Recipe Request #2

This is another one of my recipes that I whip up reguarly, although this one is not loved by my kids.

It's a modified version of the the Smart Slice in this Destitute Gourmet cookbook

It's low-fat, low in sugar and relatively simple. And again, has never gone wrong.

Melt in a saucepan on low:
4 1/2 Tbsp margerine/spread
1/2 Tbsp golden syrup
1/3 cup castor sugar

In a bowl mix together:
1 1/2 cups self raising flour
1 1/2 cups coconut
5 Weetbix or similar brand, crushed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup of chopped dates

Pour melted mixture over dry ingredients and stir

Mix in 1 egg
and 1/3 cup boiling water

Let cool slightly and mix in 1/2 to 3/4 cup choc chips

Press into greased slice tin and bake at 180 degrees for 20-30 mins or until golden

You can also use walnuts, apricots, raisens in half cup quantities, and ice the top when cooked and cooled with choc or lemon icing

Review: DryNites Pyjama Pants

It's not often I do a review, but this was one that was too opportune to pass up.

It was at exactly the time I began to notice that Turbo (3) was starting to wake up with a dry nappy some mornings and I wanted to transition him out of nappies at night.

Whilst the whole completely dry at night thing still hasn't happened, having Dry Nites on as a backup has been a great experience.

They are so soft and easy to pull up and down, which is great when Turbo goes to toilet ten times before falling asleep...you know the stalling tactics I'm talking about.

Because of the excellent quality of DryNites, if Turbo wakes up dry, I simply re-use the DryNites and so while they may cost a little more than other brands, they are definitely worth it.

I did try some other brands of nappy pants/pulls ups after the DryNites, but they weren't as easy to pull up and down and the sides tore frequently. And they weren't as soft either.

I highly recommend DryNites as a discreet, easy and fail-proof way of protecting your mattress and blankets from accidents, and providing your little person a peaceful sleep without the worry of bed-wetting.

A gem of a blog

This is a little post to let you know about an awesome blog called Identity Adoption and Me

I've known Dot for a few years but we recently connected again when I started attending a new connect/life/small group that Dot was also going to.

Dot grew up in Fiji, and always felt a little different. When she was around 13, she discovered, by accident, that she was adopted and that her birth mother and father were Samoan.

She tells her story beautifully on her blog and writes really well. Start at the very first post if you want to read her whole story.

She's new to the blog world so please show some love!

Thank you xxx

Recipe Request #1

Wherever I go with this cake, I get complimented on it. Seriously, wherever. Every time.
I whip this up at least once a week.
And I've been asked for the recipe so many time too.
So I thought I'd share it.

For me, baking has to be easy, cheap, not too fattening and pretty much fail-proof.
So this is what this recipe is!

And it can easily be non-dairy

It's called Perfect Banana Loaf....just double the recipe for a cake size.

1 3/4 cups self-raising flour (I've tried using normal flour and baking powder but it just isn't quite the same)
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Yes there is a giant piece missing from the end. This is called Mr Samoa's share : )

Mix dry ingredients all together

2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup milk (or soy milk if you want it non-dairy)
2 cups mashed bananas (about 2 bananas)

Mix, and then mix into the dry ingredients
Pour into a greased/lined loaf tin and bake at 180 degrees for 40-50 minutes
Leave to cool for 10 mins in the tin and then transfer to a cooling rack

You can also add 1/2 cup of choc chips, walnuts etc...whatever you want
Or 1/2 a teaspoon cinnamon and/or nutmeg for a spicy flavour

Put a simple lemon or chocolate butter icing on the top and you have a delicious dessert, morning tea or gift for someone special

I have one more recipe request coming up in the next few days which is another goodie

Happy baking!

What's new?

Well I won't even start to try and excuse my lack of posts or bore you with any reasons for it.

I thought I'd just give you a quick list of what's new with me

1. I've started doing ZUMBA

And I'm LOVING it like crazy.

I want to do it more than once a day!!

It all started with me wanting to get back into dancing.

I started ballet when I was five and didn't stop dancing in some form or other until I was about 22.

