Month: April 2015

Pin Worthy Wednesday

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Please welcome our new guest co-host Sparkling Shoes Girl it is so nice to have her aboard. Thanks so much for linking up with us every Wednesday. Don’t forget to:

1) Join the Pin Worthy Posts Pinterest Board. 

That means even more exposure for your blog as you can get your posts in front of more people on Pinterest. Simply follow the board (see details below) and email bajantexan@gmail.com requesting an invitation.

2) Become a Co Host!

 If you would like to co host Pin Worthy Wednesday on your blog for a month, let us know at bajantexan@gmail.com

photo PWWgraphicfinal_zps9e580d6e.jpg

 

Welcome to Pin Worthy Wednesday!

Where you link up your most Pin Worthy Posts! 

Here are just a few requests for this linky:

Follow the hosts and cohosts of this party through at least one of their social media listed below.

 

Keitha, The Bajan Texan 

Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Google+  Bloglovin
Guest Co-host:

photo pww 32 guest cohost_zpspjzxt1p6.jpg

Link Up your pin worthy DIY, Food, Organization, Home Decor, Parenting or Life Hack Post.

 

Join the Pin Worthy Wednesdays Pinterest Collaborative Board.

 


Visit a few blogs and leave a comment or share their posts.

 

Place this button or a link to this post somewhere on your site, either on the actual post or on your sidebar or on your party page.
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan

 

Thank you!

 

We all know the power of Pinterest Group Boards.
As a Thank you for linking up:

You can now join the Pin Worthy Posts group board on Pinterest. Simply follow The Bajan Texan on Pinterest and send an email to bajantexan@gmail.com requesting an invitation. Then you can pin your links for even more exposure. 

   

Also by linking up you agree to:

Let the hosts use your pictures and links if your post is featured. Your photo may also be used on social media.   Be added to a weekly reminder when the link party goes live.

   

Menu Planning Monday

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How are you this chilly morning ? It is hailing in my little corner of Ireland and bitterly cold, I can’t believe it was was so warm last week, well that is Irish weather for you. So in the slowcooker is a big vat of Chicken and Butternut Squash soup and I will be very grateful for my warming lunch. Here is the rest of this weeks main dinners on this Menu Planning Monday if you wonder what menu planning is check out my post on how I do it HERE and go over to I am an Organizing Junkie where I first learnt all about it.

This week’s menu is a budget conscious one as I have a few bills that need to be paid so I am using my pantry and freezer to the max and fruit and veg that is on special offer. If you want your own Menu planner printable one is available HERE

MONDAY

This recipe is just as it says on the picture Quick and Easy and a huge hit with my pasta loving teenagers , make the pasta wholemeal pasta and you have a filling and nutritious dish too. I have a glut of mushrooms and always have bacon on hand so everything is here in the house no need to head to a shop today – great as it is nasty weather.

TUESDAY

Pork Casserole 

I made this last week and it was gorgeous I tweaked a recipe I found in a book to suit my ingredients and made it in a slowcooker and decided I would share it as it was so nice.
INGREDIENTS 
  • One Packet diced pork 
  • One Pepper -diced
  • One Chopped and pealed onion 
  • 1/2 packet button mushrooms
  • 1 tin of tomatoes
  • Olive oil
  • 1/2 pint of vegetable stock 
  • 1 tsp Cajun seasoning 
  • 1oz flour
  • salt and pepper to season
  • 2 tbsp Natural yoghurt ( optional) *

THE HOW TO BIT 

1. Heat a dessert spoon of Olive oil in a pan and fry off the onions, pepper and mushroom for 3-5 minutes until soft , transfer them to the slowcooker or a casserole dish.
2. In a large bowl add the Cajun seasoning and salt and pepper to the flour, and coat the pork in the flour mix.
3. Fry the pork in the frying pan you used for the veg for 5-10 minutes then add into the slowcooker or casserole dish.
4. Add in the tin of tomatoes and vegetable stock and cook in the slowcooker on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours . In a casserole dish you would put it in the oven on 160 C or 325 F or gas mark 3 for 1 1/2 hours.
*The natural yoghurt can be stirred in towards the end if you have one person that doesn’t like it overly spicy it tones it down and makes it creamy.

Printable Recipe Available HERE 

WEDNESDAY

I am a big fan of the Lou Lou Girls site and this week they have a killer recipe for BBQ Chicken dip which makes me want to lick my screen. I urge you to check it out and all I need to get for this is some nacho chips although I may serve it with home-made wedges.

THURSDAY

Bacon and Chorizo Gratin – I really must update the pictures on this post it was when I first started back blogging but that doesn’t make the dish any less tasty and in this house you can always find bacon and chorizo. I will have to get some lovely fresh cabbage or kale to go with it.

