spice powders that dissipate uniformly. 4. Leave behind sufficient gravy , this will get absorbed by the shredded meat when the mixture cools. 4. Allow chicken to cook in its own juices. Do not add water. Consistency should be so soft that it shreds very easily with a fork , and takes no more than a couple of minutes. 5. Add finely chopped fresh herbs - coriander and mint - after the mixture cools , along with thick Greek yoghurt , chopped green chillies to taste , and additional lemon juice . 6. Use cornflake crumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs ( for the usual egg/crumb batter , seasoned with a bit of salt and pepper ) 7. Shape cutlets in advance , refrigerate until ready to fry as they firm up and are easier to handle . Reusing plastic mushroom / strawberry tubs for my own chopped veggies. Save time and water on washing up !  Some veggies refrigerate really well , packed loosely in such tubs . Great time hack to spend 30-40 minutes chopping once a week , (of course while grooving to your favorite playlist or podcast ) , and then freeing up so much time on busy work evenings as you just "help yourself" to a mix and match combination of ready healthy veggies.
Some of the those that keep really well for the 5-day week are grated carrots , shredded/finely cut cabbage , sweet potato wedges , cauliflower and broccoli florets , jack yellow pumpkin slices .  Regular push-ups have always been a challenge for me . Maybe because I've begun them so late in life , or just have weak shoulders / upper body ? Today at the gym , trainer Michael taught me a practical hack called "wall push ups" that help hone the technique before lying face down on the floor and putting incorrect pressure on the shoulders ( which are often the weakest part of one's body he said ) . He also said that its' good to take 10 steps back to get something right before proceeding.😀⚡⚡⚡😀 So here i go from hating to loving push-ups , and enjoying their benefits of developing core stability and upper body strength ! Hopefully you do too. Poached eggs are always going to remind me of a perfectly crafted Mother's Day on Sunday 9th May 2021 , thanks to our loving children. Watch this quick 4 minute video by Jamie Oliver to learn all about perfect poaching. Great in its simplicity , particularly when you need to do multiple shapely eggs at a time for group brunches. Some key points presented below , but don't skip the video !! 1. Use only fresh eggs. This is essential. 2. Water should simmer and not boil vigorously. 3, Use a bowl to drop the egg 4. THREE minutes is the perfect time to cook any type of egg , with a runny yolk. 5. Spin the water to help hold the egg together. 6. For multiple eggs - wrap in greased cling foil , tie up loose ends , flavor with seasoning inside - salt, pepper, harissa, chilli powder - ( you can prep the parcels way before your guests arrive ) ..... the best solution ever ! Thanks Kyle for your Mother's day hospitality and this clever hack .   Well earned rest and solitude after a tiring early morning group workout at the gym. Time for that Holy Holly Hour in my den , sipping CARDAMOM COFFEE. 1 heaped tsp Nescafe or your favorite brew, 1 sugar ( is how i like it ) 2 pods fresh cardamom pounded. Pour in boiling water , stir , enjoy along with a savers-morning-routine.html Bonus Tip !
Current personal food hacks that help carve out more creative time during my busy week. (1) ONE MAJOR MEAL A DAY : A practice Len and myself have been following for over 25 years - Eating only one major meal daily. Dinner. Early dinner , definitely by 7.00 pm. A hearty meal with at least 4-5 food varieties , two of which are veg and at least one staple salad. Lower on carbs. Followed by fruit , dessert , yoghurt . One hearty meal a day saves me heaps in shopping , prep and washing up time. Slight hunger pangs keep me active and alert throughout. Munching on readily cut fruit and nuts , maybe a couple of biscuits and a dip is very enjoyable. Definitely no meat or fish for me through the day. Dinner then become very enjoyable , much awaited and truly relished !! (2) HOME COOKED - BOUGHT OUT COMBO FOOD PLAN : In order to help my blog take off and give me the frequent creative windows needed , i have been ordering vegetarian food twice weekly ( Monday and Wednesday ) from a friend. Great help and immense time saver. I would definitely advocate a mix of home-cooked and bought-in (healthy) food for that spark and variety , whilst ensuring i don't stay away from the kitchen completely.
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