Creative Family Living

Menu Plan Sunday

2011-04-03T10:58:00.000+10:00

Menu plans for the fortnight. I don't tend to allocate specific meals to specific days. Just tends to be what I feel like cooking on the day.

I'm using a lot of recipes from the 5 meals in one hour menu plans.

Slow cooked shepherds pie with mash potato topping
Chicken pasta bake
Easy chicken satay
Crunchy chicken tenders
Apricot chicken
Sausage and potato bake
Rissoles, potato bake and peas
beef/mushroom slow cooker
porcupines
stir fry
lasagne

Big Bumper Homemade Christmas

2010-12-26T18:51:00.003+11:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, but as you will see I have been literally snowed under with making gifts for everyone for xmas!

All my family got the following from me:
A calico bag each decorated by the children (the picture is of my bag - my kids did 1 side to decorate each)

Some homemade bath salts in both cinnamon and coffee, and green tea and ginger scents

A keyfob each

Some chocolate spiders

A journal each for my mum and grandma

Cooling neck ties
Also made a meatloaf for each family

For my kids:

A library bag each

A softie monster each

A dolls house that I painted

I'm hoping to do mostly handmade gifts again next year, so I'm on the prowl for good tutorials so that I can get my ideas organised before I start uni on campus next year!

Hope everyone had a wonderful christmas!

Menu Plan Monday

2010-11-09T08:47:00.000+11:00

This is my menu plan for the next fortnight. Most of these recipes are from Annette Sym's Symply Too Good To Be True recipe books!

Porcupines
Meatloaf
Crumbed Chicken Tenders
Pizza
Stroganoff
Rissoles
Chicken and Bacon Risotto
Steak with Hot and Spicy Sauce
San Choi Bau
Mild Chicken Satay
Slow Cooked Mushroom and Thyme Risotto

Menu Plan Monday

2010-10-25T08:17:00.003+11:00

This is my menu plan for the fortnight. A lot of these recipes are thanks to Michelle at Make 5 Dinners in ONE Hour.

Slow cooked asian pork chops with glazed carrots and snow peas
Meatloaf with mash potato, peas and gravy
Chicken pasta bake
BBQ stuffed potatoes with a green salad
Slow cooked beef and gravy with roast potatoes and sugar snap peas
Crunchy oven baked chicken tenders with mash potatoes and peas
Slow cooked mongolian beef with steamed veggies and rice
Apricot chicken with broccoli and rice
Porcupines with potato or rice
Layered dinner with roast potato and sweet potato
Asian beef and broccoli with rice

39 squares challenge - Square 4 Flower

2010-10-25T00:11:00.000+11:00

4th square already!!!

39 squares challenge - Square 3 Butterfly

2010-10-24T10:56:00.002+11:00

Another square of embroidery finished!! Gone from none in 6 weeks to 2 in less than 12 hours!

39 squares challenge - Square 2 Ladybeetle

2010-10-23T23:17:00.001+11:00

Finally finished square number 2! At this rate it'll take me about 5 years to finish lol.

39 squares challenge

2010-09-11T12:59:00.000+10:00

I've started a challenge as seen on this blog, where I do one square per day. I did my squares a little larger than Amy (3.5cm rather than 1 inch). And I realise that with everything else going on I probably won't be able to do 1 square every day - however my goal is to do some sewing every day. My first day I did a dinosaur.

The last couple of days I've been working on a lady beetle.

Look forward to sharing more sewing with you all soon!

Upcycled clothes #3

2010-03-04T10:40:00.000+11:00

Had time this morning to make 2 more pairs of pants. Have another 3 or so to do. Should have them all done by tomorrow night I think.

DD pants - they were meant to gather, and they are gathered, but was hoping that it would be more than that - will know for next time to do more fabric, this was double the length, but I would probably go at least 3-4 times the length next time. Though these were a lot more time consuming, so not overly sure that I'll bother doing them again!

DS's pants - these were extremely easy, took about 20-30 mins to do as it was knit fabric so I didnt need to hem them etc.

Back view

Upcycled clothes #2

2010-03-03T20:29:00.000+11:00

Here are DD's pants - please excuse the out of focus photos! I'll try and get modelled shots tomorrow.

Front of pants

Back of pants

Upcycling clothes!!

2010-03-03T18:59:00.000+11:00

We're on a really tight budget this year for clothes. So I've been looking for every idea that I can find to save us money.

Just my luck that this morning I received an email in my inbox directing me to this link on how to make short sleeved shirts into long sleeved shirts! I've put this on my todo list.

I decided to use this as inspiration and lengthen some pants of the kids so that they will last another season.

Here is a pic of DS in his pants

Front view

Back view

Close up front view

Close up back view

I'm hoping to do some for DD tonight so watch this space!!

Day at the Zoo!

2010-01-16T18:57:00.001+11:00

We set out very early to get to the zoo. It took us a car, 2 trains and a boat to get there! Once we were there we went on the skyline, and then made a beeline for the giraffes. Soph made us laugh when she said that the giraffes had a kennel.

