A word to the wise . . . .

When baking, if a recipe calls for stiffly beaten egg whites to help make to make it light and fluffy:

• Do not cheat! 
• Do not experiment with a recipe that you know works, when you are time poor and have a 40+ cupcakes to bake for a birthday!
• Do not think that you know bwtter than Martha Stewart and her esteemed guests.
• Do not, I repeat, do not expect this to work as a substitute for fresh egg whites.

Now I'm sure it makes a perfectly lovely pavlova. The mixture was thick and glossy, but it certainly didn't work in this capacity . . . for me anyway. Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's the humid weather. I don't know, but this is how they turned out:

I know what you're thinking . . . "Just fill that ridiculously huge sink-hole with frosting and no one will ever know!" right? Believe me folks, there ain't enough frosting in the world to fill these craters :(

So methinks it is off to Woolies for a pack of these for the birthday boy to take to class on Thursday.

What's Your Laundry Ritual?

For most of us it's not our favourite household duty but all we aspiring domestic goddesses have our own way of doing laundry. Our own systems (or lack thereof) that vary depending on the size of the family and the time at hand. What's your ritual? I don't find the ritual of the laundry particularly rewarding. Its NEVERENDING! I'm either washing it, hanging it, bring it in, folding, sorting, hanging, ironing or putting it away. And then it starts all over again. Now I realise that our grandmothers had it a lot tougher, and that really we shouldn't complain with our automatic washing machines and dryers. But . . . well . . . . No I got nothing! That said, I do have my favourite products and methods. For starters, I wash clothes on the weekends, with a couple of incidental loads of towels and stuff during the week. I just find this fits in with life at the moment. Spray, spray, spray with Preen Oxyaction Max. I love this stuff! I probably go through one refill a week. Fantastic for all those greasy mystery stains. You know the ones that are still there after you've washed, dried, sorted and folded. Everybody's whites are separated and soaked together overnight in Napisan Oxyaction. This is great for avoiding that greying that can happen when whites are washed with the rest of the load. PS I have tried other varieties of soakers, but this is the best. I can't explain why, but it just is :) I also pop a capful in the machine with each load (colours too)  What I'm washing with at the moment is Nutrimetics Nutriclean Laundry Liquid. I really like this stuff. It is a much thinner, clear blue detergent than you might get at the supermarket. It's very concentrated so you don't need a lot. And it has this lovely light fragrance which oddly doesn't stay in the fabric after washing. The laundry smells clean, but not fragrant. Which to my mind mean that it has completely rinsed outo f the fabric. That has to be a good thing, right? And best of all, none of that crusty detergent residue left on the clean items that then either have to be hand sponged or re-washed.   And then there's this From Life I know you are going to think I am insane, but this actually make ironing bearable, no enjoyable. Yes I said it! But here's why. I actually get a result that looks like the garment has been ironed. And ironing time becomes "me" time. I get a few of my fave TV shows on the planner and just zone out. It's actually kinda fun for me. And then there's the sense of achievement when (for a split second before they get worn anyhow) you stand back and admire a closet full of lovely pressed clothes. So, I know it's only laundry, but anything that makes it easier or more enjoyable has got to be good . . . right?

