Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Feed Me Bubbe!

I don't know about you but I LOVE watching cooking shows, especially homemade ones - the type you see on recipe blogs or on YouTube. To see people making real life recipes full of 'normal' ingredients just spurs me on to get in the kitchen myself and start cooking!

While trawling for new recipes this morning I came across a great video series called 'Feed Me Bubbe'. It's a home 'vlog' of a Jewish grandmother making traditional Jewish food (YUM!) in her kitchen and showing us all how it's done. Take a look! :)

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Menu Plan Monday (on a Tuesday)

This past week, food wise, has been terrible. With no plan it resulted to left overs and convenience foods, isn't that always the way?? I once saw a quote:

"No plan. No objective. No goal. The road to anywhere is the road to nowhere, and the road to nowhere leads to dreams sacrificed, opportunities squandered, and a life unfulfilled.” - Thomas S. Monson

Might I also add no proper dinners to that list? Anyway, back to the menu.

Monday - Tatertot Casserole with homemade rolls
Tuesday - Mac 'n Cheese for me and Chicken nuggets & salad for Sean (I'm out all day)
Wednesday - Chicken and Corn Soup with homemade rolls
Thursday - Spaghetti & tomato sauce with salad
Friday - Homemade Pizza with salad (can you tell I got some of special? :D)
Saturday - Roast lamb with roasted vegetables (potato, carrot & pumpkin)
Sunday - At my parents so who knows what mum will cook. :)

Monday, September 24, 2007

Back in Business!

So everything has finally settled down and after a week of feeling under the weather and dealing with cat squabbles, I'm back! :)

Thank you so much for everyone who gave me advice about Jasmine settling in. It's been a tough week but they're finally all, seemingly, getting along and although there is still the odd growl (when Bartleby gets a little too friendly for her liking, I hope you know what I mean) everything is coming up roses! Happy cats = Happy parents. :)

I decided to try 'Tatertot Casserole' for dinner tonight and it's in the oven as we speak. We've never even had ground turkey before but when I saw it for the first time at Safeway last week, after hearing lots of good things about it, I just had to buy some! It's so much cheaper than most of the meats over here, so here's praying for a good result! :)

I was able to buy a few things from Crystal's (Biblical Womanhood) store over the weekend thanks to the greatest hubby in the world. :D I've ordered:
  • Edwardian Apron Pattern
  • The Hope Chest: A Legacy of Love
  • More Than a Hope chest
  • Created To Be His Helpmeet
  • Simple Tips for Successful Home Management EBook
  • Secrets to Supermarket Savings EBook
I've already received the ebook's which look great and I can't wait until I receive the rest in the mail! I am so excited! Not only that but my local library has also ordered The Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle which I have been wanting to read for ages! Yay! :)

I'll be putting up our week's menu later tonight but right now I need to go and check on dinner. :)

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Apron Giveaway!



Cheri from Joyful Handmaiden is giving away a gorgeous apron she's made. All you have to do is email her with your name and address - simple!

The drawing is on Friday, so hurry over an enter for a chance to win!

While you're there check out the the rest of her blog, it's filled with lots of sewing goodness. She's constantly making beautiful dresses, skirts and tops with plenty of photos included. :)

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Ikea and Everyday Affairs

Well yesterday, before we introduced Jasmine to our home, I went shopping with mum. We bought a new cat carrier, some new cat toys and somehow ended up at IKEA, one of our favourite stores! :)

I ended up coming home with a pink CD case for our car, some hangers, a new bathmat, some much needed pegs (do anyone else's disappear?) and a few woven wood balls for the cats the play with since they were cents each. I also fell in love with the Liatorp range so I know what we'll be filling the house with when we get one. Mum calls in "New England style" but I'm not sure what that is - the furniture is just very... me. :)

It's already past 10:30 and I've got a ton more to do. I've got a roast on the stove (courtesy of Tammy's Recipes), I've done one load of laundry and I've still got to:

Wash the dishes
Clean the kitchen
Clean the bathroom
Tidy and clean the lounge room
Vacuum and dust
Clean the bedroom
Clean out the boxes in the study

Whew! Somehow I have to also keep the cats separated the entire time as well. *sigh* I'll report on how it goes.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

A whole lot of growling going on

Oh my goodness, how long has it been! I have no excuses besides falling into a rut of offline-ness. A couple of big deals:

1. I'm looking for a new temporary job at the moment.

2. We've been given a 3rd cat (my brother in laws cat, Jasmine - long story) and it's, so far, a bit of a disaster.

It's funny, I had always heard of problems with the existing cats being upset with a new cat being in the house, but this time it's the new cat being upset and territorial so I can't find advice anywhere! Loki and B are actually okay about the whole thing unbelievably. Loki is just scared to death of her and B just wants to be friends. He's far more interested in the new toys that I bought them today. LOL.

Jasmine is all snarls and hissing and growling... she's not happy at all. Even growling and hissing at us, and she KNOWS us! It's all just a bit stressful for her I think, and rightly so!

We don't have a separate room to keep her in like everyone suggests so we're a bit stuck. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Please email or comment - we need help!

Friday, September 7, 2007

Frugal Friday


I don't know about you but whenever we get blessed with more fruit than we can eat and freeze all I can think about are puddings and cobblers. We recently got given a bunch of peaches in syrup and I came across the yummiest frugal "cobbler" (it's more like a light pudding to me) that we had for dessert tonight and had to share!

Amish Peach Cobbler (serves 4-6)

1 c self-raising flour (or 1 c flour & 1 1/4 tsp baking powder)
1 c white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2-3 tbs butter, softened
1 tbs mixed spice (cinnamon, nutmeg & allspice)
6-8 large peaches, sliced and peeled (or 1-2 large cans of peaches in syrup)
1/2 c brown sugar

(if not using peaches in syrup, also make a syrup using 1 tsp almond essence, 1 c boiling water and mix with peaches)

Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
In a med bowl mix the flour, 1/2 c of the white sugar, mixed spice, salt and butter until crumbly. Set aside.
Grease a square pan and place half of the peaches and syrup in the bottom of the pan.
Top with half of the flour mixture. On top of that add the rest of the peaches and then the rest of the flour mixture.
Mix together the left over white sugar and 1/2 c brown sugar and pour over the top flour layer.
Bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes until golden and bubbly. We served ours with hot custard - YUM! :)

One thing I always try to do when I am baking cookies is to keep any of the crumbly mixture that can be left over in the bowl. There's always just that little bit left over that won't stick - it used to drive me nuts! Now I keep the mix left over in a small container in the fridge to add to anything like a crumble or cobbler or pie. It lasts aaaages. Waste not want not as they say. :)

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Where I Stand

I have received a few e-mails asking about my briefly mentioned background, including my reference to my time in the LDS church in my past post and wanting to know where I stand now. So for those interested, here's a 101 on my beliefs and religious background. ;)

Churches (and other groups) I have attended/been part of are (not necessarily a member): Uniting, Anglican, Orthodox, Brethren, Mennonite, Pentecostal, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Revival Centre, LDS (Mormon), the Family, and various Baptist churches... whew.

Several of those were in quick succession in which I came and then left dissatisfied not long after. The longest memberships have been with the LDS and Baptist. For a long time, especially during my teens years I was intent on finding what the real Biblical truth was, hence my list. How I came to find God and Christianity is a post all of it's own. Needless to say, I found my place and my truth. :)

I currently attend a conservative Independent Baptist Church which preaches the Word each week and is filled with God-seeking people who are striving to live for the Lord. I feel extremely blessed to have found this little, but long standing, church. I've been here for the longest time and have no intent on leaving anytime soon. :)

