Tomatoes

Our poor vegie garden has really suffered over this hot, hot summer. We had some good lettuces for only a week or so before Christmas, the rest have been either, burnt or eaten by grasshoppers. Our sorrel has had heatstroke and our rocket is only just hanging in there. So I was happy to go out this morning to find these tomatoes, red ripe in the morning sunshine.

The perfect end to a lazy Saturday was to make this easy tomato pasta for dinner. I clipped it from a newspaper when I was living in London about 15 years ago. I remember the first night I cooked it for friends, when I was still living there. Yummo! I have cooked it many times since and it is still a big favourite of mine. I hope you like it too. Be warned, you may eat more than one bowl of this pasta. Tonight I ate 3. I think that's bordering on gluttony.



Mmmm! real tomatoes, these taste just like the ones I ate on my Nana's farm when I was growing up.



Pasta with Tomatoes and Chickpeas

serves 4-6

• 500 grams dried penne
• 4 tomatoes (diced) or 1 punnet of cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
• 1/2 red onion (diced 1 teaspoon chilli (finely diced)
• 2 tablespoons basil (torn)
• salt and pepper
• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 x 400 gram tin chickpeas (drained)
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 4 tablespoons parmesan cheese (grated)

to serve

• extra parmesan cheese (grated)

Bring the water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente. In the meantime, in a bowl combine the next 6 ingredients and set aside. Season to taste. Add the chickpeas to the saucepan 1 minute before pasta is ready. Drain and transfer to a warm serving bowl. Spoon over the raw sauce and lemon juice and mix well. Add the cheese and serve immediately. Serve with extra parmesan on the table.

Insight

(photo is from tiny happy's photostream, I forgot to take a photo myself before returning this book late this afternoon. See tiny happy's inspiring blog here)

Today I stopped in for a coffee at a friend’s house to collect this beautiful book. Somebody I admire, but don’t know very well, she said something to me that stopped me in my tracks. It was like she knew me, like nobody else, as if she had sneaked a peak into my soul (wherever it is hiding)

For the last 5 years I have spent all of my time with my children, husband and close family. They will tell you, they know me well, but they don’t really, they love me, yes, but that’s different.

They don’t really understand why I own over 300 cookbooks or how a cheese sandwich I ate 7 years ago is still in my thoughts (often) They don’t understand that certain fabrics or vintage anything can make me hyperventilate and well up. They don’t understand that if I don’t travel this year (or at least early next year) I will die! They don’t understand that there is a creative person locked in here, just bursting to DO something. I’m quiet happy to continue doing the washing, the vacuuming, the shopping, the cooking, but not just that, something else too.

It was nice to meet somebody today who understood that.

First day of school

Spunky Monkey's first day of school



Off we go!

Wow, what a grown up! How did we get here!

The first day went smoothly, no tears (from him anyway) Spunky Monkey has been playing in the sandpit, made some beaded necklaces, painted, and made some collage craft. Yesterday, day two, he said he had made a new friend.

Spunky Monkey: "I don’t remember his name Mum, but he is the one with the vegemite face".

Today he went to the big music room and did 'sports'. The teacher said it was his best day today. Very settled and very happy. That makes me very settled and very happy.

Ready for school

Today will be Spunky Monkey's first day of school. After breakfast he asked if he could make some letters out empty beer bottles (leftover from one of the weekends many bbq's). He got very excited and drew, with his finger on the grass, the first letter he wanted to make. L. Then he lined up the bottles again to make the second letter. O. With my heart just bursting I couldn't help but prompt the last letters. V and E. He hasn't really been interested before in learning the alphabet. Oh, there was last week when he told me his sandwich looked like a nine and the other day when he made his play dough into an S.

With a happy heart I will take him to school today. He is ready for the next chapter of his little life. Oh the tears! both of sadness and joy.

Happy Australia Day

This morning we woke up to the sound of the kookaburra’s laughing. It was perfect, it seems like months since I last heard them, perhaps I’m just not taking notice. I think a tradition has started, as we went for the fourth year to ‘Breakfast on the Oval’ and ‘Australia Day Street Parade’. It was fun but, oh so hot. We spent the rest of the day at my mums place. We had a delicious bbq lunch, too much yummy wine, lots of swimming and a nap. Just lovely.

Thank-you mum for a lovely relaxing and lazy day.

I hope all the Aussies out there enjoyed their day too.

A long weekend

Most of our family had a four day weekend to celebrate Australia Day this year. It seemed a bit like Christmas all over again. Too much eating! Out for coffee and cake, fish and chips, ice-creams at the beach, lots of beach, lots of barbeque's, lots of late nights for the kids. But I have to say, it was all very lovely spending time with our families, that live both near and far. Australia is a lucky country and we are lucky in it. Just sitting around the table last night, my heart filled with love for the people at it. I felt lucky that they are sharing their love with us.