Recipe Share -Sunday Pancakes

Alternative Post Title: Too good not to be shared :) So both boys are out of the house this morning, so we girls decided we would have a pancake breakfast! I don't know about you, but I love a good pancake. But for me it has to be light, fluffy, piping hot and melt in your mouth and at least a centimeter and a half high. Do you know how hard it is to get a GOOD pancake when out for breakfast? Most places I have been to they end up being rubbery, flat, cold and good for nothing but Frisbee frankly! Well, no more! Put down that "Shake'n'Pour" because I have the mother of all pancake recipes. I found this probably eight or nine years ago and I can honestly say that I have never ordered pancakes form a breakfast menu again! (Except for twice from the Pancake Parlour while on holidays. And let's face it, if an establishment specialises in pancakes we can pretty much guarantee that they are going to be good.  The reason I have never again ordered pancakes from a breakfast menu or buffet? While I am perusing the menu I am thinking to myself "Don't do it, you know you're going to be disappointed, it doesn't matter how good they claim to be - you know yours are better!"  and so I move on to Eggs Benedict or the pastry basket! Yes this recipe really is that good! Sunday Pancakes Ingredients: Dry Ingredients     ¾ cup plain (all-purpose) flour, (cake flour is excellent!)         ¾ cup plain wholemeal flour         1 tablespoon sugar, heaped         1 tablespoon baking powder, heaped         pinch salt Wet Ingredients     1¼ cups milk         1 egg         2 teaspoons vanlla extract         2 egg yolks, from separated eggs         2 egg whites, beaten stiff         unsalted butter and oil for frying For Serving     Maple Syrup, best quality         cream         butter         icecream         jam         cinnamon sugar Directions: Sift (or whisk) the dry ingredients into a bowl. Combine the wet ingredients Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter. Place a large frying pan/skillet over a low heat. Heat until the pan is hot enough so that droplets of water "dance" for a second or two. Add a teaspoon each of butter and oil to the pan and swirl around until meted Pour in half ladle sized portions an when bubbles rise to the top, flip and cook for a further 30-60 seconds. I like to keep a baking dish covered with foil in the oven on the "keep warm" setting. Pop the cooked pancakes in here to stay warm until all the batter has been cooked. Serve in stacks with butter, maple syrup, fresh seasonal fruit, cream, icecream, jam or cinnamon sugar (or all of the above!). Makes 12-14 10cm diameter pancakes (Serves 4-6) Print Friendly Version But don't take my word for it. The proof is in the eating as they say

Domestic Goddess? I think Not . . .

I seem to have somehow established a reputation amongst some of my friends as a bit of a whizz, gourmet, food snob - whatever - in the kitchen. Now I will admit to being a food obsessive, and I love to cook. But I assure you that I have just as many lazy, throw something together or takeaway nights as anyone else :)


Proof? OK. On Sunday I had one of those nights. You know, when the afternoon gets away from you and before you know it, you have precisely 5 seconds to get a meal on the table before utter anarchy breaks out. BUT you haven't done a proper grocery shop and the pickings are pretty slim. So you pull a few random ingredients out of the pantry/fridge/freezer in an attempt to throw a meal together? You been there????

And so Fancy Beans were born . . .

Fancy Beans
Ingredients:

• 2 cans Baked Beans, (any flavour, but I like BBQ)
• 250g grams Bacon, diced (when I'm feeling really hopeless I get the pre-diced stuff)
• 6 Sausages, (Plain old beef, or whatver is lurking in the freezer)
• 2-3 tablespoons Caramelised Onion, (This is what makes it seem a bit fancy)

Directions:
In a large fry pan, cook sausages until golden brown. Remove from heat. Add bacon to the pan and warm through. In the meantime slice sausages into 1.5cm diagonals (see, a bit fancy!).
Add beans, onion and sausages back to the pan and bring to a simmer.
Serve over creamy mashed potato


(Serves 4)


But the Mash MUST be this:


Best Ever Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:

• 250 g potatoes, per person
• ⅓ cup double cream, warmed
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• Salt
• pepper
• Nutmeg, Freshly grated

Directions:
Boil the halved or chunked (but unpeeled) potatoes in a large pan of lightly salted water. When they are soft enough to mash, drain them thoroughly then push the potato pieces through a ricer.


With a wooden spoon, beat in the warm milk or cream and butter and season with salt, pepper and some freshly grated nutmeg, to taste. Eat alone and straight from the bowl for quintessential comfort food.


(Serves 1)


And then you get this:

I know it doesn't seem like much, but it's pretty hearty and yummy and a kid fave! Try it next time you're having one of those days, you'll thank me LOL!

