Archives for June 2015

Tips for Cleaning a Dishwasher …

  It may seem odd to think that you need to clean a dishwasher, after all, isn’t that what it’s meant to do … to clean things. But a dishwasher can get dirty just like any other appliance in the house. It’s also important to keep it clean so that it continues to function at it’s best, run efficiently and smell fresh. Your dishwasher can fall victim to stubborn grease and soap scum, limescale which can build up in the pipes, and filters can be blocked with food scraps but a little bit of attention will see it sparkle like new.   This is what I … read more

Easy, Peasy Pikelets …

Light, delicious, thick, fluffy pikelets … these certainly bring back memories from my childhood. Mum would usually make the pikelet batter before picking us up from school and then turn on the frypan to cook them as soon as we got home. I very occasionally also make up a pikelet batter before I go to bed, cover it, refrigerate overnight and then serve it for breakfast with loads of fruit … it’s a nice weekend treat. Raspberry jam and a little whipped cream are the perfect companion for pikelets but I try mostly to serve them with some lovely fresh berries … read more

How to Create a Currency Converter to Use when Travelling …

  Travelling overseas is exciting … new things to see and do, new foods to taste, new experiences to be had and usually some shopping to buy things either not available at home or some souvenirs to remind you of your trip.   But when you’re in another country dealing with another currency, it can be confusing and difficult to judge if you’re getting value for your money. Whenever I buy anything overseas I like to do a quick calculation to figure out how much I’m actually spending in Australian dollars so I can evaluate if what I’m buying is worth it. When … read more

Bacon, Zucchini and Vegetable Slice …

This is an absolute crowd pleaser that is on high rotation in our house. I love making this Bacon, Zucchini and Vegetable Slice because it will not only put a smile on everyone’s face at dinnertime but I always end up with leftovers for everyone’s lunch the next day. That saves me time and also gives the kids some variety so that they enjoy their lunches. This particular recipe is quite large so I generally cook it in two dishes … one for dinner and one for lunches. This is also a recipe that comes in handy for large family lunches and barbecues. It’s so quick … read more

Lamb & Vegetable Sausage Rolls … Homemade … and a Giveaway …

It’s hard to beat a good sausage roll, especially if it’s home made, and this recipe for Lamb and Vegetable Sausage Rolls is perfect for parties, lunches or a snack. Don’t be afraid to give them a go as they’re really quite easy to make … enjoy! Lamb & Vegetable Sausage Rolls … Homemade and a Giveaway …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 16 Ingredients … 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small brown onion, grated 1 small carrot, grated 2 sticks celery, finely diced 1 cup pumpkin, grated 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 ½ teaspoons fennel seeds ½ cup … read more

Simple Ideas for Organising Plastic Cards in Your Wallet, Purse or Handbag …

  I really do miss the days when my wallet only held money and maybe 2 or 3 plastic cards! Now when most people open their purses or wallets they seem overloaded with plastic cards of all kinds. There’s Library cards, Credit Cards, EFTPOS cards, Store Cards, Loyalty Cards, Gift Cards, Reward for Purchase Cards, Membership Cards and the list goes on.   So if your purse or wallet is groaning under the weight of all these cards and splitting at the seams, here are a couple of tips and suggestions:   Start by decluttering … empty your wallet/purse … read more

Apple Crumble Muffins …

I love muffins and I love apples. Put those two things together, I’m a happy girl and you come up with possibly the most amazing Apple Crumble Muffins ever! True … and they are even more amazing when you eat them hot straight from the oven. How do I know this? Because at least two of these find there way into my tummy before making it into the freezer. I love this recipe because it only uses a little bit of butter, yummy greek yoghurt which makes them a little healthier and they come out deliciously moist. And those chunks of apple once they’ve been baked add … read more

