A New Start!

Well as far as years go I must admit that 2012 didn't really impress me! I think I had a lot of high hopes for 2012 and it just didn't live up to it.....

I am making a promise to myself now that I will make 2013 a much better year! That I will work harder to be incredibly happy and enjoy myself and the world.....

I have already booked myself into some art classes for 2013 which I start in February. I have always wanted to do some art classes and I really do need to do something out of the house that is just for me to enjoy. I am hoping that it will help me find new people to become friends with, which means more adult conversations and company which I am REALLY looking forward to. I am also hoping that I can learn a lot about different art techniques. I would love to learn how to apint and draw as I have always enjoyed it but never really taken much notice of techniques.

I am also hoping to get some swimming lessons for myself and Mr Mikey. I am absolutely petrified of swimming so my goal is to overcome that in 2013. Mikey has had some swimming lessons through school but I would love for him to learn how to be a strong swimmer. So we will be doing that together this year.

Another goal I am setting myself for 2013 is to work better at my 2 businesses. My handmade gifts business, Polkadot Bitz and Piecs and my Boutique Market, Once Upon A Market. I need to work on new ideas, new plans and learn more about business so that I can make them successful.

Then there is my family.

I would really like to spend more quality time with my family and I would like to be a better wife and mummy. (let's just say that I am not the best housewife material, I run from dishes and washing) I would like to get better at running a house and home and I would REALLY  like to put more effort in with taking part in the kids schooling and activities. It is very easy to just become lazy and let the teachers deal with it but I truly believe that parents should really get involved in their learning. Keeping up to date with what they are learning and pushing them to be as successful as possible through positive energy and listening. 

I know these things don't seem life changing but I really think they will save my life. I think that changes a few things in my life and doing some simple things will make me a much happier person and will make me love myself more.

So here is to 2013.......May it be more aspiring and more eventful than 2012!

Liane xx

Strawberry Cake!

  

Well I am a BIG fan of strawberries so when I went to the store and saw some super yummy looking strawberries I just had to buy some.....

But then after tasting one and realising that they were just as scrummy as they looked I decided that these babies couldn't just be eaten regularly........I was going to have to do even more with them! So I pulled down all of my recipe books, magazine pullouts and more and I found a recipe for:

STRAWBERRY CAKE! 

 

 And the best thing was that I had ALL the other ingredients already in my cupboard :D

Well the result was a seriously scrummy cake....so of course I am going to share the recipe with you so that when you find that great tasting punnet of strawberries you can make them even yummier too.........








125g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 cups self raising flour, sifted
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, mashed

Icing:
1 and a 1/2 cups pure icing sugar
4 medium strawberries, mashed

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees (160 fan forced). Lightly grease and line a 20cm round cake pan.

2. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. 

3. Fold in the flour and milk, mixing well. Add strawberries to the mix and fold together. 

4. Spoon mixture into the cake pan and bake for 40 - 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool.

5. To make Strawberry icing: Mash 4 medium strawberries and add icing sugar, mix until well combined.

ENJOY xxxxx

Well I have started once again to try baking. I always fail at something and then I lose my joy of baking. It has been a while but I was out shopping and found a groovy little book in Target called "The Easy Way Baking" and I just couldn't resist buying it. I'm pretty sure there is nothing in there that I don't want to bake so I am on a mission to bake everything in the bloody book. (Let's see how long the mission lasts) 

I went out and purchased some awesome little kitchen gadgets like cake pans, flour sifter, icing spreader etc etc and a whole load of ingredients. 

Today I started on a Classic Chocolate Cake. If it turns out well I may do a post it on it so stay tuned :P and cross your fingers haha. My daughter begged me to bake some Blueberry Muffins so I will be trying some of them out over the weekend too. 

Any way apart from baking there have been a few other changes in my fairytale. I decided a couple of weeks ago that all this technology surrounding our children these days is absolutely destroying their social behaviour and so I am making a much bigger effort to spend more quality time with my kids and get them more active and social. Last week we had a 3 day ban of computers and it was AMAZING!! We played board games together as a family, we went for a family walk down to the local water catchment, we played outside and we started a puzzle. It was lovely to see my kids in a non zombie state and it was a huge reality check that computers and technology really are distracting us from what really matters. 

