Homemade no yeast dough

I can’t remember where I found this recipe, I suspect pinterest, so thanks to who ever listed it on there, but I tried it, and loved it, and my first attempt at making Homemade no yeast pizza/flat bread dough, I nearly burnt it. It is super quick and super versatile.

What you need

2 1/2 cups flour 

1 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup water

What you do

Set oven to between 180 and 200' C.

Combine all the dry ingredients together. 

Mix the oil and water together, and add in about 3/4. 

Mix until the mixture is combined - you may need to add more of the water and oil if the dough is too dry (I added in all of mine).

The dough should not be sticky, but soft.

Knead this on a floured surface until it forms a dough like consistency (about 5 minutes)

If you are making the pizza bases - this will make 2 (so just add your toppings and bake)

I used this to make 1 flat bread - topping I used for this was coarse salt, Rosemary, and garlic.

Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes

Totally Yummy, and super simple

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(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

{Blog} Unorganised Chaos

As I write this blog post, there are so many different things going on in my head all at once, I will be amazed if this actually makes sense at the end of it. Please don't think this blog post will give you any useful information on how to become organised, or actually any useful information on anything, its more of a rant, dear diary kind of post.

With less than 24 hours until Keaton's 2nd birthday party, and 18 days until we move into our new house, I am feeling totally overwhelmed and over it.

As lovely as it was, our holiday was slap bang in the middle of everything, and has left me completely unorganised in the whole party throwing, box packing department.

The only thing I managed to do before leaving, was to hire the hall, and print the invitations. I now have a couple of hours when I get home to get everything we need for the party, make the cake, finish party bags, decorations, count how many people are actually coming, and also make sure that I don't forget to buy anything because tomorrow is ANZAC day and NOTHING is going to be open in the morning.

Don't even get me started on the moving, I have gotten so far as to book the movers. I am normally such an organised person. I make lists and check them twice, and most times have lists of lists, and things are planned and done well in advance. Its eating me up that I have done nothing, and that this party is tomorrow, and I am so far behind. I think I am still okay on the not packing part, we still have the rest of this weekend and some time during the next week and a bit to pack up everything, but its just that much harder with a toddler, who in the last 2 days has decided that its about time he lived up to the title "the terrible two's".

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Check back tomorrow for the letter T. And hopefully a more meaningful blog post, that is actually of some relevance.

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

{Throwback Thursday} T is for Throwback Thursday

T is for Throwback Thursday. I have not done one of these for ages, so though it was about time I posted another picture from my childhood.

This is of my sister (right) and myself (left) on Christmas eve. We must have been about 4 and 6 here. We were lucky enough to be born well ahead of our cousins, so it was just the 2 of us for a good few years. My gran used to set our own table for us separate from the "adult" table, and we were allowed to have "wine" (fizzy apple juice) as a special treat. She even bought us our own wine glasses.

 I love the memories from my childhood. My gran always used to spoil us and play our stupid games. Christmas was also so much better when you were a kid. I think this year will be exciting because Keaton is at the age where he kind of knows what is happening.

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Check back tomorrow for the letter U. I will be back dating the letters I have missed out when I get a chance, I have such a backlog of blog posts to upload - I think I need to lock myself in a room somewhere and catch up - easier said than done though.

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

{Blog} S is for Speech

S is for Speech. In November I was a bridesmaid for my cousins wedding, click here to see some of the pictures I took of their special day. I thought I would share what I read out at their wedding. I know it probably wont mean anything to most people, but I found reading lots of other peoples speeches helped me come up with something personal for mine, so if it is able to help someone, somewhere, then job done.

Before I start I would like to say that Lauren you look absolutely beautiful and Dason you don't look bad yourself. For those of you who don't know me my name is Claire and for those of you who do you are truly blessed. 

