Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 29

Winky wonky plinky plonky honky tonky donkey winners!



What a great giveaway this was right?

I actually caught up with Craig again yesterday quite by co-incidence whilst at the Sydney Children's festival. Craig was performing again and we looked quite the groupies!  Eloise was chuffed to finally see him and even got to be his official 'page turner' whilst he sang Wonky Donkey.  I think I'm forgiven now for going to see him last time whilst she was at school....

Craig also let me know that his CD's have SOLD OUT.  Whoah.  Lucky I got one when I did huh?  But the good news is that he's on i-Tunes  so not only can you hear a little preview there, you can buy the album or each song as you wish.  Great news!

OK, onto the winners!
If the winners could email me their postal address ASAP Scholastic can get these away to you quickly too!

Anita
Ginchyworld
Jule
Kristy
Twinkietwink

Didn't win?  You can always buy one here or from your local bookstore..!

Monday, September 20

We're giving away 5 Winky-wonky-plinky-plonky-honky-tonky-cranky-hanky-panky-DONKEYS(plus some books and CDs)



That's a mouthful isn't it?

My friends on Facebook know we (Ok, yes me too) love this book in our house.  We picked it up about two  months ago and it's on high rotation.  In fact, I had to buy one EACH for the girls, and that hasn't happened since Mem Fox 'Where is the green sheep?'.  This book by Craig Smith and gorgeous illustrations from Katz Crowley is a winner - fun, well paced and a CD to go with it too.  The girls go absolutely silly over it.

When we were invited by Scholastic to go see Craig perform it was quite funny as part of Get Reading 2010.  We were already going - so for once I'm a step ahead of the game...!  Eloise had to go to school but Olivia and Laura were beside themselves and made sure their 'Little Wonky Donkeys' came along too to Surry Hills Library last week.

I asked Craig how long he had been in children's literature and was surprised to learn he's a newcomer to the scene, having previously worked in adult musical entertainment.   In 2003 he started making up songs mostly to amuse his own son and his talent took up from there.   You will be seeing a lot more of Craig's books I can guarantee you - I bought his CD of all his kid's songs at the performance and I believe many of them are on the drawing board to become books with CD's.  

One of those books has just arrived at bookstores - Wilbee the bumblebee tells the gorgeous story of a bumblebee Wilbee who catches his wooly jumper on a rose-thorn and ends up naked!  We're definitely grabbing this!

Now to Wonky donkey.  This is so catchy.  Honestly.  It won't feel like a chore to read it at night and I think the Dad's in particular will love it.  Our girls had theirs signed, and will cherish them forever!


'I was walking down the street and I saw a donkey...hee haw!'

'He was a spunky, hanky panky, cranky, stinky dinky, lanky, honkey tonkey, winky, wonky donkey,spunky,hanky panky,cranky,stinky dinky,lanky,honkey tonkey, winky wonky donkey'




So Scholastic are giving away 5 sets of The Wonky Donkey!

Each pack valued at $29.95 contains:
  • Wonkey Donkey book
  • Wonkey Donkey CD
  • Wonkey Donkey toy!
What do you have to do?
Comment here and tell me which is your child's current favourite book! 
  • You can enter once daily
  • Extra entry for tweeting I want to win a Wonky Donkey book set for my kid/s over at Frills in the Hills (@FrillyHills ) http://bit.ly/dliUE9 
  • Another entry for copying and pasting your comment here on the Frills in the Hills Facebook Wall
Entries close midnight 26th September
Entrants must have an Australian postal address

Friday, September 17

A bit of my week in pictures...



Haven't been cooking much this week have I?  I have been missing it a LOT. But I have been a busy busy Lissy-bee along with the Frills.  Lots to update you on in this post!

Tuesday:
We rose before dawn to film a segment for Today Tonight at Ikea at Homebush.  We were there to participate in the 'Ikea Family Challenge' and you can tune in next Monday or Tuesday night to see how we did!  We are the blue team.

