Valentines day, the beach, and so much food!

What a weekend! Floored with a mystery virus, Valentines Day, a full house and a lot of food. Never dull in my house. 

But, of course, I need to start with some scenery. Above is yet another beautiful greeting to the day. Perks of early rising :)

My non teen has been staying over to help out. I have needed/appreciated that so much. When you aren't your best, family, and/or friends, matter so much. I'm going to miss being fussed over, having someone watch bubby while I sleep, and do all of my housework. I truly could get used to this life! Most importantly though, having all of my girls here has been such a precious time for me, one I will never take for granted. For as we know, things do change. Got to appreciate our kids while we can.

This weekend was really special on so many levels, and not just because my amazing hubby spoiled me with 2 bunches of flowers (one 'get well' bunch, and a beautiful, potted one), but because people were blessed in my house. I have a hubby now, but that hasn't always been the case. Romantic celebrations like Valentines Day can be a nightmare for some, and as there were 3 single adult women in my house on this day, it was important to be sensitive and make the day fun for all, not just the romantically involved. 

I also wanted to encourage my newest teen truly feel part of our family. I am aware that it is often a bit hard to transition into a bunch of random's house whose language is not your preferred. So, to rectify this, I included this sweet teen in cooking, as I knew from her letters she does this at home. May I say, since the weekend, the transformation in this girl has been amazing! Including people does so much for them, and may be the very thing that opens hearts and starts new relationships. This goes both ways- I feel uplifted by the experience as well :)

Now, lets get onto cooking! Scroll down for a pictorial journal...

Cherry vanilla cake. After she prepared the cake batter, I asked my sweet newest teen to place the cherries in a layer on the top, and this is what she created. I was impressed! Very cute :) 

Even when baked, the cherry heart is still visible. 

These were supposed to be the chocolate hearts my non teen and I created (see last post for recipe details). But here, I have arranged them into a flower for your viewing pleasure. The coconut coated ones are ginger centres, and the plain choc is coconut mixed through. Seriously yum! That's why you're only seeing this many!

This also happened on valentines Day. Since I wasn't well enough to go far, hubby, bubby and I went for a drive to Fingal. I love this beach.

My sweet bubby. Seeing the world through her eyes helps me appreciate the everyday and the ordinary. Even a quick trip to the beach is enough to fascinate her no end.

Now, let me show you my simple,

Very Veg Mini Quiches. 

Makes 8 mini quiches

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato, roughly chopped, 

1 red onion, roughly chopped,

1 cob corn, kernels removed,

1 small head of broccoli, chopped,

1 small red capsicum, roughly chopped,

2 medium carrots, roughly chopped,

1 thin stick celery, roughly chopped,

Fresh parsley,

Salt & pepper,

Sweet paprika,

(Garlic, crushed),

1/4 cup water,

small knob butter

1 tbsp olive oil,

Little extra olive oil for greasing muffin tin,

2 sheets puff pastry,

1/2 cup cheese,

4 eggs,

1/3 cup cream,

1 tbsp coconut flour,

Method:

Steam the chopped sweet potato. Add butter and olive oil to frypan on medium heat. Add steamed sweet potato and other chopped veg, and saute to lightly brown, then turn heat down low. Add herbs, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and water. Stir regularly as the veg cooks.

Place in a mixing bowl to cool.

Pre-heat oven to 220 C. 

Place puff pastry sheets on a bench to defrost.

Grease a 6 hole texan muffin tray.

Cut defrosted pastry into quarters. Place a square in each of the muffin holes and gently press down.

In the bowl of cooled veg, add eggs, cheese and cream. Mix thoroughly. Add coconut flour and mix well.

Spoon into muffin moulds until the veg reaches the top of the tin. 

Cook for 15 minutes. Turn down heat to 180 and cook for ten minutes more, or until filling rises slightly and is firm.

Cooked veg- there really is a lot. So grateful my sweet newest teen, and my non teen helped with the chopping so I could rest.

Cooked mini quiches. Filling and veggie-ful!

Hubby had a slightly larger one in a small spring-form tin. I used 2 quarters of pastry to make this.

There you have it- Valentines Day done and dusted. I might add, my hubby is amazing. He made and also wrote a beautiful card for me. I'm a words of affirmation gal, and he really nailed it :)

Now, lets get onto Sunday. I was still too fatigued to attend church, so the family went without me, except our newest teen. She vanished just after the others left. I was all for a long rest in a silent house, when around 45 minutes later, I heard someone return. And then I heard clanging, banging and could smell burning toast.  I instantly thought, wow- she must really be hungry! Is this what she does when we're out?! However, when I went downstairs, I was blown away. This sweet girl had zipped down to the shops, on foot, purchased ingredients and was making us all lunch! 

I texted the others to let them know of our lovely surprise, and to make sure they didn't detour to a junk food outlet on the way home. Look below for what our sweet, newest teen prepared...

 Toasted bread topped with a divine tuna, cream cheese, vinegar sauce and tomato slices...

And delish bruschetta. Everything got inhaled. 'Twas rather yummy :)

Later that day, despite still feeling rather worn out, hubby, bubby and I headed to beautiful Hastings Point. Even a little walk exhausted me, but with scenery like it has- so worth it!

I love this scene- lush greenery and wildflowers overlooking rocks and waves.

Just watching the waves roll in...sigh. Stunning!

I was so inspired by lunch, I decided to use the simple share food as an easy idea for dinner. There were some leftovers, and as I was in no state to cook, this was perfect...

Our dinner spread: a plate of nectarine wedges, grapes and red capsicum slices; green stuffed olives; cheese slices, left over tuna dip/sauce; water crackers; chopped seasoned tomatoes; my corned meat. 

It was the perfect way to end the day!

My first serve. It was such a tasty dinner, I may have had a few more platefuls :)

Now, to today. No dinners to show off. The family had a big lasagne tonight, with salad and garlic bread.  I had turkey meatballs and miso soup. An odd combination, but a filling, low carb, tasty one. I do need to reduce my carb load since the weekend, where a little too much may possibly have been consumed. Oops :)

Let me walk you through my day...

Bubby is sleeping much better- grateful mumma here! So waking to the sunrise is actually a welcome treat. Love this one with the palm tree draping across the sky.

My breaky- a simple egg and cottage cheese omelette.

My non teen's breaky- same omelette but with gluten free bread and fried cherry tomatoes. 

One of the stunning flowers hubby gave me- it is so delicate and beautiful, and I had to immortalize it on camera :)

A heavy downpour this morning saw this guy seek shelter under cover in my yard...

Then not too long later, this guy appeared. Lucky he didn't become a kookaburras lunch!

And there you have it! Three days done. Hope you all enjoyed walking through my weekend with me. And once again, thank you for reading.

Until next post :)