Archives for November 2015

“I Love You to the Moon and Back” Artwork for a Child’s Nursery, Bedroom or Playroom …

November 29, 2015

  Nothing brightens a wall or room more than a lovely piece of artwork. So if you’re looking for a way to enhance the decor in your child’s nursery, bedroom or playroom, I’ve created this great little print for you to download ABSOLUTELY FREE! Simply pick up an inexpensive frame next time you’re at the shops, download, print and hang on the wall.   Each page has been designed to print on a standard A4 page and just remember to adjust your printer settings to print at 100%. This picture would also look fantastic in a larger frame with some matting to … read more

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala …

November 27, 2015

As summer becomes a distant memory, the nights are definitely getting cooler. I love this weather because the days are still pleasant and the nights are now perfect for slow cooked comfort food like this Chicken Tikka Masala. This is a gorgeous, rustic recipe that’s both easy and delicious. Enjoy! Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 900g chicken thigh fillets (without the skin) 3 small brown onions, peeled and sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 x 800g can diced (or crushed) tomatoes ½ cup Tikka Masala … read more

Kitchen Hints and Tips # 9 … How to Prevent your Cakes, Cupcakes and Muffins from Burning on the Side and Bottom …

November 25, 2015

  Do you ever find yourself wondering why your cakes, cupcakes and muffins end up being crusty or appear burnt-looking on the side and bottom?   It can be very frustrating but here are some simple tips that might prevent this from happening:   Change your cake tins and muffin trays to a lighter colour. Dark coloured pans absorb and reflect more heat, whereas light coloured pans absorb and reflect less, therefore, a lighter coloured pan is less likely to burn your baked goodies.   Get to know your oven. Not all ovens are the same and … read more

Trump International Hotel, Las Vegas, USA …

November 23, 2015

  For those of you that are new to the blog, in October, hubby and I travelled to Las Vegas to attend a friend’s wedding. We stayed at three hotels while in Vegas and you can read about our first night at The Luxor here, followed by 4 nights at The Cosmopolitan here. On our final night in Vegas, we weren’t able to extend our stay at The Cosmopolitan, so we checked into the Trump International Hotel and boy, were we impressed.   Trump International is a 64-storey hotel with just over 1200 rooms. It’s located about 200 metres off the Strip, and although that … read more

Slow Cooker Chocolate Christmas Pudding …

November 21, 2015

As long as I can remember, our family has always served a traditional Christmas Pudding on Christmas Day. It’s such a tradition that we even get together, about 6 weeks before Christmas, to make our puddings in cloths using a fourth-generation recipe that our kids are now learning. After the puddings are prepared and cooked, they’re hung in the garage so the flavour can really develop, you can read more about that here. Sadly though, the traditional Christmas Pudding doesn’t appeal to everyone and most kids will usually turn their noses up when it’s served. … read more

M & M Christmas Cookies …

November 19, 2015

These are a delightful little Cookie to make at Christmas time. M & M’s are available at this time of the year in Christmas packs featuring just the red and green M & M’s … perfect for Christmas baking. My kids love these cookies … I hope all the little Cookie Monsters living at your place enjoy them as well! M & M Christmas Cookies …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Serves: 24 Ingredients … ½ cup butter, softened but not melted 1 cup castor sugar 1 egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 ¾ cups plain flour ¾ … read more

Keeping Christmas Simple … WANT, NEED, WEAR, READ …

November 17, 2015

  We’re having a very simple, low-budget Christmas again this year … it’s something we’ve been doing for a while … and I love it!   It can be so tempting at Christmas to “go all out”, spend up big and spoil the kids, family and friends rotten … I’m guilty … I’ve done it! It’s so easy to get caught up in the frenzy with “SALE” signs, “Interest-free Offers” and fabulous Christmas displays all encouraging us to part with our hard-earned cash … yep … guilty again! But if it means having to deal with maxed out credit cards or having to nurse a “financial … read more

