This blog is on hiatus while I take time to re-evaluate my blogging direction.

Soul Food

20 February 2011

When I was a little girl, my mum's side of the family would come together at my grandmother's house for dinner on friday nights. With nine of us to feed, including four hungry children, Grandma always dished up a stellar meal. The one I remember the most was her spaghetti bolognese, which was my absolute favourite.

She would use a huge stock pot to boil the tubular spaghetti in and a large heavy based pot for the sauce. She'd start early in the afternoon. I believe the original recipe was a Sicilian one which came from a friend of hers. It had the most distinctive flavour, in part due to the inclusion of carrots and celery, but also because it was Grandma's Spaghetti, non could compare.

Long after the friday night tradition waned, my mother kept Spaghetti Bol on the weekly menu, adding her own touches. It was one of the first dishes I learnt to cook and over time my methods have changed too. These days I opt for an easy version, one that's quick to make and I know the boys will eat.

It starts with sauteing a small finely dice brown onion (gotta be brown they're sweeter), diced bacon rashers and chopped mushrooms.


Then add some mince.


Cook some of this.


Add both of these. (my boys don't like chunky bits of tomato)


You end up with this......


Tummy warming, memory invoking, nourishing, comforting, soul food.

This Saturday I'm grateful for.....

19 February 2011



Mr Mess

It's been a hectic week this week. The last thing I needed was an open home to prepare this weekend, but alas that's what was on the agenda. My dear thoughtful husband Mr Mess took yesterday afternoon off to help me contain the children and clean the house top to bottom. I love him so.

Join in at Maxabella Loves and tell us what you're grateful for this Saturday.

When.....How....?

15 February 2011



Just yesterday he was a little boy. The day before that a cheeky little toddler, the day before that he was my baby! When and how did he grow up? It's not possible that this BOY is my child.....is it?

Grade 2....He started Grade 2 today! It can't be true, I'm in denial. I must be having some sort of weird flash forward into the future.....right?

Mr Mess

14 February 2011

We're not big on Valentine's Day, we never have been. I think in our first year together there were flowers and gifts exchanged for Valentine's Day, but life took over and we'd mainly celebrate the day of lurrrve with a nice dinner and a bit of a smooch.

So it was a real surprise when Mr Mess came home today with these.....


Made me giddy as a school girl with her first crush. I still have the silly smile on my face.

Happy Valentine's Day.

An afternoon with The Dude

Happy Monday friends!

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend.

We've been busy getting ready for the first day of school tomorrow, so the weekend was pretty boring. Though The Dude, and I managed to spend a couple of hours playing together on Saturday afternoon.

We started out doing this....


Then I got seriously light headed from blowing bubbles so I put them away. The Dude's reaction was this......


His reaction to taking the above photo was this........


Then we had a cuddle and he noticed this........


When I explained it was a grass stain, he said "Why do the grass colour in my shorts for?" *Melt*

Then Daddy delivered him his big brother's remote control car and off he went.



I'm linking up with Scissors Paper Rock and Fat Mum Slim. Come and join in :)