Speechless!

How could someone I have met online and only spent one day with know me so so well and send me the perfect gift at a time I need it the most????

Food glorious food!!!!

Today (and a little of yesterday) has revolved around food. We have baked and cooked until the fridge is full of meals and the esky packed with treats to take down to SH's parents. While he is away we will eat very well, without much effort which is even better!!!

Banana cupcakes with cream cheese icing with a banana chip to finish them!!

Licorice Allsort slice, my f-i-l and SH love licorice so this is especially for them!

Moroccan chicken with preserved lemon casserole

Orange cake - super easy, made with a whole orange, now iced! which hides the dip in the middle!

Layered family casserole (from the school cookbook - I LOVE that book!)

Tuna mornay - a good standby!

Pancakes for brunch, with bacon and maple syrup - YUM! SH is the best!!

Pecan and choc chip cookies

Needless to say not much else was ticked off the list. Promised myself in Winter I wouldn't say this but I would love it to cool off just a little!!!

The patient is home!

The patient arrived home on Thursday afternoon and although he is very sore he is happy to be back in his own bed. We have plenty of drugs to keep him painfree. His hip where they took the skin graft is the sorest part at the moment. The surgery went as planned so now it is a waiting game to let it heal!!! Thank you so much for all the messages of support , they helped so much in a topsy turvey week!

 I feel like today I am getting back into normality and some type of rhythm, so much was let go last week! By 9 this morning I had seen SH and the 'horsey' one off to a very important horse competition, done 3 loads of washing and pegged it out, made banana cupcakes, walked the dog, showered, emptied the dishwasher, ironed, fed the boy breakfast and made the shopping list!!! My Mother in law had a hip replacement surgery yesterday so I will try and get some baking and meals made today for SH to take down tomorrow to feed his Dad until she is home. It went well which is a relief.
Okay the shopping is calling before it gets too warm! I am so glad to be back!!!

Tomorrow.....

It's been a long day , work and then a pony club meeting with a surgeons appointment for my HS thrown in so I am off to bed. HS is having surgery tomorrow on his hand which will also involve a bone graft from his hip....not looking forward to it! Have some stitching packed for the hours after I finish work when  I will sit with him.....please keep us in your thoughts.

Apple cake

The 'horsey' one was flicking through the school cookbook the other day and decided to make an Apple tea cake that caught her eye. When she actually started she realised that it wasn't in fact a tea cake but a really delicious Apple cake with 3 layers. It was SO good that we have been requesting it again and soon!!!

1& 1/2 cups self raising flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
125g butter melted
4 to 5 stewed apples or 1 large can pie apples
Topping:
cinnamon
pecan nuts (approx 8) or flaked almonds
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C
Place all cake ingredients except the apples into a bowl and mix well. Add the melted butter and mix well.
Press 3/4 of the mixture into an ungreased 20cm springform tin. Cover with well drained apples. Drop dobs of remaining mixture over top. Sprinkle with cinnamon and place pecan nuts or flaked almonds over top.
Cook for 50-55 minutes.
This cake can be served as a warm dessert or cake for morning or afternoon tea or no special occassion at all!!!

Time to share!

A few weeks ago I said that I had been doing some secret sewing that I couldn't share yet. Well now I can! Calidore and I decided to do a mug rug swap a very long time ago, I had received mine from her but she was still waiting and quite possibly thought she would never ever see anything!!! It was her Birthday on Thursday so what better reason to get motivated and become familiar with my sewing machine again! This is the mug rug I made which I sent with a Cath Kidston mug and some other goodies. I made it out of some charm squares and am really happy with it.

and the back of it!

Today I have made another one for a very special friend, I cannot say more yet , I am not sure if she looks on here or not but I'd like it to be a surprise. I also got her a Cath Kidston mug and am really happy with how well they match.

and the back of this one!

Join the party!

Well it looks like my shopping is following a theme at the moment with another 'as seen on tv' purchase!!! The 'horsey' one and I purchased Zumba last week and I think this weekend will be time the plastic is removed and we have some fun!!!! It is intended to help us keep fit (or in my case get fit) but I am not convinced...... one thing is for sure - you will not be seeing a video of me 'joining the party'!!!!!