Holiday Menu

The girls are going away for 8 days. I'm not sure if we have been on our own at all since I was 24, we may have, I'm not sure. Not much anyway.

So, since they are going early on in the week and the next day I am getting a fruit order delivered, I have ordered the juice as per usual, and the bananas, and expect to actually get some. I wonder if I will actually drink some before they get home, I am so used to not having any. I have ordered a box of Shapes, and some cheap grapes too.

I expect to have a couple of meals of left overs. Since our son left last weekend, we have been having left overs for lunch. He usually eats any we have for breakfast. He is a big fry up breakfast type of person.

The dandelions are for the ones in our backyard in the green lawn (not usually like that) where the old dog kennel used to be. I can see this grass and the dandelion flowers from the kitchen table.

Tuesday ~ Rigatoni Milano
Wednesday ~ Pies, Chips, Peas & Gravy
Thursday ~ Tuna Casserole
Friday ~ Taco Salad
Saturday ~ Spaghetti Bolognaise
Sunday ~ Fish with Wombuk Salad
Monday ~ Thai Mixed Vegetable Curry
Tuesday ~ Dutch Vegetable and Red Lentil Patties & Chips & Salad Greens
Wednesday ~ Left-overs
Thursday ~ Pesto Pasta with Zucchini, Feta & Tomato
Friday ~ Left-overs
Saturday ~ Spicy Lentil Noodles
Sunday ~ Pumpkin, Chorizo & Rice
Monday ~ Chow Mein

Interesting recipes:
Kransky & Frankfurter Recipes

Life's good

A few days ago I had an exciting email arrive in my inbox. It was from Maree at buyster with a small b. I am familiar with buyster, because I had seen a mention of it on a blog I am following. I had looked at the post very carefully, wondering who is this buyster company. The post was about a light. I had seen lights like that before. The one I particularly like is a pendant light that buyster carry. Our builder lined a back porch in the property we bought two years ago. It is a sloped lined ceiling and the pendant I still like and enjoy. (Edited to say I actually have been a big buyer of these lights. I have even decided to buy two for my current home as well. I will be getting those from buyster. I have checked and they carry the ones I want.)

In fact I have two more lights to buy for that house, at least, and am going to look at all buyster's lights carefully, as I think they would do a better job of making sure the light arrives in good condition than my experience with ebay. Not that ebay is not a good way to buy lights, but there was a certain design that cracked. With buyster's experience, I imagine they don't carry them anyway if they are hard to ship.

So who are buyster?

"buyster is a joint venture between netus an Australian technology investment company and CSN Stores, one of the leading online retail companies in the USA.

Who are CSN Stores?

CSN Stores is one of the top 3 online retailers of home and office products in the USA. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Boston, it now employs over 400 people and achieved over US$200 million in sales in 2007. Read more about CSN Stores.

Who are netus?

netus is an Australian technology investment company. Backed by News Ltd, they have a range of experience in the Australian market and their leadership team have experience from some of the top online businesses in Australia - including Expedia and eBay. Read more about netus."

Why is it exciting? I spent ages on their site, and loved having a look around. First it started with the opportunity for me to receive something for my home so I was looking for something I may like. It didn't take long for me to spy a paella pan. You may have been aware, or some of my online readers would be aware, that I have been wanting one! Here it is!


I am going to be reviewing it on my blog! Can't wait. You can click on it to see more details, there is also an enamelled one. More about paella pans later. (I need the post space to rave on about them lol.)

One of the products that took my eye when I was looking around was the lamp that also holds an ipod here (you can see if it compatible with your type of ipod easily). The special mugs, and other name brands and the gorgeous glass bowls. Brands include Gordon Ramsey, Royal Dulton, Royal Albert, Noritake, Wedgwood & Le Creuset.

My property I mentioned before had to be handled a little like a property for development. We had a laundry with a retro twin laundry sink with old fashioned pipes running under the window. Our plumber suggested we cut a hold in that space at the back between the sinks and put in a mixer. I had to order it especially. buyster has those type of mixers, plus 34 sinks.

Looks like I nearly need three posts for this. I am not a great consumer but despite my slow internet speed at the moment (down loading pokemon movies) I found lots of things fascinating.

