Meatless Monday Porotos granados

Feeling enthused all over again about eating less meat, I saw that Tatum been busy in her meatless kitchen and I felt all inspired yet again. 

Today I feel so tired and exhausted from a quick weekend away with HeartKids, to Pichi Richi Park just south of Quorn, SA. (A fantastic spot for large groups) 

I plucked something out of Hugh's Veg book and grabbed the ingredients from Woolies after school drop off...

The recipe.... 

It looks quite thick in the book but mine is very soupy... 

I would say NOT to add the whole litre of stock unless you want it loose and soupy, which I happen to love. I added a can of kidney beans after this photo, purely because I can. They beans are like a velvety surprise in the soup. Great! 

Also in the bread maker at the moment, to be pigged out on later is Veggie Mama's rye bread. I can officially say that I'm in love. I can eat lots of it today while it's fresh and yummy, and toast it for days to come!! Win/win!! 

 I highly recommend you make this bread. Highly.

Yeasty goodness foaming away in the bread maker. I popped the warm water in last and sprinkled the yeast on top, it foamed up a treat!! 

Happy Meatless Monday..

Leave me a comment or leave your bloglink so I can come and visit.....

p.s. I didn't re-write the recipe, I'm pretty sure if you click on the photo, you should be able to read it, but I truly think that if you love eating Meat free sometimes or are a vegetarian, you should buy Hugh's book, it is a fantastic investment!! 

Feeling Good.

Sometimes we don't always feel good. 

Well, I don't. We judge ourselves against others, and get hurt over the small stuff. (note to self: don't sweat the small stuff) I've been feeling a bit un-worthy since not working, even though I really feel that it's right for our family. Because I've been comparing myself to others and what they choose to do. When in all reality it's not what I would choose for myself. Even though I'm very happy for my friends and their achievements, personal and in the workplace.

 So, after having a pep talk to myself, I've felt so much better and worthy of myself in my own eyes, because truth be known, no-one is actually judging me, it's me who is judging me... 

I have been having the best week (since Tuesday anyway) being in my home and surrounding myself with family and my gorgeous girls.

My week....

Lexi looking at River Cottage Veg Everyday....

 Watching my sleeping girls... something so special about that.

Art Journalling... Simple start but great fun. 

I used to love keeping a diary when I was younger and now I'm going to keep an arty one.... 

I went to the school for a healthy eating seminar. My plate is bottom right, we got judged by two year 1 kids... I didn't win even though I was sending out the positive vibes. I loved this seminar and feel like my eyes have been opened! Go to the go for 2 and 5 website and click on the kids bit for fun activities for the kids.

Absolutely feeling like a hot housewife drinking out of this mug. It really helped!! haha!!

(My Mothers Day pressie to myself)

 Between this retro fabuloso book and Crafty Minx I AM learning how to crochet. And I really am loving that little achievement! I'll have my granny square rug finished by 2014 I just know it!! haha!!

Mia has a girl in her class who is being a little bit of a bully to her and the other girls in the class. I don't think this other girl copes when she doesn't get her own way. No blame on my part to this girl, but I pulled out this book to read ( I never have) to give me some insight into my precious daughters. To help them learn the tools to deal with this type of stuff, it's only the start...  And I need to talk with Mia more, or more importantly, let her talk to me!! 

Babycino time on Friday with the In-laws. 

Making a chain. Pretty proud of myself. Last night I managed to get off the chain and start crocheting on the chain. Not sure of the terminology there but happy Jan!! 2014 here I come! 

I made Veggie Mamas Rye Loaf, I loved it so much and Mum and Dad came 1 minute after it got out of the oven and they loved it too... I might make the dough in the bread machine next time,but I wanted to do it all by hand this time though... Happy with the result.

Cauliflower fritters. Yum with a minty garlicky yoghurt sauce. Not from the Veg Everyday book, but a veg meal nonetheless , I really loved these... 

My gorgeous jewel box from Mia for Mothers Day. So special. And a lovely card and a beautiful handmade tissue flower... Made my day!! 

Indulging in homemade quince paste. One of Mum's friends made it, so much better than Maggie Beer's (sorry Maggie) It wasn't as sweet and it's homemade, that makes anything better, right?? 

 

Mum and I yesterday. Love this woman. So much.

A photo this morning from the post office for the Fat Mum Slim photo a day. The prompt is grass. 

I really am so happy to be back home. I would love to be nearer to Adelaide, but this place would have to be one of the better regional areas to live in. Although I'm sure others would beg to differ..... 

Have a happy week, looking back I've had a busy and productive week.... xx

Meatless Monday

It's Meatless Monday, except it was last Thursday!! 

I've fallen in love with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall all over again lately... 

I fell in love with I'm years ago when he used to do a food show called TV Dinners where he would go into peoples homes while they hosted dinner parties. The dinner parties were usually a bit out there and unusual and he would get right into the thick of it. Lots of fun and quite entertaining.