Sure things like Facebook, Blogs, Pinterest etc etc etc are all wonderful, entertaining and great connections to people everywhere. But what about the people around us? There was a time when the streets were filled with laughing children and we all gathered together for morning teas, sewing classes, coffee, book clubs and so much more. Now everything is done online and gathering together is slowly being eliminated. Maybe that is just me but I refuse to let it continue and so I am on another mission to get out and enjoy the world. Going out and enjoying the places I keep gazing at on Pinterest. Baking for friends so we can have morning tea instead of 'chatting' on Facebook chat, Hanging out with my kids more instead of letting them turn into zombies........The list is endless really. 

Today I picked my kids up from school and instead of heading straight home and getting stuck into the tv or xbox we headed down to the beach to enjoy some icecreams and take a stroll in the sand and the sea. It was a simple act that was beautiful and enjoyable. Really thats what living is all about. Those simple things. 

Tomorrow we are planning a trip to the zoo. Which we haven't done in years! and boy! am I excited!! 

Keep Smiling and Spreading the Love

Liane xxxx

Things i've learnt.....

 The last couple of weeks in my little world have been hectic, crazy and I must say extremely stressful!! But I have learnt many new things.......




I learnt that in this world a little colour can make any day that tiny bit better! wether the colour comes from the flowers, the sunshine, your favourite coloured cardigan on a dreary day, a rainbow, a childs coloured tongue after eating a sweet and then sticking their tongue out.........colour can really change a day! and I learnt that colours are one of my favourite things in the entire world :D

I learnt that life is short! I have pondered this phrase many times over the last couple of weeks. What have I done with my life? What do I want to do with my life?..........I am still working on it but I know that I am not just going to let it slip away into nothing.......I am going to write lists and make inspiration boards of all the things I want to do......I know some will be harder to do than others but my dreams will never be reality unless I get up and go!! 

 I learnt that change is needed for anything to get better! and it all starts with ME!

 I learnt that I am just a human being and every now and then I just need to relax! I need time for me to reflect and to dream. I am me and nobody should change that! I do not need to be like anyone else and I am certainly not interested in being normal. I am crazy, fun, colourful, nerdy, happy, strange and unique and I wouldn't want to be anybody else..........because if I wasn't me my life wouldn't be as entertaining :D 

I learnt that Prince Charmings do exist and that fairytales can come true if you just believe! My life is proof of that and my man is certainly my Prince Charming :D now we just have to finish the fairytale........because we have only just begun!! 

Liane xxxx 

My Week!

 Some of my favourite things that happened last week........

Well first up, I was very excited to be able to curl up on the couch with my favourite blankie and enjoy a nice cup of tea and some nibbles while watching 'This Means War" I was very excited about this film as it has one of my favourite actors, Mr Tom Hardy!! and the excitement was worth it as I loved every second!! especially the seconds involving the very hunky Tom Hardy in a suit hehe :P

Later in the week I did some fabric shopping on my favourite site, ETSY!! woot!! As I am trying to expand my business and get some more grown up products out I had lots of fun choosing some beautiful fabrics.......2 cups of coffee and 3 hours later and I was very pleased with my online shopping efforts including these two gorgeous fabrics!!

 I have been very interested in changing the kids lunchbox ideas for some healthier alternatives so I was extremely happy when I came across a blog for "The Vegie Smugglers" where I purchased this FAB E-Book! 'The Vegie Smugglers lunchbox planner' it is absolutely fabulous and if you have children I highly recommend it!! Now I can't wait for the school holidays to end so I can get started on some of these great ideas :D Make sure you go and check out their blog as well it is amazing!! Just click here

 

Not only do I want the kids to be healthy but I also started on some health kicks this week for myself as well. Inspired by my fiance who loves fitness, I have started to get back into some exercising! 

