Chocolate Brownie

Here is the recipe for a great Chocolate Brownie Recipe:  Very easy and can all be done in a pot, before popping in the oven for cooking.

Ingredients:

200g Butter
1/2 cup Cocoa
1/4 tsp Salt
2 Cups Brown Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla essence
2 eggs
1 Cup Flour

Instructions:

Turn oven on to 180 degrees C.
In a pot melt the butter and cocoa gently on the stove.
Take off the heat - add salt, brown sugar and vanilla - mix well
Put in flour - stir in
Add eggs - mix well.

Pour into brownie tin and Bake for 20-25 min.

The Orphan Lady

This is an awesome documentary made by Rob Harley.  It outlines the progress made by Sue van Schreven in setting up and running Orphans Aid International.  I was lucky enough to be at Casa Kiwi when Sue and Rob were there filming.

Jess and I spent two days here helping to look after and care for the kids.  We played in their backyard on the trampoline and around the playhut and swings.  The kids are awesome.  One of the significant memories we have is the dancing by the kids.  Oh how they loved to dance.  There was also one young boy who would bite.  So there were a few moments of surprise.

It was a great time seeing this Orphanage and what a difference this transition house is making.  The house parents, psychologists and carers are actively trying to find foster and adoptive parents for these children.  This has meant that over 30 different children have been through this home in the past 6 years.  Great to see children being loved, looked after and cared for.

http://tvnz.co.nz/the-orphan-lady/s2013-ep1-video-5389423

Cleaning Out Movie Creation Collection

Over the last few days I have been working my way through some of the Movie's I have made throughout the years.  It has been hilarious.  A wonderful walk down memory lane.  I thought it would be good to upload this Movie I made about my time in Romania in 2004.

Sorry about the quality - things have definitely changed in 9 years of digital media.

Hanging Curtains

As I was hanging curtains in my rental property yesterday, in-between tenants, I reflected on the role of both Landlord and Tenant.  Being a member of both camps, I wondered about my experiences.  I own my own property, which has been rented out since I purchased it and I have been a Tenant in the total number of 6 different rental properties over the last 17 years.

As a Landlord I have had many requests, including the ‘immediate’ fixing of a dishwasher.  Which I actioned but it made think, is a dishwasher a necessity, you have a sink – why can’t you wash your dishes in there.  Isn’t a dishwasher a luxury and as a landlord although I am happy to provide a dishwasher maybe as a tenant you could action your own fixing of the dishwasher?

As a Landlord I have also paid for handymen to go in and fix hinges on cupboard doors.  I guess it is my house and I need to monitor the upkeep.  This was highlighted after a recent experience in my rental property, and I am now happy to be in charge of all housing adaptation and change.  After entering my property following the exit of tenants, I discovered a whole new wall erected making the garage smaller and the original wall removed.  This was all actioned and completed, by the tenant, without my knowledge.  It does not have a building consent, and even if I remove the ‘newly’ constructed wall, it will be difficult to replace the original wall.  Annoyed ‘yes’.

So as I complete, the clean up, hanging curtains, removing terrible animal smells from the carpet, cleaning ceilings of cobwebs, re-wallpapering, painting, replacing floor boards under the shower, gardening, cleaning out the mailbox of 2 years paper delivery, removing truck loads of left behinds – I am grateful to my landlords throughout the years, who have provided a safe, clean and liveable house and because of that I will take care of it, fixing what I can fix, keeping it clean and when I leave removing all of my belongings and ensuring it is ready for the next person to move in.

Too much time and Too many Tomatoes

 Collect Tomatoes from the garden.

 Ingredients Required:

2kg of Tomatoes

2 Tbs Brown Sugar

2 tsp Salt

2 tsp Vinegar

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

1/2 Cup Basil Leaves (also collected from Garden)

1 Onion

1 1/2 Tbs Lemon Juice

 Step 1:  Immerse Tomatoes in Boiling water, until skin begins to split

 Step 2:  Remove tomatoes and immerse in ice water.  Then peel skin off, remove core.

 Step 3:  Food Process Tomatoes, add to large pot.  This will need to be done in parts.

 Step 4:  Bring Tomatoes to the boil - add sugar, salt, vinegar, pepper and onion.  Allow to continue boiling for 70-80 minutes - Stirring Occasionally.

 Step 5: Remove from heat and add herbs.

Step 6: Spoon lemon juice into preserving jars.  Put in Sauce, Fill to the top, Seal lids.

I had a lot of fun making this Pasta Sauce.  Next time I am going to experiment with a few more flavours and when my red capsicum are ready in the garden, I intend adding these too.  I will let you know how it goes.

Well I have decided to keep a running timeline of what I get up to in my life.  After spending many years actively exploring other countries, completing mission trips, teaching in a variety of situations, I thought it would be great to document these.

Some may look at this and think, 'WOW it is a bit late starting now'.  But I have decided that Life is a Journey.  The Journey has definitely not ended, there are many more adventures in me - and each week is not boring.  So much, love, care and support is required of those around me.  As I input into others' lives I hope too that they are able to input into my life.

In fact for the first time in many years I have time to sit down and set up a blog of my activities.

So if you are going to be following me I hope you enjoy!!