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Australia Day

Did you know that everyone gets a holiday on a public holiday except God?

That's right.

Because God rested on the 7th day, but since then he has been on the job every day.

(Conversation with Kaleb about Australia Day).

(Oh how I love my job :))

1 Million Kilo Challenge

Click here for information or to join the 10 week challenge.

The meal plans, including recipes and a shopping list, look great and really encourages healthy eating, including snacks!

Let me know if you join so we can support each other.

First day of Grade 2!

Super keen and ready super early, today was Kaleb's first day in grade 2. His teacher is Miss Werber. He seems to have had a nice day and was happy to have NO HOMEWORK! He is now in the 'big' school for lunches and play time (prep and year one are in their own purpose built area) and had fun playing soccor at lunch time with the other boys. Sounds like the year is off to a great start.

Baking

Fruit and Oat Slice

1 cup organic unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup organic raw sugar

100g butter

1 1/2 cups dried apricots, chopped

1 cup filtered water

1/3 cup organic raw sugar, extra

1. Place butter in TMX. Melt for 1 minute at 100 degrees on speed 1.

2. Place flour, baking powder, oats and sugar into TMX bowl. Mix for 10 seconds on speed 7.

3. Set 1/2 cup of mixture aside, then press remaining mixture into base of lined square pan.

4. Rinse TMX bowl. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

5. Place apricots in TMX. Chop for 5 seconds on speed 7.

6. Add water and cook for 5 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 1. Add extra sugar and cook for a further 5 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 1.

7. Pour apricot mixture over base. Crumble remaining dough on top.

8. Bake for 30 minutes or until browned.

9. Cool. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container in the fridge.



More back to school baking

These are simply devine. They remind me of the honey bubble slice that mum used to make. I was excited about this recipe thinking it was wheat/flour/gluten free, but after eating some I realised that having oats in it meant it does contain gluten. You could easily substitute the oats for rice flakes or rice bubbles.

CHCL Cashew Bars

1 cup cashews, coarsley chopped (organic/ pesticide free if possible)

1 cup desiccated coconut (I use organic, preservative free coconut)

1 cup sunflower seeds (organic if possible)

1 cup sesame seeds (organic if possible)

1 cup organic rolled oats or millet flakes

1/2 cup organic raw sugar

125g butter

1/4 cup organic raw honey

1. Preheat oven to 180degrees.

2. Mix cashews, coconut, seeds, oats and sugar. Spread onto baking tray and bake for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, or until nicely toasted.

3. Place butter and honey in TMX bowl. Cook for 2 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 1.

4. Pour over nut mix. Press into tray.

5. Cool, slice into pieces, and store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

Back to school baking

CHCL Date Loaf

170g dates

80g macadamia nuts

80g organic oil-free sultanas

220g filtered water

160g raw organic honey

2 teaspoons organic baking powder

320g organic unbleached flour

1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 180degrees. Line/ grease loaf pan.
2. Place dates and nuts into TMX bowl. Chop for 8 seconds on speed 8.
3. Add sultanas and water and cook for 3 minutes at 80degrees on reverse soft speed. Allow mixture to cool before proceeding (about 5-10 minutes).
4. Add remaining ingredients to TMX bowl and mix for 10 seconds on speed 5.
5. Pour into tin and bake for 45 minutes, or until cooked when tested.

Back to school cooking!

I can hardly believe that 7 weeks of school holidays are coming to an end tomorrow. With his school books covered and school bag packed, uniform ready to be ironed and shoes polished, the only piece of the puzzle left was the dreaded 'what do you want for lunch?'
This morning, in preparation for tomorrow morning, I made 2 loaves of bread and 3 slices that Kaleb will be able to take with him to school. And hopefully he'll not only take them but eat them too :)

Wholegrain Wheat & Super Mix Bread

50g whole wheat kernels

50 g buckwheat kernels

100g Cyndi O'Meara's Super Mix

320g warm water

1 teaspoon CHCL Seaweed Salt

7g yeast

320g unbleached baker's flour

20g cold pressed olive oil

1. Place wheat kernels in the TMX. Mill 1 minute, sp 9.

2. Add super mix, water, salt, yeast, flour then olive oil to the TMX. Mix 5 sec, sp 7.

3. Knead for 1 minute 30 on interval speed.

4. Wrap dough in Thermomat, or place in greased baking tin and cover with gladwrap and a tea towel. Allow to sit in a warm spot for at least 20 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.

