Happy Birthday.....

Today, April 30th 2010, my new baby niece with no official name was born. Well, actually she was born yesterday but it was the 30th in Australia yesterday. It's times like this that it breaks my heart to be so far away from my herd.... oh I wish I could be there.
Love you Big Sis xoxox

Diamonds are a girls best friend........

This past December the hubby and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary....aaaaaaaaawww...I know. Mr Wonderful surprized me with a little something sparkly and shiny, and I, in return surprized him with something sparkly and shiny. Can you guess what it was? Here's a little hint.......

 There's my something sparkly and shiny, ( looks like someone needs a little moisturiser ) ............ I used his to make this.

Taa daaa.....

Now don't get too excited, I didn't get him the mixer, just the pasta attachment.

So I drove out to Rogers flour Mill today, got me some semolina flour and made some yummy pasta for dinner. The recipe for the homemade pasta I found here.

Add this..

to this....

like this....

to make this....

then this....

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Now don't you all want to rush out and get your own little something sparkly and shiny ?

Tootles.

Eggs.....

I love that my eggs come with a riddle.......

I love that this rooster loves his job.....

I love that this is where my eggs come from....

Thanks Ladies.

I think I may have a problem........I dream about aprons in my sleep. I may need to start taking a dose of gravol before heading to bed just so that my brain stops ticking and I can get to sleep.

I made this apron for Miss Moo a couple of days ago, it's just a prototype but I think I may make some for the market and get other mummies addicted too.

I have been emailing the lovely Interior Health man regarding all the regulations for selling my jams at the market and it is looking doable ( is that a real word?) I have been getting the odd request and my poor hubby I am sure would love some extra money coming in. Here's hoping I can make it worth every ones while.

Ouch....my heart.

Another crack in my heart, another tear cried and lots and lots of hugs from Mum and Dad.
Poor dear Zoe lost her first pet yesterday, Oscar the Siamese fighting fish. She has cared for, talked to and loved that fish for almost four years and has now also learned one of the hardest lessons in life.
Thank you Oscar, for being that guy.....or girl, we never knew your sexual orientation, but that never mattered to us. We did our best .....I hope that you are happy in fishy heaven.

Zoe wrote a note to tell you what you meant to her, then you were gently wrapped in that same note.

We eached picked you a flower and said our goodbyes.

Some of us had a little more difficulty finding the words.

One last special moment with Zoe, and a Primrose to mark your place in our hearts and our home.

Now back to business.

Dessert Pizza

Yup, you heard it right.....tonight, we had oooey gooey caramel banana pizza for dessert. I think my kids may have thought I was headed for the loonie bin, but whadya know, it got the ooey gooey thumbs up from all parties involved.
You see, the plan was to make my world famous calzones for dinner, nothing out of the ordinary, but seeing as the hubby was not around for dinner, we had some leftover pizza dough.
Calzones were yummy, so I was thinking I would post my dough recipe for you all to enjoy......and that is still the plan, but I have to share with you the ooey gooey goodness also.
Now are you ready for this????????

Ok, now wipe the drool from the corner of your mouth and think about the 100 billion carbs in this bad boy.

First course calzones, second course...well you get the picture.

So here's my recipe, incase any of you are brave enough......

1 teaspoon sugar

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

• 
  
  In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top and let stand for 10 minutes, until foamy.
• 
  
  Stir the olive oil and the salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour and 1 cup of the all purpose flour until dough starts to come together. Tip dough onto a surface floured with the remaining flour and knead until the flour has been absorbed, and the dough becomes smooth, about 10 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about an hour.
• 
  
  When the dough is doubled, tip onto a lightly flored surface and divide according to use. 2 balls for pizza, or 8 balls for calzones. Form into tight balls and let rise for about 45 minutes.
• 
  
  Preheat oven to 400 c. Roll out balls of dough, then place on well greased pan sprinkled with cornmeal. Or, if you have no cornmeal, parchment paper is a good alternative.
• 
  
  If making pizza, top with your favourite ingredients. If making calzones, fill one half with your favourite ingredients, brush edges with egg wash, fold over and press edges with a fork. Be sure to also poke holes in to top to let out steam. Bake until crust is lightly browned.

Spring has sprung....

....it's here. SPRING. Although, the weather has been lovely for months now, it really doesn't feel like spring is her until you start to see some color. Granted, there's not much of it yet but as you can see the wait is worth it. This is what is bloomimg in my garden so far, tulips are yet to come and daffodils, but this should tide me over for a while.

So in honour of this lovely parade of colour, I made this fun treat. For those of you not familiar with this yummy treat for the eyes and tastebuds, this is Jelly slice. I can post the recipe if anyone wants it.

Every aussie child recognises this slice. Although, I'm sure I can almost hear the shrieks of disbelief at my use of lemon jello instead of strawberry or rasberry. All I have to say is...don't knock it until you've tried it. I ate three pieces for lunch today, and the only thing stopping me from eating the whole lot was my 4 year old watching me with disgust.

Zoe's crosscountry meet went well. I was cheering so loudly I am surprised I even have a voice today. It went so well that she decided to stick with it and try again next week. Way to go Zoe. I love that she stopped to pose for her pic.....always the poser.

P.S. She doesn't run like her mother....Phew!

sausage rolls anyone?

Lately I've been craving sausage rolls. My kids love them and I always thought that they were cheap and easy to make. I've never made them before so I jumped online and scoured the internet for some recipes. I ended up using a very basic recipe, adapted from several others using my own spices. Easy...but using store bought puff pastry...not so cheap.

