VEGETABLE SOUP WITH BAKED BREAD FOR DIPPING

 

 

 

 

Hi again:) I got from my grandma soup maker about 3 days ago, so I decided to try it. At first I chose vegetable soup with smooth texture button. And results were good. Soup was done after 25 minutes and it was perfectly smooth.

 

BUT,

Only what I found very tricky was starting all process. Not always I could just simply turn on this soup maker and use it. Many times I did hear the beeping noise, because It was showing errors. It wouldn't  turn on if i put ingredients to quick or if water was to warm or simply if I put a little bit to much of water or overload - even with few more pieces of vegetables... so it is annoying a little bit or even annoying   a little bit more if I knew that I done everything right and it was still beeping!

 It can not cook raw meat so you need to cook meat separately and then put into soup maker. So its lots of mess sometimes... vegetable can not be frozen ever. And they need to be cut into little (REALY !!) pieces. BUT after all soup taste amazing. This soup maker blends food during cooking as well so after 25 min you will have ready dinner/lunch :)

 

My soups ,what I made in the soup maker ,up to now are:

1. vegetable soup: cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, swede, leek , onion, potatoes, vegetable stock, parsley
2. meaty soup: The same ingredients like above and  previously cooked and chopped chicken breast to it
3. leek and potatoes soup: leek, potatoes, onion and vegetable stock, parsley (salt and pepper optionally)

I served them with baked bread/boiled and decided egg:) All soups were delicious so I think they are worth to try ;) Not necessary you need to use this 'tricky' soup maker - you can easy cook the soup in the normal, standard way - in the saucepan on the cooker - results will be about the same;) For smooth soup you can blend it in the blender! ;) Enjoy your food :)

thanks for reading x

 

Regards,

Monika ;)

 

 



Fruity Smoothie with almond milk

 

Mmm... It is absolutely delicious. I love smoothies. I am making them when I feel tired, sad or happy - they are just great for all occasions!:) especially for the hot summer days. And so healthy as well , full of nutrition's.
Before, I did use just normal milk for it, but shortly after when I found this -Almond milk- I switched straight away for that one.
I chose Almond milk because it is 100% plant based, it is source of vitamins (E, B2, B12, D2), easy to digest (naturally lactose free) and low in fat (only 13kcal per 100ml - it is great, isn't it ?:)))  And it taste good:) It is without any sugar or sweeteners. You can use this milk for cereals, tea, coffee, smoothies or just drinking on its own.
Usually I am using this Almond Milk for Smoothies or on its own, sometimes for cereals.  My perfect / favourite smoothies are:

• blueberry & black berry smoothie - about the same amount of those 2 types of fruits for perfect taste + (of course;) Almond milk. Mix in the blender:) and enjoy this delicious taste! :)
• strawberry & raspberry & blueberry + almond milk - it is great for start of the day :)

Which one are your favourite one?;)

So,,,  I Hope You are enjoying reading my blog:)

I am going to drink my fruity smoothie <3

see You soon x

Sunday dinner: cranberry glazed pork

It is delicious choice for family Sunday dinner:) i think everyone will enjoy meal like this , even little ones :) my little boys & my husband did enjoy as well. So let me start of ingredients:
* skinned, boned and rolled leg of pork (around 1,5 kg)
* 4 tbsps of cranberry sauce
* salt and pepper
* baking oven bag

Recipe is very easy. First step: season meat with salt and pepper and place into baking bag and put to the oven. Temperature should be set on 200 degrees. All baking will take 1 hour, but you need to turn around meat every 20 min. When you will turn for last 20 minutes, glaze pork with cranberry sauce. (So for first 40 min you need to bake both sides of pork and for last 20 min - bake with cranberry sauce )
When meat is nice and tender, remove from baking bag and cut on slices.
You can serve this meat with some green vegetables, gravy, baked potatoes, optionally with cranberry sauce.
( I served with sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower, baked potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce)
All meat was absolutely delicious because was very moisture and so tender:) and just tasted great!:)
Thanks for reading :)

HONEY AND MUSTARD GAMMON

I just love this mustard & honey gammon, because of this nice deep taste with hint of the lemon and tarragon. Just delicious glaze :) so that is why i decided to share this simple recipe with you.
Shopping list:
* 4 gammon steaks
* 4 teaspoons wholegrain mustard
* 2 tablespoons clear honey
* 2 teaspoon of lemon juice
* 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon
* salt and pepper

