For Mia

I made this for you yesterday Mia.

And Charlotte just had to try it on!

It's in the post and on it's way to you.

  

Inspiration came from some dresses Bridey and I came across at the Surfers Paradise Night Market.

Cute huh?

HAVE A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS MIA XX

Loved this place

Kiama was one of my favourite places on our recent roadtrip.  I definitely want to go back here.

Kiama is about 120km south of Sydney 

I love that it is a large beach side town but has a very 'country' feel due to the   

close proximity of the rural parts of this area.  

So beautiful.

There are some awesome beaches here.  The grass grows right up to the sand in some parts - the best of both worlds exists here, for me anyway; lots of space, sprawling pasture and beautiful white beaches.

We took some dinner to the local park for a  lovely balmy evening of playing and chillin' and just soaking up the wonderful feeling in this place.

Beautiful

is our Bella.

Today she turned 9

and she's getting more beautiful by the day.

Happy Birthday Beautiful Bella

We love you xx

My Guy...

On Saturday Matt and I spent the day at Tahune Airwalk to see Guy Sebastian live.  It was a great day out; perfect weather, relaxing picnic lunch beautiful surroundings and great entertainment.  It was quite an intimate concert (only something like 250 tickets) which really contributed to the feeling there.  It kinda felt like a big family reunion (and with half the Huon Valley population there it nearly was!!) I know Guy Sebastian isn't everyone's cup of tea but I have to admit I became an instant fan when I heard him sing for his audition in the very first Australian Idol Competition.  He is great on stage and surprisingly funny.  

I loved all of the songs he performed, which was a selection from all of his albums.  

Support act was Tassie boy DeWayne Everettsmith who was an Idol contestant in 2007. 

Check out this photo! I was standing at the side of the stage snapping a few pics 

when he noticed and gave me a little Guy Smile - he he

Matt appreciates the excellent musician Guy Sebastian is but R&B isn't really his style - not typically mine either - but he tagged along because he didn't want me to go alone.  I'm glad we went together but I really should have taken the girls with me,  there were so many mothers and daughters there and they would have loved it.  Maybe next year we can have a girls day out.

My Big Boy

Isaac turned 14 on Friday.

Fourteen

14

F O U R T E E N...

He had some friends from school over

They played backyard soccer

Halo 3 on the x-box (whatever!!)

Made their own Pizza's

Enjoyed each other's company

(L-R Angus, Conner, Isaac, Ayde, Haki & Gabriel)

Shared a yummy birthday cake (very delicious mud cake)

We delivered everyone to their homes around 10pm.

Isaac has a great bunch of friends, really nice kids. I'm happy.

(I just can't believe I have a 14 year old!!)

Good bye training wheels

The week school went back Charlotte decided she was big enough to learn to ride her bike. Turns out she was right! I've thought for a while now that her balance was pretty good and that the training wheels were not really necessary. We had a couple of successful goes in the driveway without them then up to the oval for the real test (with the soft landing just in case). She passed with flying colours and didn't even need a soft landing.

Now there's no stopping her!!

As requested...Slow Cooked Butter Chicken

This is the one of the BEST home made butter chicken recipes I have ever made, and I have made a few in my time! I came across it a couple of years ago and we love it. We actually have two favorites but I can't find the other recipe. They are both delicious but also have different flavours. I'll post it when I find it!

Slow cooked Butter Chicken

1/2 cup cashews (125 mL)
2 tsp garam masala (10 mL)
2 tsp coriander powder (10 mL)
1/2 tsp chili powder (2 mL)
8 x boneless skinless chicken thighs, quartered
1 tsp sesame or peanut oil (5 mL)
1/4 cup butter, melted (60 mL)
2 tsp paprika (10 mL)
2 tsp prepared garlic (10 mL)
2 tsp prepared ginger (10 mL)
Pinch of cinnamon and cardamom powder
1 x small onion
3/4 cup chicken stock (175 mL)
1/2 cup tomato paste (125 mL)
1/2 cup yogurt (or sour cream) (125 mL)
1 cup milk (250 mL)
1/4 cup cream (60 mL)
2 tbsp vinegar (30 mL)
1 tbsp sweet Thai chili sauce (15 mL)
1/2 tsp salt (2 mL)

Smash cashews with a hammer and add to large nonstick fry pan.

Add garam masala, corriander and chilli, stir and brown nuts and spices until you see a little smoke.

Immediately remove from heat.

Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

In the same pan, heat oil at med-high and sear chicken on both sides.

Place in the bottom of a slow cooker.

Add the following ingredients:

melted butter, the toasted cashew mixture, paprika, garlic, ginger and spices.

Finely chop onion and add to pan

Add chicken stock, tomato paste and yogurt, then stir to combine.

Stir in milk and cream.

Add vinegar, chili sauce and salt.

Stir then leave center crock in fridge overnight.

Turn slow cooker on to low in the morning. Cook for 6/7 hours on low.

Serve with Basmati Rice and maybe some Roti or pappadams

This looks long and involved but it's not at all. It's very easy.

You can skip leaving it in the fridge and cook it immediately but it is that little bit nicer if you have time to leave it.

Don't be tempted to use breast meat, thighs are far more tender in the slow cooker.

This makes plenty for our family of 6.