I'll be the sweaty ugly mess on the screen in the t-shirt-bib.... my hubby is the one who likes to talk himself up... yes I'll tell you about that later!  If you've ever been to Ikea at Homebush I challenge you to think about running through it all looking for 'stuff'.  But I'm going to tell you - it was SO MUCH FUN and the people from both Today Tonight and Ikea were honestly so wonderfully nice, and we with the other families had a brilliant time!

Yesterday:
I took the little frills along to Surry Hills library to see the author of the current 'book of the moment' (you know the one you have to read every night ... we're onto our second month of this book, I kid you not!) There was singing and dancing, colouring and the signing of our books!   I'll have more news about that one next Monday for you and a little treat too!



Today:
My eldest frill and first baby girl had her first ever dance performance with school.  I have been making the possum tails for some weeks so it's great to see them on the kids.  Eloise absolutely came alive on stage and I was beside myself with pride and exhilaration for her.  My Nan was there - she's seen her share of performances - Eloise waved to her when she walked off the stage, it was so sweet!!

She performed a dance about Possum Magic, the Mem Fox book - to the tune of 'Land Downunder' by Men of Work.  Hubby is with her now at the evening performance - she can't wait to show her Daddy.  Awww.


The other kindy class did Wizard of Oz - and look at these costumes!! One mother made ALL of them.  There were 4 SETS OF EACH OUTFIT (i.e. 16 costumes) PLUS two witches.  Better up my game from the ol' possum tails next year huh? lol.

How was your week?

Thursday, June 3

Book Review: The Pioneer Woman Cooks & Road test: Perfect Pot Roast (slowcooker adapted)



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Ah this woman speaks to me, on so many levels.  The love of food, the love of family - how food and family goes together, it brings a family together.  Ree Drummond (aka the Pioneer Woman) brings together breathtaking photos of her family, and mixes it with photos of delicious fare which you could find yourself licking the page.  If you are a follower or a fan..like me... of Ree's blog The Pioneer Woman, you would already know, her recipes work.  There are loads of photos to help you along the way and it's served up with equal amounts of warmth and wit. (click here to see her doughnuts I made, make them this week - Friday is National Doughnut day in the US-do you need an excuse?)

She calls her food 'cowboy food' as she lives on a Ranch with her cowboy, the Marlboro Man she likes to call him - the story of their first meeting brought a tear to my eye.  I could really relate to it.  Thank goodness his name wasn't De-Wayne.

Her four children are gorgeous and they are part of the cookbook, much like my kids are part of my blog.

There were so many recipes I could have chosen to make - but this one spoke to me.  Make me, you have to make me.  I'm so glad I did.  My Olivia who isn't really a fan of carrots of roast meat, finished her dinner first.  No struggling at the end of the meal in a hostage-negotiation session.  She asked to have it again the next day.

Truth is, it was so easy.  Never roasting beef in the oven AGAIN.  Hear me?  AGAIN.  I started it at 11am, had it in the slowcooker at 11.20, and on the table at 5pm.  The results - succulent, tasty, comfort food at it's best.


Back to the book:
Pros - Pictures -gorgeous, Editorial - easy and fun read, Recipes - achievable, but some are definitely not for dieters!
Cons - Not all the recipes are new - they are from the blog, but to be honest, it doesn't detract for me - I like having them in the book I can flick through any time.
Cost:  $49.99 - you can buy online through many sellers via here
ISBN:  9780061658198
Have a sneaky peak here


Road Test:  Perfect Pot Roast
(Adapted by me for use with slow cooker)


Ingredients:
2 tb oil
salt
1 piece of beef 1.7kg - 2.7kg (Ree recommends chuck, I used a 1.7kg piece of topside)
2 onions, peeled ends chopped off and halved
6 medium or 3 large carrots, chopped in 2inch chunks
1 cup beef stock
1 sprig rosemary and 2 sprigs thyme

Method:
Rub salt liberally over your slab of meat - I used salt flakes, Ree recommends Kosher salt, as it sticks well to the meat.

In a heavy based pan, pour in your oil, heat until very hot.  Add carrots, and stir frequently for about 2 minutes, until lightly browned, and remove, set aside on a plate.  Add the onion, and do the same, then transfer to the plate.

