Spring Has Sprung!

Now that my hubby and I are home owners with an actual yard, I have become quite fond of gardening. Beware...it is addicting! I have lately been consumed with researching, buying and planting flowers and herbs of all sorts. Our buckaroo was born on Cinco de Mayo, and believe it or not, there exist a Cinco de Mayo rose bush. I tend to have the philosophy "go big or go home", so in his honor I have planted 3 Cinco de Mayo rose bushes. They are currently blooming and gorgeous. My favorite however, has always been the Peony. It is such a romantic and feminine looking flower. We have one wonderful peony bush and I have 2 more yet to plant. I am by no means 'master gardener' status, but I am proud of what has been accomplished in our yard so far. My father in-law, the Big Cheese, is in the process of building us a raised bed garden for veggies. Stay tuned Teacup, for pics as we tackle that plot of dirt...can hardly wait!

My beloved peonies starting to bloom!

Drake is a little wet here from playing in the water hose but this picture makes me smile.

Anzac Cookie Discovery

I know it has been an absurd amount of time since my last blog but I have been busy busy re-painting our bedroom from the hideous blue paint disaster. Yes it was a lapse of judgement on my part when I thought it would be a good idea to paint the walls a blue tint which as it turns out caribbean blue once dried on a wall is really more like neon electric blue. So now that is behind me and I have moved on to cookies!

It was Anzac Day in Australia this Monday which is a day of remembrance for the Australian soldiers that fought in WWII. And thus I made Anzac Cookies which are so appropriately named since these are the cookies that were given to the soldiers in their care packages because they kept so well. And these cookies are finger lickin' good!! Peanut you have to make sure you eat them when they are warm and I suggest with coffee but thats just me. Paul and I had them for afternoon tea (its an Australian thing, they also do morning tea) with our cappuccinos and I had way way too many but hey it was Anzac Day so I was in the spirit (at least that is what I am telling myself)!

Anzac Cookies (a must eat)

Ingredients:

1 cup plain flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup shredded coconut

2 sticks of butter or 125g of butter

2 tablespoons golden syrup

1 tablespoon water

1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate soda for all those Aussies)

Method:

1.) Sift the flour into a bowl. Add the sugar, rolled oats and coconut (Just put them in the kitchenaid and mix quickly).

2.) Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the golden syrup and water.

3.) Stir the baking soda into the liquid mixture.

4.) Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. (Mix in kitchenaid or by hand held mixer both work well)

5.) Place walnut/golfball sized balls of mixture on a greased tray/baking paper lined tray and bake at 175C (345F) for 15-20 minutes (Until nice brown).

Tip:

Beautiful and chewy straight from the oven, nice and crunchy when they cool. They will keep really well and if you want them crunchier use more golden syrup.