Goldilocks love

No, I am not talking about my very own Miss Moo Moo Goldilocks, but this one.



Miss Moo Moo got it for Christmas (from me, actually) and I just can't get enough of it. I love, love, love it! Oh, the kids do too, of course. Lauren Child is just so amazing. Every little girl we know will be getting this for their birthdays this year. A must have for little and big girls a like.

A delightful day

(photo taken at ages 2 and 3 years old in our old bathroom in Brisbane)

Yesterday I spent a delightful day with my cousin’s eldest children and Spunky Monkey at the beach. They are now 10 and almost 12. Wow! They hold a very special place in my heart, as we spent a lot of time with them when they were little. But things change. First, my cousin moved, then we moved, we had babies, then she had more babies. And in all the craziness that are now our times together (7 children between us) I sometimes seem to miss these older 2. So, I was incredibly grateful for a change of circumstances that had me spending some time with them. It was a pleasure and left me with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

It was a magical day, lots of swimming (the water was divine!) boogie boards, skim boards, exploring, climbing trees, crabs, sandcastles and of course ice-creams.

Spunky Monkey and the Chocolate Factory

We have had a great week so far catching up with friends, both new and old. Just lovely.

Today, as it was just Spunky Monkey and me, we took ourselves off here to make chocolate dinosaurs. It was great, Spunky monkey got to pick his own chocolate mold and decorate his chocolates with lollies. We enjoyed chocolate fondue with the other big boys at the table and were thoroughly sick, sick, sick from chocolate by the end of it. Well I definitely was. I never want to eat chocolate again! ( I say that now…)



A chocolatier in the making



Hmmm! Chocolate fondue! Where has this been all my life?

Lipstick kisses

This is what happens when you put your kids into the car ready to go, and then run back into the house because you forgot to clean your teeth!

Note to self: do not leave lipstick in the car door, it is clearly asking for trouble!

A perfect summer's day

It started with breakfast. Banana and chocolate pancakes with sour cherry jam and clotted cream. Strong black coffee and magazines. I do love Sundays.



Then it was a lazy day at the beach. Swimming, reading, fishing, resting, chocolate cake and apple pie made from sand, climbing trees, collecting treasures, walking and of course eating.

Crackers and cheese, chicken sandwiches, summer stone fruit and chocolate chip biscuits.

Simply grilled salmon, roasted rosemary new potatoes and salad from the garden were taken and eaten down at our local park just as the sun was setting. A great finish to the day before an early night. Happily sleepy and sunkissed.

A healthy start to the new year

I had this yummo salad for lunch today. A green salad (mostly from our garden), sweet and sour italian zucchini salad, grilled lemon chicken, grilled eggplant and a simple carrot salad from this beautiful book. It was such a change from the usual fare of vegemite sandwiches, tomato and cheese sandwiches or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. No that was lunch in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. This is 2010 and I am ready.

Cheers

When I spotted these chairs over at design sponge this morning I instantly showed Spunky Monkey. These champagne cages were added to his cork collection at christmas time. He demanded I print out the instructions straight away, then he ran down the hall to Mr Moo, beckoning him to get started.

I think they are pretty cute and remind me of the merriment and celebrations that we have just shared with friends and family over the holiday season.

New shoes, always a good day.

A relaxing morning was had today with Grandma at the shops. The aim was to get these new school shoes for Spunky Monkey. With that done easily, we also found new shoes and new togs for Miss Moo Moo, some funky new frames for Grandma's glasses and had a lovely coffee.

Thanks for a great day Grandma.

The afternoon was just as nice, with my mum popping over for a quick cuppa and just general pottering about.

The holiday is over

Well, for Mr Moo that is. Back to work today. Miss Moo Moo will start back at Daycare tomorrow and Spunky Monkey will start Prep with the rest of the big kids at the end of January. As for me, I intend to stay in holiday mode until the start of February, at the very least.



relaxed and unshaven... for 18 days!

Miss Moo Moo says: "Dad, we girls don't like that, it's too spiky"

sooo... Off it went.

"hooray" say the girls!

A good start to the day

(this wasn't taken today, notice no vegemite, but it is a favourite of ours 'Big Ears' with a mohawk!)

Dippin’ eggs and vegemite soldiers for breakfast (Spunky Monkey’s suggestion) A lovely way to start the day spent: relaxing with friends at the pool, making real custard to go with Grandma’s leftover plum pudding, making necklaces out of milk bottle tops and dancing in fairy dresses.

I realise that it is the middle of summer, but you really do need custard with plum pudding. Here is my custard recipe that Spunky Monkey helped me make today.

