Gina's graduation

My smart and amazing little girl is all grown up, and now graduated with honours from Waikato University. Cousin Danielle also graduated. I have to say I am really proud of these girls.

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jim Bolger

Congratulations Gina

Congratulations Dani

Gina and Dani

 The wind helped when the caps were tossed.

Chocolate Salad

Summer and BBQs, Christmas parties. "Bring a salad". This is perfect.

What you need:

2 boxes of favourites, or approx 600gm mixed chocolate mini bars
1 bag of your own favourite mini chocolate bar
300mls Fresh cream
3 tsp icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Chocolate (for garnish)
1 bag chocolate fish (for garnish) and the salad.

Decide how many chocolate bars you need, by putting them in your serving bowl.
Remove all the wrappers, and put the naked chocolate bars on the chopping board.
Put aside about 16 chocolate fish for the garnish.

Cut the chocolate into bite sized pieces, and put in serving bowl. The bowl should be about 3/4 full.  If in doubt, add more chocolate, but remember to leave room for the whipped cream!

In a separate bowl, pour in the fresh cream, 3 tsp icing sugar, and the vanilla.
Whip the cream until thick.
Tip the cut up chocolate into the whipped cream, and mix everything together.

 Put the cream / chocolate mixture into the serving bowl, and level the top.

 Garnish with a ring or two of chocolate fish.

Garnish with grated chocolate.
Cover, and refridgerate until serving time.

Welcome Emilee

My nephew Benjamin, recently got married to Emilee.  The McMonagle whanau got together at Clare and Tony's house to welcome Emilee.

Emilee McCasland, the newest member of our family

The little cousins played with the bigger cousins, and the older ones enjoyed sitting in the shade.

Peter, Gerard, Alan, Bridget

Emilee, Ben, Nic

Joe, Tony, Michael

Genevieve

Cameron (Gerard and Jeanettes grandson)

Kelly

Kirstin, Grace, Danielle

Emmett (Alan and Caroline's grandson)

Erik

Clare, Alice, Caroline

Micheal, Cameron, Lauren, Jason

Alan, Bridget, Kelly W, Ben

Carenza, Lucy, Quinn, Tighe, Jonny, Oscar

Carenza, Lucy

Emmet, Lucy, Caroline

Kelly (W)

Gluten Free cake

I have managed to lose the recipe for my celebration gluten free cake. I found this one. It's yummy, rich, and moist,
https://prettysimplesweet.com/chocolate-almond-torte/

I will also list the ingredients, just incase the link doesn't work in the future.

Chocolate Almond Torte (GF)

20cm cake

• 200 g chocolate melts
• 7200 g butter
• 4 x Size 7 eggs, separated
• 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• 1 cup (100 g)ground almonds
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Grease and line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch/20cm springform pan.
2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Stir occasionally until combined. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, place egg yolks and ½ cup (100g) sugar, and whisk / beatby for about 2 minutes until pale and thick. Stir in chocolate mixture, almonds, and salt.
4. In a seperate bowl, whisk/beat eggs and the remaining ½ cup of sugar on high speed until thick, shiny, soft peaks form.
5. Using a spatula, fold one-third of egg white mixture into chocolate mixture until mixed. Fold in remaining mixture in 2 additions until combined.
6. Pour batter into prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs. The cake should be set on the sides but still wobbly in the center. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours until completely set.
7. Cake will keep, well wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It also freezes well.

Advent 2017

 Wow, 2017 went fast. Merry Christmas everyone.

Here are the activities we have planned for December, in no particular order. Every new day, an activity is found in one of the socks.

Use Christmas mugs for all of your drinks for Advent

Put up and decorate the Christmas tree

Clean Out your toy boxes and donate to Habitat for Humanity

Family Movie Night

Make home made caramel corn

Go see the glow worms in the forest

Make Origami ornaments for the Christmas tree

Smile at every person you pass today.

Make a wreath together

Go out for ice cream, and have “fancy dress” for dinner

Let everyone choose a country and then use the internet to see how they celebrate Christmas.

Go to Carols by Candlelight.

Visit the Christmas Lights around the Village

Have a picnic at the Tree Trust

Be nice to family members today.

Make biscuit dough and just eat it.

Make some Christmas food

After dark, spread out some blankets out the back, and do some star gazing.

Have breakfast for dinner.

Wear PJs all day. 

Eat Junk Food all day.

Watch a movie at Midnight

Celebrate the Longest Day – Summer Solstice

Go for a moon walk in your PJs.

Have a Candlelit dinner with fondue, and Summer Fruit and chocolate

Make Gingernut window biscuits

Perform a Random act of kindness today

Go for a bike ride or fly kites together