I did a lot of research on speeches when coming up with what to say for mine, and they all say to explain how you and the bride met. Well I don’t know how we met, I would have been just over 2 when Lauren was born, so am assuming we were plonked together at some stage and told to play – or something to that effect. Anyway my sister and I, and Lauren and her brother Kyle have been lucky enough to grow up together, and although we lived in different towns, we saw a lot of each other. I won’t bore you all with the details of our childhoods, but one thing I remember was that when Lauren set her mind to something, there was no changing it. So on that note…

Dason thank you for being at the right place at the right time and sweeping Lauren off her feet, and thanks to both of you for asking me to be a part of your wedding, I am honoured to have taken this journey with you both. I admire that you have not let the stress of this get to you because if ever you are to enjoy life, now is the time! Today should always be your most wonderful day, let it be the building block for all the years to come.

Lauren, I know both sets of your grandparents would be so proud of you, and happy that you have met your prince charming. I especially know that Dason and Bobbo (our grandpa) would have gotten on so well. I am sure they are all looking down on you guys with big smiles.

Could everyone join me in raising a glass Dason and Lauren – may your love be modern enough to survive the times, but old-fashioned enough to last forever.

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Check back tomorrow for the letter T. I will be back dating the letters I have missed out when I get a chance, I have such a backlog of blog posts to upload - I think I need to lock myself in a room somewhere and catch up - easier said than done though.

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

{Blog} Random things I have learnt since becoming a mum

I have learnt lots of things since becoming a mum, but there are somethings that are just random. Here are my top 5 random things I have learnt so far!

Egg whites on the bum to help cure nappy rash - try it, I laughed when my mum told me to give it a go, it works you just slap it on, blow it dry and it forms a coating on the bum to stop any moisture getting in.

Tantrums are funny - well some of them. Keaton sometimes gets so frustrated and throws a tantrum, and I have to look away because what he is doing is just so funny.

Sometimes your breast milk just doesn't like being frozen or put in the fridge longer than a day - who knew that there is a thing called a lipase enzyme in breast milk ? Not Me! But apparently my breast milk had an excess of it, and when I froze it or left it for more than a day in the fridge it made it taste like soap, and Keaton would not touch it (who would blame him). All my hard work of pumping went to waste, and I had to pump and use within the day or it went off. Not cool!

Once kids figure out how to flush the toilet you are doomed. Its true - you will hear the loo being flushed at any time of the day, you just have to hope that nothing has made its way into the loo beforehand.

If you have a dog - its tongue will land up in your kids mouth on more than one occasion. I have given up stopping "kisses" because I am fighting a losing battle. I have resorted to deworming the dog and Keaton, and just have to hope for the best.

Are there any random things you have learnt? 

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Check back tomorrow for the letter S. I will be back dating the letters I have missed out when I get a chance. 

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

Quick Quiche Recipe

Quick Quiche Recipe

If you are a New Zealander, you are bound to have a Edmond's Cookery book. It was one of the first things I bought when I moved here, and I absolutely love it. The recipes are fantastic.

This is my favourite, I have changed it slightly

QUICK QUICHE 

2 cups milk
1 cup flour (all purpose)
4 eggs
1 cup grated cheese (you can use what ever hard cheese you like)
1 tablespoon butter
1 finely chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bacon
salt
pepper
parsley

Combine milk, flour, and eggs in a bowl. Stir in the cheese. Melt the butter, and add the bacon and onion (I just do this in the microwave). Cook the onion until its clear. Season with salt, pepper and add the parsley.
Combine the mixtures together and pour into a greased quiche dish (20cm) bake at 180'C for about 45 minutes or until set and golden.

Can be served hot or cold. You can also change out the fillings to suit what you have in your fridge / pantry.

Image from Google

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Check back tomorrow for the letter R's post. I will be back dating the letters I have missed out when I get a chance. 

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

{Blog} K is for Kiwi Mummy Blogs

I stumbled upon Kiwi Mummy Blogs a few months after my debut as a blogger (well I like to think it was a debut). I had seen some American blogger communities and wondered if there was anything out there for Kiwi Mums.

This community has been amazing, I love being able to hop on and see all my favourite kiwi bloggers in one place, and also find new ones. I have already made some awesome new blogger friends, who’s blogs have inspired me to try new things, not only with my blog, but in my everyday life too.