Lastly, add the beef, and brown on each side a  few minutes at most and remove and set aside.

Add your beef stock and deglaze your pan (i.e. pull all the crusty bits off the bottom of the pan) and then transfer the stock to your slow cooker.

Add your beef, onions, carrots and then rosemary and thyme.  pop the lid on your slow cooker and turn onto auto or high. for 3-5 hours depending how big your beef is.

 Remove, and carve (Ree says against the grain)

I then diverted from the recipe and ladeled out 2 cups of the juices at bottom of slowcooker and put in a saucepan, stir through 2-3 tb of cornflour, and simmer, stir until you have a flavourful gravy.

Serve with mashed potatoes and vegetables of choice!

Do you have a favourite pioneer woman recipe...or is this your new favourite?

Tuesday, June 1

Road test 2 from Kaotic Kitchen: Gnocchi Topped Beef Bake.



I hope you're in the swing of things today - yesterday I had chronic monday-itis.  It wasn't helped by the fact that I forgot mufti day at school... only discovering once had walked the kids to school in the wind and the rain.. only to walk home again, be a good mummy and pick up mufti clothes and go back to school at recess... and then got caught in torrential rain and was soaked to the bone. to.the.bone.   Then surrendered to my feelings and put myself and the little frills in their PJ's and had a lazy day.... and then came time to make dinner....

And like some kind of prophecy, this was on my meal plan.  Thank goodness because I really couldn't be bothered!  This is super quick, easy and a crowd pleaser.    I made it in the afternoon and then reheated it for 30 minutes before serving.  Brilliant.

Kaotic Kitchen isn't just a name I've realised, it's actually designed for the time-poor chaotic lifestyle.  I've decided that my best friend needs a copy of this book.  I'm going to buy it today.  She's got 3 kids just like me, and runs a business from home AND she's building a house offsite whilst finishing renovations at her own house.  This book would be a godsend for her.

And, in that vein, I'm going to give an extra entry today in the giveaway to everyone who tells me who they would buy an extra copy for - your bestie, sister, mum, brother in law.. and why.  Remember, entries close tomorrow midnight!

Beef Gnocchi Bake

Ingredients
2 tsp oil
500g beef mince
1 onion, diced
2 tsp minced garlic (I used1 garlic clove finely diced)
1/2 tsp sugar
400g tin diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
200g tub ricotta cheese
500g  packet gnocchi (I used two to get more meal out of it, lunches for hubby)
1/4 cup grated tasty cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Method:
Heat oil in pan, add garlic and onions, stir until soft, then add your mince, brown well.

Add tomato and sugar, salt and pepper and simmer for about 5 minutes, pour into the bottom of a baking dish.  Put a saucepan of water on the boil for the gnocchi and preheat the oven to 190 degrees (180 fan forced)

Smooth ricotta cheese over the top, boil your gnocchi as per packet instructions, and drain well.

Pour gnocchi on top of the ricotta, and then sprinkle with cheese.
Bake in oven for 30 minutes.  

Serve with veges or salad.. or nothing if you like!

Thursday, May 27

Book Review: Kaotic Kitchen Mince & Sausages, Road test and GIVEAWAY!




Now, I've got to be honest, even though I cook with sausages and mince on a regular basis I was a little stumped to think of a lot recipes to make with them.  So I was intrigued when the lovely team over at Kaotic Kitchen approached me to review their cookbook, devoted to mince ... and... sausages.

Well I am impressed.  Mums, you want this cookbook.   
Uni students or anyone on a budget, you want this cookbook.
Look, I'm telling you - buy this cookbook!

Amanda and Sally met each other in the playground where their kids attended the same school.  Amanda's stepson would spend afternoons with Sally's family until she finished work each day, and when she came in each weekday for the pick up - she saw what Sally was preparing each night, and the conversation and adventure started there.

Pros:  Lots of pictures (we love pictures!) and they're big and glossy.  The recipes use every day ingredients, nothing is too fussy, but it all looks like it can be on any family's kitchen table.  Good variety of dishes too.
Cons:  Probably that it's not widely available.  But seeing as you are such savvy internet people, you can buy yours direct and online here.