Personaly for baking i am using halogen oven but you can easily use normal oven to make this meal.
At first, put the gammon steaks on the baking rack of the haloggen oven. Smooth mixture of the mustard, honey, lemon juice and tarragon, salt and pepper over steaks ( mix this mixture in the bowl first) and set the oven for 200 degrees and cook steaks for 5 min. Turn over and smooth mixture on the other side and bake for another 5 min until meat will be nice and tender.
You can serve with chunky chips, a leafy salad and apple sauce:)

(My version: potatoes wedges, apple sauce and baked beans for dipping potatoes )

Enjoy your meal xx
Thanks for reading :)

Caribbean pork with pineapple

Hi x
I have been so busy for last few days so i couldn't post anything. But i am ready now☺ i would like to share with You this nice  recipe: Caribbean pork with pineapple. It is very easy to make and it is so tasty mnium :)
You will need few ingredients which they are:
* 1tsbp of vegetable oil
* 250 g of chopped pork
* 1 onion - chopped
* 100 g chestnut mushrooms - sliced
* 1 teaspoon of chopped thyme
* 1/4 of teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 150ml  chicken stock
* canned pineapple
* 1 tablespoon cornflour
* 2 tbsp of water
* salt

Fry pork with onion on the pan until they turn brownish  (about 5 min). Transfer to the casserole dish. Fry mushrooms for 5 min , and add to casserole dish.
Stir the thyme, cayenne, chicken stock and pineapple with juice. Bring to the boil and Transfer everything to casserole dish. Cover with foil and place on the lower rack of the halogen oven ( or middle of the normal oven).
Set temp to the  200 degrees and cook for about 25 min until tender.
In the bawl mix flour with water. Remove pork from the casserole dish. Pour flour water mixture and stir well. Season to taste  with salt and return pork to casserole dish . Cover and cook for 5 min.
You can serve with white rice, baked sweet potatoes and potatoes waffles.  Enjoy your meal :)))
Thank you for reading xx

How to help Labrador to eat food slowly, without wanting more and more after meal?

Everybody knows that Labradors love to eat. Even after meal time many times they want to eat more and more. I got Labrador to my self and sometimes it is very difficult to not give to her something else after her dinner... she cries and bark for more food very often. I love her so i m giving her bit more food and treats.  but i cant do this anymore .A few months ago i noticed that she put lots of weight on:( and it was very VERY difficult to help her to lose this whole  weight.. i went to Vet  and she checked my Bianca over. She seems was fine with any other things, so Vet told me to change the dogs food and make her "move " bit more. It was very hard work for me and my loving dog Bianca. Week after week she was loosing some weight. So i was very happy, Vet was happy and of course my Lab was happy as well!:) But it was very hard for me  to fit " busy -active" plan for one of my dogs during my  already busy day.  So to make everything working i bought treadmill,  so Bianca could run on it in my house and i could do my wife-mum things , and then i found very good wet dogs food (i am still using now: each tray contains 60%of meat, brown rice and vegetables - this food match my dog perfectly- she is pooing less, her coat is very shinny and healthy)and i bought great active feeder for a dogs. This thing is amazing, because my always hungry labrador started to eat her meals a lot slower than she used to eat . Instead of her 3 minutes of her dinner, she started to eat the same amount of food for 20-25minutes! So she stopped to please me for more food after her meal time.
Now my Bianca is very happy, she finally lost her unwanted weight and she became to be more active,  she actually act like a puppy ! :)
So please be aware how easly and quick you can make your dog  unhappy when your loving dog  will put to much weight after extra treats or more food .. it could turn to bad illness in the future and then will be too late., i was lucky that i notice everything quite in time xx