FRIDAY

When trying to keep costs down I try and find dishes that are nutritious and cheap , eggs are a great source of protein and I can get one dozen free range for €1.99 at my local greengrocers and when mixed with vegetables this Courgette and Chard Cheese omelette makes a hearty dinner.

SATURDAY  

Is leftover day and last week I had some chilli that was in the freezer it was gorgeous.

SUNDAY

For those in Ireland there is a special offer in Aldi currently and their Roast pork with stuffing is reduced to €2.99 and I have one in my freezer so that is dinner for Sunday sorted. Another thing on special offer this week was Apples and plums and I am so going to be making this Apple and plum slice it is lovely – the recipe is HERE

Have a great week and I hope it is warmer wherever you are.

Garden Projects when you’re stuck indoor.

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I have been really busy out in the garden this week as we had glorious weather, unfortunately the weather has taken a turn and it is raining again and even snow is forecast in some place. So while you are stuck inside here are a few things to keep you busy until you get back in the Garden.  So here are some Garden Projects when you’re stuck indoors.

SEED FILE

I made this out of an old box a seed kit came in but I have made file systems like this out of washing tablet boxes, it depends on how many seed you have. I know us gardeners can go overboard with the seeds so you might need something bigger.

I covered the outside with patterned paper then made files to fit inside the box – I have made a printable file template for you which is available HERE. Print out onto card and cut out.
All my seed are in small resealable bags with their information on labels or you could print out some seed packets store them in  – Available HERE.
Now all my seeds are in order and easy to find not all thrown in a box and scattered everywhere like they were before. 

THE GARDEN FILES


This Book contains pictures and notes about garden – what I planted , where and how well it did ect.  You can buy kits from Scrapbook suppliers – for Irish readers try Cardz “n” Scrapz  or you can make your own using my Gardening File Template HERE it is up to you. I like to decorate mine but you can make it as simple as you like but I think it will be a handy tool next year on what works in the garden.

If you want a template for the Notes they are available HERE.

You could also have a go at making up some seed pots out of toilet roll holders  which we did last year – the link to the post is HERE

I hope the weather gets better for all of us and at least we can keep busy until then.


Pin worthy Wednesday

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Thanks so much for linking up with us every Wednesday. Don’t forget to:

1) Join the Pin Worthy Posts Pinterest Board. 

That means even more exposure for your blog as you can get your posts in front of more people on Pinterest. Simply follow the board (see details below) and email bajantexan@gmail.com requesting an invitation.

2) Become a Co Host!

 If you would like to co host Pin Worthy Wednesday on your blog for a month, let us know at bajantexan@gmail.com

photo PWWgraphicfinal_zps9e580d6e.jpg

 

Welcome to Pin Worthy Wednesday!

Where you link up your most Pin Worthy Posts! 

Here are just a few requests for this linky:

Follow the hosts and cohosts of this party through at least one of their social media listed below.

 

Keitha, The Bajan Texan 

Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Google+  Bloglovin
Guest Co-host:

photo PWW31 guest_zpsxtg1bqc8.jpg

Link Up your pin worthy DIY, Food, Organization, Home Decor, Parenting or Life Hack Post.

 

Join the Pin Worthy Wednesdays Pinterest Collaborative Board.

 


Visit a few blogs and leave a comment or share their posts.

 

Place this button or a link to this post somewhere on your site, either on the actual post or on your sidebar or on your party page.
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan

 

Thank you!

 

We all know the power of Pinterest Group Boards.
As a Thank you for linking up:

You can now join the Pin Worthy Posts group board on Pinterest. Simply follow The Bajan Texan on Pinterest and send an email to bajantexan@gmail.com requesting an invitation. Then you can pin your links for even more exposure. 

   

Also by linking up you agree to:

Let the hosts use your pictures and links if your post is featured. Your photo may also be used on social media.   Be added to a weekly reminder when the link party goes live.

   

Menu Planning Monday

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I have so many little projects on the go right now that I hope I can share with you that Menu Planning Monday has been a godsend. Just knowing what there is to eat on any given day makes life much easier and keeps the food bills down. If you wish to learn more about the menu planning process – click HERE or you can check out I am an Organizing Junkie which has an amazing link up on Mondays with tonnes of links to menus to try out.

So this is what this weeks menu looks like – a few old favourites and a couple of new things to try.

MONDAY

Such a go to dish in our house Chorizo and Garden Veg Pasta is so quick to throw together and a guaranteed winner with my kids – I always have some chorizo in the house these days, it is a tasty addition to pasta bakes and home-made pizza . The recipe for the dish is HERE.

