Made with Love ...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

 

So, yesterday I stepped out of the kitchen and we set out to make our own Christmas Tree, inspired by Tanya at my favourite store in Cotton Tree, The Lovely Bird.

 

We are in the middle of renovating a little cottage on our property, so we have copious amounts of scrap timber, so this was an easy task.

 

I went to the shed and found my favourite paints that I've used to paint furniture, some old white ceiling paint, old rags and away we went.

 

I was prepared to hand-saw the lengths that I needed, however I cheated and had my man cut them, with his electric saw, just because he looked like he needed something to do.  He also used his nail gun to attach them to the post after I'd placed them where I wanted them.

 

My youngest Eli, getting his hands dirty ..
and his body, and his shorts, and the dogs :)

 

Then, with a little bit of paint, a touch of motherly stress and a lot of love, we painted each panel with rags, rather than brushes, to give it amore rustic appeal.

 

And there you have it!

 

Love, love, love it!

 

Now to decorate it ...

 

 

 



Rainy Day Retro, Pineapple Upside Down Cake ...

Pineapple Upside Down Cake ... sticky caramel goodness!

 

My boys felt like something sweet to eat, and decided on a baby pinapple that he found in the fridge.  It was a bit sour, so we decided to use it to bake a cake .... Pineapple Upside Down was the call.

Oh, my lord ... I can't believe it's been so long since I've made this.

The sweetest, stickiest, gooiest, deliciously delectable retro dessert ever .. or brunch as it was for us, this rainy Sunday morning.


INGREDIENTS

50g butter
1/2C Rapadura Sugar
Sliced Pinapple (we used fresh with the core cut out - you can use tinned)

100g butter
1/2C Rapadura Sugar
2 small eggs (or 1 large)
pinch of salt
1tsp Vanilla Extract
1 1.2 C White Spelt Flour
1tsp Baking Powder
Juice from the left over pinapple (or from the tin)
A splash of Milk if there is not enough juice for cakey consistency (any milk will do)

METHOD

Melt the butter and add to a lined loaf or round tin, sprinkle with the rapadura (or if you like, brown sugar, or coconut palm or whatver dark sugar you have in the pantry).  Line with pineapple slices.

Beat butter and sugar in the cake mixer until creamy and well mixed, add eggs, vanilla, then slowly add the sifted flour, salt, juice and milk if required.

Pour over the pinapple and sugar in the cake tin and bake in a moderate (180) oven for around 40 minutes.

Let the cake cool in the pan for ten minutes so that it doesn't fall apart (as mine did, because I was too impatient, and hungry for a slice) and then tipit  upside down and gently peel away the baking paper.

We devoured our piece in a minute, I snuck some icecream with mine ... mmmmmm mmm m!

And it even brought back the sunshine!

A day at the fair ...

My little peeps are at the back ... Little Eli & Noah

Had a beautiful day at Maleny Agricultural Show with my boys today ... I must admit, I wasn't looking forward to doing it on my own, but it was enjoyable.  Mud and all!

So, we walk in and the first thing the boys see are the big beautiful cows being shown for all of their glory ... and then, they spotted the clown faces.  Sure, let's give it a go!  Yay, they both had a great time, and did really well.  'Choose your prize!'.  A motorbike or a soft toy .. 'the motorbike, please' responds a smiling Noah (6), and then the woman behind the counter says .. 'or would you prefer this sword?',  Are you serious lady?  Of course he would prefer the sword!!!!  But, he was more than happy with the lovely little motorbike on offer.  Joy, oh, joy .. now I have two over-excited little boys with weapons to spar with for the next few hours in the crowded, muddy glory of Maleny show!

Anyway, had a great time, lots of rides, lots of laughs, lots of familiar faces and the promise from mum of the choice of any showbag they chose ... I felt that it was their first experience as big, little people to choose a showbag, as I had done, year in, year out at the Sydney Royal Easter Show (actually, I was always allowed 4 or 5, from memory) ... I figured, a little bit of sugar wouldn't hurt.  But, no, they chose the Army Showbag ... oh lord, this mum that hates weapons, now has two over excited boys with a sword, a massive blue sniper gun, a black machine gut and the rest of the plastic rubbish in the $20 showbag. 

