**WISHLIST**

I am not a greedy cow, who wants everything & anything just because I can......unless it's shoes.........(evil laughter)but there are certain things that I REALLY REALLY WANT right now........wanna know what it is??!!........

Actually I want two things:(see not greedy guts at all:)

1-an old fashioned typewriter........yep!!like the one Angela Landbury used in MURDER SHE WROTE......(not weird at all)
2.a sewing machine-nothing fancy maybe a overlocker?!

You see there is a method to my madness-I want to start writing again.......my last proper piece was in the 90's for a magazine....just a silly love story-a short one.......I don't think it got published??not even sure I mailed it??!!-the fact remains I wrote it.......& dammit it was good!!......:)

I already have the story in my head-the beginning & ending anyway-the rest are yet to be decided,planned & constructed......

As for the sewing-I just wanna faf about on silly things,cushion covers,bedspreads.....etc-nothing too complicated or that requires too much thread/effort......lol

Can you see me sitting in my lil writing/sewing corner??flitting between the two stations.......CREATING!!!.......

So on my wishlist they go.......what's on YOURS??!!

**LOVE.........LIFE & EVERYTHING ELSE**

Love is the food to our soul....it makes us get out of bed everyday-be it for family,golf,shoes,our job.........it keeps us going.

For some it takes a while to come around,for others it's right under their noses.......but they are ALWAYS out there looking for BETTER....for MORE.....!!

And for some.....well it just finds YOU......*smile*.

The thing is though-you always have to be open for it,not waiting or expecting it-but when it nudges you-you are ready to TAKE it......

Don't get me wrong-it's NEVER easy.......hahahaha-f**k it's anything but.....you gotta work your butt off to keep it going,keep it flowing.......

Why the sentimental mood??!!LOVE.......for a sister,a dear friend,a constant companion........you see the thing about HAPPINESS is you wanna SHARE it......if I knew how I'd bottle & sell it......lol!!!

LIFE is long.......make the road a joyous one-you know LAUGH often,EAT well,DANCE all the time........:)(my motto & it works)

LOVE is ALL around us.......we just have to be READY for it!!!

*BLESSED SUNDAY**

**KIDS ONLY**

BANANA ICE LOLLIES:

2 large bananas
1/2 cup dry milk powder
1 cup plain yoghurt
1 can semi frozen orange juice(concentrate)
1 cup water

Combine in a blender & whizz until foamy.
Pour into papercups & freeze until desired.
*sticks can be placed in the cups before freezing or simply push up the lolly when frozen*



CHOC CRUNCHIES:

60g milk chocolate
30g rice crispies/corn flakes


Break choc into small pieces & place in bowl.
Boil some water-pour into large bowl-place smaller bowl with choc inside larger bowl with water.
After appx 10min choc should be melted & removed from larger bowl.

Pour the cereal into the melted choc & gently mix until completely covered.
Scoop spoonfuls of the choc mixture onto a large dish/small cupcake cases.
Place in refrigerator for 15min to set.



SHORTBREAD:

225g flour
115g cornflour
225g unsalted butter
115g caster sugar
3 drops of vanilla extract


Sieve the flour & cornflour together in mixing bowl.
In a seperate bowl add the butter & sugar together =beat together until mixed.
Add the butter mix to the flour & knead until doughy.
Form dough into a ball,wrap in clingfilm & leave in fridge for 30min.
Preheat oven to 180C
Sprinkle flour on clean work surface & roll out the dough to a thickness of 5mm
Turn dough around to prevent it sticking to the surface.
Use cookie cutters to make your cookies until all the dough has been used.
Place the shaped cookies on a lightly greased tray & bake for appx 15min or until golden brown
Remove from oven-wait till cooled & serve.


BULLY BEEF BURGERS:

250g minced beef
1/2 an onion finely chopped
1 egg
salt & pepper-to taste


In a large bowl mix all the ingredient togeter.
Great fun but a touch messy...:)

Roll into balls until mixture finished.
If desired can be gently patted until smaller & flat in size or left in balls
Gently fry in oil on stove top or grill for appx 6min on either side.
Serve on a bun with lettuce,tomato or sauce of your choice!!

FLAPJACKS RECIPE:

1 1/2 cups cake flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup melted butter
2 large eggs-beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon(optional)


Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl to form a smooth batter.
Heat a knob of butter with 1tsp of vegetable oil on medium.
Spoon in amounts of 1/5 cup for a nice size crumpet.
Brown on either side & ENJOY!!!

**CARTWHEELS & BANANAS**

Good morning world...........*yawn*!!

