Mrs Poz

Lullaby Mobiles – Now for sale!

Nix — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:22:07 +0000

So I have a new project that I’m hoping I will be able to make a little money from. I love to create and this is just one of my avenues. It has given me new purpose, new hope, new life.

I am making unique, hand crafted hanging mobiles suitable for anyone and any room.

You can view the items I currently have for sale on Felt: http://felt.co.nz/shop/nix

And I have a facebook business page too, please head on over and LIKE! www.facebook.com/LullabyMobiles

Also a new blog: http://lullabymobiles.blogspot.com/

Up and running

Nix — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:29:48 +0000

It’s been a while. Almost 6 months later and our household is a busy one. I barely have time for myself, not sure how people with 2 and more kids cope!

Thanks for reading.

9 days early!

Nix — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 01:03:33 +0000

Just a quick note to say that I didn’t make it 39 weeks because our boy decided to arrive 9 DAYS EARLY! Alexander Maxim was born on Thursday 11 November 2010 @ 5:49pm weighing 3.755kg’s (8pd2oz). 51cm in length and 35cm head circumference. Birth story and photos coming soon!

My daughter

Nix — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:12:03 +0000

Just wanting to share a few photos of my 2 year old. Had the best Labour weekend weather that I’ve experienced in the 9 years of living in NZ. It was awesome! Love her to bits

Reminder to my readers

Nix — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 22:11:04 +0000

I’m updating my pregnancy journal weekly so please feel free to pop in there too if you are reading this blog.

http://40weeks280days.wordpress.com/

Home made Beef Schnitzel & Salad

Nix — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:13:49 +0000

1 kg beef scotch-fillet, cut thinly (around 5mm-thick), makes about 14 pieces. The scotch-fillet I bought in the supermarket is already pre-cut.
2 – 3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup plain flour
1½ cup breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons grated parmesan
2 tablespoons dried chives or mixed herbs
lemon rind from 1 lemon
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
olive oil to pan-fry

Step 1. Slightly flatten each of the beef slices in between cling wraps using a rolling pin.

Step 2. To make the coating, combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan, chives/mixed herbs, lemon rind, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.

Step 3. Put the plain flour, beaten eggs and the coating mixture into separate flat plates. Dip each of beef slices firstly into the plain flour, secondly to the eggs, and then lastly to the breadcrumbs mixture and coat well.

Step 4. Pre-heat the oven to 150ºC (Using the oven is optional; putting the schnitzel in the oven will make it more crispy). Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium fire and pour the oil. Pan-fry the schnitzels in batches about 3 minutes on each side. Place the schnitzels on a baking tray and put them in the oven for 10 minutes or so to crisp the schnitzels. Schnitzel is ready to serve.

My Phalaenopsis Orchid

Nix — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 06:45:43 +0000

The most highly coveted of ornamental plants, the delicate, exotic and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength. In ancient Greece, orchids were associated with virility. In fact, Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child ate large, new orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl.

During the Victorian era, orchid symbolism shifted to luxury, and today this sense of magnificence and artful splendor continues, with orchids representing rare and delicate beauty. The 14th wedding anniversary flower, pink orchids convey pure affection, and the popular cattelya orchid represents mature charm.

When we got married I had to choose a boutique. I came across some Phalaenopsis Orchids and fell in love with them. My boutique was arranged beautifully with small tuberoses that smelled divine!

Tuberose signified both dangerous pleasure and voluptuousness. The scent of the flower is a fusion of white petals and warm skin, an arresting sensual and heady fragrance.

Tracing the evolution of the flower and its usage leads one to encounter a variety of lore surrounding its white trumpet like form. In India, tuberose is renowned for its strong aphrodisiac powers, and according to some stories I have heard, unmarried girls are warned not to breathe in its perfume after dark. Moreover, tuberose also possesses powerful healing properties and is used for anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory purposes. In Ayurvedic tradition, tuberose is also known to stimulate serenity, creativity and psychic powers.

