Q & A

Flights booked? Yes.

Hire car booked? Yes.

Hotel booked? Yes.

Friends and relatives know? Yes.

Bags packed? No.

Do you know what you're taking? Not really. Melbourne/Victoria's weather too unpredictable!

Monet's stuff organized? Getting there.

Presents for everyone? What presents? No. (gee, I hope no one is expecting any!)

U2 ticket packed? No. I mustn't forget that!

Where are you going? Ahh...lovely four-seasons-in-one-day Melbourne....and relative visiting in Gippsland....

Will posting be light when you are away? More than likely but I will have use of a computer so maybe not. Who knows...

When are you leaving? Thursday. Morning.

Returning? Two and a half weeks later.

Looking forward to it? You betcha!!

Please pretend to miss me when I'm gone...

Salmon and Dill Potato Patties

I make these when there isn't much in the cupboard. I substitute the fresh dill for dried... Try these in a burger bun with mayonnaise. Mmmm....

*Taken from 'Fast Food', a Murdoch book*

Ingredients

400g potatoes, suitable for boiling, cubed

1/4 cup mayonnaise

425g can salmon, drained, bones removed

1 tbs chopped fresh dill

2 spring onions, thinly sliced

1 egg

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs

1/4 cup oil

Cook the potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling water for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain well and cool.

Transfer the potato to a large bowl, then mash roughly with the back of a spoon, leaving some large chunks. Stir in the salmon, dill and spring onion and season. Mix in the egg and mayonnaise. Divide the mixture into eight portions, forming palm-size patties. Press lightly into the breadcrumbs to coat.

Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and cook the patties, turning, for about 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with mayonnaise and rocket leaves.

Serves 4

You've heard of Elmo? You've heard of the Cookie Monster...

...but have you heard of The Tickle Monster?

He paid a visit to our house last night, much to Monet's delight (if the squeals of laughter were anything to go by!)

Club Sandwich Saturday

For some reason or another, I have re-named normal old Saturday to Club Sandwich Saturday or CSS.

Lyndon loves club sandwiches and so do I. You know the ones? Little triangles of sandwiches filled with a variety of fillings. Much more exciting than Big triangles of sandwiches filled with a variety of fillings.

For about the past five weeks, each Saturday morning I go and buy fresh bread (usually wholemeal but for a change today I bought white) and fresh deli meats. I come home, boil some eggs, grate some cheese and carrot and well-ah...club sandwiches.

What would you like in your Club Sandwich?

*If you like the look of this photo, drop by my recipe blog sometime to view more photos of home cooked food. Click here.*

Little Helper

Monet has had a funny week.

Today she's been all grumpy so when she wakes from her nap in the next hour I hope her mood has improved considerably! This morning she was really happy to see me and we went about our normal routine. When I suggested a walk, like we usually do at about 9-9:30 she didn't want to go. Nope, nope, nope. We got out the door just after 10am...

This week she has really been helping me around the house. She has helped me with the dirty washing for quite a few months now. She pushes the dirty wash basket to our 'hidden laundry' and pulls out the clothes, one by one, giving me a description of what she is handing over to me. "Mummy's bra...Daddy's sock...Monet's skirt" You get the picture.

She wanted to help vacuum the carpet this week too. The first time she vacuumed she stood in the one spot with the hose and did not move. Her face did though. Into a big grin. I tend to vacuum if not every day, every second (just our rugs and the kitchen floor - I am not obsessive about these things!) which usually take me less than five minutes. Now it takes me 10. Because I have a little helper, but I shall not complain.

Monet's been setting the dining table too for me of an evening. When she spies me preparing and about to dish up dinner, she runs those little legs over to the cupboard where the place mats are kept and places them on the dining table. "Mumsy's", (I've been called Mumsy for the last couple of weeks for some reason!), she says as she places it at in front of my seat. "Daddy's", in front of Lyndon's seat. It is rather gorgeous. And very helpful.