I was awoken this morning by a buzzing lawnmower & the smell of freshly cut grass.........one of my favourite smells EVER!!!!

So I'm sitting at my usual spot-sipping tea & watching the gardener bring my garden back to life..........!!unfortunately the pups are not so keen on the buzzing & whirring........they have taken refuge under the bed.....lol

Anyhoo -today I'm making my way to the market for a few supplies.....gonna try a new chicken pie recipe & hubby is taking us for prawns on the beach........yum!!

Looks like a lovely,lazy Saturday to me......?!

**LAZY BONES**

What a lovely day I've had!!!-hooked up with my african sistahs,talking about everything under the sun.......from fallen african leaders to early morning lovefests........hahahaha-YES I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU!!!!.........*naughty laughter*

Even though the hostess was a bit coy we all let the freak deep inside FREE today........gotta love girlfriends!!!!

Anyhoo just had dinner-bbq pork chops & baby potatoes-glass of vino for me & a pop for him.......washed down with a slice of cheesecake-YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMM!!!!!.......

It's Friday night-almost 9pm.......some of you are about to get your freak on on the dancefloor,hit the pub or grab a movie........ME??!!-I'm right here where I wanna be-on the sofa running my fingers through my man's hair........cheesy??!!MAYBE.....but I'm loving it!!!.......*wink

Drive carefully,drink responsibly,shag properly........this weekend!!!!......lol

**WHAT A WEEK!?**

I can't believe the weekends upon us......ALREADY!!

As I'm sitting here sipping my brew,looking onto my garden I feel totally relaxed & am admittedly in a dream like state.......what I should be doing is going back to bed but I just bought some dvd boxsets that I want to devour in one sitting........:)

Oh yes I am a movie/tv queen.....currently we are hooked on THE UNITES STATES OF TARA-wicked!! & THE MIDDLE-unscrupolous fun.....I also heart HUNG and are patiently waiting for Season 2......!!!Tom Jane is well lush.......*wink

Anyhoo later today I am meeting some ladies for a chinwag & hopefully some yummy treats too?!.....we have no plans for tonight-maybe a good idea to stop in & cuddle up with my main squeeze........puuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

*COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK*

PINA COLADA:

50ml white rum
50ml coconut milk
50ml pineapple juice

Mix al ingredients together.Serve in a glass with a chunk of pineapple & a cherry-toss in a colourful drinks umbrella for kicks!!!

**MALAYSIA TRULY ASIA**

What a whirlwind 3days of cocktails,shopping malls,cupcakes & fab shoes..........with only two gals in the house it's always great to sneak way from the boys & hang with my daughter-May!!

We hung out at SHUNGHEI WANG,PAVILLION & TIMES SQUARE mall........everything you need under one roof......my credit card is NO GOOD for a few weeks now but I have the shoes that says it's ALL worth it...........lol

We also managed to squeeze in a few trips to the cinema-looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove the caramel popcorn-very moreish........*wink

Discovered another DELANEYS in KL but it was crap-no MAGNERS-big booooooooo-& they also could not make me a much needed margherita 'cause they had no tequila.........wtf??!!.......paid for my mocktail & will never return!!!!!

On day 3, May finally worked up all her courage to get her tattoo.......after 30min of should I/should I not she did it......had to hold her hand but I near lost it with all that squeezing & pulling she did........lol!!!!-deffo much braver than me.....:)

Nothing too obstentatious-4 musical notes on her ankle....very demure & almost invisible..........I have a feeling this was only the beginning though........*raised eyebrow*

Anyhoo we are back home now........I missed my boys terribly but like all Mother's know.....there is no rest for us at all.......just done cooking a pasta dish for lunch-then to bed.....I think...?!

**GIRLS ONLY**

Early Monday morning-5:30 am we were collected & ferried to the airport.......caught our flight to Malaysia at 7:15am.......*yawn* & landed 4hours later........I managed to grab a few zzzzzzzz on the plane but some gremlin was let loose by his idiot parents on the plane-AT THAT TIME OF THE MORNING!!!He managed to send shockwaves every 30min by screeching like an effen banjee........now I love kids-just not ill behaved,spoilt brats!!!!FACT....

Anyhoo all that boiling feelings dissapeared when we landed in beautiful,sunny shopping mecca KL.......:)

Because I was feeling rather adventurous I did not book a hotel but randomly selected one off the airport manual-it looked nice enough....well!!!!-it was a wee shithole.......'nuff said!!