Last week I managed to fit in some Cardio and Zumba!! all in my own home and I feel better already! I also started a work-out diary which I hope to share parts of with you all here :D so keep an eye out for that! and wish me luck! My workout fads usually only last a week but I would really like to see it through this time!!.......Gulp

For my weekend thing to do I managed to get out and about in the town and checked out Pipsqueaks Market! I missed the first grand opening market so I was very excited to be able to go and check out the Winter Wonderland one! I picked up some yummy Oreo Pops from Cute Treats stall and also brought home some yummy pickled watermelon rindfrom a stall called In A Pickle! It was delicious with crackers and cheese! YUM! Pipsqueaks Market was a super cute boutique market and it was filled with some gorgeous items from local adelaide businesses! You can find all the info about the market here!

 

 And finally my weekend came to an end with me buying Season 1 of Downton Abbey.....I had never seen it before but have been interested for a while......and boy did I enjoy it immensly!! I finished the whole season and am now dying for season 2 to come out.....eeek! and I think I am in love with Mr Bates......

 Liane xxxx

Wagon Wheel Slice!

Well we all know the yumminess that is a Wagon Wheel!! So when I was looking for some lunchbox treats for my kids to take to school this week and found a recipe for Wagon Wheel Slices........Let's just say that I was a wee bit excited!! 

The slices were so scrummy I have decided to share the recipe with you all so you can enjoy them just as much as I did!! It was sooo easy to make but the presentation was a bit frustrating. I wanted them to look like they did on the recipe so much and all was going well until the dreaded top layer of chocolate but don't let that put you off.....even with it's non perfect chocolate layer......these are devine!! (but i will master that chocolate layer one day). 

Wagon Wheel Slice

prep: 20minutes

Cook: 30 minutes (plus cooling time) 

235g butter, softened

1/3 cup caster sugar

1 and 1/2 cups plain flour

1/3 cup self raising flour

1/2 cup raspberry jam

145g white marshmallows, halved

185g dark chocolate, broken into pieces

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees/160 fan forced. Grease a 3cm deep, 16cm x 26cm slice pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm from edge on all sides. 

2. Using an electric mixer, beat 185g butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Sift flours over butter mixture. Stir until dough comes together. Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes until golden.

3. Spread warm base with jam. Cover with marshmallows, cut-side down. Bake for 2 minutes. Remove from oven. Press down on marshmallows to level surface. Cool in tin. 

4. Combine chocolate and remaining butter in small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring for 2 - 3 minutes or until melted. Pour over marshmallows. Tap pan to level surface. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set. Stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before cutting into pieces and serving.

Enjoy xx  

What's Cooking!

This week in my Palace we have some yummy looking recipes on the menu. I have never tried any of these recipes so i'm very excited!! And it is great that the kids will be cooking Tuesday's dish. I love watching them work together in the kitchen and learning new techniques and new foods!! It is amazing to watch.

One thing I love about blogs is all the new recipes you can find and that is why I love to share my meal plans with you. To inspire you all to try some different recipes and give you some ideas. I know I certainly find it hard every week to choose a meal plan and reading magazines like Super Food Ideas and Masterchef are really helpful along with blogs and family and friends recipes.

Food is great for getting the family together and sitting around the table to eat and share stories. So sit down with your kids and ask them to help out in your meal choices. Maybe even give them a chance to cook one or more of the meals. It really is fun and your setting them up with family traditions that they can pass on to their own families when they grow up!

Anyway enough about that!! Let's get on to some of the recipes I'll be cooking up this week:

Monday ~ Pork Roast with Potatoes, Fennel and Lemon Gravy

Tuesday ~ Crumbed Lamb Cutlets with Warm pumpkin Salad

Wednesday ~ Vietnamese Pork and Pineapple Noodles

Thursday ~ Maple Roasted Pumpkin and Chicken Salad

Desserts:

Wagon Wheel Slice

Cherry Cobbler

I have only done a menu this week up to Thursday because our kids are going away for the weekend so I need to go and find some recipes for 2!! to enjoy over the weekend!! 

If anybody has any suggestions feel free to let me know :D 

Liane xx  

Masterchef Style

. 