Free child labour hey?

But during the week she really took the cake. When walking home from the supermarket, me pushing Monet in the pram, she threw her drink bottle out of the pram...right onto some poor tourist's leg. Of course I apologized to the lady, who grinned back at me, but Monet? Oh gees. Talk about scream when I said angrily (yeah, I can get angry sometimes!) "Right, No Hi-5 for you today!" And I said it like I meant it. (Hi-5 being her all-time favourite children's program, of which we own a few of their DVD's).

When we got home I calmly told Monet what she did wrong. I also added that I didn't want to bring up a child who threw drink bottles out of their pram which hit innocent people. A few minutes subsided when she came up to me and said "Drink bottle...threw....hit lady...leg... Sorry Mummy!!" Well, didn't she deserve a big hug for that? For sure! I accepted her apology, mainly because she is just so darn cute and she's usually such a lovely little child that anyone would be proud to call her their daughter. Like I am.

*smile*

Cocaine. In A Can.

You can probably understand why a 7-11 in Texas USA, decided to pull the new energy drink from their shelves. Who comes up with these product names? Cocaine? C'mon.....Cocaine? How bizarre.

And here I was thinking that Red Bull was a great energy drink to guzzle! If Red Bull gives you wings what does Cocaine give you? Does it make you feel like you are the most wonderful person in the world, with a real buzz? Hmmm...

But in all honestly I did have a giggle when I saw the article on The Age website. First of all I thought, ooo, is it expensive? and then I thought where can I get some? *giggle giggle* (Tongue firmly in cheek!)

Have you seen anything quite bizarre lately? What's the weirdest product name you've heard of?

Grandmother's Pavlova

When people visit I have made a deal with myself to make a dessert of some kind. Because deep down I love desserts but never have them because my 'other half' doesn't 'do' desserts. So since we have had a friend staying, it is as good as an excuse as any to make this wonderfully easy and oh-so-yummy pavlova.

*Taken from 'Comfort Food', a Family Circle step-by-step book*

ingredients
4 egg whites
1 cup caster sugar
2 tsp cornflour
1 tsp white vinegar
whipped cream
fresh fruit

Preheat oven to a warm 140 degrees. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Place the egg whites and a pinch of salt in a small, dry bowl. Using electric beaters, beat until stiff peaks form. Add the sugar gradually, beating constantly after each addition, until the mixture is thick and glossy and all the sugar is dissolved.

Using a metal spoon, fold in the cornflour and vinegar. Spoon the mixture into a mould on prepared tray. Lightly flatten the top of the pavlova and smooth the sides. (This pavlova should have a cake shape and be about 2.5 cm high.) Bake for about 1 hour, or until pale cream in colour and crisp. (Should sound hollow if you knock on it.)

Leave to cool completely in the oven.

When cool, decorate with the cream and fresh fruit.

Stuffit. Literally.

Last week I bought myself a new product that I have used numerous times since its purchase.

Called a 'Stuffit' it is a bag which stuffs into itself, when not in use. It is really small when 'stuffed' and could easily fit in my pocket.

I bought a 'Pram Stuffit' which nicely fits over the handle/push bar of my pram and stroller.

Just thought I'd tell you about it, that's all. To visit the offical website click here.

Is there something you've bought lately that you wish to tell me about?

Chocolate Whirls

Lovely and delicate but very rich. The ingredients and method is not much different from the Melting Moments recipe...

*Taken from '500 Cookies' by Philippa Vanstone*

for the cookies
225g softened unsalted butter
50g icing sugar
25g dark chocolate, melted (I used a milk chocolate)
225g plain flour
2 tbs Dutch process cocoa powder
3 tbs cornflour

for the filling
50g unsalted butter
190g icing sugar
25g dark chocolate, melted (I used milk chocolate again)

Pre-heat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Stir in the chocolate. Sift the flour, cocoa powder and cornflour and stir into the creamed mixture.