This site has so many cool things all in one place, I love looking at the “our friends tab” to find out about new products and services relevant to NZ – thanks to this tab, I have a new found love for the Kids Zip Sheets – I had seen something similar on YouTube (but with duvet covers), and wondered if something like this was sold in New Zealand. I was so excited to find out that we do have something similar – and I can’t wait until Keaton is in his big boy bed, so I can get one for him. (okay off track a bit)

Anyway – if you have not already, check out Kiwi Mummy Blogs – fantastic community, fantastic platform, and fantastic Mummy’s.

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As I am travelling I will have to skip the letters L,M and N but will be back with the letter O on friday! 

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

{Blog} J is for Jandal

Everyone has at least one pair of them and just about every country has their own name for them. They have to be one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I have and they are my go to shoes while on holiday.

You can get them in every colour, multi colour and even in high heels ( why anyone would want to wear high heel jandals is beyond me), but non the less there is a pair! 

Here are a few other names for what kiwis call Jandals

In South Africa they are called slops

In Australia they are called thongs

In America and England they are called flip flops

What do you call them in your country? And how many pairs do you have?

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Check back on Monday for the letter K's post

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

{Blog} G is for Grandpa's log

Since Keaton and his cousin Matthew were a few weeks old, my dad has been posting monthly pictures of them side by side in what he calls "Grandpa's log.

 Keaton is about 3 weeks younger than Matthew, so it’s great to see them grow up in pictures. I thought it would be cute to show some of these, as it’s a fab idea to do, and I hope it continues one with our other kids as well.

 

 
 

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Check back on tomorrow for the letter H's post

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015  #AtoZChallenge***)

{Blog} F is for Family Photoshoot

My sister won a family photo shoot with Samantha Duckworth 

over at Duckling Photography in January and we decided to have a family photo shoot while we were out here in South Africa.

Here are some of the moments she captured, I seriously can't wait to see the rest. Family plays such an important part of my life, and I am so glad to have some very special mementos of our holiday.

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Check back on tomorrow for the letter G's post

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015  #AtoZChallenge***)

{Blog} E is for Easter

Picture from Google

The besties had a ball hunting for Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. Spending special days like this with family is what life is all about. I am glad that we were able to spend it with my sister and her family, and that Keaton and Matthew were able to experience this special time together.

Here are a few pics that captured this special day.

I hope everyone had a special Easter, and indulged in some chocolate!!!!

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Check back on tomorrow for the letter F's post

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015  #AtoZChallenge***)

{All Things Kids} Ditching the Dummy

We are coming to the age where we will be ditching the dummy. The main reason we kept it was because of going to South Africa, and having it there would be comforting to him. I am not one of those mums who let their child go in public sucking on a dummy, babies yes, after 1, hell no (just my opinion).

So my dilemma is how to ditch it. I was thinking of “leaving” it on the aeroplane, and telling him that is gone back to South Africa, or chopping the top off it so that he can’t suck it. He is too small for me to tell him I have posted it to some other child, and don’t want to do something overly complicated that he is not going to understand. 

He only uses it for sleeping, and spits it out once he is asleep, but I can hear him in the middle of the night feeling for it, and then sucking away, so am kind of dreading what is going to happen at night when he looks for it. I guess it’s just one of those things we are going to have to persevere through when the time comes.  
Stay Tuned for Ditching Dummy updates once we get back home.

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Check back on Monday for the letter E's post

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)

{All Things Kids} Craft Box

I have been wanting to make a craft box for Keaton ever since I saw Keryn from Style Novice post her video of her daughters one on you tube. I thought what better time than now. I got everything for Keaton’s craft box from the dollar stores, and managed to find some cute storage tins online.
I still need to get some more bits and pieces, but thought I would share what he currently has in his box, if you have any other ideas on what to add, please let me know, am always looking for new things for him to try.

I love these boxes - they fit the paddle sticks in, and the rest of the crafts fit in the larger box. I will probabley have to get a larger box as we accumulate more craft supplies, but for now this will do.

One of the great things about crafting with kids, is that you don't have to spend alot of money on supplies. Things around the home make great crafty supplies, for example, Toilet Rolls, Paper Towel Rolls, String, News Paper, Boxes, Bottle Tops, Old Birthday and Christmas Cards (definitely need to keep some of these around for cutting up). The list really does go on.

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Check back tomorrow for the letter D's post

(*** Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 ***)