Daisy Chains and Picnics

Cerys has recently taken to drinking smoothies which is brilliant but some days its the only thing she will take so I have been looking for various healthy supplements to put variety into her daily smoothies. Below are a few that stood out whilst surfing the web. 1. Chia Seeds These amazing tiny seeds have a high content of omega fatty acids that increase healthy brain function, an excellent source of dietary fibre, 40 percent of your daily value, especially good for constipation. They also boast a wide variety of nutrients, such as protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, calcium and antioxidants. Use 1-2 tablespoons in your smoothie. 2. Avocados Avocados are incredibly nutritious, they contain more potassium than bananas, they are also chock full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and fibre. They contain a wide variety of nutrients, including 20 different vitamins and minerals. 3.  Hemp Protein Powder Rich in omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids ...

Mushrooms are very versatile, not only are they chock full of health benefits, they go with any dish. This side dish is so quick and easy to make. Whipped up in under 10 minutes it will add a tasty and nutritious accompaniment to any meal. Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil knob of butter 350 g cup mushrooms, quartered 1/4 tsp dried chilli flakes 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 tsp dried oregano small pinch turmeric Method 1.  Heat oil and butter in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add mushrooms. Cook, stirring, for 5-6 minutes or until golden and tender. 2.  Add chilli, garlic, oregano and turmeric. Stir to combine. Cook for a further 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy.

Summer salads are the best, although it can be a struggle to come up with ones that everyone will eat. We love peas and pineapple so I decided to combine them with cheese and sour cream for a tangy kick. The combination worked well and everyone enjoyed it. Ingredients 3 cups frozen peas 1 cup pineapple pieces 1/2 cup grated tasty cheese 1/2 cup sour cream 1-2 tbsp mayonnaise salt and pepper to season Method 1.  Cook peas according to packet directions. Drain and put in a bowl of iced water. 2.  Place peas, pineapple and cheese into a large bowl, stir in sour cream and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Enjoy.

On Friday evening Scott and I went to the cinema to watch Stan and Ollie. As both of us were fans of Laurel and Hardy as children and teens we found it really interesting. Both Steve Coogan, who played Stan and John C. Reilly who played Ollie were fantastic, really acted and sounded like them. The world's greatest comedy team, Laurel and Hardy, face an uncertain future as their golden era of Hollywood films remain long behind them. Diminished by age, the duo set out to reconnect with their adoring fans by touring variety halls in Britain in 1953.  Saturday afternoon Hannah gave Jodie a henna tattoo which she was really pleased with. In the evening, Jodie was invited to a work mates house for dinner with a few others, they had to dress in a suit and tie for fun. The lads played in a fundraising event for the victims of the recent Tassie bushfires. They played both Coward Punch and August Wolfbiter. Such a great cause, very proud of them .

I love using leftovers for various dishes, you can come up with quite a variation of meals, from lunches, dinner or snacks. With this baked omelette I used leftover chicken and ham I had in the freezer, there wasn't enough of each so I combined both, added to that diced onion, capsicum, zucchini, tomatoes and cheese, it was tasty both hot and cold. I picked up some zucchini noodles from Coles that were on offer for $1, these are basically grated zucchini, Cerys loves these raw. Ingredients 1 onion, finely diced 1 yellow capsicum, diced 1 cup zucchini noodles 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 cups cooked chicken, diced 1 cup cooked ham,  10 baby tomatoes, halved 10 eggs 1 cup milk 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce  1/2 cup Mozzerella, grated 1 cup tasty cheese, grated 2 tsp dried chives Method 1.  Preheat oven to 180°C fan. Grease a 12 x 8" baking dish. evenly layer chicken and ham in bottom of dish. 2.  Heat 1 ...

Sunday was a bit dull with light showers, the girls were watching America's got talent so Scott and I decided to check out the Clarence Jazz Festival that was held at the Bellerive boardwalk. The dull weather didn't dampen the spirits of everyone how went to watch and support the various talented acts. We finished off the early evening with some refreshments 😛🍷

The mere thought of the warmer weather and endless summer evenings just screams out for sipping cocktails alfresco. There are just so many to choose from. I love the umpire's chair as it is full of refreshing summer fruit, not only does it taste divine after a hot day, it also looks so inviting. Not only  does it taste divine after a hot day, it also looks so inviting. Sitting chatting with friends or family enjoying the last of the day's sun indulging in your favourite cocktail is simply the best. 1. Pour 50 ml Pimm's into a tall glass. top with 100 ml chilled lemonade and plenty of ice. 2.  Add mint leaves, sliced cucumber, orange wedges and strawberry halves. 3.  Stir well to combine. Serves 1. Alternatively add 150 ml Pimm's to a jug, top with chilled lemonade and plenty of ice. Add mint leaves, sliced cucumber, orange wedges and strawberry halves. Stir well to combine.

Darren bought Hannah a beautiful bouquet of roses for Valentine's day but after a couple of days they started wilting. I cut the bottom of the stems at an angle, cleaned the vase and filled it with lukewarm water and added 3 teaspoons of sugar, gave it a stir to dissolve the sugar then returned the wilted roses to the vase, I continued to change the water 3-4 times over the next few hours and the roses started to perk up. There was a couple that couldn't be saved but the others are looking great. 🌹

Nothing screams summer more than a Hawaiian chicken burger. Full of summer flavours and quick and easy to make. Fry or barbecue the chicken, ham and pineapple, which ever suits you best. Then stack a deliciously soft brioche bun to the top and watch everyone tuck in. Ingredients 2 chicken breast fillets 4 slices sandwich ham 4 pineapple rings juice from tin pineapple 2 tbsp maple syrup 4 brioche buns 8 cheese slices lettuce leaves 2 tomatoes, sliced Method 1.  Slice chicken fillets in half horizontally. Marinade chicken in pineapple juice and 1 tbsp maple syrup for at least 2 hours in the fridge.  2.  Remove chicken from marinade and cook in a frying pan with 1 tbsp oil over a medium-high heat  for 4-5 minutes each side or until cooked through. 3.  Place ham and pineapple slices on a tray. Brush with maple syrup on both sides. Cook ham and pineapple for 1-2 minutes each side or until lightly golden. 4.  Slic...

It's hard to believe that Valentine's Day has come and gone for another year!  💗🌹 We usually celebrate Valentine's Day at home with a home cooked meal but as this was Darren and Hannah's first Valentine's Day together, he wanted to cook her a meal at home so Scott and I went out for a little while to let them have the kitchen to themselves. Darren bought Hannah a bunch of roses and a bottle of sparkling Moscato.  I set the table for them as they were both working late. Scott and I went for some fish and chips and then a drink at our local. Then we went home and watched Footballers wives and shared a bottle of Prosecco.  How did you spend Valentine's Day? Darren and Hannah had left before I got home from dropping Cerys at school this morning so he sent me this beautiful text message.

Jodie's friend Porsha had a fancy dress party on Saturday 9th February to celebrate her 21st birthday held at the Granada. We were invited to her sweet 16th and her 18th!, it is hard to believe they are all turning 21 this year.  Taken at Porsha's 16th    and 18th. Jodie dressed as Minnie Mouse, I was a unicorn and Scott wore his kilt. Cerys was invited but didn't want to go, she is going through that 14 year old stage where she doesn't want to participate or get her photo taken! Jodie won most creative costume. It was great to see the kids reunited and having fun.