Well Masterchef has started back up on tv and this means pure excitement in my Palace!! as we all gather around the tv cheering on our favourite Masterchef contestants. I must say the biggest excitement for me is the Masterchef judges......yep I secretly love them! I think I could marry George! and Matt Preston just makes me smile the whole time! and Gary can annoy me sometimes but I must say I have a soft spot for him too.....I think it's that he always wears a suit and I love a man in a suit :P haha!

This year I think my favourite contestant would have to be Audra! so I am backing her all the way :D but some of the other contestants are growing on me too.....it must be so hard to be a judge! I certainly couldn't do it! The food this year is just looking amazing and is inspiring me to once again get back into the full swing of enjoying a creating some new dishes!! I had an old Masterchef magazine from last year laying around so yesterday I had a read and chosse one of the winter recipes! and my gosh it was amazing!! so I think i'll share the recipe with you all today.........

PORK AND VEAL MEAT LOAF WITH ROAST VEGETABLES
serves 4
Preperation: 20mins
Cooking time: 50 mins

350g pork mince

350g veal mince (I used beef mince as my butcher didn't have veal)

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 small carrot, peeled, grated

1/3 cup dried breadcrumbs

1/2 cup barbeque sauce

1 tbs finely chopped sage

1 egg

                                             3 rashers bacon, rind removed, finely chopped

Roast Veg:

4 button squash 

8 baby truss tomatoes

8 baby (dutch) carrots, trimmed

2 tbs olive oil

  1. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease a 14cm x 21cm loaf pan, then line the base and sides with Multix Bake.

2. Combine pork, veal, garlic, onion, carrot, breadcrumbs, 60ml (1/4 cup) barbeque sauce, sage and egg in a large bowl. Press mixture firmly into pan.

3. Bake for 40 minutes or until cooked through. Drain juices from pan, then invert meat loaf onto an oven tray lined with multix bake. Combine bacon and remaining barbeque sauce in a bowl, then spoon over meat loaf. Bake for 10 minutes or until bacon is cooked. Cover.

4. Meanwhile, combine veg and olive oil on an oven tray lined with Multix Bake, then season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Serve with thick slices of meat loaf.

Now sit back with your family around the table and ENJOY :D 

Liane xxxxx

Anzac Day Treats!

Today being Anzac Day we were all at home with nothing to do so it was a great chance for me to catch up on some baking!! :D and some study!!

First up I made us some Anzac Biscuits just to get us into the spirit of the day! This is the only recipe I have tried and they always come out soft and just the way I like it!! I would like to try some new recipes over time!!

They were a BIG hit with the kids and so incredibly easy to make!! I will definitely be making these more often!! I think they will be great as a lunchbox snack :D

Speaking of lunch boxes, my second baking experience today was making some super yummy home-made sausage rolls. I made these and put them in an air-tight container so that my kids can have them for school lunch tomorrow.

I have made these ones before and everyone was happy with them even when they are cold!!





 Head down a bit further for both the recipes :D

I hope you enjoy them as much as my family did and I hope you all enjoyed your Anzac Day and spared a thought for those who fought for Australia!

Anzac Biscuits!

1 cup Plain Flour

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup dessicated coconut

125g unsalted butter, cubed

1/4 cup golden syrup

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line two baking trays with baking paper.

2. Sift the flour into a large bowl. Add the sugar, oats and coconut and make a well in the centre. 

3. Combine the butter and golden syrup in a small saucepan and stir over low heat until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat.

4. Dissolve the baking soda in 1 tablespoon boiling water and add immediately to the butter mixture. It will foam up instantly. Pour into the well in the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.

5. Drop level tablespoons of mixture onto the trays, allowing enough room for spreading. Gently flatten each biscuit using your fingertips.

6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until just browned. Leave on the tray to cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. The biscuits will last for up to 1 week if stored in an airtight container.

Sausage Rolls!

3 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed

2 eggs, beaten

750g minced sausage meat

1 onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs

3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley

3 tablespoons chopped thyme

1/2 teaspoon ground sage

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Lightly grease two baking trays.