TUESDAY



In my freezer you are bound to find a bag of frozen Asian stir fry vegetables – they are cheap €1.29 in Aldi and packed with vegetables and water chestnuts which my lot love. Again such a quick dish just throw the veggies and whatever meat you wish ( or no meat if you wish )  into the wok with some sesame oil or some satay sauce and serve over wholewheat noodles or brown rice.

WEDNESDAY

Tasty Pork Casserole is in a new cook book I was given.It looks like a good recipe and I can use up the last of the pork pieces I got on special offer the other week, as an added bonus it is a slowcooker recipe which is so handy. I love my slowcooker, I have a post about that very fact HERE.

  

THURSDAY

Pasta of any sort is favourite around here and Carbonara is just so good – our Go to Recipe is HERE .
It has never let me down just serve it with hearty bread and some parmesan  cheese and you are good to go. 

FRIDAY 

I haven’t made Tuna bake forever – it is such a student dish. So why am I hauling this recipe out of retirement ? Well I have a teenager that loves tuna and I mean adores the the stuff, it is the only fish she will willingly eat and soon enough she too will be leaving the nest to fly, so why not teacher her an updated version of this old classic ? I will report next week on how it went I hope I can revive this classic.

SATURDAY 

When I first started on the Leftover Saturday I was not sure how successful it would be. My family were notorious for never touching leftovers. But it has been a great success, last weekend I had leftover Pizza for lunch and for dinner it was salad and some leftover marinaded chicken. Nothing is wasted and I have learnt how to store things properly so that they are well kept until needed.   

SUNDAY  

The now normal roast and veggies – although if we have a beautiful weekend I might just might do a Bar-be-que. I will haunting Met Eireann’s page for weather updates.
And for dessert I plan on making Apple Roses I don’t do these too often as they can be a bit of a faff but I saw them floating about Facebook again this week and just had to add them to the menu.
  The link to the recipe is HERE.
Have a great week and hope you try planning your menu – trust me it is worth it. 
 

Pin Worthy Wednesday :)

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Thanks so much for linking up with us every Wednesday. Don’t forget to:

1) Join the Pin Worthy Posts Pinterest Board. 

That means even more exposure for your blog as you can get your posts in front of more people on Pinterest. Simply follow the board (see details below) and email bajantexan@gmail.com requesting an invitation.

2) Become a Co Host!

 If you would like to co host Pin Worthy Wednesday on your blog for a month, let us know at bajantexan@gmail.com

photo PWWgraphicfinal_zps9e580d6e.jpg

 

Welcome to Pin Worthy Wednesday!


Where you link up your most Pin Worthy Posts! 

Here are just a few requests for this linky:

Follow the hosts and cohosts of this party through at least one of their social media listed below.

 

Keitha, The Bajan Texan 

Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Google+  Bloglovin
Guest Co-host:

photo pww30 cohost_zpsnsxvstsa.jpg

Link Up your pin worthy DIY, Food, Organization, Home Decor, Parenting or Life Hack Post.

 

Join the Pin Worthy Wednesdays Pinterest Collaborative Board.

 


Visit a few blogs and leave a comment or share their posts.

 

Place this button or a link to this post somewhere on your site, either on the actual post or on your sidebar or on your party page.
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan

 

Thank you!

 

We all know the power of Pinterest Group Boards.
As a Thank you for linking up:

You can now join the Pin Worthy Posts group board on Pinterest. Simply follow The Bajan Texan on Pinterest and send an email to bajantexan@gmail.com requesting an invitation. Then you can pin your links for even more exposure. 

   

Also by linking up you agree to:

Let the hosts use your pictures and links if your post is featured. Your photo may also be used on social media.   Be added to a weekly reminder when the link party goes live.

   

Menu Planning Monday

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Welcome back to Menu planning Monday – I took a little Easter holiday and now things are back to normal. If you want to learn more about what menu planning entails check out this post HERE or check out I’m an Organizing Junkie’s site for lots of advice and link ups.

 Here is this weeks menu – hopefully we can stick to it

 MONDAY 

 

So as it is a bit late in the day we have already had Monday’s offering which was Spaghetti from the freezer and it was yummy and we also had amazing chocolate brownie’s curtsey of my Youngest who is a bit mad about baking at the moment.

CHOCOLATE BROWNIES  – Cait’s Recipe

 Ingredients

  • 1⁄2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1⁄3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
  • 1⁄2 cup flour
  • Chocolate chips – optional

 THE HOW TO BIT 

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C
  2. Mix oil and sugar until well blended.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla; stir just until blended.
  4. Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
  5. Stir dry ingredients into the oil/sugar mixture.
  6. Pour into greased 9 x 9 square pan.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes or until sides just start to pull away from the pan.
  8. Cool completely before cutting.

