linguini with chilli, anchovies, breadcrumbs and broccoli

I'd love to be able to take credit for this meal, but the truth is i had nothing to do with it.  My hubby has been talking about cooking this meal for some time now, and finally the time came where I was banished from the kitchen to sit with a glass of vino, some crusty bread and appetizers and just enjoy watching dinner being cooked for me.

I warned him, that if it was good it would be going on the blog.  So guess what - here it is.  Amazing.  So simple, yet so full of flavour you'll be looking for another excuse to cook it again.

Here is what you need. 

375g linguine

olive oil

one day old bread chopping into fine breadcrumbs (or - bread crumbs)

4-6 anchovies

2 small red chillies, de-seeded and diced. 

2-3 cloves garlic, diced. 

2 tbs chopped parsley

3/4 cups of semi cooked small broccoli florets

grated parmigiano cheese 

s + p

1. bring large saucepan of water to the boil over high heat.  add a good pinch of salt and then add the pasta stir frequently. keep an eye on the pasta whilst you get started on the other additions. 

2. heat some oil in a heavy based saucepan over medium heat and cook bread crumbs for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until they are golden.  remove and set aside. 

3. Return the pan to the heat and add more oil, the anchovies, chillies, garlic and broccoli.  Cook only for a few mintues to infuse the flavours - you don't want to be browning the garlic. Add the breadcrumbs. 

4. Drain the pasta and then add the pasta to the saucepan with the anchovy and breadcrumb mix.  Toss and add the parsley and some of the parmigiano. 

Season to taste and serve immediately! 

xx

fancy being a mum....

Has your fashion style changed since being a mum?

And i don't mean in the obvious, avoid the muffin top or bits and bumps that weren't there before you had kids, i mean, your style?

Do you feel the need to dress more demure, more your age (that is if you dressed younger that you felt you should!) or do you dress more practically (the kind where mini skirts are a no-go due to the amount of bending down to attend to your brood!)

For me, i'm re-discovering lots of styles i love that can work for me.  I love dresses and skirts as opposed to pants and jeans, but sometimes it can seem a little dressy.  But pairing it down, even adding a slight work-wear casual look has me looking polished but it's not a hard to wear outfit.   And I've always loved winter boots!

We've had a lovely simple Mother's Day here.  I got a lovely new Cookbook that I can't wait to try heaps of recipes.  I've been picking it up and reading pages all day.

Joining in with this very fashionable mumma!
What ever it is you got up to today, I hope you've had a marvellous day!  And Happy Mothers' Day to my mum too!


Wearing;
Shirt - Basque
Jumper - Portmans
Skirt - Sussan
Leggings - Miss Shop
Boots - Tony Bianco
Cookbook - My mothers day gift from my kids



 xx

up up and away........

Little boys love to dream they can fly.....like superman!  And I'm sure they'd all be good superhero's and protect their toys from villains and baddies.

Well, I'm lucky enough to know a little Super-hero that just celebrated his 2nd Birthday and with a little discussion with his gorgeous mumma prior, we came up with a little idea that I could make for him.

So with a little help from my friend Tar-get, a bit more help from other friend Spotlight and of course lets not forget my newest and dearest partner in crime, Ms Janome, we set off to work on this super inspired but not too outlandish that mumma will cringe if he wants to wear it day-in-day out!

Once I made one for him, i couldn't help but think he needed to have a superhero mate, a side-kick, so i quickly whipped up another for his big brother!

Quite a simple design really.  I  chose to attach the cape to the t-shirt with vintage buttons rather than permanently sew it on.  These super-heros need breaks too you know!

Have fun flying around the neighbourhood boys! 

Happy Birthday Billy

Love your mates down the road

xx

mushroom tart

Mushrooms and cream are like a little match in food heaven.  And I love a good tart, so this rustic, gooey, creamy tart is great and can be served for lunch or dinner....

Here is what you need.

oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 leek, sliced
250g swiss mushrooms, sliced
s + p
2 tbs cream
1 tbs grated parmigiano
2 tbs chopped parsely
1 egg, beaten
2 large tbs of creme fraiche
and
short crust pastry.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Heat a heavy based saucepan on medium heat.  Add oil and onion and cooke for 3-4 minutes.  Add the garlic, mushrooms and leek, cook for a further 3-4 minutes.  Season with s + p, add the cream until the juices reduce by half.  Remove from the heat.