Pipe the mixture, using a 1.5 cm fluted nozzle into 5 cm rosettes, spaced 5 cm apart on a non-stick baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden. Allow to firm up slightly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.

Beat the icing sugar and butter together until light and fluffy and stir in the chocolate. Spread the filling onto the bottom half of the cookies and then sandwich together with the other halves.

Makes 1 1/2 dozen.

Port Douglas again...

Yesterday we took our friend, who is up here staying for a couple of weeks, to Port Douglas. Yeah, we know we went there last weekend but we figure it is a picturesque drive up there and is a good snapshot of what Far North Queensland is like. And of course he loved Port Douglas as much as what we do. And yes, it was hotter up there than Cairns. So much so we all got a bit of colour.


**Note to oneself - must remember sunscreen next time we venture up there!**

The Point (where I took last weeks photos) was just as lovely, though the sky was a little overcast. They were packing up a huge marquee there, complete with dance floor, so we figured there must have been a wedding reception there last night. How wonderful.

From there we went to the lovely 4 Mile Beach. (It is Port Douglas' beach) We opted to go where the crowd wasn't - about half way along the beach. I choose not to go in the water but our friend couldn't wait to get in, followed by both Lyndon and Monet. Monet had been playing with her beach toys her Nanma had bought her, but as soon as I asked if she'd like to go in the water with her dad, well, there was no stopping her!!

It won't be long until we won't be able to freely go in the water up here, or really along the shoreline of most Queensland beaches, due to 'Stinger' season starting up at the end of this month which runs through to the beginning of May. 'Stingers' are a kind of jelly fish (box jellyfish?) with huge, long, dangly tentacles with are poisonous. To swim in the ocean, the Surf Life Savers set up 'Stinger' nets in sections of the beach. They corden off a area which they say is safe to swim in, but the nets don't always prevent the jelly fish from entering.

I doubt I will be going back in the ocean water now until next year...

Smoked Chicken and Pasta Salad with Mustard Dressing

I have made this salad quite a few times. It is really unusual but really yummy... It is great to eat on a warm night, especially because it doesn't heat the kitchen up. The only thing you have to cook is the pasta.

*Taken from 'Cool Food', a Murdoch Book*

ingredients
1 tbs balsamic vinegar
150 ml olive oil
1 tbs lemon juice
3 tbs wholegrain mustard
200g bucatini (thick spaghetti with a hollow center)
450g good-quality smoked chicken breast
8 small radishes
2 small Fuji apples
4 spring onions, finely sliced
35g rocket

Combine the vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice and mustard in a screw-top jar and shake well to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the bucantini according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water and drain again. Toss one-third of the dressing through the pasta and set aside for 30 minutes.

Cut the chicken breast on the diagonal and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice the radishes and add to the chicken. Quarter, core and cube the apples without peeling them and add to the chicken with the sliced spring onion and rocket. Pour in the remaining dressing and toss lightly.

Gently mix the pasta with the smoked chicken mix until well combined. Divide the salad among four serving dishes and serve with fresh, crusty bread.

Serves 4

Since When Did Tamborines Become Hairbands?

Since this morning apparently...

I'm No Bug Lover. Hot Tip.

Okay, a bit of a phobia of mine I have to confess.

I don't like spiders. I don't like snakes. I don't like geckos. I don't like moths and I certainly don't like bugs. Except ladybirds. I like ladybirds and I like frogs too. Not dreaded cane toads though. It would be okay if cane toads were cute like frogs but they are not. They are U-G-L-Y. But back to bugs.... Urgh.

As you may have gathered I am not one for creepy crawlies. They make me scared at the mere thought. So you can imagine the fright I got when I spied this BIG grass-hoppy thing lurking on our balcony wall this afternoon, when I was speaking to my mother on the phone. This thing was big. I have seen (and not minded) grasshoppers before. They are okay when they are normal size, not GIGANTIC like this one.

