I KNOW, I KNOW....

it's been a while but I do have an excuse. I love school holidays and my kids take up an awful lot of my time when they are home. I mean I have to be chef, taxi driver, referee, craft mama extraordinaire, chief accountant (so much more to factor into my budget in the holidays) and mega cleaner. Whew!!! I'm tired just thinking of the last 2 weeks, now my babies are back at school, I'm back at work and can't wait to get some gardening and renovating done around here.

Yesterday I had a win!!!! I was looking through a second hand store when I saw the table and chairs I have wanted for a long time. I couldn't believe my luck and quickly bought them. Our old dining table is just way too big for the area we have, not to mention, completely the wrong style. I smile whenever I walk past my 'new' purchase and am seriously considering painting each chair a different colour. The fifth chair in the photo is one I have had for a long time and I think it looks awesome with the others.

I will sell off the old table as well as a few other antique pieces to an auction house in a few weeks. These pieces of furniture just don't fit into our home anymore, it will be sad to see them go but I really need some room.

Now for some new curtains........

SCHOOL HOLIDAY SNACKS #2

Lemon Jelly Slice

1/4 cup sugar
1 12 cups SR flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg white
cooking spray
TOPPING
1/2 cup sugar
2 heaped tablespoons custard powder
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup lemon juice (2-3 lemons)

Prehead oven 200 degrees. Place dry ingredients into a medium size mixing bowl. Melt butter and stir in egg white, pour into bowl mixing well. Lightly press into a slab tin that has been coated with cooking spray. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

To make topping: Place sugar, custard powder and water in a medium saucepan, whisk until blended. Add in lemon juice, stirring constantly until mixture has boiled and is thick. Pour over base while both hot. Once cooled, cut into squares.

This recipe is a little high in sugar for my liking but good for a treat.

Recipe taken from Too Good To Be True 1 - Annette Sym

SCHOOL HOLIDAY SNACKS

School holidays officially started today and I have decided to try out some new recipes for snacks. If the kids really like them, then I'll make them again for when school goes back. I was finding last term that I was making the same snacks over and over, so now is the perfect time to change that.

Today's snack: Jam Crumble Slice

2 cups self-raising flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup raw rolled oats
90g Flora Light margarine
1/4 cup skim milk
cooking spray
3/4 cup jam

Preheat oven to 180.
In a large mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients. Melt margarine, mix together with milk and add to dry mix.
Mix all ingredients together well. In a slab tin coated with cooking spray place a little more than half of the mixture over the base, pressing down with the palm of your hand. Warm jam slightly in microwave then spread evenly over base. Sprinle remaining dough over jam then press down with your hand until mixture is flattened. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on top. When cool cut into slices.

Recipe taken from Too Good To Be True 3 - Annette Sym

Another meal I found a recipe for and now make from scratch.

Curried Sausages. My family assures me that they taste heaps better than the ones I used to make. I have to take their word for it as I don't eat meat.

This is how No.2 son came in the door tonight after footy training.

Today he was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. Finally we are on the right track to helping him, the doctor we have been seeing this week has been wonderful, tests have been done and he is now trying to get used to using his puffer. The ventolin didn't help a lot tonight, but it's a trial to see what medication he needs in the future. When Lachie developed whooping cough in October last year we never dreamed we would be dealing with complications from it 9 months on. He has been incredibly sick at times and unable to train or play his sports which has been very upsetting for him as all he wants to be is a professional athlete when he gets older.