Prawns for dinner

My sister came over for dinner the other night and we were going to do some packing but instead she read bedtime stories to my kids and I made us Linguine with Lemon Prawns for dinner....YUM. Mind you most of the things that I needed for cooking had actually been packed away so the degree of difficulty was sort of like the contestants on Masterchef cooking without a recipe. I had only one small saucepan out, no measuring cups, no lemon juicer, no fine grater for lemon peel....after each step I thought this probably wasn't the best of ideas but the prawn recipe had been sitting next to my computer for about 6 weeks and I was keen to make it. It was nice, a little bland for my liking so we popped some chilli sauce in but I think I will use real chillies next time to give it a little kick. No packing but a really yummy meal.

Home made Chocolate Slice

Yesterday I got stuck into some cooking as my freezer was bare and since I've spent most days and nights on the real estate web site looking for a house I haven't been in the mood to cook up batches of food for dinner. First up I got the slow cooker out and made "Moroccan Lamb" (quick packet mix one) and then while that was cooking I made spaghetti bolognese and after that I made a chocolate slice. I need to make some anzac biscuits as well but that might be tomorrow's activity. I felt really good because now at night time all I just need to is cook some rice or pasta and dinner is ready, nice and healthy. My sister dropped in unexpectedly last night so she got served up the Moroccan Lamb as well which she loved. All that inspiration after our Monday Morning Menu Planning coffee with the girls (well, that's what we call it anyway to get us organized for the week's meals). I definitely love it when I'm organized.

Playgroup Mum's Dinner

On Saturday night I hosted the playgroup mum's 6 monthly dinner since all our kids are now in school/kindy so there's not really anymore playgroup these days. We ordered the main meal from a local thai restaurant again and I made the nibbles, set the table and got to work making desserts.

I had fun getting every thing ready for our little Christmas get together. The main event was 3 different dessert but all small sizes. I made cranberry and raspberry jelly (that was straight out of the packet, just add water, pretty simple), next was the yummy chocolate moouse that I had made for Melbourne cup lunch (see earlier post in November) and then I also made home made french vanilla ice cream without an ice cream maker. It was absolutely delicious and the kids said my ice cream was better than the shop bought ones (how's that for a recommendation). I surfed the internet for a recipe - where would we be without the super information highway. With shop bought ice cream, that's where!!!

I also put together the shape of a Christmas Tree using tea lights which looked great and added some ambiance to the evening.

It was great catching up with the mum's enjoying good food and company.

Fresh Juice

I love watching my kids make fresh juice and what's even cuter is that they have to stand on the little chairs to reach the bench. I love being their mum.

Melbourne Cup Lunch

Some of the kindy mum's got together yesterday for Melbourne Cup Lunch and we all brought a plate of something. I thought it would be nice to try out a new chocolate mousse recipe which was a chocoholic's dream. The beautiful presentation was inspired by the lovely Tracey Lau's dessert table that she did to celebrate her 40th birthday.

Sunday morning breakfast

Fresh eggs for breakfast...there's only one thing to do and that is to get Bill Granger's recipe book out and make scrambled eggs...this recipe uses cream and makes the eggs so light and fluffy.

Coco has just laid her 4th egg and Sienna is patiently waiting for Fluffy to start laying. There's not a lot you can do with 4 eggs over 5 days but once we start getting 2 eggs a day it will be great.

I watched Annabel Langbein's "Free Range Cook" show last night which is on ABC at 6pm and she bought herself a couple of chickens for fresh eggs and also made a meringue dessert which has coconut in it and fresh fruit. Apparently you have to use eggs that are 7 days old so once we get 2 eggs a day I'll save some and try her recipe.

Home Baking

I baked these yummy biscuits today for the kids. The good thing is they can get stored in the freezer and come out each day for afternoon tea. Out of sight, out of mind (for me anyway).