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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Fluffy ANZAC morning omlette

My husband and i woke early on ANZAC Day. We had a busy day ahead of us, with two birthday celebrations to go to.

Earlier in the week i had made my own super fluffy omelette and had been keen see if i could replicate it. It seemed a miracle that i had managed to make a successful omelette, given that all previous attempts has been a dismal failure, with me turning it into a scrambled egg mixture instead.

However i used my old faithful Donna Hay cookbook this time around, and my wonderful KitchenAid!

Lo and Behold, beautiful fluffy golden omelette!

I love the ceremony of breakfast, and like to set myself up with a tea cup, a pot of coffee or tea, and my milk jug. There is something really wonderful about starting a weekend with a wholesome lazy breakfast.

Fluffy Omelette for two

4 eggs - Separated

1/2 cup milk (I used skim)

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

salt & pepper to taste

baby spinach

deli ham

  1. Place yolk, milk, cheese, salt & pepper in a bowl and mix to combine.
  2. Put egg whites in a clean bowl, whisk until soft peaks form
  3. Fold through yolk mixture
  4. Heat fry pan in a non stick fry pan over medium heat ( i used a wok! worked just as good and gave me room to flip). Spray pan with oil
  5. Pour mixture into fry pan, turn heat down to low.
  6. Put any ingredients on top (i added spinach leaves, ham and extra sliced cheese)
  7. Cook for 10 minutes until the base is golden. (I also put a glass lid on over the top to help steam the spinach a bit)
  8. Fold omelette in half onto itself. Carefully slide out of pan onto plate,

It is beautiful served with hot buttered toast!

It was a wonderful start to the day, and provided great sustenance that kept us going through the birthday celebrations. This was the first time in my memory that i had been out of the house on ANZAC Day. My parents had always spent the morning watching the march until the couldn't sit for any longer, then they would do some work around the house, before heading back in for more march viewing. As i grew up i followed much the same practice.

Being a history teacher I think I feel the reverence for the day all the more deeply. I often think back to the images that i have seen over and again of the soldiers of Gallipoli, and remember all the lives lost within such a small patch of ground.

I also take a moment to reflect on how the day has changed. Many historians argue that the true ANZAC legend is about the dead soldiers, not the living left behind. Whilst i think this was certainly true in the beginning i would acknowledge that it has become more than this. I know that when I ask my own students what the day means they often refer to all wars and how it is about remembrance for all lives lost for their freedom, but also to respect all those living that have also fought. I like this shift and I think it is the key to the day continuing on for generations to come, as a reminder to us all for the heavy price of freedom, and the cost of war. After all - Lest We Forget.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Donna Hay - Spicy Pumpkin soup

I thought seeing as this was originally meant to be a food blog i should really post some food item.



Now that the cold weather is starting to kick in i have been turning to my winer warmer dinners, soups, stews, curries and so on. For me the classic winter warmer is pumpkin soup. My husband and i were out shopping the other day and decided to stop for lunch at the food court. We were hungry but didn't want anything too heavy or junky. We spied a sign at Sumo Salad advertising their soup and roll/wrap deal. It was the perfect solution. I in particular liked this option because i always have a case of wanting a bit of everything, so being able to have a soup AND a choice of a roll was great.



I chose the chicken and corn soup and a ham and pesto roll, while my husband chose pumpkin soup and a chicken schnitzel wrap. Eating our soup got us talking about how much we both loved pumpkin soup, and so i put making a pot on my to do list!



Fast forward to last night, when i finally made the said soup. I had seen a curry pumpkin soup recipe in one of my Donna Hay books that i had been wanting to try. I is basically a normal pumpkin soup recipe but with a bit of red curry paste and coconut milk added.



I didn't have red curry, so i used green instead, and i also used low fat coconut milk. If you want an even lower fat option you could also use coconut evaporated milk.



The resulting soup was full of flavour with a yummy creamy spicyness... mmmmm. Leftovers went in the freezer and the recipe has been marked for a do over!



Spicy Pumpkin Soup



1 TBLS Green Curry (Original recipe said red)

1 kg Pumpkin - Peeled and Chopped (I used 1 small butternut, and also added a carrot and sweet potato)

4 cups chicken or Vegetable stock

1.5 cups Coconut Milk

1 Chilli (optional)



1) Fry the curry in the pan for 1 minute

2) Add the stock and pumpkin, stir. Put a lit on and let it cook for approx 6 minutes or until soft

3) Blend until smooth (either in a processor or with a stick blender)

4) Add coconut milk, stir

5) Sprinkle optional chilli on top.



I made the soup up to step 3, blended in the processor thn put it in the fride ready for dinner that night. Then i just poured the contents into a pot, added the milk and reheated it. Add some toast or croutons and enjoy!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

After the wedding i have experienced post wedding blues. I just loved the creative outlet that planning the wedding allowed me. I had thoroughly enjoyed researching, looking at wedding blogs for inspiration and designing bits and pieces.



I have now focussed that creative outlet on our house. I love our little home, and have always been delighted that we brought it. It had been freshly painted subtle shades of green and cream. It had quite a new kitchen, a new bathroom, and imber decking outside. Initially i thought that it is the kind of home that i won't have to do anything to... until i started to get bored.



I have a long list a little jobs i want to do around the house, things to imprint my taste and style on the home. The list incudes




  • Extend the pergola to the second part of the decking (the current pergola only covers the first half)

  • Build seating around the perimiter of the first half of the pergola

  • Build a pergola for the concrete clab in the corner of the yard

  • Turn the corner of the yard into a BBQ cooking area with an outdoor kitchen

  • Pave both sides of the house to minimise the dirt that our dog tracks onto the decking

  • Buy awnings for the back windows and from bedroom windows

  • Replace ugly pink curtains in bedroom and Entertainment room

  • Decorate entertainment room (currently the 'this and that' room)

  • Take bookshelves from Mum's and put in recreation room

  • Print, frame and hang wedding photos wall

  • Buy a sideboard to put pretty decorative items on

  • Landscape the from garden (On the way in doing this after buying 100 Tulip bulbs online

I know that this looks like quite the list, but some items are long term plans, while others are more immediate.



This is what i have in mind for the outdoor Kitchen, althought without all the sandstone, and the roofing will most likely be colourbond.

The only obstacle to these grand plans.... money. Sigh....

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Alright so i am a lousy blogger. I am the type of blogger that i hate... the blogger that never really blogs. But i am persisting.


My last post was about preparing for my wedding. Well the weding is long gone now. It was a fabulous day (doesn't every bride say that?) with everything going very well. Although it is so true when they say the day goes fast! It wasn't until we got up to exchanging the rings that i really realised what was happening, and then i thought 'Oh my god! Hang on! It's nearly over!'.
My hairdresser and florist both out did themselves with their wonderful creations. I was delighted. Our reception venue (The Colebee Centre) was also absolutely outstanding. They looked after our every need, nothing was too much trouble.
It was truly the best day of my life!








I have settled into married life very happily. It is lovely to be Mrs X (Yes, that is actally my initial!).