The wet season is approaching quickly. First geckos on my windows, now big grass-hoppers on my walss. I wonder what else will be lurking on my first floor apartment balcony in the months ahead? Pythons? Cane toads? A gigantic orb spider? I shudder to think. I'm sure you'll hear it first though.

What makes your skin crawl?

Miracles Do Happen

Each day, Monet and I try and get out and go on two walks; a morning stroll to the shops or library or playground and an afternoon walk which gets my my heart racing and sweat on my brow (& trickle down my face - urgh!)

When we leave on our walks I take four essential items for both of us. I carry my sunglasses (which I always wear), my wallet, my mobile phone and keys. For Monet I take a hat (which she usually refuses to wear), a water bottle, a muesli bar and a small packet of mini Rice Cakes. She loves her Rice Cakes and always asks for them when we are out on one of our daily walks.

Yesterday on our afternoon walk around a circuit we have, Monet was very well behaved. I had my iPod and once in a while she'd turn around and smile at me. It had been quite a few days since our last afternoon walk, as she has been having big afternoon naps and we don't get the opportunity to venture out. I think she was enjoying her push around Cairns in her pram.

We stopped down at the pier for a few minutes to watch the seaplane take a couple of tourists over the Reef. Monet sat in her pram and watched and pointed and waved. (She waved a lot yesterday come to think of it!)

We headed off home after the plane left...

The circuit we do takes anywhere between 30 and 40 minutes, door to door.

Yesterday was probably one of the first times when Monet did not turn, cock her head and ask "Muesli Bar?" or "Rice Cakes".

That, dear reader, is the point of this post. That was a bloody MIRACLE!

Zucchini Slice

A great way to use up excess zucchinis! And very easy, as you will read...

*Taken from All-Time Favourites from the Australian Woman's Weekly'*

Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 medium (480g) zucchini, coarsely grated
3 bacon rashes, finely chopped (I used ham today!)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly beaten

Oil 19cm x 29cm rectangular slice pan.

Heat oil in small pan, cook onion, stirring until soft. Combine onion with remaining ingredients in medium bowl and mix well. Spread mixture into prepared pan; bake in moderate oven about 35 minutes or until firm.

Serves 4 to 6.

A-ha! That's What I Am After!

I spied the perfect skirt I am after today.
Just perfect.
In the colour I am after and the style I am after.
But I didn't buy it.
Why not?
Well.... because I found it in the 'girls' section of a department store. That's why.
Isn't that always the way?
I don't know how many times I have said to myself, I wish they made that in a adult size...
Lucky for me, I have a daughter who I can dress in stuff I like, but doesn't come in adult sizes.

Mr. Gecko

We had a visitor this afternoon on our window, that looks out onto our balcony... As long as he stays on 'that' side of the glass, Mr. Gecko doesn't worry me... It was actually pretty good to see a gecko from a different perspective.

Layered Garden Salad

If we have anyone joining us for a BBQ dinner (like tonight), I always make this salad. It is always a hit as it is something a bit different. I thank Lyndon's mother, Marianne, for this recipe.

*Taken from 'All-Time Favourites of the Australian Women's Weekly'*

Ingredients
1/2 iceberg lettuce, shredded
2 cups frozen peas, thawed (I usually put them in the salad frozen - they don't take long to defrost)
2 hard-boiled eggs (I usually use 3)
250g button mushrooms, finely sliced (I always omit them because I'm not a mushy fan)
1 cup (125g) grated tasty cheddar cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbs sour cream
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbs lemon juice
6 spring/green onions, finely chopped
4 bacon rashes, finally chopped
1 large tomato, sliced
2 tbs chopped fresh parsley

Place lettuce into deep 3.5 litre dish; cover lettuce evenly with peas. Push eggs through sieve into small bowl; stir in mushrooms then spoon over peas, top with cheese. Combine mayonnaise, cream, mustard, juice and onions in a small bowl and pour over cheese. Cover and refrigerate.

