So I went food shopping without a list....on a Saturday morning....

Yeah, I woke up this morning thinking I really should get some groceries since my kids are like starving and not been fed since 8pm the night before! We are actually out of milk and bread so I thought, "I'll just pop down to the shops and grab a couple of things". Now how many of us say this with all the right intentions of doing just that? Why is it that it never actually ends up that way?

I woke up around 7:30am, by the annoying dog next door who was barking. Craparama, seriously its flammin' Saturday morning! A real opportunity to sleep in and a canine (that doesn't belong to me) not even a child, is waking me from a sleep-in day?  It was at this point I should have realised that my day may not be shaping up to be....

No sir-ree! Now that I was awake, I figured I really should get down to the shops and get the "couple" of things I needed before people swarm in the hundreds to do the same thing. Great idea and how clever of me, until I decide to just see what is happening on Instagram...

Then as if time was on fast forward, 30 mins flew by me without even a pinch on the bum to remind me of what I was supposed to be doing. I had to get my priorities right. If I didn't leave to the shops soon, getting a park was going to be insane let alone lining up at the registers.  But before I get out of  bed I get a notification on Facebook. I will just quickly see what that is.....

Craparama I did it again, almost a stinkin' hour has been spent on funny Ellen Show clips, food recipes, funny animals, Humans of New York fraction stories, and other amazing things that only true Facebook embracers totally get and understand. It is now 9am. If I don't haul a' to the shops now, there is no point in going at all. Should I shower...

I managed to get there as the parking spots were filling up but scored me a mighty fine park. Now it's at this point that I, basically in vain, remind myself I really only need to get bread and milk. However, I thankfully remember that I need to get dessert for a dinner we are attending the following evening. Should I right this down?

Naa, I'll remember that!! Note to self, your memory is Luna Park spelt backwards! You rarely remember things that happened only moments ago. Do not kid yourself, you will NOT remember what you need to get and as soon as you hit that grocery store you will get caught in the sale items at the front of the store and purchase at least 10 items before you actually recall why you went there in the first place!

Has anyone seen that Percy Jackson movie where they go to the casino and eat lotus flowers or something like that and they eventually realise that they have been in the casino for about 5 days or so? Well, I feel like that a bit when I am in the grocery store without a list.  I have to be like...

to myself and get my act together and get on with finding the bread, the milk, the desert and oh look what's on special.....

Ok, these are a great special, and a must have. Now let me get back to what I am here for. Then my phone buzzes. "Mum, I totes need bobby pins, can you like get me some?" Ok, now I have to add this to my brain? Let's see, dessert done with the donuts, that were on special, I am so awesome!! I have to get milk, bread, and bobby pins. I walk down the breakfast cereal isle. I just remember we are out of cereal so I add that to the trolley. Don't forget the bread and milk. Then I remember that we need fruit so the boys will have something for 'crunch and sip' at school on Monday. So I head back to the fruit section and pick up some. Everything looks so bright and colourful here. I really should grab a couple more things. Then I see the meat. Do I need meat? Was I here to get meat? Hang on a minute....

I truly am, but I know I didn't come to the shops for nothing. I really did have a purpose. What was it again? That's right milk, bread, and.....then I my phone buzzes, its another text. "Mum, are you like there, did you get my msg..." What message is she talking about? I hate getting random messages from my daughter. Then my phone rings.

Daughter: Hey Mum, do you like ever read my texts?

Me: I think I do?

Daughter: I totes need bobby pins

Me: Yes, I know I will get them but leave me alone or I will forget them!

So that's what I almost forgot. The stinkin' bobby pins. DO NOT FORGET THE BOBBY PINS, OR THE WRATH WILL FOLLOW! I head toward the milk, which annoyingly is on the complete other side of the store. As I am trolleying there, I notice the discount shelf of the cold food that are "Quick Sale" I should totally check it out! I pick up some heavily discounted 'fancy' milk (which is anything that is not standard store brand milk) and some yoghurt. Score! Now I realise I am adding more than I wanted into the my trolley and I really need to solidify my game plan.  Get that milk and then the bread and get out of there, now, now, now! I surprise myself and do exactly that, but because of my   distractions of discounts and specials the check out lines are building up. I manage to scope a shorter line down the other end of the store. I am third in line which was better than the others and I get the chance to catch up on important world news by reading the front pages of the 'gossip' magazines. I am now second in line. I am almost about to start adding my items to the conveyer belt when I remember something....