Here are some photos of my wedding flowers:

For valentines day 2009 I told my husband not to get me the usual bunch of roses. I hate the fact that they last about a week and then you have to throw them away! The warehouse was selling a pot of these beautiful orchids and I’m delighted to say that it is still alive and well and even flowering again! Here are the photos of them in full bloom!

I’ve loved how they have survived much to the disbelief of my husband that they would survive! I guess our kitchen must be getting the right light and warmth. When these flowers die I will cut it back and it will flower again and then die off till the following flowering year. I look forward to them flowering every time!

Ladybug Birthday cake, cupcakes and crackers

Nix — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:47:35 +0000

For my daughters second birthday party I went with the ladybug theme and went on to make a 2 tier square cake with a ladybug making up the 3rd part of the cake. It’s the most I’ve worked with fondant which was fun but being 27 weeks pregnant while making this all was pretty hard work. In the end it was very rewarding though and I know my daughter will love the photos in years to come.

Here are the photos of my work, enjoy

Mini Cheese and Bacon Quiches

Nix — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:18:22 +0000

Ingredients

4 – 6 sheets of ready rolled puff pastry (flaky pastry is fine too)
6-8 large eggs
8 shortcut rashers of bacon (diced)
1/4 cup of milk
2 cups of shredded tasty cheese
1 tablespoon chopped parsley or dried parsley

Instructions

(Makes approximately 20 – 60 quiches depending on the size of your tin and cutting cup)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (fan forced).
Grease a 9 or 24-cup shallow cupcake/tart tin.
Mix egg, milk, parsley, bacon and 1 cup of tasty cheese together.
Using a small cup, cut out circles of puff pastry and place into the cups of the tin.
Place a 1-2 tablespoons full of the egg mixture into the pastry, making sure it does not over flow.
Place in pre-heated oven for 5 – 10 minutes.
Once the quiches start to rise and cook on the outside, place a small amount of cheese on top of each quiche and cook for a further 10 minutes or until golden.
Repeat the process with remaining pastry and mixture.

Buttermilk pancake recipe

Nix — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:22:32 +0000

Today is Fathers Day in New Zealand and I decided to surprise my husband with some pancakes for breakfast. What I didn’t realise is that most buttermilk pancakes are made with baking soda and baking powder and I naively thought they were the same! They are different and I only have baking soda and finally found a recipe on www.foodinaminute.co.nz thats uses self rising flour and no baking powder or soda. Was very pleased with this! The original recipe calls to use tined nectarines but I only had tinned peaches which I admit is just as yummy if not better! I also didn’t have mixed spices so looked up on the net what is consists of and improvised and used dashes of ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon to make a teaspoon. I used 1/4 cups of batter each time and actually made around 14 pancakes. I guess it depends on how thick or how many you want to make. Worked out great! So here is a photo of my efforts and the recipe to follow. Enjoy!

410g can Wattie’s Nectarines/peaches in Fruit Juice/syrup
1 1/2 cups self rising flour
1 tsp mixed spice (or dashes of ginger, cinnamon & nutmeg)
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup Tararua Cultured Buttermilk
50g butter

1. Drain the Wattie’s Nectarines/Peaches in Fruit Juice, reserving the juice. Sift the flour and mixed spice into a bowl and make a well in the centre.

2. Beat the reserved nectarine juice with the sugar, egg and Tararua Cultured Buttermilk together and pour into the centre and stir with a wooden spoon to make smooth batter.

3. Heat the butter in a frying pan and cook until it turns nut brown. Then carefully stir this into the batter. This will give the pancakes a lovely flavour.

4. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter into a heated frying pan and cook over a moderate heat until the bubbles appear on the surface, then flip and cook the other side.

5. Once all the pancakes are cooked, add the nectarine/peach slices to the pan with 2-3 tablespoons of maple or golden syrup or honey and heat gently.

6. Serve the warm pancakes with the hot nectarines/peaches. Garnish with orange rind if wished.