Registration Open

The mighty Tweed River
The mighty Tweed River

I’ve finally worked out how to put the Register and Login pages on the site so you can now register. Just click on the ‘Register’ tab in the menu at the top of the page, and complete the details on the form. Your details are kept safe and secure and are never shared without your consent. By registering and then logging in, you’ll be able to share in the conversations online.

Sailing Solo

Travelling the Lonely Planet – Alone…

Not everyone has a travel-buddy to share the journey with. There are some who make their way alone, for a variety of reasons and it seems unfair that they have to pay more. Ships usually charge per person in cabins, and it makes sense for them to do this, but not all of us have access to a compatible travel companion to share the journey with. By sharing our stories and travel plans, we might be able to find someone who is compatible enough to share our travels with. This could mean a more enjoyable trip, without it costing double. If not, then we might just find some tips that help us get the best ‘single’ deal out there.

If you have any favourite tips, let us know by registering for the site, and posting your ideas here.

Creamy Cauliflower and Garlic Rice

Creamy Cauliflower and Garlic Rice

White rice has a much higher glycemic index (GI) than brown rice. GI is a measure of how fast a food raises your blood glucose levels, which is particularly important for anyone at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Healthy, but quick and easy…

Serves: Three
Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 3-4 cups cauliflower florets
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoons butter
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese for topping

Method

Cook the rice according to usual package directions and set aside. In a large pot, bring vegetable broth and water to a boil. Add in cauliflower and cook for about ten minutes until tender. Transfer cauliflower pieces to a blender or food processor (but don’t drain the liquid) and add in the milk. Puree the contents until smooth, adding leftover vegetable broth as needed to achieve a creamy consistency. Pour cauliflower mixture over the cooked rice, stirring to combine. Melt butter in a large frypan. Sauté garlic over low heat for about 3 to 5 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn. Add your rice mixture to the pan and stir through the garlic butter. Stir in cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Changing the Doona Cover

Without The Frustration

Do you dread having to wash your Doona cover because it is so hard to put back on the Doona? Well there are a few tricks that will make the job a lot easier.

The ‘Turn It Inside Out‘ Method:

  1. Place the Doona on the bed.
  2. Turn the cover inside out, then put your arms right inside the cover until you locate each of the top corners – left hand on left corner – right hand on right corner.
  3. Hold onto each corner, then, while still holding the corners, line the corners up with the bottom corners of the Doona.
  4. The next step involves a bit of practice, but once you master it, the job becomes much easier. While still holding each of the top corners, take hold of the two bottom corners of the Doona. You’ll now be holding both the top corners of the cover, and the bottom corners of the Doona.
  5. Now you need to start pulling the Doona back into the cover; you can use a shaking motion if it helps, but don’t let go of those corners – you’ll need to keep holding them until you get right to the top of the Doona.
  6. Once you get to the top, just button the cover on, and it’s all done. You start with the cover inside out, but it ends up the right way once you reach the top.

The ‘Roll It Up Method’:

This method is the really easy way.

  1. Start by laying the Doona cover, inside out,  on top of the bed, with the fastening at the foot of the bed.
  2. Lay the doona on top of the cover.
  3. Starting rolling the doona and cover from the top of the bed towards the bottom of the bed, trying to keep it as even as possible as you roll.
  4. When you get to the bottom, fold the ends of the cover over the ends of the doona. This isn’t as hard as it sounds; this video will help – click here for video.
  5. Then you only have to roll it back up towards the top of the bed, fasten, and you’re done.

 

Where Will We Meet?

There are so many options within the village: the lake, the pool, the hall, the gazebo, the library; they’re all there for us to use, so let’s make it happen.

With the weather starting to turn on its spring warmth it’s time to get out and about and enjoy the sunshine – oh – and smell the coffee, and what better place to meet than the lake, with coffee in hand.

Why not make a coffee, gather a few friends, or all of us if you want, and we’ll catch up.