It is at this point I feel like.....

And then....

But then I'm like....

I am "MUM" I own this errand! I will get this sorted. I load my more than three items onto the conveyor belt. Purchase my items that were supposed to cost less than $20 but ended up being over $100, because you know how it is right? I load them in the trolley and I pick up some bobby pins at Big W on my way out of the shopping centre. I own this mum job, and I will endeavour to write a list next time....endeavour.... no promises because I might forget to write a list, or might not be able to find a pen that works or a spare piece of paper. Whatever happens, I am mum and I will work it out!!!

PS. I am totally showing my age. I always forget (yes I know) I can use the notes app on my phone...I'll get there one day!

ANZAC Cookie Sundae Sandwich

My son is a budding chef! He has really got into trying new and interesting foods and creating new ideas. Last night was dessert night and we have ANZAC cookies as its ANZAC Day tomorrow. These cookies are purchased from Woolworths, personally they are my favourites but I am not sure that the CWA (Country Women's Assoc) would approve of them. I have discovered the original ANZAC biscuits were not chewy but crisp and had to crumble in a particular way so that they would last in the battlefields. Americans had their Hershey Bars, but the Aussies won out with handmade biscuits! However, I still like the chewy versions!!  For my non-Aussie readers, these cookies are pretty much the same as oatmeal cookies.

All you need for this dessert is two ANZAC cookies that have been microwaved for 15 secs. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to one cookie and a swirl of chocolate topping then sandwich the other cookie on top and Bob's your sweet uncle!! Very simple and irresistibly delicious!

Ultimate Moist Healthy Choc Chip Banana Cake

This is one of the best recipes I have come by for banana cake. I think what makes a great banana cake, bread, or slice is super ripe bananas. I hid some healthiness into this cake with chia seeds and linseed meal, but balanced it out with some semi-sweet choc chips.  Some of you might argue its not so healthy, but its better than packaged snacks from the supermarket and you can tweak it to suit your level of sweetness or what you consider to be healthy. Thanks must got to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam where I discovered her recipe and tweaked it to suit my tastes. Personally I don't think the cake needs frosting, but the link is provided if you wish to add it.  I hope you get the same amazing results as I did.


Banana Cake

125g butter
3 medium very ripe bananas mashed as smooth as its possible
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1tsp vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 cup coconut flour
1 1/4 cup plain flour
1 tsp bicarb (baking) soda
pinch of salt
1 cup semi sweet choc chips (optional)
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp linseed meal

 Turn on oven to 180C or 375F and line a lamington or jelly roll tin with baking paper.  I used a stand mixer on medium speed. When you add the flours start on low and increase to medium.

1. Cream butter and two sugars until creamy.
2. Add eggs one at a time - i.e. add an egg mix it through and repeat with each egg.
3. Add Vanilla and mashed bananas and  mix through until combined.
4. Add flours, bicarb soda, and salt and mix on low then increase speed gently until combined.
5. Add chia seeds, linseed meal, and choc chips and stir gently on low or even using a spoon until mixed through.

Pour out onto the tin and spread evenly across the tin until its even and smooth. Its good to use a spatula for this.

Bake in oven for 20 mins or until golden brown on top and cooked in the centre. Allow to cool on a wire tray.  ENJOY:)

Planning for Christmas - Kid's Wish List

With Halloween over, I know have some time to plan for Christmas. Being a Christian, this a very important social holiday to enjoy and celebrate. I plan to decorate my house, particularly outside as big as I did for Halloween. But all the decorating aside, the other part that a lot of parents stress about is the presenting 'organising'. What should Santa be bringing this year? Here is a letter I found on Pinterest. This is a good way to start your planning and it also teaches a child there is a purpose behind the gift. Everyone does it differently, but the last 5 years or so, I have been trying to limit the amount of presents on Christmas morning. Both my husband and I are from large families, and we do draws and Grandparents also purchase for our kids. So they aren't short of receiving presents. I also like my kids to remember charity and service at Christmas time too, and not so much what they WANT.

So here is the letter, which I have borrowed from here and you should be able to get a better downloadable copy.

