Pioneer Momma's weekly worksheets!

Ashley from PioneerMomma does these wonderful worksheets each week and we've gotten into the habit of using them here at home. It's easy-peasy and a great way to organize your weekly menu and thoughts.
I especially love the "focus word" section! It's a great way to find something you want to emphasize each week and keep focused on it.

Our weekly worksheet hangs on the fridge, so we're sure to pass it by MANY times during the day ;)

What's for dinner:

Sunday: Eating out - My sister in law's B-day

Monday: "Koldskål" with berries and crumble

(it's a cold milk-soup which you eat with berries and crackers) - recipe on the blog next week, I promise!

Picture: RavFood

Tuesday: Smoked salmon with grilled baby potatoes and salade (dunno which kind of salade yet - still looking for inspiration and what's cheap at the market!)

Wednesday: Green beans and sausages!

Picture: HjemmehosXenia

Thursday: I'm working the eveningshift - so hubby is left to himself to cook (will probly be pizza... wanna bet?!)

Friday: BBQ - burgers and sausages! 

Saturday: Grilled sirloin, corn and veggies. 

I love the summertime! Fresh salads and BBQ - easy cooking and almost no cleaning :) 

This weeks goals:

Home: Remove the weeds from the front hedge and cover with woodchips. 

Personal: No coffee before bedtime, to try and sleep better. 

Blog: More pictures!

Tackle: Laundry *sigh!* (maybe just buy new clothes...)

Focus word: Positivity

This past week I was at a konference for work, where one of the subjects was "Feedback" and "NLP - neuro-linguistic-programming" - which basically means (re)-programming yourself in a new way by thinking positively.  

Instead of using negative emotions or words to describe a situation/person, you instead (re)-program yourself to think that "behind each behaviour there is a positiv intention". 

This also works with your thoughts of yourself. 

- What I see is what I believe. 

(When you encounter somthing you immediatly form an opinion which is based on your perspective of the world.)

- What do I believe I see? 

(You then discuss this idea that has formed with yourself - this is where you can (re)-program yourself in a positive way!)

- What I believe is what I see! 

(Based on your inner discussion you make your final opinion of what you've seen.)

Often we judge situations before we even understand them, and by deciding to change the way we think, we also decide to change the way we see people and ourselves. 

And so the focus word of the week is positivity - making a conscious effort to think more positively about myself and others.

And finally pictures of the day. We spent the afternoon with my little niece Annabella at her daycare - where we planted flowers in their garden and played on the playground. And of course - ate icecream!!

Thank you for great inspiration Ashley from PioneerMomma 

Pennie :)

Wonderful Wales

Last month we visited my parents in England and as an extra lille something we booked a couple of days in Wales for some golfing. 

My DH has been golfing off and on for the past 2 years and Wales is supposed to be really beautiful, so great scenery for me as well - WIN/WIN!! (I don't golf - yeah sorry I just don't feel old enough yet....hehe)

We booked 3 nights at The Celtic Royal Hotel in Caernarfon (north wales) and OMG it was stunning. 

From the outside it looks a little dull and very buisness-like, but on the inside it's very "old english manor/castle like" - very impressive! (I was so impressed I forgot to take any pics... duh - not very blogger-friendly of me, I know... sorry!)

 

Hotel from the outside. 

We had the most wonderful weather all 4 days we were in Wales, and I even managed to get a sunburn (yeah I know... only person in the world to get sunburnt in Wales in April! - it's a skill.)

DH and the grassy green hills of Wales. 

Dear momsy and pops in the hotel restaurant.

The restaurant served the most scrumptious ala cart Menu with dishes changing everyday according to what fresh game/fish was available. YUM!! And in the mornings we were served english breakfast - eggs, bacon, sausages and everything my lille (bacon-filled) heart could want! 

After dinner we took a stroll down to the town/harbour. I wish we had more time, I would have loved to explore the town centre and all their curious little shops - I'll have to do that next time we go!

Caernarfon harbour

Day 1

On our first day we played on the Royal St. Davids golfcourse

Golfers getting ready!

The hills are alive with the sound of "Fooooore!!!"

At hole 10 we found the cutest golf-ca(dd)y ... ;)

Just behind the clubhouse was Harlech Castle
Such an incredible view!!

The Champ!

After momsy's victory coke, we took a drive in the mountains to the lovely Mt. Snowdon, or well close enough.... 

Mt. Snowdon and friends.

