I Celebrate the Day by Relient K.

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might [ really ]live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

 This is a great Christmas song which really get's me thinking. I especially love the chorus and the last bit. It makes me think that God did a wonderful thing in sending his son to earth, especially because of the reason that he did it - so that we can be made right with God and be his friends for ever. Think on this and let the real meaning of Christmas become special to you.

Suddenly

She feels lost in her own life
Treading water just to keep from slipping under
And she wonders if she's where she's supposed to be
Tired of trying to do it right
Her dreams are just too far away to see how steps she's making might be taking her to who she'll be

And suddenly it isn't what it used to be
And after all this time it worked out just fine
And suddenly i am where i'm supposed to be
And after all the tears, i was supposed to be here

She feels locked in her own life
Scared of what she might lose
If she moves away from who she was
And she's afraid of being free
There's a way she knows is right
And she can't feel the things she knows and so each step she's taking
Is a step of faith towards who she'll be

And suddenly it isn't what it used to be
And after all this time it worked out just fine
And suddenly i am where i'm supposed to be
And after all the tears, i was supposed to be here

And here where the night is darkest black
She feels the fear
And the light is farthest back
And through her tears
She can see the dawn
Its coming skies will clear
And the light will find her where she's always been

And suddenly it isn't what it used to be
And after all this time it worked out just fine
And suddenly i am where i'm supposed to be
And after all the tears, i was supposed to be here

Of late I have been feeling a bit down, things don't seem to be changing or getting any better. I feel kinda like I'm stuck in a rut or that I am stagnating. Then the other day I was just listening to some random music and this song came on and it spoke to me. Like the girl in the song I feel like I'm treading water and that I am not getting anywhere. I feel like what I'm doing is not getting me anywhere and that I'm gonna be stuck where I am for ever. But then in listening to this song I have gotten the hope that even when I can't see the bigger picture God is there and everything that is happening in my life is leading where he wants me to be.

The Amazing Race

If you have known me for a while or if you have been reading my blog for a while you probably know that I love The Amazing Race, but if you don't well now you do. Well last I was watching it and was pleasantly surprised to find out that the snowboarding dudes were really strong committed Christians. In one way it wasn't a surprise because they were always so kind and polite to each other and to the other teams. So as the team was setting out for that leg of the race they were talking about how they were Christian and that while they were on the race they were still following him. Then one of the tasks that needed to be completed was the taking down and moving and putting up in another place of a Bhuddist Shrine. While they were doing this Andy and Tommy were saying that it was a little bit hard for them but they had to remember that there is only one God who they follow and that he is stronger than the other Gods. One of the other teams while doing this task was commenting on how they were putting everything back with respect cause they wanted to respect the religion, like they would want someone to respect their religion like the cross if they were visiting their church. But to me this didn't seem as though religion was part of their life. The final thing that mad me really think that that Andy and Tommy were really committed was that there was a stage where they had gotten a bit lost and so they were asking for help, the person that was helping them was taking a long time to come back and Andy and Tommy were saying "We might come in last but whatever happens, happens, If it's God's will then we will finsih here." I just feel that it is really good for Christians, especially committed "life not religion" Christians to be out there and living good lives so that others can see that we are normal and not scary. I think people like Andy and Tommy and Kate from Masterchef do a good thing for Christianity.

Semi Regular Book Review.

Sultana by Lisa J. Yarde

On the night after her wedding, 8 year old Princess Fatima is kidnapped. Her mother Princess Aisha takes her so that she will escape the wrath of the Ashqilula who are angry that Fatima was not married to one of them as had been the custom for the Sultan's family. Fatima witnesses her mother's murder by the Ashqilula who have found them. She is then helped to escape and manages to get back to the palace where she lives. Fatima over time learns to love her new husband, who is ten years older than her, despite many seperations due to the many battles in the civil war between the many groups of Moors as well as the Christians. There are also many intrigues and incidents back at court involving Fatima and her family. This is a really interesting book set in among the Moors during their time in Spain. It was something that I had heard about before but had never really thought about reading before. However I really enjoyed it and it gave me another point of view on something that had happened in the history of this world that I live in. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Historical Fiction and especially European History in particular the history of Spain.

Another episode of The Bill and my life collide.