5. Place dough in greased tin or freeform on a baking tray, or simply place the tin into a cold oven. Bake at 180 degrees fan-forced/ 200 degrees no fan for 25 minutes or until cooked.

6. Allow to cool before cutting. I like to slice the whole loaf and freeze it as it seems to keep better.

Zucchini Pickles

Here is the recipe for Zucchini Pickles. I made my first batch and it is super yummy.

1 kg zucchini
2 large onions
1 red capsicum
1/4 cup salt
2 cups raw organic sugar
2 cups organic apple cider vinegar, plus 2 tablespoons extra
2 teaspoons mustard powder
2 teaspoons turmeric
2 teaspoons organic cornflour

1. Place zucchini, onion and capsicum in TMX bowl. Chop 5 seconds, speed 4, or until chopped to your liking.
2. Place zucchini mix in shallow dish, add salt and mix well. Leave for 3 hours. Drain (but don't rinse) well.
3. Place sugar, vinegar, mustard powder and turmeric in TMX bowl. Heat at 80 degrees for 5 minutes on speed 1.
4. Add zucchini mixture and cook at 80 degrees for 10 minutes on speed 1.
5. Mix cornflour with extra vinegar and use it to thicken the mixture (I used more than the 2 teaspoons to get it as thick as I like it, so do this to your preference).
6. Spoon mixture into warm sterilised jars and seal.

Homemade Wraps

We headed to Warwick today to spend some time with our most lovely Warwick 'family'. I decided to make my own wraps for our chicken and salad wraps lunch.

I modified this recipe and was able to make 6 wraps in a very short amount of time, with little effort or fuss. The only problem was that Kaleb wouldn't eat them as they 'didn't taste like the bought ones' (which is kind of the point but try explaining that to a 6 going on 12 year old!).

Wraps

300g unbleached baker's flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon oil

1/2 cup water, or as needed

1. Place flour, powder and salt in the Thermomix bowl. Mix to combine.

2. Add oil to bowl and mix to combine.

3. Add a little water and mix for 20 seconds on speed 6, adding more water until a soft but not-so sticky dough forms.

4. Heat frying pan.

5. Using balls of dough, cover in flour and roll on bench/mat until very thin.

6. Dry fry in frying pan until cooked, flip, and cook.

7. Remove to plate, wrap in tea towel and place in plastic bag to keep soft.

Homemade Icecream

Inspired by my good friend, fellow blogger and Thermomixer Kirsty and her Strawberry Icecream post, I made icecream this weekend.

My boys LOVE icecream so I am very pleased to be able to offer them this beautiful icecream that tastes all together as good, maybe even better than the store bought equivelant.

I made vanilla, chocolate and choc mint icecream. So far the choc mint is the biggest hit.

Vanilla Icecream



2 eggs, organic free range

500g pure cream

100g raw organic sugar

1 teaspoon organic vanilla essence

1 tablespoon organic arrowroot powder

1. Combine eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla and arrowroot in Thermomix. Cook for 5 minutes at 80 degrees on speed 4.

2. Place the mixture into a stainless steel bowl and freeze for 3-4 hours or until firm but NOT frozen.

3. Take icecream from the freezer, cut into medium size pieces and place into the Thermomix bowl. Mix for 20 seconds on speed 9 then for 10 seconds on speed 4 using the spatula to assist. Return to the freezer.

Chocolate Icecream

2 eggs, organic free range

500g pure cream

100g raw organic sugar

1 teaspoon organic vanilla essence

1 tablespoon organic arrowroot powder

50 g organic cocoa powder

1. Combine eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla and arrowroot in Thermomix. Cook for 5 minutes at 80 degrees on speed 4. Add cocoa and stir until combined.

2. Place the mixture into a stainless steel bowl and freeze for 3-4 hours or until firm but NOT frozen.

3. Take icecream from the freezer, cut into medium size pieces and place into the Thermomix bowl. Mix for 20 seconds on speed 9 then for 10 seconds on speed 4 using the spatula to assist. Return to the freezer.

Chocolate Mint Icecream

2 eggs, organic free range

500g pure cream

100g raw organic sugar

1 teaspoon organic vanilla essence

1 tablespoon organic arrowroot powder

Green food colouring, natural if you can source it

1-2 teaspoons peppermint essence

100g chocolate, grated

1. Combine eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla and arrowroot in Thermomix. Cook for 5 minutes at 80 degrees on speed 4. Add essence and colouring and stir until combined (check for taste at this stage).

