Category — treats

Some days nothing works as well as a coffee to get you up and going.   It is such a known fact that coffee is idolised by our nations.  Don’t believe me?  Look here.

Coffee- Scrumptious drinks and treats.  This is from  Tonic Gifts.   Feed your addiction and drool over the pictures at the same time.

A little warning is a good thing,  I think that, in all fairness people need some advance notice of your passion.  Let people know your coffee state of mind in something like this t-shirt from T-Shirt Magic.   

Mums Night Out is an annual event presented by Amanda Cox and realmums.com.au. It is a night for mums of all ages to get out and have a good time together.

Mums’ Night Out! also plays host to the Real Mum of the Year Awards, where each year a “normal” Mum is presented with an Award - just for being a Mum. These awards are not for the perfect ’supermum’, they are for the normal, average mum who scoots through her days with her eyes closed and a grip on the kids. Why not nominate yourself or a friend for the title?

This is a night where you can get all dressed up for once and dance yourself silly. If you aren’t into dancing then you get to laugh yourself silly at everything that happens. Last years event was hugely successful and all the attendees have raved about the night. You will also get to take home a goodie bag full of stuff just for you.
When: 7.30pm Friday the 16th May 2008

Where: Ascot House, 50 Fenton Street, Ascot Vale.

Your ticket price includes: entry to the Real Mum of the Year Award Ceremony, a cocktail style party, including all food, drinks (wine & bubbles, too), tea, coffee, chocolates, dancing, a goody bag, and the perfect opportunity to get some time to yourself and catch up with friends. Most importantly your ticket price will also be supporting the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service.

Tickets are on sale now at Mums Night Out. Grab your girlfriends and go!

I visited My New Shiny Shoes blog on Australia Day and my eye was caught by the picture of a packet of delicious Tim Tams.  As an Australian who lived overseas for some time Michelle knows the foods that are associated with home.

Isn’t it funny that it is things like Tim Tams and Vegemite that we see as typical Australian food when we have such an incredible variety of tastes that are native to this land?

Food for Australia Day should really encompass the things we have come to know as Bush Tucker.  No, I don’t mean witchetty grubs and so on, although there is a nice supply in the woodpile!

Lemon Myrtle is one of my favourite native plants.  I love the scent of the leaves and the distinctive lemony-lime taste.  We have lovely native fruits such as the native limes,  raspberries and cherries.  We have delicious nuts like the macadamia.  We have edible flowers and some interesting native herbs and spices.   Now that many of these are commercially available there is no reason not to cook with them. 

So why don’t we cook with them?  Are we too strongly grounded in our European heritage?  Are we too stongly attracted by the Mediterranean and Asian influences that we see everywhere?   I am all in favour of trying out cuisines of all sorts but I think that we could include the flavours of Australia in that search, too.

If you don’t know where or how to start then why not try a place like Vic Cherikoff and Dining Downunder?  He carries a range of native spices, infused oils and sauces.  More importantly he also has some recipe books which use our native ingredients.   My choice would be the downloadable ebook called the Australian Menu Planning Guide which is great value at only $20.

Perhaps next Australia Day when we throw our good Aussie lamb chops on the BBQ we will have them seasoned with some gourmet Aussie spices as well.

For a good summary of bush tucker plants and where they grow visit Wikipedia, but don’t go out and help yourself as some plants can be poisonous.

As you have probably noticed, I love to read other blogs and see what is happening.  One of the blogs that I visit is Rainbow Designs, and once you see it you will know why. 

Rainbow Designs stocks the most beauttiful gifts  - sweets!  I was thinking about Valentines for those people far away from us, and what I could send.  I found this, and it is called “Hugs from Afar“.  Perfect.

 Isn’t is lovely?  There are many more to choose from, but this pretty  cow (not to mention the box of tasty treats) took my fancy.    

Rainbow Designs even carry non-sweet gifts for those who prefer something different. 

Or you could eat the sweets yourself and just give the hugs!

Ingredients

2 firm but ripe avocados, peeled and chopped into pieces
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups cooked, diced chilled chicken or smoked chicken
2 stalks celery, sliced
½ small telegraph cucumber, chopped
2 handfuls lettuce or salad leaves
½ cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 fresh peaches, sliced or substitute canned peaches
¼ cup mayonnaise or prepared creamy style dressing
freshly ground black pepper
2 – 3 tablespoons chopped parsley or fresh herbs

Method

Toss the chopped avocado in the lemon juice. In a large bowl place cooked chicken, celery, cucumber, salad leaves, tomatoes and peaches. Drizzle over the mayonnaise or prepared dressing. Toss gently to mix the dressing through. Divide the dressed salad between 4 plates. Top with the lemony avocado. Grind over black pepper and sprinkle with chopped parsley or herbs Preparation time: 8 minutes
Cooking time: No cooking required
Serves: 4

Recipe from the CSR site - full of recipes that you wouldn’t expect!

“When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.” Elayne Boosler

I think it must be time to shop! May Madness is a huge promotion put together with my fellow Business Mum’s and it is underway now.

We have banded together to bring you a multitude of specials from a multitude of businesses. There are discounts on photography, business coaching, gifts and virtual services.

The promotion comes just in time for Mother’s Day here in Australia, so what a good time to be shopping rather than invading another country!

Following on from my post a couple of days ago about chocolate, I thought that I’d introduce you to Rainbow Designs. Rainbow Designs is an online shop where you can buy all sorts of giftpacks full of sweets.

On her blog, Jacqui tells us that “Scientific research tells us that eating chocolate triggers the release of endorphins, natural opiates in the brain known to reduce pain and enhance one’s mood and sense of pleasure.” So go ahead and eat, knowing that a serene poppy makes for a happy home.

If you are more of a jelly bean person, have you ever wondered how they are made? Did you know that the flavour is in the shell, not the centre? Jacqui tells us all about the jelly bean .

For a wonderful selection of gift packs visit this clever store.

Forget love — I’d rather fall in chocolate!!!

Stress wouldn’t be so hard to take if it were chocolate covered.

Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays.

In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips.

Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don’t need an appointment

I hope this cheers your day. And buy me some some with caramel?