Gorgeous Mother's Day

I had a gorgeous Mother's Day.


Mother's and Father's Days around here normally concentrate on sleep-ins and breakfast in bed made by the kids.


This last year both girls have done a lot more cooking and it really showed how much their skills have improved in the meal they produced yesterday. Makes me wish I'd kept a record of what they made each year. I do remember a few tea and toast years, some french toast, and quite a bit of Dad help but can't remember much more.


Anyway this year there was a cup of tea followed by a delicious banana and oat smoothie in bed. 
After leisurely getting up and ready there was a brunch of pumpkin, fakin (vegetarian bacon) and caramelised onion mini quiches and salmon, dill and cream cheese finger sandwiches,    

lemon and cardamon bun and chocolate pastry swirl with a latte to go!

Finally an early afternoon sweet course of lemon and cardamon buns and chocolate pastry swirls with coffee. 


Fabulous! 

And done with no help - (and all went smoothly except the spilling of milk all over the laptop with the recipe on it which was sitting on kitchen bench!! We need to rethink this habit!! Insurance claim in, fingers crossed!)






I suspect you may see their recipes if you follow Mia's Blog. 

In the afternoon friends lent us their season passes to the netball and we saw our first professional level netball match - NSW Swifts vs Melbourne Vixens. What a game! Swifts won - just - and it was very exciting with a great atmosphere. Always good to try something new. Ian even one a lucky door prize at the after match members event. 







Thank you Gorgeous Girls and Lovely Husband. It was a great day!
Nicola / Mum

Around the World in 18 Fridays- Middle East- Couscous Salad

Today we're visiting the middle east with a salad for Autumn.

Yes, I know it's not Autumn yet.

But it sure does feel like it!

This beautiful Middle Eastern Couscous salad is perfect for this unusual weather- not too hot and not to cold!

It's amazingly fast and easy- just what we need now schools back!

The only thing that takes a while is the roasting of the vegies, but once they're in you can do whatever you like for half an hour- homework, housework, blogwork!


Warm Roast Vegetable and Couscous Salad


Based on: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/26536/warm+roast+vegetable+couscous+salad

Serves 4

• 6 carrots, peeled
• 2 parsnips, peeled
• 2 sweet potatos, peeled
• 2 red onions, quartered
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 2 tbs balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup (200g) instant couscous
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 1/4 cup (40g) sultanas
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 tbs lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• Handful each flat-leaf parsley and coriander leaves
• 
  

1. Preheat oven to 200C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Cut carrots, parsnips and sweet potatoes into even sized chunks, and, along with the red onion, place on the tray. Drizzle with oil and vinegar, season, then toss to coat. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender and browned.
2. Meanwhile, toss couscous in a heatproof bowl with spices, sultanas and salt.
3. When the vegetables are almost done, stir 400ml boiling water into the couscous until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
4. Add oil, lemon juice, garlic and herbs and lightly toss. Stir through veggies and serve.

Enjoy!

Mia xo

Eva's Pasta

Happy New Year!
I have made a new years resolution to Blog at least once a week but haven't yet remembered to photograph anything while cooking it this week!! But I did photograph for my youngest daughter as she cooked her first family dinner (she will be cooking Tuesday Night Dinners for us now.)Her first effort was pasta made from scratch, with a roast pumpkin sauce, green salad and a bagette.

Her ingredients - bread flour, salt, extra virgin olive oil & 3 eggs.

Forming the pasta dough

rolling the pasta dough into thin strips (and adding some fresh corriander)

"shredding" the pasta strips into noodles.

Making the roast Pumpkin sauce (mashed roast pumpkin, cream, salt and pepper)

Presentation - (from the 9yr old Masterchef watcher)

As it was served up. delicious!

We look forward to her future Tuesday Dinners! 

Nicola