Chicken Bolognese

 

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Ingredients

• 1 brown onion, finely diced
• 1 stick celery, finely diced
• 4 mushrooms, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely sliced
• 1 bay leaf
• 500g chicken breast mince
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 400g diced tomatoes
• 2tsp soy sauce

Instructions

1. Cook spaghetti following packet directions
2. Heat tablespoon oil in pan over medium heat
3. Add onion, celery, mushroom, bay leaf and garlic, cook for 10 min until soft
4. Add mince, brown
5. Add tomato paste, cook for 1 min
6. Add tomatoes and soy sauce, simmer for 15 min
7. Serve with spaghetti

3.1.03

I originally found this recipe in the Better Homes & Gardens February 2011 magazine

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I’ve listed a summary of the post through the series below.  Plus one last printable perfect to finish with.

Moving Home Checklist and how to Pack Tips

How to declutter when moving

Deciding to sell or donate your clutter

How to organise a successful garage sale

Plus today’s cute ‘we have moved’ card printable to notify all your friends and family that you have moved.  This is an editable printable allowing you to type your own text.

© 2010 The Organised Housewife | All rights reserved - This post Summary of Moving Home Series + We have moved notifications is provided for the convenience of The Organised Housewife readers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

I helped my Dad to move house a few months ago, so I picked up some great moving and how to pack tips, as well as the handful of times I have moved home of the years.  Moving home can be a stressful time, remembering to do everything, pack and clean, but if you can stay organised you can get through this period with little worry.

As I’ve mentioned previously when moving I believe the key is to purge your clutter before you move, don’t take it to your new home.  Take the time to sort through your clutter, sell or donate excess clutter or organise a garage sale.

Moving Home Checklist

So you have decided to move to a new home and you need some help to prepare for the move, follow through my moving home checklist to help you through each step.

6 weeks before move

• Create a folder to keep all moving documentation together (eg. checklist, quotes etc)
• Create a budget on how much you can spend on moving costs
• Organise quotes for removolists
• If renting, formally notify property manager you will be vacating
• If renting, book in to have carpets clean and house pest controlled
• Check when your new home last had its carpets cleaned and was pest controlled.  If outside of 12 months, organise for your new home to have the carpets clean and it pest controlled before you move in.
• Enrol kids into new school and have their records transferred over
• Call your insurance company to see what changes may need to be made to your insurance policy.  Ensure your new home is insured from the day it is unconditional, not the day you move in.
• Research and book storage facilities, if needed
• Start collecting boxes, newspaper, bubble wrap
• Organise time off work for moving
• Tidy the garage so you can use this space to place packed boxes

Full 6 week countdown checklist is available in the Moving Home Pack with checklist.

In this pack you will receive:

• 6 week countdown moving home checklist
• a page to list down all important details, such as moving day, time, your new address, phone number and more
• list of items to have in an essentials pack.  An essentials pack is a group of items to have on hand at the new home, just in case it’s too late to unpack boxes, you have everything you need for a comfortable nights rest.
• list to keep track of utility companies you need to arrange for disconnection and reconnect to the new home
• list of services you need to contact and notify of your change of address
• cleaning checklist, this is especially handy if you are renting
• blank to-do list
• a cute page to write a message to the new home owners (note down which day is bin day or details on how to use things around the home)
• contact details, keep all contact numbers handy

• Door signs – blu-tak the signs to doors in the new home to removalists know which room is which (colour coded)

• Packing lables – print and tape the labels to your packing boxes, note what is in the box in case you need something before you have finished unpacking.  Labels colours match door signs so removalists can easily drop boxes in correct room
• Fragile, open first and storage labels, print and tape to boxes

Moving Tips

• Research removalist or ask friends for a recommendation, best removalists is one that is recommended.  Also phone around for several quotes as they all vary in price
• If you aren’t moving far take all the clothes hanging in the wardrobe, still on hangers and transport in your own car to the new house.  Put clothes direct into new wardrobe, will save you so much time.
• Check the weather forecast, if rain is predicted keep some towels and tarps handy to protect furniture and other items from getting wet
• Make sure you pets are secured and safe for the day as more than likely doors and gates will be left open

