Saturday 29 September 2012

Spring Holidays; the week that was!

Off to a good start I think.

I week down one to go!

I'm actually going to Bali in week 2, so that should be a breeze to get through.

So our week in photo's....
There was a day of rest!
A trip to the library
A face painted!
Oh course McDonald's
Some knitted tree hugging
Some back of the car shenanigans. Emelia decided to paint Orbie's face with her ice cream...he LOVE it!
And some fears conquered!

We thought the knitted tree's were amazing. You can check them out here:
https://www.facebook.com/melbournestreetknitters?ref=ts&fref=ts












Thursday 20 September 2012

Losing a family pet is just so sad.

My poor sister had to put her beloved dog, Meeko down last night.

Meeko has been in the family for 15 years and known by so many people.

Pets have this way of worming there way into your hearts and life and then making it so hard to say goodbye to them.

This has been a tough time for my sister and her family, but it has also been very hard on my daughter.

To say she loved this dog would be an understatement!

I am not sure why, but they had a special little friendship.

My daughter has cried most of the night and I have just got back from dropping her at school where she is in tears again.

I was going to keep her home today but her teacher said they have Mass today and she would like the class to say a prayer for Meeko and that this might help her with the grieving process also.

I hope so! Poor little girl.

So lets all say a little something not only for my sisters dog, but any pets you have lost along the way.

They are special little creatures and this beautiful little dog will be missed forever.

Rest In Peace Meek's




*Thanks to my "friend" Tom for correcting my spelling mistake. You are a wanker!


Wednesday 19 September 2012

The food choice's the kids make.

Yesterday was a full on day, from sunrise to sunset.

I am really tired and grumpy at the moment too.I think the past 9 months have started to catch up with me and I really just need some sleep!!

So we found a lump at the back of Baby O's head, this sent us into a bit of panic as Daughter E had to have a cyst removed from her neck last year.

So hubby came home early so we could go to the doctor and get bub's checked out. This was right after school, so had to race around and bundle everyone in car in record time to make our appointment.

Daughter E, as always was STARVING after school so I told her to quickly grab something for in the car. Well, seeing I was not there to supervise the choices she picked crap!

I usually have a snack waiting for her when she gets home, cos I know she will be hungry and I want her to have some thing half healthy as sometimes this becomes dinner (as she is full by dinner time then will have a snack just before bed).

Just as I thought, all the sugary/salty shit she had ingested turned her into a little monster and very emotional. I also think the emotional out pouring is tiredness also. Its the last week of term and this is just what happens.

So today I got a cooking again so there is something yum waiting for her.

I had some random bits of veg in the fridge so I used them to make some pasty things.

Pasty Things

1 Potato - Diced very small
1 Carrot - Grated
1 small piece of Pumpkin - Grated
1/4C Peas
1 Boiled Egg - Diced (optional, had one in the fridge)
A splash of Veg Stock
1/2 Handful of grated Parmesan
3 Sheets of Puff Pastry
1 Egg - for egg wash
1Tbs Oil

So chuck your diced potato and all other veg in an oiled fry pan to cook off. Add the stock and cheese also.Just check your potato's and when they are soft pop in the egg and its ready!
Now it's up to you how you want to make these. I did a few triangle looking things, then some shapes with cookie cutters and then a sausage roll. Jsut brush any edges with egg and also the tops when they are about to go in the oven.
They took about 12-15min in a 180oven.

I know she loves these little things, so I will be happy for her to eat them all!

Oh also Baby O is fine!!! Phew! It is just a gland - apparently we all have them.





Wednesday 12 September 2012

Sneaking in the Meat Free Monday's

We don't eat a lot of "meat" but if I go out of my way to mention this is "meat free" it gets a bit of a roll of the eyes from the Hubby.

So I tend not to mention it. Which can get a little hard as so many delicious meals are meat free and I just want to tell the world!

I like the idea of the Meat Free Monday meal, so I have been doing that lately.

I have been super inspired by Veggie-mama's MFM meals and also the delicious looking Onion Tart from Gourmet Girlfriend.

So Monday just gone I gave a couple tarts a crack.

Zucchini and Feta and then a Mushroom with Thyme and Mustard.

I served these with our family favourite salad.

Chickpea and Avocado, which has a little Olive oil and balsamic drizzled over the top. I like to then add a heap of white pepper to my share.

Last night dinner was gobbled up in record time! I think its the pastry for the kiddies, they love flaky pastry. And hubby was very impressed.

These are dead set simple to make. And go crazy with flavour combo's!

Zucchini and Feta Tart
2 Zucchini - thinly sliced (I used a potato peeler)
1/2 Block of Feta - Crumbled
2 Sheets of Puff Pastry (so will make 4 tarts)
1 Egg - for egg wash

Slice you Zucchini's and pan fry, I used my griddle pan say they had nice char lines on them (very fancy). Once cooked set aside. Get 1 sheet of your thawed puff out and cut in half. Then get your knife and score a boarder about 2cm in from the side. Once this is down start to assemble, pop the pastry on your oven tray, add some feta first, then the zucchini then more feta. Egg wash the boarder and in the over for 15-20min. Once cooked repeat with your second sheet of puff.

