It seems like just yesterday I was holding this little “muffin” in my arms….
We watched as she grew into our lovely Princess…
Then into a school girl with a mind of her own…
Now, she is embarking on her last year of primary school and has entered the “tween” years. Goodness knows where the years have gone. Happy Birthday Amy! Hope the day is everything you hoped it would be.
My dogs know that whenever I use the kitchenaid mixer there will be a bowl to be lick. Today Rosie had the first go and ended with with quite a bit of it on her head.
Then it was Bailey’s turn.
while Rosie watched, hoping he’d leave her some more…
Sorry Rosie, that bowl got licked clean!
I have to confess it’s only been the last that I’ve really started utilizing the local library. In fact I only got a membership around 2 years ago. But when I realized I could request books, and they’d actually BUY them, then loan them to me – that was when I fell in LOVE!!!
Today I scored these little beauties…
The top 3 books I had ordered and the bottom two I saw when I had a little browse around. I’m especially excited about the Pioneer Woman Cooks by blogger Ree Drummond. I’ve flicked through it and think it might be added to my TO BUY list. This was one of my requests. I think in the last year I’ve requested at least 12 books and all have been purchased (except one they said was too old). Out of those 12 book I’ve gone on to by 1 (and this will no doubt be the 2nd). Lots of money saved there!!!
So if you haven’t visited your local library for a while do yourself, and your wallet, a favour and do so soon.
Well, it’s been nearly a year since I last sorted out my recipe folder so it was definitely time.
I currently have 3 folders – one for meals, soups, etc; one for cakes and deserts, and one for recipes to try. I usually also have a pile of new recipes recently printed or torn from a mag.Then a nice blue folder with my very fav. ones.
I decided to condense 3 folders into one with labels – soups & salads, main meals, main meals to try, cakes & deserts and cakes & deserts to try. I might try and get some more dividers and make a few more categories.
These fit in very nicely in the space beside my microwave. It’s funny I bought this folder not knowing what I planned to do with it (I just loved it) but look how perfect it goes in my kitchen.
Next up trying to get rid of a couple more recipe books…
I’ve also started using springpadit to flag any recipes I come across online. I can leave them there until I’m ready to try them, then print them out.
How do you keep track of and sort your recipes?
Today we took the girls to see the Irish dance show Dance of Desire. We went with Mum & Dad (though had to take seperate cars). Before the show we managed to get lunch out.
We had debated doing some touristy thing in Sydney but Amy was in another of her “puberty” moods so we decided it wasn’t worth the hassle.
The show was very good. Not quite the cailbre of Riverdance – but that was more the choreography rather than the dancing. It was definitely an enjoyable couple of hours.
After the show the girls were excited to be able to meet some of the cast.
Okay, so these prompts don’t get posted until after I go to bed on Friday night so it’s always going to Saturday here in Australia 
.
1. A cup of tea is one of lifes little pleasures. We won’t talk about how many I have every day .
2. Dogs (and other pets) makes a place feel like home.
3. Everything has its beauty you just need to look for it.
4. As for homegrown food, can anything beat the taste of strawberries?
5. Art makes me mostly happy, but sometimes rather confused.
6. LOL I just noticed I forgot wipe the nailpolish off my arm (from giving my Mum a pedicure yesterday afternoon).
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to the Hawks (basketball team) winning their semi final match, tomorrow my plans include watching the Olypmics and some scrapbooking and Sunday, I want to have a great day out with my family – we’re going to see Dance of Desire – an Irish Dance show!
1. Untitled, 2. friendly.flowers, 3. welcome.treats, 4. Lieblingstasse, 5. Paint it red, 6. Untitled, 7. Short socks, 8. six: proper, 9. steamed cup cakesteamed cup cake, 10. Autumn Beech, 11. P!ink Cupcakes, 12. Spring, 13. moving slowly, 14. Untitled, 15. flower… ecuador… DSC_7886.jpg, 16. Dream in progress… part 19, 17. Eyelets, 18. kitchen window herb garden, 19. evening window, 20. in the shed
Those who have been with me for a while might remember I’ve made a few attempts at breadmaking over the last two years. I’ve tried with the breadmaker, without the breadmaker and numerous recipes. Always I had mixed success.
My last venture involved following Rhonda’s recipe at Down to Earth and it was indeed a success. However, it was totally made by hand, which after a couple of days, was becoming a problem for my hands (which I suffer with in the warmer months). After a failure with the dough hook in the Kitchenaid mixer I asked Kevin to bring back home from work our breadmaker (which he said wasn’t being used). I used the breadmaker at one point but wasn’t quite happy with the loaf, esp. the size and shape. And so my latest, and greatest, venture was launched.
Assemble required ingredients (using recipe at Down to Earth)….make sure you get a VERY good quality flour…I use organic unbleached…
Get out the breadmaker….
Place everything in the mixer…and press the dough button….
When finished (about 1.5hours later)..put oven on to preheat….roll into log and place in bread pan…
Cover with napkin and set aside to rise…
Approx 30mins later it will look like this…
Now place in the oven and cook as directed…todays loaf had some friends…
Another 20mins later and you have a delicious loaf to cut and enjoy…
I’ve been making bread every other day for last 2 weeks. Today I tried half white and half wholemeal flour and it turned out great. I think we finally have a WINNER!!!!
Firstly just wanted to say a BIG THANKYOU to those of you who commented on my last post – I really do have THE best blog readers. So far it’s unanimous that you like the daily posts so that’s what I’ll go with.
Secondly, todays post is a bit of a downer. I rave on about my ongoing battle with healthy eating.
Thirdly after some thinking (while doing the ironing) I have a new strategy in place.
- I will start counting points but only as a guide as to how much I’m eating
- I will do some kind of exercise EVERDAY – after all, I do LOVE it
- I will be kind to me, not beat myself up and just take things one day at a time.
Okay everyone. I need your honest opinions. I’m quite happy doing a daily blog post but I want you, my readers, to be happy as well. I know everyone has limited computer time and there are so many wonderful blogs out there and I don’t want you losing interest or struggling to keep up. So please let me know if you’d like to continue seeing a daily post or if you’d prefer them a little less frequent.