2. Cut pastry sheets in half and brush the edges with some of the beaten egg.

3. Mix half the remaining egg with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl, then divide into six even portions. 

4. Pipe or spoon the filling down the centre of each piece of pastry, then brush the edges with some of the egg. Fold the pastry over the filling, overlapping the edges and placing the join underneath. Brush the rolls with more egg, then cut each into six short pieces. Cut two small slashes on top of each roll and put on the baking trays. 

5. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 180 degrees and bake for a further 15 minutes, or until puffed and golden. 

Ok now I am heading off to curl up in bed on this chilly evening and watch the second season of True Blood :D Night everyone xxxx

M&M bars!!

 Well today is the last day of the school holidays which means our house has been rushing around collecting library books that are due back at school, finding all those lost socks and searching for the dreaded school hats!!

But the biggest thing on everyone's minds in my palace was what's for lunch this week!

From previous blogs you would have noticed that we have been working hard in the kitchen to have better home made foods for school lunches instead of the boring usual and packaged foods! and so far the kids have absolutely LOVED my new outlook on lunchbox goodness which has included salads, quiches, chicken wings, frittatas, sesame bars and much more all homemade in my very own kitchen!!

Everything in the kids lunchboxes has been healthy and different from the usual potato chips, sweets etc that you find so often these days.

Now I have had the '4 Ingredients Kids' recipe book since January but for some reason I haven't tried anything from it.....until today!!

Being the first day back to school I decided to make a little treat to add to the Lunch Box tomorrow and we found a SUPER easy recipe for m&m bars inside......well who doesn't love m&m's??


So in all the mad rush I managed to whip up some of these great bars in no time......be warned they aren't healthy at all!! but a treat now and then is no harm!! and I will certainly make sure that Tuesday's lunchbox snacks are packed with goodness :D

If you would like to have a go at these scrumdidliumptious treats then check out the recipe below.......it really is as easy as A, B, C!!

Easy M&M Bars (from '4 Ingredients Kids')

~ 250g pkt arrowroot biscuits
~ 400g can condensed milk
~ 1 cup M&M's 

Preheat oven to 160 degrees. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Blend the biscuits in a blender (I used my processor) Add the remaining ingredients and combine well. Scrape the mixture into a baking pan. Press down slightly. Bake for 20 minutes. When cooled, cut into bars.

Enjoy!! and don't forget to keep following the blog for more lunchbox recipes and more!!

Liane xxx

An unexpected evening!!

Well today was my Mummy's birthday and so I woke up with the full intention fo suprising her with a special made cake. But little did I know that today was going to turn out to be something even more than birthday suprises!! 

Firstly I went out to pick up my mum's cake which I had organised to be created by the extremely talented Lulu's Cupcakes!! Who you can find on Facebook!! I asked for a cake to be created that had my mum's favourite actor and dream husband.....Richard Armitage on the top!!

And this was the result!!: 

 Let's just say that my mum was extremely suprised and the look on her face was priceless!!! I was so happy as it is always hard to suprise my mum!! But the suprises didn't end there.....My little munchkin Mikey had got his Nana some lovely roses that he chose himself just for her and we also picked up a box of Milk Tray chocolates!! 

After the afternoon gift giving my sister decided to inform us that one of my FAVOURITE hollywood hunks.......Mr ZAC EFRON was actually at our local Megaplex Cinema for the premier of his movie The Lucky One!! This started us all on a frenzy of taking showers, getting dressed and shaving our legs.......and we all jumped in the car to go and see if we could get a glimpse of the HUNKY man himself!! 

And guess what!!! Our trip to the local cinema was SO worth it!! as we actually got to see Zac Efron in the flesh!! just a few feet away!! I almost died from excitement and screamed about 100x louder than my 15 year old sister........he is so dreamy!! just saying....

Unfortunately my camera decided to be a total jerk and wouldn't take any good photos :( which I was so disappointed about but I will certainly never forget today!!! and seeing him wave to us after we all chanted "We Want Zac"........yeah even at my age we still do that!! Well I don't know about anybody else but I sure do!! hehe 

And my mummy as wonderful as she is tagged along with us and even got us a great spot at the front to get a better look!! Thanks mum! xxxxx 

Well it has been a very crazy last two weeks! and there has been temper tantrums and smiles all around! with most of the temper tantrums coming from Little Miss Me......

