tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25228811973831020022024-03-14T07:41:01.541-07:00All things random and beautiful!This blog is my own little personal space. It has no structure and it is filled with random things, but they are things I enjoy doing and hopefully when you come across this blog, you will grab a coffee, put your feet up and enjoy a little read!NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-13541912846298528152015-03-02T14:22:00.003-08:002015-03-02T14:23:26.518-08:00Superfood salad
I have been really focusing on eating healthy this year after having baby. I have also only recently discovered the superfood quinoa.
I fancied a filling salad this evening so a quick search online and a few tweaks later, I ended up with this yummy recipe below. It uses four superfoods so there is no guilt whatsoever, but is certainly not lacking in taste. Trust me - I don't NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-51665303404676962642015-02-20T01:36:00.000-08:002015-02-20T01:36:20.193-08:00'Carrot Cake' Pancakes
I am trying to reduce refined sugar from the family's diet. Some days are huge successes and some days are epic fails but I keep at it in the hope that one day we will habitually say no to refined sugar. In keeping with this, we tried a 'carrot cake' pancake.
100 g oats
3 eggs
1 medium carrot grated
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-33810681299704017222014-11-30T13:33:00.002-08:002014-11-30T13:35:17.247-08:00Christmas kindness advent
I recently read an article about the 'entitlement' culture that our children seem to be a part of. The article went on to point out how we as parents have a tendency to fuel this entitlement culture. Whilst I understand what the author says and to some extent, I am guilty of it as well as a parent, the reality is also that our children live in a very different world to the one we did and NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-67342014085957953302014-10-16T13:45:00.001-07:002014-10-16T14:50:52.840-07:00Flower cupcakes
So I have been on a blogging hiatus for over a year now. Blogging fell by the wayside. Life and the universe got in the way - so on and so forth.
In the last month or so, I joined a Whatsapp group with my school batchmates. I don't get to spend a lot of time on it but I'm grateful to those on there that encouraged me to start blogging again.
So I'm trying to NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-2833499542489005782013-08-03T02:48:00.000-07:002013-08-03T02:48:43.051-07:00Oven fajitas
This is an awesome quick throw together kind of meal - perfect for when you've had a busy day at work and need to get dinner on without much preparation. I had fajita seasoning at home which I used but you can create your own by following this recipe.
I didn't really follow any perfect quantities for this recipe but I'll try to put down some to give you an idea.
You could go NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-9201315063430508942013-06-17T13:18:00.001-07:002013-06-17T13:18:20.887-07:00Black bean and avocado enchiladas
This is my first attempt at making enchiladas and even then I ended up making a vegan option but the flavour is so so good - and of course keeps me away from the cheese!
The enchilada sauce is also made from scratch but it literally takes less than 10 minutes and is so easy to throw together.
You can find the original recipe at Budget Bytes.
This is my version. I made aNJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-67503600708214186222013-05-11T01:16:00.000-07:002013-05-11T01:16:15.650-07:00Lemon and cranberry loaf
Now that spring has finally made an appearance, I find myself wanting to use all things citrusy. I love the freshness that oranges and lemons exude especially when used in desserts.
This recipe has nothing to it - it is so easy to throw together. In fact, Lil Miss J came home one day with it from having baked it at the childminders and so I had to ask them how they made itNJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-79609105180866057822013-04-27T15:02:00.001-07:002013-04-27T15:02:37.081-07:00Upcycled shoe rack
I've made one of these before and you can see it here. But this time, we went one step further and used the paintings that Lil Miss J makes at nursery to decorate the A4 paper boxes. A fun afternoon activity and her shoes are all nice and tidy.
NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-7779646379718948052013-02-13T14:43:00.002-08:002013-02-13T14:43:52.331-08:00Spinach and cheese pie
I had been looking at a spinach pie recipe on Budget Bytes for ages. Yesterday the craving hit an all time high so I proceeded to make it with whatever ingredients I had lying about!!!
I love puff pastry - I know its not that good for you in terms of being healthy but what can I say - I do love it. Combine it with spinach, mushrooms and feta which are some of my favourite NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-4673504215595319662013-02-05T12:39:00.002-08:002013-02-05T12:39:50.658-08:00Slow cooker chicken pepperonata
This has become a staple meal in our home....its oh so easy to do and packs oodles of flavour. The original recipe is from Kayotic Kitchen. Mine is the slightly Indianised version!
I love peppers and the combination of peppers, onion and garlic sauteed in a pan is enough to make the house smell divine!
Here is this super easy recipe:-
Ingredients
500 g boneless NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-5212744836226847082013-01-30T12:22:00.000-08:002013-01-30T12:22:36.723-08:00Veg pot pie
I have had a sabbatical from blogging.....I have gone back to working full time after four years and this doesn't leave me enough time to do as much as I used to. Between trying to juggle home, work and family, I have had my hands full.
But I miss blogging and I figured I need to focus and try and get started again. It may not be as much as I used to but I need to at NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-85383098416958555742012-10-13T10:01:00.003-07:002012-10-13T10:01:57.000-07:00Black bean and corn quesadillas
With moving house and things up and down on the job front, most of this year has been - to say the least - quite trying! Its taught me to live a more frugal lifestyle and to be honest, once you start to do that - you wonder why you spent so much money wastefully in the first place!
I've just found work again but have been trying out different recipes over the past couple of months NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-37329860330731582292012-09-07T14:02:00.001-07:002012-09-07T14:02:33.644-07:00Lil Miss J turns Lil Miss Helper!
