A tiny slice of my life

This is a look at my life, and the many things I try to learn and do.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Corn Beef and Mustard Sauce & Painting Progress

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Well painting progress in Miss Fishes room, the ceiling is done and the first coat is on all the walls. Slow but steady is the way the room is being done.

I did manage to cook a meal last night, it was corn beef with mustard sauce in the slow cooker.

Corn Beef with Mustard Sauce
1 2kg piece corn beef, peeled potatoes and carrots, enough for your diners

Mustard Sauce - 2 tbsps butter, 3 tbsps plain flour, 1 tbsp prepared mustard I used Dijon, salt & pepper, 2 - 3 cups cooking liquid

I cooked the corn beef in a slow cooker on high for 5 1/2 hours.

Rinse your corn beef and place in the slower cooker cover with water but leave a 5cm gap at the top. Place on the lid and cook for 4 hours.

After 4 hours add the vegetables and cook for a further 1 1/2 hours.

Mustard Sauce - In a saucepan melt the butter add the flour and whisk over medium heat for 1 minute. Add mustard, salt, pepper and 2 cups of cooking liquid. Whisk and bring to the boil, let simmer 1 - 2 minutes or until thickened. If to thick add more cooking liquid, whisk while simmering.

Remove the meat and slice lift out the vegetables using a slotted spoon, place onto the serving plate, pour over the mustard sauce.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Where Did Yesterday Go & Up To Our Knees in Water

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Well have we started painting yet ? The short answer is no.

On Monday after dismantling Miss Fishes bed, we thought we had better check the cellar, the door to the cellar is in Miss Fishes room.

Can you imagine our horror when we opened the door to find water that came half way up Mr CLI's thigh and filled his gumboots with water.

When a pump was originally put In the cellar well before we bought the house it was plumbed into the downpipe from the roof but NO non return valve was connected. You learn a lot when your husband has a knowledge of these things.

So basically when it rains heavily as the water runs down the drainpipe it floods into the cellar from the pipe that the pump pumps water out of the cellar.

So we spent all of Monday pumping the water out then we pulled the hose through Miss Fishes bedroom window and hosed down the cellar then sprayed it with domestos then more hosing and more water pumping.

Luckily Miss Fish was asked to go into respite on Mondayso she is away this week because she wouldn't have been able to sleep in the spare room because of the smell !

So we get to yesterday off to the paint shop to buy more paint, then another plumbing part so Mr CLI could plumb this non return valve in. Which he has done so no backwash of water into the cellar. Job done.

So yesterday afternoon we started washing the walls and ceiling of Miss Fishes room, now this isn't a quick job considering the walls are 4 1/2 meters high.

So I will sign off now off to finish wall washing then we might get some paint on the walls. I will take some photos and post them tomorrow.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Hi no hi ho of to Painting We Go ...

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Well Mr CLI has this week off work. We originally were going away to Adelaide but circumstances changed and we were unableto go.

Mr CLI still took his week of holidays and we are going to paint Miss Fishes bedroom. Now there isn't anything really wrong with her room, but it could really do with a freshen up.

Miss Fishes room is the darkest room in the house because there is a large tree outside her window and as the house 120 years old the windows aren't very wide. For Miss Fish a dark room at nighttime is a good thing because as soon as she sees day light she is awake and up like the local rooster.


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So what have Miss Fish and I been doing this weekend tidying her room and packing it up.

Miss Fish has had a ball especially as she can now sleep in the spare bedroom.

So today is a day of preparation in her room we have to wash walls and tape edges before Mr CLI checks out what paint we have and what we need to get tomorrow. So a very busy Day I am in for.

Till tomorrow be happy in what you do today.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Cabbage Rolls

This is one of those recipes that I have been wanting to try for ages, so yesterday was the day.

I served mine on a mound of creamy mashed potato this went well with the soft cabbage rolls and tomato sauce.

These are actually quite simple to prepare, the only tricky thing is to have cabbage leaves big enough. As I wasn't going to eat much of the cabbage I just covered the meat mixture with the cabbage.

Another tip is get a head of cabbage that is loose so that you can easily separate the leaves. Also leave the thick stem in till after you have blanched the leaves then cut it out, otherwise when you lift the leaves out of the water they will tear.



