I don't really do New Years Eve, but Kaitlyn and Ashley are having friends over tonight, so there is the usual mad panic beforehand: compounded by the expected top temp of 42 degrees celcius in the City and a *milder* 39 down here! ARGH!!!!!!!
The clash of preparation and preparing in and around normal life means short tempers and frustrated outbursts - "Beam me up, Scotty!" I just want to lie on my bed with the fan on, but who knows what bedlam would result? Likely all the perishables would be removed from the fridge, to make way for Jelly Shots!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Peace and Quiet!
It is so lovely here atm. Rodney is back at work, so he left about half an hour ago. Everyone else is still in bed and I have everything to myself! Bliss!
It is going to be hot today, but on the lower end of hot, before the temps soar over the next few days. So I think I might pop out and do some bits and bobs today, so I don’t need to go out when it is horribly hot. I have to go and spend my voucher at the book shop – what joy! – and I have $50 burning a hole in my pocket – MIL gave everyone cash this year! We each got $50, except Ashley, who got half, because he is only half in, as she said! I am going to spend mine on something scrapping related – possibly some shelving for the wall above my current shelf unit. That might involve a trip to Ikea … sigh!
Kaitlyn is sleeping in after seeing Priscilla last night, with Ashley’s mum, sister and – reluctantly – father! Ashley got to miss it, as he has gone away on a boys trip! He will be back in time for the NYE gathering they are planning at our house.
Melissa worked last night so she can have a sleep in until she needs to get ready for work this afternoon. She is still coming off the high of seeing the Golden Compass – she has read all the books and is desperate that they make the rest into films. She is on top of the world, with Prince Caspian to look forward to and the news that Peter Jackson has (finally) got permission to make TWO films based on The Hobbit!!
Kieran has finished the Xbox game he got for Christmas so last night the Dr Who epic began. It is a hard life …
Anyway, that is about it for now. Might do some scrapping – made a mini album of the family photos yesterday and did a LO of one of the pics I took of Melissa at the park. Must take some photos and upload.
Have a nice day!
It is going to be hot today, but on the lower end of hot, before the temps soar over the next few days. So I think I might pop out and do some bits and bobs today, so I don’t need to go out when it is horribly hot. I have to go and spend my voucher at the book shop – what joy! – and I have $50 burning a hole in my pocket – MIL gave everyone cash this year! We each got $50, except Ashley, who got half, because he is only half in, as she said! I am going to spend mine on something scrapping related – possibly some shelving for the wall above my current shelf unit. That might involve a trip to Ikea … sigh!
Kaitlyn is sleeping in after seeing Priscilla last night, with Ashley’s mum, sister and – reluctantly – father! Ashley got to miss it, as he has gone away on a boys trip! He will be back in time for the NYE gathering they are planning at our house.
Melissa worked last night so she can have a sleep in until she needs to get ready for work this afternoon. She is still coming off the high of seeing the Golden Compass – she has read all the books and is desperate that they make the rest into films. She is on top of the world, with Prince Caspian to look forward to and the news that Peter Jackson has (finally) got permission to make TWO films based on The Hobbit!!
Kieran has finished the Xbox game he got for Christmas so last night the Dr Who epic began. It is a hard life …
Anyway, that is about it for now. Might do some scrapping – made a mini album of the family photos yesterday and did a LO of one of the pics I took of Melissa at the park. Must take some photos and upload.
Have a nice day!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Family Christmas
Here is the clan who I *forced* to have photos taken together!
I had to photoshop the full group pic – someone moved behind someone else, but there was nobody behind the camera to see! It is my first attempt at such digital editing – tempting to add Santa too!
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/yvettedownunder/FamilyPortraits
I had to photoshop the full group pic – someone moved behind someone else, but there was nobody behind the camera to see! It is my first attempt at such digital editing – tempting to add Santa too!
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/yvettedownunder/FamilyPortraits
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve
With a simple dinner out of the way, it was time to prepare for Carols By Candlelight on TV, my traditional Christmas Eve activity. Every candle, every tea light holder is lit around the lounge room and my bedroom. The Christmas lights are on, all other lights are off.
