A Short Review! #glutenfree #leftovers #cooking

Hello,

Here in the Lee and Hock Lai Kitchen we have been having a discussion about how in this busy world, most people simply don't have the time to spend in the kitchen. It is in many ways, much easier to open a bottle of this and that, and your meal is ready!  You eat, and get on with the next thing on the agenda in your hectic schedule. 

So having said that, over the next few weeks, we are going to try to give you some tips and easy cook ups for your busy lives.  Some of these things can be prepared in those spare minutes you have and can be used in a multiple of ways.  Yes, I hear you saying 'They take time!'  But, we guess when you calculate the time you spend scouring the shelves of the supermarket, you could have saved those minutes (hours) and made your own, as well as have a more cost effective, more tasty, less pre-packed taste to your meals.

The cost of some of the gluten free elements that we buy in the supermarkets are quite wallet destroying and often, it would be more tasty eating the packaging that they come in. Yes, it is quite expensive buying the necessaries of gluten-free flours, gums, cereals and the like. However, we like to choose the fresh food approach as well with the fantastic natural produce that our primary producers supply to our markets. You may choose the organic option if you wish, though this does bump the price up a bit. It is also useful having a few little pots of wonder growing in our back yards, on our balconies and the like. They supply a far superior taste to bottled herbs and veggies. They also give us a great sense of achievement and aroma and beauty to our homes.  They can even be fun for kids to learn how to cultivate, grow and use in our foods.  Most kids will want to try what they have grown and acquire a taste for different foods which will give them much more healthy eating patterns for the future.   

Sage

We are going to show you how to make some wonderful dishes on a not so wonderful budget. (Let's face it we all need to save money somehow!) In some of the cooking and food prep it would be nice to involve your partners, your families, and your kids so it is a group event, not just a drudge in the kitchen alone. Kids love to stir the cake mixture! There is no reason why they cannot chop the easier veges. After all does it really matter if they are not uniform? Involving your children in the kitchen makes them appreciate that food is not simply a packet! 
 

Most of our dishes already are quite simple and involve only one or two pans. (Cos none of us like the washing up) and we would rather spend time enjoying good company and food, than slogging it out in the kitchen.  

We want you to feel free to contact us, ask questions and give us some tips as well.  And together we can make a world of difference to our lives and taste buds.  

So get your knives sharp, scrub off your chopping boards and lets get cooking with Lee and Hock Lai's Kitchen.  

Fresh is Best

Fresh is Best

We all know the adage "fresh is best". Well we are encouraging you to visit your local nursery or raid your parents and friends gardens and start planting. Something that not only tastes good - it looks good and saves on those food bills.  As well as that you got someone to talk to - yea I knows it's only 'grow ya bugger' but, they respond in the most delightful way by producing great flavours and smells that you can't buy in the supermarket.
If you only have a balcony you can still have some beautiful fresh produce producing wonders around the home.. They cost very little to start and they give you so much pleasure to boot. 

 

So buy a few pots (they don't need be expensive) and grab some potting mix - don your rubber gloves and reap the benefits of "fresh is best".
While you are at it throw a few in smaller containers - nurture them and give them as presents for those unexpected or expected presents.  Saves racing to shops and buying something people never use anyway. Lets face it, what you give them is a gift of 'you'.
Everything today is so disposable and commercial - it is nice to give something that keeps on giving joy.
 

While I am on my soap box of giving love - why don't you check out our friends at 'wincwrapincotton' and instead of wrapping stuff in paper that is generally thrown in the bin, give them something wrapped elegantly and can be used over and over again.

 

Beautiful gifts wrapped in cotton

Ok it doesn't make the paper wrapping people more and more money but it gives our children a better future with less pollution more trees and something to remember and re-use after the gift itself has gone belly up.

 

Think about it give us your ideas on thing to save the environment.  Who knows your might help someone along the way and show them the true meaning of giving and that is from a heart full of love.