Arrival of spring & clean-outs

Another quiet period between posts. Typically, I can't think of much that has happened - Winter, for the main part. It's cold in our house, we have no central heating, and the main heating unit is in the lounge/communal area. The only other heater we have is one of those standup, moveable metal oil heaters, which resides in Rory's room during the winter months. Thankfully yesterday marked the first day of spring - though you wouldn't know it from the persistence of rain - so the weather is on the way up.

Along with the onset of spring, the vegetable/herb garden has been re-invigorated with more vegetable seedlings and herb seedlings, some herbs have been transplanted to other areas to make better use of the space and the citrus plants which will one day be 'espaliered' are slowly getting bigger. I'd love to take a picture and upload it of the revamped garden, but someone (who recently turned 2 1/2) broke the camera and until I can get a new one, I've borrowed my father's "pink" digital camera however don't have the means to upload just yet.

Today the small boy and I are having a day at home, we're both suffering colds (his is worse than mine so far) so I took the opportunity to do a stocktake of the pantry (how many cans of tinned tomato and corn kernels have I?!) and make use of some overripe bananas. Next stop, resorting the plastics cupboard. I'm still avoiding completing the study clean up/sorting, as I know I'll need at least one full Rory-free day to do this. Maybe I'll feel motivated this weekend? Though wouldn't you know it, sunshine is predicted for Saturday and who wants to spend time indoors?!

Chocolatey Squidgy Brownie Goodness

(Also known as Nigella's Flourless Chocolate Brownies)



Discovered this recipe recently when a friend posted in her facebook status that she was making them. It's available on Nigella Lawson's website, but I've converted it slightly to suit Aussie measurements, including ingredient recommendations. Nigella's recipe works well as a dessert with accompanying hot chocolate sauce, but I've only ever made it as a brownie.

This recipe is very easy to make, as all the ingredients can be mixed together in the same saucepan and then transferred to a 24cm square baking tin.


Ingredients
225g Dark Chocolate (70% cocoa solids)*
225g Butter
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 cup (200g) Caster Sugar
3 eggs, beaten
150g Ground Almonds**
100g Chopped Walnuts***
Icing sugar, to dust


Method

1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees C.
2. Melt the chocolate and butter gently over a low heat in a heavy-based saucepan.
3. Take the pan off the heat, mix in the vanilla and sugar, and let it cool a little.
4. Beat the eggs into the pan along with the ground almonds and chopped walnuts.
5. Turn into a greased square baking tin (or a foil one if you have one)
6. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, when the top will have set but the mixture will still be gooey.
7. Allow to cool and cut carefully into 16 (four down, four across) squares. Refridgerate until it needs to be served.
8. Prior to serving, dust with icing sugar.

Notes
* 2 x 200g blocks of Lindt 70% or Black & Green 70% chocolate works well.
** I used 'Freshlife' Almond Meal.
*** I used 125g packet of 'Lucky' Crumbed Walnuts

soup and slices

Day 2 of my blogging challenge, fingers crossed I stick to it.

Mother's Group was at my house today, so we had the usual 4 mums, plus the return of Jake's mum, who'd been in QLD for the past month (with Jake, I must add). It was good to have her back. Made pumpkin soup, lemon slice and double-choc fudge brownies, which all went down well.

The babies are growing hugely, and a no longer the sleepy little blobs that they once were when Mothers Group first started. Now they're little blobs (well, the boys anyway, because they still don't move much) with their personalities beginning to shine through. And they're beginning to interact with each other as well, which is quite amusing to watch.

Corey's just come back from getting his tax done ... amazingly his group certificate was done in August (not October like last year!) so we'll have some money to [sigh] put on those credit cards.

homebody

I like being a homebody.

Right now, the boy is watching a dvd and the zucchini slice is ready to come out of the oven. There's another load of washing (this time, whites) to go out on the line and the smell of baked goodies is wafting through the house.

Life is sweet.