About Me

This is me, The Rat...partner since 2001 to Concrete_Man, mum to Rat_Girl (born 13.12.05) and Rat_Boy (born 14.05.09). Co-inhabiting our nest are 2 rather large fury 4 legged rats, Boxer_Dog and Black_Dog. We run a business from the nest with Concrete_Man doing the manly physical work while I stay at home and do the 'other' stuff. This means we are often busy, often stressed and often very tired...but then again who isn't! Anyway that's enough for now. As time goes by you will learn a bit more about the family that is "MummaRat's Nest"

April 15, 2010

Kids Cooking - Mini Sausage Rolls

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Mini Sausage Rolls
This mixture made about 20 or so.  We cooked 4 and froze the rest prior to cooking, to be cooked at a later date.  They are also a perfect size for lunches boxes and can be eaten cold.

What you need
500g beef mince
2 slices wholemeal bread, soaked in warm water
zuchini, grated
carrot, grated
1 tablesoon chutney (I used tomato, roasted capsicum & onion chutney)
Frozen Puff pastry, partial thawed (we used I think 4 sheets all up)
Milk to brush on pastry

NOTE: you can add any extra vegies you want if you can grate or process them nice and small.  Concrete_man loved these but requeste a little garlic and pepper to be added.

What you do

Squeeze the excess liquid from your bread and vegies, and add to mince, throw in your chutney


And give it a good mix (squeeeeeeeeze) with your hands

(something went wrong with this photo, all fuzzy)

Cut a sheet of pastry in half, shape your mince and brush edge with a litte milk, roll up the pastry


Cut in thirds and lay on try edge side down, brush with a little milk, sprinkle with poppy seeds if you like


 

Don't forget to clean up your mess


 

Bake at about 180 until cooked through and pastry is puffed and golden.


Another variation of this could be to thinly cover your whole pastry sheet with mince mixture, leaving room at the edges and roll up and slice up to create little pinwheels.

April 09, 2010

OMG Finally!!!

I haven't been able to log into blogger all week.  It must have something to do with the settings on my computer everyone now and then it just locks me out.

Not only that, but all the auto posts I had set for this week Menu Plan Monday, Kids Cooking Thursday and I had a Fit Friday post for today...none of them have worked DOH!

Anyway I'll try catch up with them over the weekend, probably a bit pointless putting some of them up now.

But while I am here, just letting anyone that is reading know that this year I am taking part in the Cancer Councils Relay for Life.

Here in Cairns we have the BIGGEST regional event held across the country I believe.  It is so much fun, I took part in it pre-kids and I can't wait to do it again this year.  I wasn't really going to worry about the fundraising side, just be a member but as I've had to set up my own fundraising page as part of registration I thought I'd put it out there.  If anyone would like to make a donation the link is below.  You will notice that I have already reached my goal fundraising..yep set thebar real high at $10, which I donated myself LOL.  Anyway I figure every tiny bit helps and it's for such a great cause...I may as well get it out there!

Have a good Friday everyone!

Support Relay for life!

April 04, 2010

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Easter

I hope everyone has enjoyed the long weekend, spending time with family and celebrating Easter in whichever way you choose.

I will have a post soon, showing some of the things we have done this Easter, including some cute little Easter biscuit offerings for neighbours and friends, an Easter hat creation by Rat_girl and ofcourse out little mini Easter Egg hunt on Easter morning.

My kids don't get a lot for Easter only what the Easter Bunny brings, and that is just 1 thing each costing less than $10 each...and a few little eggs for the hunt.

There is a massive box of presents currently sitting in my back room from my sister in law that I refuse to give to the kids as it's just oo much.  1 present is a high chair for the cabbage patch doll Rat_girl was given for her bday, which she doesn't even play with...I know perhaps I'm being ungrateful, but I've made it clear each Easter that it's a present from the Easter bunny and that's it.  As the kids get older and start to learn more, then it will be more about the meaning of Easter and I plan to start taking them to church service.  I think perhaps next year will be Rat_girls first year.

April 03, 2010

Hamburgers

Remember I promised a post of the finished result of a Kids Cooking Thursday when Rat_girl helped me make some hamburgers in advance.....

Well here it is...I guess this was a lazy dinner!  Though it kind of still looks like a lot of effort has gone into it.

This way mine, complete with hollowed out wholegrain bread roll HAHA..was quite delish! If you take out the fried egg, it's also quite good for you.  The hambugers were cooked in the grill press so a lot less fat!

Lots of fun for all....


Oh and just so he doesn't miss out...he'd already finished his pattie, egg, beetroot and god only knows what else!


April 01, 2010

And the winner of the CUTEST SMILE catergory is....

RAT GIRL




Kids Cooking Thursday - Quiche


Shout out to Susan at Dragons Musings for this recipe!  Really was a hit, I did have to make some changes working around what I had in the fridge.

Mallee quiche


4 eggs
125g grated cheese
125g chopped bacon (I used ham)
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup S.R. flour (wholemeal, it's all I had)
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tblspn chopped parsley or 1 tspn dried

I also added some extra vegies - carrot, zucchini, broccoli, snow peas, capsicum, red onion, and some mushrooms
Chopping up all the veiges, I actually threw all of these in the fry pan with the ham and onion
Whisk up the eggs (remove the shell first :-) )
Throw everything else in and mix together
Them bake until set....and presto, delisho!
Rat_girls first serve.  She went back for seconds and had it for lunch the next day at kindy.  Rat_boy also polished off a similar size portion