Fillyjonk at Shapely Prose has something to say about making the most of the body you’re living in now instead of waiting till you’re thin. John Scalzi has finished the manuscript for Zoe’s Tale shares some thoughts about the writing process. I found my way to yogabeans! via Fussy – surreal…. I recently discovered Pioneer Woman, she writes a pretty good love story, takes gorgeous photos and cooks with a truly terrifying amount of butter! Continue reading Link-fest No.2
I like having a meal plan, shopping is more efficient, the 5:30pm decision making is done and there are less arguments with the kids too. I aim for one scare the kids night each week where I cook something that broadens their culinary horizons a little – it doesn’t always happen though. Planning a week ahead at a time seems to work best, anything more and life ends up getting in the way and making the plan redundant, and less means too many trips to the shops. I’ve been known to plan 3 meals and snacks sometimes, which works quite … Continue reading Thinking ahead
I served this at our Christmas party and then made it again today to take to a friend’s Boxing Day party, it seemed to be well received so I thought I’d share it here. I took this photo using what was left over after the party, there was lots more to begin with! 1kg butternut pumpkingarlic powdermild paprikanutmegolive oil3 cups couscous3 cups chicken stock (I make mine from Massel cubes and make it less than full strength – 1 cube for the 3 cups instead of 1 cube for 2 cups)2 red onions diced1 red capsicum diced150g snow peas sliced … Continue reading Roast pumpkin and couscous salad – party sized
Saturday’s project was the gingerbread house, I baked the gingerbread on Friday night, then assembled it and let the kids loose on it in the morning. They were very thorough… My mum had come over to spend some time with us and she got quite caught up in the creative process too, I think those rows of smarties along the edge of the roof are down to her 🙂 After doing some cooking for the next day’s picnic we headed into the city to meet up with Jenni (ChingTing) and Kat (Ninox), SOz members who were up from Canberra. We … Continue reading We’ve been busy
Fruit Mince Pies(makes up to 36 depending on how thin you roll the pastry)3 cups plain flour1 cup icing sugar, sifted225g butter, diced3 – 4 tablespoons iced watericing sugar for dusting 2 x 410g jar of Robertson’s traditional fruit mince (you need about 1 3/4 jars) 1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Brush 3 12-cup shallow patty tins lightly with melted butter. 2. Place flour, sugar and butter in a food processor. Process until the mixture is fine and crumbly. Add almost all the water and process until the mixture comes together. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, press … Continue reading Fruit mince pies mmmmm….
The Advent calendar – my made-by-me, chocolate-free, re-usable felt wall hanging advent calendar, is no-where to be found. Seriously, I have no idea what I did with it. The tree – first haul it up from down in the garage, next find the box of decorations…realise the tinsel and lights are not in the box which you were SURE had everything in it…tell the kids they can’t decorate the tree till you find the lights…2 days later give up and let them decorate the tree anyway…if the lights and tinsel turn up we’ll worry about it then. Christmas cards – … Continue reading The stuff of Christmas
Hello. It’s Tuesday. I usually weigh in on Tuesdays. But not today. I decided I didn’t need to know 😛 I cooked beef stroganoff for dinner. I cheated and used a packet recipe base. It was good. I am tired. Which would account for the short sentences. *snores* Continue reading Sleepy
Adam got back from Amsterdam this morning so the day started early with the distribution of loot among the kids. The boys got mini remote control helicopters, no I don’t know what that has to do with Holland either, and Caitlin scored a very pretty Swarovski crystal pendant. I got tea from the British Museum and there was also a haul of books on various things medieval – anglo saxon crafts, celtic and norse designs, and saxon and viking artefacts – and a set of dvds titled Masterpieces of the British Museum. Breakfast followed, eventually. Tom had been promised maccas … Continue reading Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest.
And it’s already being destroyed!Allow me to present: The One Ring meeting its demise in a pool of lava.Tom wanted a Balrog cake, I talked him down to something more achievable. Continue reading Forging The One Ring was hard work
Friday was a no-blog day because I spent the morning frantically cleaning up and shopping, as one does, in preparation for having close on 20 people, mostly Browncoats, over for a BBQ in the afternoon and evening. Everyone who came brought with them vast quantities of gorgeous and for the most part healthy food and despite my original intentions to track points come hell or high water, I caved and just stopped worrying about it. There were vegan cupcakes cooked by Susan, vegan slices, salads and NOT-meatballs invented and cooked by the very talented ZB, Crusty Meatloaf & Lecso (capsicum … Continue reading Public holiday = BBQ party!
Mim's Muddle 