Cabbage Rolls
Filling - 500 grams minced beef, 1 egg, 1 tsp prepared mustard - I used dijon, 1/2 tsp ground sweet paprika, 1/2 cup raw rice, 1 tbsps finely chopped parsley. 1/2 onion grated, salt & pepper

Filling in a large bowl mix together all the filling ingredients.


1/2 savoy cabbage & 1 onion thickly sliced

Sauce - 2 cups tomato passatta, 2 cups water. 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp worsetershire sauce

Mix together.

Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Preheat oven to 180.c

While this is happening peel the larger leaves of the cabbage the mixture is enough for 12 medium size rolls, then slice enough cabbage to cover the base of your baking dish. Place the cabbage then the onion in the base.


Once the water has come to the boil drop 2 - 3 leaves into the boiling water, remove with tongs. When cool enough to handle remove thick stem and place a small sausage of filling at one end roll up enclosing the filling.




Place onto the bed of cabbage/onion. Pour over the sauce, cover and bake for 2 hours.


If the sauce thickens too much add some more water while cooking.

Serve with mashed potato and pour over some of the tomato sauce.


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Lake Daylesford Apartments - Daylesford - Victoria

When we went away last weekend for my Birthday, we stayed at the Lake Daylesford Apartments. We had originally booked the ground floor garden spa apartment, but after Mr CLI invited Miss Le Coiffure and her partner , we upgraded to the 2 bedroom Penthouse, which is on the 2nd floor.

As I have said the other day we could hear the lake but not see it. It was very peaceful environment no traffic noise, only the noise of people walking around the lake.

The apartments are in a building that I think would have been built in the 1930's, but the apartment have been renovated to a high standard.

The bedrooms were quite large, but for some reason they didn't put in wardrobes. which is strange because most people staying in an apartment would be there for a few days and would like to hang their clothes up.







The kitchen dining room, which is also part of the open plan lounge.

















The lounge.















The bathroom which was roomy, but a problem having the toilet in there and 4 people staying. lol


















The view from the back verandah.










http://www.dabs.com.au/accommodation/lake-daylesford-apartments-ph

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Asian Chicken Burgers

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Now I am still trying, without much success I might add, in uploading photos from my iPad into this blog, so no photos for this post.

Now these patties can be altered to suit your tastes, you don't like hot food leave out the chillies or you like really hot food add more chillies.

The recipe is enough for 4 burgers. You can use several things for your buns, normal rolls, Turkish bread, ciabatta or French stick to name a few ideas. Also you can toast it under the griller or leave it plain, the choice is yours.

Asian Chicken Burgers
500 grams chicken mince, 1/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs, 1/2 chilli finely diced with the seeds removed or 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce, 1 tsp each ground cumin and coriander powder, 1 stalk lemon grass with outer leaves removed and the white part very finely diced

To Serve - lettuce, slices of tomato and sweet or hot chilli sauce

In a large bowl using your hands mix together all the burger ingredients. Form into 4 patties.

Heat 2 - 3 tbsps of oil in a frypan over high heat. Place in patties, cook 2 - 3 minutes or until the pattie has browned. Reduce heat to medium turn over the pattie and continue to cook till the pattie has browned and cooked through, 3 - 5 minutes.

If your patties are very thick you might need to flatten them after you have turned them.

Place your roll/ bread base of choice on your plate top with lettuce and tomato place cooked pattie on top then drizzle with chilli sauce, top with bun lid.

Eat and enjoy.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Sewing up a Storm, all for a good Cause ...

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Well I hope the photo gives you a hint as to what good reason Miss Le Coiffure and I spent all yesterday making babies bibs and a nappy bag.

Miss Le Coiffure was the cut ironing and simple sewing girl and I was the one that wrestled with the nappy bag. At one stage I had sewn the bottom of the bag to the top by mistake. Lol

So we are going to be grandparents by the end of September. It's all very exciting.

I have had the knitting needles going for the last few weeks making little cardigans and bootees, but I have stopped because all the baby wools seem to be orientated towards pink or blue and as our little bundle hasn't arrived yet I can't buy a specific color. So most of my knitting has been cream or various shades of pale green, it will look like a little frog.

Now that isn't to bad as Mr CLI has a motorbike the color of kermit the frog and he calls Miss Le Coiffure a little tadpole when she is on her motorbike, but now everyone will have to be upgraded so our newest member of the family will be the little tadpole.

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This is actually the theme for one of the little baby quilts I am making it is going to have big Pa frog, then Mummy frog then little baby frog on it. When these quilts are finished I will post pictures.

