**HAPPINESS IS........**

I am so happy-I think I just wee'd my pants a little bit........lol!!

My Dad just turned 60 and my hubby is flying them out soon for a long overdue holiday-6weeks long to be exact.........I'm not sure who's more excited??!!Me,the kids or my folks??!!......

It's been 15months since my parents saw their grandbabies.....the same for hubby-I was fortunate enough to see them in January this year-when my kid brother tied the knot.......:)

In my head I have already lined up all the fabulous dinners Mom's gotta cook first......Malay curry,chicken briyani.........her orange vanilla sponge,lamingtons & her yummy meatballs.......OMG-I'm salivating at the very thought........

We also look forward to all the roadtrips we're going to be taking-first stop the elephant orphanage........a quick stop in GALLE & maybe a breakaway to Kandy??!!......

I can't wait to see the look on Mom's face when I load her in a tuck-tuck & take her for a spin down Galle Road........oh the profanities.......hahahahahaha...

Anyhoo just another THANK YOU from the kids & I to my dahling hubby-you are simple THE BEST!!!

Off to book the tickets......Happy Hump Day!!

**AUGUST RECIPES**

CREAMY COLESLAW:

1 large head cabbage,shredded
2 small carrots,shredded
1/2 tsp celery seed
1 cup mayonaise
3 tbsp sugar/to taste
2 tbsp white vinegar
1/3 cup canola oil
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup cream


Combine cabbage & carrots in large bowl-toss in celery seeds.
Mix other ingredients in seperate bowl.
Pour mixture over the cabbage & mix thoroughly.
Cover & refrigerate until needed.



MEATBALLS:

1kg ground beef
1/2 breadcrumbs
1/3 cup water
1/4 grated parmesan
1 medium onion-chopped finely
garlic
salt
pepper


Mix all the ingredients together.
Mixture should be moist but not so that meatballs falls apart.

Shape meatballs into desired size.
Wet hands before shaping each meatball-easier to handle the mixture.**

Broil until browned on both sides then add to pasta sauce & simmer for 20min/
Panfry in heated oil.


BANANA BREAD:

1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup butter room temp

2 bananas mashed
2 tbsp milk
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda



Preheat oven to 180C
Cream together butter,sugar & egg until fluffy
Add mashed bananas & milk into the mixture.
Add the dry ingredients-gradually-mix well.
Pour into greased loaf pan & bake for appx 1hour
Test the cake with a clean knife to see if cooked through(I use a chopstick:)
Serve warm with cream & jam.....or as is!!

**GIRLFRIENDS**

Earlier this morning I had a *chat* with a friend,Aurelia-we met maybe 7 years ago-online -in a webGROUP for black woman......we sporadically stayed in touch through the board with maybe the odd mail over the years-until she found me on FB & we have been in touch almost EVERYDAY since......it's funny because we've never met in person,shared a drink on a Friday night or even chatted on the phone-yet I feel like I've known her FOREVER........it got me thinking about the importance of having girlfriends....

My life thus far has been a great ride........I've lived in several continents,holidayed in awesome places & seen many beautiful things-from the Louvre to the wild animals in Africa,from the amazing skylight in Hong Kong to the balmy beaches in Phillippines.......but the real highlight of it all was the AMAZING GIRLFRIENDS I've met along the way.......

What would we be without them??our sisters, not by blood but the ones we picked as family ourselves......?!

Whether you met in a grocery store,hotel lobby or simply through mutual friends.....that instantaneous bond you made......be it over the same taste in shoes,the love of art,travel.........or dare I say it-good food!!!....lol

With 4 children it's never been too difficult for me to make friends-you meet new people at school functions/meetings all the time......sometimes you CLICK othertimes you simply DON'T........& that's okay too......Like my wise hubby always say-*NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO LIKE YOU & YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE EVERYONE *.....

As I sit here sipping my cuppa I can visualize a friend from my teenage phase to my current life phase.......take Charlene for instance-we met in high school,fell pregnant about the same time,I moved countries a few times but after 20 odd years we are still in touch-sharing in each others lives- time only making the bond deeper & stronger,

then there's Fifi-we met many moons ago in church,we both have an affinity to party & make things beautiful & happy.....:),

then there's Marie-we met when hubby took a job in China-she's a lass from Sunderland,me a kid from Cape Town-we formed a bond over a bottle of Jack Daniels for me & VODKA for her-less calories you see.......:)-we use to sneak away every Wed morning on a ferry from China to HK to go shopping......lol-our poor husbands.......

then there's Kenna-we met in MRU.....two african gals,married to two blokes from the UK,7kids between us.......instant friends.She taught me to be more calm & I showed her how to toughen up a bit.....lol-we talk on the phone as often as we can & the funny thing is we never run out of things to say.......

& then the most recent ones I've met in the past 8months........who continue to take me under their wings until I get truly settled...the ones who allow me to dance wildly,sing karaoke like I'm on tour in Vegas......& just let me be ME......:)

To GIRLFRIENDS........near or far.........the ones you have met in person & the ones you plan to....

**MEN........ESPECIALLY FATHERS**

I am very blessed to have 6 amazing guys in my life-my three boys,my lil brother,my darling husband & my DAD!!........

You see it's my Father's birthday today & we are seperated by deep seas & very high mountains......it would have been awesome to be there this morning as he woke up but it's not to be.......fret not we are connected in spirit.

That bond between parent & child,Father & daughter........it's a very special & deep bond.She will continue in her life searching for that man who are just as GREAT & AMAZING as her Dad........am I lying??or is there an element of thruth in there??!!

Take my hubby & Dad.......two different worlds it seems but not quite!?-both middle class citizens,incredible work ethic,quiet & reserved,LOVES their families unconditionally,ALWAYS put others first,easy to love & soooooooo down to earth.......They are very much ALIKE indeed......

So today I want to pay tribute to the SPECIAL guy who helped shape me into the WOMAN I have become...

BLESSED BIRTHDAY TO YOU DAD.....!!

**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!!