Custard

• 2 cups (500 ml) milk
• 300 ml thickened cream
• 1 vanilla bean (split lengthways) or 1 teas. vanilla extract
• 6 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup castor sugar
• 2 teas. cornflour

Heat the milk, cream and vanilla bean in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Bring to just below boiling point, then remove from the stove and leave to infuse for 15 minutes (only do this if you are using the vanilla bean.) Whisk together the egg yolks and castor sugar until thick and creamy. Add the cornflour and mix well. Gradually whisk the hot milk (strain if using a bean, if not add the vanilla extract now) into the egg mixture, then return the custard to the same pan and medium heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir gently , but continuously, reaching the base and the corners, for 4-5 minutes until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. (when you run a finger along the spoon, it should leave a trail.) Cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then cover directly with cling film to prevent a skin forming.

Holiday family fun: Rockpools

Exploring...



more exploring...



pondering...



shelter from the storm.



smile.

This is my new favourite place. It has been 20 years almost to the day since I ventured down the stairs to this little cove. Which seems an odd thing to say, since it is just 10 minutes drive from our home. Hmmm, that also makes me feel very old! But, hey, it is rediscovered, and rediscovered with my husband and children, which makes it all the more special.

We had a great morning exploring and collecting. The threatening rain and dull sky really highlighted the truly beautiful natural colours of the sea, rocks, sand and sky. I can see us spending a lot more time here.

Holiday family fun: The Aquarium

Still overcast, we spent the morning here. We have had a season pass for the year and have visited often. I never tire of watching the mesmerizing beauty of the reef fish. I could simply watch them for hours, however this is not so easy to do when also watching an excited 3 and 4 year old!

We then went across the road to the Wharf for lunch. We had steakburgers and ice-creams, the kids played on the jumping castles while we listened to a “Calypso” band. It seemed that every holidaying family in Mooloolaba was there. It was kinda fun in a cheesy way.

Holiday family fun: The Princess and The Frog

Great day, we took the kids to the cinema, in all it’s holiday madness, to see “The Princess and The Frog"



First of all we surprised them with some t-shirts whipped up last night with the help of this product.

I loooved the movie. I asked the following question: “What did you think of the movie?”

Spunky Monkey: Well Mum, it was a bit girly. I only liked the boy frog.

Miss Moo Moo: I really liked Tiana (What about the rest of the movie?) Hmmm, I’m not really sure, maybe.

Mr Moo: I thought it was alright

In Mr Moo speak ‘alright’ is the same as ‘looved it’, well perhaps just ‘liked it a lot’ He did have a pretty big smile on his face. It was just that kind of fun day.

Caught in the rain

My dad and his girlfriend have been visiting for the last couple of days. They usually only come for the weekend and it’s all rushing about, that we hardly see them.

Yesterday we set off for a 2 hour beach walk only to get absolutely soaking wet. Just 5 minutes after we started our walk the rain started. It was fun at first, but little did we know that it soon would be thundering and lightening with driving, beating rain. We were soaked through.

The up side was, that once we got home and dry there wasn’t much else to do than just hang out at our place eating, chatting, eating. Just lovely. Coffee, ice-cream in a cone, christmas stollen, mangoes, fish and chips, homemade apricot jam, german christmas biscuits, lychees. I do like the holidays and the relaxed atmosphere that has settled upon this family at the moment. The rain has settled in again tonight and I am enjoying the soft sprinkle of it on the windows.

Meet the family

This is the Southpark version of us done here a few years ago. I found it again recently and put it in the kitchen. It makes me smile, I’m not sure why? It seems we only have two family photos of the four of us. One taken when Miss Moo Moo was just 2 weeks old and the other taken last year with Santa, the kids look terrified.

There’s me, Mum, general head of the household. Mr Moo, a graphic designer, who is quite handy to have around, especially when setting up this blog. Thank-you Mr Moo. Spunky Monkey who is a bug crazy, sandpit loving boy of 4 years old and Miss Moo Moo who is 3 years old. She loves princesses, pink, barbies, pink, fairies, pink, mermaids and pink.

Happy New Year

Candles, lanterns and twinkle lights. Delicious Sri Lankan Fish Curry made together with love. Yummy local chardonnay, given as a gift. Melody Gardot. Soft summer showers of rain cooling the air. The kids at grandma's for a sleepover. What a lovely night. We danced our way into the new year listening to a fabulous new jazz cd, with a new years kiss to the sound of nearby fireworks and a sudden downpour of rain. With a start like this, I just know this is going to be a very good year.

Then this morning after a sleep in, 7:30am instead of the usual 4:30/5am wake up, Mr Moo surprised me with this breakfast. Totally delectable scrambled eggs, the last of the xmas ham, rocket from the garden and Danish feta sprinkled over the top.



We quickly slipped into holiday mode for the rest of the day, swimming and resting with the day ending with a last minute bbq at our place for Mr Moo Dad’s birthday. A house full of happiness, Moet and chocolate cake, the perfect end to a lovely start to the year.

Happy 74th Birthday Ian!