Beach getaway!

 

 

Holidays, holidays.... I love holidays

No washing, no ironing, no cooking....what's not to love?

 

Well hubby and I decided to have a little getaway on the weekend. Just to Mandurah (coastal town of WA - but only about 1hrs drive from home)

 

It wasn't extravagant, but it was a getaway, away from the daily routine.

 



We were hoping for nice weather, but unfortunately it rained most of the time. There were a few moments of blue skies though, so we got to enjoy ourselves and just relax! Here's some photo's I thought I'd share with you.

Keep your eyes peeled for "part 2" of our Beach Getaway. Something very exciting happened!!!!

My Five Minutes of Fame

 

 

Yes it's true!! I am basking in the glory of my five minutes of fame! As you can see above, this is the flyer used to promote this weekends Family Fest at The Glades Byford. And yes, those are MY owls!! I'm just a tad bit exited. If you follow me on either Facebook or Instagram you may have already heard how thrilled I am! Better be careful though.... I might get a swelled head!!

The (not-so-healthy) Chicken Cheese and Bacon Roll

 

 

"Prepare to battle!!!!!........" well almost... that's how it seems most nights in my house at dinner times. I know I've said it before but I have a fussy family. Miss 18m is not too bad.... Mr 5 and 8 and hubby are pretty bad.

 

So... we tend to have the same things all the time. I get bored. I get bored preparing, bored cooking and bored eating the same things all the time. Me - I don't think I'm fussy. There isn't much that I wont eat, or at least try.

 

So the other night I had a success. I made a (not-so-healthy) Chicken, Cheese and Bacon Roll in puff pastry. Everybody ate it and no complaints! WINNER!!!

I got the inspiration from the blog The Organised Housewife. She made a very healthy Spinach and Chicken Roll. I knew my lot wouldn't have a bar of spinach so I used the ingredients I knew they would like.

And just to add a bit of healthiness into it, I added some pureed cauliflower to the chicken mince (cheeky, cheeky I know, but I've got to get those veg into them somehow!!) So I'll share my recipe with you, and for the healthier alternative, check out The Organised Housewife!

 

Preparation Time : prepare at least 1 hr before cooking

                               allow up to 1 hr for cooking

 

Ingredients:

2 pieces of breast chicken, minced (mine included hidden cauliflower)

1 sheet of puff pastry

1/2 tub cream cheese

1 cup grated cheese

4 rashes of bacon

 

Here's what I did:

 

- spread an even layer of chicken mince over the puff pastry

 

 

- Slightly melt the cream cheese in the microwave for a few seconds, just to soften it.

- Then spread the cream cheese over the chicken and sprinkle with grated cheese

 

 

- Lay your rashes of bacon on top of the cheese

 

- Carefully roll the entire thing up into a tight log. Use a touch of water to seal the pastry at the base if needed

 

 

- Then rap your "log" tightly in some glad wrap, and leave in the fridge for about 1 hour to allow the cream cheese to re-set. 

 



- Bake on 180 deg for at least 40 mins, or until pastry is golden. ( mine took a little longer, adjust time to ensure chicken is cooked through)

 

Definitely a winner in my house!!!
Do you have a fussy family? Whats their favourite dinner?

In the Kitchen: Mocha Slice

 

 

 

 

I'm back from my little blogging holiday, and I'm now busting with heaps of inspiration and loads of ideas for new little weekend projects! There's going to be some exciting times ahead!!

 

So I thought my first post back would be something yummy to celebrate! And as I cant give you an actual piece of my Mocha slice, (mainly because I have already eaten most of it...) I thought I would share the recipe with you. It's a totally yummy little cakey slice that has been a family favourite for a while now.

 

I'm not sure where the recipe came from originally, but it has evolved over the years, and I must say, I think this was the best it has ever turned out! So here's the recipe if you'd like to try it for yourself.

 

Ingredients:

125g butter

1/2 cup milk chocolate melts

3-4 heaped teaspoons of instant coffee

1/2 cup sugar (I use a combination of caster sugar and brown sugar)

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla essence

3/4 cup plain flour

3/4 cup self raising flour

1/2 cup of chopped nuts ( I used almonds)

your choice of topping  - ie icing sugar, icing etc

 

What to do:

 - melt butter and chocolate together

- add vanilla, coffee and sugar and stir until combined

- add egg and nuts

- add flours and stir until well combined. If mixture is a little stiff add a splash of milk

- pour into baking dish and bake for around 20 mins on 180deg or until the mixture has cooked through.

