Yum - Anzac cookies

ANZAC COOKIES

So I'm a little tardy in posting these up......
but regardless of the date these lovelies are enjoyed anytime of the year however you will find special significance on and around Anzac days for countless Aussies and Kiwis.
Anzac day falls on the 25th April every year and is a day of rememberence for those that gave their lives in world war 1 especially at Gallipoli, Turkey in  1915.
Apparently these little treats were sent to loved ones to keep the spirits up and as a reminder that they were sorely missed back home!
Well that's my recollection anyway...I'm sure the is a much more historical and factual account!!

Of course my monkeys love the standard anzac cookie but in an attempt for an healthy option I tried
these little babies via The Healthy Chef ...Therese is awesome!!
With my own take on them of course ... love a choc drizzle !
Reminds me a bit of "Kingstons" the ultimate treat in the cookie tin when I was growing up!

busted !

BEEN TOTALLY CAUGHT UP ON PINTEREST...please except my apologies!!
Can't quite believe it's half way through the year and that means summer and Christmas will be here before we know it....I truly hope so as its soooo wintery and miserable (weather wise) here in Sydney at the moment!

Chicken pie for dinner tonight...and in honor of all things chicken here (sorry for those i may have offended!) is a shot of the most gorgeous chicken I have ever laid eyes on....he was just so gorgeous but a little bit shy!!

Go bars

 Muesli Go Bars
 

Ready to grab and eat on those mad mornings getting out the door on time or those days you realise you haven't eaten lunch - eat a few of these bars, an apple and your good to go till next time you remember to eat... hopefully something delicious and lovingly prepared !!

This is a quick and easy recipe and can be made with that muesli you bought last month on a whim and have only eaten once or twice...huhhmmm this post is giving a bit too much insight into a day in my life...!
Of course if you're not prone to muesli whims of fancy just as easy to make with rolled oats and a mix of your desired dried fruit/nut combo....just make sure it equals 2 cups - easy!

This recipe inspired by the fabulous Smitten Kitchen

2 cups toasted muesli - I used the delish one from The Boat House Palm Beach
2 Tbs cinnamon sugar - caster sugar mixed with cinnamon to taste...we always have some ready to make cinnamon toast, an occasional breakfast treat for the kids.
1/4 cup flour - I used brown rice flour to make me feel healthy but any will do to bind the muesli crumbs
6 Tbs melted butter - or coconut oil
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup maple syrup - yum yum!
1 Tbs water

* combine dry ingredients then add wet ingredients'
* line a small baking dish with baking/parchment paper
* press mix into dish and flatten out for even cooking
use a smaller deeper pan/dish if you want high bars
I used a 20cm x 15cm ceramic baking dish so mine were quite flat
* bake 160c 20 mins
* cool in dish then wire rack - I found it easier to cut whilst a little warm.

Keep on hand in sealed container for those GO times

Blueberry banana muffins

Delicious - yes

Healthy - yes

Easy - yes 

and .....the kids loved them!

These little babies went in lunch boxes for a good week or 2!

Searched high and low - via google of course - for a great healthy blueberry muffin and after a bit of tweaking I am happy to say....WINNER!

 2  mashed bananas                   Mix banana, sugar, egg + oil/butter

1/4 c brown sugar                       Add dry ingredients then blueberries

1 egg                                          Put batter in muffin cases  then sprinkle with raw sugar

2 Tbsp yoghurt                            -  gives them a lovely crunch

1 tsp baking powder                    Bake mod oven (180C )

1/2 tsp salt                                  15 mins for mini muffins

1 c wholemeal flour                    18-20 mins for large muffins

1/2 c plain flour                          

1/3 c coconut oil                           

     or melted butter                      makes 12 large 36 mini

1 cup frz blueberries                   

Japanese Crackers with Edamame Dip

OK- above pic has nothing to do with anything - just some  fun colour!

Japanese Crackers with Edamame Dip

DIVINE!!!!!

Can't wait to try these.....

Please check out the amazing gals at spoon fork bacon....love that name !

Not only delish recipes but absolutely stunning photography!

Lets keep this our little secret!

