RASPBERRY YOGHURT BREAD

I have been experimenting with my Yoghurt Maker as well as my Bread maker and decided to combine the two.
  Below you will find the recipe for my Raspberry Yoghurt Bread.  It is not a very sweet bread but you can definitely taste the raspberries and the yoghurt.

200ml water
150gr berries & cream Greek Yoghurt  (you could use any yoghurt.  I used my homemade)
50 grams of berries (I used frozen)
1 tablespoon sugar
550 grams of premix bread flour.  ( I buy defiance white bread mix)
2.5 teaspoon of yeast.

Place all the ingredients in the breadmaker in order with water first then ending with the yeast.  My breadmaker makes a 1kg loaf.  My program on my breadmaker is for Yoghurt Bread but it was on for 3.45 hours.  My bread maker is a Tefal.  If you are not sure which one to use why not just use the kneading section of your bread maker then place in a tin in the oven.

Happy bread making.  I quite like the taste with the yoghurt.  It gives it just this slight sourness then the taste of berries come through.

ENJOY!

Fresh bread and Tomato Relish.

Sarah presented me with a brand new bread maker last week and I can't stop using it.  I have had a breakmaker in the past but I think I used it once.  Now the new one can make jam and jellies in it.  Wow have they come up in the world.  I make our bread each night when I come home and the boys love it.

While I was making the bread last night I decided to use up the rest of the tomatoes and make some relish.

Sue's Tomato Relish.

1.1kg ripe tomatoes (roughly chopped)

3 Capsicums  

2 large onions chopped.

400grams sugar

600ml white vinegar

2 cloves of garlic grated

handful of sultana's

1/4 teaspoon chilli powder

1 teaspoon of curry powder

Chargrill the capsicums in the oven at 180 until the skin turns black.  (20-25 min)

When cool enough to touch peel of the skin.

Chop up capsicum.

Combine all ingredients into a saucepan.  

Bring to a boil stirring until sugar is dissolved

simmer for about 1 1/2 hours until it thickeners.

Place in sterilised jars.

Makes 4 medium size jars.

Best buy in ages

Our home is quite big with 4 bedrooms, ensuite, family/dining, lounge room but the kitchen is another thing.  I love to cook and when we looked at this house I didn't really take much notice of the kitchen cupboard or bench area.  Our kitchen is in the middle of the house and has NO kitchen bench space or cupboard space.  Lately since returning back to work I have been able to upgrade my kitchen utensils including a large set of Scan Pan Saucepans.  With nowhere safe to put them I have been worried that a lid would break.  Glass lids and tiled floors aren't the best mix.

I had been shopping around for a cupboard and really like the wood buffets but most of them I found were around $600.  Well checking out Ebay on Sunday Night a lady from Sandgate listed this beautiful solid wood buffet for only $200.  It is now at home ready for a clean then will be used to store so much.

The best buy I have had in ages.

Sue  

Thank you mum

My mum turned 80 this year and even though she didn't want to celebrate since we had just lost my little sister we felt Lisa would want us to celebrate mum's birthday.

My mum means so much to me and has played such a big part of my life.  I don't think she realises how much.  Mum basically raised us 4 girls.  Our father,even though he provided the basics it was our mum that gave us the love and affection we all needed growing up.  Mum has devoted her whole life to her family.  Dad was very strict and tough on us girls and mum was the one that kissed us better when we were hurt.  Dad died when I was in my teens after battling 10 years of cancer so mum raised us.  Money was tight but we never went without.  She has taught me so many things over the years.  Material possessions mean nothing compared to family.  Having a loving family means everything.  This is one thing she has taught me and I do believe this today.

Mum has had a hard life.  Losing her twin sister 40 years ago.  In the last 20 years she said goodbye to her first grandson, her eldest daughter, her mum, her sister and her youngest daughter.  Mum has always had so much strength and if you knew the life she has lived she is truly an inspirational woman. 

Mum is now suffering from Parkinsons Disease.  So hard for her and my sister and me.  So hard to see her so frail.  Those people who know about Parkinsons will know the different stages sufferers go through.  It is hard to see a person who has been so strong thoughout your whole life now break down in tears.

Mum I love you and promise to be there as much as I can for you.

