Ballina Caravan trip with meal plan.

                                                               Happy friday friends!

 

 

 Look at my pretty holiday toes...I hate my feet, ugly, ugly, short stumpy feet and toes but i have pretty 'french manicured' toe nails I did my self the night before we left for our Ballina caravan holiday.

Last Saturday we got back home from our wonderful holiday at ballina.  As mentioned in my last post, we went away with my brother, his wife and his delightful daughter, my six year old niece.  It was a mixed bag with the weather.  The first 2 days it was very hot (around 29 degrees) and the 3rd day it was heavy rain & wind, the 4th day was blowy but sunny and warm and the 5th day was nice.  So over all, it was good.

We went in the caravan, but before we left we preped everything so all we had to do was R.E.L.A.X!
As a mum, im in charge of cooking cause we all know that if it wasnt caught that day and cooked on the barbeque, the husband dont cook it.  You know, Im fine with that because I dont mind cooking AND that means husband cleans up after...win, win!  hehe.
Anyway, this time round I thought Im going to be super organised.  My goal was to plan everything we were going to eat BEFORE we left, shop BEFORE we leave and cut up and wrap everything so when it comes time to cooking on holidays its less fuss as possable with the maximum nutrition. This was my kitchen 24hours prior to leaving...

I chopped, seperated, wrapped and packed EVERYTHING before we left.  Even the snacks.  Here is a general run down of the meals we had...
MONDAY... Lunch~ Ham rolls & a bannana (on the road)
                      Snack~ Packet of chips (in the car driving)
                       Dinner~ Mexican burritos

TUESDAY...Breakfast~Bacon and egg burgers, made on english muffins.
                      Morning tea~ fruit
                      Lunch~ Crackers with avocado, cheese and ham
                      Afternoon tea~popcorn
                      Dinner~ Chicken skewers and salad with flavoured rice
                      Dessert~ chocolate

WEDNESDAY...Breakfast~ Pancakes with chopped strawberries, bannana, yoghurt and syrup
                            Morning tea~ Chips, carrot and celery sticks and dip
                            Lunch~ sausage sandwhiches
                           Afternoon tea~ friut and nibblies
                           Dinner~ slow cooked chicken (yes I even packed my slow cooker)
                                    with corn cobbs, baby potatoes and salad.
                           Dessert~ chocolate

THURSDAY...Breakfast~ Breaky wraps (bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans and cooked
                                            tomato on a flat bread wrap)
                          Morning tea~ Crackers
                           Lunch ~ cheese and avocado and tomato on crispbread.
                          afternoon tea~ popcorn
                           Dinner ~ lamb and veges
                          Dessert ~ marshmallows
                         
FRIDAY~ Breakfast~ Toast/cereal and coffee/juice
                   Morning tea~ yoghurt
                    Lunch ~ sausage sandwhiches
                  Dinner~ Pasta cabonara and salad
                   Dessert ~ Marshmallows

SATURDAY~ Breakfast~Toast/cereal and coffee/juice
                         Morning tea ~ crackers/cheese/chips/fruit (anything we could find to eat in the car
                         for the trip home)
                         Lunch~ we had hot chip sandwhiches.  On the way home we stopped at a little beach
                         Pottsville and bought hot chips, white bread and tomato sauce.  Not real healthy but,
                         hey, we're on holidays!

Saturday night we were home and eating our regular food.  Actually we eneded up with takeaway that night as we got home late and after emptying the caravan, doing 3 loads of washing and putting everything away I justt wanted to put my feet up, have a glass of merlot and have dinner made for me, hehe.
Here are some happy snaps of our holiday...
                                          

SERIOUSLY!!! Does it get much better than this??  Me sunbaking watching the kids spalsh in the pool.

 

This was taken Thursday night.  We went for a bit of a night 4wd drive along a beachy track.  Was fun!

Lying on my towel on the beach...ahhhhhhh.....


                                     
Whats a camp/caravan holiday without a fire and marshmallows...?

Chip sandwhiches by the sea..Lovin' it!

 

GoOdByE bAlLiNa...waiting to board the ferry back home.

My tasty BBQ Pies!

On Thursday we had some very special friends for lunch.  Seeing the weather has been rather warm here of late I decided to make some very tasty little pies.
I made 2 lots.  One~Sundried tomato, Pumpkin & fetta and Second~Egg & Bacon.  I served them with a loverly garden salad & a smidge of Balsamic Vinegar.
This is how I did them...
Shortcrust pastry (cut into squares)
Market Fresh Butternut Pumpkin (cut into tiny squares)
half a cup of sundried tomatos
Fresh Fetta cheese (also cut into small squares)
5 free range eggs (beaten)

I placed the pastry on top of kitchen paper and used that as lining.  I placed them into mufin trays and realy pushed them into the bottom so they have the same shape as the muffin tin when they come out.

I them placed all of the rest of the food into the pastry cups then poured the egg over the top.


For the Bacon and egg ones I baiscally did the same thing except used differeing ingredients...

Hormone free/Low fat bacon...(or you can simply use lean ham and shread it)
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Garlic chives~ chopped.
5 free range eggs~beaten.

Again just place into the pastry cups and cover with the egg.  Once cooked remove the paper and serve with a drizzle of Balsamic.
Now, normally I would cook in a moderate oven for about 20-30 mins.  However, our oven is 'out of order' at the moment.
At first I panicked, I thought "Oh no...what to do!!" I even was about to drive to my sisters to use her oven.  Instead I thought, Hmmm, I often cook Pizzas and "bake" roast meat in our hooded BBQ so I wonder if I could "bake" mini pies.  I put 2 in as a trial, and I was totaly amazed at the result...they were perfect.  I must admit they were a little dark on the bottom so with the next lot I place a cake tin unter the muffin try to raise it off the hot plate...It worked a treat.
Im so happy with my discovery.  I might try a few other things.  Now I know if Im ever stuck, My trusty ol' BBQ will save me.

My yummy little Pies on my trusty BBQ.