The bunk beds are interesting. I remember all my previous bunk bed buying experiences. One of the buyster ones (silver) reminds me of a shopping trip where I saw a silver bunk with a matching cute computer. It was fun probably because I wasn't actually shopping for bunks that day, it can be difficult with little kids as well as dealing with the financials, and travelling to get to a shop that still may only have a few bunk beds on display.

My sixteen year old daughter loved the futon on the buyster site.

If you have been always wanting to know where to find old fashioned doll's house furniture you will find it at buyster. It is an interesting modern site, but has so many things suitable for an older home. Also if you have a business you will find reception chairs and couches.

The things suitable for an older or country home are 1920s styled plant stands for inside for cast iron plants etc., hall stands and also telephone tables, so you can have new, not second hand, and the prices are around $600. Also an unusual Tiffany fireplace screen

For the property fixer uppers, a $219 bath tub and Retro medicine cabinets. I remember after selling my first home, how could I get another cabinet like that.

Anyway, I had fun, and I'm hooked. Stay tuned.

More Kransky Recipes

Flickr Creative Commons clickable

Teriyaki Kransky Stir Fry

Ingredients

3 Kransky (plain)
3 medium carrots
1/2 cauliflower
Small broccoli
1 onion
½ red pepper (capsicum)
3 garlic cloves
Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry Sauce (Master Foods) 175g sachet
Instant noodles (Fantastic brand)

Method

Chop quartered carrots, red pepper, onion.

Finely chop garlic.

Breakup Cauliflower and broccoli.

Fry Kransky’s and then slice cooking the slices until reasonably well cooked, put aside.

Fry carrots on med heat and when partially cooked add chopped pepper, when done put aside.

Fry onions on med heat when nearly done add cauliflower and after a while the garlic, when reasonably done put aside (this is stir fry so all vegs are a bit firm).

Stir fry broccoli (med heat) and when cooked a bit (looks bright green) add all the other cooked ingredients, carefully mix ingredients then add stir fry sauce.

Add 1 cup of water and increase heat to med-high, carefully mix and when the mixture has boiled well for a couple of minutes serve (in bowls) with noodles cooked as per packet instructions.



Kranksy Hotpot with Braised Cabbage

Last FM

I was going to post here today, a song called Simple Man by Adam Brand. There is no video for it, but it brought me to Last FM. That a fantastic website. It straight away said that I would like this song by Sara Storer called Moonstruck. I am unsure what the words mean yet, but it is a lovely song.

Agee & Kilner Jars

After Christmas Menu

Today my husband made our Christmas ham with an orange and some whole cloves and bay leaves. Here is the recipe. It smells very Christmasy, but it is past Christmas now. We had Christmas at my Mum's place. Still I enjoy the smell. Mum gave me some Pandoro from my step-brother's partner, who is Italian. It comes with vanilla icing sugar. I got quite a bit, I am the only one that likes it.

Pandoro recipes:

Iced Christmas Puddings with Chocolate Sauce
Limoncello Trifle

I wanted to shop in the town I usually shop in. Last fortnight I didn't go because I had food left from the hamper, meats in particular. It was lucky because a fire sprang up around lunchtime in that area around the time I would have been nearly home I hope. This time I was going to go to Coles as my daughter has a movie ticket. They gave out tickets for a theatre 1 1/2 hours away. I make have to drive her especially, as I can see that apart from minced meat, I have all my meat, and have a list made up that my husband can take to the local shop, since he is on holiday.

I have ordered my daughter a nice book online from Booktopia, and paid up my bills. The book is called Do Hard Things. Apparently it was recommended at Youth Group.

Thursday ~ Ham & Vegetables (Glazed Ham with cloves and bay leaves)
Friday ~ Maple Snags with Mustard Mash (Chipolatas)
Saturday ~ Kabana & Bacon Macaroni Cheese with Kabana
Sunday ~ Frankfurters perhaps hot dogs
Monday ~ was to be clam chowder will have to think of another recipe perhaps German Potato Salad or Tuna Casserole
Tuesday ~ Creamy Mustard Kranksy
Wednesday ~ Fettucini Carbonara
Thursday ~ Ham & Zucchini Pasta
Friday ~ Ham & Egg Pasta
Saturday ~ Pasta with Ham, Tomatoes & Feta
Sunday ~ Spaghetti Bolognaise
Monday ~ Tuna & Mushroom Spaghetti

I came across Ainsley's Five Ingredients, interesting as I got 4 Ingredients cookbook for Christmas.

