Wordless Wednesday : Put out to Pasture

Little dirt magnets ...

Once upon a time the big boys decided to tractor pull the old tractor , found in the top paddock, back to the farm house-yard.

It had been there maybe 20-30yrs. It took a bl00dy legend  DH to drive the Big red tractor in reverse about 2-3kms at a top speed of 5 kms per hour pulling the old tractor over a rough grassy track, downhill , uphill downhill ...

  A few years on, put to pasture ...it glowed in the afternoon son !

Secret boy talk ...

~Grandpa's ~ farm settles this Friday - last Friday the tilt tray (from town) moved the old rusty tractor to retire in our dusty pastures. It might be an old rusty tractor but the memories are priceless.

An InLinkz Link-up

Final day to enter Giveaway to win remote controlled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battroborg battle game !

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What is the quintessential Australian Pie ?

Now that crisp Autumn nights are here there is nothing better than a warming home cooked pie for a flavoursome family dinner or dessert.

credit SFI

I confess I've only had limited success with my pie making ventures. Still, I much prefer my own attempts I worry about the fat content of store purchased ones. Sam loves mini apple pies and has been asking to bake our own.

I cooked a modified verison of the beef pie from Super Food magazine for dinner last night , it tasted great but I didn't get a photo .My round pie dishes are still packed away so I used a rectangular dish. The filo pastry (since I had no puff pastry) was disappointingly broken in the package - on purchase and it cracks up so quickly.

Mine are tasty though a little flaky and unpolished so I'm very keen to follow ...

The Search For Australia's Best Pie!

Super Food Ideas, is on the hunt for Australia's Best Pie. Always on the lookout for Australia's tastiest recipes, this year Super Food Ideas is hoping to track down the "best of the best" when it comes to the quintessential Aussie Pie.

"Australian's love pies. It's as simple as that", says Super Food Ideas Editor, Rebecca Cox. "Whether it's covered in tomato sauce at the footy, a quick midweek meal or a family-sized dinner, a warming home cooked pie tells us who we are and that we're loved".

Chicken & leek Pies - credit SFI

There are so many varieties of the humble pie , whether a recipe passed down through generations or a unusual modern version like Thai Beef pies or Green curry chicken.

I love the variety  ~ pies can be hot or cold, sweet or savoury and especially granny’s famous  apple pie with flaky buttery pastry – served with lashings of cream,  ice-cream or custard.

SFI's competition to find Australia's Best Pie will run over six issues from April through to September 2012, with entries closing May 15, 2012.

The lucky winner of Australia's Best Pie will receive a cash prize of $10,000 thanks to Bertolli.

Readers and followers by commenting on your favourite pie can be in the running to be win a $200 WISH card each week , judged by the editor, Rebecca Cox.



SFI’s - Food Editor, Kim Coverdale has 5 tips for cooking a crispy pie ..

1.    If making your own pastry, be sure to rest it before cooking to prevent it from shrinking during cooking.


2.    Pre-cooking the pastry base (or blind baking as it's called) before adding the filling helps the base stay crisp during cooking.


3.    Make sure the filling is completely cooled before filling the pastry case, otherwise the base of the pie will be soggy.


4.    After placing the pastry on top, make a small slit in the middle of your pie. This lets steam escape and stops the pastry separating at the joins so that the filling doesn't overflow.


5.     Pies are best cooked at a high temperature so that the pastry top crisps. Brushing with a little beaten egg or milk will also make sure that it goes a lovely golden colour.

Grab your copy of Super Food ideas now -
Full terms and conditions are available at: www.taste.com.au/bestpie2012

What are your tips for the best pie ?
Do you have a favourite pie memories or family recipe ?

Tell me to win a copy of Super Food Ideas !

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Santa Mail

The other day ...when I mentioned my wish list , gifts & giving it was without a word of Santa...tut tut.
I don't see the harm in letting my boys enjoy Santa.

I'd rather Santa not be the whole focus of Christmas because as Christians we believe in Jesus being the focus.

HO, ho, HO ...the mere mention of the naughty list gets their attention though and that means I yell less - so that's good for everyone !

Now , it is only 24 days till Christmas - if you haven't already done so ...a wise person might start reviewing their children's Christmas wishlist.

Then get the kids to write and post a letter to Santa ( 6pm on Friday 16 December, if you want a reply by Christmas).

For those residing in Australia
Post your letter to

Santa

NORTH POLE 9999

Remember to add a 60c stamp and print the sender's return address on the back of the envelope, so that Santa knows where to reply .

You can choose extra special Santa Mail printables over at Kate @Picklebums , Kate has designed hers with matching envelops , Katrina @ The Organised Housewife . Australia Post has letterheads you can download.

If you forget here is 'free' download reply from Santa here (ignore the Westfield Santa photo stuff -just look at the top right of the page)

You might also like this one if you leave it too late :)

Ps Our Elves have arrived

I'll be starting my Spectacular 12 days of Christmas Giveaway tomorrow because I have a very sore neck/shoulder . I can't wait to reveal a few surprises.

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