THANK YOU MUM FOR BEING MY MUM.

When was the last time you told your mum you love her. 
When was the last time you gave your mum a hug and a kiss.
When was the last time you spoke to your mum.

If it has been awhile why not let her know how you  feel.

To all the mum's in the world THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU.

Abundance of Tomatoes

What to do with a box of tomatoes.  Turn them in to pasta sauce.  While I was out and about yesterday I came across a large box of tomatoes in the fruit shop.  12 jars later and I now have a supply of Tomato Pasta Sauce in the cupboard.  They have all been preserved nicely in a water bath so no nasties can get into them.  Lovely homemade sauce instead of supermarket bought ones.  Quite proud of my achievement this weekend.

Sue

Better than Joseph's Techicolour Cape

Not much to say about this but truly amazing cape on display at Opsrey House.  Made by 2 talented ladies.

This colourful cape is heading up north soon so if you wish to have a look at it you will need to do it shortly.  The work and detail in it is truly amazing.

Sue

Cold winters night.

We have definitely had a few extra cool nights and I admit I sit here tonight with my flannies and bed socks on.  It has been awhile since I have had to pull these out.  You know how it is if you are over 40 and you suffer from the hot and cold flushes during the night.  I am truly surprised I haven't caught a cold this winter yet.  One minute I am covered in blankets and the next I am throwing them off.  Well last night the blankets stayed on and the bed socks and I slept solid until 6am when I had to get up for work.   I have to admit I really wanted to snuggle back under the blankets this morning as it was a very cool 7 degrees here.

So another cool night tonight and I had a craving for some old fashion homemade pudding.

Rice Pudding was on the agenda so I managed to make up my own recipe below.

2 cups milk
1 cup rice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup raw sugar (white is fine)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan except the cinnamon.  Gently boil and stir frequently to make sure it doesn't burn and stick on the bottom of the saucepan.  If it thickens to quickly add more milk.   Keep cooking until rice is cooked.  This normally takes anywhere between 30-45 minutes.  When cooked stir in the cinnamon and turn off heat.  Your Rice Pudding is ready to serve.  For something different why not add some stewed apples or any other fruit. 

I love mine with prunes.

Vegie Patch

Well certainly haven't had time for photo's today of the new vegie garden but hope to post some later in the week.  It has certainly been a busy Saturday will planting many winter seedlings in our new vegie patch.  I have had major problems with the local cats in the area.  The back and front yards smell of cat.  It has become a major issue here at home.  I love cats and have my beautiful Lucy (burmese) who is nearly 11 year old who now resides on the inside of the house.  Unfortunately  the neighbourhood is full of tomcats who feel the need to deposit in my new vegie gardeen.  I have now covered our vegie patch in sugarcane mulch hoping that they won't leave their daily deposits. 

This morning we planted Peas, Purple Carrots, Beetroot, Radishes, Celery, Cauliflower, Broccoli and Cabbage so I am hoping we will have an amazing winter crop of fresh vegies.

Does anyone else have problems with local cats.  If so please let me know how you handle them in your garden.

It has been a beautiful winters day here today.

SueX

Do you have a bucket list?

Its been awhile since my last blog and plenty has happened.  Being back at work is the major change in my life.  Part of my job is annual meetings for the case load of people I have and setting new goals with them for the next year.  I actually has me thinking about what I have achieved in my life and things I still want to do.  The highlights of my life journey is my marriage, my children and my grandchildren.  But there are many other fantastic parts of my life that I will always treasure but the list is huge.  With this in mind I thought what do I want from the next 40-50 years of my life so I decided to list them as my BUCKET LIST.  

The first question is DO YOU HAVE A LIST?

1. Ride in a hot air balloon
2. Go para-sailing
3. Visit King Island
4. Go to Ireland and find my family history
5. Buy my own little block of paradise.  (A couple of acres.)
6. Be as self-sufficient as we can be.
7. Be at my grandchildren's weddings.
8. Learn how to make cheese.
9. Learn how to crochet.
10. Run naked through a forest.
11. Eat at the most expensive restruant
12. Own a Louis Vuitton Handbag
13. Play in snow
14. Go on a cruise
15. Holiday in Canada

This is my list.  Why not make one for yourself and share.