Morning out

Before school starts again next week, the townsite residents decided on a beach outing to Zuen.

It is always beautiful there

Look mum! Waves!

Clear water

Australia in Asia

Australia in Asia through Murdoch University.

I passed with a Distinction!!!! (which is the second highest grade).

Yay!

Off to celebrate with some homemade Kaja Burfi :) yumm

Friday Update

Since Christmas, it has been rather uneventful around here, except what happened in the post below of course. It has rained consistently, which has been no fun for going out.

Normally I go for a jog around the townsite (6 laps - 5.5kms) when Michelle has gone to sleep - which can range between 8.30 and 10.30, even though I put her to bed at 7.30 (!!!!!). Rather frustrating..

By doing these jogs, I have lost 2.5kgs and no longer have a pregnancy belly! Finally!!! Someone asked my on Christmas Day if I was pregnant because (she says) I wasn't drinking, wouldn't eat the seafood and was throwing up (I was overheated and had a migraine). But I heard "you're fat and look pregnant, you due next month?"

So I started running... that night.

I have had to download a few fitness workouts to do because of this rain.. but they are painful and I don't like them. No idea how Tiffany does them all the time!!!!! But she looks great, should be a motivation.

Anywhoo.... We have had a few incidents with Michelle and the case of the Permanent Marker.

Last week I was downstairs in the kitchen cooking dinner ready for D to get home, bub was beside me, next minute gone... a minute later.. there was silence in the house... *warning bells* sound here.

I peeked upstairs to see her sitting on my desk, permanent marker in hand. I ran upstairs but as soon as she saw me she dropped the pen, threw her hands in the air and yelled 'UH OH!!! NAUGHTY NAUGHTY!!!!"

How could I tell her off??

So I silently cursed under my breath as I tried and failed to scrub permanent marker off of my desk, cords, wi-fi dongle, books, CD's and a mug.

Luckily, it came off my laptop.. LUCKILY considering that was the worst hit.. grrrrr.

Then she did it again!!!!! 3 days later!!!! Same scenario.... except this time it was bears fault.. apparantly... I run upstairs and she throws the pen at her bear yelling "BEAR DID BEAR DID BEAR DID!!!! uh oh Bear..." yet poor Bear has pen all over his face... somehow I don't think he did that to himself.... hmmm.

She talks so much now, it is great to be able to communicate. She is beginning to understand concepts and to be less demanding. Usually if she wants a bottle, she wants it now, and she will yell 'BOTTLE BOTTLE BOTTLE BOTTLE' over and over again until she gets it in her mouth. But now, if I am doing something else, and tell her, she accepts it. 'Michelle, can you please wait for mummy to finish her tea first?" *nod* "Okaaayyyyy.... tea? HOT tea?" yes baby... "OKaayyyy"

But then she sits on me like a hawk until my last sip and then its "BOTTLE BOTTLE BOTTLE BOTTLE" all over again.

It's a slow process...

We started toilet training, but don't seem to be getting anywhere... she just wants to sit there and then makes bear have a turn. But there is no production. :(

Might have to wait until we get back from our holiday. I'm worried if we start now, the holiday will disrupt her and we will be back to square one.

Plus she is sick with the flu now, and isn't wanting to do anything except sing Twinkle Twinkle and eat "mitey toast" (her word for vegemite toast).

I haven't been able to get many photos... being so boring and all. And when I tried to take photos in the house, it was either too hot outside and cool inside so therefore foggy lenses, or raining and cool outside and warm inside (broken aircons) and therefore foggy lenses.

So this is the best I could do.

Speak soon!

