Sunday, February 27, 2011

Weekends are for



watching the petals fall. Rebecca picked this for me... I can't decide if they look prettier on the flower or as they drop off reminding me to redeem the time.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Peaches



We've been picking regularly, slightly green and letting the last bit of ripening happen indoors - that way I have to share less with birds and bugs.



A satisfying task, a rustic peach pie made with home grown peaches.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Forging Friendships

I asked the usual "How was school?"
The unusual responded "Lots of fun!"
Interested I pursued "How come?"

I watch her fluid movements as she dances about the room.
"I made a new friend at playtime. We played on a high beam!"

My eyebrows knit together in apprehension... a high beam, "How high... what did you play?"

She demonstrates. It's comical. "We played the most amazing games imaginable!"
That is high applause for a new friendship.

She reads my face.

"Mom, it was crazy fun, not dangerous fun" as she leaps into her homework chair with a thump.

Is there a difference, I hope so.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Golden Tomato Jam



My yellow tomatoes are abundant at the moment and this is such a wonderful jam and I love the unusual golden honey colour.

While I helped Rebecca with homework today, I made a small batch of jam. You could double it... that way you will have some sunshine in winter. I boiled 400g of chopped yellow tomatoes and 300g of sugar for about 45 minutes on a medium heat. Cool for a few minutes, then pour while still hot into a sterilised jar.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Weekends are for



making pizza, perfect for a children's sleepover.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Entering Sophies's world



We have only read a few pages but already were are hooked.
Happy Day.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

What is love...

We have been studying this scripture and as we just celebrated Valentines Day I give you a thought, a sliver of an idea, on the matter.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

If we applied this everyday... I think everything... everything... would be better. This is extraordinary, noble, sympathetic, supernatural love.

Jesus said 'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.'

How could we do this day by day? Lay it down... the envy, boastfulness, pride... if we think this doesn't apply to us, if we only ever see it in others and not ourselves... we are probably not checking our hearts deeply enough. Lay it down... the pointing out of past transgressions, the anger, the I told you so.

Protect instead of expose. Trust instead of doubt. Hope instead of despair. Perseverance... a valuable love quality... instead of apathy.

This is love, more than a feeling, more than a decision... a sacred condition.


Saturday, February 12, 2011

Scone cake

This is much simpler than making scones and looks so beautiful. Take your favourite scone recipe and instead of cutting out the scones from the dough, gently mould the dough into a round shape, about 3 cm in height and cut into wedges (not quite all the way through). Bake as usual at 220 deg Cel but for longer, about 25 minutes. Bring the whole 'scone' to the table and break off the beautiful wedges.



I added a few currents to my mixture for an Enid Blyton type tea.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Each blessed room

"Though wisdom a house is built
and by understanding it is established
By knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches"
Psalm 24.3-4
May each room in your home today have the fragrance of wisdom & understanding!!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Go Go cups



My sister gave these mugs to us for Christmas... Becca and I love using them in the morning. We throw our bags into the car and run back to get our cups... mine is full of strong java and hers has her tepid Milo. I think she feels grown up with her 'take-away' style mug. Morning bliss.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Enchilades

This is great 'party' fare. Buckets of flavour and can be prepared well ahead of time. Serve with guacamole, a spicy salsa and a large green salad... and every one's real happy!



Filling
500g lean mince
1 onion, chopped
2 tins chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons chilli powder
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper to taste
1 can kidney beans, drained

Topping
1 tub smooth cottage cheese
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg

A packet of wholegrain tortillas
1 1/2 - 2 cups of cheddar cheese

I don't bother to brown the meat. Reserve 1/3 of one can of chopped tomatoes and add the balance of your filling ingredients into a deep pan and let bubble away (except the beans) for about 40 minutes on medium heat. Add the beans and cook for another 8-10 minutes.

Take the reserved tomatoes and spread on the bottom of your rectangle baking dish. Fill each tortilla with the meat filling and fold edges over each other (cigar shape). Place into a dish with the fold of the tortilla at the bottom until all the tortillas are filled and lying neatly side by side.

Whisk all topping ingredients in a bowl and pour over your tortillas. Sprinkle the cheese over the sauce and bake at 180 degrees C in a preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes until they are blanketed in a golden cover. Beautiful!

I should have taken a picture of the cute enchilada on my plate but greedy me... I thought of it too late.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

America



Wayne just returned from U.S.A and brought back a few goodies... but my favourites are always food related. While we were grilling in Africa, he was in the snow.




I'm going to be making American Cornbread. Yah! We downed half the cherry Cola before taking the picture, I don't usually like fizzy drinks but this was delicious.




I adore peanut butter... what could be better... a big bag of Reese's peanut butter cups and they all come individually wrapped, so cute.