Chasing Rainbows

Change

I was going through a folder in Outlook this morning and came across a reading I had done in January by Fox and Owl... I think I appreciate it more now than I did then... My major animal totems are a hawk (I look out for others because I'm able to see the big picture), white macaw (loud, verbal, self-expressive and creative), lion (strategic with good hunting/gathering skills and protective instincts), elephant (community minded and family centred), ant (this is a bit of a downfall lol will focus on a project without stopping even to rest or sleep, community minded) and leopard (instincts and intuition, self-confident, self-assured and empowered to handle whatever comes their way). Although, I've always been that person I never really saw myself that way, and I guess I didn't when I got the reading either, even though the message yelled at me with flashing lights! 

This was the interpretation from Melissa "You have a great deal of energy that you are constantly using for one project, purpose, or reason.  While you have a larger pool of energy to pull from (than many people) it is not endless. Going at the rate you have been without relaxing and taking a break will either burn you out or make you sick. Learning how to take care of yourself is very important. Remember that other people have gifts that they can use to assist you too.  You can let go of the reigns a bit, and trust Universe and others to do at least half a good a job in your absence. You are a strong leader with a heart for people.  With your great instincts and strategic way of seeing things …. There is no wonder people seek your assistance in their lives.  Yet even the healer needs healing from time to time.  Even the counselor needs counseling sometimes.  Even the cook needs to eat sometimes. Enjoy nature and do some creating! This will be rejuvenating and good for you.<3" 

Unknowingly, that is the path I've taken. I've simplified my life and I'm enjoying the little things like sunshine and dandelions.  Thanks Universe for reminding me how far I've come :)

Winter's coming!

I love when it's REALLY cold when I stick my arm out from underneath the covers. Doesn't happen for very long in Queensland. Today is one of those days though, beautiful in the sun but if you move into the shade the cold wind gets you! It's perfect weather for lots of cups of coffee (or tea) but as I've been feeling very sluggish lately I know I've been over doing my caffeine intake. I picked up a bag of fresh ginger at the fruit and veg shop this morning, and have grated some and poured hot water over it. It's really warming, good for your circulation and also good for detoxing. 

I also picked up lots of winter veggies that were cheap this morning. I love cauliflower and cabbage but as there's only the two of us, it tends to go a bit limp in the fridge before we've managed to eat it all. I couldn't pass them this morning though because at the moment I have time on my side and can blanche and freeze them in meal size amounts.

When I was little we had a HUGE veggie patch in the backyard. After the harvest Mum would have tea towels all over the kitchen table and on the benches and would be blanching all the cabbage for the rest of the year or so it seemed as I was never really fond of cabbage as a kid. 

One of the things I decided to work on this year was reducing the amount of food waste that we have. Fruit and veggies were a big issue for us. I'd buy things on special but if you end up feeding a lot of it to the chickens (who don't lay) it doesn't end up being that cheap! As a kid (other than dodging cabbage) Mum would make pickles, chutneys, pickled onions and marmalade. I hope to start doing that too. It's such a good way to preserve food instead of trying to eat it before than limpness kicks in! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still have a whole wombok and two cauliflowers to deal with but little by little I'll blanche and freeze it. I Freecycled my tucker box freezer yesterday and plan to get a replacement soon, so I have to wait until the first lot is frozen in my little freezer on top of my fridge before I do anymore. I'm also feeling a bit worse for wear today. Had a wonderful day with my extended family at my sister's yesterday celebrating Mother's day and I spent too much time sitting, which I'm paying for, but it was worth it :)

Since my little rest when I typed the above, I've made bread, passion fruit syrup for my yoghurt, chocolate slice and I've put dinner on... chicken soup with fresh bread. The house smells pretty amazing! 

If you have any great recipes using cabbage or wombok please let me know! I want to make one new recipe a week again. I enjoyed that :)

I found the 1 Million Women website today via Julie Goodwin. Cool way to look at how you can change your behaviour in regards to sustainability in little ways.