It's Times Like These . . .

I love loving in the "country". I say that in inverted commas, because our town has a poulation of around 50K, but still manages to retain a certain rural charm when you can stop on the side of the road less than 1km from the centre of town and get all of this straight from the farmer himself!

From Life

All vine ripened and bursting with flavour. And that's not even the best part. For the melons, and tomatoes he wanted to charge me $6!!! I only had a $10 note so I said "just call it ten". But he insisted on picking some capsicums - bell peppers to our international readers :) - straight off the bush. What a bargain! And I know that I am providing the very best nutrition for my family as they are all in season, not sitting in cold storage for 6-12 months losing all their goodness.

Local girls: You know the farm right. Just after the Shell service station on the Australind Bypass. And he said if he's not left anything out at the roadside, just toot or call and he'll come a runnin'!

Now, does anyone need any watermelon! What the heck I am going to do with all of that? And does anyone have good authentic tomato/pasta sauce recipe? Or should I just google?

New Year's Mantra

OK, OK so I am slightly behind the times with the whole New Year's Resolution post LOL. But is is still January (for another eight or nine hours)!

While up in the middle of the night with a toothache a couple of weeks ago (that's a whole other story!) I stumbled across a show called "The Perfect Housewife". Think Shannon Lush only British and anally retentive LOL. Anyone who knows me can vouch for the fact that I am the first to jump on any new organisational band-wagon LOL. Now, I believe the show has gotten a bit of a bad wrap for being archaic, sexist or whatever, but I think anyone with at least half a brain can tell that the whole thing is a little tongue-in-cheek. See for yourself:

Anyway, I digress, In the particular episode that I saw, Anthea shared her mantra for decluttering. I LOVE it!

If it's not beautiful, useful or extremely sentimental you don't need it. I was so inspired that I have made myself a little reminder:

From Life

So if you too feel that 2010 is your year to declutter and be free try this little mantra on for size :)

You're Invited!

I settled on a design for the little princess's birthday party invitaions. I am really pleased with how they turned out. I have to say though that they could be made a lot fancier, but as I knew they were going to bunch of 3 and 4 year olds, I decided to play it safe.

From Scrapping Stuff

From Scrapping Stuff

Please excuse the dodgy cloning job, but I have (for obvious reasons) taken out all of the personal info. But you get the idea right?

I had a bit of trouble finding templates for this kind of thing online, so I thought I would do a favour to anyone else looking for something similar.

Handbag Invitation Tutorial

Materials:

• Handbag Template
• A4 Cardstock (CS)
• Printer
• Ink (a few shades darker than CS)
• Trimmer/Scissors
• Hole Punch
• Scorer
• Pencil
• Co-ordinating Patterned Paper (PP)
• Glue
• Self adhesive Velcro (Hook & Eye) Dots
• Buttons
• Gel Pen
• Assorted decorative punches
• Co-ordinating Ribbon (approx 20cm)
• Assorted Embellishments for decorating

Instructions:

1. Print template onto wrong-side of cardstock. (You will notice that the printed lines are grey rather than black so as to be not so obvious in the completed project)
2. Cut out along solid lines
3. Punch holes as indicated on template
4. Score along dotted lines on wrong-side of cardstock
5. Fold along scored lines, so that right-side of cardstock is facing outwards
6. Ink all edges on right-side of cardstock (including folds)
7. Place PP face down on table. Line up straight side of semi-circle "flap" of template with straight side of PP closest to you (so that semi-circle is pointing away from you). Trace semicircle shape onto wrong-side of PP. Cut out just inside the traced line.
8. Adhere PP semi-circle to CS as per picture of completed project.
9. Apply glue to half of button. Adhere to centre of edge of flap, overhanging the edge with the "unglued" half of the button (refer photo)
10. Thread ribbon through one hole and tie a knot in the end. Thread through other hole and tie knot in other end of ribbon. This should now look like the handle of your handbag.
11. Apply Velcro (hook & loop) to underside of flap. This should now provide the closure for your handbag.
12. Decorate at your heart's desire! I have used a *nestabilities scalloped oval, which I have cut in half and layered underneath the "flap" of the handbag, before adhering the velcro.
13. Now all that remains is to do your to's and from's. You can use the square on the template as a guide for sizing.
    