Now we know why it's called "Snowdon"

The happiest hubby in the world!

Momsy too tired to get out of the car to take pics.... not lazy.... tired :p 

Day 2

Day 2 we played the Nefyn golfcourse and as an extra bargain we got to play 22 holes instead of 18!

This was personally my favorite course of all the ones we played. The views were absolutely breathtaking and the golfing seemed so much fun - although we did spend awfully many min. looking for Brians ball hehe but that's part of the charm I guess...

Tiger who?!

Happy golfers

For some reason my momsy really wanted to play in the sand,
maybe it was the hot, hot weather...

Some pretty tough terrain!  Pops decided to drop another ball, rather then break his neck .... Come on - Bubba would have played it!

Pops won this round!
And again it was celebrated with a victory coke!!

The extra 4 holes means we didn't really do anything after we played the course. We had a nice afternoon lunch in the clubhouse and I took a cold shower on a count of my sunburn - OUCH!

Day 3

On day 3 we played the Abersoch golf course. Again a beautiful course, however I thought that the courses were really tight put together, so we didn't really have a lot of space to play on. The fairways were really narrow. (Not good for Brian, and on this day he lost his highest number of golfballs... 4! - YIKES! - but don't worry we found 3 other - not brians tho...)

Full of hope as we set out (he was 4 balls richer then!)

Abersoch golf club house - very cute!
yucky coffee tho.... I don't recommend it!

Yes we were lazy - so rented golfcarts in stead....
was crazy fun tho, riding around in them
I want one now! It's on my christmas-list!!! (you listening Santa?!)

Very proud pops who managed a "par" on hole 8

Despite all their effort Momsy took the prize!
She is the one to beat!!

We had an amazing vacation in Wales, and it ended all too soon. Next time (if) we go, I think I would like to dedicate an afternoon to something other then golf, like taking a closer look at those castles - full of all that history. 

Again the Celtic Royal Hotel has my warmest recommondations - the service was impeccable and the staff very professional. The accomidations were really cute - we had a doublebed and single in our room, along with flatscreen, bathtub and tea-kettle (and complimentary english short-cakes!) - which was a really nice touch!

Yup - me waving bye-bye :)

Where are you going on your spring-fling?! :) 

Pennie

Summertime... and the living is easy...

I know it's a bit early.... but the weather here in Denmark is just so darn hot!!! We counted up to 23 degrees here today in the garden - YIKES! Almost like summer weather :) 

And of course - time to BBQ!!

Grilled pork sirloin with bacon, mushrooms and cranberries
YUM-YUM

Grilled pork sirloin with bacon mushrooms and cranberries

This is almost too easy to be called a recipe - but here you go anyway:

Dice the bacon, dice the mushrooms and put on the grill for about 5-7 min. 

Add dried cranberries (and also delicious with fresh parsley) 

- cook all til nice and tender. 

Add to the sirloin and serve up with a lovely salade. 

(Hubby also had som french fries with his - can't seem to live without his potatoes)

My DH (dear hubby), squinting cause of the hot HOT sun!

My DH also makes this as a "pork wellington" sometimes - where he covers the sirloin with the mushroom/bacon/cranberry mixture and wraps it in puff-pastry - IT'S AMAZING!

YUMMY! oh and don't forget the gravy!!

Hope the weather lasts til next weekend, cause I have a suprise planned for my little niece!

Cutest kid in the world!!!

What's for dinner at your house??? 

Pennie :)

Ginger Lemonade

So it's Flu-season here in Denmark and because I work at an E.R. (sadly no George Clooney...),
I am around sick people 8 hours every day.....
and in order not to get sick myself I try and take my vitamins and generally stay healthy......

AND I also drink a shot of my moms delicious secret health elixir (sounds exotic.... no??!) to help boost my immunesystem.

It's quite delicious and also good mixed with Gin or vodka ;)

2 lemons, 1 lime, Ginger and Bottle

Pennies Flu-be-gone Health Elixir

3 Lemons (Or 2 lemons and 1 lime if that's what you have...
sorry mom!)

1 big hunk of gingerroot. 

2 liters of water

Peel the ginger and slice. Peel lemons (and lime). 

Pop everything (ginger, lemon/lime peel and lemon/lime juice  in pot with water and let boil for 20 min. 

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble!

I drink it with 1:4 parts water or as a shot! 

Add honey/sugar substitute if you want it sweet. (I like it fine without!)

Sift into a bottle and refrigerate. 

Enjoy and say Goodbye to the flu!! 

Pennie :)

Imbolg

Imbolg literally means "in the belly/uterus" - with a reference to the impregnated nature around us presently.

Now we see the first signs of life returning to the land, the first buds on the trees, the first flowers peeking through the frozen earth. Some places the first lambs have been born, so we know that spring is underway.

Imbolg is a celebration of fertility - the fertility that comes with the warming sun.
Nature is shown in this celebration as the bride, who waits on her groom to unite with him and give birth to life in the spring.
In Ireland this celebration is also known as the feast of the Fire Goddess Bride (Pronounced Bre-ed), known as Brigantia to the celtic and Saint Bridget when she was christianized.

It was said Bride walked the earth the eve before Imbolg, and so people placed garments in front of their houses, which she would bless on her way; in the morning the garments would be gathered, people reassured of Bride's protection and healing throughout the coming year.

Bride both christianized and pagen, with a Brighids cross;
a straw-woven cross said to protect households from lightning and fire.

At this time the Goddess changes from Crone to Maiden, full of hope and promise of life to come, and we celebrate her return with candles.

Imbolg traditions revolve around purification and light. Candles are lit in each room of the house to honor the returning sun. This is the time to cleanse and bless your home, to seek inspiration and rid yourself of limiting thoughts or negative attitudes

 - to start anew!

The Catholic church replaced this festival with Candlemas Day on February 2, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and features candlelight processions. 

Modern versions of Imbolg are to be found in many cultures; Ground Hog's Day, Aztec New Year, Chinese New Year, Roman Lupercalia, Valentine's Day and Candelmas. 

We usually eat alot of Dairy foods during Imbolg and we have a tradition in my family during February to make cabbage in white sauce (milk sauce) and danish meatballs - a very filling dish!  

As for crafts during this time,  we embellish candles and make straw figures (and Brighid crosses!). 

Josephine - isn't she just adorable??! Her B-day is the 4th of Feb.,
so of course we light the candle and send her a blessing :)

Brighids cross

Candle Candle, Burning bright, 
Winter's halfway done tonight!
With a-glowing, we are knowing, 
Spring will come again!


What are your Imbolg/Spring traditions??

Pennie :)

Pulled Pork - chili style!

My DH love, love, loooooooves chili. If it was up to him, we would eat chili everyday, on every meal, with every bite!
He has as many chili-type oils as I have body creams or shoes (yeah - THAT many!!).

So to make something special for him on his B-day, I made him a very speciel Pulled Pork - chili style.

....and because I love my blog as well - here you all go:

Pennies Pulled Pork - chili style:

Depending om how many you intend on feeding (or want for more days).
This rub is for 2 pork loins. 

The dry rub:

50 g brown sugar (or substitute)

50 g strong paprika (or mild if you prefer it not so strong)

2 tbl. sp. freshly grated black pepper

2 tbl. sp. good flaky salt 

2 tbl. sp. cayenne pepper

2 tsp. mustard powder

1 tbl. sp. onion powder

½ tbl. sp. garlic powder (or garlic salt, but then reduce flaky salt)

½ tbl. sp. ground cilantro (coriander). 

½ tbl. sp. chilimix (your favorite chilimix)

The day before servering you marinade the two pork loins in this dry rub and let sit in the fridge, preferably in a bag overnight (+6 hours). Be sure and really rub it in there!

In the summer time we would cook this on the BBQ - but since it's covered in snow at the moment, I made it in the oven
(and you can too no problem). 

Early in the morning (Aprox. 12 houres before you plan to serve it), set the oven to 110 degrees and cook the Pork loins for 12 hours. After 12 hours and the house is full of a wonderful meat-aroma, take the roasts out of the oven and let them rest for 30 min. before pulling the juicy, tender meat apart in thick slices. 

Add a chili hot sauce of your own creation to the mix (or use mine):

Spicy sauce:

2 dl apple vinegar

3 tbl. sp. favourite brand of ketchup

2 tbl. sp. brown sugar (or substitute)

2 tsp. salt

2 tbl. sp. tabasco

1-2 tsp. chili-flakes (or by taste)

1-2 tsp. freshly grated black pepper

Cover the freshly pulled pork in sauce and make your Pulled Pork burger! YUM!!

Add additional hot-sauce when your wives apparently isn't HOT enough...

ENJOY! 

Pennie :)