LEGO THE HOBBIT 79018 THE LONELY MOUNTAIN

This is one of my biggest The Hobbit Lego sets what i bought ( probably i will own more & more later:) i cant wait to do that as well! ;)
This Lego box is showing scene from the inside of the Lonely Mountain. Construction is of the secret door, what comes into the  Lair of Smaug. Smaug is an enormous big dragon what breath with a fire. And the other part is a throne, where the Arkenstone is placed. But to get there you will need to watch out on the stairs! Because they got secret staircase trap.This big part of construction contain rotating catapult and the chained up bucket which is used for quick gold transport from the gold mining area. Aww:) i love this set :) and this very big dragon is awesome! One thing what i dont like is a construction part what conect this 2 big pieces to each other. So it is quite fragile, but for just standing (not moving around) its just fine:) oh i forgot to write about accessories in this set. So this lego set includes: 5 mini figures: Bilbo Baggins, Balin the Dwarf, Dwalin the Dwarf, Fili the Dwarf and Kili the Dwarf; the key to Erebor, Ring, Smaug the dragon, Sting sword, short swords, green ruby double bladed axe, normal double bladed axe, axe and a mace.  This box contains  866 pieces  of the Lego :)
Ahhh :) i cant wait to buy more of The Hobbit Lego, because they look just so good and unique compare to diffrent Lego type sets. I hope you are enjoying  reading. I will post some more Lego sets  very soon:) seen you soon x

LEGO THE HOBBIT 79016: Attack on Lake-town

I do like this set:) because this Lego set got fragment of the Lake-town ->what remains me of my favourite scenes of the hobbit lego game on ps4:)
So, this set includes: construction of the bell tower, bridge, ladder and explode function,   door with trap, 2 fireballs,crossbow and a dock with crane, a boat, a fish, and a barrel,. It also contains weapons like:   bows and arrows, Orc sword and black arrow for the crossbow. And 5mini figures! Bain son of Bard, Bard the Bowman, Tauriel and 2 Hunter Orcs. Whole set is quite strong. You can play with this set and make lots of actions. So its very good one for very good price - around £25:)

My youtube link for this set is here --> http://youtu.be/OgWO3yhovRI

Hello:)
I can not wait to share with you my next 3 bigger sets of LEGO The Hobbit. I am so excited, because i think they are very nice sets with lots of accessories, and they can give lots of enjoyment during playing with them.
So,
I will start of LEGO The Hobbit number 79002 Attack of the Wargs. This set look very good. Set includes: 2 Wargs , big construction of the  tree, 2 campfires and 2 rock ledges. And also includes: 5 mini figures!  Thorin Oakenshield, Bifur the Dwarf, Yazneg and 2 Hunter Orcs. They are all coming with weapons. Box contains also 4 large flame element accessories. This set look just very good, and all this accessories and this big construction of the tree will take you easily to this amazing, magical world of the The Hobbit :) xx

LEGO THE HOBBIT - BARREL ESCAPE 79004

aww:) that's very nice set of LEGO. Set includes 5 mini figures: Bilbo Baggins, Gloin the Dwarf, Oin the Dwarf, Mirkwood Elf Chief & Elf Guard, all with assorted weapons. All scenery is allocated in the Wine cellar dungeon. Construction got spiral staircase, double dungeon door, wine barrel rack ( barrels can roll on it:) , 2 small barrels, table and stool.
This box includes lots of accessories as well: Ring, the golden dungeon key, a letter, 2 wine glasses, 6 bottles, wine bottle rack, torch, cask and 2 barrels, staff , spear, bow, 2golden swords, 2x axe.
so this set is absolutely amazing !:) You could sit for ages and play with it!:) and this cute little figures of the Dwarfs and Elves :)
I am posting few pictures of this set so You can see how good it is :) thanks for reading :) I will post some nice BIG sets of LEGO soon:) I hope i will see you here again soon x  

You can click here for my youtube review version:

LEGO THE HOBBIT BARREL ESCAPE 79004

LEGO THE HOBBIT - smaller sets

hi everyone x
Today I would like to share with You few sets of my LEGO The Hobbit. At first I will write about smaller sets:)
I think LEGO from the movie The Hobbit look really good.
Some sets are quite expensive but I think its worth the money because of unique look.
At first I would like to show You set nr 79015 The Hobbit The battle of the five Armies: Witch-King Battle.
This little set include 3 mini figures: Galadriel, Elrond & Witch-king + one figure of skeleton. Figures are coming with weapons. The LEGO construction is of the evil fortress of Dol Guldur.
Galadriel&Elrond got beautifully made Elves costumes. Witch-King its a figure of evil ghost king which got head what glows in the dark!
I think this set is good because of detail, action, mini figures and price.

