I enjoy ...

...lots of things. Today I will share a few that come to mind.

I made up the dried leaves into Potpourri. In the cupboard I found some star anise, cinnamon stick and I blitzed some whole nutmeg in my Thermi and added this to the mix. It smells divine.

Most mornings of the week I head out for a walk. I put in my headphones. The headphones serve as a double purpose; keep the wind out and I have the company of Pandora or a radio station. The music helps me to keep the pace up and I am always encouraged and uplifted by what I hear. I even try to get a walk in over the weekend as I feel when I miss a day, I miss out.

Over the course of each month I pick up the above magazines. I have a good collection of Simply Crochet and the Homespun. This month I found an Australian Knitting magazine which includes crochet too. I enjoy dabbling in crochet, knitting and sewing so these mags are always a joy to read

As you know, I enjoy spending time in my vegi patch. It does need a weed again. Very recently my strawberries were beginning to ripen, so in order to get the produce I removed the frame from the Kale and relocated it over to the strawberry patch and covered it with netting.

And yesterday ...

... I picked a large punnet full. Hubby tried some today and would like me to make scones or pancakes with them. I am forbidden to grind them up into anything else. They are delicious. 

Hubby and I often enjoy a Sunday afternoon drive. It was nice to sit here and watch to waves roll in while we chatted about a few things.  

Until next week, enjoy life and I trust it is full of good things for you.

Dot :-)

Edible Garden

Hello and welcome to another week. You may have noticed that I like to have an edible garden. I try my best to get things growing but unfortunately not all things grow well here in my patch on the hill. 

Lettuces grow well if care is taken in giving them a good start. Garlic chives keep coming up here and there in the garden and they are welcome to use in cooking. I have it on my list to freeze some.

With the weather warmer now, having lettuce in the garden makes it easy to get a healthy lunch together. I grab a bowl and shred and dice anything I can find, add a blob on homemade dressing and fold through. It is kept in the fridge until I need to serve. Today we tried baked mushrooms made into Tuna Melts. Idea came from Stonesoup. Very nice.

The Kale is growing well and I have a bed full of it (at least 7 plants) so we will have some lovely greens to enjoy.

This pop of colour won't be eaten but is in the process of being dried to make potpourri. 

D2 set up a Christmas Tree in our lounge room and we have it glowing for a few hours each night on a timer. The Christmas cd's have been pulled from the cupboard and are now filling the air with bright music.

This was the sunset from our window last night. Gorgeous!!!

And today it is a lovely sunny day.

Keep smiling ... Dot 

Salsa

Hello Readers. Welcome to another week in the life of Dot. I have to apologise. I made the individual pizzas on the stove, thought to take a pic but they were devoured before I thought of it. They were very nice and hubby commented that he would like them cooked that way again. For the topping, I wanted to make a sauce that included vegetables so I made up a Salsa. It made up a few jars that are stored in the fridge, so I will be making those pizzas some more.

This is the Salsa minus red capsicum as I did not have any on hand. Here is the recipe.

Salsa
2 cups vegetable stock
2 large tomatoes
5 cloves garlic
1 onion, finely chopped
1 stick celery, finely chopped
1 small red capsicum, finely chopped
1 carrot, chopped or grated
2 bay leaves
1 Tb honey
2 ts oregano
1 ts basil
1 ts cumin
1 ts coriander
1 ts cinnamon
1 ts paprika
pinch cayenne pepper

Puree stock, tomatoes and garlic together in a processor until smooth. Combine with the remainder of ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 30 minutes. Fill clean jars and store in the fridge.

ps. I used fresh herbs that I could find here at home and used dried for the remainder. 

In my vegie garden over the weekend I cleared out the silverbeet to make way for seedlings I raised. The silver beet was starting to go to seed so it was time to do something with it. After preparing it Hubby helped me vacuum seal 5 nice plumb bags to put away in the freezer. 

I love to get outside. Hope you are able to enjoy the outdoors too ... Dot

Back Again

Hello Readers

I love Roses and my garden has 3 varieties that are in bloom at the moment. The colours are not showing quite right here but on the left is a bright red. The next is a pink which is part of a carpet rose. The apricot one is a new plant I put in last season. Gorgeous.

