What is Friendship...

What is a friend.......someone who is there for you in good and bad times, rings to check you are ok, accepts your invite to catch up, rings to say hi for no reason, you can tell them anything without them telling anyone, they don't judge you, they are there for you no matter what, listens when you are feeling down, laughs with you, crys with you....etc.

I thought a friend of mine, who I have known for 28 years, was all the above, but a couple of weeks ago that changed and now I know that she was not a true friend, after all those years.

I don't need to be treated like she treated me, when it was not my fault, and I don't need the drama of her in my life anymore.

So 2012 is my year to move forward!!

Enjoy your day!

xx 

Weekend Cooking....

Last weekend I had a weekend of cooking.

I made

 Lasagne to put in the freezer.

Bacon & Corn Quiches, also for the freezer. I got this recipe from Joolz again, thanks Joolz.

I also made Granola (yummy), I can't remember where I got this recipe.

Mix in a bowl:

1/4 cup + 2 tblspn Honey

1/4 cup Canola Oil

2 1/2 tblspn Water

2 tspn Brown Sugar

1/4 tspn Salt

then add

3 cups Rolled Oats

1/2 cup Shredded Coconut

1/2 cup Sliced Almonds

1/4 cup Wheatgerm

1/4 cup Sunflower Kernals

1/4 cup Pumpkin Seeds

Mix together and place on baking trays and cook in a 180C oven for 25 minutes until golden, stiring occasionally.

Next time I think I might add extra honey.

 

And lastly I made this Herb & Garlic Mix that Nellymary at Just Like My Nan Made makes. She puts this on just about everything. I put it on my lamb chops while they were cooking the other night and it gave them a nice flavour.

That was it for cooking for me for the weekend.

I finished off the Christmas ham and gave the bone to Bailey as a treat, it was nearly as big as him.

There wasn't much left of it once he had finished, and he had a very full belly!

There has not been a lot happening in the garden with this silly weather we have been having, not much sun at all.

The wheelbarrow in the front garden is really the only thing that is flowering nicely.

My vegie garden is going very slow too, I decided to put some carrots and spring onions in some pots which I can move into more sun, when it eventually decides to come out.

Enjoy your day!
xx

Baking in the Kitchen...

Last Sunday I took my Dad to see his brother, who has had radiation treatment.  I haven't seen my Uncle and Aunt for a few years, but I have spoken to them on the phone.  I decided to do some baking to take for morning tea.  I finally used my new mixmaster, wow, I wish I had of bought one a long time ago, it was so much easier and it is quieter than the small one I had, I had so much fun using it.

So what did I bake you ask...first I made Date & Walnut Loaves.

Then I made Cherry Shortbread Biscuits (the recipe is from Joolz at Simply Joolz - thanks Joolz).  I didn't do them as fancy as Joolz does but they are sooo yummy, I made some at Christmas for gifts and everyone loved them. I think they are better shortbread than the ones I used to make. I made double mixture and put some in the freezer (I don't know if that was a good idea....looks like it will be extra walking for me and Bailey!).

My Aunt and Uncle loved them, they said I can go and visit anytime I like.

On Wednesday night I received a call from my friend down the coast to say they are in Sydney for her daughter's doctors appointment.  This happens every couple of months so we get to catch up which is great.  So I checked the pantry and I made a batch of Florentines.  They love these biscuits, when I went to visit last November I made a big batch of these and M&M Cookies and they were fighting over them.

You should have seen their eye's light up when they seen them!  They go home today and bet there aren't many of them left.

It is suppose to be wet here this weekend so I might do some cooking to freeze for dinner meals. Not much has been happening in the garden with the weather that we have been having lately.

Enjoy your day!

xx

Garage Sale Find...

The week before Christmas I bought this old sewing machine cupboard for $10.

(Before)

It was in need of some TLC, but I think it came up ok. I rubbed it back with some fine steel wool and then gave it a polish over. It's not perfect as it could really do with a strip back and fix up but this will do for the time being.

(After)

The top lifts over and you pull the sewing machine up. The front door opens and it even has the original book, bobbin box and oil can.

The machine itself is in good condition.

I wasn't going to buy the cupboard, thinking where am I going to put it, then I saw the name on the machine "White Rotary" and since my surname is White I thought why not...sold!

I am not sure I am happy with where I have put it, so it might get moved around a bit, I might try the corner in the main bedroom next!

Enjoy your day!

xx

Look What I Got...

Firstly, let me say Happy New Year to everyone!

I really hope that this year is better than the last one that I have had!!

I would like to share with you a couple of my Christmas presents.

The first one is what I bought myself in the Christmas sales......a Breville Scraper Mixer, and it came with a bonus small mixing bowl.

I just love it...I have always wanted a big mixmaster, so I though I would buy one for myself as my Christmas present.  I haven't been able to use it yet but I will very soon.  Just imagine what I will whip up next Christmas....lol.

My next present is from my dear friend Chris.  I was very spoilt and she knows exactly what I like.

I received all of this in the old school case with the vintage Christmas labels. Grandma's Best Recipes cookbook (let's see what I can whip up with my Scraper Mixer!!), a very cute snowman melt pot (I think I will be using him all year round as he is way too cute to only bring out at Christmas), a gingerbread plate, gingerbread ornament, a christmas cansiter, gingerbread cookie house, braided coasters and a heap of melts....I just love it all!!

Just before Christmas I went to a garage sale and I bought a bargain piece.  I am in the process of cleaning it up, so stay tuned as once I have finished it I will share the photos with you all....stay tuned!

Enjoy your day!

xx