Well I must fly because my sewing partner is on her way to help me to sew more bibs and maybe even some baby blankets. :)

Monday, April 16, 2012

Daylesford and Surrounding Areas

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Well I am back, after a very busy weekend. It was originally going to be only Mr CLI and myself going away for a weekend, but Mr CLI invited Miss Le Coiffure and her partner.

So I had to hurriedly change the accomodation from a ground spa apartment to the "Penthouse" upstairs. We were right on the lake at Daylesford and could hear the people walking around the lake but we couldn't see much due to 2 very large trees blocking our view. I was of the opinion the a little tree trimming was in order so I could see the lake.

The other were horrified and suggested jokingly that why don't I get a cannon and blow the tops off the trees.

The last laugh was on them because what did we see later in the day at an antiques shop, not one but three cannons. Ha ! I bet they would have done a good job of taking the tops off the offending trees lol

With of without the trees the weather put on a spectacular weekend bright and sunny days but still cool at night so we could sleep well all snuggled up in bed.

It was lovely sitting on the back verandah watching the rosellas, kookaburras and magpies all flying about and sitting in the trees.


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I will blog further about our trip this week, plenty to talk about and we are planning another longer trip. Because our daughters partner couldn't get Friday off work they didn't get to Daylesford till night so they actually missed out on a day of the trip.

Till tomorrow.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Happy Birthday to Me

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Well I am back, after a very busy weekend. It was originally going to be only Mr CLI and myself going away for a weekend, but Mr CLI invited Miss Le Coiffure and her partner.

So I had to hurriedly change the accomodation from a ground spa apartment to the "Penthouse" upstairs. We were right on the lake at Daylesford and could hear the people walking around the lake but we couldn't see much due to 2 very large trees blocking our view. I was of the opinion the a little tree trimming was in order so I could see the lake.

The other were horrified and suggested jokingly that why don't I get a cannon and blow the tops off the trees.

The last laugh was on them because what did we see later in the day at an antiques shop, not one but three cannons. Ha ! I bet they would have done a good job of taking the tops off the offending trees lol

With of without the trees the weather put on a spectacular weekend bright and sunny days but still cool at night so we could sleep well all snuggled up in bed.

It was lovely sitting on the back verandah watching the rosellas, kookaburras and magpies all flying about and sitting in the trees.


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I will blog further about our trip this week, plenty to talk about and we are planning another longer trip. Because our daughters partner couldn't get Friday off work they didn't get to Daylesford till night so they actually missed out on a day of the trip.

Till tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Ready Set Go ...

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Well today is a day of getting things organised, why ? Because Mr CLI & I are going away to Daylesford for the weekend for my birthday. So I need to get all the washing done and jobs around the house up to date.

I don't really like coming home to an untidy house or even worse lots of washing. Also I need to get Miss Fishes gym and swimming clothes washed and dried for her to take to respite.

As it is my Birthday tomorrow I absolutely refuse to do washing ! So it must be done today.

Also on the go is quilting my Nana's Garden quilt, I did want to get it quilted before Easter to give to Miss Fish, bu as Mr CLI will be painting her room in a couple of weeks I will give it to her then.

So plenty on for today, talk to you tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Roxburgh Park Hotel - Coolaroo - Victoria

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One of the places I ate at while in Melbourne for Easter was a buffet lunch at the Roxburgh Park Hotel. As it was Dads birthday before Easter and mine this week, we went out to celebrate both birthdays.

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My parents had been there and the food was lovely with a wide selection Now Miss Fish loves a buffet meal, she thoroughly enjoys going and selecting any food she wants and then being able to return with her plate and get some more.

Another plus was the fact that they have prawns, now Miss Fish is like me and loves seafood she sees prawns, I peel prawns and she eats prawns.

They have a vast selection of food and as it was Easter there was more seafood items than normal.

Some of the food was - roast meats, roast potatoes and pumpkin, stir fries, salads, risotto , chips, steamed dim sims, steamed mixed vegetables, pasta, crispy strips of both chicken and fish, soups, bread rolls.

Then you get to desserts fresh fruit, 3 different ice cream flavours, sticky date pudding, apple crumble, jelly, mango mousse, chocolate pudding and slices of several different cakes.

So. If you don't come out of there with a full tummy you didn't try hard enough.