So another incident occured which made me think of The Bill, but this one was scary. It happened last Wednesday, but the details are a bit hazy since I have left it so long to write about it so instead I will put in a link to where my sister wrote about it.

Over It.

I am so sick of looking for work and all the rejection that has come with it. I am particularly sick of employers either not getting back to me or just sending a form letter and due to the high number of applicants not having the time to give individual feed back.

I do understand that I do not really have a lot of experience and that may be holding me back but how am I gonna get experience if no one will give me a chance. It's the classic catch 22 situation. I know the volunteering that I am doing is helping but it will help but I would love a job now. I just get really frustrated about the whole thing though.

On the up side, I am having a group assessment with IKEA on Friday, which while it is not my ideal job, it is a job.

More Updates.

I have an inteerview Tommorow (Friday 29 July). I would appreciate some prayer for this, As I would really like to get the job.

I am also doing the aforementioned Uni course and I would like some prayer about getting everything done especially if I get the job.

Twitter.

I was resisting twitter, it seems kinda like lots of people just do it and put random things there but I have read a couple blogs about it here so was thinking that maybe I should get a twitter. What do other people think?

Monday Moview and Food on Friday

I will keep these going but I was thinking it other people can add a movie review or recipe or even something else about food that they would like to share just email them to me at crazy_jedidiah@hotmail.com.

Semi-Regular BookReview : Blood Faerie.

BLOOD FAERIE (Caledonia Fae, Book 1) by India Drummond

Eilidh, a Faerie, was exiled, for using forbidden magic, from her world a quarter of a century ago, since then she has been living in Perth, Scotland (Not W.A.). A horrific murder occurs right near where Eilidh is living and she can tell that the murder is carried out by magic. Eilidh tries to get the help of her old countrymen to help defeat whoever has performed this murder and the other ones that are found, while making friends with a policeman who is more than he seems. She also must decide whether she is going to learn more about and use the forbidden magic.

This is a fantastic urban fantasy which I really loved. I have not read much urban fantasy in the past, but I have read quite a bit of other fantasy books, especially Historical fantasy. However the other thing that I loved about this book was the element of crime fiction in it, which is another of my favourite Genres. I really loved how Crime fiction and fantasy were blended together in this book.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes either fantasy or crime fiction or who would love to see a blending of the two genres. I would also recommend it to anyone who loves Scotland.

Further update.

So I have some news for you. I did get accepted into the course I applied for. Woo hoo. However, I was not given credits for the Tafe course I did for the same occupation, which I should have gotten. Anyway, I finally managed to speak to the course co ordinator and he said I should have gotten the credits, and he also said one of the courses I had been enrolled in was not one I should have been enrolled in.
The system at the uni was down for upgrades when I spoke to him, but he was gonna send an email about it and have both things fixed up. He said if if hasn't been fixed up in a couple of weeks to call him again, and he will look in to it. Currently I have not heard anything.

Update.

So I have applied for the Bachelor of Information Studies at CSU Wagga. I am waiting to hear back from them to see if I have gotten in. I am a little bit worried about whether or not I will get in or not.

I also had an interview with Coles at Earlwood yesterday. Not my ideal job, but hey it's a job.

I have also been in contact with St george Christian  School about doing some volunteer work in the library there.

I have some applications for some other positions that I have put in but I'm still waiting to here back from them.

Monday Movies.

THE DISH.

July 1969 the town of Parkes in western NSW was put on the world map for it's involvement in the relay of the footage of the moonlanding. This is the story of Cliff Buxton (Sam Niell) and his colleagues who work at the radio telescope who and coordinated with NASA including having someone from NASA come and work with them. It tells how the men worked together to overcome the obstacles in their way to keep the world informed.

This is a great little Aussie movie that I recommend that you see. I particularly reccomend it if you get Aussie humour. If you don't get Aussie humour then you should probably give it a miss as it will probably go over your head.

Food on Fridays

MACARONI AND CORN PANCAKES.

Serves 4

2 corn on the cob
4 tbsp butter
115 g red capsicums, deseeded and finely diced
275 g dried short cut macaroni
150 ml double cream
25 g plain flour
4 egg yolks
4 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
TO SERVE
oyster mushrooms
fried leeks

1. Bring a pan of water to the boil over a medium heat. Add the corn on the cobs and cook for about 8 minutes. Drain thoroughly and refresh under cold running water for 3 minutes. Cut away the kernels onto kitchen paper and leave to dry.

2. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a frying pan over a low heat. Add the capsicum and cook for about 4 minutes. Drain and pat dry on kitchen paper.

3. . Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil over medium heat. Add the macaroni and cook until tender, but still firm to the bite. Drain and lean in cold water until required.

4. Beat the cream with the flour, a pinch of salt and the egg yolks in a bowl until smooth. Add the corn and capsicum. Drain the macaroni, then toss into the corn mixture. Season with pepper to taste.

5. Heat the remaining butter with the oil in the frying pan over a medium heat. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and press down to form pancakes. Fry until golden on both sides and all the mixture is used up. Serve with mushrooms and leeks.

Thoughts.

So what I was thinking, I have been doing some regular posting, woot. But I haven't done much just about what has been happening for me.

Basically I am still looking for work.

But what I was really thinking was that I was wanting to do a regular quiz like Ben's. However I don't want it to be the same thing exactly, I want it inspired by but not the same as, at one stage I was thinking of calling it Who, What when Where Why? and having a series of questions starting with one of those words possibly on the same theme for each week. I wanted to know what my readers thought of this idea and if they would partake of such a quiz.

I have also been thinking about doing this course. I feel that it may help to to further my career in the future. I would like to do it but I'm not sure. I don't feel that I am the most academically minded person and I don't feel that I am very good at writing essays which the assessments are. However I did quite well in my Diploma of Library/Information Services at TAFE so I have a basic understanding of the concepts.  I have prayed about it and I'm still not sure. I was originally gonna wait until I got a job to maybe apply but getting a job is taking a while so maybe I should just apply for it. I would like to to know the opinions of my readers.

Monday Movies.

THE PELICAN BRIEF.

Based on a John Grisham novel it is the story of Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts) who is a law student and writes a brief about why two supreme court justices have been killed. She then shows the brief to her lecturer who is also her boyfriend. He then shows it to his friend at the FBI. Shaws boyfriend is then killed in a car explosion and she then turns to the friend at the FBI but he also turns up dead. Shaw then teams up Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington), who is a journalist who is also researching about the deaths of the judges. The two of them then expose who is behind the killings.

It was quite an interesting movie although I found it a bit slow in places and I found the ending a bit contrived. However if you enjoy Detective thrillers especially John Grisham novels then I recommend that you watch it.

Food on Fridays.

LASAGNE

Serves 6.

2 Tablespoons oil.
1 clove garlic
1 large onion
500 g minced topside steak
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 x 140 g tomato paste
3 cups water
1 x 240 g packet instant lasagne sheets
1 x 500 g carton cottage cheese
1 x 250 g packet siss or mozzarella cheese

Heat oil in a very large pan over medium heat, chop onion and fry until transparent. Add meat and crushed garlic and fry until brown. Add salt and pepper, tomato paste, water and rosemary. Stir until well mixed. Lower heat and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 180 C. Spoon a thin layer of sauce onto a pan and cover with half the lasagne sheets. Cover lasagne with more sauce and evenly spread all the cottage cheese over the sauce. Add half the cheese slices. Cover with remaining Lasagne sheets and pour on the rest of the sauce. Finish with the remaining cheese slices.

Monday Movies.

THE BLACK BALLOON.

16 year old Thomas Mollison (Rhys Wakefield) has many issues to deal with. His dad (Erik Thompson) is in the army and the family has just moved to a new town; his mum (Toni Collette) is pregnant and his older brother, Charlie (Luke Ford) is austic. Thomas meets and falls for Jackie (Gemma Ward), from school, but because Charlie is embarrasing for him this causes obstacles, paricularly when Jackie drops round to their house, when the three kids go for a walk in the bush and when she comes round for a birthday dinner. Can Thomas enter into the world of teen romances or will having to look after Charlie get in the way of his life?

Wow! I found this a really beautiful and powerful movie. I especially loved that it was another Australian movie. I also loved that it dealt with issues that are in the world but not necessarily in the public eye. I really reccomend that you see this movie.

Monday Movies

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.