Cook bacon in a pan, stirring until crisp and browned; drain on absorbent paper. Arrange tomato slices over mayonnaise layer, sprinkle with bacon and parsley.

I Love New Products

Question; What do you get when you mix Cadbury's milk chocolate with chopped macadamia nuts?

Answer; The best chocolate EVER!!! (I love chocolate and I love macadamias. Of course I'm going to love it!)

Playgroup Rant

Start of rant.

Do you know how many of the mother's actually really annoy me in our playgroup? Too many. Maybe it is just me. Probably.

I spend most of my time watching Monet. I mean, physically watching her. There are times when I am chatting to other mothers in the group, but I still have a keen eye on her. Like a hawk. I do realise that I will not always be there for Monet to save her from hurting herself or hurting others for that matter, but while I can, I do.

I can't stand to see a parent busily talking away, back to their child, sipping away on a coffee and nibbling on a biscuit when their child falls, hits, wanders, slips, plays with taps etc., and they expect other people to be watching their child.

Maybe it is just me. Probably.

End of rant.

Another Port Douglas Photo

There really is something about this part of the Far North Queensland that makes it very photographical... The mountain in the distance belong to the Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest.

Is there a place in the world that you love to photograph?

Melting Moments...

These are not called Melting Moments for no reason. Trust me...

*Taken from 500 Cookies by Philippa Vanstone*

for the cookies..
225g softened unsalted butter
50g icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
225g plain flour
3 tbsp cornflour

for the filling
50g unsalted butter
125g icing sugar
2 tsp vanilla essence
3 tbsp fruit jam, any flavour (I used plum)

Pre-heat the oven to 175C. Beat butter, icing sugar and vanilla essence together until light and fluffy. Sift the flour and cornflour and stir into creamed mixture. Using a 1cm fluted nozzle and piping bag, pipe the mixture into 2 1/2 cm rosettes, 4cm apart on a non-stick baking sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 mins until golden. Allow the cookies to firm up slightly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.

Beat the butter and icing sugar together with the vanilla essence until light and fluffy. Spread jam onto the bottom of half the cookies and then spread or pipe the filling onto the other halves. Sandwich together. Store in an airtight container for three to four days.

Makes 1 1/2 dozen

Burnt At Port

Yesterday we drove the hour north to lovely Port Douglas. We hadn't been there for a few months so it was nice to wander the main drag again, check out the craft market stalls and enjoy the 'Point'.

The Point is a little piece of land that jutters out into the Coral Ocean, a patch of grass surrounded by tropical palm trees. Very paradise looking...

We didn't stay for long, a couple of hours tops. But during that time Lyndon and I managed to get ourselves a bit burnt! (Lyndon more so than me!) The heat in Port Douglas always seems a little more intense than the heat in Cairns. In Cairns we get wind off the surrounding mountains, where as Port seems so much 'stiller'.

We do enjoy visitng Port Douglas and would do so more often if the road up there wasn't so crap (besides the magical views you get on the drive up - very picturesque stuff!), but then, all FNQ roads are crap.

To Share With You

A new blog for me to share my recipes with you... I'm not the world's greatest cook or baker, but I like to think I am pretty good... Stay tuned for some recipes soon...

Giving Blogger A Go...

Okay, I'm new in this neck of the woods. I am such a lovely sister, I am giving my big sister her 'typepad' space back and moving elsewhere in the wide world web...

Thought I'd give blogger a go but I am going to change the format of this blog. I won't be posting photos of my daughter here, but I will be keeping a private blog elsewhere with her being the main focus. If you want to know where this will be, email me and I will keep you informed when 'That' blog happens. You can never be too sure who is looking at your photos in the world and you can't trust everyone. Maybe I am being a little too over protected but you can never be sure now can you?

In the meanwhile, come back and visit often, like you did at my original biglittlesister site, because if you don't, I'll miss you!! And don't mind me mucking around with this site either. There will be a lot of experimenting and mucking around over here in the next few weeks....

Cheers