Monday 25 February 2013

recipe for you


Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4-6

 Ingredients
40g butter
1 large brown onion, chopped coarsely (optional)
1.5kg pumpkin, chopped coarsely
2 large potatoes, chopped coarsely (optional)
1 litre chicken stock
½ cup cream (optional)

 Method
 
1.    Melt butter in large saucepan; cook onion, stirring, until soft.  Stir in pumpkin and potato; cook, stirring, 5 minutes.

2.    Stir in stock, bring to a boil; simmer, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until pumpkin is soft, stirring occasionally.

3.    Blend or process soup, until pureed.

4.    Just before serving, add cream; stir over heat until soup is hot.  Serve topped with a dollop of sour cream and a few chives, if desired. 

 My Kitchen Notes:

·      I often use less chicken stock liquid.  Using the pumpkin and potato in the saucepan as a guide, I only pour the chicken stock liquid to ½ way.  I find that if I cover saucepan with a lid and bring to the boil the pumpkin and potato reduces into the stock as it boils.  Once pureed, the soup is thick and you can add more water/chicken stock liquid for a consistency that you like if desired at the end. 
·       I often leave out the cream, sour cream and chives altogether. 
·       Always make more as this is a great left over for lunch the next day. 
·       This soup recipe also goes well served with garlic bread.
 
Pumpkin soup is one of our favourite recipes served at our table during the cooler months of the year.  I usually leave out the onion, potatoes and cream as it still tastes just as good.  I hope you enjoy it too. 

Sunday 24 February 2013

52 Weeks of Grateful: market


"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."
- Mahatma Gandhi

 

weekending...


In a snap shot...

- a trip to the city for a 21st birthday party
- drop into Spotlight (me) and Harvey Norman (other half)
- home-made simple chicken sandwich
- drive back from city 'Are we home yet?' x1000
- play time in the backyard
- mow the lawn (not me) 
- shopping at the fruit and veggie market

I hope you are having a good weekend too.
xo

Thursday 21 February 2013

happy chinese new year

 
It seemed like a good idea at the time - Let's do something to celebrate Chinese New Year.  We gathered some basic materials: glitter, glue, red paint and an activity downloaded from the internet - free paper lantern template.
 
They painted...
 
 
..and decorated till their hearts content.
 
 
They stood back and admired their creative works of art.   
 
 
If only it didn't take so long to watch paint dry.  
 

 
So they broadened their creative scope and ...
 
 
...eventually discovered the perfect canvas!
 
 

 
PS. It was straight in the bath for this toddler - assembling lanterns will have to wait. Oh yeah, the new favourite thing to do when having your photo taken is to stick your tongue out - so lady like. 
xo

Tuesday 19 February 2013

52 weeks of Grateful: miss flutterby

This week I am grateful for the everyday moments with little miss flutterby.  Oh my, she is growing up way too fast. Today she said to me, 'mummy I very love you'.  Awww just melts your heart.

xo

Sunday 17 February 2013

weekending...

So far...
 
quiet time at home
chatting with my mama
finally, my turn on the ipad

18th birthday celebration - the older sister of the birthday girl made this beautiful cake

Still to come...
- brunch with friends this morning
- 4th birthday party celebration for lunch

I hope you are having a lovely weekend too.
xo


Thursday 14 February 2013

Happy Valentine's Day

 
 
 
 
Made with love, for the person we love...
Daddy, of course.
 
Wishing you a lovely Valentine's Day.
 

Wednesday 13 February 2013

gift of love

 
I just love this little man. He always brings a smile to my face even when some days are cloudy or stressful.  I hope his smile makes you smile and that you have a lovely day. 
 

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Banana Bread Recipe

 


It's been a while since I have posted a recipe but I couldn't resist sharing this lovely Banana Bread recipe again.   I made it over the weekend and I must say it didn't last long.  My advice is make two batches.  One loaf for today and one for tomorrow.  To save you time searching the archives I have included a copy of the recipe below with some new photos. 
 


Banana Bread
Serves 6-8

125g butter, softened
1 cup (175g) brown sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 mashed bananas
1¾ cups (255g) plain (all purpose) flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder, sifted
1 tsp bicarbonate of (baking) soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
cup (115g) golden syrup
Butter, extra, to serve
 
1. Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F).  Place the butter, sugar and vanilla in an electric mixer and beat for 8-10 minutes or until pale andn creamy. 
2. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Gradually add the eggs and beat well to combine.
 
3. Add the banana, flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and golden syrup and stir to combine.
 
4. Spoon the mixture into a 26cmx11cm (2.5 litre-capacity) lightly greased loaf tin lined with baking paper.  Bake for 60-65 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer.  Cool in the tin for 20minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.  Slice and serve with extra butter.
 
Enjoy xo

 

Sunday 3 February 2013

pausing to remember...

 
Hello friends,
My apologies from being absent from this space.  Like many other mama's out there the first week back at school is always hectic.  Finding our rhythm after being on holidays for 6 weeks is a little difficult particularly when clocks suddenly become that all important instrument to help us keep to a schedule. 

The other reason for my absence is that on Friday at work we received some very sad news that a colleague and friend had passed away after a two year courageous battle with cancer.  This news has been a huge blow to our school community, staff fraternity and local community.  For me, this weekend has been one of reflection, sadness, stillness, love and appreciation.  On Wednesday we will honour and celebrate the life of a fun-loving family man, husband, father, mentor, teacher, colleague and dear friend who always put others before himself and who we will always hold dear in our hearts forever. 



 with love xo

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...