When 7 year old Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) gets a chance to be in the Little Miss Sunshine Beauty Pagaent. The only way that Olive can participate is for the whole dysfunctional family, including  Olive's mother Sheryl Hoover (Toni Collette) and  her brother, Frank (Steve Carrell) who has been released from a mental asylum, her father, (Alan Arkin), who has been kicked out of his retirement village for drug use, Dwayne (Paul Dano) who has taken a vow of silence and Olive's father who is a failed self help guru, to jump into the families old Volkswagen Kombi. Along the way the family has many adventures like the van breaking down and needing to be pushed to start everytime.

This was quite an enjoyable movie and I do think that it is worth seeing for a laugh. The thing that I enjoyed the most about this movie is that it showed that no matter how badly a family might get along, they can band together so to support each othe no matter what the circumstances.

Food on Friday.

Well I was thinking about the time of year, but I don't have a Hot Cross Bun recipe, so considering that Monday is the 25 April, today's recipe is:

NUTTY ANZAC BISCUITS.

Makes 30-40

1 cup plain flour
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
2 tbsp golden syrup
125 g butter
1 tspn bicarbonate of soda
3 tbsn boiling water

Mix the flour, oats, sugar, coconut and peanuts together. Melt the syrup and butter over a gentle heat.  Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in the boiling water, stir in the syrup mixture, and pour over the dry ingredients, stirring until well mixed.
Put heaped teaspoons of the mixture about 5 cm apart to allow for spreading, on greased oven trays. Bake in a moderately slow oven for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and leave on the trays a few minutes then lift off with a spatula.

Monday Movies

MY SISTERS KEEPER

Eleven-year-old Anna (Abigail Breslin) seeks out successful lawyer Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin) to get medical emancipation from her mother Sara (Cameron Diaz) who wants her to donate her kidney to her sister. Anna explains to the lawyer that she was concieved by in vitro fertilisation to provide donor organs for her sister Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Anna tells the lawyer about the procedures she has been forced to undergo since she was 5 years old to help her sister. Alexander agrees to take on the case pro bono and Sara takes Anna to court to force her to donate to her sister.


This is an amazing movie and very powerful, I would really reccomend this for everyone to see. However keep a box of tissues near you cause it is a real tear jerker.

Food on Fridays.

BEEF WITH CAPSICUMS (PEPPERS)

Serves 4

100 g butter
170 g red capsicums, seeded and chopped
90 g flaked almonds
3 onions peeled and chopped
10 cloves garlic peeled and thinly sliced
grated rind 1/2 lemon
salt and pepper
500 ml buttermilk
4 slices of rumpsteak
3 tbsp oil

Melt the butter in a saucepan and saute the chopped capsicums, almonds two thirds of  the onion and all the garlic and lemon rind. Season with salt and pepper and add the buttermilk. Cook over a low heat until a thick sauce is obtained.
Cut the rump steak into thin strips. Heat the oil in a frying pan and saute the beef and remaining onion, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Add to the sauce and heat through without cooking. Serve with a lettuce or tomato salad and creamed potatoes.

Happy Birthday

So yesterday was my birthday, I had a great day. I had a picnic in a little nearby park to celebrate. Just my siblings and their families came but it was good to see them, especially Ben and Radz, as I don't see them that often. My Brother who is in Chile didn't come, but he did ring me in the morning, so that was good to hear from him too.

There were some funny things that happened, like Jon was cooking some rissoles on the barbie, and he broke the slide thing, and he blamed Tim (who is in Chile), when Amy, Jon's wife came he told her that Tim had done it, and she took about half an hour to realise that he couldn't possibly have done it.

Monday Movies

CORALINE.

An animated movie in which, Coraline (Dakota Fanning) and her parents (Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman) move to an old house. Coraline feels neglected by her parents and finds a hidden door which she goes through. The door leads to another world where she finds parents who care for her and all her dreams come true, however everyone in the new world has button eyes. The Other Mother offers Coraline the chance to stay in the other world for ever, but she refuses and discovers that the other world is a trap to lure her away.

I actually found this movie a little scary. That doesn't mean that you will but I would not recommend that you watch it, especially if you are like me.

Food on Friday

TRADITIONAL SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Serves 4

2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 heaped tablespoon finely chopped fresch rosemary
3 or 4 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped (optional)
6 mushrooms finely chopped
5 skinned chicken giblets finely chopped (optional)
1/2 skinned cacciatore salami , finely choppped (optional)
500 gm rump, round or topside steak finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
400 g can diced tomatoes
pinch mixed spice
salt and pepper to taste

Heat most of the oil or butter (reserve 2 teaspoons) in a frying pan - preferably not a nonstick pan because you won't get a good browning on the bottom of the pan. Add the onion, garlic, rosemary and basil. Cook on low until the onion is soft and clear abd the bottom of the pan is slightly brown, but take care not to burn.

