A Clear Path

That's what I wish for.  Just to be able to walk across a room, or across the yard without having a cat, a kid, a pair of shoes or a dog underfoot.
 Luckily we drove past the high school yesterday to double check the board to see when the kids go back.  Only years 7, 11 and 12 start on Monday, and Emily and Joshua start Tuesday so that made them happy, an extra day of holidays.  Works for me too really.  I ordered two new sports shirts for Josh and left them to be embroidered and was meant to pick them up this morning and also get Emily's new skirts, but we can do it Monday now since I don't have a car today and it's way too hot to be out walking.  We drove up to Young and got a heap of school supplies.  Emily loves her stationery but Josh could have cared less he just got some new pens and a gluestick, oh and some exercise books.  They'll need more of course but I'll wait to see what the subject requirements are.  I still can hardly believe that they are going into year ten and year eight.  Wasn't it just yesterday they started kindergarten?
I was reading Ishitunot's blog and she mentioned spaghetti and meatballs and it got me hankering for some.  I wanted to do the meatballs and sauce in the slow cooker and I found an interesting recipe in a book I bought last year but have yet to use.

I had pork and veal mince, and used white wine not red because that's what I had.  Also used a French shallot rather than onion.  You can't always get them here so when I see them I always grab some, I prefer the flavour in certain dishes to onion, and never like to put raw onion in meatballs or meatloaf.  I used dried breadcrumbs rather than fresh as I couldn't be bothered getting out the food processor.  I tried chopping up the pine nuts in the coffee grinder but some of them went to a paste but the meatballs came together alright. 

I tweaked the sauce too, the recipe just called for passata and wine but I added some grated garlic and some chilli flakes.  It's fun trying new recipes and I'm getting more confident in playing with them and changing them a bit, I never really was before.  The fennel is an unusual touch so it will be interesting to see how it all tastes.  Phill found some curly fettucine while we were shopping yesterday and it took his fancy so we'll have it with that.  Although he's at work till late tonight.  I'll put some aside for him to either have tomorrow or take to work next time he goes.  They can heat food up in the engines, either on an old fashioned hot plate or a microwave on the newer locos.

This recipe cooks on high for four hours.  I've never cooked anything on high in this slow cooker.  Only ever on low. 

So we're having a lazy Saturday today.  Well not so lazy for me. I've hung out two loads of washing, cleaned the bathroom and inside toilet and washed the floors, done a load in the dishwasher with another one ready to go and made dinner.  I'll have a lazy afternoon.  Josh and I are watching a "Come Dine With Me" marathon.  The Aussie one is on on weeknights at the moment but we love the English one with Dave Lamb narrating, he makes it so much more entertaining.  I have to admit I'll miss the kids when they go back to school especially Josh as Emily seems to have spent the whole holidays in her room, but it will be nice to get the house back in order and to get into a bit of a routine.