need sum motivation!

[brazen20au]

when you want to put pics IN the post you have to use the tag [ img ] before the link to the pic and [/ img ] after WITHOUT the spaces (so your pic needs to be hosted elsewhere)

[JaneeZee]

It's so easy to get into the doldrums isn't it!  I find I often make the same things week in week out.  I've decided that once I finish this elimination diet (another couple of weeks) I'm going to pick one cook book a week & do something different from that book every day.  Mind you on a week like I have ahead of me when I am in for a total of 2 nights it can be challenging!!!

I always find Jo's posts inspirational (though where in Victoria I'd find dragonfruit I have no idea LOL) - so maybe search the blogspots which have Thermomix involvement & follow them so that ideas get presented to you regularly.

Good luck.  Once you've got the Thermy "taste" back you'll remember why you loved it!!!

[em]

ok thanks brazen will try and do it properly next time!
well i havent made anything else since the biscuits.... for dinner last night i made chicken scallopini, all in the frypan on the hotplate!
i am going to make sum nice honey sultana bread for my mum as we are going over there for roast turkey dinner tonight and she loves sultana loaf, so will have a browse through the forum and see if anyone else had success with it.
also today i think i will make my choc-aholic dad sumthing sweet, brownies or mud cake .
hi janeezee, i am victoria, wodonga and i dont think we would be able to get dragonfruit anywhere either, but i also love jos blog, shes so clever!

[faffa_70]

Menu planning is my key to motivation. I try and cook something new at least twice a week. I find it so less time consuming to spend an hour or so on Sunday planning than the hour or so I spend each day deciding AND then having to go to the shops to get everything lol. 

I really really resisted menu planning for a very long time - there is testament to that on this forum somewhere  now I just die in a hole with out it, so once again thank you to everyone that does menu plan and finally inspiring me   

[cookie1]

I must agree Kathryn. Menu planning is the very best. I sit down on Tuesday afternoon with lots of cookbooks and plan the next weeks meals. I have a space on the sheet I use for ideas for the following week too. I then list where I can find the recipe and what I need to buy. then each morning I check and I know what I'm preparing that day. I only plan for dinner as luch is always something and salad.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

Menu planning is a very good tip for getting motivated.  I hadn't thought of that one! 

[Cuilidh]

Dragonfruit - I see them on sale at Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne now and then - though that's not a lot of help when you live in Wodonga!!!

[em]

i havent really bothered with menu planning, seems like alot of work to write it all out... do you find it saves you money wen you do the groceries, by having a set list? maybe its something i need to look into more and it is probably good for keeping you well organised to i would imagine, something i am not good with...
sometimes i think we all get into a rut, i am trying to get motivated in all aspects of my life, studying, exercising, cooking, housework, etc... and i do believe its all about having a good routine which is wat i seriously lack  
so starting this week i am going to exercise everyday, to start 15 mins on the exercise bike .  get into a good routine with housework and cooking and also get on top of my studies.... wish me luck
also i used the tm yesterday a few times, first i made the yummy salted caramel maple icecream and then made teninas salted caramel brownies.. mmm they were delicious and enjoyed by all!  oh and today cause its gotten quite cold here suddenly, i made veg soup for lunch.
cuilidh, we will be down in melb for the weekend next month for our 8th year anniversary, and i am keen to get to the qv markets while we are there so will look out for them - thanks!

[faffa_70]

Em that was my thoughts exactly when I resisted it for so long. For the first couple of times it takes a little while, but once you get into the swing of it, it really doesn't take long at all. I find it saves me HEAPS on my shopping.

As I said before the time it now takes me to menu plan on one day for the whole week is about the same time I spend EACH DAY wondering what to have for dinner.

I also make sure on the days that we are going to be late home (eg Monday the kids finish swimming lessons at 6pm and we get home about 6.20pm) I always have something easy, or that I can pre prepare and ALWAYS something that I know they will eat with out a second glance.

As for organised and in a routine - well it is one step to that as you don't have to worry or think about meals for the next week 

[Meagan]

Check out the fly lady link in my sig. It seems crazy butwhen I do it it really works 

[quirkycooking]

hi janeezee, i am victoria, wodonga and i dont think we would be able to get dragonfruit anywhere either, but i also love jos blog, shes so clever!

Thanks Em & Janee!!  I was a bit surprised to hear someone say they saw dragonfruit for $10 each where they lived - obviously it's a lot cheaper here, otherwise I wouldn't bother!! Last lot I bought were $2.95 each, but they grow in backyards here, so sometimes you get given some... 

I find I get inspired by looking through cookboooks and websites at recipes, thinking about what I can do with what I've got on hand, and planning out a menu.  I've gotten lots of inspiration from Flylady too, Meagan! And I always regret it when I fail to plan the meals for the week - ends up being a real schamozzle!!! And I keep going to the shop for things and spend way more than I do when I plan!!

Oh, and aren't those salted caramel brownies to die for, Em??!! Very decadent. I'm not supposed to have butter, but I made them anyway, then couldn't stop eating them! Naughty. Allergies are back, so better be good now!