Charlotte's Dedication

Back on the 10th December, 2011 (I told you I was behind with posts!) Charlotte was dedicated at Nunawading Seventh-day Adventist Church by my father, who is a retired pastor. He also dedicated Grace in 2010.

Before the service, we were able to show just a few photos on a powerpoint, but not the slide show with backing music we had done for Grace.

Unfortunately I don't have any photos of us all up the front, but I can assure you we looked great! Charlotte had a rusk sticking out of her mouth like a cigar, but it kept her quiet ... up until she dropped it on the floor just before the prayer. With so many people watching I didn't think I could pick it up and stick it back in, so she was a little bit noisy just towards the end. But what do you expect from an 11-month old?!

After the service, we had some friends around for lunch. Most contributed a yummy dish to our buffet, and it was a pretty low-key, relaxed event. A bit different to the big party we had for Grace's dedication!

The other thing that was different was the cake. Not having the spare cash to afford a bought one, I tried my hand at making one instead. It was a Greens Chocolate Mud Cake packet mix, which was delightfully moist. The exterior looked a bit amateurish, but not bad for my first effort, I thought!

The girls seemed excited by it, and the kids definitely lined up while it was being cut to sample a piece.

I was pleased with the little take-home gifts I made for the people who came to lunch. They were cranberry and white chocolate cookies (bought from Safeway, I have to confess!) in little bags, with a sticker that included a photo of Charlotte.

It probably isn't easy to read on the photo, but the text reads:

"I was placed in your care from birth. From my mother's womb you have been my God." Psalm 22:10

It is my hope that Charlotte will never experience a time of not knowing God and his incredible love for her. I grew up that way, and feel very fortunate to have done so. I hope I can show her that she is very special, that God has a plan for her, and that He is always with her. I can't think of a better legacy to leave a child.

Christmas Decorations 2011

There wasn't a themed decor at our house this Christmas. No colour co-ordinated decorations. Nothing breakable. My precious souvenir and gift decorations from overseas stayed in their boxes. But I was quite happy with it that way.

Instead, we went for handmade (mixed in with other bits and bobs).

Grace and Grandma painted and put stickers on some shapes to hang on the tree.

Our friend Margaret from Sabbath School knitted little bears and rabbits for us.

Dylan and Owen in England were assisted by their mum Sarah to make some beautiful personalised baubles for Grace and Charlotte.

There was even a decoration Charlotte made at childcare.

We strung the Christmas cards we received across the stone fireplace like last year. At first it seemed ambitious having three strings up, but we filled up four again. And that was our Christmas corner!

You'll note the play pen protecting Charlotte from the tree (and vice versa)! And the stockings hanging from Grace's new kitchen because I wasn't sure where else to put them.

One final note. I haven't got a picture of it, but this year I purchased the Fischer Price Little People Nativity Set. I can't recommend it highly enough. Grace played with it for hours, pressing the angel to make the star shine on baby Jesus and the music play. And it is completely children-who-like-to-chew-things-or-throw-them-on-the-floor friendly!

New Year's Resolutions

Recently, I've tried my best not to make any set resolutions for each new year that comes. In the past I was far too ambitious and idealistic, setting myself up for failure.

I did break my rule slightly, and set myself one small goal last night ... to be sound asleep when the clock struck 12! Unfortunately, despite being in bed by 10:00 pm that didn't happen, thanks to some noisy neighbours with fireworks, and a little girl with three teeth coming through at once. Which just goes to prove my point!

That said, the start of a new year is a great time for reflection and evaluation, and I'm not averse to some "guiding principles" for the coming year.

When I started thinking about this last night, the first thought that came to mind was "survive"! I have friends who resolved last year to cook their way through a new recipe book. And I have read the blogs of people who do a craft project a day for a year. What fun things to do! But I don't have the time, or energy.

In 2012 I will be moving house (in less than three weeks!), and giving birth to my third child. I'll continue to work half time, and look after two toddlers. I'll work with Neil to design our new home, and sort out all our things ready to move into rental accommodation while it is built. I'll keep helping out in the Beginners Sabbath School at church, do my best to be a good wife and mother, and try to keep in touch with family and friends. I'll turn 40. I'll try to do regular blog posts (you may have noticed it slipping in the last month or two). And I think I'll be exhausted!

My resolutions for 2012 won't include any new activites. They'll be about the basics. How to do what I'm already doing better.

Here are my four "guiding principles" for the year ahead:

Respect my body. 
This doesn't have anything to do with losing weight, or even exercising. It just means I will try to listen to my body, and give it what it needs. Instead of forging ahead with what needs to be done, I'll rest when I need to. I'll be more aware of what my body is doing, both for me and for my unborn baby. I'll manage the gestational diabetes and pregnancy symptoms as best I can. But most of all, I'll be kind to myself. I'll recognise that what I weigh and how I look are not as important as how I feel and how I make others feel.

