Sunday Cycle To The City

We aim to go for a family cycle every Sunday and today we decided to follow the Torrens River into the city and back. It was a 15km cycle and took about 80 minutes. Its such a beautiful route along the river and we see ducks and swans and other people and families doing their own Sunday activities. After about 90 minutes Natalia starts to get bored and niggly on the back of the bike so for that reason only we dont go for much longer.

Beautiful black swans

The Torrens River into the city

Too cute

Our First Summery Day

We were excited to welcome our first summery day in Adelaide. It's been a cold wet winter which we are not used to. But we know we are in for our first 'vrek' hot summer too. With normal temps in Adelaide reaching between 34-38deg and highs of 40-45deg is not unheard of and I am shaking in my boots. This I am NOT looking forward too, whew!!!

Helping daddy make breakfast

Sharing a joke with daddy

Gorgeous girl

Making a cuppa tea

Care for some milk ?

Watering the garden is hard work

See How Long My Hair Is Getting

A Day In Hahndorf

We decided to go to Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills this morning; it was the first German settlement in Australia. We walked around looking at the shops and then went for a traditional German lunch. Such a lovely little town. Just wish we could spend more time there and see more of what it has to offer.

Leaving the house

In Hahndorf running around

Running around with daddy

Jumping........

Stopping to smell the flowers

Care to Tango

And the dip

Rain rain go away

Okay......

so she likes to pole-dance

Jumping off the step for the 20th time

We could have spent the whole day doing this

Daddy joining in

Pooped and catching a ride

Hahndorf Inn for the best German food......mmmm

Busy Fun Weekend

We spend every weekend as a family and think of different things to do. Every Saturday morning is the same. We have a nice breakfast together and then get ready to take Natalia to swimming. Natalia goes for swimming lessons in the north of Adelaide which is about a 40 minute drive. We leave home just after 10am and get there at about 10.45am, just in time for me to change her into her swimming nappy and cozzie. We have been doing this for about 2 months now and she's doing so well. This week she earned 3 certificates in her class. On Monday she got an ear infection so we decided that it would be good to get her something to protect her ears while swimming. The swimming school lent us a head band that covered her ears and if it was successful we could purchase one, which was really kind of them.

Then in the afternoon we went to visit our favourite supplier in the Hills; a guy that imports South African groceries and booze. We got a couple of packets of NikNaks and Simba crisps, some Moirs custard powder and a fizzpop for Natalia. Then we went to our favourite butcher to get some meat to make our own biltong.

This morning after breakfast we went for a cycle around the gardens around the city. Adelaide CBD has the most beautiful gardens and parks surrounding it. There are paths all over for walkers, joggers and cyclists and best of all its so safe; today was such a nice warm winter day and its surprising how many people are out and about.

In the afternoon after Natalia's nap we went for a drive to Port Adelaide to walk along the beach. There was also a play area there and a little 7 year old girl called Naomi took to Natalia and shared her prized possessions with her, the interaction was too cute.

The headband ear protector that was on loan

Floating

Out bikes

A quick pit stop for some fun

A happy girl waling on the pier

Walking on the beach with daddy

On the beach at sunset

Barney going to a ride

Naomi sharing her prized possessions with Talia

Hello granny, can you hear me ??

Deceptive French Toast

This is an easy one aimed at fussy kids. It’s a tradition to have French Toast every Saturday morning before we take Natalia to her swimming lesson.

Ingredients:

4 eggs

milk
½ cup cauliflower puree
6 slices whole-wheat bread
Olive oil spray

Method:

1. Spray a non-stick pan with olive oil and put on a medium heat.
2. Whisk the 4 eggs together with a splash of milk. Add the cauliflower and mix well together. Let  the slices of bread soak up the egg mixture for about 10 seconds on each side.
3. Fry the bread slices and when browned flip them over to brown on the other side. You need to keep a careful eye that it doesn’t burn.
4. Serve with your favourite spread or topping.

Natalia loves to have Bovril on her French Toast and she’s none the wiser that its healthy and has a hidden veg in it. This is definitely a family favourite……. And oh so easy to make.

Deceptive Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 24

These are the healthier kind with hidden goodness. Natalia continues to be difficult to please and I am on the constant look-out for this kind of recipe. The surprising ingredient is a can of chickpeas!

Ingredients:1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
¾ cup (180g) margarine or butter
2 large egg whites
2 tsp vanilla essence
1 can (400g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cups (260g) chocolate chips
¾ cup chopped walnuts
¾ cup raisins (optional)
2 cups flour
½ cup old-fashioned oats
1 tsp bicarb of soda
¼ tsp salt

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180 C and line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine on a medium speed until smooth. Beat in the egg whites and vanilla, then mix in the chickpeas and chocolate chips. Add the flour, oats, bicarb and salt, and mix on a low speed until a thick dough forms.
3. Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto the baking tray, spacing the cookies about 4cm apart. Press gently with a fork to flatten. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and just set for 11-13 minutes; do not over bake. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.
4. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Notes:
Watch out for flying chickpeas when mixing them in. Partially cover the bowl with a dish towel.
I used pecan nuts instead of walnuts and I didnt put raisins in. These are so easy and fast to make and taste astonishingly good. And since they have some goodness in them, you can enjoy them even more, yummo!