Luckily just around the corner we found a brand new hotel called SKY HOTEL-we have a bed to sleep in,the room's clean,we can see the KL tower from the room & the shopping mall is min away.......MINUTES I say.....lol

On our first day we had our customary TEPANYAKI meal & off to the cinema we went.....we saw INCEPTION!!!.........oh man YOU MUST SEE IT!!!

Leonardo de Caprio is back on top-what a great, intricate story,fantastic cast & amazing-take note before you lose the plot-script!!!!I CAN SMELL OSCAR!!!!.....

I heart KL......

*VEGGIE BITES*

AUBERGINE MELTS:

3tbsp olive oil
2 aubergines- halved lengthways
4 tomatoes
1 ball of mozzarella,drained
handful basil leaves

Heat oven to 180 degrees
Drizzle the oil over the aubergine & bake for appx 25min
Slice tomatoes & mozzarella & arrange on top of aubergine
Return to oven until cheese has melted
Scatter over the basil leaves.
Serve with couscous and green salad




ONE POT POTATO & MUSHROOM CURRY:

1tbsp oil
1 large potato chopped into chunks
1 aubergine chopped into chunks
250g button mushrooms
2-4 tbsp curry(according to taste)
150ml veggie stock
400ml coconut milk
chopped coriander-to serve

Heat oil il large saucepan-add the onion & potato
Cover & cook on low heat for appx 5min-until potatoes soften
Add mushrooms & aubergine-cook for another 5min
Stir in the curry paste,stock & coconut milk
Bring to the boil & simmer for 10minutes/until potato is tender


Stir through the coriander & serve with rice or naan bread

*MORE RECIPES*

NEW YORK CHEESECAKE:

1 can condensed milk
1/4 cup butter
1 cup digestive biscuit crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
4 tubs of cream cheese-softened
1/2 cup flour
4 eggs
1tbsp vanilla extract


Pregeat oven 300 degrees/150 degrees F
In saucepan melt butter,stir in crumbs & sugar
Scoop mixture in 9" buttered springform/silicone pan
Beat cream cheese until fluffy
Beat in 1/2 cup flour and 4 eggs-mix well
Stir in condensed milk & vanilla extract
Fold mixture into silicone pan
Bake for appx 90min.


After cheesecake is done leave in oven for 1hour to minimize cracking.

Chill in the fridge to set & remove from pan when ready to serve.
Delicious topped with cherry,strawberry or blueberry glaze.





DIRTY RICE:

2 cups uncooked rice
500g of chicken livers & gizzards
500g ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 green pepper -chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1clove garlic-chopped
2 green onions/scallions chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Boil the rice to desired texture-I prefer my rice soft & fluffy-prefer THAI rice
Cook the livers & gizzards in seperate pot-should be done in 10min-strain & chop
Brown the beef in a skillet-por off the grease when beef is cooked
Add all the other ingredients-except the rice
Cook for appx 15min over medium heat
Stir in the rice & continue to cook for another 5min

**SMELL OF SIZZLING BACON**

mmmmmmmmmmm*purring like a little kitty cat*........My bed is so cozy & warm......plus the sun is streaming in through the windows illuminating every corner of the room.........when I do come to my senses I catch a wiff of breakfast being cooked downstairs.......*happy face*

I slid out of bed and made way to the kitchen-there he was my knight in shining armor cooking brekkie........aaaaaaaaaw bless!!

It's a rare treat for me 'cause his usually on the golf course by now....must be a very late tee-off??!!.........(lucky me:)

Anyhoo I'm now having a mega bite out of my brekkie washed down with a cuppa rooibos tea.........*gobble gobble*

Blessed Sunday to you all......

Monzie

**NOW THAT WAS FUN..........**

I woke up at 6am.......only because hubby woke us on his way to work......& re-emerged from the bedroom at 10am.......I am trying to fit the pieces of last night together........LIKE A BIG FAT DRUNKEN PUZZLE........:)

Oh boy.......did we have fun & I have a severe case of dehydration to prove it!!!!

P & D was so kind in having us over-bet my arse they had no idea what was laying ahead........lol.

We were all in top form & let's not kid ourselves D's vodka cranberries was totally to blame...........I HEART GREY GOOSE !!!You know when you hang with a group of people.........on the very same wavelength & you just feel like you've known each other for ages??!!.........it was like that-ONLY BETTER.......

To be honest I don't recall just how many vodkas I had-who cares anyhoo?!-but it sure as hell made my limbs take on a life of it's own.......I was breaking it down last night.........lmao!!!& some fool has got the pics to prove it........:)

Living in a country which is NOT your home is tough but good friends make it so much more live-able*........& effen FUN!!!!