Improve my parenting skills. 
Particularly discipline. It is the one big area I struggle with. Now that Grace is approaching three, I'm finding it harder and harder to be consistent, and withstand her tears and tantrums. I'm not sure how I'll do this, but I'll try. Maybe read some books. Maybe go to a course. Feel free to offer suggestions!

Spend more time with my husband.
With all the things we're doing, and our completely opposite time clocks, it is becoming harder and harder for Neil and I to spend quality time together. But I'll try and make it a priority this year. And I'll try to make sure (oh-oh, here comes a set resolution!) we have one date night a month.

Spend more time with God.
Again, with such a busy life, personal devotional time is rare. Any personal time is (when was the last time I showered or went to the toilet all by myself?)! I could try and get up earlier, but I think the key here is to find ways to spend time with God during my other activities. Waiting until we're alone means it just doesn't happen.

So there you have it. That's what I'll be striving for this year. I'll let you know how I go.

In the meantime, I have a few posts waiting to be written ...

Christmas Dinner Recipes

As promised, here are the recipes for the two main savoury dishes I make each year for Christmas.


Sweet Onion & Ricotta Cheesecake with Cranberries & Sage


This is a recipe by Celia Brooks Brown, one of my favourite cookbook authors. Her book 'Entertaining Vegetarians' (Pavilion Books, 2003) remains one of my favourite recipe books of all time. I love how it is divided into events, with a sample menu for each one. And there are some really simple and yummy recipes. This is one of them.


Ingredients:


1 kg fresh ricotta cheese (best from the deli, so it isn't too watery)
3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing and drizzling
350g onions (approx. 2 large), chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
10 fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped
4 eggs, beaten
6 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper
150g/1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries (or recently I've been using craisins, which works well too)
55g cracker crumbs, finely crushed
whole fresh sage leaves, to garnish


Method:


Preheat the oven to 190º C. Place the ricotta in a sieve and stand over a bowl or the sink. Leave to drain thoroughly while you cook the onions.


Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a low heat. Add the onions and cook gently, stirring frequently, until very soft, but not coloured. Add the garlic and sage and cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.


Beat together the drained ricotta, eggs, Parmesan, salt and pepper (ideally in a food processor) until totally smooth. Stir in the onion mixture and cranberries and mix thoroughly.


Brush a 22 cm springform tin generously with olive oil. Sprinkle the cracker crumbs evenly over the bottom and sides, then pour in the ricotta mixture and smooth the surface with a spatula. Garnish the top with whole sage leaves and drizzle a little olive oil over the top, especially the sage leaves. Place on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes - 1 hour, until firm and golden. Leave to cool for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a serving plate. Serve warm or cold.

Cheese, Cashew and Walnut Roast


I found this recipe a few years ago, when searching online for vegetarian nut roast recipes. It was contained in an article in The Guardian (UK) in December, 2006 written by Julia Ponsonby. It comes from a recipe book entitled 'Gaia's Kitchen' (2000), which is a collection of the most popular recipes from Schumacher College in Devon during their first 10 years.


This recipe makes quite a large quantity, and serves at least six. I am sometimes a little loose with measuring the ingredients, but it really doesn't seem to matter.


Ingredients:


175g onion, finely diced
175g chopped mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium red pepper, finely diced
2-3 sticks celery, finely diced
1 tbsp mixed herbs
250g cooked brown rice (about 100g before cooking)
110g walnuts, finely chopped
110g cashew pieces
5 medium eggs
175g cottage cheese
340g grated cheese (I use cheddar)
50ml chopped fresh herbs, incl. parsley, rosemary and thyme (I've never figured out that measurement!)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil


Method:

1. Sauté the onion and celery in olive oil until they begin to go transparent.

2. Add the mushrooms, garlic, red pepper, dried herbs, salt and pepper. Cook until mixture is soft, stirring regularly to avoid burning.

3. Combine the cooked ingredients with all the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

4. Line a 1kg loaf tin (or I use a flatter, wider baking dish) with baking parchment. The simplest way to do this is to use two pieces that will cross over on the base of the tin - a narrow one for the length of the tin and a wide one for the width. Fill to, at most, 7cm (3 inches) deep. Fold over paper, to help prevent drying out. If the mixture is too deep, the outside may get rather leathery before the inside is properly set. Avoid using ordinary, old-fashioned greaseproof paper as it lacks the non-stick properties of silicone parchment and this is a very sticky mixture. If you have to use it, make sure it is generously buttered.