With Kaitlyn spending the evening with friends, there were only four of us to share an indlugence - chocolate fondue, served with marshmallows, biscotti, fresh cherries and strawberries, plus a plate of the cookies I baked.
I ended up watching Carols in bed, while they all watched part two of Terry Pratchett's Hogwatch. That's what I like about our kind of Christmas - everyone can treat themselves to their own delights!
Finally, off to bed ... the stockings were hung by the ... um, no chimney, just a cupboard!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The Breakfast Menu - Christmas Morning
Some years ago, we decided to make Breakfast our special meal together on Christmas Day. Last year, we had it for dinner on Christmas Eve, but this year it is back to morning!
The menu is ever-evolving, as we find new things to add to our list. Some we will prepare the day before, to save work on the day.
Here is the menu for 2007.
to be followed by full roast dinner at Nana and Pa's! So be warned - best not linger too long in bed!
The menu is ever-evolving, as we find new things to add to our list. Some we will prepare the day before, to save work on the day.
Here is the menu for 2007.
Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
Your Choice from a range of hot beverages
Eggs - cooked to your requirements
Bacon - traditional or glazed with maple syrup
Warm croissants with butter and your choice of jam
Buttermilk Pancakes with Blueberry Syrup and/or fresh berries
Freshly Baked Plum Pudding Muffins
French Toast - with optional Choc Chip Panetone or Traditional Bread
to be followed by full roast dinner at Nana and Pa's! So be warned - best not linger too long in bed!
Bill Granger's Buttermilk Pancakes
Buttermilk Pancakes
Chef: Bill Granger
You need:
250 g (2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
a pinch of salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
750 ml (3 cups) buttermilk
75 g (2½ oz) unsalted butter, melted
unsalted butter, extra, for greasing the pan
Method:
1. Stir the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together in a bowl.
2. Add the eggs, buttermilk and melted butter and whisk to combine.
3. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and brush a small portion of butter over the base.
4. For each pancake, ladle 80 ml (1/3 cup) of batter into the pan and cook for about 2 minutes, until bubbles appear on the surface.
5. Turn the pancakes over and cook for another minute.
6. Transfer to a plate and keep warm while cooking the rest of the pancakes.
Chef: Bill Granger
You need:
250 g (2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
a pinch of salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
750 ml (3 cups) buttermilk
75 g (2½ oz) unsalted butter, melted
unsalted butter, extra, for greasing the pan
Method:
1. Stir the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together in a bowl.
2. Add the eggs, buttermilk and melted butter and whisk to combine.
3. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and brush a small portion of butter over the base.
4. For each pancake, ladle 80 ml (1/3 cup) of batter into the pan and cook for about 2 minutes, until bubbles appear on the surface.
5. Turn the pancakes over and cook for another minute.
6. Transfer to a plate and keep warm while cooking the rest of the pancakes.
Corinna Chapman's Plum Pudding Muffins
As found in Kerry Greenwood's mystery novel, earthly delights:
PLUM PUDDING MUFFINS
2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons bicarb of soda
1 cup chopped candies peel, sultunas, dried fruit
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of allspice
1 beaten egg
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
tablespoon rum or brandy
Heat the oven to 300 degrees celcius. Spray the muffin tins with oil. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix the egg, milk, butter and alcohol together. Pour it all at once into the muffin mix, stir with a fork and put into the prepared tins. Bake for about 15 mins until they smell cooked but before they are burned on the bottom.
PLUM PUDDING MUFFINS
2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons bicarb of soda
1 cup chopped candies peel, sultunas, dried fruit
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of allspice
1 beaten egg
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
tablespoon rum or brandy
Heat the oven to 300 degrees celcius. Spray the muffin tins with oil. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix the egg, milk, butter and alcohol together. Pour it all at once into the muffin mix, stir with a fork and put into the prepared tins. Bake for about 15 mins until they smell cooked but before they are burned on the bottom.
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