A few more ramblings . .

I hope everyone enjoyed Fathers Day yesterday. We spent most of the day in the garden. It was quite sunny in the afternoon and lovely to get outside in the fresh air. We cleared out the last of our winter veggie garden (except for our kale and garlic) and prepared the soil for some spring planting. Last year our main garden was plagued with awful Harlequin beetles and growing vegetables organically (other than onion crops) was an absolute nightmare. Even my poor rhubarb plants were decimated. This year I am hoping that we can control them a little better and we have already removed their summer home - an old banana passionfruit vine that was growing over our boundary fence. Fingers crossed we can keep them at bay.

Last night I decided to cook Hubby a Fathers Day treat and made my very yummy Creamy Garlic Prawn Risotto. I am rather proud of that conversion as it has already become a popular recipe on the fabulous forumthermomix. Hubby enjoyed his risotto enormously and I must admit I enjoyed my serve also (although it was a teeny serve). Yes I am back in weight loss mode again. You may remember my previous weight loss adventures (using my thermomix) that I blogged about at the start of the year.

Creamy Garlic Prawn Risotto

This time I am rather proud to report that I have less than 2kg to lose. When I lost over 7kg in January I promised myself that I wouldn't put that much weight on again. I am pretty chuffed that I have stuck to my resolution and at the end of last month when my jeans felt a little tight I decided that it was time to put a stop to those warming winter puddings (I secretly place the blame for my weight gain on Trudy's heavenly peaches and cream dessert). Of course it would be better if I hadn't put on the weight again in the first place but well . . . I do have a shocking sweet tooth!!!

I am losing the weight again by cutting back on baking (sigh!!!), serving myself small meals with garden salads and exercising. I have actually almost lost the weight again but am now hoping to lose a wee bit more. We are heading to QLD next week for some sunshine and I am a little concerned about getting into bathers in public. Yikes!!! I think the poor Queenslanders will be blinded by my Tassie tan! I wonder if there is such a thing as an organic spray tan. :-) We are so excited about getting to our resort in Queensland as our big boy has just learnt to swim. He is so very cute!

Our Little Swimming Champ

Like last time I lost weight I am also focusing on filling my life with happy little projects (other than my favourite past-time - baking). Last weekend we ventured across to the mainland (on the boat) to visit with family and attend my father-in-laws 70th birthday celebrations. It was very fun for the boys going on the boat (not so fun for their parents!) and they haven't stopped chatting about it and building lego boats since our return. It was great to take the car and although I didn't take the thermie with me, I did pack an esky full of homemade goodies. I packed biscuits, slices, fruit bread, seeded rolls and even some frozen containers of soup and chow-mein (which were still frozen rock solid and ready to thaw after a night on the boat). I didn't think the boys would behave well at the family gatherings if we made big changes in their diets (processed food) beforehand. It was nice to eat out a couple of times but also nice to have some ready made home-style meals at our unit. Next time I might try to squeeze thermie in though.

Tang Zhong Rolls

My main project for these holidays (aside from catching up with friends) will be creating a thermomix cookbook for a friend who is about to make the big purchase. I was so excited when my friend Ange told me she is planning to purchase a thermie-baby! Ange and I both share a love of all things wholesome and I can't wait to share this amazing journey with her. I am excited about selecting the recipes for her "Full Little Tummies and Forum Buddies Cookbook".

Anyway I must dash as the sun has come out and the boys are ready for some outside action. Enjoy the school holidays Tassie friends!!!