Table For Five

I am pretty lucky that my kids like most veggies but I still struggle to convince them when it comes to leafy greans like spinach. Mince/ground meat is the best place to hide and disguise nutrient rich food.  These sausage rolls are so easy and quick to make, freezable-pre or post cooked and are a great lunchbox addition as well as a meal. Preparation time:10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes --- Ingredients --- 250g beef mince (Ground beef) 250g pork sausage mince 1 lrg Onion roughly chopped 1 cup spinach* roughly chopped 1 large carrot, chopped 1/4 cup bread crumbs 1 egg 1 teaspoon worstershire sauce 2 teaspoons seasoning** 3 puff pastry sheets Small amount of oil ---Method--- 1. Preheat oven to 180°C, (350°F, gas mark 4) 2. Place mince, vegetables, crumbs, sauce and seasoning in food processor. Blitz until well combined. 3.  Cut pastry sheets in half and spread mix evenly along each pastry sheet. 4. Brush a small amount ...

The shower beckons but the little ones are refusing to sleep. A text from my wonderful man, declaring his undying love for me goes under appreciated as I wrestle, beg and plead them to sleep. It's 9pm and I should be enjoying that short, blissful peace that comes before tucking myself into bed. They go quiet and I make the fatal mistake of sighing relief.... BLAM... the surround system explodes into a very loud and obnoxious chorus, singing about car insurance, and sending my three year old through the roof. Damn! It always happens when the TV switches from standby to off and I had forgotten to turn down the volume. So they're wide awake again, delightedly squealing their surprise at the unwelcome interruption. 9:15pm and I am ready to break. It's been a hot day and I am itchy and sticky from sweat. I thank the gods of technology as I silently text my eldest to get off the computer and have a shower, he is ignoring my messages.... The kids seem to both be asleep so I h...

I thought I was a frugal mum until I had to do with less...... What do you do with the end crusts of your bread? I used to throw them out when the loaf was done. Their sole purpose seemed to be keeping the the rest of the loaf fresh and when it was gone, they had no purpose anymore. The kids wouldn't eat them and I don't really eat bread much, so in the bin they went. It often occurred to me that this was wasteful and I should try to think of some way to use them up. I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner. Either keep your crusts and any stale bread in the freezer until you have a decent amount to process all together or crumb as you go.... Heat your oven to 70°C and bake your bread slices for about 30-40 minutes with the oven door slightly open (50-60 minutes if frozen). Turn off oven and leave bread to cool. It should then be dried out nicely. Whip it into the food processor and you've made dry breadcrumbs!

                "If tears could build a stairway  and thoughts a memory lane I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again No Farewell words were spoken No time to say good-bye You were gone before I knew it And only God knows why. My heart's still active in sadness And secret tears still flow What it meant to lose you No one can ever know. But now I know you want us To mourn for you no more To remember all the happy times Life still has much in store. Since you'll never be forgotten I pledge to you today A hallowed place within my heart Is where you'll always stay." 7  years ago today I woke to a full house but an empty bleading heart. As I lay wedged between my husband and my 5yr old son, I tried desperately to grasp the reality of it.