Holiday time for the Elvys!

Well, its the Bank holiday weekend, which for me means my holiday is actually nearing its end!

The whole family have enjoyed a great break, taking a long weekend break last week to Liverpool to visit 'The Morgans' The whole visit was truly amazing, and despite the current handicap (Arm in plaster), I enjoyed the Friday trip to Gullivers World in Warrington!

This ride span you round and round, whilst going back and fore. It wasn't too bad though, look at the size of the other riders lol!

Other rides included small rollercoasters, slides, and more. It was a great way to spend the day. The girls are at a great age now for this place, Amy (5) just scraped by on the minimum height for some rides and Phoebe (9), didn't get bored, enjoying everything. I'd say the proposed age range of 5 - 14 is right for these parks for maximum enjoyment.

We also visited the Penny Lane branch of the Tavern Co to enjoy a recently won meal from Nivea. Four adults and Four children descended onto this Mexican themed eatery and as we have previously experienced, the meal was amazing, service incredible...and with £100 towards the bill, with tip, it cost us just £30!

And it didn't end there.... The Saturday saw us hit Liverpool 1, and with a fair on the green we relived the day before....until the rain stopped play!

But that just led to a trip on the Liverpool 'eye' and we watched the amazing Landrover experience taking place in the dock!

Aberaeron carnival on Monday! so the holiday is NOT over yet. Not so much comping this week, just the occasional dabble. The kids are still singing 'Garofalo!' (See previous blog). I did complete 19 of the 24 photo challenges in the photobox live comp. Didn't win....but it was great fun, even if I did stay up until 4.30 am!

Will try and get some decent comping in over the next couple of days before I go back to work, and fingers crossed for a cracking September!

Be good everyone!

Team Elvy cooks 'Garofalo'

Cooking with Garafalo Childrens pasta.

And so, as I completed my daily chill down after a long day at work, my eyes settled on the Facebook  Garofalo Page and widened as I read of their proposal.

Their idea was to ask the readers and followers to send for some free childrens pasta and together with your children, create a dish and send them the link, enabling them to share with everyone else.

Competition Link

Well, followers of 'Team Elvy', know that I don't really need any excuse to hit the kitchen, and with the other 'Team Elvy' members (Mummy '34', Phoebe '9' and Amy '5'), this was a no-lose situation. We would have a fun day in the kitchen cooking free pasta and get to share our creation with the people of Garofalo....and their followers.

A week after sending my email, the pasta arrived and, having done my homework, I was aware that the pasta created by Garofalo was recognised as a truly exemplary pasta, of a very high standard. The company have been around since 1789 and they have a great History . The product range is diverse and if you check out their news page, you'll notice a regular stream of awards being won by this company.

The pasta we were sent was, as my little Amy will tell you in the short film we made, really 'cute'. It appeals to the children, which is obviously the aim...but truth be told, Mummy and Daddy  kinda liked it too. You can't really not smile at the 'cute shapes as they fall into the pan...or onto your plate.

Well....How did it go?

You Tube Link

Cheese and Smoked Ham Pasta.

Ingredients:

500g Dried Pasta shapes (Garofalo bambino in this case)

Salt

1 Pint Whole milk

50g Plain Flour

200g Mature Cheddar Cheese

150g Butter or Margarine

4 or 5 Spring Onions

3 Salad Tomatoes

100g Smoked Ham

Small punnet of Baby plum tomatoes

Mixed Salad leaves

Garlic (fresh, puree or dried)

1 French Stick.

Method:

Pasta-

Add the Pasta to a large saucepan and cover with boiling water.

Add salt to taste, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Sauce-

Take 50g of butter, put it in a large microwavable bowl and melt (in microwave)

Add the flour and stir.

Gradually add the milk and whisk, before returning the mixture to the microwave.

Take the sauce from the microwave regularly and whisk, adding the onion, ham and cheese near the end.

Side Salad-

Use the salad leaves, tomato 'flowers' and anything else that takes your fancy.

Garlic Bread-

Make your garlic butter by mashing your garlic into the rest of your butter or margarine with a fork. You may choose to add chopped chive, parsley or ground pepper. Spread this liberally over pieces of french bread, cut in half and in 4 to 6 inch sections. Add to a pre-heated oven. 

Garlic bread will take approximately 10 minutes.

Drain Pasta, stir into sauce. Spoon onto a plate decorated with a side salad and garnish with garlic bread....

RESULT - FUN & FANTASTIC

Losing my Mojo! BUT is that a bad thing, it's a holiday

A new month has seen my mojo break....along with my wrist, now covered in a rather fetching Green plaster....and it will remain so until mid-September.

Prize winning may have slowed, so far this month I have picked up 5 smaller prizes, but that said, with the kids off we've had some fun. Holidays are imminent, off to Liverpool, so all is good....

AND WALES WON THE RUGBY!!!!

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I do want to share a little something with you all though...

How many of you have heard of a game called 'Thomas'? 

The rules are simple.

1. Spread sweets on a plate.

2. Send a child away.

3. Other children pick a sweet and call it 'Thomas'

4. Other child returns.

5. Child may keep picking AND KEEPING sweets until they pick 'Thomas'

This video is the result of a very predictable 5 year old being totally stitched up!

Absolutely HILARIOUS!!!

We did however, give her another go!

Hopefully the prizes are stockpiling for September, the month that marks a year of comping!

Created a few entries for some creative comps, and am working on another as we speak, so I remain as ever optimistic!