Italian 'Monday' Burgers

Always on a Monday we have left overs from the weekend..

 

Make some tasty 'Monday' Burgers next week and clean out those cupboards of all the tasty bits from the weekend and celebrate the start of the week.

 

You Will Need-

1 cup cooked chilled rice
1 cup oats
1 tin borotti beans
4 mushrooms
Half red onion
Stock cube (I use vegetable stock)
200ml boiling water
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Handful basil leaves
1 small red chili chopped
2 cups of bread crumbs
Walnut oil to cook with
1 cup flour
Salt and pepper to taste

Makes 8 Burgers / Serves 2 for a main course (or freeze 2 for a later lunch!)

Time 20 mins

Let's Create!

1. Chop the red onion and mushrooms and saute in the walnut oil.
2. Add the chili and breadcrumbs and rice.
3. Drain the beans and add to the mixture.
4. Make up the stock and pour over the mixture slowly letting it absorb as you go.
5. Add seasoning and basil.
6. The mixture should be of a constancy where it can be moulded into burgers.
7. Let the mixture cool and divide into 8. Mould into small burgers using your hands.
8. Roll the burgers in the flour.
9. Shallow fry for a few minutes each side.

Serve with a creamy pasta with seasonal green vegetables and a freshly prepared basil and yellow pepper salad.

Enjoy a easy Monday and clear out the 'fridge at the same time.

Why Not?

This recipe can be made into Chinese style burgers by adding ginger and soya sauce, replace the beans with black eye beans. Alternatively you can make Tex Mex burgers by replacing the beans with kidney beans and using Tex Mex style seasoning.

 

Customise Your Babies Clothes..

 

Create A New Unique Look, customise your baby ...

Take two plain tops and give yourself one hour...

 

If you are new to customising, the whole thing maybe a little bit daunting, what is safe for baby, can I use this? What happens if she chews it? I think that it always helps to look in the stores and see that the brands do, then make sure that buttons and bows are stitched on properly and knotted at the back so they aren't that easy to take off. And that's it..take one hour and see that you can sew..

 

You Will Need  -

• 1m of 5mm Satin Ribbon
• 1m of 3mm Satin Ribbon
• Handful of Buttons or Beads
• 2in Silk Flowers (bought from Haberdashery Dept)
• 2 Baby Tops (ideally plain to show off your work) These are from Asda Walmart in a 3 piece set.
• Sewing Needle
• Sewing Thread
• Sewing Scissors

 

 

Ribbon Rosette & Cute Button Design

 

If you are new to handling a needle and thread this arty ribbon rosette is for you.

 

To Make Your Rosette -

1. Take 30cm of ribbon and holding one end create a loop and pinch in the middle. Make four loops in a circle (a little like a gift wrap bow) then stitch to the shoulder seam of your baby top so that you are left with a small tail of ribbon. Once secure, this is the arty bit, wrap around your ribbon and stitch over the loops however the ribbon falls. Just be careful to tuck the ends in at the end.
 
2. The take your cute buttons and beads and stitch on baby's top either with self colour or contrast threads. Secure on the inside and make sure that the knots are flat so they don't press into babies skin.
 
3. This design is for a 11 month old as it has bigger buttons and she is past the sucking phase. For a smaller baby I would recommend flatter buttons, but this is up to you, you know your baby. 
4. For more experienced customisers you can stitch lace, bows, embroider or even use fabric paints on your tops...

 

 

 

 Flowers & Ribbon Design

 

This design was inspired by a bottle of perfume sitting in my  bathroom. I don't go our like I used to before baby came along. So this is my homage to my Rici Rici perfume..One evening we will go out, but for now you have inspired by baby's top!

 

 

These can be made from pieces of organza and beads but John Lewis John Lewis Haberdashery Dept do a great range if you are new to customising. If you are making these yourself, take 5 circles of organza and pinch together and stitch the pinch. Add buttons or beads over the stitching.

 

Then, take your 3mm ribbon and stitch on from the top and trialing across the shirt adding the floweres at the end.

 

I customise mine with a ribbon message 'I Love Handmade'. Just to finish it off!

 

 

 

Dolcelatte, Spinach & Walnut Salad

A Great starter; crisp leaves, crunchy walnuts and a creamy blue cheese - and quick to make..

Give me ten minutes and this could be on the table..

 

You Will Need -

Spinach Leaves - 4 handfuls of leaves or one bag prepare from the chiller
75 g Walnut Halves
6 Plum Tomatoes
50 g Dolcelatte Cheese
4 Tablespoons of Cream Cheese
Walnut Oil to cook with
Salt and Fresh Black Pepper
Olive Oil to drizzle
Red Wine Vinegar

For a meat version -
Add 4 rashers of chopped panchetta cooked

Serves 4

 

Go Create!

 

1. Wash the leaves and arrange a handful in each dishing.
2. Take the walnut halves and light cook in oil until they are crispy.
3. Pour over the walnuts onto the leaves.
4. Heat the dolcelatte for one minute in the same pan you use for the walnuts and pour over them.
5. Take a tablespoon of soft cheese for each salad and add 5 -6 small balls around the salad.
6. Chop the red pepper finally and sprinkle on.
7. Drizzle over the olive and vinegar.
8. Season with salt and black pepper.

Add panchetta for a meat alternative. The cream cheese balances the panchetta and dolcelatte flavours.

 

Birthday Stampin' and a Cuttin' for cards and wreaths!

A Busy Birthday Week!

It seems that this week has flown by and I had a great birthday with my new little family!

But I have fitted in time to learn about stamping, make pasta and some very easy autumn cakes.

Baby L and I on my birthday lunch

Here is what I have done in the last week....

Babysitting Cake

After going out for the night and leaving Baby L at home, I felt confident that I could go out more as she was a little star! I made a few cakes for my Mum that babysat for us. which were whipped up whilst I had the oven on for lunch.

Apple Spice Cake

 

Fresh Pasta

I am proud to say that I have been and bought the special flour for pasta and created a beautiful dish of mezzelune pasta for my birthday supper. It was great and even made some spaghetti for Baby L's lunch. I love fresh pasta for parties as you can cook ahead and then on the day it cooks in boiling water in one minute!

Fresh Pasta

 

And Stampin' and Cuttin!

I have to admit that I have a very limited knowledge of stamping and die cutting to make cards and 3D items - so I took a course. In 3 hours we made 3 things, a wreath, halloween card and greetings card and they all looked so professional! Thanks for Rebecca Davis and her Stampin' Up creations!


Here are my creations, go to Rebecca's site for more info or the Stampin' Up website.

 

Autumn Wreath

Made from die cut leaves, papers and stamps brushed over brown paper. I love it!

Greetings Bird Card

 And finally my favourite....

Halloween Cat Card

I just would of NEVER thought of doing this, it looks so great for Halloween with extra sparkles for the kitty eyes.