Meanwhile, soften the mushrooms in the the reserved oil in a seperate frying pan, then set aside.

Add the chicken giblets and salami (if using) and cook until brown. Add the steak, cook until brown. Stir in the tomato paste, tomatoes, spices and mushrooms.

Add just enough boiling water to cover the mixture (about 2 cups/500ml), then partially cover the frying pan. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until nearly all the water is evaporated.

Serve over spaghetti cooked al dente, with a good sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Heaven

So I read this post and it made me think of the following song by Tobymac. I know the sentiments are completely different but it got me thinking. We do not think about heaven as much as we should and it will be good to find people they we have lost contact with in heaven, but we also need to think about what kind of example we are setting to our friends who don't know God and the state of their spiritual life.

"In The Air"

I had a dream last night about the other side
And I must confess that it was quite the ride
I had a dream last night and the fact that you weren't there
Gave me quite the scare
People were afloat all around me
Yet their weightless state never seemed to astound me
Everything was grand till I noticed one thing
That you, my friend, weren't on the scene

There in the air

I've been workin' all morning trying to spin my dream
Cause I just can't believe you weren't in my dream
Remember you and I said we would paint the sky
And the leaves on the trees and the stars at night
We made beats and we even wrote rhymes
And played golf, I think, a million times
Now we never got around to spiritual matters
But we sure made time for our mindless chatter

[CHORUS]

I wanna see you there
In the the air
One day we'll be singin' (Hallelujah)
I wanna see you there
In the the air
One day we'll be singin' (Hallelujah)

Hello, wassup (wassup), how ya doin' (just fine)
I was sorta wonderin', could we make the time
(Just kick it) why not (at our usual spot)
Latte's in May, mine cold, yours hot
(So where we goin') much deeper than our usual chat
(Like who's beats is weak and who's beats is phat)
Nah, my man, this some next level junk
(Like when we discussed if Tiger Woods could dunk)
Just meet me there, seven o'clock, rain or shine
With a fat cup of bean and a wide open mind

Monday Movies.

THE YOUNG VICTORIA.

Victoria's (Emily Blunt) mother and her consort, Conroy have tried to dominate her life since childhood, however as a teenager she refuses to let them act as her regent in the last days of her uncle William IV's rule. Her German cousin Albert (Ruper Friend) is encouraged to court her for political reasons, but after her succession to the throne, at age 18, he finds himself falling for her, but does not approve of her reliance on premier Melbourne (Paul Bettany). Victoria is impressed by Albert's philanthropy as she wants to help her subjects. But her loyalty to Melbourne who is a self-seeker, almost causes a crisis of the constitution. Albert is the one who the helps Victoria get back her self-conficence. Victoria proposes to Albert and they marry. He proves that he is not only a devoted husband, who even takes a bullet for his wife, but also an agent of reform.

I really enjoyed this movie, and I would reccomend it to everyone, especially people interested in the History of  the UK and the Royal Family.

Food on Fridays

CHICKEN PEPPERONATA

Serves 4

8 skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp wholemeal flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, sliced thinly
1 garlic clove crushed
1 each large red yellow and green capsicums, sliced thinly
400 g can chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
salt and pepper
fresh oregano leaves to garnish

1. Remove the skin from the chicken thighs and toss in the flour.
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2. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a high heat. Add chicken and fry until browned. Remove from the pan. Add the onion and fry until soft. Add the garlic, capsicums, tomatoes and oregano. Bring to the boil stirring.

3. Arrange the chicken over the vegetables. Season well with salt and pepper, then cover the pan tightly and simmer for 20 - 25 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and the juices run clear when a skewer is inserted into the thickest part of the meat.

4. Season to taste then transfer the chicken to a large serving dish, garnish with oregano leaves and serve.

Monday Movies.

CHARLIE AND BOOTS

A typical road trip movie, although not that typical as it is not American, but Australian!
Charlie (Paul Hogan) is sitting around the house depressed, and his son 'Boots' (Shane Jacobson) decides to get him out of his misery by taking him on a road trip from Victoria to Cape York, to go fishing. They have many adventures along the way, many of them hilarious.