Festive White Chocolate Rocky Road …

November 15, 2015

Many years ago, hubby employed a lady in the Accounts Department who, apart from being a wizz with numbers, was also quite at home in the kitchen. Knowing that we had three little angels at home with a weakness for chocolate (not to mention yours truly) the lady in question would regularly send home delicious batches of Rocky Road. To say we were all in heaven as we devoured it was an understatement but my girls were devastated to learn one day, that this lady had resigned. Not too concerned about her career prospects, their biggest issue was what would happen to … read more

Mexican Layered Dip …

November 13, 2015

If you’re looking for a dip to impress everyone at your next barbeque, this Mexican Layered Dip is it! Full of flavour and easy to make, it’s a definite winner. If you have a clear serving dish, it’s ideal for this dip as the layered rainbow of colours will make it a feast for the eyes as well as your tummy! This dip is also perfect for an easy dinner on a Sunday night as it’s packed with fresh veggies, beans and avocado. Enjoy! Mexican Layered Dip …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … • 500g … read more

Pineapple and Coconut Muffins …

November 11, 2015

I’ve been on a bit of a baking frenzy recently and whipped up a batch of these Pineapple and Coconut Muffins. I don’t know why I haven’t made these in a while because they are so sweet and delicious and one of my favourites. I hope you like them … enjoy! Pineapple and Coconut Muffins …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 2 ½ cups self-raising flour ¾ cup castor sugar 1 cup desiccated coconut 1 cup light sour cream 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ cup vegetable oil 1 x 440g can crushed pineapple (including the juice – do not drain) … read more

Apricot Muesli Bars …

November 9, 2015

Muesli Bars are the perfect snack when you’re feeling peckish and an ideal treat to put in the kids lunchboxes. And I do love making my own because at least I know what goes into them. These Apricot Muesli Bars are soft, chewy and delicious … it’s so hard to stop at just one! Enjoy! Apricot Muesli Bars …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … ½ cup butter ¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed 2 tablespoons honey 1 ½ cups rolled oats ¼ cup sesame seeds ⅓ cup desiccated coconut ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ⅓ cup pumpkin seeds 1 cup dried … read more

Zion National Park, Utah, USA …

November 7, 2015

  Late last year, hubby and I attended a friend’s wedding in Las Vegas. We had an absolute blast and it was so much fun. After 6 days of craziness and neon lights, however, we were ready for a change of pace. We hired a car and drove to Springdale, Utah, where we stayed overnight before setting out the next day to explore Zion National Park. The drive from Vegas was only about 3 hours and very easy along Interstate 15. Springdale itself is a gorgeous, small, quaint township of less than 1000 people but whose population swells by the tens of thousands of people … read more

Hawaiian Pork Soft Tacos …

November 5, 2015

This is a fabulous twist on a traditional taco. which will definitely leave everyone wanting more. The recipe does call for pork but I actually used a mince from Coles that was a blend of 70% pork and 30% beef and it was delicious. Just be sure to cook off as much of the juice as possible otherwise it will make the soft taco sloppy to eat. Enjoy! Hawaiian Pork Soft Tacos …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 1 x 225g can pineapple slices, chopped into small pieces 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped finely 500g pork … read more

Organising What to Wear for a Long Distance Flight …

November 3, 2015

  Miss 17 recently travelled overseas to play netball. It was such an exciting time for her but she had to plan and pack very carefully as she would be travelling between two totally different climates … the oppressive heat of Singapore to the cold, wet winter of Paris. We busily planned what she would pack but also gave a lot of thought to what she would wear on the plane. Whether your 17 or 70, I think the same general principles apply. It’s about finding a balance between looking good and being comfortable, so here are my tips for organising your clothes and … read more

Tips for Choosing a Diary or Planner you’ll be Happy With …

November 1, 2015

  Around about this time every year I start looking for a new diary for myself for next year. I like a good, old-fashioned diary that I can carry in my handbag to help me be organised and remind me of all the things I need to remember. I personally prefer this to using my phone as I find it easier being able to open it up and see everything laid out … and also because technology and I don’t always get along!   Before I head to the shops, the first thing I do is take a few minutes to consider the diary I’ve been using and think about what I like and don’t … read more