Yumo Recipes!!!!!

Using the words of my children (thanks Nan!!!!!) these were Yum Yum Pigs Bum!!!!

Friday nights are takeaway night at our house - but homemade takeaways (our local chippie is INSANELY expensive, the Chinese store has no idea what we are talking about, and we can't be bothered driving the 15mins into town).  We usually rotate between pizza, burgers or fish and chips.

This is the pizza I made on Friday night and it was heavenly if I may say so myself

Apricot Chicken Pizza

Pizza base
1 Onion, chopped
2 slices cooked Bacon, chopped into small pieces
Broccoli florets (don't know how many, but enough to scatter on top)
Dried Apricots chopped (again as many as you like)
500gm Chicken breast
BBQ Gourmet Italiano Seasoning (optional)
Cheese
Smoked Hickory sauce
Oregano
Salt

Cut the chicken breast into small cubes.  If using it, toss and coat with seasoning and cook in fry pan.  Set aside.

Either chop or slice onion (I used red onion, but you can use either).  Cook bacon and chop into small pieces.  Chop the broccoli florets into smaller heads and cook for 4 mins.  Drain really well.  Chop apricots into pieces.

To assemble;

Scatter on onion, then chicken - spread out evenly.  Fill in holes with bacon and scatter around broccoli and apricots.  Cover with enough cheese so that when it melts it will hold the other ingredients together, and stick to the base.  I use a mixture of Colby cheese, Tasty and Parmesan (the latter two I have pre grated in the freezer).

Sprinkle over some dried Oregano and salt, then add a swirl of the sauce on top.  Cook in hot oven till golden.


Notes
I buy the pre sauced Romano bases for my pizzas now.  I am so far into the LOSER breadmaker category its not funny.  And lets face it who can be bothered when you can get them pre-sauced (and if you are like me, delivered to your front door).

Hickory Sauce

We have a pizza stone which is fabulous.  To use it I preheat my oven to 250c (with the stone in it), then my pizzas usually only take 8 mins to cook.  Highly recommend them.


Recipe #2

Roast Veges with a twist

Cube all veges quite chunky

1/2 Squash
3 Courgettes
2 Red Capsicums
1/2 Fennel Bulb
1 Red Onion, cut into wedges - leave the end on.
Olive oil
Salt & Pepper

Light roasting veges (e.g asparagus, mushrooms)

Dressing
1 can Chickpeas
1 tsp cumin
Juice of a lemon
3Tbsp Oil
Bunch of Coriander
Feta (optional)

Chop all veges into chunky pieces (you can use any veges for roasting - I had no courgettes so used carrots instead).

Put veges in a roasting dish and drizzle with olive oil.  Sprinkle over a good portion of sea salt and pepper.  Cook for 20mins at 220c.  If using light veges toss them through and continue cooking for another 20 mins.

Drain chickpeas and add to boiling water (just to heat through).

Mix remaining dressing ingredients together and set aside.

When veges have finished, mix through drained chickpeas and dressing.  If you like it sprinkle with Feta cheese.

Yummiest veges EVER

Home @ 67

11.00am

The holiday that wasn't

Dear Crazy 2

This week has been hideous.  Thankfully as you are so young you probably won't remember it which is good.  But for me, I will remember it for a long time.

Monday morning you and I set off for the hospital to have your tonsil and adenoid surgery.  We were excited - you more than me.  We think in your mind you thought you were going on holiday.  You were REALLY excited.  I was excited as we had been waiting a year for it to come and it meant that you would no longer snore and struggle with sleep apnea.

We set off to the hospital at 6.45am - thankfully you hadn't yet thought about your usual 4 Weetbix for breakfast.  The whole way there you were amazed at all the lights and trying to work out why you were in the car in your jammies and it was dark outside.

At the hospital things changed - you changed from positive to negative.  It started when we had to take off your favourite dinosaur jammies and trade for the 'lovely' hospital gown.  After a big struggle I got it on.  But then came the name bracelet and numbing cream for your hands.  I felt terrible as there was nothing I could do to put your heart and mind at ease, other than try to talk to you through your tears.  You did stop though when I had to dress in my lovely yellow gown and hairnet.

