Mini Marquee

I have a tiny backyard which is a real HOT SPOT and I'm unable to grow anything there...
Solution.…ask Mum & Dad to put up a semi permanent pergola to give me shade and  an area to sit out in and enjoy my garden.

The large very heavy box purchased and delivered by Dad.
It took a bit of sorting out of all the screws and bolts with lots of little pieces and long poles.
2 hours later the parents are almost divorced, this is an awful job.

Finally at almost sunset, it was up, not perfect but standing. Mum left after making him promise to "tie it down" afraid it could still blow away overnight. The second promise was to return the next day to finish off.....

Low Carb Pumpkin Lasagne

I'm always looking for meals to feed the family that are easy to make, delicious and of course low carb. This worked well, took a little longer than expected to fully cook the pumpkin.
Bonus was enough left over for lunch the next day.

I started with the usual Bol sauce with lots of garlic, herbs and tomatoes.

It was nice and thick, I was thinking (correctly) 

that it would make a better lasagne layer.

A little sauce then layer of thinly peeled and sliced

pumpkin.

Now for the cheese layer...

200gms Ricotta

75gms Mozzarella 

2 eggs

enough whipping cream to make sauce. 

You know what to do now...

layer upon layer

I did 3.

Top with more grated Mozzarella 

and I added some finely grated Parmesan.

Now bake covered with foil for about an hour

uncover, bake a further 10 mins until golden.

Homemade Pasta Sauce

Finding super cheap tomatoes for (99c kilo) at the local market was a bonus so decided to try making a basic tomato base sauce.

Peel

Cook onion and garlic in a little olive oil

 

Chop chop chop

Add water, a little brown sugar and cook till tender.

Add fresh Basil. Season with salt & pepper

Bottle and rolling boil for 20 minutes

Yummy 5 jars for about $4

#tomatosauce #homemadegoodies #collectjars 

Low Carbing

It all started with going to Coles to buy peanut butter as I'd run out of the sugar free variety and while browsing, saw this and thought, yes lets try it.

I have been playing with the low carb lifestyle for three to four year now and often find having snack food on hand can be difficult.
Well, nutty butter is great, but I did need something to have it with...I could eat it straight from jar!
I needed crackers so Googled recipes and came up with a few that looked great. These are made from ingredients that I had in my pantry and are a bit of a compilation of those I found online.

My Crackers     Made 10

75 grams LSA meal (Linseed, Sunflower & Almond)
25 grams Coconut flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 tbsp whipping cream

It was a fairly thick and sticky mixture

I rolled it into balls with wet hands

I flattened the balls using the base of a wet glass

and baked them at 180' for 15 minutes

Next time I make these I'll make them smaller, thinner and

try leaving the baking powder out completely. 

I'd probably cook them for longer too, so they would be more

"Cracker Like" and less cakey

Final verdict...delicious

and the best thing was that just 1 was really satisfying.

Rebecca and the Queens Baton Relay

It's been a while since I "put pen to paper" here as I've been concentrating on family weddings and trips away in our loved caravan (see Caravan Adventures and News)

This past week however has been pretty exciting and I was privileged to watch our dear daughter Rebecca be a participant in the Queens Baton Relay. 
She along with many others helped carry the baton towards the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

The smiles say it all...Rebecca with fellow participant Anthony

Off she goes!

Here she comes!

Running with her escorts.

Handing over to 008

With the cheer squad, sister Steph, Mum & Dad

Twin sister Stephanie always on hand to give support and love

Rebecca has cerebral palsy, she is a Paralympian,

an Australian champion class 6 table tennis player, 

a Girls Brigade Leader, a Yooralla Ambassador

and she works full time as a Kindergarten Teacher.

We are incredibly proud of this amazing young woman.

Tomato Paste

I usually buy tomato paste in a large jar. If I don't use it all (which I rarely do) in one sitting it goes into the fridge and next time I need to use it's always  mouldy.
Annoying? Yes you are right so I have started doing this which is easy and avoids waste.

 

Freeze tablespoon blobs on a tray covered with baking paper

 

Then just 'bag em'

and voila, tomato paste whenever you need it

Green Tomatoes

The last of the tomatoes came into the kitchen so I just had to make chutney before they 'died'

 

Even though we didn't have many still didn't want to waste them.

I am happy with the result and Trevor thinks it's delicious which makes me even happier!

 

I used the usual...apple, sultanas, spice, brown  sugar, brown vinegar and cooked until thick and treacly

70's Dinner Party

We definitely had a 70"s throw back dinner party a couple of weeks back. It was not planned that way but did turn out to be just that...

Starter
          French Onion Soup
Main
          Roast Pork & Apple Sauce
Dessert
          Butternut Snap and Violet Crumple Ripple Cake

Tears....

Add a glass of bubbly

More chocolate please

Love honeycomb so much

Yummy

It's never about the food of course, it's all about the company and being able to enjoy being with family and friends.
Throw in a couple of bottles of wine and some delicious food and you are set for a great time together.
We don't entertain the way we did in the 70's or as often but when we do I love to have easy to prepare ahead food that takes any stress out of the occasion so I can spend the max amount of time with the guests.
This 70's  dinner was fun and the food was great.
         

Griffith NSW

Inland pelicans resting beside the canal near the vineyards and orange groves.



I wonder what the fishing is like here?



We did see babies with this group but missed them in the photo

Lake Boga

Pelicans feeding in a pack (or is it a flock) on Lake Boga.

They stayed in this formation for about 15 minutes all dipping their heads underwater at the same time.

Then without warning they'd had enough and flew off.

Easy Lemon Butter

Lemon Butter

3 Lemons ( Juice & Rind)
2 cups Sugar
2 tbsp. Butter
2 Eggs (beaten)

Combine the juice, rind and sugar, heat until sugar has completely dissolved.
Add the butter and beaten eggs, bring to the boil and simmer until mixture thickens. Keep stirring
so it doesn't catch, it only takes about 5 minutes. 
Cool a little then pour into hot sterilised jars. Try to have the jars and the butter at about the same temperature.

Can be used as a spread on toast, crumpets and scones. Also great in pies, tarts or with ice cream.

Keep refrigerated.

Has a few air bubbles because the jars were very hot when I
poured the butter.
 Nevertheless DELICIOUS !

Easter Blessings

Celebrating Easter Sunday
 and Autumn



Navarin of Lamb

Adapted from a Taste.com.au recipe: 

2 tablespoons olive oil
1kg lamb chops, fat trimmed, cut into pieces

2 tablespoons plain flour

2 tablespoons tomato paste

3 garlic cloves, crushed

3 cups Chicken stock

1 cup dry white wine

dried thyme

dried bay leaves

chat potatoes, halved

carrots, ends trimmed, peeled

2 spring onions, ends trimmed

Brown lamb and vegetables, make sauce, add to casserole dish,
cook for about 1 1/2 hours @ 180

Serve with Green beans, peas and cauliflower chesse

                     

Blood Moon the rare Lunar Eclipse
Easter Saturday

My photo is not particularly good however I did
 stand on the veranda at 11pm and take it!
 

Family Dinner



Perfect for Easter -
Chocolate Pudding and Ice-cream

Happy Easter