Mushroom with Thyme and Mustard Tart
2 Cups of Mushrooms - chunky sliced
Few sprigs of Thyme
Couple spoonfulls of Dijon Mustard
2 Sheets of Puff Pastry (so will make 4 tarts)
1 Egg - for egg wash
Slice you Mushrooms and pan fry with the Thyme. Once cooked set aside. Follow the same steps above for your pastry. Again, pop the pastry on your oven tray, add some Mustard first, then the Mushrooms.  Egg wash the boarder and in the over for 15-20min. Once cooked repeat with your second sheet of puff.

These have been cut into 3 slices, there is one hiding underneath.

Thursday 6 September 2012

Did you know Christmas is coming???

Last week when in Woolworths I noticed there area they have for theme events has started to change over to Christmas stock.

Can you believe it!?

What made me laugh is Little Miss E spotted it a mile away. She ran over all excited and wanted to buy almost everything on the shelf.

We are currently trialing a new way of parenting...so I calmly said lets go to the next aisle. And we walked away...phew!

Today I was back there and saw they have expanded from 2 bays to 4.

Is this really happening...is Christmas coming?

Short answer..YES!

I actually don't know why I am even bothered by Woolies doing this because I had to go and see Santa's Little Helper's today and give them some cash (went and paid the Xmas lay by off).

So there you have it my friends..Christmas is coming.

Brace yourself.

Get the Kris Kringle list assembled and away we go!





Tuesday 4 September 2012

Did you ever have Chow Mein growing up? It's making a comeback in our house!

I love a quickie mid week meal. When it only takes about 20-30 and its on the table its quick in my book.

The past few weeks I have been doing a mid week Chow Mein.

I'm not sure why, but it reminds me of a childhood meal we would of had on the "off pay weeks". I don't know if anyone else can relate to that?

But I remember I liked it. It had a unique flavour and seemed to have a lot of veggie hidden in it.

So the past few weeks I have pretty much used whatever veg I had in the fridge and whatever rice, noodles or pasta was in the cupboard.

I am sure this is by now way a traditional Chow Mein.But everyone on our house seems to love it! There is never any left on the plates and what ever is left in the pot always goes the next day for school/work lunch.

I LOVE those kind of meals!

So this in tonight's version.

NKS Chow Mein

500g Mince (I use free range Pork or Chicken)
1 Carrot - Sliced
1/2 Large Zucchini - Sliced
1/2C Corn
1/2C Peas
1/4 of a Cabbage
Up to 2C Chicken Stock
2Tsp Good old Curry Powder
Handful of Wholemeal Spaghetti broken up into 2cm pieces

In a deep fry pan first cook your mince off, drain and set aside. Wipe out pan and add a tiny bit of oil, then throw in all the veg and cook off for only about a minute. Add back in the mince, pasta and the stock (the stock needs to just come to the top of the mix, depending on what veg and pasta/rice you have used you might not need 2 cups).
Simmer away for about 15min or until pasta is cooked. If you think there is too much liquid pour some off.
If your little ones don't like spices then serve there bowl up now then add your curry powder.

And that's it!
Start's like this.

Then looks likes this!

Ends like this! Happy Mum when her bowl is this empty.

Tonight's was yummy....but I think my favourite is when I make it with rice noodles. I just cook them separate and add in last.

Let me know if you do Chow Mein in your house and how you do it!

Happy Father's Day...here are the kids!

I always like getting up and cooking a fancy breakfast for my boy. Getting little Miss E to take it in like she cooked it and then unleash all the presents.

And that was the plan for this Father's Day.

The seeing the weather was going to be amazing, we would all go out for a play at the park, feed some ducks and then come home rest up for our special dinner outing.

Only 1 of the above happened...well kinda.

I managed to quickly bang out a Egg and Bacon roll and that's about it!

I woke up Sunday so incredibly ill, I though hospital might be on the cards.

It was like I had Bali Belly mixed in with the start of the Flu.

So poor hubby got given the kids at about 8.30am and I didn't raise my head again till 6.00pm. Just as they were about to go out for there special dinner.

My hubby happens to be a fantastic Dad, the kids adore him and for some reason he has a worlds amount of patience (well most days, much more than me anyway). Even though it was his special day, he took the kids out the house the entire day and then braved dinner by himself.

He did message me saying he thinks everyone thinks its his access weekend to his kids. Which made him a bit sad. But I said "let them judge, you know the truth".

So belated Happy Father's Day hubby!!! I will make it up to you next year.

I was going to do something a bit special tonight as I'm feeling a bit better, but he is cooking for the families at Ronald McDonald House tonight. What a guy!!! And Dad!