The busy blues have introduced themselves to my life. What are busy blues you may be asking.....Well I basically just made it up! It is the words I use for when life gets so busy that even if you love what your doing the blues set in because you honestly just forgot about yourself.

You forget to read that book. You forgot to watch the sunset. You forget to watch that film. You forget to visit that place you have been dying to visit and You forget to make the time to spend with that special someone.

Everything that you want to do for yourself just gets put away at the back of your mind while you run around getting everything else done and for a short while you actually manage to push those busy blues away. But eventually they come back and they tell you that enough is enough. It is time for YOU!

That time has arrived and it is stronger than ever! 

It is time for me to take care of myself. I need to get healthier and get fit. I need to set some time for myself to read and create. I need to get out and get into some more social environments. 

What I would really like to do is:

Join a Book Club

Join a Craft Group

Get Active and Healthy

Have some Facebook free days ( I know I work on there but sometimes it's too much) 

Spend more time outdoors

Save money

Have a monthly date night with my man. 

I believe that all of these things will make for a happier and healthier me. 

It has come to my severe attention that I am not feeling fulfilled in my life and the only person who can change that is me! I need to focus more on what i want than trying to make everybody happy and just sitting here doing nothing but working on my computer and turning in to a hermit. 

So starting this week is a brand new me :D 

and hopefully I can get into some social groups so i can meet some new people. 

Liane xx 

Chicken, Zuchinni and Squash Stir-Fry

Yum Yum Yum!!!!! this dish was soooo yummy and sooooo simple to make! So obviously I am going to shar the recipe with you all :D It was supposed to have red chilli in it but I chose to leave it out so that the dish wasn't too spicy for my kids......

Chicken, Zuchinni and Squash Stir-Fry

Serves 4

500g chicken stir fry strips

3 garlic cloves

4cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, finely grated

1 tablespoon Kikkoman sweet soy sauce

2 tablespoons blanched almonds

2 and a 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil

2 zuchinni, trimmed and cut into batons

4 yellow squash, quartered

1 bunch bok choy, leaves and stems seperated, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 long red chilli, thinly sliced

steamed jasmine rice, to serve

1. Combine chicken, ginger, garlic and soy sauce in a medium bowl. Toss to coat. 

2. Heat a wok over high heat until hot. Add Almonds, stir fry for 3 - 4 minutes or until golden and transfer to a bowl. 

3. Add 1 tablespoon oil to wok. Swirl to coat. Add half the chicken. Stir fry for 2 - 3 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and remaining chicken. 

4. Add remaining oil to wok. Swirl to coat. Add zuchinni and squash. Stir fry for 2 - 3 minutes until just tender. Return chicken and any juices to wok. Add almonds, bok choy stems, oyster sauce and chilli. Stir fry for 2 - 3 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked through. Add bok choy leaves. Stir fry for 1 minute or until leaves have wilted. 

5. Serve with steamed rice.

Enjoy!

Liane xx                                           

On the Menu!!

This week in my Palace we have a variety of new meals coming up!! 

Yesterday the fiance and I cooked a Jamie Oliver '30 Minute Meal' ~ Mustard Chicken with Dauphinoise (poatato bake) and Greens, and oh my it was delicious!! although I prefer my normal potato bake which i will upload a recipe for soon :D 

Anyway! Here is the Menu for the rest of the week:

Tuesday ~ Zuchinni & Lemon Risotto with Prawns (Kids will be cooking)

Wednesday ~ Speedy Beef Stroganoff

Thursday ~ Bangers and Mash

Friday ~ Chicken, Zuchinni and Squash Stir-Fry

Saturday ~ I will be working all day so we will have some Hot Chips for tea :D 

Sunday ~ Noodle night

Kids Lunch Boxes this week will be:

Chicken wings with Salad, Gingerbread Cookies and Popcorn

Ham and Salad wraps with Lemonade Jelly and Rice Pudding

Caesar Salad with Banana Muffins and Fruit salad

(all homemade) 

Some recipes will be up later in the week!!

