{recipe} Pork and gravy in the slow cooker

Tender, shredded sweet pork in it's own gravy. Perfect to serve with roasted veggies and greens or use for sandwiches on freshly baked bread. (bread recipes coming soon) You can do this same recipe with beef too, although I think it's best with pork. I first saw this recipe on the blog A year of slow cooking, but have tweaked it to suit me a little better.

I use a "bung and bitta" method a lot of the time with my recipes.

Bung = throw it in

Bitta = bit-a this bit-a that

lol

Recipe

In your slow cooker, "bung' in a piece of roasting pork, whatever cut you like. I used shoulder.

Then add a "bitta":

• Dijon or American mustard (about a tablespoon)
• A couple of splashes of vinegar (I used white)
• about 2 teaspoons of garlic (crushed or powder)
• about 1/4 cup of golden syrup or molasses (I used golden syrup)
• toss around with your hands to coat.
• cook on low for about 5 hours.
• when almost ready, add a few tablespoons of a gravy mix (I used gravox)
• give it a good stir to thicken
• serve with veggies or on sandwiches with the gravy
• Enjoy!

I'm linking this post to

Miz Helens

Kelly the Kitchen Kop - Real food Wednesdays

Arboretum

Our local arboretum was destroyed last year by vandals. Last week we went to the opening of the new park at the arboretum. The pickles had a ball. The park has a medieval/castle theme with so much for all ages.Pickle #3 wasn't too sure about this beautiful fairy at first, but warmed up to her eventually.
We went back to the park with the cousins last Saturday to find that the fairy has been removed or stolen (not sure which) :(

I love scrapbooking, but just never seem to find the time (or have the patience) to get much done. My new solution is a little digi scrapbooking....or at least, some collages. I've been making quite a lot of these as they're quick and easy (yet to be printed). Add to the list..........

I hope the vandals stay away this time, so my 3 little pickles and their friends have a chance to enjoy this beautiful park for a long time.

I'm linking this post to

Whipper Berry Feature

Thank you to Emily from Whipper Berry for featuring my Spanakopita recipe today.
If you haven't already, you should check out their blog. I visit there daily for some crafty inspiration.

{recipe} Cumquat Jam

A big thank you to my Aunty 3P for this cumquat jam recipe. I lost it twice and she was very kind to email it to me again. Thanks Aunty 3P!!!
We have a lovely big cumquat tree in our front yard (or used to be front yard, soon to be courtyard). I have always wanted to make this jam, but just never got around to it. When Aunty 3P and her daughter (cousin 3P) came to visit at Christmas time, I asked for the recipe.
It's a little fiddly to pick out the seeds, but the results are worth it. Mr 3P has been eating it by the spoonful.

Cumquat Jam

4 lb cumquats
6 lb sugar
1 quart boiling water
Thinly slice fruit, removing the seeds (usually plentiful) - tie seeds in a piece of calico or soft fabric.
Cover fruit and seeds with boiling water - leave overnight.
Boil fruit until soft (with the parcel of seeds, so make sure tied tightly, otherwise seed-search isn't pleasant) - take the seed parcel out when fruit is softened and squeeze all the goodies into the jam liquid.
Add sugar - boil for a good 30 minutes.
Then the saucer test - cold saucer, spoon a small quantity of liquid on the saucer to determine if it 'jellys', this step is probably one you already know?
Pour into pre-sterilised jars, wait till it cools and enjoy!

Yummy served on scones (recipe here)

I've only made jam a few times and the first time was in the bread machine (which worked well) and it was plum jam. 

I'm linking this post to

Kojo designs - Friday fun finds

A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday

Memory Lane - Sydney Harbour

 Another Memory Lane, this time it's our Christmas Road Trip on the way home to Melbourne we stopped in to visit family in Sydney. It was the first time the pickles had seen Sydney and the first time I had been on one of the ferries on the harbour.

Sydney Opera House

It rained for the trip to Manly, but the sun came out on the trip back.

Mr 3P and Aunty 3P trying to keep all the pickles entertained on the ferry. They had their work cut out for them!

Harbour Bridge.

Luna Park

Pickle #1 being a poser.

We had such a great day. Later that night we travelled to Goldburn to stay the night and then  home to Melbourne the next morning.
I love our family road trips and hope they will form part of many wonderful childhood memories for my pickles. They are growing up way too fast.
Where to next?

I'm linking this post to A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesdays.

Extension Update & Thanks

The beams are just about complete and the whole frame will be ready for inspection in a few days! The roof will then go on...woooo hooo! 

Mr 3P had some help the other day with  the second half of the roof beams. Thank you to Uncle 3P and our friend Rob, but we'll just call him Jacob....he knows why.............

Sorry I didn't wear my little hat or make lemonade.

Maybe next time......

x Marnie, Mr 3P and the 3 Pickles

David Austin Rose

Mr 3P gave me a beautiful David Austin rose bush for Valentines Day. It's an Abraham Darby and he smells very sweet and fruity.
Aint he sweet? I'm talking about Mr 3P, not the rose ;)
It will sit in it's little pot until winter, then he'll find his new home somewhere in the garden. I noticed he had a little bit of "black spot" (now I'm talking about the rose). Not sure how to get rid of that. Looking much better than when he came home from the nursery (it was a little dark and dingy where they had left him)

Here's some other friends to keep him company.
Have a great day.

x Marnie