Labour Day

I feel quite lucky, because today is a public holiday here in Queensland. I've continued my do a little each day in the backyard and it's finally coming together. Of course being on the other side of one of those 'littles' I feel like curling up and dying lol (a little dramatic I know but I'm waiting for my pain killers to kick in) Isaac came home from his weekend with his father at lunchtime yesterday, so I've been able to do more than I expected out there! He even exclaimed that he'd had fun out there with me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have quite a large backyard that was dirt and overgrown shrubs when we moved in. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've moved the chicken run from around my other veggie patch, gave them the backyard lawn clippings and made it more secure so they can't get out and eat my seedlings. Apparently they are tasty. (So is the grass next door in my neighbours yard, personally I think they just go over to annoy me!) I still have the front yard to mow and whipper snip but that's two more 'littles'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was today's breakfast, hash browns and Hollandaise. They were really good!

Hash browns

• 2 grated potatoes
• 1 grated onion
• an egg (and egg white if you make the Hollandaise)
• plain flour (or in my case potato and rice flour) - enough to make the mixture the same texture as cake batter, you may need to add more because as the mixture sits the water comes out of the potatoes
• salt and pepper

Mix and fry in batches in olive oil, drain on a paper towel. I used large potatoes and it made enough for the 2 of us. You can add herbs, some strong flavoured grated cheese or even some speck or bacon to these to make them a bit fancier.

Hollandaise

• 3 tbs butter
• 1 egg yolk
• lemon juice
• salt

Melt butter in the microwave, add the egg yolk and whisk until it emulsifies, (thickens and goes slightly lighter), add the lemon juice and salt, little by little until it tastes right to you. (yes I know this is cheating because it should be made over a double boiler but it still tastes good!!)

Hope you've all enjoyed your weekend as much as I have mine :) 

 

 

 

 

Lazy Sundays

I made damper today for lunch, in fact I made it twice, because the first time I forgot to put baking powder in it. Oops! The chooks liked it though :) Isaac came home early from his father's and we sat outside and ate it with golden syrup. Was lovely :)) I managed to sit out there (with a pillow under my bottom and one behind me) for nearly an hour. Unfortunately, I started to go numb so I got up and hosed the seedlings and came inside. It's such a beautiful day I had to be out in it.

(Really need to do something with that basket of sandpit toys that lives on the table though!!) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooking cooking

I made some ricotta cheese following this recipe yesterday. Except the power was out so I did it on the stove. (I have gas... stove that is ;)) It drained in the fridge overnight and I've just had a taste. It was good so I made some more using the microwave method. If I make it again I'll use the stove! Lots faster!! I doubled the recipe but it didn't seem to double the yield. I don't think it would be any cheaper to make instead of buying. What does concern me is the whey that I'm pouring down the sink. I'll have to google and find out if I can use it for anything else. Seems such a waste!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

After school yesterday, Isaac and I watched the last episode of Bones. Not really good viewing for a 12 year old but he loves the show just as much as me. While we were waiting for it to stream I was googling recipes and found this one for devilled sausages and this one for gluten free chocolate slice. (pictured above) 

As soon as the show finished I got cooking... I also made some pizza pinwheels (tomato paste, cheese and anything else you have in the fridge spread out on a sheet of puff pastry, rolled up then cut into thin slices and baked) for Isaac's lunch today while the oven was on for the chocolate slice.

The devilled sausages were DIVINE!! The chocolate slice is also divine!!

While I was in the kitchen making more ricotta this morning I made some yoghurt. That was the real reason I was in there... I used the last of my last batch for breakfast this morning, so this lot will be ready for breakfast tomorrow.

Now it's time for a rest :)

Energy from nowhere

This morning after I'd recuperated from the park I thought I'd check out what is going on in the backyard. I moved the chicken wire around one of my veggie beds and up to the chook house, so the girls can turn the weeds for me. I went out later to take photos and all I could see was a bottom lol I'd blocked all of the holes, so I knew they hadn't escaped, and there weren't feathers anywhere, so I called and waited. After a couple of minutes there as movement from behind this very healthy lilly.

If you look carefully you can spy another bottom in the left of this photo. The chook on the right is the alpha female and the other two (ex-battery hens) tend to follow her around. We just went and had another look and they were working at the veggie patch again good girls! Chickens have to be the nicest pets I've had. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My capsicums and egg plants are still looking very healthy, the tomatoes are looking a little sad though. (so I didn't embarrass them by taking photos of them!) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I planted some rocket and spinach in with my chives and shallots and they're starting to sprout. (on the left) Some of my other seeds are also starting to sprout. (on the right)

After doing some research on the net about companion planting I've decided that I'm going to put my snow peas and beans next to my washing line. There's a lattice screen that's rather ugly and begging for a creeper and they will do nicely! It's not as damp when it rains there either, so they should do a lot better in that spot!

