Virtual Girls Night In: The Indulgence Edition - Round Up

Sadly, this year was a bit of a bust. Nobody turned up to join me to raise money for the Cancer Council, which is very disappointing after the great turn out last year. With my computer out of commission I wasn't able to do the promoting as much as I would have liked, but it is still sad. Next year we'll go back to pink things, that seems to be a much more popular theme.

Of course I made something for this event, Chocolate Risotto topped with more chocolate (and rainbow sprinkles for the kids) so you can feast your eyes on this, if nothing else.

I hope you think about joining me next year, and remember, it's not too late to donate at least!

Flash Game Friday

The Wiki Game

Not quite so much a 'flash' game, but a great way to waste your Friday regardless :D

Kids Cooking Thursday: Choc Honeycomb muffins

We were running short of after school snacks, so in very little time we whipped up these Honeycomb Muffins. Only change I made was to skip the choc chips in favour of more crushed honeycomb.

Sadly there is a shortage of photos today, because it was hard to co ordinate scooping with a four year old and a two year old, and have a hand for the camera as well.

If you'd like to join in with Kids Cooking Thursday please leave a permalink to your own Kids Cooking Thursday post, as per the rules.

A moment of silence please...

For my dear departed computer. All the fans stopped working and it no longer boots. I've been struggling on with uploading photos from my phone and copying across the image code, but it's a very long tedious process, and I'm afraid I'm going to have to take a break from Dragon Musings until I have a new computer. Hopefully we can source a cheap one and I won't be out of commission for too long. The Virtual Girls Night In will still post as promised, although at this point, I'm the only attendee, so if you want to join in, the deadline for sending in posts in tomorrow!


It's your last chance to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council. Entries due in tomorrow!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday
Freezer Suprise

Tuesday

Pie, with Potato & Prosciutto Salad

Wednesday

Tuna Spinach & Garlic Tortellini Bake

Thursday

Vegetable Risotto

Friday
Chips and Dims sims and Scooby Doo movie :)

Saturday

Mushroom mornay Pasta

Sunday
KFC


Check back during the week for the recipes, and as usual, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for literally hundreds of other menu plan blog posts, and please come back here for Kids Cooking Thursday when we make Choc Honeycomb Muffins.

It's your last chance to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council. Entries due in tomorrow!

Flash Game Friday

Fork It

Stab the sugar toast. Stabby, stabby, stabby!



Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Kids Cooking Thursday

Regular KCT has been interrupted by the fact that my computer died, and I can't upload pictures. Please bear with me as I get this sorted out.




Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Spirit Day.

We will wear PURPLE in honour of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks due to homophobic abuse in their homes, at their schools. Purple represents spirit on the lgbtq flag and that's exactly what we'd like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbours and schools.
RIP
Tyler
Seth
Justin
Raymond
Asher
Billy

Menu Plan Monday

Monday

Steamed Dim Sims & Oven Fries

Tuesday

Pizza Scroll Pull Apart

Wednesday
Freezer Suprise

Thursday

French Onion & Garlic Cheesy Pasta Bake

Friday
Spaghetti Napoletana

Saturday
Maccas - because I was busy all day

Sunday
Sandwiches after lunch at La Porchetta with the ILs


Check back during the week for the recipes, and as usual, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for literally hundreds of other menu plan blog posts, and please come back here for Kids Cooking Thursday.



Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Puppet Head List: #18

Have glamour photos taken of me

I didn't quite get glamour shots, as such, done. I got something much more fun. I had a shoot with Matchless Snapshots, the brainchild of a fabulous photographer who specialises in conceptual portraits. I'm not going to post a whole bunch of photos here, because I don't want to violate her copyright, but also because I think she is awesome, and you should go and check out all her work, not just my shoot.

Seriously, if you are in Victoria (Australia) and can get to the Geelong area, and are considering having fun photos done, check her out. I've been a fan of her work for ages, she does great things with zombies and roller derby chicks!



Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Puppet Head List: #24

Dye my hair Purple

I bleached it and used Fudge Purple Haze. When I have finished all the Fudge I will get some Manic Panic, but I'll have to order that online. Fudge gives very vibrant colours, but it fades quickly.



Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Flash Game Friday

Super Mario Crossover

One suggested by a reader - keep them coming in, I'm always happy to find new games to feature here!



Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Kids Cooking Thursday: Puffy Butterflies

A really simple snack that can be whipped up in time for afternoon tea. Miss Four and Master Two helped me make these between the end of Mister Maker and when Master Six got home. Master Six helped us eat them!

Puffy Butterflies
2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
2-3 Tbsp jam (we used strawberry)
Sugar, and butter to top

Spread one sheet of pastry with jam. Top with second sheet.

Spread butter over the top sheet. (We used butter creamed with sugar because I had some in the fridge, otherwise I would have melted it before spreading) Sprinkle sugar over the top.

Cut out with a butterfly shaped biscuit cutter, or whatever shape you prefer. Place on a paper lined baking tray.

Bake for about 20 minutes at 180°C, or until golden.

Cool for as long as hungry tummies can stand. The aim is to serve fairly warm, but not so anyone burns themselves on hot jam.

If you'd like to join in with Kids Cooking Thursday please leave a permalink to your own Kids Cooking Thursday post, as per the rules.




Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday

Pumpkin Risotto

Tuesday

Kangaroo Sausages braised with onions and red wine, mashed potatoes

Wednesday

Garden vegetable Penne

Thursday

Baked Beans

Friday

Garlicky Scrambled Eggs

Saturday
Sandwiches after my epic fail at making fritters from mashed potatoes

Sunday

Spaghetti Carbonara


Check back during the week for the recipes, and as usual, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for literally hundreds of other menu plan blog posts, and please come back here for Kids Cooking Thursday when we make Puffy Butterflies.

Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

10/10/10 10:10am!

It is now 10 past 10am, on the 10th of the 10th, 2010. That's a lot of tens.

It is also World Lose The Game Day, so...

You just lost the Game.





Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Chocolate Risotto

It's been a while since I managed to take part in the Cookbook Challenge, but this week I managed to pull something out of my hat, and kill two birds with one stone, while only spending $1.55 on buying ingredients I didn't already have in the house. Risotto is a pretty indulgent dish to make at the best of times, with all that stirring and ladling, especially in this house, where DP doesn't eat rice. But making a risotto purely for dessert purposes, and then filling it with chocolate makes it doubly decadent, and that's why I'm using this as my own entry for my Virtual Girls Night In later this month, the theme of which is Indulgence.

Chocolate Risotto(from 30 Minute Italian - Fran Warde)
600ml milk
25g sugar
50g butter
125g arborio rice
50g hazelnuts, toasted and chopped (I subbed in 1 Tbsp choc hazelnut spread, so I could serve this to young children)
50g sultanas
125g good quality dark chocolate, grated
splash of brandy (optional)
grated chocolate to decorate

Put the milk and sugar in to a saucepan and heat to simmering point.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the rice and stir well to coat the grains.
Add a ladleful of hot milk and stir well. When the rice has absorbed the milk, add another ladleful. Continue to stir and add the milk until it is all absorbed. The rice should be slightly al dente and with a creamy sauce.
Finally add the hazelnuts, sultanas and grated chocolate and mix quickly. Serve decorated with a little grated chocolate. Try not to over-mix the chocolate as the marbled effect looks good. For a special treat add a splash of brandy just before serving. Decorate with grated chocolate.




This was an entry for
The Cookbook Challenge: Week 47 - Italian.









Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Flash Game Friday

Wooden Path

This kinda reminds me of a Dora the Explorer episode. Don't get me wrong though, some of the harder levels will really make you think hard!

And if that doesn't capture your fleeting Friday attention span, how about going and checking out The Food Blog Diary, a monthly listing of food blog events for you to participate in, or just drool over.



Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.

Kids Cooking Thursday: Lunch

To be more specific, lots of lunches! I had a bulk pack of 20 rolls, a kilo of luncheon meat roll, and a bunch of zip lock bags. Oh, and a six year old. Perfect ingredients for a production line... just in time for the end of school holidays!

Buttering...


Hamming...


Bagging...

Then Miss Four woke up from the sleep she fell into on the hour long trip home in the hot car, and wanted to help too, so she helped by counting out 7 dried apricots, and bagging them up for playlunches.

If you'd like to join in with Kids Cooking Thursday please leave a permalink to your own Kids Cooking Thursday post, as per the rules.




Don't forget to indulge yourself for the Virtual Girls Night In, our annual fundraiser for the Cancer Council.