10 Interesting Ideas to Shake up your Child's Lunch box - or even yours!

Generally speaking I prefer to get my kids to make their own lunch for two reasons. Firstly, it means I don't have to do it, and secondly they make what they like and will eat. Thirdly - I know I didn't mention three but I changed the rules - I am a mum and I can do that. Thirdly, I like my kids to learn responsibility and making their own lunch is a good place to learn that.

All these reasons came about only recently. Prior to this, I would make the kids' lunch more often than not, and that is because I really like to do it. I know I am crazy, but I love to make the kids lunch as interesting as possible, but that being said, I can't and won't do this everyday. Now and then I shake it up a little. This stems from my own envy of the seeing other children when I was growing up from different cultures having the most amazing lunches in little heated boxes or thermos that smelt so good I would have been happy to slip into a coma with those aromas dancing in my nostrils. Dumplings, rices, noodles, sushi, buk choy, stiry fry, pork buns were regulars in my classrooms over the years from my Asian friends. Then there were curries, naans, other types of breads and spreads from my Indian friends. Sometimes they would share but thinking back I think they either felt sorry for me, or fed me to shut me up!! I think this could possibly be where my love for ethnic food was born. Anyhoo, I have kept these memories close to my heart and took it upon myself to make some interesting things for my kids now and then so they too would have children covet their lunch boxes - for my own selfish accomplishment (there is nothing wrong with that right?) I made some yummy and incredible lunches over the years - if I do say so myself!
 Here are some of my super cheap ideas that make lunch time interesting for me ( I am a school teacher) and my kids.

1. Marinated Chicken drummies - I make my own marinade with brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and rice wine vinegar. You can bake these in the morning and wrap them in foil keeping them moist for lunch time.

2. Sushi nori rolls - can put a range of things in these and they are very healthy and really not that hard to make.

3. Inari rolls - you can get the bean curd pockets from an Asian supermarket and you can put rice, noodles or even salad in them, my kids love them!

4. Pasta - this is a personal thing. My kids are happy with pasta being cold, with pasta sauce mixed in even. I also make pasta salads too which my kids love both with a sauce and without. .

5. Mini omelettes/Frittatas - you can make these in cupcake pans and add grated carrots or whatever you kids will eat. I tend to just add tomatoes and cheese.

6. Pizza Scrolls - making pizza dough from scratch is not as hard as you might think. I make pizza scrolls usually the night before. I use pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese more often than not. I will also share soon a yoghurt dough recipe which is easy to make and I make scrolls with tomato chutney and cheese for something different.

7. Chopped salsa with corn chips - I make up my own salsa with tomatoes, cucumber, corn, and onion. I mixed it all together with a little bit of lime or lemon juice and oil - but not too much, and some fresh chopped (very well so my kids don't complain!) coriander / cilantro.

8. Tabouli - this is a salad that some kids will eat and some will loath with a passion. Luckily my kids like it and they will eat it on its own and in sandwiches.

9. Cold sausages - my kids love cold sausages in or out of sandwich. Sometimes my kids will eat the sausage only if it comes in a role or slices of bread. I sometimes cook them in the morning if time permits, but usually I will cook extra at dinner time.

So those are some ideas just to tease you and keep you interested!! I have more but for now will end with my last idea that the kids love and really aren't too hard to make. I even have a picture for you!

10. These are fresh rice rolls and are very versatile and more often than not are healthy. The above rolls have ham, salad, and vermicelli noodles in them. I would say that eating these rolls are really the only time my boys are happy to eat a green salad, which is basically what they are. Green salad with choice of meet and noodles, wrapped in rice paper. Rice paper sheets are available at both Woolworths and Coles or any Asian grocery and cost about a dollar or so for 12 sheets. You buy them dry and moisten them to soften them for wrapping. They can be a little fiddley in the beginning, but you should get use to them quickly. I will also add that my kids like some soya sauce with these and I purchase little fish shaped soya sauces from my Asian supermarket.

So I hope you have found a couple of new ideas to make your kids(yourself or even hubby) excited about eating lunch from their lunch boxes and have their friends drooling enviously. I will share more in the near future, should you want to keep up with what I am doing just add yourself to my e-mail list on the right side bar. I have lots of fun stuff coming up with giveaways happening too! You can also like my FB page using the link on the right side bar.