Cringe!!!

Anyway, they were happy for hours this afternoon, playing army games, and they ate the entire contents of the Bertie Beetle showbag that I just had to get because it's one that I have always had when I was young.

And, then .... the sugar come down began!  We had tantrums, we had whinging, we had fighting, we had over-tired, unhappy little people that I put to bed at 6.30pm.

I do not understand how mums and dads out there choose to give their kiddies junk as an every day thing.  Sugar is such a drug .. they have a little, and they want more!

I know, I'm the same!  I feel just as yuck after one bertie beetle and a red skin (eewwww!).

Back to healthy living for us tomorrow, sugary fruit is all the sugar they will get for the rest of the weekend, and the happier we will be.

Life is sweet enough without refined sugar! xo



Live for Today ...

Life is short,

Break the rules.

Forgive quickly,

Kiss slowly.

Love truly,

Laugh uncontrollably

And, never regret anything

That makes you SMILE.

- Mark Twain

Banana Bread ...

I love the comfort of home with the children playing, the sight of the rain replensihing my gardens and the sound of the pitter patter on my tin roof ... it's perfect weather to create the sweet aroma of banana bread!

As you know, I always use organic products, but obviously you don't have to.  I also use spelt flours and unrefined sugars, but these can be replaced with whatever you have in the pantry..

It's yummy with walnuts too..

INGREDIENTS

125 grams Organic Butter
125 grams Unrefined Dark Brown Sugar
2-3 mashed bananas
2 eggs
1 dash of vanilla
1 cup White Spelt Flour
1 cup Wholemeal Spelt Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons warm milk
1/2 teasoon bicarb soda

METHOD

Cream butter and sugar, add mashed bananas, eggs, vanilla ... then add flour (sifted if you can be bothered) and  baking powder ... then dissolve the bicarb in the warm milk and add, mix slightly.

Pour into prepared loaf tin and cook in moderate oven (180) for around 45 minutes.

Slice and enjoy ... it's great for breakfast toasted with lashing of butter too.

movement is the key ...

Being active makes me feel alive and more energetic to chase my two little people...

My parents were always relatively active, so I learnt at a young age that sport and exercise were the keys to good health and happiness... and it wasn't bad for your social life either. 

I always danced regularly and played a sport, whether it was tennis, basketball, swimming, golf ... every season I was enjoying the outdoors in a team environment or doing laps of the pool on my own.   Our Saturdays as children were always spent at my brother and Dad's soccer games or cricket matches, and as a family, we enjoyed every minute of it .. I never much enjoyed my 5am swim starts, but what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!

Daniel Irvine, my cousin, is a chiropractor and was a professional football player, was brought up in a home with seven children, and all of them were active too.  The boys always played league, and the girls did Physical Culture and from what I remember, we were all strong swimmers.

Anyway, Dan shared this link, which I really enjoyed, and I thought you would too.

Take the time to have a look, it's not even ten minutes of your life...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo

We can all manage to be active for 30 minutes or more a day, whether it be at your local gym or walking, a quick run on the treadmill, chasing the kids in the park, a friendly game of football, a dance off in your loungeroom, laps in your local pool .. it doens't have to cost you money to be healthy ...

I love a roadside fruit stall ...

Driving through the beautiful rolling hills of the hinterland this morning, I thought to myself .. I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

The roads from Montville, through Flaxton to Mapleton have the most amazing Jacaranda's blossoming with the most vibrant of vibrant purple flowers... just so pretty, that I smiled the whole way!

Stall after stall of Avocado's, farm fresh free range eggs, tomatoes, pineapples and more, with honesty boxes to collect your coins ... this is the kind of place I love to call home.

I stopped at my local roadside Mango Man to stock up for the weekend, and decided to get a full tray for $25. ...My boys will be in heaven!

I have just peeled and sliced half of the box's contents to freeze for smoothies and frappes, and the rest we will eat cold for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Happy Weekend everyone .... the weather here is amazing!

On my mind:
http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/