2. Place the mixture into a stainless steel bowl and freeze for 3-4 hours or until firm but NOT frozen.

3. Take icecream from the freezer, cut into medium size pieces and place into the Thermomix bowl. Mix for 20 seconds on speed 9, add chocolate, then mix then for 10 seconds on speed 4 using the spatula to assist. Return to the freezer.

Choc-Mint, Vanilla & Chocolate Icecream



Yoghurt... again!

Just a quick note to say the yoghurt I posted about making yesterday was HORRIBLE. Totally inedible. Yick! I am not sure why but it was definetly off.

So back to what works...

More Thermomix Yoghurt

This morning I made another batch of yoghurt in the Thermomix using the same recipe as posted yesterday. Instead of placing it in the Thermoserver for 8 hours, I poured the yoghurt into steralised glass jars and placed them into a preheated Slow Cooker, with a little bit of water in the bottom. With the slow cooker turned off, I put the lid on and wrapped it in a towel. The yoghurt sat for 10 hours and the Slow Cooker was still warm when I opened it. The jars are now in the fridge to chill!

The yoghurt is thick and creamy jar set yoghurt! I can't wait to try it in the morning.

And at a cost of $2.69/kg, it is a real budget saver for our house :) compared to the Gippsland Yoghurt at $7.53/kg- a saving of $4.84/kg. Multiply that by 4 or 5 tubs and that is a big saving for our weekly grocery bill!

Thermomix Yoghurt

Miss Bethany just loves yoghurt- Gippsland Thick and Creamy Vanilla to be exact. It is the most amazing yoghurt, but at almost $6 a 750g tub it is one of the more expensive yoghurts to buy. And when we can easily eat 4 or 5 tubs a week, the cost quickly adds up.

So I took my hand to making yoghurt in the Thermomix. The first attempt was a complete failure- a runny, stringy mess. I did some more research and realised that yoghurt making is a pretty precise art.

So with some extra tips in hand, I have since made 2 successful batches of Thermomix yoghurt. The first one was more like plain natural yoghurt, and the most recent is much more like the Gippsland yoghurt we inhale.

Thermomix Yoghurt

1000g full cream milk (I use the unhomogenised organic milk)

100g raw organic sugar (optional)

120g good quality yoghurt (or yoghurt you made previously)

1. Heat milk and sugar in Thermomix for 20 minutes at 80degrees, speed 2-3.

2. Place in fridge with a candy thermometer, and monitor until temperature is 37degrees.

3. Return to Thermomix, add yoghurt and cook for 20 minutes at 37degrees, speed 2-3.

4. Place in steralised Thermoserver, wrap in tea towel and allow to sit/set for at least 8 hours.  Overnight is best. You can place it in a esky with hot water bottles or any other insultated container.

5. Place in fridge for at least 4 hours before serving.

Tips- adding sugar with the milk gives a sweeter yoghurt. You can leave it out though.

- you could also add vanilla to the milk at step 1

- using a thermometer is vital to ensuring the milk is the correct temperature, otherwise when you add the yoghurt the heat will kill the very cultures you need to set your yoghurt.

- steralise the Thermoserver by rinsing in boiling water just before the yoghurt has finished cooking.

- I have found the yoghurt stays best set when not disturbed so leave in the Thermoserver in the fridge if you can. You could also set it in smaller steralised glass jars.

Happy 10 year Aussieversary

Last week marked the 10 year anniversary of my sister-in-law Tracey and her family's immigration to Australia. What better way to celebrate than with a Braai (South African for BBQ), on what happenned to be the hottest day this summer.

There were a number of south african delights- corn puffs, fizz pops, braai salt, sudza, chucca, another corn salt, and of course boerewors!

The kids danced to african music and played in the pool- yep, no aussie bbq, as zim as it was, is comlete without a pool.

I made a platypus shaped damper to mark the occassion, which was enjoyed after the bbq.

We are so glad God directed the Squires to Australia, and to Toowoomba. You are all a special part of our family!

God is so good!

