Mrs Fixit

Did you think I didn't love you anymore when my link vanished from so many of your blogs?  I recently 'broke' my blog.  I had logged on during a quiet moment at work, (the lovely Liesa is happy for me to do this) and from then on, ALL the blogs that I follow showed Liesa's blog profile instead of Cuggles, sorry Liesy.  After getting no response from the Blog Help Site, I took matters into my own hands and think/hope I have fixed the problem.  Here's a picture of Handmade Heaven where I work part time.  Isn't it a cute little place?

Easy Dinner

Here's a great recipe that my Mum made often and that I have recently started making for my family.  We always called it Ki Si Mein at home, though I suspect the authentic chinese recipe (if one exists) wouldn't use curry powder!  Despite that, it is really yummy and easy, Toddler and Hubby will both eat it, a sure winner, and it has protein, veg and carbs all in one dish:

NANNY CUGGLE'S KI SI MEIN - SERVES 4

Ingredients

1 large brown onion, chopped roughly
2-3 sticks celery, sliced
1/4 large cabbage, shredded (I know, cabbage - trust me)
500g beef mince
1 tblspn curry powder
1 pkt chicken noodle soup, plus 2 cups water
2 - 3 tblspns rice
1 cup frozen peas

Method

1. Heat some oil in a large pan and cook onion till soft;
2. Add mince and cook til browned;
3. Add curry powder, celery and cabbage and stir well;
4. Add soup mix, rice and water, give it a good stir, then cover and leave on low heat for 20 mins, it should be simmering gently;
5. Throw peas in and stir, leave simmering for another 5 mins or until rice is cooked.

All done. 

*My toddler is a pretty good vege eater but I'm pleased and surprised she will go so far as to eat cabbage in this dish.  Hubby, well, he's a bit of a 'snobby princess and the pea' he will eat lots of things, but they have to be a certain way.  For a while I refused to pander to him but in the end I got jack of seeing him raiding the pantry for something other than what I slaved over.  That's when I sat down with him and wrote a list of all his favourite foods and recipes (he is a very good cook, so I'm compteting with those expectations) and started noting the other dinners I make which he will and won't eat.  Saves money, time and frustration all round.

Oh Knickers!

How is this for charity?  A lady in Haiti recently adopted 5 orphaned kids and an Ipswich local, Amanda is doing her bit to help.  Amanda makes these really cute knickers (see pics here) and is giving her knicker profits for the month to her friend who adopted the kids.  If you haven't got your ladies or kids size knickers yet, come into Handmade Heaven in the Old Flour Mill or contact Amanda on her facebook site.  Good on you Amanda, you're an inspiration.

Another Cuggle in the Oven

Yep I'm pregnant again.  : )

This little Cuggle is due mid August.  We're waiting until baby is born to know if it will be a little brother or sister for Toddler Cuggles.

I've been very lucky and have felt really well throughout the first trimester - just incredibly tired.  We're at 20 weeks now and I have much more energy back.  I find myself spending ALL of it each day as I know there's not long to go before the tiredness will return, and then there will be a new baby to love.  

xxx Mummy Cuggles.

Birthday Girls!

Our beautiful baby girl, Toddler Cuggles, is 2 today.  Hubby Cuggles and I went a bit overboard with presents but the squealing and wide eyes at 6.15am were worth it.  Our other gorgeous girl, Puppy Cuggles turned 1 yesterday so she will enjoy a lovely cupcake this afternoon with the rest of us.

(I'm hoping my cupcakes which are yet to be iced will look like this, the recipe is from my fav cupcake book, Crabapple Bakery Cupcake Cookbook 2007).

We've had a great morning, playing with all the new things, including this slightly wonky handbag that Mummy made late one night and which has already been carted to the butcher and back filled with books.

I think I've been a really good Mummy today, so I'm off for a well deserved cupsy.  : )

 

Kicking and Screaming

Not Toddler... me.  Kicking and screaming I've ended the boycott and finally joined facebook!  No idea what I'm doing but have somehow managed to create a fan page and link it to this blog, and seem to be a fan of myself!  Hmm, modest.  Gawd, this calls for a middle of the day cuppsy. 

We saw a baby Owl

We saw a real live owl this morning!  Toddler Cuggles and I visited our favourite shop this morning (who happen to be having a giveaway btw) and saw a baby owl with beautiful big brown eyes.  He was sitting on the other side of the railing at the back stairs.  We had a good close look at him before Toddler got excited and scared him away.  No photos I'm afraid, but here's a Cuggles Owl I made a while ago.