oopssss

Oh dear I'm not very good am I...
I could of course come up with numerous excuses for not posting more often - like how my life is too busy to have the time. I really just have been putting other things ahead of the queue.. But I have been fairly busy with our new baby boy Joshua and being back at work.

But yes! I'm finally back on this poor neglected blog! Even though it is soo hard to blog these days I will make it a priority. I have so much stuff I want to write down and not forget... I hope you guys are looking forward to a good catch up soon :)

Recipe: Berry Yoghurt Bake

Found this recoe from taste.com.au and thought I'd give it a try. Its nice but its very very yoghurty and I didnt quite like the texture of the baked yoghurt..but its different. So for those of you who like yoghurt, give it a try.

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs beaten
• 50 ml honey
• 250g Greek-style yoghurt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tsp cornflour
• 250g mixed raspberries and blueberries
• Icing sugar to dust

Method

• Preheat oven to 170C
• Place the eggs, honey, yoghurt, vanilla extract and cornflour in a bowl, then whisk together until smooth.
• Place half the berries in the base of a 23cm baking dish and top with the yoghurt mixture.
• Sprinkle the remaining berries over top then bake in the oven for 40 minutes.
• Dust with icing sugar before serving warm or hot.

 

Ahhh first day of maternity leave

Woot! I finished work last weekend so today is officially the first day of my maternity leave. Seems all a bit scarily real now! Bubba is due on the 17th (13 days and counting) but I wish I know exactly when he's coming!

It feels so weird. After all these years of working, I've finally changed roles and become *gasp* a housewife! Well at least for the next 6 months. But its definitely a change of rhythm! While part of me is very glad to have stopped worked, another part of me is somewhat dazed and a little unsure of how the next 6 months will pan out.

Woke  up this morning feeling totally bored. I know I still have a few things to sort and I should get to it soon in case bubba comes early. I guess its been an ideal day so far. I laid in bed until about 9 when hunger forced me up, scoffed some cookies then had to check work emails and attend to some last minute work errands (i know i know..i cant really stop working!) and then realised it was nearly 1pm and decided to stop working!

Then made some lunch, hung up some washing, did some cleaning and baked a cake! Also watched an episode of Desperate Housewives in between all that and now here I am listening to some music while bubba dances!

Tomorrow seems like its going to be a slightly busier day with doctor's appointment at 3:15 and then yoga at 5:45. I think I might drop by the cafe in the hospital for some chai latte and a slice of cake. 

Every now and then, I catch myself wondering what it will be like when I go into labout, what the days will be like after bubba is born. Whether i'll get lonely, bored, upset.

I am trying to remind myself to just let go of expectations and just to take each day as it comes. I'm going to make the most of the last few days to myelf because let's face it once bubba comes, he'll be needing a lot of my attention and time.

I'm due soon!

Hi..so I am due on the 17th March. I've been thinking, praying, asking my Ob wwhat do re.delivery. My first choice was of course to have a natural birth. However the doctor thinks it might not even be possible seeing lil Joshua might be too big for me. Honestly I am so confused I don't know what to do.

Herbed Wholemeal Rolls

And as I didn't have enough carbs. I decided to bake some rolls! lol. John has been working so hard and I thought that maybe some hot buns with butter will do the trick.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups wholemeal plain flour
• 1 tbs dried yeast
• 1/2 tsp sat
• 1 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• 2 tbs olive oil
• Olive oi extra to grease
• 1/2 cup finely shredded fresh chives
• 1 tbs polenta 
• Polenta, extra to dust

Method:

1. Combine flour, yeast and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add water and oil. Use a wooden spoon to sitr until combined, then use your hands to bring the dough together in a bowl. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
2. Brush a bowl with extra oil tl lightly grease. Place dough in bowl and turn to coat in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draught-free place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
3. Punch down the centre of the dough with your fist. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 3 minutes or until smooth. Divide into 8 portions. Roll out each portion, sprinkle with chives. Roll up dough portions to enclose herbs.
4. Preheat oven to 250C. Sprinkle 2 baking trays with polenta. Place rolls, seam side down on prepared trays. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and place in a warm draught-free place to prove for 15 minutes.
5. Brush with water and sprinkle with extra polenta. Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until golden.             

Tuna and Pasta Bake

So after an eventful peanut butter banana sandwich for breakfast I decided that heck more carbs will do me some good. lol. After all I am pregnant..and so Pasta and tuna bake it is!

Honestly we don't eat too much pasta at home..and even if we do we go with either the wholemeal types, organic types or those gluten and wheat free types.

Ingredients:

• 300g dried organic penne pasta
• 40 g butter
• 2 tbs plain flour
• 2 cups full cream milk (I got the A2 brand)
• 3/4 cup mozarella cheese
• 425g can tuna in springwater, drained and flaked.

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 220C / 200C fan forced. Lightly grease an 8 cup capacity ovenproof dish. 
2. Cook pasta in a medium saucepan of boiling, salted water, following packet directions, until tender.
3. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid.
4. Return pasta to pan
5. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Then add flour. Cook, stirring for 1 minute or until bubbling.
6. Remove from heat. Gradually stir in milk until combined. Return to heat.
7. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes or until sauce boils and thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese. Season with pepper.
8. Add to pasta with tuna and reserved cooking liquid. Toss to combine. 
9. Spoon mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
10. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden.
11. Serve                  

Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwich

Woke up this morning and decided that I feel like having peanut butter. Hah..So here's what I came up with.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of rye bread 
• 1 tbs organic peanut butter
• 1 banana, sliced
• 2 tsp organic honey

Method:

1. Spread 1 slice ryde bread with 1 tbs peanut butter. Top with 1 banana, sliced, and drizzle over t tsp honey. Top with another slice of bread. Cut in half.    

Steak Diane

Ingredients:

• 170g oven wedges
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 x 140g piece beef fillet steak
• 20g butter
• 1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbs brandy, optional
• 1/4 cup thickened cream
• 1 tbs fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200C. Place oven wedges onto a baking tray. Bake following packet directions, or until golden and tender.
2. Heat oil to a small, non stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 mins each side for medium or until cooked to your liking. Remove steak to a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to frying pan. Stir until melted. Add Worchestershire sauce, brandy, cream, parsley and salt and pepper to frying pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring or until sauce just comes to the boil.
4. Place steak onto serving plate. Spoon over sauce.