Applique update

I thought I would give you an update on the progression of  my needle turn applique, I have to say this has been more difficult than I thought it would be, I am becoming more proficient but it will take more practice to make this perfect.  In the past I have relied on blanket stitch or applique by machine.  I have completed the leaves, all except a few stitches, and now on to the berries, I have left these till last because quite frankly they are scaring me a little,  I did two at the bottom and I unpicked them a few times, perfect little circles, I think not.

A ray of sunshine

After the depressing week I had last week, what with the death of two people I knew and then little Lexi, and feeling like I wanted to hide in a hole somewhere, I've been stressed over having the solar inverter repaired or replaced.  It is only 2 years old and I am having a battle with the company that installed it.  The added stress caused me to be unwell,  I increased the medication I take for Addisons disease but I didn't leave the house, spent most of it lying on the lounge feeling awfull.   The son who does everything is going to work out something this week.    I have always been able to do everything, I raised five kids and handled everything as a single parent so at times I feel completely useless now.    On a much brighter note one of my grandsons had a sleepover last night and we have had a lot of fun, a ray of sunshine for me, I was able to take my mind off everything else.    I took him to McDonalds for dinner,  I know, I can just hear the moans, but it is not something I usually do, it was a treat, we both had chicken, he had nuggets and I had a grilled chicken roll, chips and of course we bought a caramel sundae to bring home and eat while we watched a movie.    After breakfast this morning, to make up for the junk food I fed him last night, he helped me chop vegetables for soup, which we had for lunch and he decided was very yummy.    This afternoon we had afternoon tea with his mum and my youngest daughter while I taught them to make their nanas scone recipe.  We then had scones with jam and whipped cream, very yummy.    This took me back to when mum taught me her little trick to get those light scones that she always made.    Deacon then went home with his mum and I came home alone, I will miss his company, not to sure about the constant chatter though.

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Chicken meatballs in plum sauce

Late this afternoon I started to think about what  I could take from the freezer for dinner.  I found a single chicken breast, a quick look through my cookbook and I came across chicken meatballs in plum sauce, I love Asian style food and I haven't made these in awhile.  A quick check of the pantry and I found I didn't have Chinese five spice, no worries I can make my own blend in the spice grinder. With that I proceeded to mince the chicken breast in the food processor, I actually prefer chicken thigh fillets for this, it gives a chicken ball that has more moisture than a breast fillet.  I'm working with what I have though, I was also going to have to adjust this recipe down from feeding four to just one.  I love the flavours in this recipe and with the sticky sauce and a little rice and vegetables I have a tasty meal.  I was able to get eleven chicken meatballs from the one chicken breast fillet.  Some for lunch as well.

How to make your own Chinese five spice:
1tsp ground cinnamon
1tsp ground cloves
1tsp ground fennel seeds, toasted and ground
1tsp ground star anise
1tsp ground Szechuan peppercorns
Store the blended spice mix in a sealed container .

Sauce:          1/2 cup water
                    1/4 cup Soya sauce
                     3 tbls Chinese plum sauce ( or homemade plum sauce if you have it)
                     1 tbls honey
                     1tsp grated fresh ginger
                     1 tbls  sweet Chilli sauce (optional)

Meatballs:     250gm chicken thigh fillets or breast fillets  (you can use minced chicken)
                     1/4 cup spring onions green stems as well
                     1 egg lightly beaten
                     1tbls Soya sauce
                     1 tsp Chinese five spice
                     1tsp fresh garlic, crushed
                     1tsp fresh ginger, grated
                     1 tbls breadcrumbs
                     1 tbls vegetable oil

Place the sauce ingredients in a small pan and bring to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer till it thickens
Cut the chicken pieces into chunks and put into the food processor with the other ingredients and blitz till combined.  With damp hands roll into balls the size of golf balls, shallow fry turning to brown all over, pour the sauce over the chicken balls and cook a further 5 mins rolling the chicken balls in the sauce until they are well coated in the sauce. Serve with rice and steamed vegetables.  
       