Being out in the garden was so lovely, although I'm paying for it now with my pain level, but sometimes my soul just needs a bit of green!! :)

Sprouting

I'm sprouting some ginger, sweet potato and normal potato on my kitchen windowsill at the moment. I've sprouted ginger before but I forgot to water it after I'd planted it and it died oops!

There's been lots of vegetable sprouting lately on Pinterest, but the one that interests me most is celery. (I really like Mary and Tim's blog and Basil... I REALY want a dog!!!) Next time I buy a bunch I intend to give it a go! 

It's been rather wet here this weekend, but in a way that's very good, as I plan to get the chickens to dig over the veggie patch for me but I have to put up a fence around it first and the ground is quite hard when it's dry. The fence on the boundary line was built the same time as the house and my house would be about 100 years old. Needless to say the fence isn't even chicken proof lol In the past they have gotten out and gone into my neighbour's yard. I'd love to be able to let them out everyday! They're great at keeping the yard pest free and also keeping the weeds down, not to mention the fertilizer!

On my blog hopping this weekend I've found some great posts that I thought I'd share.. this one is sort of where I'm at at the moment. Great ideas for recycling empty jars, some of which I have done myself (can't bear to throw out glass jars). Cuteness! Love this how-to and I intend to start op shopping again so I can make some owls with recycled jumpers!

Yum!

I just made some caramel corn using Mel's recipe, to munch on this dreary and cold afternoon to have with my cuppa! It's good. REALLY good. I did add some crushed peanuts to the caramel mixture before I poured it over the popcorn so it was just like Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs. I made a bit too much popcorn (is that possible? too much popcorn?) so there are lots of naked bits but it also stops it from being too sweet. 

 

Gluten free cooking

Several years ago my body decided that it didn't like wheat or gluten anymore. I have always been a big pasta and bread eater so its been a huge eye opener finding alternatives that actually taste like they should. I have pretty much hated every gluten free bread that I've tried because it is more scone like in texture than bread, so occasionally I'll make fruit bread or banana bread but other than that I've pretty much given up on bread! 

I plan on sharing recipes that I've found and tried and most importantly enjoyed, here on my blog. There are so many recipes out there and it becomes a bit confusing and sometimes costly exercise to bake. A couple of months ago I tried a recipe for muffins that had two cups of almond meal in it which is a bit on the expensive side and they were FOUL! If I was starving and it was the only food I had access to then maybe I would have eaten them but they ended up going mouldy before then lol which is a waste I should have just given them to my chooks!

 

A couple of months ago I had a friend coming over so I baked some friands using this recipe. It's not gluten free so I substituted the two tablespoons of flour with 2 tablespoons of rice flour. They were amazing! Because they're baked on a high heat to start with this crisp outer forms and with the smooth centre just perfect! I served mine with lemon butter. Not sharing that recipe because whilst it was okay it was far from perfect.

I've promised Isaac that I'm going to make him morning teas when he's finished the lamington fingers that are in the freezer, so there will be chocolate based recipes shared soon too. He's requested chocolate slice so I'm going to convert the recipe I have and see if it works. 

If anyone reading has gluten recipes that they've tried and enjoyed please let me know! (it's so much better cooking something that you know will taste good!!)

Back friendly planting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I planted some veggie seeds. I love my garden but it's been very neglected because of my back. The whole digging and putting the seeds in was a bit of a concern for me, so to help with that I decided to recycle some toilet rolls (cutting four slits in the bottom and folding them over) for sprouting. When they are big enough to plant into the garden I can supervise the little person planting them for me, and as the whole thing can go into the ground I don't need to worry about the roots being damaged! 

I planted broad beans, chicory, witloof, rocket, carrots, broccoli, nasturtiums, beetroot, silverbeet, rainbow chard, sunflowers (to encourage bees), snowpeas, bok choi and peachay. I wrote the distance needed between each plant of the labels too so I don't need to take the seed packets out with us when we transplant. As all of them are open pollinated seeds, I will be able to save seeds at the end of the season and use the tags again. I've only planted a few of each so I can see what works in our garden. There's nothing more rewarding that picking something to eat out of your own garden!

The other day I came across a link for this orange cake. Because I need to steer clear of gluten I used a cup of rice flour and 1/2 cup of almond meal instead of the 1 1/2 cups of flour. It's a REALLY good cake and majorly easy! 

Thanks for visiting!