The Biggest Adventures in the Smallest of Trips

Since shifting house, we have a wonderful new way to walk to school.  Its an approximate 1.4km walk, and during this time we pass numerous ponds and waterways, cross bridges, pass a huge storm water drain, walk through the bush and past a swamp and end up on a busy main road for a few hundred metres.

On what could potentially be a stress filled rush to get to school in time, is now a different adventure every morning.  We now leave 20 minutes earlier than we need to, so we have time to stop along the way and climb things, feed the ducks, watch the Pukekos and count the trucks go by.

Children see things SO differently to us adults and I really encourage all parents to slow down to your childrens pace and find adventure with them.  I hope my children will have many special memories of slow, meandering walks to school with mum.

The photos I have taken below are not the best quality as they were from my phone.

Through the bush.  The boys were riding ahead and hiding in the bushes to jump out and scare me.

The wall Danger Mouse insists on climbing every day

Little Miss Independent hates being in the pushchair and will walk the whole way to school.  Often in barefeet.  Shes a kiwi kid!

We always stop here and listen for the water.  The boys think its hilarious when I tell them the water we hear is from peoples toilets.  I really must research this ...

We must say hello to the ducks every morning and the children get really upset if the ducks are not there to greet them.

When was the last time you slowed down to your childs pace and saw things from their level?





My Week Condensed

Its been busy this week.  I have been meaning to individually blog about lots of things, but ran out of time and here we are.  Its all going into one post.  As I type this my Christmas Cake is doing its 4 hour cook in the oven.  I love it that Christmas is just around the corner.  My favourite time of year.

I got my first batch of Strawberry Jam made.  I try to make as much jam over the beginning of the summer period to keep us going for the rest of the year.  I followed the method I blogged about here.

 I also finally made my Christmas Mince - one of the Alison Holst recipes. 



Had some special moments with the kids, and caught my boys snuggling on the couch in a rare moment of affection with each other.  Nawww.

There has been lots of baking this week, none of it photographed, and all of it eaten quickly.

• Cream Cheese Strawberry Muffins
• Date and Yoghurt Muffins
• Malteaser Chocolate Sponge Cake
• Red Velvet White Chocolate Cookies

A few trips to the op shop of which I found this lovely sheet and some purple poplin material, both for $3

There were two trips to Spotlight.  One for patterns and one for materials to make christmas decorations for the Kiwi Christmas Ornament swap.  More on this one later.

And there has been alot of sanding and paint priming for two upcoming projects, one for the boys and one for The Girl.

I sent out the hubby today for much needed break alone.  He is so tired and desperately needs a break away from the business to recharge and energise.  Today is his mini-break and I hope he is enjoying it.  Its good to remember that even though our husbands may leave us everyday to go to work (going to work is not a break!!), that they too need time out to relax away from work responsbilities and sometimes family as well.  He'll come back this afternoon hopefully a bit more relaxed from his time away.

Coconut and Chocolate Coffee Roll

OK, before I start, my rolling and log making skills are non-existent.  This roll tastes really yummy, and is meant to look really pretty.  I just don't have the skill, but don't let the look of mine put you off!  It's not at all hard and I did rush mine with the help of a 3 year old (yes, blame the child...).  I will make this again shortly and see if I can improve my skills and upgrade my photos.

250 grams shortbread biscuits (either homemade or store brought, it doesn't matter)
2/3 cup icing sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/3 cup strong black coffee
1/2 cup dessicated coconut
50 grams butter, softened

Place the biscuits, 1/3 cup of the icing sugar and cocoa in a food processor.  Pulse until crumbs form.  Add coffee, and pulse to combine.

Lay out a sheet of baking paper and roll the mixture into a rectangle, about 18 x 22cm.

Mix butter and rest of the icing sugar and coconut together.  Spread this over 3/4 of the biscuit mix.  Using the baking paper, roll up to make a log.  I rushed this.  What I should of done was spread the coconut mix over 3/4 of the base.  Instead I dumped it thickly on less than one half and rushed it.  Don't do this.

Chill overnight.  Before serving roll in coconut and slice to serve.  Keep refrigerated.

Wardrobe Wednesday - Rediscovering

I love jeans.  As stated last week, I wear them all the time.  I find them so convenient while I am rushing about in my mummy madness - I can bend over and pick up the baby, bend in and out of the car, rush about in the wind, dress them up, slouch them down ... I love jeans.  I did say I would make an effort on a Wednesday to stay out of jeans, but today has been BUSY and I needed to be comfy.  Jeans make me comfy.  And I strangely feel feminine in jeans as well. 