Little cardigan

The little cardigan I was knitting has been put away, tiny Lexi who was born ten weeks prematurely was overcome by the many hurdles she had to cross to stay here with her family, early this evening Lexi lost her battle to live.  She had fought to stay alive but her tiny body was tired, and so this evening she joined the angels.  My thoughts go out to her young parents and little brother, at times such as this I know words cannot give comfort, and I also know she will forever have a place in their hearts. R.I.P. LEXI

Happy Mothers Day

 My youngest daughter arrived early this morning to have breakfast with me, she brought flowers and a small black box, I was very intrigued to know what was in this little box.   Oh, what a wonderful surprise, twelve perfect macarons from "La Belle Miette"  this little box held a selection of their Mothers day high tea flavours.   After breakfast  we shared a couple of these wonderful little treats with a cup of perfumed tea she had purchased from T2,  this business happens to be one of our favourite places to shop.  The cucumber and mint was an unusual but wonderful taste sensation, I also really enjoyed the devonshire tea flavoured macaron.    I will definately have to share the rest of these with someone.     Lunch was with the son who does everything, where he and my second son had prepared lunch for the family, it was a lovely meal and I spent a relaxing day with them      Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my eldest daughter, her partner cooked a lovely meal while I was able to play with my grandson and talk with my daughter.    I love the gifts I received but most of all I loved the time spent with my family.

Egg and vegetable slice

Tonight I took a container of vegetable soup from the freezer for dinner, once thawed and heated it was only a small bowl of soup.  Maybe I had taken one of my lunch soups by mistake because an hour or so later I was hungry.    Now this would normally be dangerous, the time when I would  go searching for something naughty, something along the lines of unhealthy, but tonight as I was reading an article about incorporating more vegetables into our diets I felt guilty.     I still had eggs left from the gift my friends gave me, I had lots of vegetables, yoghurt, feta and mushrooms,  ok it will have to be an egg and vegetable slice.  I have to say that once it was cooked and I added a spoonful of my green tomato chutney on the plate it was delicious.  I'm still thinking of something decadent though, there is nothing in the house so I'll settle down with my knitting and a hot drink instead.

Egg and Vegetable Slice
This makes a small slice, possibly for 4 people with a side, if you need a larger slice add more of everything

5 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup of chopped vegetables, ( I used zucchini, roasted pumpkin, broccoli flowerets, spinach)
small handfull mushrooms, sliced
1/4 red or brown onion, chopped
20-30 gm piece of feta (If you don't have feta, just use any cheese, but the feta gives it a nice flavour)
1/4 cup greek yoghurt (optional)
1/4 cup milk ( you can use cream if you have)
Salt and pepper
Add the milk, yoghurt and salt and pepper to the egg mix, stir until combined.
Saute the onion in a little oil until transparent, line and spray a pan of your choice, place all the vegetables, and onion in the pan.  Place the cheese over the vegetables, spreading it out so there is even cover,. Pour the egg mixture over the top, I pushed most of the spinch under the egg mixture, although it still rose to the top.  Place in the oven 180c or 350 fahrenheit for about 30minutes, it will differ with each oven. To check it is cook just insert a knife into the centre where it should be cooked.    Adjust this as you like. Enjoy

Grandma at daycare

This afternoon mums, grandmas and nana's were invited to my grandson Deacons day care centre for a Mothers day concert and afternoon tea.    My daughter and I sat on those tiny chairs, I wasn't sure I would fit or be able to get back up when the time came but I did.    The children sang some songs they had  learnt, although for some unknown reason my usually outgoing grandson became all shy and was struck with stage fright.    The children then presented their mums with a small gift and some art work with a poem attached about what their mums mean to them.   We then moved outside where afternoon tea consisting of cakes and biscuits were set out on tables in the sunshine.    The children were allowed to go off and play whereby Deacon became his usual self,  running around and playing.     I guess we won't be seeing him on a stage anytime in the future.    I received my first Mothers day gift in the mail today, a lovely card and book voucher from my son and family who are living interstate.     I'm looking forward to Sunday,  and although I no longer receive breakfast in bed I will enjoy spending the day with my kids and grandsons.  I wish you all a Happy Mothers Day for Sunday.