Bye Bye April

April was a great month for me, lots of good things happened and even though I didn't accomplish all that I planned I still got heaps done:

• midterm tests,ü
• university assignments due,  ü
• school holiday fun with the Princess,  ü we crafted, we visited, we slept in, we talked, we laughed, we walked, we shopped, we had friends over, we had fun!
• a movie to go to,   never made it.
• a trip to Kaikohe for Easter,  went to the Cowboys and Whangaparoa instead.
• a concert to go to,  didn't get around to buying the tickets!
• an art exhibition to go to,  as above!
• heaps of crap to sell,  made a start on this and still going!
• pain drugs to wean myself off,  had two goes at this and my pain level still too high to not take the pain drugs!
• a writing project to resurrect,  moving right along!
• and exercise this broken down body! as above!

I did other stuff, lots of other stuff, I made my twin nephews their birthday gifts, will post this later, and also scrap booked a photo album for one of the Cowboys birthday gifts. Will do a post about that later on as well!  I did heaps of fluffing around the castle and have posts to do about that too. I've also cooked a lot, baked cookies, cakes and tried new recipes.

But mostly spent time with my two most fave people in the whole wide world,

her,

and him!

Come back tomorrow and see what I've got up my sleeve for May!

Rachael xo

Happy Sunday

Photo by the Cowboy

Rachael xo

Before's and Afters

Recently I've been in full nesting mode, fluffing the Castle!

I unpacked two boxes labelled "China Cabinet" (18 months and still not fully unpacked! lol )and became reunited with my engagement and wedding present blue Spode china (from when I was engaged and married to the Wasband)!

Which led to the kitchen shelves that did look like this,

to being fluffed to look like this!

Much prettier!

Ok, procrastination done, back to big fat essay on my teaching philosophy!

Rachael xo

Dinner Last Night

I tried another recipe from my Donna Hay cookbook.

Red Curry Roasted Vegetables
2 small sweet potatoes (kumara) halved
4 larges pieces pumpkin
2 zucchinis (courgettes) halved
2 TBSP Thai red curry paste
1/3 cup of coconut cream
vegetable oil for drizzling
basil and coriander leaves, thick natural yoghurt and steamed jasmine rice, to serve.

Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
Using a small sharp knife score the flesh of the sweet potato, pumpkin and zuchinnis and place on a baking tray lined with non stick baking paper.
Combine the curry paste and coconut cream and spread generously over the vegetables.
Drizzle with a little oil and roast for 30-40 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
Top with basil and coriander and  serve with steamed rice and yoghurt.

We didn't have it with the rice and I had a mishap with the yoghurt so didn't have that either! But absolutely delicious and again very cost effective, under $10 and easily feeds 4!

Rachael xo

I've Got Competition...

Rachael xo

Pepper & Garlic Fettucine with Ricotta

Posted for Jillian! 

Last night I cooked a pasta dish from my new Donna Hay cookbook, it was simple and delicious!

We had it with cooked sliced ham, cranberry and muscat jelly and a glass of red wine (which goes without saying).

It took about 15 minutes to cook and was very cost effective, approx $8 and we had it leftover for lunch today.

Recipe
400g fettucine (I used fresh but dried would be fine)
40g butter
4 gloves garlic (sliced)
1 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
1 cup torn basil leaves
1 1/4 cups (250g) fresh ricotta
finely grated parmesan to serve

Cook pasta in large saucepan of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and keep warm.
Add the butter, garlic and pepper and cook for 2 mins or until fragrant.
Return pasta to pan and toss to coat.
Stir through the basil and serve in dish or individual plates.
Top with ricotta and parmesan.
Serves 4.

Enjoy!

Rachaelxo

Welcome to the Castle!

I  have never posted photo's of the castle in one go so I got the Cowboy to take some photo's with his wide angle lens.

Here it is, in all it's day to day glory, please bear in mind these were taken early in the morning during the school holidays!

This is the foyer, it has 7 doors off it, the door on the right hand side is my front door, then cupboard under the stairs, linen cupboard, bathroom, the Princess's bedroom, kitchen and then the living room door from where this photo was taken. 

The bathroom is a multifunctional room, it serves as bathroom, toilet and laundry with a shower over the bath.

The Princess's room, she has her best friend staying hence the trundler bed and the mess!

The kitchen and dining room, we have breakfast in here and like most kitchens, when I entertain it's where we tend to congregate!

The living room looking down towards my bedroom. The girls and I were crafting which is why the dining room table looks like that!

The living room again, looking into it from my bedroom.

The ceilings are magnificent, this is the living room ceiling!

My bedroom, note the Cowboy made his side of the bed but not mine!

And finally my bedroom ceiling, and yes I do lie in bed staring up at it!

I have two sun-room's off my bedroom that were not photographed, they are just way to shameful for public viewing! lol

Rachael xo