Then we were off to theatre.  I could see the fear in your eyes as we left as you thought I was leaving you, but then the novelty of riding on a bed kicked in.  When we reached the outer room of theatre,  you still had a look of 'whats going on here'??  That was until they opened the doors to theatre and we saw all the equipment and the lights.  I said to you it was a space ship - but you just laughed at me.

We rolled you in and moved on to the operating table.  I was a nervous wreck, and you were excited to see lots of tv screens!!!  Mr Rorrison gave you the strawberry smelling gas mask and you started breathing into it like you were a spaceman.  The doctors were impressed by how well you were doing.  Then as the gas started to kick in, you got a bit twitchy and tried to take it off.  At the time I thought you were breathing in just oxygen but it was the sleeping gas.  I didn't realise that you were so close to being KO'd that it too be by surprise and I started to panic.  Your eyes were partly open but you were lifeless - I thought you were dead.  After a few tears and kisses I had to go, but knew you were having your first deep sleep of your life.

For an hour Nan and I waited and waited.  The nurses said if you woke in the recovery room o.k. they would get us on their way to the Childrens Ward, but if you were quite upset they would need me in the recovery room.  Needless to say when they came looking I started to worry.  You had woken up in a bad state.  You were upset, disoriented, and scared - it wasn't the holiday you had imagined.  Again I felt helpless as there was nothing I could do to help you.

What we didn't know at the time was you IV line for your pain relief had fallen out, so I am guessing you were in agony.  After some liquid Morphine, you settled enough to be able to lie on the bed quietly.  We were moved through to the Childrens Ward where you fell asleep listening to Nan tell you about a story of the farm.  This is when my tears returned - you were asleep but I couldn't hear you breathing.  The improvement was instant!!!  You weren't snoring and your chest wasting heaving in with each breath.  For the next hour and a half you drifted in and out of sleep.

The nurse said when you woke, we wouldn't recognise you.  She was right.  After some Pamol and a small tub of ice cream you were out of bed, climbing on the chair to see out the window and ready to play.  Nan and I watched you eat a sandwich - I think we did more grimacing than you!!!!  You were like a hoover sucking them down - you must have been starving!!!! Once you had some food in you, you picked up even more - so much so that Pop was questioning whether you had had the operation or not!

We were allowed to come home that night and you got stuck into your daily dose of Weetbix and then were ready for bed.  Dad and I had a few chuckles watching you sleep as we now couldn't hear a thing!!!!  We were amazed.

The next few days were pretty rough for you as you tried to cope with the pain while not being able to eat most of your favourite foods.  You also didn't like not being able to go outside and got a bit restless not being able to do too much. 

Things can only get better for you bud!!!

Dad and I are so proud of you!  You haven't once complained through the day that your throat was sore.  Even when you have obviously been in pain you have always shared a smile or cuddle with us.  We love you to bits and so thankful it is nearly all behind us - we certainly don't want to go through it again any time soon.

Love Mum 

5 Years Old Today

This time 5 years ago I was in panic mode.  It was the day before I was due to be induced and after hearing my sisters experience I was determined this baby was coming out!!!!  And out he did

Happy birthday Bud!  You are the most fantastic kid with a heart of gold.  We pray you will grow to be a faithful man of God.  Love you to the moon and back xoxox

Home @ 67

Having a bulk @67 today......