 PRINTABLE VERSION

TUESDAY

Such an easy recipe and I happen to have chicken legs defrosting as I type – the recipe is here . 
Sometimes the freezer is my friend and if I find a good offer on meat I will buy extra and  put in in the freezer for another day.

WEDNESDAY

Another special offer in the freezer pork stir fry pieces mixed with wholewheat noodles and stir fry veg which is so cheap to but frozen and you have a quick and easy tasty meal.

THURSDAY

 

Breakfast for Dinner – which can be anything you like for example a “fry” so Bacon and eggs and sausages which I call a “fry” because in this house everything is grilled. Or you can make killer waffles anything goes that is why kids love it 🙂 

FRIDAY  

I found this picture while looking through the archives – my youngest again making pizza many years ago ( she is a brunette these days !!)  I had actually asked her what we should have and we haven’t made any in a few weeks so Pizza it is 🙂 Try our fail-safe recipe for Pizza Base – HERE 

SATURDAY

Leftovers – I have a gorgeous chicken korma in the freezer we made last week and there will be left overs during the week I can guarantee it as I still make for four. 

SUNDAY 

 

I tried this Glazed Pork chop recipes a few weeks ago from Budget Bytes – it was delicious so I plan on doing it again and I might even make a peach upside down cake. 

So that is this weeks menu – will it change ? Maybe but I hope it works out especially now we are out of holiday mode as I really need to get back to being organised. 

 

Growing unusual Vegetables in your own backyard

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I have been growing Vegetables now for five years I started off small with simple vegetables like lettuce and scallions but two years ago my brother brought me an amazing kit for my birthday which had more unusual Veg in it – like Golden courgette which I loved and grew like wildfire and Tigerella tomatoes and purple carrots which we grew last summer so this summer I decided alongside the usual veg I want to try Growing unusual Vegetables in your own backyard.

This post does contain affiliate links.

So what have I picked this year for my little plot –

1.STRAWBERRY POPCORN 

 

These small red strawberry-shaped ears of corn are good for popping and gorgeous for autumn decorations, although I don’t see that happening in this popcorn loving house   Plants are 5-6′ tall with 2-4 ears per stalk. They take 100 days to fully grow. Kids will love these – heck I love the look of these.
Sow seeds outdoors 1″ deep after danger of frost has passed. For good pollination and full ears, plant in blocks of 3-6 rows instead of one long row. Thin seedlings to 8″ apart. Corn is a heavy feeder and does best in well-drained fertile soil with plenty of water.
I plan on growing these using the “three sisters” method which is an Native American way of growing vegetables. According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. So I plan on growing these with Butternut Squash and Borlotto Beans which are next on my list of unusual veg.

Quinoa pronounced (Keen Wa ) you might of heard of as a grain but did you know you can grow it in your garden ? It belongs to the same family as spinach and beet in fact you can eat the leaves in salads so it is a double whammy of a plant and is related to the common weed Lamb’s Quarters (chenopodium album). The Incas referred to it as ‘chisaya mama’, or mother of all grains, and considered it sacred, using it not only in their meals, but also in rituals.

Quinoa is a hardy annual crop that is tolerant to both low temperatures and low rainfall, and is cultivated in coastal areas and in altitudes over 10,000 feet in South America. Quinoa may not be a familiar crop to Irish fields, plots or plates, but, due to its tolerance of low temperatures, it grows quite well here.
The seed of quinoa has a coating of saponin that imparts a bitter taste and is quite toxic, it is advised to soak seeds for at least 15 minutes and rinse under cold, running water, to guarantee a pleasant and delicate flavour but the handy thing about saponin it keeps the bugs down as they don’t like it.

You can find seeds in Ireland here – brownenvelopeseeds.com

4. CUCAMELON  

 

These are tiny ‘watermelons’ that taste of pure cucumber with a tinge of lime. These little veggies are officially the cutest food known to man and really easy to grow even for real beginners.Cucamelons can be grown in pretty much the exact same way as regular cucumbers, only they are far easier. They don’t need the cover of a greenhouse, fancy pruning or training techniques and suffer from very few pests. Sow the seed from April to May indoors and plant out when all risk of frost is over. Give them a support the scramble over, keep well watered and that’s pretty much all you will need to do! Harvest them when they are the size of a grape, but still nice and firm. You can eat them fresh or pickle them I am so excited about these little guys. 