Unlike a lot of others out there, I hold nothing against those places and people and refuse to speak ill of any of them, no matter how in error I may believe them to be, now. I have taken things, as such, from a couple of other places I've attended believing them to be of worth. For example, I believe in the headship veiling for women, however I only cover during prayer and church at the moment. I also practice modest dress, long hair on women, skirts/dresses only and we hold a Family Home Evening each week because regardless of affiliation it's a wonderful thing I think all families should strive for. All in all, I hope that when my time comes to face the LORD, He will find me worthy of trying to live my life for Him, although very imperfectly, and that's all I can ask.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month in the US. Emergency preparedness is something that I've felt really strongly about from my days in the LDS church (Mormon).

1 year pantry, 72 hour kits, MRE's, car kits... you're speaking my language. :)

A lot of people seem to have a view of preparedness - that it's only candles for a power outage, or only useful to prepare for floods, storms or other various natural disasters, but it is SO much more than that! The days we live in are full of uncertainty and preparing for as much as you can brings great peace of mind when those trials come.

We have always kept a stocked up pantry which has always been a blessing. There was a time a couple of years ago when Sean was unemployed and I wasn't working and we literally lived off our pantry, even down to the daily milk. Then there was a time when I had to spend 10 hours in a freezing car on the side of the road. Luckily I had a car kit with a blanket, snacks, water, torch, a book, a Bible, pen and paper... etc. Unfortunately, I forgot my phone. lol

Might I reach out and ask that if you haven't thought about preparedness that you do a little research and consider it for the future, you never know HOW it will help you. I've listed a few sites below. :)

Ready.Gov
72 Hours
Ol' Buffalo Preparedness Page
Emergency Essentials (Articles)
Red Cross Disaster Services

Commitment to Loveliness

I came across this about a week ago and thought it was such a great idea I had to join in! I've been trying so hard to get organized and create a better environment at home and reading other ladies' goals inspires me so much! 5 things I've decided to do this week are:

1. Give myself a home manicure
Months ago I was inspired to grow my nails and I bought a bunch of nail stuff (emery boards, polish, growth stuff etc) with a voucher I had to make a start, but as with most everything, I got distracted and it some how ended up at the bottom of the list! No longer. :)

2. Sort & clean out the bookshelf
I have been putting this off since we moved in. I know that I will feel so much better with a tidier bookshelf full of useful and inspiring books.

3. Make time for a proper devotional every day
I try and have a devotional every day but most days it's rushed and I'm thinking of the next thing to do. Now that I've got a semi-schedule with it included I hope this will become a blessing.

4. Finish sewing project
I have been planning on finishing my purple apron and a skirt for the longest time but I keep getting distracted with other things that turn up. I *will* finish them both by the end of this week.

5. Go to the library to browse the books
One of my guilty pleasures is the library. I love the smell, I love the people, the quiet and of course - the books! I hope to borrow a couple of books after browsing. :)

Monday, September 3, 2007

Menu Plan Monday


Well we had a great week last week in terms of sticking to the menu! We did switch around Monday and Tuesday though because Sean decided he wanted soup for Monday's lunch and I couldn't give him the same for both lunch and dinner, could I? :)

Tonight's dinner will be a bit of a throw-together since I'll be going off to a ladies devotional tonight almost right after Sean gets home. I was going to do a slow cooker meal but I have been so far behind today I didn't remember until it was too late! I'll get there eventually. :)

Recipes follow menu.

Monday: Calli (mine plain, Sean's with steak on the side)
Tuesday: Pasta Primavera
Wednesday: Moslavina-style Pork in Cream Sauce (with Pasta)
Thursday: Crumby Chicken Strips (with Potato Gems and tomato salad)
Friday: Tandoori Chicken (with salad and rosti potatoes)
Saturday: Cajun Hamburgers
Sunday: Pot Roast in Foil


Calli
This was a throw together that my grandma used to make in England when times were hard and food was scarce. I'm sure there are other various methods of this, in fact even my mum's version and mine are different!