- cool before decorating with either a sprinkling of icing sugar, coffee or chocolate icing, melted chocolate.......

 

And that's it! Yummo! Don't eat it all at once!

A Day At The Beach

What better thing to do on a cold but sunny day than visit the beach?

 

The kids just LOVE the beach so I thought I'd share some of our photos with you. This particular trip was extra special as it was our Miss Z's first real time. I dont think I'll write about our day, I think the photos can speak for themselves.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 





WA Day Long Weekend

 

 

Who doesn't love a long weekend!!!???

By the time the weekend comes around each week there's so much stuff to do, but so little time to do it!! That's why long weekends are so cool! A whole extra day to do stuff! Agree?

Well something we like to do on long weekends is go for a day trip to the little country town of York. Long weekends are the best time to go as the drive is quite exhausting and we need the extra day off to recover!

My hubby has family there, so our visits are normally filled with catch-ups more than 'touristy' stuff. But this weekend when we visited, we stopped in at a local Collectors Market.

 

 

It was held in a lovely old hall with squeaky floor boards and high ceilings. There were tables running the length of the hall filled with all sorts of old bric-a-brac.

Each item was clearly old, and I'm sure each had a fantastic story behind it.

 

 

I think I circled the room about 4 or 5 times. Each time a different item would catch my eye! I think I found little boxes and tins the most interesting. Not sure why. There was just something lovely about them.

 

These little ones were my favourite. The little red tin on top was from a typewriter ribbon. So cute!

 

Of course seeing family was a nice part of this long weekend, but I think the treasure discovery of the the collectors market was a little bit more special (don't tell them I said that!!).

Easter Tree!

Not long now until Easter!!! Only 4 more sleeps until that Easter Bunny pays us a visit!!

I love that Easter is becoming another excuse for us crafters to decorate the house with handmade pretties!!

Easter in my place is all about family (and crafting!!). We enjoy getting together with the extended family and having a big catch-up over a meal. We have more recently began some traditions too. 

Seven  or so years ago, when my biggest boy was a bub, we started the tradition of visiting the zoo. We now go once a year, every Easter. And about 3 years ago we started having an Easter tree. (click here for last years Easter Blog post) 

Usually I use a branch from a gum tree, but this year I am putting my Great Yarn Bomb project to good use and using that.

 

 

How do you and your family celebrate Easter? Will you be having an Easter Tree too? 

Sculptures by the Sea

For the last few years now I have been wanting to visit the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition in Cottesloe. This weekend we finally got around to doing it - and it happened to be the last day!

 

 

There was over 70 exhibits with artists being local, interstate and international. The artworks were spread out throughout the beach, foreshore and jetty. Totally Amazing!!

 

I thought I would share with you some of my favourite pieces.

 

I apologise for not noting down the sculptures names - it was crazy busy!!

I just love this one (above). It was hundreds of toys suspended in the air. It was so bright and interesting. I like to think that it has inspired a whole new range of "threats" for mothers - "clean up your toys or I'll hang them from a tree". ( I might be using this one later!!)



I'm a bit bummed that I couldn't get a pic of these  three "swimmers" together. They were so popular and had heaps of people posing with them. All my shots ended up with photo-bombers!

This piece was awesome. It was made from bamboo with little fans/propellers on top that caught the wind. This then produced a beautiful singing sound. Such a lovely piece as each bamboo pole represented a life lost in the Bali Bombings.

 

 

And finally this one was my kids favourite. After all who couldn't love a giant conducting skeleton perched high above the beach? It was pretty cool. And pretty huge!

 

I am so glad I was able to see the exhibit. It was really inspiring. Looking forward to next years one now!!

Easy Peasey Icecream

This is the most easiest Ice cream recipe EVER!! And so, so yummy! And you don't even need an ice cream maker!!

Here's the recipe :

Ingredients
375ml condensed milk
300ml cream
1 cup milk
6 crushed Oreo biscuits**

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Mix with electric beaters until mixture starts to bubble.
Place covered in freezer for about an hour.
Mix again with electric beaters for a few moments.
Continue to freeze over night or until set.