It was a really enjoyable film and I do reccomend that you see it especially if you are Aussie. It was especially good to see all the Eastern Australian small towns with their small claims to fame. I really think we need more Australian films though.

Food on Fridays.

BUTTERSCOTCH BROWNIES

Makes 16 squares

1/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts and pecans

Preheat oven to 180C. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat, cool a little, and beat in the egg and vanilla.
Sift flour, then measure half a cup add baking powder and salt to flour and sift again. Stir butter mixture into flour mixture and mix well.
Chop nuts finely and add to mixture.
Pour batter into 20cm square cake tin. Bake 25 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the centre of the pan comes out clean.
Leave to cool and cut into 16 squares.

Monday Movies.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

A young Jewish refugee, Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent), in Nazi occupied France, witnesses the slaughter of her family by the German officer Hans Landa (Cristoph Waltz). She manages to escape but plots her revenge. A few years later the war hero Frederick Zoller (Daniel Bruehl)takes an interest in her and insists on screening an illustrious movie at the theatre she now runs. Knowledge of the German officers being at the event reaches the "Basterds", who are a group of Jewish-American guerilla soldiers led by Lt Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt). The paths of the relentless executioners and the conspiring young girl cross to shake the history that everyone knows on that fateful evening.

It was quite an enjoyable movie even though there was quite a bit of blood and gore (although I don't actually mind a bit of blood and gore. I loved the way that such a horrible subject, the Nazis was handled with humour. I would reccomend that you see this movie.

Food on Fridays.

PORK STROGANOFF

Serves 4

750 g Pork shoulder
2 tablespoons butter
3 onions sliced
Salt and pepper
1 cup beef stock
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons soy sauce

Cut pork into strips. Melt butter and quickly brown pork all over. Add onions, salt and pepper and cook until browned. Stir in beef stock and tomato paste. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook gently until tender, about 25 minutes.
Stir in sour cream and soy sauce and reheat gently. Serve with rice and crusty bread.

Monday Movies

TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN

A group of seven teenage friends from a small Australian country town go on a camping trip into the bush to get away from civilisation. While they are away they see military aircraft flying overhead but think nothing of it.  When they get back to their homes they discover that Australia has been invaded by another country. The teenagers then decide, despite their lack of training, to band together to fight the enemy and defend their country.

This was a good movie and it was great to see some great Australian talent. However I am a reader and I have read this book and the rest in the series, and I believe that some of the changes didn't really add anything to the movie. But I would recomend that you see it.

Food on Friday.

PAD THAI

Serves 2-3
250 g dried rice noodles
1/4 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce
2 teaspoons peanut butter
3 tablespoons safflower oil
1 tablespoon tamar10ind sauce (optional)

3 garlic cloves crushed
1-2 red chillies seeded and finely chopped
1 chicken breast fillet finely sliced
10-12 green prawns peeled tails left in tact
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 spring onions finely sliced
100 g bean sprouts
1/2 cup coriander chopped
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
lime wedges to serve
extra sweet chilli sauce to serve

Place the noodles into a large heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and soak for 10 minutes. Combine fish sauce, sweet chilli sauce and peanut butter; set aside.

Heat the oil in a large wok, and add the tamarind sauce if using. Stir fry the garlic, chillies, chicken and prawns over high heat for about 3 minutes until cooked through. Add the eggs and stir fry until just set and kind of scrambled.

Add the noodles and sauce mixture to the wok, and stir fry for 1 minute until well combined. Toss through most of the spring onions, bean sprouts, coriander and peanuts reserving some for garnish.

Serve topped with the reserved ingredients, with lime wedges and extra sweet chilli sauce on the side.

Monday Movies.

INCEPTION

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is skilled at extraction, or the art of stealing secrets from the subconscious through dreams. He is so well known as a master of extraction that he is coveted in the world of corporate espionage, and for this reason he is a fugitive. Cobb is given the opportunity of redemption if  he can pull off the impossible - inception, or the planting of idea into someone's subconcious. He pulls together a team specialists to take the task. However at every move they are thwarted by an enemy that seems to predict their every move.

