sugar free products available in supermarkets

 Since we have been trying to cut out excess sugar from our diet over the last year or so certain things became non entities in our home. 

The first causality was BBQ and Tomato sauces.

Normally BBQ sauce contains around 50% sugar even more than tomato sauce at around 25%.

I have bought in the past a reduced sugar version to serve at parties, 

but then our local supermarket stopped stocking it. 

I was pleasantly surprised a few weeks back when I happened to spy these sauces on the shelves. 

I quickly looked at the ingredients and saw that they were sweetened with stevia- a natural sugar alternative.

Into the trolley they went and we tested them out. 

They are made by Fountain, a well known brand and they passed the taste test, I couldn't tell any difference to the sugar version. 

If you are looking for a sugar free sauce to save you time in making your own, you can try these ones.

Another sugar free product that we use in our home are these drink mixes, also sweetened with stevia.

Actually the kids only usually use the chocolate version (basically the ingredients are only stevia and cocoa powder) and we use a lot less than what is recommended on the back of the pack- 1 heaped teaspoonful in a hot chocolate is plenty, or you can use it in cold milk like Milo.

 The strawberry version I bought for VCH to have instead of buying commercial strawberry milk that is loaded with sugar, he will occasionally have a glass after the kids are in bed. 

The banana version the kids asked for as a school holiday treat and we even used some to make a banana ice cream, I also used this to make the banana milk at B5's monkey party.

Now you can also buy an adult version of the chocolate one in the supermarkets by the same company and when I compared the ingredients and nutritional ingredients they look to be exactly the same,

 the difference the adult version is about $1.50 more!

Great to see that companies are now realising that there is a market for sugar free and catering for it with a healthier alternative to chemical sweeteners that are not good for you.

These products are still used as a special treat in our home and are not consumed on a daily basis.

in the vege patch

The other weekend, VCH got all the children out to the vege patch to do some weeding.

I went out and took some photos to share what we are currently growing.

There is a large patch of chillies waiting for VCH to make his chilli relish.

Some snow peas, 

not likely to see any of these in the kitchen, 

they will be eaten well before they make it that far!

The silverbeet- great for making these!

Cabbages coming along.

Carrots- we have been eating lots of these- they have actually made it to the kitchen, 

but I do think a few have been consumed along the way!

Some shallots on the left, strawberries in the middle and some cauliflower on the right.

Here is a picture that shows the extent of the gardens.

VCH loves his vege patch!

While it is a great asset it would help if he informed his wife what is ready, 

when it is ready so she can use it in the family meals while it is at it's best!

stop the press...

I have two other posts that are half complete but I just can't not share this with you now!

I have had to stop the press to show you this instead!

I got this gorgeous lounge the other day.

A girlfriend and I went to an op shop after an SRE course on Friday, 

I was looking at some chairs that another friend had alerted me to that I had been looking for.

We looked at them, but there were six and I really only wanted two - they didn't want to split the set, and because I am overflowing with furniture until VCH builds my shed I was reluctant to buy the six even though they were a decent price, I said I would think about it.

But while we were there we also saw an absolutely gorgeous old lounge with rattan sides and lovely curved legs,

 it was beautiful and I loved it, 

but I am no upholsterer and not much of a sewer either, 

so after a bit of deliberation I also left it there.

Monday I was going about my business when I got a phone call from a potential client, 

who would be wanting quite a few things and possibly a lot of chairs.

This led me to start to rethink whether or not I needed those chairs.

Bright and early Tuesday morning I hotfooted it into the op shop knowing that there was a good chance they were still there as they are shut on Monday's.

Yes they were! 

 I bought the six and then had coffee with my friend at the coffee shop attached and we debated about the lounge and debated and went and had another look, 

I rang VCH and asked if he would pick it up for me and after he said yes I paid for it.

How much you ask?

$35 

Yes you heard me right for the whole set, a three seater lounge and the two chairs.

VCH couldn't bring them home on Tuesday because he had a delivery to do, 

but they came home on Wednesday night and I took some photos yesterday.

So after my ramble I suppose you want to see the photos...

 ta da!!!!

 The fabric is quite worn, 

but the rattan is in perfect condition.

Now I just have to take for heart in my hands and actually sew some new slip covers, I am just waiting to see if my new clients want it and if so I will paint it up how they want, if not I am thinking soft grey paint and white slip covers.

an 102nd birthday celebration

 Not many people live to the ripe old age of 102.

This weekend we had the pleasure of celebrating VCH's grandmother's 102nd birthday.

 

When you get to 102 your birthday becomes a grand affair.

On Monday the aged care facility had a party for all the residents who have a birthday in July.

Friday saw a special morning tea for her- I couldn't make it but VCH went along and said she had them all in stitches- she is a very funny lady and has a keen sense of humour that is still going strong at 102!

Sunday- her actual birthday we headed off to a nearby village and had lunch at a historic pub that overlooks the river. 

With lots of family there it was a lovely time and the kids had a ball.

 All the great grandchildren that were there.

She now has 3 great great grandchildren, with the latest one arriving the day before her birthday!

 five brothers and one sister with Great Nana.

 Our Family

 VCH with his brother and sister

The Girl with Great Nana.

She told me Great Nana looks cute! 

Here are links to her 100th and 101st birthday parties.

some recent finds

Some photos of some recent finds and a couple of works in progress.

This was from a friend who was cleaning out and 

is my first Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint project.

I will be back to show you how it has turned out soon.

 These I picked up for 50c at a local op shop ages ago and found when I was tidying up my sewing room, inspiration hit and they are on their way to a new life.

 This was also a give away from a friend and because of cracking paint I ended up stripping it back as shown here with my new BFF a heat gun.