Liane xx 

My Week!

A lot has been happening in my palace this week. I have been busy busy busy organising my Once Upon A Market. Which involved typing up, printing and folding up all the info for my welcome packs which all got distributed to each stall-holder. Then I had to fill out lots of forms and ask lots of questions as i went through the insurance process and ABN process. There was also lots of Polkadot Bitz and Pieces work going on which included an overload of sewing and gluing, which resulted in my poor hot glue gun blowing up! 

But throughout my busy week I found time to appreciate some simple things!!! 

This week we had some lovely rain in Adelaide and everybody knows that I love love love the rain. And as I was typing away on my computer I saw a little friend Mr Snail who popped out to say hello next to my back door :) And I just had to get a pic!

I can't wait to get some more rain soon :) i'm definitely a winter girl!!

While it was raining I got lots of work done as well as lots of baking. Because we all know that baking is so much more fun when it is raining out. I also got to rug up on the couch with my Heat Pack (which I make at Polkadot Bitz and Pieces) and I got to read my books and catch up on the latest movies.


Another thing that brightened up my week was my Kitty, Tsuki!! She is growing up soooo fast from when we got her near Christmas last year and when she isn't whining at me food she is my best friend always coming up for a cuddle and trying to help me sew........which doesn't really work she just pulls all my threads apart and then looks at me with this dopey face! haha It is lovely to have her as part of the family! This photo was taken of her when I had a headache in bed and she came in for a snuggle.........

On Tuesday we had a dinner party with my Mother in Law. And oI just had to try one of the Jamie Oliver 30 minute meals out again! and once again it was a huge success!! and loved by everybody. My fiance and I worked together to create Tasty Crusted Cod with Mashy Peas and Warm Salad (with a tartare sauce on the side) Oh my gosh that Tartare sauce was delicious I won't be buying tartare sauce ever again!!!  


As you can see my mashy peas didn't turn out too good as I actually forgot to buy peas so it was actually just mashed potato and broccoli with some mint added in there!! delicious all the same!! but next time I won't forget to buy the peas :P

And lastly to end my week! I sat with my mummy to come up with a pattern for some drawstring bags to add to my Polkadot Bitz and Pieces range. And this is what we came up with. I am so excited! and so far they have been very popular at my markets and online! I can't wait to make some more!

So that was some of the highlights of my week! I hope your week was just as eventful and enjoyable!! 

Liane xx 

Mini Spinach, Feta and Mushroom Gozleme

Mini Spinach, Feta and Mushroom Gozleme

Makes: 8 

Ready in 40 minutes

2/3 cup warm water

2 teaspoons (7g sachet) instant dry yeast

1/2 teaspoon caster sugar

1 and 1/2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup olive oil

1 green onion, thinly sliced

200g button mushrooms, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons currants

100g baby spinach

50g feta, crumbled

50g tasty cheese, grated

lemon wedges to serve

1. Combine warm water, yeast and sugar in a jug. Whisk with a fork to dissolve yeast. Stand in a warm place for 10 minutes or until frothy.

2. Sift flour and salt into a large bowl. Add yeast mixture and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Mix to form a soft dough. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 5 minutes or until elastic. Place in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Stand in a warm place for 20 minutes or until dough doubles in size. 

3.Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onion. Cook stirring, for 1 minute or until softened. Add mushroom. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes or until softened. Add currants and spinach and cook for 1 minute or until spinach has just wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Transfer mixture to a sieve placed over a bowl to drain excess liquid. Cool for 10 minutes.

4. Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Roll 1 piece dough into a 10cm x 15cm rectangle. Combine feta and cheese in a small bowl. Place one-eighth spinach mixture over one half of the rectangle. Top with cheese mixture. Fold dough over to enclose filling. Press edges together to seal. Repeat with remaining dough, spinach mixture and cheese mixture.