Packing tips

• Take care when packing items, carefully wrap all breakable items and label the box as fragile
• Pack heavy items into small boxes
• The less space in the box results in less damage, so try to pack as much as you can into each box
• Pack items from each room into separate boxes, this will make the process of unpacking easier for you
• Remember to reinforce the bottom of heavy boxes with packing tape, this will make the box stronger
• Put bubble wrap on the corners of precious furniture so they won’t get damaged during the move
• Pack all jewellery and important documents in one box, keeping them safe and with you during the move

Hope these moving and packing tips help you during your next move

© 2010 The Organised Housewife | All rights reserved - This post HELP ME MOVE | Moving home checklist and how to pack tips is provided for the convenience of The Organised Housewife readers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

It was so delicious, and I literally had to laugh out loud when hubby found a recipe and it only required on large clove or garlic, he wanted it to be full of flavour so he used a whole bulb, I had to wait to see if it was the right choice!  He didn’t go wrong, it tasted perfect!

Once the prawns are peeled, this dish comes together so quickly.

Creamy Garlic Prawns

 

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Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

40 mins

 

Author: Katrina

Recipe type: Dinner – Seafood

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1kg uncooked prawns
• 1 bulb garlic (12 cloves), crushed
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons white wine
• 115 g butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• ½ cup cream
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• salt and pepper, to season
• rice, to serve

Instructions

1. Peel prawns
2. Heat butter and garlic in saucepan over medium heat
3. Add flour, stirring for 1 minute
4. Remove pan from heat
5. Gradually add stock, cream and wine, stir until combined
6. Return pan to heat and stir until sauce boils and thickens
7. Sprinkle in mustard and season with salt and pepper
8. Continue stirring, when sauce begin to boil add the prawns
9. Cook for 5 minutes or until prawns have cooked through
10. Sprinkle parsley into sauce, stir, remove from heat and serve
11. Serve with rice

3.2.1753

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I’ll laminate this and using a marker to cross off as I fill a glass of water.  Then each evening using my clever ‘whiteboard cleaning technique‘ I’ll clean it ready for the next day.

Do you drink as much water as you should?

© 2010 The Organised Housewife | All rights reserved - This post Drink more water to improve your health – Water and Food Tracker is provided for the convenience of The Organised Housewife readers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

I am so excited to be working on a few projects here at The Organised Housewife HQ.  One of those is a new series to start in July.

Running the last ’20 Day to Organise and Clean your home’ series was a lot of really hard work, I didn’t realise how much was involved when I started. To allow me some time to write-up the series I am looking for some guest contributors (readers or bloggers) to share some recipes, crafts, meals plans, their organised spaces, tips, and ideas throughout June.

a few details

• Good photos are appreciated, clear with good colour
• This needs to be an original post and has/will not appear on another blog
• You are welcome to link to post via your blog and social media
• For bloggers, links will be included back to your blog and facebook page
• Please do not contact me if you are just wanting to post purely for SEO purposes, these emails will automatically be deleted

If you are interested please email me at kat@theorganisedhousewife.com.au with GUEST CONTRIBUTOR in the subject and tell me what you would like to write a post about along with a few details about yourself and links to your blog.  Readers are more than welcome to submit as well, highly encouraged, I’d love to see your ideas.

As you know I have my shop filled with many different printables.  I am pleased to announce that I can now host other designers printables in my shop.  Selling their printables direct from my shop on their behalf and designers receive their payment in sales each week.

If you are interested in receiving more details please send me an email to shop@theorganisedhousewife.com.au with subject DESIGNER, please send through examples of your printables and ideas of what printables you would like to include.

© 2010 The Organised Housewife | All rights reserved - This post Seeking guest contributors + Printable Designers is provided for the convenience of The Organised Housewife readers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.

This time last fortnight I was invited to attend the pre-opening preview of Pottery Barn Australia in Bondi Sydney.

The family of 4 stores Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma are now officially opened.  You can visit the stores at The Exchange Building, corner of Grosvenor Street & Oxford Street Mall, Bondi Junction.

Why Australia Sydney you ask?  Australians are the biggest consumers outside of North America, we have good taste of course! They are considering to open stores in Melbourne and Brisbane (I knew you were wondering).

I was so excited to fly down to this event, I took an empty suitcase thinking I was going to fill it, but there was just so much to look at I ran out of time.  I did buy one knitted throw as a birthday gift for Mr Organised (he keeps complaining he doesn’t have one, now he does).  Now that I am home though I can really visualise everything that I saw and have a better idea of how I can re-decorate our lounge room.

