From quilt to throw for the couch...

Remember the quilt I started taking the frill off to make it into a throw rug? 

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I unpicked the frill....originally, I was going to throw away the frill thinking I wouldn't need it but then I thought 'how am I going to deal with the raw edge?  

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This is the raw edge...

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So I pulled out the gathering thread from the frill and ended up with just over 11 metres of it, with a great seamed edge on it - perfect for homemade bias binding, no?

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Now, as you may know, I am not much of a sewer and I am definitely not a quilter but my mind tells me I should be able to attach this bias binding to the quilt to made a neat edge. The paisley blue is the underside of the quilt.

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I experimented with a short strip, making sure I had the width right and pinned it how I wanted it.

Okay, next step is to cut the frill to make the bias binding...

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Quarter of an hour later and I had 11 metres of fabric, ready to be pinned then sewed.  Now for the epic pinning session...

I think I will first sew the bias onto the raw edge using a dark thread  then when I turn it down to make the neat edge, I'll top sew it using ecru thread.

Oh, you quilting ladies will be slapping your foreheads and groaning, I know, but I think it will work this way...

Stay tuned!
 Joolz xx

 

 

 

 

Lamb kafta rolls and Lebanese bread ...

Gus had picked out a recipe for Saturday night dinner so I made some Lebanese bread to go with it.

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Most breads take a few hours and so did these. Mix the dough, let it prove for one hour.

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Roll in to balls, let them rest for 10 minutes...

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Flatten out each ball on a floured surface then roll out to 20cm round (ish)!

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Cover and rest for another hour...

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Preheat oven to 240C (hot!) and place tray in to heat also.  Then one by one, bake each round on a sheet of baking paper until puffed.

They didnt brown much but I guess the bought ones are not very brown either...

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Gus made these Lamb Kafta rolls ...

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This is the yummy filling of spinach, onion, pinenuts, almonds, raisins, allspice, salt and pepper and lemon juice.

He pan fried the rolls then baked them in the oven to finish off.

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We served the kaftas with steamed veggies and tzatziki dip with my lebanese bread. Very, very good!

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Apple crumble for dessert but it was a bit too sweet. I used pink lady apples and plump raisins and really didnt need to use sugar with them, just in the crumble topping.
 The crumble is: 2 tblsn plain flour, 1 cup rolled oats, 2 tblsn brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 2 tblsn diced butter. Mix dry ingredients and spread over apples (I zapped apples in micro for 2 minutes to soften slightly) then dot little cubes of butter over crumble. Bake for 30 minutes at 180C. Add cream!

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This coconut is going to be in tonights dinner so stay tuned for another of Gus' kitchen masterpieces! A Kylie Kwong recipe...

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One more thing to share with you - I worked out that when freezing leftover curry and rice ... It is best to put the rice on the bottom of the container so it doesn't dry out in the freezer!  On the left is a curry from 2 weeks ago (which will be lunch one day this week) and on the right, the Thai green curry from Friday with the rice at the bottom.  Rivetting, mind blowing stuff, people!  

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I've finally got my first cold this year, right at the very end of our winter - sore throat, throbbing sinuses and a nice dull headache! I'll be taking it easy today but I do hope to get onto that quilt and sew the edging so I can use it as a throw.

Cheers - Joolz xx

 

Spring around the corner...

We've had a wek of beautiful spring weather, blue skies and sun that warms your back...

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I bought new cross-trainer shoes for walking as my old ones were losing their tread and I skidded on the bitumen the other day. After work, I got all kitted up - 3/4 gym pants, fluoro Tshirt, new shoes and my iPod. Away I went, just for 30 minutes. Lovely sunshine!

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This is the lemon, cucumber, ginger and mint water that I am trialling. I steeped it overnight and had a glass first thing this morning. Not horrid to drink so I will drink the rest over the day.

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I made Thai green chicken curry for dinner as thats what huz requested. Deeelicious!

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Hoping to prune a few roses this arvo, but I need to take it easy. My neck is getting better but I am nursing sore muscles from a very deep, deep massage I had on Wednesday. So slowly, slowly 

does it....

Cheers- Joolz xx

 

 

 

 

Through the week...

I've had a chippy choppy week, using the Dicer Express...

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It made great chips which I drizzled with bit of olive oil and sprinkled with Moroccan seasoning. 

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Yum!

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Do you like sardines? I've been told to eat more oily fish for bone, muscle and heart health...

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I flake them up then add worcestershire and tomato sauces, salt and pepper. Spread on toast, its delicious (or an acquired taste, you decide)!

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This entire fruit salad was made using the dicer - strawberries, banana, apple, orange and kiwi fruit...so good!

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I did a  stir fry cooking demo at Weight Watchers and used the dicer on a few of the veggies.

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It was really yum and even better was the fact there was enough left over for Gus' and my lunch!

Everyone liked it and we had the fruit salad with vanilla yoghurt for dessert. So healthy!

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I am going to give this drink a go, it cant hurt to try it!

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I thought this was a bit cute!

Oh well, thats all thats on my phone at the moment until I get into the kitchen and out in the garden again. Oh dear, my garden is a terrible mess. It always goes to rack and ruin each winter then I tidy it in spring and it bounces back. I have lots of bark chips to mulch with so the weeds will have a hard time growing back this time! Pictures to come when I start tidying.

Cheers - Joolz xx

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

A chopper and Chicken Pot Pies ...

I recently bought a Dicer Express - on sale in Woolworths for $25. 

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I tested it out on some carrot - it made short work of it!

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Sort of small batons, just right to go in my Chicken Pot pies. I used Beth's recipe 

http://baby-mac.com/2014/03/chicken-pot-pies/

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Always the veggie smuggler, I added celery, carrot and mushrooms to the recipe.

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I fried off some speck then added in the leek, carrot, garlic and celery and fried them off until tender. Then followed the recipe adding the chicken, stock and cream etc.

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Served with a simple salad, they were very delicious. Another recipe printed off and filed for later use.

Cheers - Joolz xx

Nice family weekend ...

We travelled to Adelaide on Friday to see our girls and have a busy weekend.  First up, off to the football at the new Adelaide Oval complex.

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We stuffed up a bit as we (Gus) left it too late to get ticketed seats.  General admission to a game where there are 55,000+ people is not fun. We found seats right up the back of the stand, nosebleed seats!  Carlton lost to Port Adelaide in a massacre! We left at 3/4 time and walked to a nearby pub to drown our sorrows.

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Adelaide, city of churches!

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Saturday lunch - nachos a la Joolz...

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Then it was off to watch Kirby (GK) play netball out at Santos Stadium...  I did the mumsy thing and scored for her team.

Then it was home at 5pm to get ready to go to Grease, the musical.  It was a fantastic show and we all enjoyed it.  A good laugh and the singing and music was spot on.  All characters played their parts well. I loved Todd McKenny as Teen Angel and John Paul Young was a great Johnny Casino, even incorporating Love is in the Air into the lineup. Bert Newton was a cute Vince Fontain and Rob Mills and Gretel Scarlet made a great Danny and Sandy.

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Roast chicken for lunch today - I cheated slightly and bought roast chook and just did the roast veggies in the oven.

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Its been a lazy day today - just lounging around.   I did make these Weekender biscuits http://simplyjoolz.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/weekender-biscuits-and-pumpkin-lasagne.html  though.  Tonight we are going into the city to have dinner and catch up with friends.

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I will need to go home for a rest, I think!

Cheers - Joolz xx

 
 

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