5. Preheat a barbecue plate or frying pan on medium-high heat. Brush one side of each gozleme with remaining oil. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until base is golden. Brush uncooked side with oil. Turn over and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden and crisp. Transfer gozleme to plates. Cut in half and serve with lemon wedges.

This dish was so simple and so delicious! I will definitely be eating these for lunch more often!! 

Liane xx

Egg and Bacon Pie!

Last night I made my first ever.....Bacon and Egg Pie! and it seems I have been missing out on pure yumminess! How could I not have made one of these delicious meals until now?? 

I have no idea! 

But here is the recipe (just in case you have never tried one or just want the recipe)

Bacon and Egg Pie with Salad

Pie Ingredients:

2 sheets ready rolled shortcrust pastry, partially thawed

8 rashers bacon, diced

6 eggs

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Salad Ingredients:

1/2 lettuce

1 large tomato

1/2 capsicum (I chose yellow to add colour)

1 red onion

1. Preheat the oven to 210 degrees (fan forced 190). Grease a 20cm pie dish and then line with 1 sheet of shortcrust pastry, re-rolling slightly if needed.

2. Cook bacon in a non stick pan until just golden. Place half in the base of the pie dish. Carefully crack eggs into the dish, making sure you don't break the yolks. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with remaining bacon and chopped parsley.

3. Top with remaining pastry sheet, press edges to seal. Trim excess pastry and brush with beaten egg. 

4. Bake for 15 minutes, reduce heat to 180 degrees (fan forced 160) and cook for a further 20 minutes. Serve hot or cold.

5. Chop salad ingredients to desired chunks or strips toss in a bowl and serve alongside.

Easy Peasy! 

Liane xx 

The books on my table this week!

In my world. Books mean everything to me. They always have and always will. 

I could never give up my books! especially not for any of that new technology everyone is using at the moment, tablets, ipads, kindles.....they are all just so odd! why can't people just read a book??? I don't know but I do know that books will always be scattered around my house and filling my book-shelves......

Another thing you should know about me before I continue, is that I am never reading just one book at a time! I tend to have at least three books going at once because i'm a girl and my moods are always different. Plus my imagination and personality is never satisfied with just one story! 

So here we go! These are the books that are in my handbag, on my bedside table and on the coffee table this week!...................

 Ok i'm going to show off this book first because it only took me 2 days to finish it! It was 'The Boy in The Dress' written by David Walliams, one half of the comedy duo from 'Little Britain'. This is Walliams first book and was a delight to read.

When I saw it at the book store I just had to buy it! Not just because I love David Walliams but also because the book is illustrated by the amazing Quentin Blake who is well known for his illustrations in Roald Dahl's books.......

I was expecting it to be a bit more funny and witty than it was but the story is so sweet and delightful that it doesn't need too much humour. But there are certainly plenty of giggles to be had.......

 Ok now for the book that I find so hard to put down! For those that saw my blog on the movie 'The Help', I finally went out and bought myself the book! eeeeek! and it is better than I could ever have imagined! Certainly my favourite out of the books I am reading at the moment! I am only up to chapter 3 but loving every second and every page!! (I will do a blog review on this one when I am finished so until then i'm not saying too much) :P

John Grisham's, 'The Innocent Man' is the book on my bedside table at the moment. This one is a funny one to describe! It is certainly a gripping story and a book that I should not be able to put down but although I am enjoying the read I have to keep taking breaks because it is a bit too heavy and depressing to read all at once.

'The Innocent Man' is the true story of the criminal justice system gone wrong. The fact that it is a true story is the most interesting part. So far it is really good and certainly does what it sets out to do! I am half way through now and haven't lost interest which is good!.......It is apparently very similar to Truman Capote's 'In True Blood' - which I have heard of and seen the Capote film, but never read.......I just ordered it though so it is next on my list! 

 And lastly we have another book where I have seen and LOVED the film but never got around to reading the book!! I recently watched the BBC version with Tom Hardy and fell in love so I figured I better get the book!

I only got it today so this one is on my coffee table after I read the first two pages! I will come back to this one later......hehe

Well there you go! that's what books are in my life this week! 

What books are you reading this week???