The verdict.........

Delicious straight from the oven. But for school, cold, not so good. The sausage meat was a bit fatty and when eaten cold I guess is not that great. Sausage rolls for me are like pizza, they're never bad, but there's sausage rolls and there's amazing sausage rolls.

So, my mission, to find the ultimate recipe. I would love for any of you out there in blog land to send in your tried and true recipes for me to try.

My search will continue and I will be posting my favoutire recipe soon.

Help out a displaced aussie and send in your recipes PLEASE!!!!!

Where does all the time go?

Can you belive that we are half way through April already? I started a bunch of projects last month and I'm now trying to finish up all my loose ends so that I can get into my jam making soon. The Vernon Farmers Market starts next week and I would like to be selling my stuff there this summer. But....the big butt, I really need to get my act together.

More painting, less chocolate eating.

More organising.........but still make time for stuff like this. You know, the healthy balance we all strive for.

Today is a big day, its pink shirt day here today, so Zoe got to wear her cool, new, mommy designed, pink, anti-bullying cardigan to school today.

I used freezer paper to do the stencil and a stamp for the owls, there are lots of tutorials online on how to stencil with freezer paper, its so easy and fun. A great craft to do with the kids.

I'm heading into town to cheer Zoe on for her very first cross country meet, here's hoping she doesn't run like her mother.

Have a great day...........

aaaaaah......done.

After two years in the making, the simple rag quilt that was supposed to be a quick spring project, is done. (Insert deep breath here) YEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAA

The squares are sewn, the edges are snipped and it looks like its been here forever already....oh hang on, it has, just in hundreds of pieces. This project is now officialy been striken from my to do list.

I would like to thank my Mum and my Uncle Ank for helping me decide on a completely random but totally mathematical pattern.

My husband and children, for eating dinner off their laps so mummy could use the dining room table to sew.

Marley, you have been so patient. Love you, Princess.

Marley loves it, and here's hoping she still loves it when she's a big girl trying to decide on her own home style.

BC siding

When the hubby and I first moved to BC we would go for long drives in the country with the kids and look at the beautiful homes and surrounding properties, hoping that one day we would have a piece of paradise to call our own.

He and I would have a giggle, whenever we would came across a nice piece of land with a home on it with unfinished siding, or roofing....ooooh, we would say.. " Look at the fruit rees, and the rolling hills, and the beautiful garden..... I especially love the "BC" siding."

Now that we finally own our place, we are very proud of all the work we have completed inside and out. Our latest master piece..........

.....now, don't you just love the BC siding?

Chocolate filled Hot cross buns.

Boy oh boy were these yummy. Even the addition of the dark chocolate could not discourage my children from scoffing these yummy easter treats.

31/4 cups bread and pastry flour.
2 tbspn cocoa powder
1 cup cranberries or sultanas (raisins)
2 tbspn sugar
1 tsp yeast
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch salt
1 cup warm milk
50g butter
1 egg, lightly beaten

Cross paste
2 tbspn plain (all purpose) flour
1 tbspn cocoa
2 tbspn cold water

Glaze
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup cold water


Brush a baking tray with melted butter. Combine the flour, cocoa, cranberries, sugar, yeast and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in the salt.
Make a well in the centre. Add milk, butter and egg. Use a wooden spoon to stir until just combined, bringing the dough together in the bowl.
Turn onto a well floured surface.


Knead 10-15 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Brush a lage bowl with melted butter. Place dough in bowl and cover with plastic wrap.




Place in a warm spot to rise for 1 1/2 hours or until dough doubles in size.

Preheat oven to 200c (400F). Punch down dough, turn onto lightly floured surface, knead for 2-3 minutes.

Divide into 12 equal portions,form dough into buns, placing a small piece of dark chocolate into the centre of each ball.



Place in baking tray and let rise for 30 minutes.

To make the cross paste, combine flour, cocoa and water in bowl until a smooth paste forms.
Transfer to a piping bag, (I used a ziploc bag). Pipe crosses on top of buns.


Bake for 20 minutes or until buns sound hollow when tapped. meanwhile, to make the glaze, combine sugar and water in a pot. Cook, stirring for 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens slightly.

Brush tops of buns with glaze once removed from the oven.


Serve hot with butter if you think it needs it.

One a penny, two a penny.....

HOT CROSS BUNS. And not just any old buns....chocolate filled hot cross buns.

Recipe to follow....Have a great Easter everyone.

Kj

xoxox

Poof

I absolutely, positively must learn to knit, just so that I can have one of these cuties. This one is called Puff Daddy, and you can make them in different sizes, so organic and fun.....I think we need to start a Lavington knitting circle......anyone?????

I found this great website for all you crocheter's and knitter's...it's called pickles..and it is tasty!

Kids rooms are a great way to go nuts and be brave. In the case of Marleys room I most definatley stepped out of my comfort zone color wise but you know, I really like this great color for a girls room, it doesn't read as green in these pics but I'm sure you get the idea. Adding pink to this aqua green color just makes everything pop. My problem is, how does one keep their kids dream room looking like this...........


..........and not turning into THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you ever have one of those days when that little voice in the back of your mind has to scream.........Don't sweat the small stuff....it's ok.......you love your child and they can do no wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I've been having lots of those moments and lots of those days lately. Thank goodness spring is here and the great outdoors are beckoning my little ones to go outside and play as I don't know if I can bare to repaint another door or another wall right now.
On the bright side of this incindent...Marley is eager to start writing her own name without assistance. Look out Kindergarten, here comes Miss Simpson.