Passing It On

Seeing as how I won't be planning a menu until I get back on Thursday, I'll skip my regular Monday Menu Plan post and pass on the 'You Cheer Me Up' award.

So...who to pass it on to! I read about 10 blogs very regularly and they ALL cheer me up LOL.

Here are the rules, firstly:

If you are a recipient of the You Cheer Me Up Award, please find the blogs that cheer you up, copy the code to post on your sidebar and pass Ethel and Lucy across the blogosphere. You can use what cheers you up in your post, or copy this one, but please send your award recipients back to the original post on A Nice Place In The Sun to get a copy of the award code, post the image and read the instructions. I want to try to maintain a page of original and ongoing award recipients, so feel free to let me know if you've received an award when you pick up the image code.

I'm going to pass the award onto two blogs that Kate didn't pick! :-P

Tina at Red Wellies, Rainbows and Cinnamon Whirls
Anna at Pleasant View Schoolhouse

Both of you make me smile with every single post, and give me a great deal of inspiration in all manner of ways.

PS Can someone tell me how to add the picture to my sidebar? I'm not sure which option I need to pick to the 'add a page element'. Thanks!!!

Sunny Sunday

No, it's not sunny here. It's meant to rain some more (YAY) so it's quite overcast and lovely and 'fresh' as my dh says. I call it cold ~ I think he's deluding himself into thinking it's not so bad. Either that or he truly doesn't feel it after all!

The reason my Sunday is sunny to me is that Kate has awarded me the 'You Cheer Me Up' award! Oh yes...my Sunday is radiantly, blindingly bright! Thank you so much Kate. It is very humbling for me to receive such an award. It was blogs like yours that inspired me to start my own!



I will definitely do some passing on, but it will need to wait until tomorrow, as I need to get us all ready and packed and out of the house by 8.30am ~ a mere hour away. I'll be spending the next few days with my Mum, but she has the internet at her place so I'll be able to hide myself away for a little bit here and there I'm sure!

The Fridge...and other Holiday Happenings

I finally got to it. I meant to post yesterday but the day ran away from me, as you'll see in a tick.

Without further delay though, my fridge photos. I'm so glad Rhonda gave me the gentle push I needed! The fridge....ugh...see for yourself.

These first two photos show the state of the bottom of my fridge. You couldn't see how bad it was so I took a close up.-->



I'm embarrassed to say I think it's two years since I cleaned the bottom out. I even cleaned the seals and everything!

This is my cleaned out, cleaned up, uncluttered fridge. I now have TWO sections in the door that are completely empty. Who knew I had that much extra space LOL.

There you have it. Ever wanted to take a peek inside a typical Aussie home's fridge? Now you have!

The reason my day ran away with me? We had some school friends come for lunch. I made Singapore Noodles and we enjoyed the afternoon together. I'll post the recipe later today! I have to nick up the street for an appointment in 5 minutes, so I need to go NOW! LOL.

Editing to add the recipe:

Singapore Noodles

1 packet rice vermicelli noodles
3-4 lup chong Chinese sausages,
2 carrots, chopped into fine matchsticks
1 onion
snow peas (about a large handful)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons mild curry powder

Chop the sausage thinly, on the diagonal.
Cut the peeled onion in half and slice finely.
Slice the snow peas finely, also on the diagonal.
Soak noodles in a heat proof bowl, in boiling hot water.
Heat a little oil in a wok, or non stick pan on a high heat. (the wok works better, it's hotter)
Add the sausage and onions and saute until onions are soft. Add the carrots and saute for a couple of minutes. Then add the snow peas. Saute for one minute and then add the curry powder and soy sauce.
Drain the noodles and add them. Toss everything so it is evenly mixed.
Serve with sweet chili sauce.

If you can get the Chinese sausage (even our Safeway has it in the Asian section, so they're not that hard to get!), then you could just omit that. It's not in the original recipe, but we like it!

Cleaning ... Guests ... Holidays

Picture by Melinda Byers from art.com

I just love the school holidays. The days are long and unhurried. I have time to get some extra things done at home. The children spend hour upon hour playing and we are able to catch up with friends we don't see too often.

I think Rhonda must have been peeking in my Fridge, so I will be cleaning it some time today. I'll take a before and after photo and post it ~ mostly for her benefit....but I think I'll need to remind myself very soon that it was once Shiny! I also have a bathroom, toilet and laundry to clean before lunch time today. Tina has sufficiently inspired me with her post today. So much cleaning in so little time. There's hope for me yet!

The reason for my cleaning deadline? We have some precious friends coming for lunch and an afternoon play today. Miss Sunshine was in preschool and prep with the oldest daughter of this family, whom we met at Playgroup. Their second daughter is the same age as Miss Mischief, so while the older girls played at school, the younger two played together each week at playgroup and saw each other in the playground as we picked up children at the end of each day. At the end of Sunshine's Prep year we moved and so it has taken more effort to stay in touch, but the girls write letters through the term and we manage to spend a day together every few months. The 'other mum' also became a good friend during those years so we ALL enjoy the day. Even Mr Busy is included in the girl's fun!