Auld Lang Syne

I love to hear any memories that this song reminds you of.

Lazy Days

Making : Notes or a short list here and there
Cooking : something from the menu
Drinking : Lemonade (something like 7Up)
Reading: just finished The Desires of Her Heart by Lyn Cote
Wanting: more weather like this
Looking: forward to any jobs we can get done over the holidays ie January
Playing: looking at our new goldfish in the bowl
Wasting: I suppose time
Sewing: my daughter is using her new toy sewing machine
Wishing: for nothing, I have been pretty blessed lately
Enjoying: watching Selling Houses on TV
Waiting: for pay day!
Liking: my shortbread, though I haven't started eating it yet
Wondering: what it was like in Ikea today, my son went there, lucky him
Loving: finding some more Christmas goodies, I was wondering where my mince pies went to
Hoping: the weather and conditions stay nice for shopping day, no high winds etc.
Marvelling: at Mum knowing what I may like
Needing: a few more coins
Smelling: wet rainy air from outside
Wearing: Brown capris and beige t-shirt
Following: going to read about Mandy's Christmas
Noticing: my swan plant has baby swans, and there is a monarch butterfly in the garden, a good combination!
Knowing: the library will be open tomorrow
Thinking: about how my son went to Costco today for the first time
Feeling: a bit confused, I guess it is time to move on from Christmas to something else, though I guess there is no rush
Bookmarking: haven't been on the computer much
Opening: on Christmas Day I got the 4 Ingredients cookbook
Giggling: at the music video on TV, It's my Town by Sovereign
Feeling: pleased

From here.

Christmas Movies

I went to a blog of a commenter on my other blog, and read their Christmas Random Dozen post and found for Christmas they like a movie called The Homecoming. I don't know if I have seen it or not, I possibly have. It is a Walton's movie. How wonderful. I remember when I was about 16, after Christmas during my January school holidays (which lasted six weeks) watching the Waltons every day at 12. I loved it. I needed it too I expect.



I am posting it here for your enjoyment and for me to watch. Thanks Kim, @ Just a Southern Girl.

Odds & Sods Menu

This is my third shopping day (each fortnight or two weeks) that I haven't been to the supermarket. My husband has been with any items that we don't have, but it is not a full shop by any means, no where near. I am using things from my Christmas hampers that I paid for during the year. I don't think I need to go again this fortnight. I did order fruit, vege and bread, and think I will do so again, I wasn't sure. It is nice to have a big delivery of bread and know it is not going to run out. So I will start early and plan my menu today ready for the fruit order tomorrow. My husband may not get to the list for awhile, maybe he will have to do it sooner rather than later. Our sons are moving house this weekend, well they will be home next week, but they need to shift their furniture ready to hand in the keys. Not sure when younger son will be there again, but his room will be ready for him. He will be going to uni in February.

Thursday ~ Taco Yiros
Friday ~ Fish & Wombuk Salad (need fried noodles)
Saturday ~ Zucchini, Tomato & Chilli Rigatoni
Sunday ~ Clam Chowder
Monday ~ Warm Cottage Salad (pork sausages & small potatoes & feta)
Tuesday ~ Maple Snags with Mustard Mash (chipolatas)
Wednesday ~ Bucatini with Sausage, Tomato & Caramelised Onion (cherry tomatoes pork sausages)
Thursday ~ Spicy Chicken with Asparagus and Noodles
Friday ~ Ham & Pumpkin Frittata (chives & parmesan)
Saturday ~ Curry & Kabana Sausage Rolls
Sunday ~ Continental Frankfurter Bake
Monday ~ Paella
Tuesday ~ Macaroni Cheese with Kabana
Wednesday ~ Fettucine Carbonara


The picture above reminds me of Kirstie's Homemade Christmas that I watched last night, and my middle daughter's recent cooking class where she washed up some cutters and took them to school.

Jam Funnel

I was watching Nigella's Christmas Kitchen tonight Series 2, and she was making Chilli Jelly. She uses the jam funnel to put chilly jar and her other preserves into jars. For those with experience with preserving you will know that usually you have to put a teatowel down first, take the jars out of the oven (Nigella uses the dishwasher) onto the teatowel. Then with a ladle sometimes a little goes onto the teatowel. The funnel sounds perfect! I want one!