MODERN TOILET-TAIWAN

So I'm sat down watching DISCOVERY-TRAVEL & LIVING when this restaurant is being reviewed.

I was both intrigued & appalled........& just a bit grossed out!!!

Situated in Taipei-Taiwan.......set in three storeys where everything resembles a toilet/loo........even some of the food dishes looks like they BELONG in a toilet bowl!!

So seriously-would you like to taste ice cream shaped like faeces??!!......


ps:Putting this on my list of things to do.........SERIOUSLY!!

**FRIDAY JIGG**

Gooooooooooooooooooood morning everyone!!!!

I just had a big bowl of oatmeal & a glass of OJ........what a way to jumpstart the day?!

As I'm still awaiting my new drivers licence I am *punished* to another day stuck in the house.......don't get me wrong-I love it-just I tend to reach for the cookie jar every 5minutes........wreaking havoc with my waistline.........lol!!

Later this evening I'm hooking up with some friends for snax & drinks........Lord knows where the night will take us??!!.......:)

Tomorrow is yet undetermined.....& Sunday we are hanging out with the golf crowd-having a dutch feast,imported beer & silly jokes about balls & holes.............!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY to you.........drink up & be merry!!

Monzie

**I LOVE SMOOTHIES**

To make the ultimate smoothie I suggest you always used FRESH VEG/FRUITS!

BERRY BLAST:
1/2 cup strawberries
1/2 cup of blueberries
1/2 peaches
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup of plain yoghurt & *skim milk-mixed
3tsp brown sugar
1 large banana


Mix well in blender.
Instead of water use ice cubes(fruits can be frozen beforehand to thicken the smoothie)
Serve immediately.



5 MINUTE BERRY ICE CREAM:

4 cups of mixed fruit-eg,strawberries,pineapple,orange,blueberries,etc
1 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Chop fruit in blender/processor into tiny pieces
Add milk,sugar & vanilla extract.
Serve appx 6

*For a richer ice cream-use heavy cream in lieu of milk.

**BUSY MORN......**

Just back from a quick run to LANKA HOSPITAL-very clean,efficient & friendly.

Call me paranoid but after my mate was diagnosed with DENGUE in a space of days- I am leaving nowt to chance......so I dragged the kid to hospital at 9am......'twas not very pleased but probably very grateful deep deep inside........:)-to have such a warm caring Mom!!!

Anyhoo after peeing in a cup & losing a few drops of blood-we were good to go........most probably a viral infection but waiting anxiously for the all clear later this evening.......

Take care of yourselves & stay healthy

Monzie

**LAST NITE........**

So I made a boo boo last night-ended up devouring middle eastern food instead of the mediteranean dishes I was salivating over........I had the usual ROGAN JOSH,WILD CRAB CURRY,NAAN BREAD,etc.........I totally lost the plot when we came to desert.......lol!!

I met up with my new landlord D who's a lovely lady-I will try NOT to corrupt her too much.......*wink,Sarrah & Armil.....we chatted seamlessly about everything & nothing.

I was actually in top form last night -had only the one mojito........(remind me to never do that again:)

The four of us had a pleasant evening but when Armil excused himself for a minute we had this *fool approach the table insisting that he knows me from somewhere??!!........please-does that trick even work??-cause not one of us recognised the old geezer.......eeeuuuuuuwwwwwwww!!!

Anyhoo on a more serious note I just wanna send some positive vibes & prayers to my mate A who is in hospital suffering from dengue.......

Love you gurl!!

xoxoxo

**HAPPY HUMP DAY**

GOOD MORNING WORLD!!!!...........*big fat smile*

I feel super refreshed after a loooooooong goodnights rest.Snuggled up with her hubby last night watching CSI-MIAMI.......well hardly watching as we were too busy taking the piss of HORATIO CRAINE........what a nutjob character......??!!!

I mean seriously-what's with the look.......and the sun......and the glasses.......it's all too bright makes me wanna reach for my sunnies.......pmsl

Anyhoo hubby summed it perfectly when he said *that lab is so flashy/neonlit it looks more like a meth lab*.........I nearly fell outta bed at that comment........hahahahaha

Right so today I'm meeting a friend for lunch at BAREFOOT-one of my fave restos on the island.......generous portions & lovely smoothies :)

Actually today is ALL about the girlfriends & eating......off to HILTON tonight to feast on mediteranean food -yum yum

Whatever you decide to do today-do it with a smile!!!