Add the parmigiano, parsely and egg to the mushrooms and toss to combine.  Lightly mix through the creme fraiche (or you could use goat's cheese), then spoon the mixture into the cooked pastry shell.  If you are using Short Crust Pastry from the freezer, roll it out so that it fits your pastry flan, and blind bake first for 15 minutes.

Bake the tart in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the filling is set.
Serve with a lovely crisp salad
xx

after 7 years....I left.

For the past seven years I've been to the same hairdresser.  Nick. A male hairdresser.

He was nice.  He made my hair look nice and every three months we would chat, laugh and I would leave swishing my hair feeling good.

But. Then it was over.

I left.  It was me. He stopped listening and I just felt that I had to move on.  Part of me feels bad.  I didn't even tell him.  I've just never been back.

So now I found me a new one.  And she's a she.  Maree - she rocks. She listens.  We have plans.  Nice ones.  I'm wondering if having a male hairdresser was my issue all along.  I mean, my male hairdresser was bald?  hmmmm.....is that like a vegetarian cooking a barbeque full of chops and snags? I dunno.

Have you had to break it off with a Special Professional in your life?  How did you do it? Was it mutual, did you leave a note?

Do you think some professionals like hairdressers have an expiry date or are you still soldering on in a great relationship??


or did you walk away and never look back (like me)? 


(image)

my creative space...{finally!}

Oh the benefits of crafting are many.  There is the joy of planning, preparing, selecting fabric, and then watching it come to life as you start the construction.

This project is one of these cases whereby I enjoyed this process fully....

however somewhere during the making, it took a back seat to other projects that propped up and lo and behold, two and half years later was still not complete!

This patchwork quilt, inspired by my daughter who was 6 months old at the time, was made for her cot however next week I shall be dismantling it in place for a bed.

The saying "better late than never" has never been truer than in this case.  So whilst not perfect, this little cot quilt will have a story to tell.  I do hope it looks OK at the end of a single bed!!!!  fingers crossed!

Now, don't take your time to check out more creative types!!!  

out-smarted Cinderella style

I've been out-smarted by my four year old son. 

The other night I read him the story of Cinderella for the first time.  What a magical fairytale....I love it.  He loved it too. 

Except! 

Ok, so you know that bit where the clock strikes midnight and Cinderella leaves the ball and her glass slipper falls off leaving one for the Prince and Cinderella keeps the other.....  

Right, so you know that bit, we're all agreed that it happens?  

"But mum!"  My son interrupts!  "Every thing is supposed to change back when the clock strikes twelve - why didn't her shoes disappear?" 

Oh dear.....

My whole life I've known the story and never once did this occur to me.  The fairy God Mother does say that EVERYTHING will return back when the clock strikes twelve.  That's the deal.  Is it that girls are just too caught up in the romance of it all, the fairytale, the ideal, the love and beauty?

I was a little baffled by how to answer, "Oh no, the shoes can't disappear - they're made of glass." I bumbled out....

Have you been outsmarted by a little person? How did you handle it? 

xx

Anzac Cookies {with macadamia's}

It's very obvious in the household that I go nuts for nuts!  So when any occasion arises to bake, I will often sway heavily to a recipe that includes nuts, or that I can take artistic license to and add nuts.  Luckily for me, none of my family members suffers from anaphylaxis, because then I don't what I would do!

These Anzac Cookies with added macadamia nuts are just divine, they add a little extra crunch without sacrificing that traditional taste we all know and love.

Bake them with some loved ones today!

you'll need...
1 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup desicated coconut
1 1/4 cups plain flour
2/3 cups brown sugar
125g butter
1/3 cup water
2 tbsp golden syrup
1tsp bicarb soda
1 cup roughly chopped macadamia nuts

1. Turn your oven on to 180 degrees and get your baking trays ready.
2. mix the oats, coconut, flour, nuts and sugar together in a bowl.
3. Place butter, water and golden syrup in a saucepan and bring to the boil.  Remove from the heat and add the bicarb soda and stir as it becomes frothy (the kids loved watching this but just be careful of the hot pan!)
4. Pour mixture onto the dry ingredients and mix quickly.
5. Roll the mixture into small balls and place on the prepared trays, allowing some room for spreading.  press down gently.
6. Bake in a preheated oven for approx 15-20 minutes or until golden but still soft.