 This Sunday found us at Walsh Bay - a hidden gem of Sydney on the west side of the Harbour bridge..... walsh bay precinct
The long neglected finger wharves were redeveloped a number of years ago and is now home to a fantastic array of cultural pleasures inc Sydney Dance Co, Sydney Theatre company to name a few i we heard this fantastic tune coming out of one of the dance studios that can't help but make me think of summer  marc evans - given me joy
plus fantastic contempory sculptures dotting the wharves which are great to walk around - miss pops loves to walk around the edge (tightly held on to by her daddy) which I truly can't bear to watch!
The area is very quiet other than a few dancers dashing to classes, bike riders and locals....the apartments that are now housed in the wharves are quite spectacular...in a million dollar, have your own jetty kinda way!
 

We discovered this hidden gem after we had walked across the bridge and wandered down to the water in search of some lunch which is when we discovered VENTUNO... fantastic pizzas, gorgeous views and excellent service all set in the relics of the old wharves' wharehouse.
It is fast becoming our new favourite weekend lunch spot....shhh dont tell any one - lets keep it our little secret!

Dreaming of lazy days....

A day, a week, a month....where has the time gone ?!

School started here and basically I've just come up for air!

Year 4 for mr monkey and first steps into kindergarten for miss pops.... and I find myself with barely a minute to spare - so much for that 'free time' I was planning on !

However I have managed to squeeze in a few new pursuits:

* indoor rockclimbing -what can is say but ARGH so scary but so fun and what a workout!

thanks Jen and thanks Climbfit.

* beautiful coastal bushwalks in the morning...Sydney harbour - you are so gorgeous!

* delish new local cafe that I only just discovered...to die for sour cherry danish (the mini ones of course!)

 

la banette via polkadot cafe collection

Though I have to say life is very good and with the odd tear/meltdown (all of us guilty!) week 3 of the school year is behind us and I have on good report, that is the tough one to get through. So for all of you who felt the same need for clear skies and many deep breathes...
(and perhaps a few tissues!) this pic is for you...dreaming of a simpler time and lazy days

FINALLY...she is mine!

A long time I have coveted this delicious caramel clutch from the queen of such things simple and stylish claire vivier and she is finally here to share my journeys!!
welcome baby!
We were united by the ever efficient shopbop - along with some rather comfy bensimon tennis flats in gorgeous grey, having already owned several pairs and loving them, it was time for an update...slate grey is always stylish in my books.

And for those that wanted to hear the outcome re the avocado choc pud.....my monkeys are a little too wise for my liking! I loved it, they not so much !

Summer days...drifting awayyyy

Loving summer here in Sydney .... finally!
Been a long time coming but the last few days have been bliss....
27c sun shiny days spent at tennis camp - for the kids and some quiet catch up time at home + yumo *samiches for me before we hit the beach for some fun in the water ....as I said bliss!

* samiches for those that don't know = wonderful foods that little aussie kids take to school in their lunchboxes (or these days cooler packs!) Quite often contain the rare treat of vegemite or if your lucky devon and sauce...those days the sky was extra blue and sunshiny!
oh that we have to grow up !
I still fondly recall my samiches but these day prefer to leave the devon in the deli and try a more healthier midday meal...this one was beautiful new york rye bread (from brasserie bread...mmm mm) with oven roasted turkey, brie, cranberry sauce and for freshness and crunch, snowpea sprouts - yumo indeed!
Yes its a little close to the backend of Christmas but I love a turkey samich anytime

*some might even call them SANDWICHES.

Shsssh - don't tell the kids!

its made from avocado!
In my pursuit to get the family healthier - not doing too badly but there is always room for improvement! - i stumbled across a few ideas and recipes for choc mousse made from avocado.
trying it out tonight and lets see if my duplicity is a winner!
Inspired by Forgiving Martha

The tooth was the sign I needed to get into gear and start my journey into blog land.

Its been something I've thought about for awhile and in the past few weeks 2 of my favourite blogs TABLE TONIC and domestic recflections both spoke about how starting a blog had enriched their lives - so just do it!

HERE I AM!

I'm a little bit Martha, a little bit beach babe, a mum of 2 gorgeous little monkeys, a wife to an amazing man and I'm really into the simple things in life that make us smile :)

Ah sweet peonies...you make me smile!

my baby just lost her first toof!

We've been waiting waiting waiting.....and today it finally happened!
Miss pops lost her first tooth and is now a fully fledged big girl!

So I thought why not start my blog which has also been waiting waiting waiting to be written!

Welcome to my musings on enjoying a simply stylish life here in sunny Sydney, Australia.