This morning when I was getting ready for the day, I noticed that my Salon Only Curl Magic was almost empty. This is the ONLY product that I use on my hair, after stumbling across it one random haircut. And it is a product that I can only buy online- eBay or other hair shops. Knowing that it retails for $29 a tube plus postage, I sighed knowing that I would just have to wait to order some more.

This afternoon, however, I got an email newsletter from one of the online shops that stocks Salon Only products. By some act of our very very good God, I happened across Salon Only Curl Magic in their store for only $4.50, yep, you read correctly, $4.50! So before I missed out, I ordered 4 tubes (not one to let a bargain go!). It cost me less for 4 tubes on sale then it would to buy one at normal price with postage.

I cannot help but be overwhelmed by just how good our God is! Sometimes we wonder if he is really listening, or maybe he's too busy today! But I know without a doubt that he cares about every minute detail of my life, and yours... He knows the tragedy I would be without this product to calm and style my hair!

Ephesians 3:20-21 says "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

2012- the year that is!

A few weeks ago Pastor Murray encouraged us to write a list of goals for 2012. Things we aim to do, would like to do, need to do. Not resolutions so much as things we want to achieve in 2012. He was encouraging us not to settle for second best, or get stuck on plan b but to have something to strive towards, something to aim towards, something to motivate us and something to achieve.

So here is my list- in no particular order- 

1. reduce debt
2. manage budget
3. gain health and happiness (aka lose weight and get healthy)
4. Conqueor Cyndi O'Meara's Changing Habits
5. Finish my Cert IV in Ministry
6. Get family photos taken
7. Have a holiday to Mackay (booked in for July- yay!)
8. Have date nights with Jas
9. Fit back into my wedding dress
10. Lead worship again at church
11. Plant a veggie patch
12. Finish garden projects
13. Be more active
14. Get wisdom teeth out if necessary
15. Spend more time with God

The bible verse God has given me for 2012 is

Hebrews 12:1

"Let us strip off every weight that slows us down,

especially the sin that so easily trips us up.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

I don't consider this list complete at all- but a good start none the less.

What would you like 2012 to be for you?

2011- the year that was!

I don't know about you, but Christmas just didn't seem like Christmas this year. Sure, there were still presents and family times, but the heart of Christmas was missing for me this year. I am not sure why- whether it was because it was so busy, or because we are away from home, or because we didn't get to go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, or because dad was in hospital or because the 'joy' of retail zaps us of family time- but I know that I am not alone in feeling this way.

2011 was a year where the world- or certainly our part of the world- changed forever. The devistation of the January floods is still evident in our landscape and certainly still in people's lives. There is a certain fear that comes upon us now when it rains- it is an awareness of our frailty that we haven't had before.

Apart from that 2011 has been a year of trememdous blessing and triumph. We have seen and experienced God's grace and miracles first hand in our lives. The purchase of our house saw us stepping out in obedience to God's prompting and we are so very pleased that we did. Our bills are always paid and our food supply is always running over.

Our kids are thriving and growing and learning. Kaleb particularly has a real sense of who God is in His life. He has grown soooo much and is most definetly ready for grade 2. Joel is a boy that lives life to his own beat. He is very easy going and lives in Kaleb's shadow when K is around. Bethany, she is just the final piece to the puzzle and the most beautiful and sweet little thing.

Jas's work is continuing to both challenge and bless him. He definetly feels like his time in Dalby is not up- despite pressure from his boss and HR to feel otherwise.

For me, 2011 was the year that 'the joy of the Lord was my strength'. It had it's ups and downs and very downs. But through it all God has been oh so very faithful and good to us. I can honestly say that I am not the same person that I was 12 months ago. I have lost some weight, I have gained health and happiness, I am in a better relationship with the Lord, our marriage is strong and good and I am growing into the mother God has called me to be. I have a better sense of God's purpose and calling on my life and I am 'just doing the next thing' in getting to that place.

All things considered though, it still felt like we got to the end of the year on an out-of-control train that just flew past Christmas and into 2012 with no time to stop, no looking backwards, and no time to take hold of the future.

I felt this year, like never before, the inner struggle at Christmas time. Watching the carols on TV, watching the world sing about our Saviour but knowing that many of them don't know the reality of a relationship with Him. Also knowing that the whole reason for Christmas- the birth of our Saviour- was to save us- to make a way to the cross. The whole reason that Jesus was born in a manger was so that he would die on the cross, to restore our relationship with God. There is a certain amount of irony in it all.