Next set what I would like to share with You is The Hobbit an Unexpected Journey Box set nr 79000.
This little set include 2 figures: Gollum and Bilbo Baggins in journey outfit+ ring. Also box include Sting Boat with bones elements and includes features of the rock with the opening section on the front and secret place to hide the powerful ring. This LEGO set is made from the scene when Gollum and Bilbo went on underground lake beneath the Misty Mountains.

LEGO STAR WARS 75090 Ezra's Speeder Bike

This LEGO set its good but it is not one my favourite. Box include 3 figures and 2 Speeder Bikes. Ezra, Sabine and stormtrooper are coming with weapons: 2 pistols, blaster pistol and a blaster. Figures got nice details, guns can shoot with "LEGO bullets"(lights).
Speeder bikes can be extended on the front.
I paid about 18 pounds for this LEGO set.


If You would like to see full review of this LEGO set you can visit this link to my youtube chanel :


https://youtu.be/87teEGV-SQQ


thankyou xxx

My oldest son -Tom, did very well at school this year, so I decided to buy for him little present surprise:) My boys love LEGO the same like I do so I got Tom 2 x blind bags with LEGO mini figures and LEGO Superman watch. He is so pleased with it! :)
First mini figure was a girl with unicorn costume and the other one was a Sheriff. These figures look just great:)
And Superman watch looks fine :) Tom wish that this little Superman figure on the watch is removable, but unfortunately its not ... But  he still is enjoying his new watch :)

FACTS ABOUT CATS AND GARDEN PLANTS

   

Today I would like to write about plants which are dangerous and poisonous for our loving friends cats.
Many of garden plants are perfectly safe for our cats. These include: Bamboo, lavender, rose, violet, snapdragon and sunflower. Also some herbs is cat friendly too and sometimes they even have positive effects on your cats health if eaten : E.g. Dill, basil, rosemary, mint, sage, parsley and tarragon.


But some plants we need to avoid. And they can be harmuf for cats if eaten: Chrysanthemum, ferns, azalea, buttercup, crocus, daffodil, holly, hyacinth, hydrangea, iris, lily of the valey, marigold, oak, peony, rhododendron, wisteria and yew. Lilies and foxgloves are toxic to cats-both can cause kidney damage if they are ingested.
You need to be very careful with garden products as well. Slug pellets that contain metaldehyde can be toxic if eaten by your cat!
So please check your plants, products labels in your garden and make sure that everything its nice and safe for your little loving family members:)


If you want make your little cat happy and crazy at the same time you can plant nepeta(catmint, catnip) in Your garden. This plant contains the essential oil nepetalactone, which has a very strong and powerful euphoric effect on cats:) Cats just love to lie, chew and roll on it!:)




  

Chinese Rice Noodles

That is delicious idea for a family dinner or movie  night :) its so easy to make it. You will only need: breast fillets chunks, stir fry vegetables, chinese rice noodles, naan bread curry sauce and fresh & crunchy prawn crakers:) ( the other so tasty option: instead of using chinese rice noodles  and prawn crackers , you can use white /wholegrain/ or flavoured rice and poppadoms )

Recipe:

Fry breast chunks, until nice and tender ( for the best results fry on medium power under lid ). Next add stir fry vegetables. Fry until tender. Add chinese  rice noodles  with  a little bit of water, fry together for about 2-3 min and add curry sauce-fry for 2 min. And enjoy your dinner with great warmed up naan bread and prawn crackers =)

LEGO CHIMA 70133 SPINLYN'S CAVERN

This set of LEGO is amazing!:) I got this set from the sale for only £17 and I really like it. Box Includes lots of accessories: 3 mini figures with weapons; spider Cavern - prison with shooting web, winch and mirror for Spinlyn, spiders fangs, poison tubes, spider queen's shrine, few spiders, webs; Rhino bike. Everything just looks amazing!:) my little boys love this set =)

If You would like see more You can click on my youtube link below:

https://youtu.be/Mz6zeDh8bMw

LEGO Disney Princess Cinderella Carriage

If You got little girl, I think that would be great gift on her special occasion ( for example birthday). I got this set for about £20 pounds and I am very pleased with it. Box contains beautiful carriage with the white horse, figure of Cinderella, fountain, bench, brush for the floor and even  invitation letter and fairys godmothers magical wand:) Everything got good details and look so sweet and cute :)

If You would like to see how all this set look like you can go on my youtube

LEGO Disney Princess Cinderella 

thank You for reading:)))