Buttermilk Scones...

Buttermilk Scones

2 cups SR Flour

pinch of salt

1 tblspn sugar

30gms butter, chopped

1 cup buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 220C. Grease oven tray or use parchment paper.

2. Sift flour into large bowl. Add salt and sugar the add butter and rub in lightly until it looks like bread crumbs.

3. Pour in buttermilk and mix in using a butter knife, mix to a soft and sticky dough.

4. Overmixing at this point will result in tough scones.

5. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly for 30 seconds. Press the dough out to form a round about 2cm (1 inch) thick. Cut into rounds using a scone cutter or floured wine glass. Brush tops with buttermilk.

Depending on your oven, bake for about 6-8 minutes then turn the tray around then bake a further 2 minutes until golden.

I turn mine out into a large colander lined with a clean tea towel. I wrap the scones up and this makes them softer rather than crisp on the outside (that's how my Mum taught me who was taught by my Dad's Mum when she was first married.) - Joolz

I have made this recipe several times now and it is fail proof and fool proof. Big fluffy scones everytime.

This recipe is from Rhonda Jean at

http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com

Enjoy - Joolz

Early morning gardening and a tidy home...

Bonnie cat was up early to help me do some gardening. Cat on a pole!
Feeling very pleased with myself. Got it all weeded and roses dead-headed by 9am.

This is sweet Tilly. I bought her from our local weekly market.

You can see she had 3 little kitties in her pockets.

This is our family/dining room. Neat and tidy for a change.

I love when I can tidy and no-one messes it up. Everyone was still asleep this morning when I took this pic.

Have a good week. We are having visitors from Melbourne for the Australia Day long weekend. Hope to do some four-wheel driving along the coast, maybe visit the Coonawarra for lunch at Hollicks and just chill out here a bit. Hope the weather is good.

Cheers - Joolz

Cupcakes, Scones and Mulberry Pie...

Cupcakes made by K18 - so pretty.
I made Buttermilk scones - get 'em while they're hot, they're lovely!

I am so excited - I have found a Mulberry tree (thanks Yas) that I can pilfer mulberries from. I haven't had mulberries since I was a kid. I went to the tree yesterday and half filled an icecream container with gooey fruit. I had the juice dripping down my arms. I stewed the fruit up with a bit of sugar then made this pie.

Ooh, the sauce is so rich and tangy - I could have licked the plate clean!!

Then 'A' made dinner - Garlic & Basil Chicken.

He split the chickens down the backbone and marinated them in

garlic, basil, butter and lemon juice.

The end result after being roasted in the Weber.

'A' also made a potato salad with egg mayonnaise, basil, garlic and sour cream & bacon.

- Joolz

Friday, the end of another week...

Chicken Caesar Salad -Ingredients: 2 small Cos lettuces, dressing, grated parmesan cheese, box of prepared croutons, 2 rashers bacon, chicken tenderloins/breast & flour tortillas.

Wash then chop 2 small cos lettuces up, fry off the bacon, drain/cool on paper towel. Add a little oil and brown chicken in pan, adding drizzle of honey and squeeze or lemon or lime juice just as it is finished.
In a large salad bowl, combine lettuce, bacon, croutons, dressing and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. I left the chicken out but this could be tossed through also.

We heated the tortillas, heaped on the lettuce mix, chicken and parmesan and tucked in.

Yummy Friday night dinner!

Have a lovely weekend - Joolz

(We have nothing planned so I will just be pottering around - maybe read a book, scrap book my photo album, make buttermilk scones and some biscuits, dead head roses and maybe attempt that linen closet!)

A yummy Mexican dish...

This recipe is from http://mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com/

The pictures are mine.

I'll explain the photos first then post the recipe below - the original recipe says Monteray Jack cheese but I use cheddar cheese and I also added kidney beans because I just love them. It is not a spicy dish but you could add chillies if you wanted.

Above is the pan with browned mince and onion, red capsicum, red kidney beans and mild salsa.
This is how the dish looks once cooked and ready to serve.
I served it with lettuce and tomato on the side with plain corn chips and sour cream.
Delicious!

MEXICAN POTATO CASSEROLE

4 medium potatoes, with peel
2 tblspn butter
2.5 tblspn taco seasoning mix
500gms minced beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup mild salsa
1 can red kidney beans
1/2 cup chopped capsicum (red/green)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Melt butter and add taco seasoning mix. Cut potatoes into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl. Pour melted butter mix over spuds and toss to coat.
Put potatoes into a lasagne dish/baking dish and bake uncovered for about 40 minutes in a moderate oven.
then stir...then bake another 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, brown mince and cook onion until soft, drain any excess fat.
Stir in salsa, capsicum and kidney beans and simmer for
5 minutes.
Pour mince mix over potatoes and stir through gently to combine. Sprinkle with grated cheese, bake uncovered for further 10 minutes to melt cheese.

Serve with corn chips & sour cream -
Nice warmed up for leftovers if there is any!

I hope you enjoy it - Joolz

I think I need new glasses...or a brighter bulb....

...in my walk-in-robe! Just before I left work last night, I noticed something a bit strange about my shoes. The left foot was wearing a navy slide from Summer 07 and the right foot was wearing a navy slide from Summer 08! Lucky no-one noticed. Lol!!

- Joolz

Results....

K18 received her first preference in the Uni offers - Bachelor of Management (Marketing) !!!

We are very proud of her and hope her academic journey continues on a clear path.

Well Done Kirbz!!