We still live in a broken, fallen, decaying world- a world that seems to have taken an almighty shift in the wrong direction in 2011. A world that so desperately needs the love and grace of our Lord. But a world that is so centered on self and so opposed it would seem to the very person that everyone sings praises to at Christmas.

So what does this all mean for 2012? We are a year closer to the coming of our King. Our world is a year closer to the end. It means that there has never been a more important time to share the love and grace of our Lord. And there has never been a more important time to get into His Word- know what the bible says- be aware of the prophecy's of the end time- and then trust in the Lord with all you have.

Phil 2:13 says "God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him". This is an amazing reassurance for 2012. God has it all under control, and his power is working in us that we would obey him and do what pleases Him. This is my hearts cry for 2012. That I would obey Him, in all I do, and that His power would be working in me that I would do what is pleasing to Him. If I can get to the end of 2012 and have achieved that, then it will have been another great year.

Farewell Lightning!

Our little chick Lightning is no longer with us. Sunday afternoon we were all out in the backyard- Jas was mowing, I was cleaning the chook house and putting in the new chook feeder, and the boys were on the trampoline. The chooks and chicks were out in the yard, scratching and fluffing about. Somehow the hen and 2 chicks got into the back garden (through the fence) and then into the neighbours yard, then into the back neighbours yard. We were able to get the hen and Francesco back but not before we think their dog got our little chick.

Needless to say we all learnt a valuable lesson/s. The chickens have been a bit off colour since and stopped laying completely. It was a pretty frantic afternoon trying to get them back so we are just hoping they got a fright but will be ok again soon.

Latest cooking!

CHRISTMAS DAY- Donna Hay Layered Pavlova

BOXING DAY- Maple & Pecan Cheesecake

KAREN'S BIRTHDAY- Red Velvet Layer Cake

JAS'S BIRTHDAY- Layered Chocolate Marshmallow Cake

Happy Birthday Jas!

So as another year comes to an end it is time to celebrate Jas's birthday. We spent new years eve with the Morris family and got to have a cake for Jas's birthday with them.

And yes, Jas is wearing boxer shorts over normal shorts. We had a smarty pants and pudding party for New Years.



Welcome baby Jayden!

Jayden Leigh Mirtschin was born on Wednesday 28th December, and we were fortunate enough to be able to meet him and visit them in hospital while we were in Toowoomba. Isn't he cute???

We are sure that Kyle and Zzac will just love having another little man around the farm to play with, and Andrew won't mind another set of hands at harvest time :)

Happy 7th Birthday Aaron!

We got to celebrate Aaron's 7th Birthday before he went home with a little party at Nana's house. The kids loved the Freddo Cake and had second and third helpings to it.

Happy Birthday Aunty Karen

To celebrate her upcoming significant birthday, we had a family dinner for Karen on Tuesday.

Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve

The Brown Family got together at mum and dad's for afternoon tea. In typical style there were lots of little ones running around and plenty of yummy food being eaten.

Grandma & Bethany enjoying a chocolate coated christmas biscuit

Grandma & Grandad with some of their great grand children (there are 10 in this photo and 12 missing!)

Christmas Day

We were woken at 6.01am Christmas morning by Mr Kaleb who was super excited about it being Christmas. We waited and waiting and after what seemed like an eternity, Joel and Bethany woke and we were able to open presents.

Christmas Day was spent with Jas's family. We enjoyed a pretty relaxing day with the kids having lots of fun and everyone doting over Miss Bethany.

Nana & Pa with Kaleb (6), Aaron (7), Bethany (1), Joel (3) & Isaac (10)

The boys waiting for lunch

Pretty as a princess

Boxing Day

Despite my dad being unwell in hospital, we still tried to make the most of Boxing Day with a family lunch. We struggled a little with getting the BBQ to work as Dad is the Webber Roast master but all in all it worked out just fine.

Present Time (nice wrapping Aunty Tracey)

Bethany having a turn at unwrapping

Playing in her new princess tent

Kayla & Bethany enjoying Banana Choc Chip Muffins

Family Lunch

Boxing Day Afternoon

Off we went to Troys Road for the traditional afternoon catch up and swim. It was a beautiful day for swimming and the pool temp was very, very inviting. So much so that very few of us didn't go swimming.

Nana & Grandad with their great grandchildren- Joel, Kayla, Riley, Kaleb & Bethany