Cost:  $18.95
ISBN: 9780646522616

GOOD NEWS FOR YOU:  Kaotic Kitchen have sent me three copies to give away!  More details below after road test!

Road test:  Pork, pumpkin and sage casoulet

This is first of two road tests I did with this book, and it far exceeded my expectations.  As soon as it was eaten, I wanted to eat it again.  Even if you're not a fan of pork sausages, I urge you to give this one a try, it will have you licking your plate!

Ingredients:
500gr pumpkin, peeled and sliced
2 tbs olive oil
12 pork sausages (I used a few more, it works!)
2 tbs butter
1 tsp crushed garlic (I used 1 clove finely chopped)
1 onion, thickly sliced (I used a red one, use what you like :) )
3 tbs chopped fresh sage (or 1 1/2 tsp dried sage)
1 tbs dijon mustard
300ml chicken stock
400g tin butter beans
Method:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees c (180 fan forced)

Boil (or steam the pumpkin for 5 minutes) and place on a greased oven tray.  Place in the oven until crispy.

Heat the oil in a frypan and brown the sausages for about 3-4 minutes.  Remove from pan and set aside.

Add butter, garlic and onion to the frying pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes until onions have softened.

Add the sage, mustard, butterbeans and chicken stock, stir well until all combined.
Return the sausages to the frypan, bring to the boil and then let simmer for 15 minutes.
Serve with the roasted pumpkin, enjoy!

COMPETITION!

How do I enter?
  • Leave a comment here with what your favourite sausage or mince recipe is!
  • Extra entry if you tweet about this competition  [ See road test and win one of three Kaotic Kitchen cookbooks @frillyhills 's blog! http://bit.ly/1h8Fu RT to food lovers! ] 1 entry allowed per day.
  • Extra entry Become a fan of Kaotic Kitchen on Facebook and write on their wall:  I found you from http://www.frillsinthehills.com !



Boring bits
  • Enter from today - ends next Wednesday 2nd June 2010 midnight.
  • Entries with Australian postal addresses only please. (Intl people, there will be one for you soon, promise!)
  • If I can't track you back to your blog through your comment, only entries supplying an email address on the comment or via my contact (contact me on menu bar) can be accepted.
  • Winner announced Thursday, 3rd June 2010.


Thursday, May 20

Book Review: Dinner with Kids and road test - Salmon Cannelloni



Can you always tell a book by it's cover?    
Dinner with kids is attractive.  The kind of cookbook you'd happily have sitting on your bench
It's practical.  It's bound in a plastic cover so you can USE it and not have to worry about the odd splatter here and there.

Well if you were judging this book by its' cover you'd be right.  It's got attractive recipes - good for the budget and enticing pictures.
It's practical -  It uses ingredients you don't have to buy at a specialty store or order in from overseas.  None of the recipes are 4 hour marathons either.

It's split into three sections:  stovetop, oven and desserts.
I've tabbed the following recipes:
- Parmesan crumbed veal with mixed vegetable mash
- Baked silverbeet, tuna and pecorino omelette
- Chipolata toad-in-the-hole
- Jaffa steamed pudding with chocolate sauce
- Pear, caramel and pecan sundaes
- Plum and polenta rolypoly

Pros:  Eatability, achievability, affordability.  There are pictures, there are step-by-steps that work.  A good variety of food.
Cons: If anything, it's just lacking maybe a slowcooker focus, which I think many families use these days.

Price:  $29.95
Release date:  April 2010
ISBN: 9781741964424


 RECIPE ROAD TEST- SALMON CANNELLONI


This was such an easy recipe, surprisingly so, and even though it looks like there's a lot of steps, it just comes together really easily. There was not A CRUMB left at the end.  I would personally make a few changes to suit my tastes by only using red salmon (we used pink, but I think it needs red) and using a few spring onions in the filling, and a bit more pepper.  