I found this a really interesting movie, a lot of mind blowing concepts. I thoroughly enjoyed it though. I especially enjoyed the substory about Dom and his wife. It was a little hard to follow what was going on all the time but that added to the interest. I would reccomend that you see it.

ABC TV Recording.

Yesterday I went to the ABC for the recording of Jennifer Byrne Presents...Fantasy and First Tuesday Book Club. It was a really interesting experience. It was cool to see how television programs are recorded.
There was a bit of a techinical difficulty before the first program so it started late. But it was fun to here all the conversations between the panellists in the programs while they were waiting. It was a really enjoyable day.

Food on Friday.

MUSTARD BAKED CHICKEN

Serves 4

4 large of 8 small chicken pieces
4 tbsp butter, melted
4 tbsp mild mustard
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp paprika
3 tbsp poppy seeds
400 g dried pasta shells
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

1. Arrange all the chicken pieces in a single layer in a large ovenproof dish.

2. Mix the butter, mustard, lemon juice, sugar and paprika together in a large bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Brush the mixture  over the upper surfaces of the chicken pieces and bake in a pre-heated oven at 200C for about 15 minutes.

3.Remove the dish from the oven and carefully turn the chicken pieces over with tongs. Coat the upper surfaces of the chicken with the remaining mustard mixture, then sprinkle the chicken pieces with poppy seeds. Return to the oven for a further 15 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil over a medium heat. Add the pasta shells and oil and cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until tender, but still firm to the bite.

5. Drain the pasta thoroughly and transfer to 4 warmed serving plates. Top the pasta with 1or 2 of the chicken pieces, pour over the sauce and serve immediately.

A bit of Australian Sarcasm!

My mum found these when she was looking for information on sarcasm for her students and I just had to share:

These questions about Australia were posted on an Australian


Tourism Website and obviously the answers came from fellow Aussies.



1. Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it

rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around

watching them die.



2. Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)

A: Depends how much you've been drinking.



3. Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the

railroad tracks? (Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water...



4. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)

A: So its true what they say about Swedes.



5. Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of

places to contact for a stuffed porpoise. (Italy)

A: Let's not touch this one.



6. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send

me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)

A: And your last slave died of........?



7. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in

Australia?(USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent

south of Europe.Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the

pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every

Tuesday

night

in Kings Cross. Come naked.



8. Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here

and we'll send the rest of the directions.



9. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.



10. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)

A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y,

which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday

>night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.



11. Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)

A: No, WE don't stink.



12. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of

youth.Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA)

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.



13. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)

A: You are a British politician, right?



14. Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female >

population is smaller than the male population? (Italy).

A: Yes, gay nightclubs.



15. Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)

A: Only at Christmas.



17. Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all

year round? (Germany)

A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter/gatherers.

Milk is illegal.



18. Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can

dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All

Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make

good pets.



19. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I

forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)

A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop

out of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You

can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you

go out walking.



21. Q: I was in Australia in 1966 on R+R, and I want to contact the

girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)

A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.



22. Q: Will I be able to speek English most places I go? (USA)>

A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.

Monday Movies

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.

Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) are set up on a blind date by married friends Peter ( Hayes Macarthur) and Alison (Christina Hendricks) Novak. After Peter and Alison are killed in a car accident, Holly and Messer find out that they have been named legal guardians for Sophie the one year old daughter of Peter and Alison. When Holly and Messer move into the Novaks house to honour their friends wishes, they discover how much they do not get along and the commitment it takes to bring up a child.

The ending is once again predictable and it is an enjoyable movie however I would probably not see it again, I would though say that it is not a bad movie to watch.

Food on Friday.

CALIFORNIAN SALAD

Serves 6

1 small lettuce
3 small tomatoes
1 green capsicum
6 spring onions
6 radishes
1/2 avocado
1/2 cucumber

Vinaigrette dressing
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 small clove garlic
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
salt and pepper


Wash lettuce in cold water to remove dirt. Use a salad spinner or wrap in a tea towel and whirl over your head to dry.
Tear the leaves into smaller pieces and place in a salad bowl.
Cut capsicum in half lengthwise and discard steam and seeds.
Thinly slice cucumber and radishes.
Chop onions and slice peeled avocado, add vegetables to the slad bowl.
Crush garlic into a small screwtop jar, and add a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Add mustard, lemon juice and oil. Put the lid on and shake.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss it all together gently with salad servers.

