October 2015 ~ Healthy Living

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Weekend Lunch

Well, I admit that we have been naughty on the weekends. We have Maccas for lunch or lunches. It's just so easy to duck down to Maccas when you are tired from grocery shopping, putting them away and doing laundry. Maccas is not even 5 minutes drive away.

But really, how hard can it be to buy something while grocery shopping? Something that is a quick fix? Well, not really. Last weekend, I did a quick pasta with tuna sauce. It's not somethign to rave about but edible and healthy. Plus it's filling. What more can you ask for? It's not like I'm asking for a chameleon tank.

*****

Caged, Barn-Laid or Free Range

Yes, I am talking about eggs of course.

Around lunch time in our kitchen at work (we call it Clear Cafe), my colleague talked about food (what else would you talk about when in the kitchen). I can't even remember what particular topic we were discussing but it just led to eggs. And I said that when I eat eggs I have to not think about the state of the chickens that laid them. I was asked what type of eggs I am buying. See, I have been buying caged eggs forever. I have not really thought about the type. I assumed the household from my MIL and I didn't do any analysis of groceries that we buy. It's a routine and always on the list. My bad.

I learned then that caged eggs were laid by chickens that are cooped-up in a very cramped condition. A small coop and there are three of them. I am not even sure if they can move. All they do all day, I suppose is to lay eggs when they can. Which is really sad.

Growing up in the Philippines and even not in a farm, we only ever had eggs from free range chickens. That was then. Now, my Nanay buys eggs from the market and I think they are caged eggs.

So, with everything that I have learned so far, I started buying barn-laid eggs. I suppose, they are better than caged. We have friends who have chooks and theirs are in a coop. Can't have free-ranged chooks as they get to the neighbours.

I am sure there are nutritional benefits in eating non-caged eggs but my focus really is the condition of the chickens that laid them. And I suppose when these chickens are too old to lay eggs, wait, do they get to that stage? I don't really know but I assume they do. And when they are, they get slaughtered to be one of those chicken breasts that we buy at the shops. Sad and tragic really.

So while we are in the topic of eggs, I am always amazed when I get double egg-yolk in eggs. I suppose it's no different from having twins in human. They're just double embryo. But to see those yolks in the pan is different. It's amazing that the eggs are just as big as the single embryo.

This is one of our menu when it's protein night at home. Aside from it's easy to make, it's not my dish so I don't have to cook it. Happy me.

At least once a week, we either have rib-eye steak (the sort that you buy from the super market only, not the premium cut) or lamb chops.

This is a favourite at home by the way.

Lasagne

One of my family's favourite meal is lasagnia. Well, I'm sure every likes it too. What not to like, as Joey would say. Meat, yum. Cheese, yum. More meat, yum!

But I actually have not tried making one yet. I am not sure that I can do it as good as the Sara Lee that we bought. I can cook but an average one. Not my talent, I suppose. We're happy with something from a box and I believe it's one of our favourites because of the taste. Lol.

Oranged-out

That's what we are at home this week and maybe the week after. We have heaps and heaps of oranges that our dessert and drinks would revolved around this fruit. I am not complaining. One, we didn't buy them. Two Mcj does all the work. Haha.

Yesterday, he made the makings of the tart fillings as practice. Not bad. I am having some while writing - with ice cream.

We will have our vitamin c overload.

Boston Tea Cake

uh, i am not really sure if it is a cake but I have never heard of tea muffin so it is a cake for me. Anyway, I bought a tray of this at costco just to try and low and behold. It is yummy. The frosting is not too sweet or overpowering. Have to buy it again sometime.