4 med potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 c milk
2 tbs butter
4 strips of bacon, rind off but fat on, diced
1 c tasty (cheddar) cheese, grated
Salt & pepper to taste

In medium saucepan, boil potatoes until done (soft). Mash with milk and butter to make mashed potatoes, or use your usual mash method.
In small fry pan or skillet, fry off bacon until cooked and crispy. Drain on kitchen paper and pour fat into container to keep for future use.
Mix bacon into mash potato until combined. Spoon onto plates and cover with grated cheese. Microwave (or grill) until cheese is melted and swirl your fork around to mix cheese in with the rest. Voila! :)
Mum's version: Do not dice bacon but leave whole to fry. Make mash as usual (without bacon) and spoon onto plates. Place bacon strips on top. Fry an egg for each person in the bacon fat and place on top. Cover with the cheese and grill until melted. She also occasionally adds peppers and other things to this. It's up to you!
(serves 2 or 3)


Pasta Primevera
(from 'Company's Coming' 30-min Weekday meals')

3 c rotini (or other spiral) pasta
Boiling water (enough to cook pasta in)
1 1/2 c milk
2 tbs flour
2 tsp oil
2 garlic cloves (minced)
2 c frozen vegetables mix (I use winter veggies), thawed
1/4 c sliced spring onion or scallion
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbs grated parmesan cheese
6 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
Optional: basil
Optional: extra parmesan to sprinkle over when done

Cook pasta until tender but firm. Drain and return to pot. Cover to keep warm.
In small bowl, stir milk into flour until smooth. Set aside.
Heat large frying pan to medium. Add oil and garlic. Heat and stir for about 1 minute.
Add vegetables, spring onion and pepper. Stir, cover and cook for 2-3 mins, until vegetables are heated through. Stir in flour mixture and stir until sauce is boiling and thickened.
Reduce heat to med-low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add cheese, stir and remove from heat. Add this all to the pasta.
Add tomato (and basil if using), toss gently and serve!
(serves 4)

Moslavina-style Pork in Cream Sauce

50ml sunflower oil (can use other oil)
2 red onions, chopped
500g pork, cut into strips
150 ml water
salt and pepper to taste
300g homemade pasta (or thick egg noodles, but have a try and making your own!)
25g butter
50ml double cream
Parsley, chopped

Heat oil in saucepan and add onions. Cook until softened. Add pork and fry until very almost cooked.
Add water and season with salt and pepper.
Simmer for 10-15 minutes, adding more water if necessary.
When pork is tender, stir in cream and reduce to simmer until thickened.
Cook pasta, add butter to pasta and serve with the pork.

Homemade Pasta (I promise it's so easy & kids can join in!!)

300g plain flour
Pinch of salt
3 eggs
1 tbs sunflower oil

Sift dry ingredients together into a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add eggs and oil. Using fingertips, gently gather mixture to form a dough. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Return to boil and cover with tea towel. Leave to rest for 1 hour.
Roll dough out on a floured surface, as thin as possible.
Hang pasta to dry for about 10 minutes. (chair backs come in handy for this!)
Roll up pasta loosely (like a sponge roll) sprinkling with flour to stop sticking & cut into 5mm/quarter inch wide pieces. Unravel strips and put on tea towel. Sprinkle with more flour and leave to dry for 1 hour.
It's then ready to be boiled as per usual pasta! :)

Crumby Chicken Strips
(from 'Company's Coming - 30-min Weekday Meals')

2 large eggs
1 c cornflake crumbs
1/2 c grated parmesan
1 tbs lemon pepper (if you have it)
3 chicken breast tenders/cutlets, cut into 3 or 4 pieces each

Preheat oven to 220C/425F. Beat eggs with a fork in small, shallow dish.
Combine next 3 ingredients in another shallow dish.
Dip each chicken piece in egg and then press both sides into the crumb mixture until coated.
Place on greased backing tray (with sides). Spray tops of chicken with cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes until chicken is no longer pink inside.
(serves 4 - makes 12)

Tandoori Marinade

1 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1" fresh ginger, chopped
1 tbs cilantro, chopped
1 tbs fresh mint, chopped
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp hot chili powder
2 cardamon pods, split - reserve seeds.
4 tbs natural yoghurt
Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Mix above together and place chicken pieces in. Can be left in the fridge overnight - squish every so often.