I've been watching River Cottage over the years as he has established a sustainable lifestyle...

I noticed about a month ago a show of his on Lifestyle called Rover Cottage Veg Everyday. All vegetarian cooking, he challenged himself to a Summer of only eating veg. Fantastic recipes, and looked like they had lots of flavour too!! So, egged on by Tatum when I updated my status on Facebook one Saturday night, we both have bought the book, along with Lauren who wants it, and Kate and Mardi who both have it coming too. I've cooked two things from it, and am on the lookout for more yummy things to try....

Yesterday was the Beetroot Tarte Tatin but last Thursday was this.....

Chachouka, 

which is an African stew of Capsicums and Tomatoes with eggs then cracked in and baked in the oven.... I added a few chickpeas too, and it was really really good. The next day I got my toasty machine out and made a yummy little parcel in my machine with the mixture which was left over....

It's Meatless Monday over at Veggie Mama, so even while I'm not linking up, go and check out her page!!  xx

Today...

Today I had one of the most fantastical Sundays I've had for a while... Although last Sunday was pretty fantastic too. 

Getting home from the retreat to a lovely clean and tidy house, being able to sit with a book and drink cider... yeah!!)

We woke up early, Lexi has taken to running down the hallway between 1-3am and hopping into bed with Mia and I, so it's getting a bit squishy.. Anyway, we woke up about 6:30, the kids watched tele while I buzzed around picking up, putting away, making beds, washing on, bathroom cleaned, bleach down the dunny, stoking up the fire from last night, you know, all that fun stuff. We went to Woolies about 9:30 for a few school supplies, then out to the nursery for some advice on pesky insects picking on my cauliflowers... 

Then home to eat some yummy brunch....

My new favourite combo, and I love lots of almonds in the combo....

Muesli, Banana, Greek Yoghurt and almonds....

Then some work in the garden for a while, and just as I finished it started to rain, inside to my scrap stash. I was able to unpack and play around organising things in my area a bit more to my liking, I even scrapped a page..... It's for the E2C Teeny Tiny Challenge... I slapped down leftovers from Kates class as well as some things from the goody bag. The letters are bought ones as are the cute Kraft Butterflies from Studio Calico. Felt good to scrap, and now that my desk and area is a bit more sorted than before, it'll be easy to slip down there.... 

While we were at the retreat Kate had a fantastic wire coat hanger with her Washi tapes on it, so I asked my parents last night while I was there for dinner if they had one, as mine are all plastic. Dad came out with this one... Cute colour and I asked him to open up the 'latch' part so it can open up easily, and voila, loving my washi tape holder... Stoked!! Can't wait for my Washi to arrived that I ordered on my phone at the retreat.

Then later on I made this yummy Baby Beetroot Tarte Tatin, from this book.. I have been highly inspired by Hugh's tele show, and seeing as I'm here on my own a lot with the kids, I figure that it's not as expensive as meat to throw away if it all doesn't get eaten... (I need some chooks) And I haven't been very inspired by food for that long, it feels great to be in love again with food, especially as it's so yummy!!! 

Just about our whole table was talking about this book at the retreat so am hoping that everyone will join in to cook the same recipes sometimes... I think I encouraged Tatum to make this tart after she saw mine... My pastry was a bit skewif but it's the first time I have EVER made my own pastry so I'm pretty happy aswell. The pastry with the beetroot soaked into it was my favourite part so it couldn't have been all bad! 

Mum and Dad came for a visit with this gem of a book that Mum bought for me somewhere, and I am enlightened that I may even be able to crotchet after I saw an old friend yesterday and she crochets and I'm sure if she can, I can... She even said I should be able to... A bit more heartened. Just need a bit of time. As long as I write my Craft Minx lessons on one of my lists somewhere I will remember to use a bit of my kid-free time.... 

So all in all I had a great day. It drizzled on and off, the house was warm and toasty and smelling yum, the girls hardly fought, I set Lexi up with one of her dolls houses, and lots of little things for the dollhouse, Mia was on and off the computer, reading, watching tele, having little 5 minute spurts of tidying up specific areas of the house when I challenged her, it was a busy but also relaxing day... 

Oh and I also heard that there WILL be a mini retreat and also heard the dates so I'm locking that baby in, I hope and pray and cross fingers and the stars better align so that I can be there!! 

How was your Sunday??

xx

Escape 2 Create 2012 Layouts and Canvases

Hi there, here are my Layouts and Canvases from Escape 2 Create... 

All are straight out of camera, cropped only.

 Canvases from Kate's class. 

The bottom one is done over some of Lexi's painting, so it looks darker.

 Tatum and I at her birthday High Tea, I have had this pic since last E2C and really wanted to scrap it this time round! Thanks Lou Nelson for the photo that you gave me last year!! 

 Brenton during Movember 2011..... Bit scary how much he looks like Chop Chop...

 Rock'n' and a Roll'n and a Whatnot!! 

 A special photo of Brenton and Mia.

 This little girl of mine is growing way too quickly!

