Southern influence

Yesterday I got up and in a frenzy busted out some sweet potato and black bean chilli. I had a cup of beans leftover after soaking them to make a version of a recent Vegetarian Times recipe for Edamame and Black Bean Sliders ... me I had tortilla to use up (nothing comes in small packages here!), that is another delicious post in the making, but I was flummoxed about what to serve it with after a rice heavy week last week and I ended up giving these cornbread muffins a crack. Awesome, if a little on the sweet side, next time I will trust my instincts and reduce the maple syrup content more than I did this time!

Cornbread (Adapted from The Kind Diet cookbook)

1/2 cup maple syrup (I used half a cup and skipped the brown rice syrup)

1/2 cup brown rice syrup

1 + 1/4 cup almond milk

1/4 cup safflower oil

1 + 1/2 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1. Preheat oven 400F. You can use 9″ x 9″ baking dish, but I used 12 cup muffin tins instead.
2. Combine maple syrup, rice syrup, almond milk and oil in a bowl and mix well.
3. In another bowl, stir together the cornmeal, flour, baking soda and salt.
4. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, and mix just until well combined. Stir the batter just enough to combine the ingredients. Muffins can become heavy and tough if you over-mix the batter.
5. Pour the batter in the baking dish or muffin tins. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cornbread/muffins comes out clean.

And PS. I even cooked up some collard greens, waaahooo!

Dress-ups

Upon awaking this morning, Jassy announced that she wanted to be Maggon the Bad Tempted (Tempered) Dragon (see book in pic). Some paper and milk carton later, here is the terrifying result. As you can see, Jassy makes a very scary monster, jamies notwithstanding. Moo cow is quaking in her hooves.

I am loving your posts but still haven't figured out how to publish my comments.

With gratitude

A startlingly clear Wednesday morning spent penning thank you cards to treasured friends. A precious way to start a day, the toilet blocked for the second time a short time later, but even this was not insurmountable when basking in the love of good people. H is working from home today and we are off to the park for a stroll. x

A lazy Saturday afternoon

I'm thermomixing up some vege stock to use in today's pea and ham soup. The free-range pork producer at the Subi Farmer's Markets was out of ham and bacon today so we are having to make do with D'Orsogna. Beatrice is sitting on my lap seeing how many times I will retrieve her dropped Cruskit (up to 17 -- make that 18 -- so far), while Jassy is having the sleep of her life and Daddy is catching up on some shut eye after staying up watching the ever-disappointing Australia 'til midnight last night.

newcastle

you can see the rest here

and as we walked around circular quay...

Jassy playing with her monkey-on-a-stick in the nursery.

And sitting in her cot for the photo shoot. I actually think of her room as being quite neat -- until I look at these photos!

Jassy in her new scarf. Aren't I just a craft fiend at the moment!

Do you like the wool? I will knit you a matching one if you do. :)

I'm looking to brighten up Jassy's room. Thought these were apt http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24667825, but decided it would be a little selfish of me to select them given that Jassy doesn't yet drink tea.

All rugged up

Winter has finally arrived. Here we sit on the front porch watching the storm come in and awaiting Craig's return from work. The first real opportunity to use the rug Sally and I knitted for Jassy.

Can we talk this weekend?