    
    
    *These are another kind of embossing/die-cut that can be used in your cuttlebug.

Have Fun!!!!

From Blog Bits

Mission accomplished {finally!} and some news . . .

Well anyone that has spoken to me in the last couple of weeks is probably sick to death of me rabbiting on about my plans to introduce a chores roster and pocket money rewards system into the family routine. Well, guess what? I have finally got there!!!!! Yay!!!!

I had been wondering why the house was getting out of control, and why I was just not getting to all the jobs I needed to. I know I am busy with work and choir rehearsals for OLIVER! etc, but I have always felt that there are enough hours in the day. So I pulled out Shannon Lush's Speed Cleaning book (which I have owned for about three years now). I realised that I was getting completely bogged down in all of the daily repetitive jobs that the kids and DH are completely capable of doing. REVELATION! A cleaning roster!

It has takes some time to get the whole system up and running, but I stand by the fact that investing a little time and effort into planning does go a long way. However, it is only Day 3 LOL. So whether it works in the long term remains to be seen.

So here is how it works

The Roster

I have two columns, one for me and my movements so that I can schedule everything in, and one for the daily jobs that need to be done.

From Life

Pocket Money

This is a collaborative effort :) I had a number of suggestions, but one of the ones I loved the most (especially or a 3yo & 5yo who do not yet understand how money works) was to have all the pocket money in 20c pieces taped up on display, then take away 20c for each deduction. The practicality of having to get to the bank each week to get the change was a bit much to contemplate. And, as my neighbour pointed out, it may also be a bit tempting when needing change for lunch orders etc LOL.

I realised that I my mum had a given me an educational font that had currency dingbats, so no need for real money :)

Then DH thought of a chart in the shape of a piggy bank so that the kids could grasp the concept of saving. Brilliant!

My friend Vikki suggested googling for colouring pages to make the piggy bank.

So in the end this is what I have come up with:

From Life

From Life

At the end of the day it's more about everyone learning to take responsibility for themselves, there belongings and their behaviour. Cross your fingers for me :)

And in Scrappy news . . . .

Rochelle saw this post and convinced me to enter the LO into the Scrap the Girls challenge for this month as the colours perfectly fit the criteria. And guess what??? I won it!!!!! And the best part is the prize. This month's challenge was sponsored by What's Old is New. This is what I have won:

From Life

Man! As if I didn't have enough reason to stalk the postie already LOL. The poor bloke is going to get a complex :)

So now I had better get off my butt and check the roster! ROFL

New Obsession

I was given flowers for my birthday (Thanks Lee!) earlier in the month and since then I have been addicted to having fresh cut flowers in the house.

I can't believe what a difference they can make to a room. I feel like a total Domestic Goddess when my rooms look like this (see pics). Fresh flowers have the added bonus of bringing the outdoors in. I don't know about you, but I can't help but feel uplifted looking at something this beautiful several times a day. 

But apart from being soul food, cut flowers are such an economical way of adding some style to an otherwise lifeless room. Forget the paint brush and sack the interior decorator! 

Before

After

SO PRETTY!

No need to be a flower snob and spend a fortune at the florist. These orchids were $9 from Coles. Yes, Coles :) I always keep an eye out on the "chuck outs" as well. Sometimes you can get a real bargain and you will still get a few days out of your flowers.

Oh and that is not an expensive designer vase - it's our wine carafe!

OK so now the next thing is to get some pics on the wall, and then the room will look complete :P

Cheerio