** change flavour of ice cream by replacing Oreo biscuits with :
Berries
Choc bits
Nuts
2 tsp espresso coffee
Crushed 'Crunchy' chocolate bar

This ice cream is very sweet so I like to put them in a silicon muffin mould after mixing for the second time. It's a good way to control everyones portions too! ( and helps to make it last a bit longer!)

Off to market!

Hi-ho, Hi-ho, it's off to market I go........

Yes market time again!! A new market for me this month! This time The Glades Arts and Produce Market! This one was great as it was an afternoon / night event!

There was an atmosphere around that was just fantastic!! My stall was located in quite a dangerous position though - a food van next to us (dinner), ice cream van opposite (desert), coffee behind (to keep us going), fresh popcorn being popped a few stalls down (always yum) and mini cupcakes not far from us either!! TOO MUCH FOOD!!!!
And every time the breeze picked up, a different and delicious aroma would head in our direction and make us hungry again!!
As I said - a dangerous location!!

There was also a band who played all night, face painting for the kids, bouncy castle, kids craft activities and a super special guest..........

The EASTER BUNNY!!!!!

It was really a great night out - and as a bonus I almost sold out of my owls!!

 



Bellini Cooking - Yummy Carrot loaf

So I was back in the kitchen yesterday. This time is was to bake my Yummy Carrot Loaf, as requested by Mr 5. Yes he knows there is carrots in it, and he is happy to eat it - unlike anything else that dares to have even the smallest orange speckle.

 

This was the first time I have made it in my Bellini. I must admit, after never owning a food processing machine before, it's taking a bit to get in the habit of actually using it.

But this was the best my loaf has ever turned out - so I thank Bellini for that! 

 

Now you know my style of cooking - its "splash of this" "scoop of that" nothing is ever measured properly - so I'll try my hardest to share the right amount of ingredients with you. But just use your judgement. If you think you need a bit more or less, just do that.

 

 

Note *** If using the Bellini I prepare the carrots by steaming them first until soft. Then chop with the cutting blade until small pieces. I keep the cutting blade in for the entire recipe. If your not using one - I grate the carrots then just cook them for a few minutes in the microwave (with some water) just to take the "carroty" taste away.

 

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1/2 cup sugar (I used 1/4 brown and 1/4 caster)

Splash of Vanilla essence

Spoon full of butter

Squirt of honey

2 cups of self raising flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon ( I think I added a bit more than this - just happily shook away into the bowl!)

3 carrots

 

Add butter, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, eggs and sugar to the carrots. Mix on a low speed for until ingredients are combined.

Add flour and mix until a smooth consistency.

 

Pour into a pre-greased baking tin and bake on 180deg for about 30mins. Used a skewer to test if loaf is cooked through.

 

And here's a piece of mine! YUM!!!



 

 

And finally, I just had to share this picture of Miss 1 enjoying our Yummy Carrot Loaf. (piece number 2)

Birthday time!!

Happy Birthday to my little bub!! One already! This year has gone so fast!!

So my cake turned out really brilliantly...haha...well in the end it did.......

I kinda had a few issues with the first attempt of the cake. It rose up beautifully....nice and round and high...that was until I turned it out onto the cooling rack - that's when disaster struck and it fell into about 5 different pieces! As you can imagine my heart sunk! I had to start again! I even got up early, wrote myself a list, had the cake in the oven by 8.30 am. I thought I was on top of things..... Then I couldn't do anything until my hubby got back from the shop with more eggs. So what else to do? Well get creative with my disaster of course!! I turned it into cake balls!

 

So I just rolled the cake into balls - hoping like crazy that they would stay together. Then I coated them in pink icing and rolled them into pink and white coconut!

 

They were a big hit at the party! No body would ever have been any wiser except for my clever boys showing everyone the photos of my disaster - they thought it was hilarious!

 

 



So once the cake was made onto the rest of the party preparations! Putting up the bunting, and the rest of the food. Making party food is always heaps of fun - the fairy bread, popcorn, fruit kebabs - YUM. I always like to have fruit on offer. It really does surprise you that the fruit plate is generally one of the first to be eaten! I was working in a kindy last year, and made a point of always having a plate of fruit at class parties. Watermelon, strawberries and grapes are always popular!

And due to such hot day yesterday, we had some bottles of water as well as soft drink and fruit juice.

In the end our little girls party was great. Even with the heat, the disaster cake and the stress of party planning, we had a really fun day!

Happy Birthday Bub!