Sunday Pot Roast in Foil
(by Judith Nielson)
Great Sunday pot roast recipe—perfectly timed for three-hour-church. Add frozen peas when it comes out of the oven, and by the time the prayer is over, they will be cooked, too!

1 (3- to 4-pound) roast (cross-rib, blade, rolled rump, tip, chuck, or bottom round)
1 (10 ¾-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (0.9-ounce) envelope onion soup mix
4 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
8 medium carrots, cut in halves
2 tablespoons water
1-½ cups frozen peas

Heat oven to 300ยบ F.
Place a piece of foil,18x30 inches, in an ungreased 9x13-inch pan. Place beef on foil. Mix mushroom and onion soups together and spread over beef. Add carrots and potatoes. Sprinkle with water. Fold foil over and seal. Cook for 3 hours. For the last few minutes of cooking, undo foil and add frozen peas.
Serves 6-10.

My Big Mouth

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." - Proverbs 21:23

Lately I have been feeling chastened by the Lord in regards to my mouth and the things that come out of it, especially when I'm in a bad mood or with the wrong people. I think it's something that everyone struggles with once in a while - isn't it great knowing that we have a Father who cares enough to highlight our secret weaknesses and help us overcome them, though?

I came across a particular list at momof9splace that I thought I would share. It's been such a blessing, and it will be printed out soon for my constant reminder. :)

Don't Open Your Mouth When:

1 - In The Heat of Anger

Prov. 14:17, "He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated."

2 - When You Don't Have All The Facts

Prov. 18:13, "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."

3 - When You Haven't Verified The Story

Deut. 17:6, "At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

4 - If Your Words Will Offend A Weaker Person

1 Cor. 8:11, "And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?"

5 - When It Is Time To Listen

Prov. 13:1, "A wise son heareth his father´s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke."

The Same Words, from the same father, will be interpreted at Instruction or as Rebuke depending upon whether you are Wise or whether you are a Scorner.

6 - When You Are Tempted To Make Light of Holy Things

Eccl. 5:2, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."

7 - When You Are Tempted To Joke About Sin

Prov. 14:9, "Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour."

8 - If You Would Be Ashamed of Your Words Later

Prov. 8:8, "All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them."

9 - If Your Words Would Convey The Wrong Impression

Prov. 17:27, "He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit."

10 - If The Issue Is None of Your Business

Prov. 14:10, "The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy."

11 - When You Are Tempted To Tell An Outright Lie

Prov. 4:24, "Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee."

12 - If Your Words Will Damage Someone Else's Reputation

Prov. 16:27, "An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire."

13 - If Your Words Will Damage A Friendship

Prov. 16:28, "A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."

14 - When You Are Feeling Critical

Eph. 4:31, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"

James 4:11, "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."

Titus 3:1-5, "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

2 Peter 2:10, "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities."

Jude 8-9, "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."

James 3:9, "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God."

15 - If You Can't Say It Without Screaming It

Prov. 25:28, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."

16 - If Your Words Will Be A Poor Reflection of The Lord or Your Friends And Family

1 Peter 2:21-23, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"

17 - If You May Have To Eat Your Words Later

Prov. 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

18 - If You Have Already Said It More Than One Time

Prov. 19:13, "A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping."

19 - When You Are Tempted To Flatter A Wicked Person

Prov. 24:24, "He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:"

20 - When You Are Suppose To Be Working Instead

Prov. 14:23, "In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury (poverty)"