Winter Weather is here ...

My Mum is coming over to babysit Lucy tonight while Luke and I head out to the footy.  Unfortunately she is unwell with a cold so I thought I would whip up some delish soup for her dinner ... plus this rainy, cool weather is perfect for soup eating!

Zucchini And Leek Soup

Ingredients

2 Leeks

2 Sticks Celery

750g Zucchini

1 Carrot

1 Large Potato

60g (3 tbs) Butter

3 ½ cups Water

4 Chicken Stock Cubes

Salt (one teaspoon), Pepper

2 tbs chopped parsley

1/3 cup Cream (if desired)

Crusty Bread to serve

Method

Trim leeks, wash thoroughly.

Slice celery, leeks, zucchini.  Peel and slice carrot and potato.

Heat butter in large saucepan and add vegetables.  Stir to coat.

Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally (don’t let veggies brown).

Add water, crumbled stock cubes, salt and pepper.  Mix well.

Bring soup to boil, reduce heat, simmer covered for 15 minutes or until veggies are tender.

Stir in parsley.  Puree veggies and liquid in electric blender (1 cup at a time on medium speed).

Return soup to saucepan, add cream, reheat without boiling.

** Serve with crusty bread

Show and Tell

As the weather gets cooler, it is time to dig out the crochet hook and balls of yarn.  This seems to be a bit of a family addiction as Mum and 2 of my sisters are keen on crochet too, as well as my Aunties and cousins!  After digging out my stash of wool and unfinished projects from last year, I decided to make scarves ... one for me and one for Lucy.

Mum then introduced me to the fantastic blog Attic 24 ... I was hooked!  My first mission was to master the ripple blanket.  The pattern on the blog is easy to follow once you work out the different stitches.  I made a "Raspberry Ripple" pram blanket for Lucy, then I started on a "Tiggers Bounce" pram blanket for my nephew who is due in 2 weeks (more on that to come!).

   

  

ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day is almost here.  In the past we have tried to make it to a dawn service.  I have been to one at Morningside and one at Wynnum.  The most moving service was the one at Currumbin.  Thousands of people make the annual early morning trek to the Gold Coast to attend this event and I highly recommend it.  Although we had to park ages away and it was quite a bit of a walk, it was definitely well worth it.  That same year we also went to the RSL and played two-up ... so much fun!  It is great to see everybody getting into the spirit and remembering those who served and are serving for our country.

I have just pulled a second batch of yummy ANZAC biscuits out of the oven ... something I always make each year, usually with the kiddos at school. Luke and I have already made a dint in the first batch ... yummo!
Here is the recipe I use:
Ingredients
> 1 cup flour
> 1 cup rolled oats
> 1 cup coconut
> 1 cup sugar
> 155g melted butter
> 1 tsp bicarb soda
> 1 tbs golden syrup
> 2 tbs hot water

Method
> Combine first 4 ingredients and mix.
> Add butter.
> In a bowl, mix together last 3 ingredients.
> Add these to the oats mixture and stir to combine.
> Place small balls of the mixture on an oven tray covered with baking powder.  Evenly space them as they will spread.
> Cook in moderate oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
> Allow to cool and try not to eat them!

Have a great ANZAC Day ... Lest We Forget

Hunter Turns Two!

Last weekend we celebrated my nephew's 2nd birthday.  His mummy spent weeks and weeks planning the Carnival themed event and she managed to get some great party gear. Super cute drink bottles and straws, popcorn cups, cool lolly bags, hay bales to sit on, great lolly table centrepieces.  But my most favourite was the strawberry icecream pop ups ... wish I had a photo of these ... they were supremely yummy and definitely a hit with everyone!  Another masterpiece creation was the clown cake made by Aunty Lib ... AMAZING!

The birthday boy had a great day and was thoroughly spoilt by all his friends and family.  Happy birthday H! xxxx

Easter

Another one of my favourite times of the year!  This was our first Easter with Lucy, so mummy was a tad excited.  I can't wait though until she is a little older and more aware of what's going on (then we can do the whole putting the basket and carrots out, bunny footprints, etc).

She was still pretty excited with her Easter basket!  As she can't have the choc eggs yet, it was filled with new pyjamas, a peter rabbit book, a chicken ornament, an egg cup, a winter scarf, some shakers and the hands down winner ... chocolate custard!

I also decorated an Easter Tree this year which is something I have been wanting to do for a while now.

There were, of course, plenty of hot cross buns eaten in the lead up to Easter.  On Easter Sunday morning we had a lovely breakfast with our little family, then in the afternoon the whole family went to my sister's house for an early dinner.

 Some cute Easter ideas I found ...

Looking forward to next Easter already!

Book Report

Remember back at school when you had to write book reports?  Well I thought that I would write one each time I finish a book, letting you know if I think it is a worthy read or not.  So here goes ...

 The Captain's Daughter

 Leah Fleming

The Setting: 

This story begins aboard the Titanic, which was interesting as the 100 year anniversary of the sinking is in a couple of weeks.  It then jumps back and forth between New York and Lichfield and a side step to Tuscany.

The Characters: 

Celeste Parks, mother to Roddy, first-class passenger wanting to escape her troubled marriage.
May Smith, wife of Joe and mother of baby Ellen, steerage passenger headed to the USA to start a new life.

The Story:  

As the ship goes down, May loses all that is dear to her.  Celeste takes her under her wing and when on the lifeboat, May is handed who she thinks is her rescued baby.  The two women are taken aboard the Carpathia and a friendship is formed that will last a lifetime.  Then May makes a shocking discovery and a split second decision which changes the lives of many.

My Thoughts:

This was an ok read.  Nothing spectacular.  I spent the whole book trying to work out how the title related to the story ... never did work it out!  I wouldn't tell you to rush out and buy it, probably give it a 6/10