fourhappyviolets: May 2012

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Rainbow cake.

{Project: Food Budget} Week 34 and my babies first birthday...

This last week was really special. My adorable number 4 turned 1. Turning one is such a milestone and so emotional for me! Glad we survived, blessed to have a healthy growing child, proud of all she can do, devo'd that I don't have a baby anymore...and so on.

Anywho, a rainbow cake was in order. This cake was so much fun to make and really easy. There were a few audible gasps when I cut it open. Win. :P

In other big news, I got my THERMOMIX on Saturday. This is HUGE! Implications all around for the way I shop and feed my family. I am so excited to get going on this. She is un-named atm...I'm working on that.

The first dish I prepared in my TM was Fennel & Almond Soup. WOW! It was so good and I will definitely make this one regularly.

So it'll be no surprise that this weeks menu is all TMable! I have some experimenting to do!

Thursday - Spiced Moroccan Tomato & Red Lentil Soup

Friday - Mushroom Risotto

Saturday - Creamy Tomato & Salami Fettuccine

Sunday - Homemade Pizza

Monday - Red Thai Chicken Curry

Tuesday - Chinese-Style Stir Fry Vegetables

Wednesday - leftovers:D

Again $200, 6 mouths. With the addition on my thermomix to the kitchen I plan to reduce my food budget (argh...nervous) I think this is achievable but is going to require some thought as to bulk purchasing and shopping habits. Those thoughts are on this weeks to do list!

Remember those muffins I mentioned last week? well I think I'm finally happy with my adjusted recipe. I call them (appropriately) Oat, Date & Chocolate Muffins...

Oat, Date & Chocolate Muffins

§ 2 cups oats

§ 1 cups soy milk

§ 200 grams chopped dates

§ 100 grams grated dark chocolate (I use 70%)

§ 2 medium eggs

§ 1/2 maple syrup

§ 2/3 cup rice bran oil

§ 2 ½ cups wholemeal flour

§ pinch salt

In a large bowl combine the oats and soy milk. Leave it for 10 minutes.. Add the eggs, maple syrup and oil. Beat well, add flour and salt. Mix again then add dates an chocolate and fold through. Spoon the batter into a dozen well oiled Texas muffin cups. Bake at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Here are the other bloggers this week:

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

{Project: Food Budget} Week 33

Feel like mixing up the menu this week, time for 6 newee's.
Pulled the oh so retro Reader's Digest "Quick, Thrifty Cooking" from the shelf and I'm about to see what inspiring dishes it holds!

...slim pickings I'm afraid.
This is what I have:

Thursday - Lentil and sausage stew
Friday - Beef stroganoff
Saturday - Brown rice with chicken and herbs
Sunday - Home made pizza
Monday - Polenta with walnut sauce and vegetables
Tuesday - Garden Casserole
Wednesday - Leftovers:D

Budget is $200 / 6 mouths.

I have been making these oatmeal muffins for the kids lunch boxes (and my breaky). I use Maple syrup instead of sugar and halve the quantity and add dates and / or apricots. I also use wholemeal flour. They are really tasty and keep the hunger pain away for ages!

Here are the other bloggers this week:

My long person

she's odd.
she's mostly thrifted.
she's limb-less.
...and she's lovely:D
she's off to Lisa's house.

...and here she is at her farewell party;)

The lady with the pearls was crafted by fellow swapper Litina, and the long haired beauty, by Joanne.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

{Project: Food Budget} Week 31

I've been a little distracted this week by the imminent arrival of my new Thermomix...*squeels*
It's all I think about:P I am busting to belt out a recipe or two...but I will have to wait a little longer,

and while I do, lets talk about this weeks menu and budget.
This week needs some frugal eating. I'm sticking to my $200 , 6 serves but really need to come in under. Tonight is family curry night at my SIL's. I am planning (best get onto that) a vegetable curry with dried apricots and Indian spices. I figured MIL will do beef, SIL will do butter chicken 'cause that's how they roll...and I will bring the COLOUR!!

UPDATE:

Thursday - Rice with satay sauce and vegetables
Friday - Sausages, mashed potato, honey soy carrots and peas (Mr 4's request)
Saturday - Curry night (with COLOUR lol)
Sunday - Home made pizza night
Monday - Chicken and Veg (super boring but in the freezer!)
Tuesday - Guacamole bruschetta
Wednesday - Lamb and mushroom pies

Satay Sauce Recipe

1/3 cup peanut butter
1 fresh red chilli chopped
2 tsp fish sauce
2 tsp kecap manis
1 Tbsp lime juice
140 mls coconut milk

Stir over low heat until heated and mixed.

Week 31 Participating blogs:

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

retro pattern finds.

oh wow thermomix is interest free for may! so excited...in other news...picked up an awesome vintage multi pattern book at the op shop for 50 cents...I"M WINNING!!

Its been dollar week at my local this week and thus my heart rate has been a little higher:P

I purchased 3 womens tops / jackets that are going to have a new life as baby pants, more on that later.

I've only just started taking the time to sift through the pattern bins because quite frankly, I've been terrified of them ever since stitching some shorts when I was probably 10. I can still picture those too short shorts *shudders* but anyway, I've grown and I'm moving on...and at 20 cents a pattern!

So here's my little stash from last week.

....and this is today's find:

and the POI's from inside:

This is made with corduroy in the pic, oh so wintery! I see potential here:)

lol at her expression, should be a caption contest.

Here are the variations:

I'm loving that kangaroo pouch pocket.

...and because when you're a beginner, everything is new...

the classic wrap skirt:

Oh but where to begin...