Ingredients:
60g butter
1/4 cup plain flour
3 1/2 cups milk
125g ricotta cheese
415g tin salmon, drained, bones and skin removed (I didn't do that, oops!)
1 tablespoon chopped dill, plus extra to garnish
1 small handful parsley, chopped
10 dried instant canneloni tubes (I didn't have any so I made my own pasta)
2/3 cup grated tasty cheese

Method:
In a saucepan, melt butter over a medium heat, and with your milk on hand, add the flour, whisk quickly and add some of the milk, 3/4 cup at a time, and stir until you have a thick sauce, then top up with more milk, stir until it becomes thick and repeat until all your milk is mixed in.  Take off the heat and set aside.

In another bowl, flake your salmon, add the dill and then stir through 1 cup of the milk sauce through.

Then add the ricotta, and stir well to combine.

With a piping bag or your fingers, stuff the cannelloni shells, or if you like to make your own pasta (or you buy the new pre-made cannelloni sheets on the market) make a sausage of filling on top of your pasta, and roll it up, cut into lengths to fit your baking tray.

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees c.

Place your tubes/cannelloni in your baking tray, top up with remaining milk sauce.

Lastly top with cheese, and bake in oven for 30-35 minutes.

Serve with salad or vegetables!  Yummy!

Thursday, May 13

Book Review: Marysville Relief Cookbook and road test Milo Biscuits



In case you aren't Australian or have been living under a rock lately, Marysville in Victoria suffered devastating fires that destroyed the majority of it's township and many many lives in February 2009.

A local, Heather Samsa decided to put together for the locals, a cookbook to achieve a couple of things:


- Have a cookbook to provide for those who were starting over without any of their cookbooks, and provide an inspiration for those who had lost everything, to start again with kitchen therapy.
- I suspect, give herself and others something positive to focus on during and in and the aftermath of the devastation.
- Raise money for the Marysville resident's relief (Currently it is in it's second run - $10 from each sale going straight back to the town, of which $400 has already been given, $200 to the Primary School and $200 to the Tourist Association)

A very worthy cause.

There are many recipes, contributed by many and divided by categories:
soup/pasta/eggs/chicken/lamb/pork/seafood/beef/noah's ark/vegetable/dessert/jam

There is also highlighted throughout, microwave recipes I assume specifically targeting residents in temporary accommodation, which I am sure, has been extremely helpful.

Cost:  $30.00 (plus postage)
ISBN:  9780646527604
Purchase here

Pros:  Some family favourites, lots and lots of recipes.  More suited to home basic cooking, so if you have a basic repertoire, this would be fantastic, also good for holiday or camping type cooking.  It's obviously for a worthy cause.
Cons:  No photos of the actual recipes, and if you're looking for something new and exciting, maybe not for you.  I tested two recipes, and the first one was an unmitigated flop (Saucy Lemon Pudding).  First of all there was an ingredient in the process that wasn't in the ingredients list (150ml of milk), it took a long time to prepare, and turned out like lemon butter on toast. That said, the omission will be corrected in the next print, and maybe it's just my taste?  Heather when I bought this to her attention, was super quick in responding too, which was great.

Today's roadtest recipe is relatively easy, and not so time consuming.  A good lunchbox treat!

Milo Biscuits:  Made 48


Ingredients:
Biscuits
185gr butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup milo
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/4 cup self raising flour
water

Icing
1 cup sifted icing sugar
2 tb butter, softened
2 tsp milk
2 tblsp milo

2 extra tbsp milo to sprinkle at end.


Method:
Preheat oven to 170 degrees c
Cream butter and sugar together, then add egg - ensure all well combined.

Add milo, plain and self raising flour and water and mix until forms a stiff dough.


Roll into balls (about size of a 20c piece) and then place on greased trays, and then slightly flatten.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until browned on top.

Allow to cool on cooling rack whilst you prepare the icing.

Mix milk and margarine together, add the milo and combine well.  Add sifted icing sugar and keep stirring until it becomes a smooth consistency.  Drizzle over biscuits (I did this on the cooling tray with some aluminium foil underneath to capture the fall out) and then sprinkle top with milo.

 

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