All this for $24.90.

http://www.roxburghparkhotel.com.au/bistro.html

Monday, April 9, 2012

Happy Easter

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A short note wishing everyone a Happy Easter.

I am back from visiting my parents and back online. I will post a longer post tomorrow.

I hope everyone has had a Happy Easter, and if you are on the roads be careful.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Beef Chow Mein

Now on the weekends our meals are dictated by what we are doing during the day.

As was the case last weekend Mr CLI was busy getting an old car ready for someone to pick up and Miss Fish was helping him !

Now Miss Fish is not a person who can "go with the flow" as far as meals are concerned as soon as she is up on Saturday mornings she wants to know what we are having for lunch and dinner on not only Saturday but Sunday.

Now I actually knew what we were having for lunch on Saturday, because the sausage lover in the house Mr CLI had bought rolls the night before to put BBQ'd sausages in for lunch.

Also Miss Fish was going into respite on Sunday morning so we only had to organise Saturdays tea.

So while eating her breakfast Saturday morning Miss Fish started to list off certain meals,  now most we had eaten in the past week or so, so they were discounted. Then she suggested stir fry, now we hadn't had stirfry for a while so why not.

This made Miss Fish happy because her meals were organised and they were food she likes, well she actually likes nearly everything except mushrooms - Mr CLI doesn't like them - and nuts she finds them to hard to chew.

When Mr CLI had returned from getting his um haircut, think kiwi fruit short and fuzzy, Miss Fish told him what we were having for tea,"fine he said, but could it be beef", "fine" I said.

So into the depths of the freezer I went and out I came with a piece of rump. Next what to cook, we had had beef and black beans not long ago, chicken with oyster sauce also.

So I put my thinking cap on I didn't want rice, but I do want those fine egg noodles that come in tight little bundles and cook in under 5 minutes. What was the best dish to serve with them well beef chow mein of course.

So that is how we come to today's recipe.

Beef Chow Mein

Dry egg noodles - I used 6 bundles.

500 - 750 gm piece of rump sliced very finely with all sinew and fat removed. I cut it while it is still part frozen that way you get very thin slices that cook quickly.

Meat marinade - 2 tbsps light soy sauce, 1 tbsp satay sauce, 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce, 1 tbsp shaoxing wine

Mix together the marinade and add the beef slices. Marinate the meat up to 1 hour


3 cups of chopped vegetables - I used 1 yellow capsicum, broccoli, 1 medium carrot & 1 stalk celery, 1 onion cut into wedges















Sauce - 3/4 cup water, 2 chicken stock cubes, crumbled, 2 tbsps dark soy sauce, 3 tsps cornflour, 2 tbsps oyster sauce

Whisk all ingredients together in a small jug. Set aside.

Bring enough water to boil in a large saucepan for the noodles.

Heat a large heavy based fypan or wok to hot add 3 tbsps oil. Add onion stirfry 1 minute then add vegetables stirfry 2- 3 minutes until they start to soften. Add 1/4 cup water then cover let the vegetables steam 3- 4 minutes or until nearly cooked. 

Add the noodles to the boiling water, these will cook while you finish you stirfry.

Add the meat and marinade stirfry 2 -3 minutes until the meat changes color.


Pour over sauce stir until thickened.

Drain the noodles, place some in the bottom of your serving bowl then top with chow mein.

Eat and enjoy.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Up up and Away ...

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I only wish I was flying somewhere exotic or even not too exotic just away from the drudgery. After last Fridays horrible day, I have been busy all weekend and come to the conclusion that I need to concentrate on Easter and of course my forthcoming birthday.

Now as birthdays go this is one of those big numbered ones - not that I am acknowledging the number - I stopped a few years back.

From now on when asked my age I will give my Nanas standard reply " I am as old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth."

What am I doing for my Birthday well something special for tea,then the day after on the Friday Mr CLI and I will be going away for the weekend.

Now it did start off as a weekend get away on the motorbikes, but if I am visiting places that have patchwork shops, food shops, farmers markets and all sorts of other interesting shops I don't want to be handicapped by limited space.

Last time we went to the Daylesford market we came away with a large wood framed mirror that we are going to repaint and hang in the bathroom, not something you can strap to a motorbike.

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Mr CLI did grumble but as I pointed out it is my birthday and a big one at that so it is my choice, also I want to visit several towns, which on a motorbike I find hard to do as you get far more tired than if you are driving.

So till tomorrow I will continue to plan my weekend getaway.