I took a lot of photos on the day (warning many photos below), the prices were very reasonable, actually a lot better than I thought they would be. If you are interested in something in particular you can view the prices on the website which I linked to above.

Also see details at the bottom of this post for a special Pottery Barn Kids Giveaway!

The Wiliams-Sonoma store is filled with kitchen goodies, from gorgeous dinner, saucepan and knife sets to napery, kitchen utensils and the most decorative bowls.

That’s fresh fruit.  You can try the appliances (in this case the range of juicers) before you buy.  I think this is a brilliant idea to get a feel for how the machine works, will make it easier to choose which brand you prefer.

At the back of the Williams-Sonoma store is a world first  in-store cooking school

Onward to the next store which was West Elm, I’d actually never heard of this store, so was interested to see how different this style is to Pottery Barn.  Instantly I fell in love because I saw a gorgeous arrangement of beautifully coloured vases.

It’s said that West Elm is for the eclectic and crafty decorators, the colour tones were very different to what I ended up seeing in Pottery Barn. West Elm had alot of bold colour and a relaxing autumn feel.

I spotted these bowls, aren’t they pretty!

As soon as I stepped into Pottery Barn I knew these were the colours to suit my home.  We have dark mahogany wooden furniture, which I am trying to tone down with neutral colours like beige and whites.

Very elegant

Funky jars, but what I really did love was the table runners underneath.  Unfortunately there were too long for my table.

Cute dinner set!

I loved the pattern on this rug, I have been searching for a rug for a long time, it’s just not a purchase I would rush into, I think I procrastinate a bit when it comes to home decor, I really have to make sure I like it before i buy it.  They also have this rug in porcelain blue, either would look great in our lounge room.

There was nothing but cuteness in this store, I may have forgotten to take a few photo’s because I was taking it all in.  I was asked when looking in this shop what I thought.  Strangely at the time I said to the Australian market this is life changing, OK, life changing is not the right words, but it certainly will change the way we shop.  Many stores already have cute bedroom sets, but Pottery Barn Kids go beyond the cute sets, with the lovely furniture, floor rugs, playroom toys, desk accessories and so much more.

They have a huge range of all different quilt and sheet sets, I forgot to take a photo of my favourite (which would suit a tween).  Can you spy the funky chairs in the top of the photo, they can be personalised with names monogrammed on the slip covers and they can be easily removed and washed!

They can monogram just about anything, blankets, pillow covers, chair covers, towels and more

This vanity table is the sweetest!

In my craft room I use a carousel to hold my pens, it is no longer in made and available for purchase by it’s manufacturer.  I was excited when I found these at Pottery Barn, I am waiting on a phone call to confirm if they come in white as well!  Will let you know.

Cluck, cluck, aren’t these cute!

Gift ideas, and you can see in the right of the photo chevron baby sheet sets!

Now, I am kicking myself that I didn’t buy this cutie, it’s on my wish list.

This is a modular system, all different pieces, build it to suit your space.

We were given a lot of information on the day but in summary:

• If you find something in store and it isn’t in stock they will delivery it to your door free of charge
• You can order online, see their websites for full shipping details
• They offer an in home design service.  They will come into your home to help you decorate your lounge room, bedroom or decorate for a party, whatever you need really.  Plus there is no obligation to buy. I like this idea because I was absolutely overwhelmed with all their beautiful ornaments I just couldn’t choose one to take home, worried it was the wrong colour.

Special thanks to Pottery Barn Kids you have a chance to win a New Mum Gift Pack, valued at $178.  Pack includes: white diaper basket containing a bath wrap, swaddling blankets, swaddling sack and diaper caddy

Simple leave a comment below telling me:

If you could have one Pottery Barn (from any of the 4 stores) product what would it be?

Entries are for Australian residents only, one entry per person, giveaway closes midnight Thursday 23rd May.  This is not a random drawer, most creative answer will win.

********************

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post (no compensation has been received) but I am grateful to Pottery Barn Kids for offering this great pack to giveaway.

© 2010 The Organised Housewife | All rights reserved - This post Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma have opened in Australia + GIVEAWAY! is provided for the convenience of The Organised Housewife readers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited.