• 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
• 1 dry packet French onion soup mix
• 750 grams gravy beef
• 1 can of coke
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

Add the crushed garlic and French onion soup mix to the bottom of your slow cooker.  Cut up the gravy beef into small bite sized pieces and add on top of the soup mix.  Stir it well to evenly ‘coat’ the meat in the garlic and soup mix.  Pour over your can of coke.  Cook on HIGH for six hours.  Stir well and add the tomato paste – this will thicken the liquid and turn it into a casserole.  Cook for a further two hours on LOW or until the meat starts to fall apart.  Serve on mashed potato with steamed vegetables.

Serves 6.

Recipe Hints and Tips:

• Slow Cooker Beef and Coke Casserole can be frozen.  Allow to cool to room temperature before 3/4 filling a ziplock bag and freezing for up to six months.
• To bulk up the recipe even further, add an onion in the beginning, and some chopped vegetables for the last 30 minutes.

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Your personality, lifestyle, sleep deprivation, and what you’re shopping for, influences whether you grab the car keys or turn the computer on:

Your personality

Does the thought of wrestling a car spot give you anxiety? Or do you look forward to pay day and the chance to socialise while you shop?

Do you enjoy sitting in bed at midnight checking out your favourite sellers, or does the thought of using technology send you to sleep?

Time poor, sleep deprivation, or sick?

Online shopping is your fairy godmother when you’re sick, you have kids to feed and bath, when your partner is on extended business or you’re a single parent. Graciously accept this help and get typing!

Clothes shopping

When buying clothes online there’s no need to search through the hangers looking for your size – it tells you instantly. But there’s a chance you may need to exchange items.

Check the companies exchange policy and consider how likely you are to arrange an exchange (I have a bag of items for exchange – they have been sitting in my wardrobe for 6 months!).

Looking for a deal?

For bigger or irregular purchases (think fridges and cameras), online research is a great way to grab a deal. If you’re purchasing an expensive item check the warranty process and consider how likely the company will still exist in 12-24 months’ time.

You can also approach your local store and see if they will match an online deal. Big retailers will match online prices when trying to create customer loyalty or if it’s been a bad month for sales.

Speciality purchases

These days many unique or home crafted items are only available online through Facebook or Etsy (think craft markets of the online world). There are great birthday and Christmas presents waiting to be discovered in these online speciality stores.

Grocery shopping

Stores like Woolworths and Coles make online shopping easy, with your shopping completed in 20-30 minutes. The benefits of online grocery shopping include;

• A glass of wine and pj’s while doing your groceries? Who doesn’t love that?
• Save your regular shopping list online –just tick the regulars, add on the extras and you’re done.
• The grocery bill totals as you go – makes sticking to your grocery budget easier.
• Less chance of those ‘waiting in line’ impulse buys.
• No more buying something ‘just in case there is none left at home’ – you can run to your cupboard and see.
• For the Gluten Free and Vegan among us – you can view products by Gluten Free and Vegetarian!

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Ingredients

• 600g diced lamb
• 2 tbsp cornflour seasoned with salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced thickly
• 2 celery sticks, chopped roughly
• 2 rosemary sprigs
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped finely
• 2 bay leaves
• 375ml Guinness (or any stout)
• 1½ cups beef stock
• 400g can diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp sugar

Dice the lamb and toss it into a ziplock bag. Cover with seasoned cornflour, toss to coat and place in the bottom of your slowcooker. You can brown the meat if you like, I find there is not a great difference in tenderness or taste either way.

Add oil, onion, carrots, celery, rosemary, garlic and bay leaves to the pot. Cover with beef stock. A standard can of Guiness is 440ml, so open the can, take a good swig (if you are partial to stout!) or empty out about 1/4 cup and empty the rest into the pot. Add the diced tomatoes and sugar and stir to combine.

Leave on low heat for 4-5hours, high heat for 2-3 hrs.

To make rosemary dumplings:

Boil 600g whole potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain, cool a bit, peel and mash until smooth. Stir in 4 tbsp melted butter, 1⁄3 cup milk, 1⁄3 cup self-raising flour, 1 egg, 2 tsp finely chopped rosemary and salt and pepper. Dollop spoonfuls of dumpling mix on top of stew in slowcooker. Cook for 30 – 40 minutes or until dumplings are puffed and golden.

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Electronics

Why is it that no matter how many toys you give your child, they always want what you are playing with (iPads, phones, computers, etc.). So if you have an old mobile phone or keyboard lying around, take out the battery and all cords and let your child have a play with them.

Tampons and their Boxes

It’s awful I know but both of my children have loved playing with tampons. They have spent hours taking each one out of the box and putting them back in. Perhaps it’s the littleness of them – whatever the case, they love them! Just make sure you monitor your kids when letting them play with these items as they are a choking hazard.

Pots and Pans

Perhaps you remember how much fun it was to bang on pots and pans as kids. Let your children create some beautiful music by bringing out the pots and pans.

Boxes

There is something about an empty box. You can expect children of all ages to enjoy playing with empty boxes of all sizes. Larger boxes, such as old nappy boxes, can make excellent race cars, boats, trains and anything else.

Empty Bottles (and water)

Instead of spending a fortune on bath toys, keep the old shampoo, soap and body wash bottles and use them as bath toys. Children love to fill them up and dump the water out. You will be surprised at how entertaining this game can be!

Shoes

Little girls and guys adore wearing mummy and daddy’s items and shoes are high on the list of things to try on. So bring out a box of shoes, scarfs and any other items that are easy to put on and let your children play dress up.

Makeup

Alternatively, if you are brave enough, you may want to stage your own makeup session by letting your kids try on some of your makeup. Just make sure you choose the ugly inexpensive lipsticks and blush as it will probably come back a little worse for wear.

Kitchen Utensils

Pots and pans are great but quite noisy.  Spatulas, wooden spoons and potato mashers are a much quieter alternative. Older children will love to pretend play by doing some baking with these items while little ones will enjoy sucking and biting on them.

Dirt, Mud and Sand

If you don’t mind the clean up afterwards, then you can’t go wrong with all things dirty! Let the kids help you in the garden or create mud cakes by mixing water into the sand pit.

Tupperware

Let your children work on their motor skills by opening and shutting various Tupperware containers. Children will also enjoy placing items into each container, such as cars, dolls, etc.

So the next time your kids are wandering around the house uttering that awful phrase “Mum I’m bored,” pull out some of these easy and quick fixes to cure boredom in children of all ages.

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Fabulous mess is part of a life well-lived, like hosting a successful party or letting the kids get creative in the kitchen. ENJO brings back the pleasure of creating fabulous mess by making it super-quick and easy to clean up, without the need for harmful chemicals.

It’s a triumph ENJO Australia is celebrating with the launch of a new TV commercial and a social media competition that gives you the chance to win all the ENJO you need to clean up next time your family lets loose!

What’s so fabulous about ENJO?

ENJO is a range of cleaning fibres that leads the way in non-toxic and environmentally safe cleaning, by harnessing the natural cleaning power of microfibre technology and water – nature’s super-solvent.

Take a close look at your store-bought cleaning cloths. You’ll find they have rounded fibres that can only push dust, dirt and grime across surfaces. They have no power to grab and hold particles, or to dry thoroughly, like ENJO does, to remove bacteria-harbouring water and residues.

And because ENJO doesn’t need any harsh detergents to do the hard work, it leaves the air your family breathes free from the chemical nasties known to cause and aggravate asthma and allergies.

Lasting up to three years, saving you time with a simple two-step cleaning process, and outperforming traditional cleaning products on a variety of surfaces, ENJO fibres are the most fabulous solution to every fabulous mess. A better, quicker, healthier, greener and cheaper way to clean – a domestic goddess’ dream!

Watch ENJO in action in the new TV commercial.

How your biggest mess could win big!

What’s the most fabulous mess your family has ever made? Capture all the chaos, mischief and mayhem they get up to in

This week’s winning photograph by Annabel Bachmann

a photo and you could win all the ENJO products you need to clean up next time things get messy.

For your chance to win, post your fabulous mess on the ENJO Australia Facebook Page, Twitter or Instagram, tag it #enjogoddess, add a caption and share it with your friends. An ENJO prize will go to the grandest, most outrageous and ridiculous mess every day for two weeks, from 12^th until 28^th June*.

Can’t wait to get your hands on the ENJO Glove?

The full product range, from Kitchen to Car Care, is available exclusively through ENJO’s online shop, as well as one-on-one consultations and in-home ENJO Demos presented by an ENJOpreneur. Go to www.enjo.com.au to find your fabulous solution.

*Terms and conditions apply.

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DeLonghi Dolce Gusto

This little ripper sits happily on our Kitchen bench for everyday use. It’s sleek and stylish with a good variety of Pods available and super-fast! Whether you like A Strong Black Americano style coffee, a frothy cappuccino, Decaf, a Yummy Hot Chocolate, and A Chai Latte or even Iced tea. With 14 different flavours available, you can do it all with this Machine.

Readily available from Woolworths, Big W and IGA it’s the Pod machine for the everyday coffee drinker that wants to add some style and different flavours without breaking the budget!

They have their own pod design to perfectly fit the machine and give great tasting coffee every time. Plus it has an easily removable drip tray that enables you to fit a great big mug underneath the spout!

With a retail price of $120 (for the base model) but readily available on sale from one of the stockists for as little as $98, they make a great addition to any kitchen. Especially since they come with a sample pack of 6 different flavours for you to try!

Normal purchase price for the pods is $7.99 per box with either  8 or 16 per pack, depending on the type, it makes it a great deal cheaper than purchasing a coffee form a Café (and you can leave your Pj’s on!)

The Expressi Pod Machine

This little Coffee pod whiz is only available from Aldi Supermarkets and is a favourite among many Coffee Drinkers. Being exclusive to Aldi, it can be a little harder to get a hold of than the Dolce Gusto BUT if you can get one…do so! They are available in either Black or Silver and will catch anyone’s attention when they enter your Kitchen with their robust yet aesthetically pleasing appearance. Featuring a height adjustable cup platform and a huge 1 litre water reservoir this is great for making coffee for a group of friends as you needn’t be refilling the tank after every two cups.

The Expressi pods sell at $5.99 per box of 16 and are full of amazing aromas and undertones in their flavours in 14 Different blends that cater for even the most distinguished coffee palates.

Also with the design of the pod chamber, you can even use Pods from the Nespresso range which allows for even more flavours and variety.

The Expressi Machine is a fabulous $79 and they too go on sale from time to time so be ready to get in early for a super low purchase price.

Coffee Pod Machines are a great addition to any Home or Office and also make a Great Gift!

On another note if you are concerned about wastage due to using the pod machines, you can actually purchase re-usable/refillable pods online from varying places.  Simply choose your own blends, pack into the pods (following manufacturer’s instructions) and use the pods time and time again thus eliminating the wastefulness of the colourful little pods.

Regardless of what machine you choose, you’ll get a great tasting coffee at a fraction of the cost in a Café and the machine will pay for itself in no time.

Belinda is a stay at home Mum of three lively children, with a wonderful husband, good sence of humour, a keen eye for a bargain and is a bit of a “Bel’ of all trades.
She enjoys reading, writing, sewing, craft, renovating, having fun with her family and getting the chance to finish a cuppa while it’s still hot!

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As always, with most cakes in mugs, you are better off using a large mug, combining the ingredients in another bowl or jug and pouring it into the mug. I keep batches of the dry ingredients pre-mixed in sandwich bags and add the wet ingredients when its time to bake.

Serves – 1 large mug (or 2 smaller coffee cups)

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons plan flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 caramels – I used Rolo’s, and added 2 extra ones to the top.

Into a small bowl add: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, egg, milk, and vegetable oil. Mix to combine.

Pour mixture into a mug. Drop caramels into centre of mixture.

Microwave on high for one minute and 30 seconds. If needed {if cake batter is still gooey}, microwave on high for up to an additional 30 seconds

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How to CHECK THE OIL

Ensure your vehicle is parked on flat ground. Locate the dipstick (it has a loop in the top of stick) in the engine. Pull out and wipe off oil with a rag. Replace the dipstick for a few seconds, and then remove. If the oil on the stick doesn’t reach the ‘full’ level, add engine oil by unscrewing the oil-filter cap (usually marked with the words ‘engine oil’). You may want to use a funnel. Replace the cap and re-check the dipstick level. Never go more than 3 months without checking your oil!

How to ADD ‘WATER’

When driving, if the car’s temperature gauge is leaning towards hot (H) it’s likely that the coolant needs topping up. Coolant is a mixture of water and anti-freeze which stabilises the temperature of your vehicle. First check under the car’s hood when the engine has cooled down – for at least 30 minutes after driving. Locate the plastic reservoir tub: if the liquid doesn’t reach the ‘full’ level, top it up with coolant.

How to CHANGE A TYRE

On the opposite side of the car, put a chock behind a wheel. Check your manual for jacking location closest to deflated tyre and place jack accordingly. Never go under the car. Loosen nuts on wheel with a socket wrench. Jack car up until wheel is off the ground, the tyre only needs to be at a height where it can be removed. Remove nuts, slide wheel towards you and set aside. Put spare tyre in place and firmly screw nuts on. Lower jack, so the tyre is on the ground, then tighten the nuts.

How to BUFF OUT SCRATCHES

Car paintwork is set in layers: steel, primer, colour and clear coat. Depending how deep the scratch goes, it may be a job for a professional. If you are just dealing with a minor scratch in the clear coat, you can fix it yourself! Firstly, clean the area with soapy water and dry, apply a small amount of gritty wax (available at auto stores) onto a foam buffer and buff in a circular motion until the surface evens out and there you have it – no more scratch!

How to CHECK AIR PRESSURE

Air pressure affects tyre wear and tear and fuel consumption. If the tyres are flatter than they should be, it results in extra surface area and drag on the vehicle and it will consume more fuel. To find your car’s optimum tyre pressure, check the manual or the stamp card in the door jam or glove box. Use the electronic air pump at your local service station and set the required tyre pressure on the pump.

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Why is Your Baby Waking Up So Much? -

A sleep regression occurs when your baby starts waking up much more than usual. For some parents, your baby may have slept through the night without waking once and is now waking up three or four times. For other parents your baby may have only needed a feed once a night and is now awake every hour on the hour, or more. Whatever the case, if your baby is now sleeping a lot worse than before, then it could be due to a sleep regression.

When Does a Sleep Regression Occur?

All babies are different but most mothers find that the worst sleep regression occurs around six months. However, other sleep regressions can come at 4 months, 9 months and continue. It all depends on where your child is developmentally.

What Causes Sleep Regression?

There are two main reasons for the six month sleep regression. The first is milestones. Around the age of six to nine months your baby will start to crawl, to sit up and even to stand up on her own. These new found skills are amazing to watch but they are even more amazing to practice. And thus your little one may continue to practice these skills all through the night. They may not even be fully awake when they are pulling themselves into the sitting position or crawling around the cot.

The second reason for sleep regression is separation anxiety. Around six to nine months your baby will start to become frightened when you are not around. Separation anxiety is a common problem for most babies and most children will grow out of it. If your baby does become quite upset when you leave the room, then they could be waking up in the night because you are not there. Coming in and letting them know that you are there can help them go back to sleep. Of course, doing it fifteen times a night can become extremely tedious.

How Can I Push Them Past This?

There are several ways to try and get your baby back into the habit of sleeping. Make sure they are on a set bedtime routine with a set bedtime each night. Teach them how to self-settle and go to sleep on their own. You may wish to leave them to cry for a little while but this depends on how comfortable you feel with this. In time, hopefully your baby will grow tired of practicing their new skills and will find sleep is better.

“It’s Just a Phase” Or Is It?

If you notice that your baby is just not getting any better at sleeping and the ‘phase’ is becoming a routine, then it may be time to look into sleep training. There are several different ways to sleep train your baby and what works for you will depend on your personal values and parenting style. However, if the sleep regression has been going on for more than one month, then it may be time to revisit the sleep training books and start the process all over again.

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Ingredients

For Choux Pastry

60 grams butter
• 125ml water
• 75 grams Plain Flour
• 2 eggs
• pinch salt

For Filling

• Custard – vanilla, chocolate, whatever flavour you fancy
• Whipped cream
• Melted chocolate

Place the water and butter in a saucepan and slowly bring the mixture to the boil.  Remove from the heat and add the flour and salt.  Return to the heat and stir quickly with a wooden spoon until a ball forms in the middle and the dough comes away from the sides.

Remove the mixture from the heat and leave it to cool for about 5 minutes.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until the dough becomes stiff.

Form teaspoons of mixture to make puffs and bake at 180 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

When the puffs are completely cool, cut through the centre to form two halves. Top one half with whipped cream or custard (either vanilla or chocolate) and press the top half gently onto the cream/custard filling. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the tops over the profiteroles.

Hints and Tips

• Raw dough can be kept covered in the fridge under a damp tea towel for 1 day, or if doubled wrapped in plastic wrap – frozen for up to three months.
• Dry empty puffs can be kept in a sealed container for up to 2 days.  Just reheat for a few minutes to freshen up

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