5. Bake at 180°C for 1-1½ hours until firm. A knife inserted will come out wet but relatively clean showing that the eggs have set. Remove from the oven and allow to stand for five to 10 minutes before turning out and serving. Garnish with roughly chopped parsley. Carve into generous slices. Can also be served cold.


There you go! I've only included the metric measurements, but if you search online you'll find the original recipe with more details. Let me know if you give either recipe a try, and what you think. 

Friends

I am fortunate to have some wonderful friends, all over the world.

Tonight, I just want to briefly acknowledge two of them.

Nicole

Donna

Donna and Nicole have been my closest friends in Melbourne since I moved here 10 years ago. We have attended church together, socialised together, gone on walks, shopped at markets, had weekends away ... and done lots of talking. They organised a hens dinner for me, and were bridesmaids at my wedding.

Now I'm married, and have small children, things have changed a bit and we don't see each other as often. But even though I live a good 30 - 45 minutes away, each one regularly makes the trip to come over for a meal or a visit, and the girls love them both.

I'll always remember having my first major hand surgery while living on my own. I was unable to use my right hand for three months. Donna and Nicole brought meals, did my ironing, and provided a lot of other practical assistance to help me cope.

There are too many other examples to mention. Helping paint the fence of my new unit, listening and giving good advice regarding past relationship woes, encouraging my feeble efforts to exercise more ... I could go on and on.

Last night, Donna rang to ask if she could visit today. She came early afternoon, and played with the girls while we did a few jobs. She brought us a lovely dinner (including yummy dessert), and stayed to help me sort through and pack some boxes before going home. It's not the first time, either. I really appreciate the gesture of support and friendship.

Thanks heaps, Donna and Nicole. I think I've taken a lot more than I can give for awhile now. But I really value the friendship and support you continue to offer. You're the best!

Christmas Day 2011

Christmas Day started in our home around 6:00 am (as most days do), with Christmas stockings to be emptied ...

... followed by lots of presents to be unwrapped!

Grace spotted her toy kitchen straight away. It was a bit hard to wrap! She loves it, and has played with it for hours already. Many thanks to Grandpa for his superb assembly work.

Grace also loved the play dough toys Aunty Janelle and her family sent ...

... and looked lovely in the new top Mummy bought her (playing with Charlotte's new camera).

The morning was spent enjoying all the new toys (including Daddy's new coffee machine), while I prepared for lunch.

We had thought it would just be the four of us, but were really pleased to be joined for lunch by my good friend Nicole, and her sister Michelle. They spent Christmas with us two years ago, so it all felt very relaxed and like family.

About 12:30 pm we sat down to a lovely Christmas dinner (recipes will come in another post) which included:

• Sweet onion cheesecake with cranberries and sage
• Cashew, cheese and walnut roast
• Gluten steaks with homemade gravy (made by Michelle)
• Baby potatoes with rosemary and garlic
• Little corn cobs
• Honeyed carrots
• Steamed broccolini
• Roast pumpkin
• Roast cherry truss tomatoes
• Salad with orange, grapefruit and walnuts (I don't know it's official name, but it was a contribution from the girls and was very yummy)

After dinner, my wonderful husband achieved a miracle, and managed to convince both little girls to have a nap, at the same time, for about two hours! Bliss! I promptly went off for an hour's nap of my own (the best present I could have asked for!), and Michelle also had a rest. Neil and Nicole kindly cleaned up and solved the world's problems in our absence.

After waking up, Grace was delighted when Nicole brought out a gingerbread house kit. Together they assembled and decorated it, and were very proud of the results.

Daddy and Charlotte enjoyed watching the creation take shape, until it was all too much and they needed a rest.

Rosie felt the same way!

We hope no matter where you were, and what you were doing, you were also able to enjoy some special time on Christmas Day this year.

Early Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa

We have just said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa this morning after two fantastic weeks having them here with us.

Since they were going home for Christmas, we had an early celebration on Friday night.

Daddy and the girls got into the Christmas spirit ...

... and Grace loved the horse Grandpa made for her!

Charlotte soon got the idea of opening presents ...

... and by the end the room looked a bit like a cyclone had been through!

We left the mess for awhile to concentrate on a special meal, with our traditional baked ricotta with sage and cranberries; cashew, cheese and walnut roast with gravy; and roast vegetables ...

... followed by a not-so-traditional ice-cream pudding with chocolate and raspberries!

Charlotte didn't mind, and enjoyed feeding herself some yummy dessert!

We'll do it all again on Sunday, but next time it will be just the four of us.

We love Christmas!