But the logistics of getting to a dance class that actually suits my schedule...O and paying for them, just wasn't working.

Zumba's been the answer - hard enough steps to get my dance brain working and get fit at the same time! 

Bring on my Zumba tummy please.

2. It's voting day today here in NZ. 

Did quite a bit of to-ing and fro-ing as to who I would vote for and finally made a decision.

Now to get down to the polling booths!

Child health has been a biggie for me this election campaign. Can't believe we're the third lowest for child heath, mostly preventable stuff by the way, (on some list I have forgotten the name of, not in the whole world), just above Turkey and Mexico! Shocker.

Although I have been thinking this is down to the parents - because health services seem really accessable to me....even when Mr Samoa was a student and I was only working part time.

3.  Turbo has settled really well into kindergarten

and seems to have made his first proper friend.

His name is Peter. It's really cute. They do everything together. And his other (sometimes) friend's name is Gumadoo.

Such a cute name, especially when you hear it from a 3 year old!

4. I have been working much more regularly which is an answer to prayers.

The writing side of it is not going so well....and I was slightly gutted when my boss had to get someone more experienced to completely rewrite my story. Ouch. Wanted to cry.

Thoughts of "Am I really good at ANYTHING?!' entered my mind.

But we put those thoughts away. Just gotta suck it up and keep learning. You can't just be a good writer - it's all about finding the right angles and the WOW factor.

Harder than I thought it would be.

5. Almost finished the Incredible Years parenting course.

Next week is the last week. Week 14.

Yes, 14 weeks, not including breaking in the holidays.

It's been so good for us and we've learned so much.

Highly recommend it if you can find somewhere near your house that runs it.

I will miss the people we've met and shared our struggles with. 

6. Been loving the month of thanksgiving at our church.

#iamthankful

I consider myself a pretty grateful person but during this month I realised how little attitudes had crept in.

"I deserve more"..."why can't he be like that..."

Just being thankful a little more really changed my day.

I woke up happier! Seriously.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend, whatever you're doing.

Enjoy, and remember to be thankful, whatever the weather!



Who am I?

This song just says it all for me at the moment. Every word says exactly what I want to say. Have a listen and let it wash over you. So beautiful!



Or here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt7OZyBj5Ik

Yesterday I remembered (just in time) that October is the anniversary of the decision I made to follow Christ - 15 years ago now!

I'm lucky enough to have all my childhood journals from this time and I can see the change, in my language (no more swearing, ha!) and in my outlook.

What I'm not sure about and funny enough, I don't talk about, is what actually brought the change about.
What made me decide that then was the moment? I grew up in a traditional Anglican church so I knew all about God.

I know my athletics coach died around that time and that my friends and I were pretty shaken up. Maybe that was the catalyst.

Or maybe I didn't decide and God just came and got me.

Whatever the reason was, I am just thankful. November is a month of thanksgiving in my church, and so above all, I am thankful that I am where I am today.

As the song says, "I am Yours".

Running for a cause

I  should have blogged about this ages ago, BEFORE I actually did it. But anyway, it's not too late.

I have been running for the last few months, getting ready to run for a cause.

Mr Samoa and I did a 5km run this morning to raise money for the famine in the Horn of Africa. It was organised by our church in association with World Vision.

We were the only ones silly enough to push a stroller  - with 30kg of kids inside it!! But we trained as a team so we wanted to run as a team.

And we ran all the way, taking turns pushing our load. We got rained on heaps and I could even see raindrops stuck to my eyelashes!

My goal was to run all the way without stopping. And I did! Our time was 30 minutes, which I'm pretty pleased with....seeing as the last time I could actually go for a run was when I was 20!

And there were cameras there (ok, the footage will only be seen by our church but still!) and they wanted to interview us because of our awesome team effort. So I did - red-faced, sweaty, rained on hair. I will seriously hide in my seat if they play that.

So if anyone would like to sponsor me, the money will go straight to World Vision to help the people affected by the famine. Leave me a comment and I'll get in contact with you.

Otherwise, I hope you are having a great weekend!