I own lots of jeans.  I pick them up at the Salvation Army for $6 a pair and I must currently own about 8 pairs. 

Todays outfit has lots of excitement attached.  The fact I can fit my top again.  It wasn't that I couldn't before - I just couldn't fit it nicely.  Now there is no muffin top and mummy pouch poking out to say hi.  I had a heap of comments today on the top - I had forgotten how much attention it draws.

I am having lots of fun rediscovering my wardrobe.  There has been alot of things hanging in it that I just couldn't wear.  Now they can start seeing the light of day again.

My outfit today;  Top - brought in a Farmers sale about 3 years ago, Jeans - $6 from Salvation Army, Sandals - brought in Whitianga (I only own about 3 pairs of shoes ... this needs to change).

Danger Mouse wanted to show off his new clothes I brought him this week.

Joining up this week with 

Wardrobe Wednesday - Floaty and Floral

Its my first time taking part in Wardrobe Wednesday.  I am such a jeans and hoodie type girl - mainly because I am so busy and the effort to dress up often just eludes me (read into that - I am too lazy).  That doesn't mean that I don't want to though.  Trust me, deep inside me there is a girly girl that loves her skirts and hair long and probably should of been born in the fashion of the 60's.

So each Wednesday, I am going to try to make more of an effort to get out of my jeans.  No promises though.

My outfit today - Skirt $3 in a half price ticket sale at Salvation Army.  Singlet - $6 from Kmart.  Sunglasses are dutyfree from Sunglass Hut.  I was wearing leather sandals, but they forgot to get in the photo.....

Joining in over here

Coconut and Chocolate Slice

I made this to take to playgroup on Friday, and its extremely addictive.  You can't just have one piece.  Unless you are dieting of course, then you had better not even go near it, because its just too tempting.

You can add jam between the base and the coconut layer as well.

BASE
80 grams Dark Nestle Melts
80 grams chopped butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup caster sugar
1 egg, lightly whisked
1 cup plain flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder

COCONUT FILLING

225 grams shredded coconut (I used dessicated this time as I didn't have shredded)
1 x 395g can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs, lightly whisked

CHOCOLATE TOPPING
100 grams butter, chopped
350 grams Nestle Dark Chocolate Melts

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Preheat oven to 180°C and prepare a slice tin (approx 18 x 26cm) with non-stick baking paper.

Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan quarter filled with simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water).  Stir occasionally until the chocolate melts and is smooth.

Use an electric beater to beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Add the chocolate and egg, and stir until well combined. Sift the flour and cocoa into the mixture, and stir until well combined.

Press the mixture evenly over the base of the prepared pan. If you find it a bit sticky, just lightly wet your hands so the mixture won't stick to you.  Bake in pre-heated oven for 15 minutes or until firm to touch.

To make the coconut filling, combine the coconut, condensed milk and eggs in a bowl.  Spread evenly over slightly cooled chocolate base. Bake for 25 minutes or until very light golden. Set aside to cool completely.

To make the chocolate topping, melt the butter in a small saucepan over a low heat.  Add the chocolate and stir quickly until the chocolate melts, take off heat and stir until the mixture is smooth.  Pour the chocolate mixture over the coconut filling.  Either set aside in a cool place till the icing sets or place in the fridge to set.  Once set, cut and enjoy.

Kids in the Kitchen

Danger Mouse loves helping me in the kitchen.  Every time I bake, he drags up a stool and begs to pour, sift and roll.  It has taken me a while to truly relax and let him go for it.  Yes, Mrs Control Freak here - if the biscuits were not rolled nicely I would have to redo them.  I would freak if he sifted flour all over the place. Its taken me a while to get over myself, and its actually been really hard, but I have managed to let go of the control and just watch him enjoy himself creating ... or destructing.  Same thing when you are 3.

So why not throw him in at the deep end and get him icing cupcakes with a bag and tip.  I wasn't expecting great things, thinking the bag would possibly be too big for him to handle, and the icing too hard to squeeze out.  I was imagining towers of icing overflowing each cake.  I even thought the tip would end up loading massive amounts of icing straight into his mouth.  Of course I underestimated him.  This kid has been taking it all in.

He even got all creative on me and topped each cupcake with a flower of pink.  I reckon by age 5 I'll have him swirling beautiful creations on cupcakes! 

I am so pleased I have managed to let go of my parental dominating control when it comes to baking.  Danger Mouse is awesome in the kitchen.