Emma x x

In need of comfort.... give me Dhal

I've had a rather eventful few days. On the weekend I noticed a man in my yard lurking around. I told him to leave, and he didn't. It was the same man that has followed me around a few times before. I didn't pay too much attention, but then on Sunday he was back... lurking around my patio looking in windows. I opened my door ajar and told him to leave, he said 'no no, i'm good, i'll stay' and then tried pushing his way into the house, i stood my ground and told him to go but he repeated himself, saying that he was going to come inside. I slammed the door on him and he left. On Monday, he was back. So I went to the entrance to the residential area and got the security guard to come and remove him. Security arrived and told him to leave, but 2 hours later he was back again!! So I called the head of security, and the guard came back to remove him again, but this time a car showed up with 5 other guards and they arrested him. It was then I noticed the massive machete!! He is gone now, but creeps me out still. I've finally started locking my doors.

So yesterday I was in the mood for severe comfort food.
And nothing does that for me more than Dhal... nothing can explain my insane love for Dhal.. so Dhal anything wins me over.

I found a recipe online for Dhal Kofta Curry and my mouth started watering. I did change the recipe up a bit though.

First, cook 1 1/2 cups split red lentils in 3 cups of vegetable stock until soft and liquid is evaporated.

Crush 150gms of raw cashew nuts.. but not to a powder, you still want them somewhat chunky..

Then mince a medium onion, add a cup of wholemeal bread crumbs

Whilst waiting for Dhal to cool, roll out some chappatis.. note: don't make them in a circle.. why? Because I can't... I have never for the life of me been able to roll dough into a circle.. so don't you either! Or I may just be shamed...

Allow your child to destroy the kitchen whilst your hands are covered in dough and you can't do anything to stop her...

Dry fry chappatis...

I love the dance they do in the pan...

The original recipe called for 2tbs of madras curry paste to be added to Dhal mixture, and a sultana in the centre of each Kofta. I didn't do this. Instead, I replaced both with Mango & Ginger chutney. I prefer the Sharwoods brand.. as you can see.

If making ahead of time, keep chapptis wrapped in a damp tea-towel so they don't go hard.

Roll bread crumbs, onion, Dhal, chutney and cashew nuts together to form Koftas. Place in a greased baking tray. Bake at 180c for about 25 minutes on each side until roasted.

The recipe called for 25 koftas.. it was pretty much spot on! I made 27.. but you know, my sizes never conform...

When roasted all over, take out of oven whilst you make curry sauce.

Mustard seeds, dried coriander, paprika, garam masala, cumin, cayenne pepper..

Dry fry, and then add garlic and ginger

Add 400g crushed tomatoes

Add koftas in gently... they have a tendency to break, so try to keep them together, though broken bits do add to texture of curry..

Add 200ml coconut milk

Cook for a few minutes

Serve with reheated Chappatis! and lots of rice...

If you are like me, you will have a husband/partner/boyfriend who refuses to eat rice (i know!!! horrendous!!) so you will place a small garden salad on the table for him.

Watch him closely!! If like me... he will be silly enough to put the salad in the curry bowl and mix it all together because 'oh... don't you do that?.... oops'

and then complain he is not allowed a bread roll because you slaved away over the chappatis, only to find out 'but i want a bread roll.... i dont want those things....'

WELL.. then you may feel free to decide that from now on, he is only allowed a sausage and piece of bread for dinner from now on...

At least the Dhal gave me some comfort...

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone. We have no plans. And I don't mind.
I have been enjoying going on evening walks around the townsite. Darryl wants to start a diet tomorrow, and I have started more exercise. It is so peaceful in the evening here.

So wishing you all a happy 2012 and don't believe the crazy hype about it.
The world changes itself every day - this year will be no different.


Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. - Hal Borland


xx Emma

Christmas Day

Hope you had a good a day as mine was :)

Here are some photos to set the scene - beware for a barage of pics:


Michelle's stash

She ran up and down the room a few times squealing before she did a little jumping dance and lunged for her toys

My watch:

Darryl received a complete fishing set, but we have already put it out of reach of little hands

Ready to party

Glad I wasn't cleaning up the mess...

Boat full of seafood... crab, lobster, oysters etc

Prawn tree

Me and Jeannie

Streamers in the fan Beautiful day...

Merry Christmas!

xx