Despite the rain yesterday the kids were out in the cubby house playing. Dh cleaned out the 'dungeon' (shed, under the house) and provided a dead microwave and breadmaker to their little pretend home. They just can't spend enough time out there! I'm hoping the weather will be fine enough for the five of them to play out there today.

Then again, we're enjoying the rain!!! The cubby is big enough and waterproof enough not to worry too much!

Made by Me

I posted the other day about what I would be baking. Here are my rhubarb muffins right out of the oven.

Of course, you can't share a yummy picture like that without also sharing the recipe! So Tina, just because you asked, here it is:

Rhubarb Muffins

125g butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 egg
2 cups self raising flour
1 cup milk
2 cups diced raw rhubarb

Preheat oven to 190C
Line muffin pan with patty pan papers, or grease holes well.
Cream butter and sugar together, add vanilla and egg and mix well.
In a separate bowl, sift flour.
Add half the flour and have the milk to the butter mixture and mix well. Then add the remaining flour & milk and mix well again.
Fold the rhubarb through the mixture.
Spoon mixture into muffin pan.
Bake for about 25-30 minutes.
To serve, dust with icing sugar.

This mixture usually makes around 18 muffins. Yesterday I got 17 LOL.


And this. I'm VERY proud of this! It has taken me nine months, but I have finally finished my first ever hand-knitted garment! I picked this pattern for a cardigan because the body of the garment is just straight knitting. I figured if I got stuck on the lace I could hand it over to Mum ;-) As it turned out, the lace was pretty simple once Mum should me the 'k1,s1,k1,psso' bit!

I don't really enjoy knitting for the sake of it. I find it slow and tedious and much prefer to crochet, for the quick results. However, knitting a dying skill that I did not want to lose. My Grandmother is no longer able to knit and my Mum isn't getting any younger either. I decided that I should remind myself before Mum wasn't able or around to help me fix my mistakes! I now know how to do that and will probably seek to knit one thing a year and build on my teensy bit of knitting knowledge LOL.

I am now looking forward to the coming cooler days, being able to wear something warm and cosy with a skirt, that doesn't look as formal as a black jacket does.

I have to say....I'm VERY proud of myself.

Monday's Menu Plan...a day late again!

My Menu Plan ~ posted on the fridge

I really am a bit all over the place aren't I?! I kept thinking yesterday was Sunday, seeing as how it was a public holiday and dh was home!

My grand plans of baking were thwarted. I got the choc chip muffins baked and the rhubarb chopped and then Dh informed me he had invited some friends for dinner. PANIC!!! LOL. They ended up bringing some leftovers they had and I zipped up to buy a wombuk cabbage to make an Asian salad to go with what I had planned. It turned out wonderfully!

My plan for this week is as follows:

Monday: Zucchini Quiche, jacket potatoes, salads
Tuesday: Honey Mustard Chicken Scallopine, scallop potatoes, steamed vegies
Wednesday: Spinach & Feta Pie, vegies
Thursday: Sweet Apple Pork Chops (CP), mashed potatoes, carrots, beans
Friday: Meatloaf, steamed vegies
Saturday: Baked Potatoes, coleslaw, bacon, corn, sour cream & avocado toppings
Sunday: Will be with Mum, in Ballarat

I have to pass on the Asian Salad, even though I can't share a picture ~ it goes VERY fast!!!

1/2 wombuk (Chinese) cabbage (or you can use savoy cabbage)
6 spring onions
1 packet, Changs fried noodles
100g pinenuts, toasted
Dressing:
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 white sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
olive oil

Finely shred the cabbage and finely slice the spring onions and place in a large salad bowl.
Combine with the packet of noodles and the pinenuts.
Pour over the dressing and mix well.
Serve.
To make the dressing: Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves. Cool.

The recipe says to use about 1/2 cup of oil as well but it's just too much. I usually just add a small slosh and that is plenty.

Here is a picture of the noodle packet

Baking Day

Picture from art.com, by Lisa Audit

Today stretches out before us without any plans. A day like this is rare in our household. The children are watching ABC Kids and I have thoughts in my mind of what I will be baking today. After all, a day without anywhere to be should still be productive!

I think I'll bake some rhubarb muffins and some sour cream choc chip muffins. Miss Sunshine doesn't like biscuits (cookies) so I believe today will be the day I thrill her young heart! If I still have the baking bug after those are done I'll make some corn flake biscuits as well.

There are also some full clothes baskets so I think some washing is in order too. Perhaps if I put it on Dh will hang it out! After all, he has a bit of an obsession with washing clothes LOL. His week isn't perfect unless he's done at least one load, no matter how up to date I have kept everything.