Monday Movies

So this is another new regular feature that I am adding to my blog. It will be a review of a movie that I have seen sometime in my life. It will most likely be a recent one but sometimes it may be one that I have seen a while ago.

MORNING GLORY

Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is fired from her job as a producer of a local Morning Television show, and lands a job producing a failing national show. To turn around the ratings Becky brings in news reporter man, Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) to co-host with Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton). Becky struggles to keep the hosts in order so that the show doesn't completely fail, while falling for Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson), the news producer.
I would highly reccomend this movie, and not just because of Patrick Wilson, although the ending is a little  predictable. I found it highly enjoyable and would watch it again.

Food on Friday.

EDINBURGH SHORTBREAD

250 g Butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 1/4 cups plain flour
1/2 cup rice flour


Cream butter and sugar. Gradually add flour and work with hands into a smooth creamy ball.
Press out on baking paper lined oven trays to form 2 x 20 rounds, 1 cm thick. Pinch a frill around the edge and mark lightly into 8 wedges. Pierce all over with a fork.
Bake in a moderately slow oven 20 minutes until a pale straw colour. Cool slightly then cut through the straw lines.

Food on Friday

HONEY-ICED COFFEE CAKE

Serves 8 - 10
3 teaspoons instant coffee powder
1 tablespoon hot water
125 g chopped butter ar room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
3/4 cup of brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup self raising flour
1/4 cup of custard powder
1/3 cup of milk

Honey Icing
30 g butter
1 teaspoon instant coffee
3 teaspoons hot water
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 cup icing sugar, sifted

Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease a 20 cm ring tin with melted butter, and line the base with non stick baking paper. Dissolve the coffee in the hot water and combine in a large bowl with the butter, vanilla essence, sugar and eggs. Sift flour and custard powder into the bowl and add the milk.

Using electric beaters, beat on low speed until the ingredients are combined, then increase speed to medium. Beat for about 3 minutes until very smooth and lighter in colour. Spoon into the prepared tin.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the cake. Stand for 5 minutes before turning onto a rack to cool.

When cold transfer to a serving plate and spread with the icing.

To make the honey icing melt the butter, then stir in combined water and coffee, the honey, vanilla essence and half the icing sugar. Gradually stir in the remaining iceing sugar to mix a spreadable consistency

Food on Friday

I have decided to add some regular features to my blog to make it more interesting and more regular. So the first one I have decided to implement is Food on Friday, basically on Fridays I will add a recipe.

PASTICCIO (Greek lasagne)

Serves 6

225 g dried fusilli or other short pasta shapes
4 tbsp double cream
salt and pepper
fresh rosemary sprigs to garnish

Sauce

2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for brushing
1 onion sliced thinly
1 red capsicum deseeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves chopped
625  g lean minced beef
400 g can chopped tomatoes
125 ml dry white wine
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
50 g can anchovy fillets, drained and chopped

Topping

300 ml natural yoghurt
3 eggs
pinch freshly grated nutmeg
55 g freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.

1. To make the sauce, heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and capsicum and fry for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the beef and cook stirring until browned.

2. Add the tomatoes and wine,stir well and bring to the boil over a medium heat Simmer for 20 minutes or until the sauce is fairly thick. Stir in the parsley and anchovies. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. Bring a large pan of lightly salted water to the boil over a medium heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until tender but still firm to the bite. Drain then transfer to a bowl. Stir in the cream and reserve.

4. To make the topping beat the yoghurt with the eggs and nutmeg until well mixed and season to taste.

5. Brush a large shallow ovenproof dish with oil. Spoon in half the pasta mixture and cover with half the meat sauce. Repeat these layers, then spread the topping over the final layer. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top.

6. Bake in a preheated oven at 190C for about 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and bubbling. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and serve.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Tap Man.

So on Saturday we had a sausage sizzle for the community at the front of our church. There is a building across the road that has a tap on the side. Now there was a homeless guy hanging out across the road where the tap was. This guy decided that he needed to turn the tap on full blast. My mother saw the tap was on and went and turned it off. Then the homeless turned it back on again. So another guy from our church went and turned it off. This kept happening the homeless man would turn it on then we would turn it off. Eventually we used a wrench to turn it off and he couldn't turn it on again.
The next day I had to go up the street and on my way back I came across the tap man. He tried to talk to me. But he was not speaking English so I could not understand what he was saying.