5. RAINBOW CARROTS


I only started growing carrots last year – for some reason they scared me – but no longer after purple carrots last year I plan on planting a rainbow of carrots and here are some reasons why. 

1. Purple carrots get their colour from anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant that is anti-inflammatory. That means that you will age more slowly.
2. Red carrots contain lycopene, the same antioxidant that makes tomatoes all the rage for cancer prevention.
3. The extra sweet yellow carrots contain lutene that fights macular degeneration and assures development of healthy eyes.
4. Carrots also boast four grams of fibre per cup (up there with the average bowl of cereal), making it a great cancer-fighter.
5. Carrots are a good source of vitamin C with one large carrot packing about 20 percent of your daily needs.
6. These multi-coloured beauties also have 20 percent of your daily need of vitamin K, a nutrient that works with calcium to strengthen your bones.
7. Carrots also have 395 mg of potassium per cup. This nutrient helps to reduce your blood pressure and assure good fluid balance in your tissues. 
And if that isn’t a good set of reasons to grow them home grown carrots tastes so good !!  

I plan on growing my golden courgettes again – not that I have anything against the green kind but the yellow ones look fantastic in the raised bed. I also plan on growing a plum tomato which I hope with be sprouting soon. Part of me kind of wishes I had an allotment at this stage there are so many things I want to try – this Veggie growing lark is addictive once you start nothing is more satisfying than feeding your family freshly picked veg straight from the garden.

  

Pin Worthy Wednesday

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I just want to give thanks to Keitha from The Bajan Texan she is our glue and without her this party would not be so great 🙂
Thanks so much for linking up with us every Wednesday. Don’t forget to:

1) Join the Pin Worthy Posts Pinterest Board. 

That means even more exposure for your blog as you can get your posts in front of more people on Pinterest. Simply follow the board (see details below) and email bajantexan@gmail.com requesting an invitation.

2) Become a Co Host!

 If you would like to co host Pin Worthy Wednesday on your blog for a month, let us know at bajantexan@gmail.com

photo PWWgraphicfinal_zps9e580d6e.jpg

 

Welcome to Pin Worthy Wednesday!

Where you link up your most Pin Worthy Posts! 

Here are just a few requests for this linky:

Follow the hosts and cohosts of this party through at least one of their social media listed below.

 

Keitha, The Bajan Texan 

Facebook  Pinterest  Twitter  Instagram  Google+  Bloglovin
Guest Co-host:

photo PWW29 Guest CoHost_zpseahbagmp.jpg

Link Up your pin worthy DIY, Food, Organization, Home Decor, Parenting or Life Hack Post.

 

Join the Pin Worthy Wednesdays Pinterest Collaborative Board.

 


Visit a few blogs and leave a comment or share their posts.

 

Place this button or a link to this post somewhere on your site, either on the actual post or on your sidebar or on your party page.
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan
The Bajan Texan

 

Thank you!

 

We all know the power of Pinterest Group Boards.
As a Thank you for linking up:

You can now join the Pin Worthy Posts group board on Pinterest. Simply follow The Bajan Texan on Pinterest and send an email to bajantexan@gmail.com requesting an invitation. Then you can pin your links for even more exposure. 

   

Also by linking up you agree to:

Let the hosts use your pictures and links if your post is featured. Your photo may also be used on social media.   Be added to a weekly reminder when the link party goes live.

   

Making a Quick and Easy Bunny Wreath for Easter

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I know it is last minute but sometime life happens like that to the most organised of us and I have made a Quick and Easy Bunny Wreath if you are having a party this Sunday which will take very little time to put together but still looks great.

MATERIALS NEEDED 

  • A wreath base – mine was less than €3 in my local bookshop By the Book a great place for picking up art supplies and books.
  • Paint 
  • Ribbons/string
  • Flowers 
  • Brads 
  • Printable Bunny Wreath Pattern – HERE
  • White Card 
  •  Felt
  • Glue

THE HOW TO BIT

  1.  Paint the wreath base in chosen colour I picked light green.
  2. Once dry wrap ribbon around the wreath and secure with glue or tape. 
  3. Print out the Happy Easter Wreath Printable on light card
  4. You can cut the bunny out of felt and glue it to the card template to get a more 3d bunny 
  5. Cut out the bunting fold it over and glue it to secure to your string or ribbon
  6. Attach the bunting to the wreath with brads
  7. Add the flowers and a ribbon on the back if you wish to hang it.

Want to make some other quick makes for you Easter party don’t forget to try my Bunny Bait treat bags – HERE

Or make some Easter cookies –   HERE

Or make some Easter cards for friends and family – HERE

Have a wonderful Easter everyone 🙂