 My two layouts from Mardi's class... I am in love with glue dots!! And I never really thought I would love a punch, but the frond is very cute, and to think you can use the negatives... Well, well, well!! 

 Mia.

 I used Kate's patchwork technique that I learnt, I decided to pair the photo and the LO in black so my bright colours wouldn't get lost...

 I think I love this one almost the most. Hairy bubba indeed. 

I love the contrast of colours, and I think this LO shows how i like to scrap. Slap dash all the way! 

I always like the end result when I don't think about it while I'm doing it.

 Special moments to treasure. 

Love my big girl so much. She is frustrating but so wonderful at the same time....

Daddy and his little chicks in the pool in Roxby... 

I'm stoked with all of my LO's. I was stuck on a few, but kept going, I really wanted to make it worth it that I was at the retreat. It was way worth it. Brenton was a bit dirty that I went away while he was home but this morning on the way to the Airport to drop him off, we went past the Hostel, and I was yelling, 'There's my room, I can see my bedroom, I love that place!!' And I also informed Brenton that the only time I'll stop going to retreats is when I am dead. I think he gets the idea now!! Only taken 3 years to get it through!! 

Thanks again to Meredith, Amanda and Sue... I still can't believe it has come and gone!! 

xxx

Escape 2 Create 2012

Escape 2 Create 2012

This weekend just gone was the Escape 2 Create retreat and again, the girls wowed us with their attention to detail, wonderful ladies teaching classes, food, prizes, goodie bags... the list goes on. 

Again, like I am after every retreat wether it is a mini one or the big cahuna, I come away feeling so refreshed and inspired, creativeness just feels like I want it to burst out of me... I had ideas galore.

Some photos!! (which I did upload 'in order' but are now not in order... oh well!!)

I love these two and right now am feeling ultra sad that we live so far away, just feel like I am too far away! Have lots of feelings about this but oh well!! Love that we all can go to E2C together!! Yeah!! 

Carrie Speed made Fridays afternoon tea, a gorgeous selection of sweets, and a gorgeous Carrot type of cake which I did not try but everyone loved to bits!!!! 

Dinner Sat night, Scotch Fillet wrapped in bacon, and look at the gorgeous salads!! So spoilt, it was all delicious, we are certainly spoilt for food when we are there! 

Desert on Sat night too... An Apricot Danish sort of thing... I'm not totally keen on Apricot puree or stewed apricots so it wasn't my favourite, but everyone else seemed to love it! I think I saw Tatum have two!! (a few hours apart I might add)

Tatum and Lauren re-enacting part of their flash mob routine!! Lots of laughs Saturday night. Tears rolling down cheeks type of thing. Absolutely funny!! 

T

A snap of my workspace.... Love it!! And a newfound love of washi tape, I have HEAPS coming!! Oops! 

Our table... I love photos like this. A total creative mess. A fabulous mess. At our table we had Nat May, Kate Mason, Mardi Winen, Tatum, Lauren and I. I was in such wonderful company. Everyone creates so differently. To watch Kate and Mardi work at their spaces was very inspiring indeed. And what wonderful women they are. I have met Kate a couple of times, and always thought she was beautiful, but to spend this extended amount of time in her company was truly fabulous... Her mixed media work is absolutely jaw dropping, I was in my element... And totally inspired by the techniques I learnt in her class!! 

Mardi Winen is such a beautiful talented lady!! Smaller than I had imagined... Teeny tiny!! But how gorgeous? I loved Mardi's class, we did two layouts, I have a brand new appreciation for glue dots and the wonder that they bring!! I too have loved reading Mardi's blog for years now, and to sit right next to her, and get to know her a little bit was special. She is into a lot of lovely crafty things, which I love to hear about and drool about!! 

And Nat, well I actually went to Kindy with Nat and we were besties as teeny tiny kids... But then I went to Public school and Nat to private school, and we did rekindle a friendship in High School by writing letters for a little while when she had moved to Adelaide but lost touch again. So it has been lovely to get to know her a bit again since Tatum's birthday high tea in March 2011... To see her LO's in progress and see her ideas come out and onto paper was fantastic. I really love that we are in each others lives again. I'm really enjoying that!! 

Our names on EVERYTHING!!! Loved it!! 

My view from where I sat.... Tatum across and Mardi next to me... Meredith having a chat about something... I won't say what!! LOL!! 

The shed. I love this photo... Can I go back now?

Having a glass of Moet with Tatum and Lauren Friday afternoon....

I love love love my name on my belongings!! Oh yes!! 

Friday nights welcoming!! 

Another pic of the general rabble on the table!! 

I can hardly believe that it has come and gone for another year. I ALWAYS come away feeling creatively rejuvenated, more so this year I think... I have so many crafty/creative things that I want to get into, I think I have better start putting some ideas down and start learning different techniques and get on with it!! 


I can't wait to catch up with my table mates at some stage!! Probably in about a year the way every one is going!! All so busy!! 


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