Too fast?

Yeah Squealy is moving around so quickly now days it's abit hard to pin him down for a photo.

Either that or he's pretending to cast Harry Potter spells using what ever is closest to hand: a wind up crayon, his fork, drink bottle... you get the drift.

His other favourite thing to do at the moment is blow raspberries and laugh hysterically. It usually works and Stringy & Fuzzy crack up.

Looks like another budding comedian in the family.

The Reno

Well the time has finally arrived to renovate, probably the ugliest part of our home, the bathroom, toilet and laundry. We've been waiting for years to do it but due to cost have waited patiently. Given that I'm back to full time work I literally couldn't wait a second longer.

















We've spent yesterday decluttering the space, rehousing items and moving crap around. Argh how much junk can accumulate in such a small space is beyond me. And it has nothing to do with me hahahaha











Bizarre ceiling! Brown and totally disgusting.





So tomorrow is the big day and Peter and his crew will be here. Will be regularly updating the progress and we'll be all finished by the end of the week... I hope. It's not going to be much fun surviving without the washing machine!

Jambalaya Cajun

Image courtesy of www.taste.com

Ingredients
Chuck the following into a slow cooker:

2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp parsley
2 tsp Cajun seasoning (I used the Hot stuff!)
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 can diced tomatoes
2 or 3 tbs of tomato paste
1 cup of chicken stock (I used a heaped tsp of Massel brand)

Mix to combine.
Then add:

1kg of chicken (I used drumsticks)
1 finely diced onion
1 green capsicum, chopped

Stir and cook on low for 6 - 8 hours.
30 minutes prior to serving add:

500g cooked prawns
2 cups of cooked white rice.

Enjoy of course. Will BBL with the report from La Familia, not sure if the cayenne pepper will be a winner? Wait and see I guess.

The verdict? 90% happy. Fuzzy didn't eat it, but then he is going through a fussy period. Squealy and Stringy loved it. For me this recipe needed more tomato, so I'll add some tomato paste next time I make it.

Rainy Afternoon

Natalia Vodianova by Patrick DeMarchelier.

Another rainy Sunday in Canberra so what better to do than visit the National Portrait Gallery and view the Vanity Fair exhibition. String Bean and I joined a couple of friends to view the portraits. Wow they were all gorgeous and were so different in there photo set up, no two alike.

My favourite by a long shot was this photo by Patrick DeMarchelier of Natalie Vodianova. Stunning.

Xavier

My dear friend lost her baby on the 2nd of July, a much longed for and loved little boy: Xavier.

Fly free sweetheart, knowing that you left the world wrapped in the warmth of your mother's womb, surrounded by the loving thoughts of those who 'knew' you.


I am still not sure why you were chosen to leave so soon and couldn't stay. You won't be forgotten.

Apple and Cinnamon Slice

This is probably my favourite slice recipe and was requested by several friends, so here you go girls.

Apple and Cinnamon Slice

Photo and recipe courtesy of taste.com

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 340g pkt golden buttercake mix
• 1 cup (90g) desiccated coconut
• 150g butter, melted
• 400g can apple pieces
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
  
• 300g sour cream
• 1 egg
  
• 1 tbs cinnamon sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 20cm square cake pan. Line base and the two opposite sides with baking paper, extending the paper 5cm over edge of pan.
2. Combine cake mix, coconut and butter in a medium bowl. Press mixture evenly over base of prepared pan. Cook for 15 mins, or until lightly browned. Cool slightly.
3. Mix apple and caster sugar. Spread apple evenly over base.
   
4. Beat sour cream and egg till combined, then spread sour cream mix evenly over apple and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Cook for further 20 mins, or until sour cream has set.
5. Cool in pan. Cut the slice into fingers to serve.