This is Harry the Whale. I made him up and gave him away.

I happened to look out the window and saw this crow fly and land at the base of this trunk with something in its mouth. It ate what is had and then settled on the top of the trunk, took a look around and flew off. They are a huge bird and I have not seen one this close for a long time. Another visitor to our yard!!

This week I am going to make pizzas, but with a difference. When I make the dough I will divide into small portions. After rolling out will cook in a hot pan on the stove, both sides. When removed from pan, top with warm pasta sauce and fresh basil. Will post a picture next week.

Until then, keep smiling ... Dot

Visitors

Hello

It adds interest to life when visitors call in, don't you think? We had some interesting ones of our own this week.

A chicken coming close to see if I have food in my hand. 

Ollie, the cute dog from up the hill. 

And D2 called in with a homemade pizza to share. She made it with her dad in mind. 

A had a go at making my own Chicken Loaf. 

This lot is going in the freezer but we had some with dinner last night. It was easy to make and is healthy without added nasties. 

To find the recipe, search the internet for Skinnymixers.com.au and click on recipes and select Luncheon Chicken Loaf. 

That's it for today. Enjoy life and be happy ... Dot 

Greens

Something I know for sure, Silver beet grows well here in Tasmania.

I planted a punnet of seedlings MONTHS ago and they have been producing beautiful deep green leaves ever since and still going strong. We have used them in fresh juice, soup, on pizza, vegi mash, salad mix and smoothie. I want to incorporate this yummy green into a pie so I have been putting some ideas together and added it to the meal plan for the next week. We try to have greens in our diet everyday. Today so far we have consumed barley green, grapes, beans, and cabbage. For dinner we are having peas, avocado with lime. 

Here at home we are blessed with the supply of fresh eggs coming our way as we need them. The hub of the home goes through 1-2 dozen a week. Imagine my surprise this week when I was about the poach some for my breakfast (hubby had his scrambled) ....

... a double-yoker. For me they are rare, so I was tickled to find one. I always break my eggs into a glass as I often have to scrape something out that I don't want in there. Fussy, I know, but more often it is a piece of shell. Ooooh!!!

This is how they turned out and once seasoned they were delicious.

I was about to head out today and looked across the yard to find that 2 black chickens had decided to see how greener it was on the other side. They pecked about for a while and made their way back home behind the shed. No, our supply is close-by but not that close. 

Cinerarias are popping their colours up all over the garden. 


Have a great week ... Dot :-) 

Honk Honk

The horn on hubby's little car has not been working for quite some time. Recently he ordered a replacement and it arrived in the mail. He pointed out to me this morning that on the side of it it says 'LOW'. The original sound of the horn was hi-pitched and now apparently it is going to be low. Oh the thought. 
I am trusting for fine weather at the weekend for him to install it and we will see what change the little Smart will make to draw our attention. 

Last night we skyped D1 for her birthday. She was on her own as her family were elsewhere but those of us on the other end enjoyed a nice family chat together; always with some laughs. 

On my walk this morning. There was a clear window to get out as the showers starting happening when I returned. Still a nice day in between the rain. 

Today I tried a new recipe I have had kept aside for a while. I have made a cauliflower based pizza in the past and it was ok but this one is definitely the best.

Here is the recipe:

500g cauliflower, processed to look like couscous.
100g grated parmesan
100g almond meal
1 Tb psyllium husk
2 eggs

Mix these ingredients altogether and place on a tray lined with baking paper and press down fit. Bake in moderate oven for about 30mins or until nice and brown.

You can take it out of the oven now and keep to use later. Store in the fridge or freezer.

When ready to use, heat oven to 200 degrees. Top with your favourite toppings and bake for 10mins or so. 

I'm off to have some pizza with hot soup ... Dot 

Weed and Feed

As Spring is here it is time to weed and feed outside. I have been filling up the weekly wheelie bin with weeds and over the weekend weeded my vegie patch ready to put some mulch around this week. We want to get the whipper snipper out but the regrowth is nice and green and we don't want to spoil it. We are going to turn our attention to cleaning the concrete and washing the windows.

Hubby did a great job with the 'weed 'n feed' spray for the the lawn. The hose connector had to be held in place and by the time he finished he was wet through. I checked the lawn today and can see that it is working. 