Aussie Beef Mince Pies …

There’s nothing more Aussie than a Meat Pie … rich, meaty filling enclosed in a delicious pastry crust … yum! So if you want to be able to whip up a home-made version, consider investing in a Pie Maker. I used to own a small Pie Maker that I bought at the Reject Shop for only $12.00 and it worked a treat. My only frustration was the fact that it only produced 2 pies at once. I recently decided to invest in a new Pie Maker that would make 4 pies at the same time … now I can get dinner on the table in half the time. I bought the Sunbeam Pie Magic Traditional Pie … read more

15 Easy Tips to Help Reduce or Prevent Food Waste …

  How much food do you find yourself throwing out at the end of the week? It breaks my heart and it’s something we’ve all done but a few simple tricks will reduce what goes to waste, which will ultimately save you money:   Meal Plan … start by creating a weekly Meal Plan then you will know what you are eating each night. Incorporate items into your Meal Plan that will need to be thrown out soon if not used.   Create a Family Schedule … then you will know how many people will be eating at each meal and know what quantities to … read more

Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks …

My slow cooker really is my best friend because it allows me to combine beautiful fresh ingredients with my choice of meat to produce delicious, hearty, healthy meals. It saves me heaps of time and also saves money because cheaper cuts of meat can be used. This is a yummy dish that will warm tummies in winter. It’s super easy and once you’ve bought the lamb shanks, most other ingredients will be in the pantry and vegetable crisper in the fridge. And the thing I love most about these type of dishes is that you can add almost any vegetable you like to suit your … read more

How I Put the Sparkle in my Mirrors in Less than One Minute …

  Do you hate toothpaste splatter all over your bathroom mirrors? Do you loathe looking through mascara, other makeup stains and shaving cream while trying to clean your teeth? Do fingerprints and tacky hairspray all over the mirror leave you wanting to pull your hair out?   Me too and if I had to create a list of all the things that drive me crazy around the house, this would be in my top 5!   But I’ve overcome the problem with a fairly simple solution … creating a routine of wiping the bathroom mirrors every day or two by using 2 microfibre … read more

Lemon Chilli Lamb Cutlets …

This is the perfect dish if you don’t want to spend ages preparing dinner or you’re having friends over for a barbecue. Don’t be put off by the chilli as it’s really quite mild and adds to the flavour of the cutlets. This is one of my family’s favourites … I hope you enjoy it too! Lemon Chilli Lamb Cutlets …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 12 (or more) lamb cutlets 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 teaspoons lemon rind 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ teaspoon ground chillli ¼ teaspoon salt Method … Combine lemon juice, lemon rind, olive … read more

Little Monkeys Bathroom Posters … Free to Download …

  I’ve created another set of fantastic posters for you of four common tasks that little people need to remember in the bathroom and toilet. When my kids were toddlers, posters like these were a fun way to teach them and remind them of simple things. To download, simply click on the “free to download” banner under each poster and print … totally FREE … laminate or frame and attach to the wall or tiles. I hope you like them.   If you have family or friends who you think would use these great charts/posters, please feel free to … read more

Honey Muffins …

Well, if you love honey as much as Winnie the Pooh, you’re going to love these little muffins. These are quite dense but so sweet and delicious. Enjoy! Honey Muffins …   Print Prep time 10 mins Cook time 18 mins Total time 28 mins   Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 12 Ingredients … 2 ¼ cups plain flour ½ cup sugar 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 egg 1 cup milk ¼ cup butter, melted ⅔ cup honey Method … Preheat oven to 180C (fan-forced). Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tray or line with cup cake wrappers. Combine plain … read more

A Simple Way to Clean Ceiling Fans …

  I don’t mind general house cleaning and have developed a weekly routine that covers most areas of the house. There are, however, a couple of jobs that don’t need to be done quite as frequently and one of those is cleaning the ceiling fans.   We live in Queensland and use our fans quite a lot, particularly throughout summer, and we have fans in the lounge room, the family room and each of the four bedrooms. They do tend to get quite dusty and, because I suffer from hay-fever, I try to keep the blades of the fans as clean as possible to prevent a huge … read more