Summer Cooking.

We visited the Auckland Botanic Gardens this morning, glad for the cloud cover which made the walk a little easier. We split into two groups: the boys loved dashing ahead while us ladies preferred to take our time. Our little lady, I noticed, is happy to chug along as long as she's fed. Thankfully she loves fruit, so she had a variety of fruit in her hand as she walked.

I am starting to realise that there is an art to summer cooking. Of course, the less time spent in front of a hot stove in these hot summer months, the better. Not only that, cold meals also go down exceptionally well. 

Meal prep is now done the night before, when it's cooler. The older children have joined in, and our big girl has learned to prepare overnight oats for breakfast. Our big boy has been preparing the bakes: baked savoury French toast last night, apple crumble the day before, and he helped papa with bread pudding this evening. Being able to pull ready-to-eat meals out of the fridge has been wonderful. 

Overnight oats, a quinoa salad, bread pudding and chicken salad for tomorrow's meals

Bread rolls to go with cold chicken salad. 

Thinking of what to cook has been the trickiest part. Just gonna take it one day at a time.