We then had a look at the elephants, and the baby (so cute!) while we were waiting for the seal show. The kids thought the seals were so clever as they did their tricks.

We then made our way down to the farmyard animals, where the kids patted some goats. They thought it was incredibly funny that one of the goats was eating its food while standing in the trough!!

While we were there they had a petting zoo section, and they had a guinea pig, a bunny and a blue tongue lizard. Soph would happily pat the lizard, but wouldn't go anywhere near the others! When we left she was upset because she was going to miss the lizard.

We went to watch a bird show, where Lachy very quickly decided he'd have a snooze. The poor kid fell asleep standing up.

We then went back to look at the elephants. The baby was just beautiful playing with his mummy. This picture doesn't show just how little he is, but I thought it was one of the cutest!

The kids were so good, even though it was such a long day we barely had any fights and they were relatively happy.

The day was a long day for both the kids, and Soph crashed on the ferry on the way home.

It was a wonderful day. So long though, we left about 5:30ish, wasn't home again til about 8. So don't think we'll be doing it again anytime soon!!

Zucchini Slice and Ham and Cheese Muffins

2010-01-11T20:20:00.004+11:00

I have been busy feeding the freezer again.

I made three dozen ham and cheese muffins.

And three dozen zucchini slice muffins.

They are just so easy to make, and it's great to know that I have some food in the freezer if we need it. This week I am hoping to cook meatloaf and sweet potato coconut curry soup.

My wonderful kids

2010-01-06T18:52:00.002+11:00

As much as they drive me up the wall sometimes. They really are great kids. For the most part they usually get along. In one of the photos Soph is sitting playing with Lachy's hair. So cute.

Cob Loaf Dip Recipe

2010-01-06T10:27:00.004+11:00

Taken from Simple Savings website, but I have altered it.

1 packet of frozen spinach - defrost and squeeze out as much water as possible.
1 packet of french onion soup mix
1 tub of sour cream
1 tub of cream cheese

Chuck all in a bowl except for french onion soup mix. I find it mixes easier if you leave the cream cheese at room temp for a while. Mix together. Add french onion soup - I find I only use about 1/3-1/2 of the packet, which is why I add it last, so that I can taste test!!

Then you rip out the middle of the cob loaf (keep the bread!) Then I put the cob loaf in the oven for about 20-30 mins (without the dip). Then I cheat and put the dip into the microwave and then put it in the cob and serve.

I find I usually need to get a couple of bread rolls or a packet of jatz or similar to have enough for the dip.

Hope that helps!!

Feed the Freezer Challenge: Spaghetti Bolognaise

2010-01-04T22:52:00.004+11:00

Just finished putting my spaghetti bolognaise into the freezer. 7 meals in one cookup. Was very pleased! Only used 1kg of mince and some lentils to bulk it out. Next time I'll also use some carrot and zucchini, maybe another onion.

My next recipes on the agenda are meatloaf, zucchini slice, chicken soup, then snacks like muffins, slices etc, and some sandwhiches for lunches.

Freezer Cooking Challenge

2009-12-28T10:47:00.006+11:00

Decided that I am also going to do a challenge of making at least 1 meal a week where we have extra to feed the freezer for those nights where we can't be bothered to cook.

Think this week we might try porcupines or spaghetti bolognaise.

Savings Challenge

2009-12-28T10:06:00.005+11:00

I have decided that we are going to try and implement 1 new savings tip each week for the next 12 months.

This week - I am going to buy foamies for our handwash etc. I have found a seller on ebay that sells 5 x 250ml foamies for $17.50 including postage.

Hoping that I'll use them for handwash, face cleanser, might ask hubby to try sorborlene in a foamie for shaving to see if that works.

You dilute the liquid soap (be it shampoo, handwash, facewash etc) 1 part to 4 parts water.

So I'm hoping in the long run it'll save a lot of money.

Homemade Christmas 2009

2009-12-28T08:42:00.009+11:00

I decided that a mostly homemade christmas was in order this year due to both of us not working. It turned out great! I didn't have time to make gifts for everyone, but it sure saved a lot.

I made these gorgeous bunnies for the kids (who after pressing their tummies a few times, told me they were broken because they didn't do anything! though now they love them)

My sister is starting at uni next year, so I decided to make her a Little Mermaid folder cover which I am extremely pleased with.

I made a cob loaf dip (which was a massive hit!) and some royals bikkie xmas puddings and some mint slice reindeer. They were so easy, and look great.

I also got the kids to draw on fabric with fabric pens ($5 in Kmart - not permanent until they are ironed - great for kids), and made them into bookmarks for all the adults, and these were very much appreciated. Forgot to take photos of them though!!

I'm so glad that all my homemade gifts went well. It saved us a lot of money, and we have decided that next year we will be doing a homemade gift year.