On the weekend

We had a lovely weekend, staying close to home.

Poppy and Tiya Ning came to visit. We ate very yummy scrambled eggs with sourdough toast for breakfast. My Grandmother came for morning tea, we ate jam tarts and dutch almond cookies. On Saturday night we had a simple barbecue followed by ice-cream with homemade chocolate sauce. Mr Moo and Spunky Monkey slept in the tent in the backyard, the girls slept inside in the 'big bed'. (our bed)

Both days, I was able to fit in an afternoon nap and last night we went to a friends place for dinner. We were treated to a delicious corned beef from her parents farm. Served with white sauce and boiled vegetables, just the way my Nana used to make it. And for dessert, a very yummy apple crumble and custard. Comfort food at it's best. Happy children, a lovely night. Thank-you Prue.



Here are a couple of simple recipes I made on Saturday night.

Maitre d'Hotel Butter

• 125 grams unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 tables. chopped parsley
• 1 teas. lemon zest
• 1 tables. lemon juice
• salt and pepper

Beat all of the ingredients together. Season to taste. Place onto a piece of foil and shape into a log shape about 5cm round. Freeze until ready to serve. Cut 1 cm rounds from the log, remove the foil and place on top of steak (or also good with fish)

This recipe is from an old Margaret Fulton cookbook.

Chocolate Fudge Sauce
(make 1 1/2 cups)

• 375 gram tin condensed milk
• 125 grams dark chocolate (not 70 percent cocoa)
• 1/2 teas. vanilla extract

Put all of the ingredients in a small saucepan and stir over a gentle heat until the chocolate is melted and the ingredients well combined. Pour over ice-cream. Yum!

This recipe has been adapted from a recipe in an old Delicious magazine

Just like a big hug!

I have just had one of the loveliest weeks.

My cousin came up for a visit for a few days with her three little girls (ages 1, 2 and 4) Her husband and older children were left at home to go to school and to work.





We mostly hung out at my place, which was a nice change. On Monday my aunt (her mum) and my mum came for lunch. I asked my cousin to bring a loaf of bread and mum to bring some ham. As usual with my family, we ended up with a feast. Please note our feast included freshly boiled and farm fresh bantam eggs and homemade feta cheese. Thanks Karen. We happily chatted the day away with our four little girls playing around us. Day turned into night and it was all into the bath, make-shift pajama's and a quick spaghetti bolognese for dinner.

Read more about this day in someone else's words, here.





Other things we did:

• Karen taught me how to make homemade feta cheese, however, I think there was to much talking and tea drinking to take any real notice of the steps involved.
• We took Spunky Monkey out of school one day and spent the morning at the beach. Picnics and sandcastles.
• Karen came along with me to my Craft Night and was very productive with her advent calender pockets.

But most of all, this woman (my very special cousin) gives me wings. My spirit soars in her presence. Like I said before, one of the loveliest weeks.

But, it doesn't stop there.... Last night, my other favourite cousin rang from far away, I hadn't spoken to her in a while. It was so nice to fall back into the soft cushions of my couch and chat away to her for hours. Wouldn't it have been nice, if she could have visited for the second half of the week.

And....

Then there is my Mum.

My wonderful mum, who canceled her hair appointment today and came over to sew up a dress we had cut out (I was suppose to be learning to sew - that's another story) I decided, just yesterday, it would be the perfect dress for an outing on the weekend.

I love you Mum xx Thank-you so very much!

DON'T FORGET MY GIVEAWAY - DRAWN TOMORROW NIGHT!!!