Allow to cool  and then transfer to a wire rack.  Try and tempt yourself from eating them all straight away!  Oh, don't listen to me, I ate six in one go, so go on, stuff youself silly!

xx

Paper Giants!

Did you watch it?  It was on the ABC last night.  I had no idea it was, and just coincidently checked to see what was on and was enthralled.  An epic tale of the rise of CLEO magazine back in the 1970's and the rise of Kerry Packer and his empire.

Asher Keedie plays Ita Butrose and she is just amazing.  I mean, I love Asher anyway (think Offspring!) and she is just a dynamite in this two part series.

It struck me how difficult it must have been for working women in these times, and the challenges they faced and the boundaries they pushed (and pushed and pushed). They way they just take a punt and start this magazine that has become iconic is just phenomenal.   If nothing else, the fashion is amazing!

Part Two on tonight, 8.30 ABC!

fancy pants {the what-ings}

Jeggings!  Have you heard of them, got a pair yourself, seen them on others or in the store.  They are everywhere right now.....

And to tell the truth I'm loving them.  I wasn't always convinced, but as with a lot of items, it pays to try things on, and a few weeks ago I found myself doing just that whilst I only had one child in tow.

Jeggings are the love child of Mr Denim having a raunchy affair with Ms Leggings.  So comfy, practical and yet oh so versatile.  I've already dressed these babies, up, down and sideways. Today, with a little splash of sunshine it was perfect with a loose tee and some wedges.

 Oh, so comfy for lounging about with one's feet up.....

These fancy pants will certainly get a lot of wear this season!

And just to let you in on a secret - no longer will I have to refer to our gorgeous host as just a bloggy friend - we're catching up in real life this week!  whoo hoo! So join up with this fancy girl and show us your outfit!

Wearing;
jeggings and top - both Sussan
wedges - Betts
beaded amber necklace - an old one I restrung.
bracelets - Tilkah

I'm grateful for {the team}

A spring in my step this morning, it's been productive.  Two loads of washing, lots of chores done, date scones baked and eaten with family and shared with neighbours.  The sun is shining and it just makes you feel all warm and wonderful that it;s the weekend.

Joining in with one special lady....

Today I'm grateful for....

  Teams.

We are all apart of a team in some respect.  Work team, family team, sports team or club or committee.  Teams can be good.

I love how my little people are now joining in with their dad in barracking and supporting their footy team.  It brings back memories from my childhood of going to the football with my Dad and brother and us all supporting the same team.

Last week another wonderful woman invited me along to join in with a team of crafters for a catch up and craft session at a local cafe.  It was wonderful sitting and chatting and crafting away a few hours with such inspirational women.

So to check out a whole team of Gratefuls, head over here!!

Banana pikelets

A few weekday mornings when there is no set activity to rush us out the door it seems that baking and cooking run high on the agenda.  The other morning we make Banana pikelets and they were so good they dissapeared hot off the pan and the next morning I had a request for another batch.

They are from the CSIRO Healthy Kids book - Here's the recipe.

3/4 cup of wholemeal self-raising flour
1 tbs brown sugar
1 cup light milk
1 egg
1 ripe banana, mashed

1/2 tsp cinnamon
spray oil.

1. place flour and sugar in a bowl and mix
2. whisk together egg, milk banana and cinnamon and pour into the centre of your flour mix. mix until combined and then let it rest for 10 minutes (so put the kettle on and make a cuppa).

3. heat fry pan on medium to low heat, and lightly spray with oil.  Drop tablespoons of batter into the pan and cook until the bubbles appear (a minute or so) and then flip for another minute.

These babies are lovely warm or eaten cold.

*the next day I didn't have any bananas left, so I substituted it for 1 1/2 grated apple and just added a little more flour to make the same consistency - they were equally delicious!

xx