frangipani: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Mid-week Meal: Peanutty Noodle Salad

This recipe is from Simon Holst's Pasta Cookbook

Peanutty Noodle Salad

For the dressing measure the following ingredients into a jar and shake until they are well combined.

3T peanut butter, 2tsp sesame oil, 1T rice wine or sherry, 1T brown sugar, 2T soy sauce, 2T canola oil, 2 tsp minced garlic, 2T grated fresh ginger, 1/4 cup hot water, 1 small fresh chilli (minced) or 1/2-1 tsp chilli powder.

Leave to stand while you prepare the other ingredients.

Cook 250g fine or ribbon egg noodles until just done, rinse with cold water and set aside.

Cut 1 large carrot into fine strips. Combine with 1/2 cup whole or sliced green beans. Cook for about one minute, drain and set aside.

Halve half a cucumber and scoop out and discard the seeds. Slice finely as for carrots. Finely slice 1-2 spring onions.

Toss the noodles, vegetables, and dressing together in a large bowl. Leave to stand for 15-20 minutes then sprinkle with lemon or lime juice and toss again.

I added sliced cooked steak to our peanutty noodle salad last night. It was really good. You could also add smoked or cold cooked chicken.The dressing was spicy and tangy.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Monster May Market

Magnet/Bottle opener from Lyttel Buttons

On Saturday Sofia and I popped over for a browse at the Monster May Market. It was full of the sort of handmade goodness that you see on Felt and here on crafty people's blogs. With the little one in tow I could only have a very brief look at the stalls. We went round the tables twice but I would have liked to do another circuit. It was nice to see Ninotchka from The Wardrobe there showcasing some of her creations like these.

Here's a few things that I chose...

Earrings from Cloud Nine Creative

Fabric covered magnets and

fabric covered thumb tacks (a gift for Mum) from...

On Sunday we took the girls swimming and when we came home I sewed this cushion cover...

Did you do anything interesting over the weekend?

Friday, May 27, 2011

No Comment

HELP WANTED!!
In the last couple of days I have been trying to leave comments on some blogs that I follow but its not working.
I write my comment then below it says "Comment as: select profile"
I choose my google account and it takes me to a sign in page. I sign in. It takes me back to the comment page. I copy the word verification and click "comment" and it takes me back to the sign in page....and round and round we go.
According to my dashboard I am signed in already.
It's so annoying cos I have written quite a few comments thinking it won't happen again but it does and my comment is lost.
Weird thing is that I have been able to comment on some (like Clare and Stella) today
Have you had this happen? Do you know how to fix it?

Girl Style Friday

Na'uli is wearing:

Top from Baby Factory via Sofia

Leggings from Pumpkin Patch

Gumboots from a garage sale

Sofia is wearing pink!...she has developed a love for pink and white and if given the choice would wear pink and white clothes every day. I have never been a girly girl person myself and when choosing clothes for the girls I generally stay away from the stereotypical pink, and particularly pinky pink, steering more towards purple and other less girly colours. I had to give in and buy these pink leggings as she had a short pair given to her by an aunty and would choose to wear these even on the coldest of days. In order to keep my daughter warm I decided to get her some full length pink ones!

The top she has on is a hand-me-down from a big cousin.

I was reading over here that Rachel has the same aversion to pink and she talked about how hard it is to find kids clothes and accessories that aren't in garish colours or covered in Barbie or Dora or other such brands. I must agree.

What are your ideas on kids clothes?

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Helping at Home-cleaning the truck

Here's Na'uli helping out at home.

We were amazed at the control she had of the waterblaster.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Wardrobe Wednesday

Shirt-Esprit

Jeans-Just Jeans

Shoes-Overland

Looking for more wardrobe ideas? Visit Green Valley Crafts for more links.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Mid-Week Meal-A Meal from Mum

We've been spending a bit of time over at Mum and Dad's while hubby is working on a project over that way so I took a picture of one of the delicious meals that Mum cooked for us last week and I will share the recipe for the quiche. The Waldorf salad was Mum's special recipe.

The quiche is called "Jenny Shipley's Favourite Family Quiche"! I think it came from a magazine or newspaper where some 'celebrities' (of the time) had shared their favourite recipes.

Jenny Shipley's Favourite Family Quiche

Saute 1 chopped onion and 2-3 cups of prepared veges(silverbeet, grated carrot, brocolli, courgette etc).

Beat 4 eggs, 1/4 cup oil, 1/2 cup flour, 1 tsp chicken stock powder, salt and pepper and 1 cup grated cheese.

Spread veges in a pie dish. Pour liquid mixture over these. Sprinkle the top with grated cheese and sunflower seeds. Cook in a moderate over until spongy.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Return of Wardrobe Wednesday!

First belt I've ever owned(KMart) and still not sure about it

Cardi top from Ezibuy and Shirt-yes I am wearing one-from Temt(?)

Jeans from Just Jeans

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Mid-week Meal: Mashed Potato Casserole

Yes you read that right! I know sounds a bit weird and in fact I wouldn't really class this as a casserole-which gets me to thinking: What makes a casserole a casserole?" Just googled the term and came up with this...

A casserole, from the French for "saucepan",[1] is a large, deep dish used both in the oven and as a serving vessel. The word casserole is also used for the food cooked and served in such a vessel, with the cookware itself called a casserole dish or casserole pan. In British English, this type of dish is frequently also called a bake, coinciding with the cooking technique used to cook casseroles.

Ok so maybe this is a casserole because it is cooked in a casserole!

Mashed Potato Casserole

Boil about 500g potatoes until tender. Drain and mash with 30g butter unitl smooth. Spread over the base of a lightly oiled baking dish(casserole).

Beat 2 eggs with 300ml cream. Add 1 cup grated cheese and 2 T fresh chives (I didn't have any this time so I used rosemary). Pour this mixture over potatoes. Bake at 180 degrees for about 40 mins or until top sets and is brown.

(Recipe from Australian Women's Weekly Potatoes)

I served this with pork chops, carrot and parsnip mash and beans...