ARE WE LISTENING AND NOT HEARING OR CHOOSING TO HEAR AND NOT LISTEN ?

There are people and organisations in our community who can help with our problems ,but how do those in need  know how to access these outlets  ?
Contrary to all those who believe that an I- phone is a given to everyone on the dole , seriously how do people in need access help....and by the way.... is it only people on the dole who need help ?
I don`t think so.
We are all human and all of us do tough times , just the definition  and situation of tough times differ for people.
It is OK to ask for help or  just unload over a cuppa or two , get angry , but never give up.....Don`t  let the bastards win .
If you are up against the wall make a call to a friend , run across the road to your neighbour , nobody has the answer but we may see the problem in a different light ,just sharing can lighten the load.
It doesn`t matter who you are , if you are alone , and there is no one home acros the road , call lifeline on  1300 1114 . Just talk it out with someone.
I`m about maintaining friends not losing them.

 

WEEKLY MENU...CASTLE GARDEN.....6TH JAN ------10TH JAN

Monday 6th Jan

Garlic beef in spiced cous cous...( Marie Claire ..Food Fast pg 67 )

Tuesday 7th  Jan

Sweet potato gnocchi...... ( Simply Heaven  Vol 2..Philadelphia  Book....  pg 101 )

Wednesday 8th  Jan

Stir fry pork and shitake ...( Marie Claire...Food Fast..pg 103 )

Thursday ..9th  Jan

Salmon curry...( Recipes from an Indian Kitchen...pg 112 )

Friday 10th

Honey lamb kebabs...( Marie Claire , Food fast ,,pg 75.)

The above recipes will be followed but in some cases  where I choose to alter an ingredient  or add to the recipe , it will be noted on the book, with a date and resulting outcome.

The menus are set out with our working , sporting and social commitments  in mind .

It is important to keep the menu interesting , but also attainable given individual  time constraints.

Don`t take on the world in the middle of the week, there are so many great ideas in books and

 publications on tasty, wholesome food, with no fuss preparartion .

HANDY TIP.....Its OK to use the contents of a  tin  in your meal preparation...ie lentils or chick peas , these ingredients are real time savers and they still have nutritional value .

A half an hour Sunday morning over a cuppa , plan your food week  ahead .

Make use of those free magazines available in both Coles and Safeweay , they are full of great ideas for  weekday meals .

In the Hearld Sun today Monday the 6th  Jan , there is an excellent article  titled `Box of Goodness`
on page 37 , supporting an alternative way to thinking about and using vegetables and fruit.


KEEP YOUR MEALS SIMPLE AND LET THE FLAVOURS SHINE.

THANKS JODIE SULLIVAN

A Fiddler Beetle it is.....
There is no lack of nector and pollen in my garden, and if it likes the occasional juicy leaf it will have a very happy life indeed in my garden.
If the beetle I saw was a female she may well have been laying her eggs in the moist  soil of the compost bin,
Either way , my garden is big enough to accommodate the both of us. and maybe its presence is an indicator of the gardens healthy environment..

WHAT IS IT ?

This is quite a large beetle and nestling on the top soil of my smaller compost bin, can anyone help me with its identity and is it a good sign that it is in my compost bin ?  Noelene

CHICKEN KOBOBS

Saturday night tea chicken kobobs and yogurt sauce Mediterranean  style .

Kobob is correct, so is kabaub, kebap, kebob, kebab ....( this a Mediterranean dish  and on the map an  area of many cultures within as many borders all of whom lay  claim to the heritage of this dish )

Prepare the sauce ...put 1 and 1/2  cups of strained greek yoghurt, 3 cloves of garlic  finely chopped, the juice of 1/2 a lemon , 1/2 cup of chopped mint and Italian parsley mixed together  into a large bowl  and mix well. Set aside in the fridge.

Now cube 4 skinless chicken fillets ...(  if you prefer thighs use 8 portions )
Add the cubes to the yogurt mix and leave marinate for a minimum of  1 hour ( but the longer the better  .....)
Spray your skewers with cooking oil, set aside.

Heat your barby hot plate or skillet pan, or just heat up the griller in your stove .

Thread the coated chicken cubes onto skewers..( approx. 6 cubes per skewer ).

Cook each side until lightly brown , turning the kobobs frequently , ( 15 minutes should see them fully cooked through )

Can be served on the skewer over a bed of  turmeric rice topped with a mixed green leaf and cherry tomato salad.

Enjoy...

HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY NICOLE

Happy birthday  Nicole .

Enjoy your cake . It`s just a simple cake made with love  for you to share.

Love Mum xox

NO FUSS FRIDAY.....

 This is a such a simple meal.  Great for a no fuss Friday night .

GRAIN
Prepare the grain of your choice  in a steamer  ( rice, quinoa, or buckwheat  )

SALAD
Dice 2 whole fresh tomatoes ( remove core ) and soak in enough white balsamic vinegar to just cover add a tsp of sugar. Set aside


MEATBALLS
500 gm of  mince meat.. ( I use kangaroo , but again it is your choice  )

2 tsp of minced garlic

1 small red chilli finely sliced

1 handful of chopped parsley

Season with sumac

Combine everything together in a bowl with 1 beaten egg.

Set aside

Heat a fry pan drizzled with rice bran oil

Add 2 sliced whole capsicums , (seeds removed ) 1. red 1. green

1 red onion sliced.

Now form small handfuls of the mince mix into balls and add to the pan,

Cook till meatballs are brown on both sides ,( this should be done over a medium heat to cook
through ) approx. 3 mins each side.


TO SERVE

Divide prepared grain between serving dishes add meatballs and capsicums topped with diced tomatoes..

FOOTNOTE
This dish took less time to cook than it did to write out the recipe.

Enjoy.