Lil Miss J enjoys helping out - it started out when she was younger, as a means of getting her involved in doing things around the house so that I could get the housework done with her about. But I have also realised along the way that children do not view things as chores. With a little bit of fun injected into it, there is nothing a child loves more than being involvedNJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-48237902439131450872012-08-16T13:59:00.002-07:002012-08-16T14:00:32.519-07:00Hair clip holders
I've been thinking for a while, trying to come up with a creative way to store Lil Miss J's hairclips - she usually loses one of the pair and then we're left with all these single ones swimming about. Anyways, we were sorting through her stuff this morning and came up with the idea of using toilet roll tubes to create hair clip holders!
I've been on a crafting sabbatical - I'd NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-69248635303856594932012-08-10T01:20:00.002-07:002012-08-10T01:21:13.351-07:00Lemony veggie & prawn pasta
A simple dinner with lots of yummy flavour. This is the link to the original recipe.
I made a few tiny tweaks. I sauteed two spring onions, 3 cloves of garlic, some cherry tomatoes and the prawns in a little olive oil, adding some dried thyme and chilli flakes to give it a bit of oomph. I also used the juice of a whole lemon as I like the sauce very lemony!!!!
Lots of flavour and veryNJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-19922333615433652852012-07-30T10:35:00.001-07:002012-07-30T10:35:44.895-07:00Hummus Melts
I found these on Pinterest and our peckishness yesterday provided the perfect opportunity to try them out.
Here is the link to the original recipe. I made a couple of tiny changes. I added a basil leaf torn into two on top of each muffin and since I didn't have mozarella, I used cheddar. Of course, cheddar is saltier than mozarella, so if you're using shop bought hummus, NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-81070774829289148902012-07-22T02:25:00.002-07:002012-07-22T02:29:49.278-07:00Vegetable Quiche
This was my first attempt at quiche and I am pleased to say that it turned out awesome (well the pastry crust was a bit soggy but that didn't stop it from being awesome!)
Here's what you will need: -
2 peppers, sliced
3 large mushrooms, sliced
3 spring onions, both white and green parts sliced
Dried herbs (I used oregano and thyme) - a pinch
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
Bunch of fresh NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-85906245430342829222012-07-21T10:15:00.000-07:002012-07-21T10:16:07.653-07:00Cinnamon Toast Muffins
We've just moved house a couple of weeks ago and are slowly settling in to life outside of boxes again! I have some time on my hands now as I've yet to begin job hunting - so am making the most of this time with Lil Miss J!
We made these oh so yummy Cinnamon Toast Muffins that I found on Pinterest to donate to a bake sale this morning. Here is the link to the recipe. They are super NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-91632630731846757072012-06-28T12:44:00.001-07:002012-06-28T12:44:52.874-07:00Caramelised onion and goat's cheese tart
I think I found this recipe a magazine somewhere recently and really wanted to try them. I love simple easy dinners and ready rolled puff pastry is my new best friend!
Here's what you need:-
Sheet of ready rolled puff pastry
Onion - sliced
Tomato - sliced
Goat's cheese
Parmesan or Cheddar cheese
Splash of wine (I didn't have any so I used red wine vinegar instead!)
NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-24492236885093818812012-06-22T13:52:00.000-07:002012-06-22T13:52:48.965-07:00Father's Day albeit a bit late
I wanted to share what Lil Miss J made for daddy on Father's Day but never got around to posting it, so although its now a tad bit late, here it is anyway. She wanted to make him a card and post it to him. I didn't have loads of crafty bits on hand, so a few buttons and some stickers had to do! But it turned out pretty nice :)
And she was most thrilled to put it into an NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-17147674078120919062012-06-18T13:49:00.001-07:002012-06-18T13:50:36.246-07:00Honey nougat & Orange brownie cake
That title certainly sounds like a mouthful! This is one of the best brownie cake recipes you will ever make and trust me, one mouthful won't be enough! Undoubtedly! Even if it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn!
I was given the original recipe for it by my friend's Mum. The version below is my tweaked one as the original does not call for the addition of orange.
NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-43348070995945159782012-06-17T01:18:00.003-07:002012-06-17T01:19:29.524-07:00White chocolate basil cream with sticky balsamic strawberries
I am very much a cake person and not so much a dessert person! When it comes to making them, I mean - when it comes to eating, I'll eat it all :)
I found this recipe on BBC Good Food and was very intrigued by it as I've never used white chocolate and basil together. The only change I made was to use just two or three sprigs of basil as opposed to a whole bunch. This NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-38745887658242314752012-06-05T15:59:00.002-07:002012-06-05T15:59:29.499-07:00So long Farewell!
Ever so often, I find my mind swimming with thoughts and constantly running in overdrive and the only way to get it to slow down is to pour those thoughts out on paper (or in this case, virtually on a screen!). Life has been in a state of flux for the last month as hubby took up a new job role and of course, hot on its heels came the decision to move to a new part of the country. Whilst NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-79068678679322562232012-05-23T08:58:00.001-07:002012-05-23T08:58:32.316-07:00Herb crusted salmon
After a complete blogging sabbatical, I have to share this recipe with you all as it is absolutely brilliant. Having recently fallen in love with salmon, I am trying every recipe that takes my fancy, but this one is an absolute keeper. Its Ina Garten's Panko crusted salmon and it is truly divine!
I did make a few changes, purely to use what was at hand. I used normal breadcrumbs as I NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522881197383102002.post-17437195115105421552012-04-06T10:18:00.002-07:002012-04-06T10:25:41.046-07:00Easter bonnet fun and still crafting a year onToday, Lil Miss J and I spent the afternoon making her Easter bonnet. I had never thought of myself as having enough patience to sit and craft something from scratch, but this is what got me into crafting precisely one year ago when I had to make her an Easter bonnet. You can see what I made last year here. What can I say - having children changes you in ways you never imagined!
SinceNJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024227562100654617noreply@blogger.com5