It is also getting some Miss Mustard Seed treatment

A $2 op shop find, love a stool project

 I picked up this stool at the dump the other day, I discovered the lovely red seat under some very badly upholstered burgandy panne velvet and foam.

 another chair from the dump

 and this one too. 

The three cost me $5 altogether.

 These chairs are for a client  who loved this red chair, 

and wants two the same, this time with pink fabric.

this little table came from said client.

I will be back soon with a recipe to share.

succulent love

Today I thought I would share with you my new found love for succulents.

 

A few years ago I was given a little succulent as a token than you gift, 

I didn't think much of it at the time but kept it around, a piece broke off and I replanted it and of course it kept growing.

Now I knew all this because my mother grew lots of succulents, 

she loved how they were so hard to kill  versatile and how they required very little water and how you could easily break them apart and replant them.

I have had Aloe Vera for years as a home remedy for burns and my plant is quite out of control.

But that was as far as me and succulents went.

When I decided to do the Mexican fiesta party for the boys and came across some succulents planted in tin cans I immediately set to work, painting up and planting succulents.

I got some from a friend and others I bought at Bunnings with an eye for them being easy to separate and replant.

Now a few months later the plants are still around and growing away on their own with no care whatsoever from me.

 

 I have a bunch of them on the windowsill in the outdoor kitchen.

 Some more on my grey outdoor table.

 Around the time of planting up for the party, 

the kids unearthed this very old tonka dump truck when they pulled up the sandpit and cubby house.

I had seen a photo on pinterest of someone having filled a dump truck with succulents and of course wanted to give it a go, the abandoned toy came along at just the right time.

I love a touch of whimsy in the garden!

 This is a little birdcage I bought at KMart and a terracotta tray some white stones and another succulent cutting and it makes a pretty display on my veranda.

I am sure my mother would be happy to know that I have now discovered her love of succulents!

Do you have an easy-to-grow favourite plant?

spinach and cheese rolls with gf puff pastry take 2

You may remember me mentioning a little disaster I had in the kitchen the other day when trying to make my own gluten free puff pastry.

Yesterday, being an overcast-threatening-to-rain day I felt the pull of a warm and cozy kitchen and some baking. 

Anything to avoid cleaning up my sewing room!

 Inspired by the Great Australian Bake-Off on Tuesday night I decided to bake Anne's easy orange cake, substituting in GF flour, turning them into cupcakes and icing them with a little chocolate ganache- they were delicious, 

if a little rough, I should have smoothed the tops before baking!

Then I thought I would try the Spinach and Cheese Rolls again, 

I went looking on pinterest and found this recipe for gluten free puff pastry.

When I made my Chicken and Mushroom Pie the other day I used my usual short crust pastry on the bottom and then in a moment of inspiration I rolled the top half and put chunks of butter through folded and rerolled several times. 

It worked reasonably well and came out puffyish (is that a word?), so thought I would make it again doing the same thing for the spinach and cheese roll recipe I came across in a magazine, that I was keen to try.

Of course deciding to change the recipe half way through led to its ruin.

 

So here we are at take two.

I followed the recipe and think the pastry turned out well inspite of the butter coming through towards the end of my folding and rolling.

Now making the filling was not so simple because somewhere between Saturday and today the recipe page has gone walkabout!

Inspite of an extensive search including the bins it didn't turn up, so I had to wing some of the measurements, trusting my very short memory - but it seemed to work out OK.

The kids absolutely loved them and have requested I make them again. 

 

With plenty of silverbeet in the garden it shouldn't be a problem!

This is a red stemmed silverbeet or kale as it is sometimes known, something else has has a little nibble, 

but a thorough wash and all is good!

Ingredients: 

1 quantity of gluten free puff pastry (see link above) I made the first part in my food processor - no getting sore fingers rubbing in for this girl! 

If you are not GF use frozen puff pastry (from memory 2 sheets) 

or you can buy a GF frozen puff pastry ($9 for 3 sheets, it is exie and not that puffy!)

Filling:

1 bunch of silverbeet

1/2 bunch spinach (I used a handful of baby spinach leaves)

2/3 cup ricotta cheese

1/3 cup fetta crumbled

1/3 cup cheddar grated (this is my addition)

2 eggs + one extra for pastry glaze

1 tablespoon of fresh dill chopped

1 tablespoon chives chopped (I used parsley as my chives have been overpicked)

salt and pepper to taste

Parmesan for top of rolls

Method: 

Make pastry and set aside.

Chop silverbeet (including stems) and spinach finely and place in boiling water for 2 minutes, drain and press all excess water out, cool.

Mix all other ingredients (except extra egg and Parmesan) in bowl.

Halve pastry and roll out, cut into a 25cm x 15cm rectangle approx.

Spread about a quarter of the mixture down the middle of the long side. 

Brush along one edge with beaten reserved egg, roll up like a sausage roll.

Cut into 2, 4 or 6 depending on how big you wish to serve them (I did 4)

Place on tray (I used foil here because I was out of baking paper) brush top with egg and grate Parmesan cheese over the top as pictured.

Repeat with remaining pastry and mixture - I ended up with 18.

Bake in a 200-220C oven for 20 minutes.

Serve warm or cold- enjoy!!!!

These would be great for morning tea, lunch or party fare.

I often get asked what gluten free flour I use, I used to always use Orgran GF self raising or plain flour and even bought 10kg boxes through our local wholesaler, but I have found now that the Macro brand (Woolworth's health food brand) works out cheaper, even cheaper than the bulk price for the Orgran, though the size of packets is a little small when you use a lot- I just buy about 5 or 6 packets of each every month.
I never usually have a problem with it and most recipes work well by just substituting normal flour for GF, but sometimes you may find you need to add a little extra liquid to cakes.