The reason why I HAVE to pull this boys bed out each day to remake -

This is why it is usually so peaceful in our house till at least 7.30am -

My techno savvy boys

Motherhood

I have pinched this from a blog I read - GirlTalk

Where am I?
I’m in our bedroom, trying to stay awake during morning devotions.
I’m in the kitchen, pouring bowls of Rice Krispies.
I’m in the car, running errands to the soundtrack of my children’s worship cd.
I’m at the mall, and Liam is hitting Owen with his shoe.
I’m in the candy store, endeavoring to buy some peace and quiet.
I’m at the townhouse, unpacking all our stuff from the move.
I’m in the playroom, picking up Legos and army men.
I’m at the changing table, disposing of another stinky diaper.
I’m in the kitchen again, preparing cheese and watermelon for lunch.
I’m on my hands and knees, wiping up Andrew’s spilt milk.
I’m on the bed, catching a nap while the boys sleep.
I’m at the park, running after Liam who is trying to escape.
I’m on the couch, comforting Owen who fell and bumped his head.
I’m in the living room, trying to keep Liam’s dirty feet off the furniture.
I’m back in the playroom, picking up more Legos.
I’m in the kitchen, making dinner.
I’m on the phone, arranging a play-date with another mom.
I’m at eye level with Andrew, correcting him for complaining, and reminding him that he needs a Savior.
I’m in the bathroom, giving three cute boys a bath.
I’m in the boy’s room, reading The Gospel for Children. (I’m thankful it’s for mommies too.)
I’m in bed, wondering how many hours of sleep I’ll get tonight.
I’m in the laundry room, changing wet sheets. It’s 1:00 a.m.

Where am I? I’m in the middle of motherhood.
And there’s no place else I’d rather be!

If you’re in the middle of motherhood, I hope this quote my Mom passed along to me encourages you too.

"A mother…by her planning and industry night and day, by her willfulness of love, by her fidelity, she brings up her children. Do not read to me the campaigns of Caesar and tell me nothing about Napoleon’s wonderful exploits.  For I tell you that, as God and the angels look down upon the silent history of that woman’s administration, and upon those men-building processes which went on in her heart and mind through a score of years;—nothing exterior, no outward development of kingdoms, no empire-building, can compare with what mother has done.  Nothing can compare in beauty, and wonder, and admirableness, and divinity itself, to the silent work in obscure dwellings of faithful women bringing their children to honor and virtue and piety."  Henry Ward Beecher

Organise My Home - Week 9

A bit of an easy one this week again - phew!  I am still trying to work out how our office can be better!

Week 9:  Cleaning products

Have you been through your cleaning products lately to see exactly what you have???  Do you need to condense them down so you only have a few??  Here's a tip all you really need is white vinegar and baking soda!!  Yip that's it.

I use the glass cleaner recipe below for everything - windows, benchtops, floors, bath (spray then sprinkle with baking soda).  It is great.

Drain Unblocker
Sprinkle two thirds of a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 200ml white vinegar and leave for 10 minutes. It will form a gas that will clear the blockage. Flush with water. If there is still a blockage, repeat, but use washing soda instead of baking soda. Keep repeating until blockage clears.

Mould and Mildew PreventersSpray1 – Fill a spray bottle with 2 cups of water then add 20 drops each of lemon, lavender and tea tree oil. Shake and spray where mould and mildew are likely to grow. Don’t wipe or rinse off.

Spray2- This removes mould from bathrooms and outside on wooden decks Mix quarter of a teaspoon of oil of cloves into one litre of water. Just spray on and leave as long as possible. Repeat if necessary.

Oven CleanerMix together one cup each of washing soda and baking soda. Sprinkle the bottom of the oven to cover. Spray with water until very damp, and keep moist by spraying every few hours Let set overnight. In the morning scoop it all up along with the grime and rinse.

Glass CleanerFill a spray bottle with 2 cups water and 1 cup white vinegar. Add a few drops of liquid detergent and a few drops of lavender oil. Spray windows, wipe with rag and finish off with scrunched up newspaper.

Foot OdourInto every pair of shoes, sprinkle inside liberally with some baking soda. Followup with a few drops of tea tree oil and leave overnight. In the morning shake out the powder. Do this once a week.

Soak the feet as often as possible, even just once a week, in a bucket of warm water with 2 tablespoons of sea salt and 2 tablespoons of baking soda added to it.

Mix 50ml of base oil such as olive, almond or jojoba. Add to that 10 drops lavender essential oil and 10 drops tea tree essential oil. Rub this oil into the feet, preferably in the morning before you put your socks on, as a deterrent to fungi and odours.

Blueing powderMix 3 cups of baking soda with half a teaspoon of Prussian Blue powder(available from art supply stores.) Store in an airtight container. For one set of sheets , add a teaspoon of the mixture to the final rinse of your wash, making sure the bowl is fill first. If you are washing more than a set of sheets, increase the amount accordingly. If you hang your sheets out in direct sunlight, this will work even better.

These recipes are from Wendyll Nissens book Domestic Goddess - it has oodles of helpful tips and recipes in it.  Or check out her website