A family member received this for his birthday this week. I crocheted him a Gentlemen's Scarf in his favourite colour. I enjoyed making this as it was crocheted longways. As the pattern developed I was happy how it turned out. 

 I had to share this with you. I was knitting away aware that I was coming to the end of the ball (it was underneath the chair) and sort of distracted with the television and then ... ooh .. ran out of wool, just at the right time with enough tail to tie on the next ball. Those who knit would understand the bother of running out mid-row.

Out our window one evening. 

Have a great week ... Dot 

CADA

Hello. It is day 4 of a new month and I managed a walk in between the showers. There is water lying everywhere in huge puddles.

I have just finished my breakfast. Today it was CADA. Now that the weather is warming up and there can be more fresh fruit around, we are enjoying this more.  It's so easy to make and you can change it to suit how you like it.

C: coconut A: apple D: dates A: almonds

Planning ahead: I always have Medjool dates, apples and greek yoghurt in the fridge. These keep for weeks in there, just keep an eye on the date of the yoghurt.

On the shelf I keep almonds and shredded coconut. 

All I need to do is make sure I have some fresh fruit on hand.

In the processor (my TM) I place an apple (quartered and core removed), handful almonds and coconut and 3 large dates (stoned). This may not look much but it's enough for two. "Blitz" 2 or 3 times and serve in bowls.

This is what it should look like.

Add yoghurt and fresh fruit. I make hubby's first and I put mine in the fridge for later. When I make my bowl up I put the yoghurt on last and spread it across the fruit and cada. This keeps it fresh. 

Once you stir and taste it, if you find it is not sweet enough add some maple syrup. We add maple when we use sourer apples. It helps a lot with the taste.
For example: if you use granny smith add some maple and the CADA takes on a new taste. yum!!

So what are you having for breakfast tomorrow?

Enjoy your week ... Dot 

At Home

Hello and welcome back to my readers. Spring is giving us some lovely warm mornings. I head out in the mornings at 8 and take a half hour track about town before I have breakfast.

This week I made a batch of sprouts which we are now enjoying. I will have to get another batch on the go as they are ready in a few days. They are tasty and very healthy for you.

I made up at batch of what they call 'cloud bread'. Because it is soft we found we destructed our salad sandwich and ate with a knife and fork. 

A little kerfuffle was heard at the window the other day and I found some cute birds playing around. They appear this time each year. 

D2 and I have been going for a walk every Sunday afternoon and last time when we returned home we picked some pretty flowers from our garden to display inside.

Did your try the Tasty Broccoli I posted last week? Tonight we are having it with Cauliflower.

It's Lunch time ... Dot

Surprise

Hello and welcome to another day. Yesterday I took D2 on a surprise day out as it was her birthday. We did lots of shopping and eating out at beautiful places. The weather was sunny and so this helped to make the day extra special in getting about. 

On Saturday D2 and I went to a High Tea put on at our church. About 50 ladies turned up and we had lots of fun playing games, eating yummy food, drinking lots of tea and helping ourselves to the lolly corner. 

This little girl's vest is on my shop. Cute, don't you think?

I have a new quick and yummy recipe for you.

Tasty Broccoli
Take a large head of broccoli or cauliflower or half and half, and chop in small pieces and place in a casserole dish. 
Mix a 400ml can of coconut milk, 200ml of vegetable stock and 2 tb cornflour in a small saucepan while cold. Then heat to boil and thicken. Season if needed.

Pour over broccoli. Sprinkle with toasted coconut shreds and a few nuts. Bake in a moderate oven for 20 - 30 mins until cooked. 

Eat on its own or serve with rice or chicken. Enjoy, we did. 

Have a great week ... Dot 

Latest in the making

Good afternoon. 

I have just returned from gifting this bunny cushion I sewed for a new mother. I spent the afternoon catching up with her and her new little someone. This was the first time I have made this cushion and I made a few mistakes. Will have to make another. 

This mandala made of shades of purple is being gifted in the post soon.

This vest for a toddler was finished this week and sold. I have commenced another and will put it on my shop soon.

I am very pleased how these turned out. Sooo cute!

It's time to think about dinner. 

Until next time, be good ... Dot