On the road again

After many weeks in and around Christchurch we have finally made our way south. This journey marks the first time that we are all travelling in the bus with car happily being towed behind.  It was a new experience which also highlighted the things that we still need to do or learn on the bus.  We have already become experienced at removing the car and trailer in order to back track after being led past our destination, thanks to our Tom Tom, and trying unsuccessfully to reverse with said trailer and car attached.

Our lunch spot at Mt Peel, South Canterbury

It has been a week of changes that is for sure.  Not only the change for the kids and I to be travelling with himself but also the change of not being around family and friends and also giving up on Facebook for the rest of this month (feels very strange not to update our travels daily and yet very refreshing at the same time) along with the weather suddenly changing from a heatwave yesterday to thunder, rain and hail today!  I guess that is what happens when you travel south as Autumn approaches.

So with the cold and stormy weather around us a warm afternoon tea treat was in order.  This is a basic scone recipe from The Edmond’s Cookbook which I have just halved in order to make it fit into our little bus oven.  It still makes the same amount of scones just a smaller version 🙂

Afternoon tea warm from the oven

Scones

1.5 Cups Flour (white or brown)

25 gm Cold butter

3 Teaspoons baking powder

1/4 Cup of currents or sultanas (optional)

1/2 Cup and 1/8 Cup rice milk – or cow’s milk … we only use rice milk because we don’t stock the other:)

• Preheat oven to 220 C
• Mix flour and baking powder in a bowl
• Cut the cold butter into small cubes and then ‘rub’ into the flour mix until it looks and feels like fine breadcrumbs.  Add fruit now if you are using it.
• Make a well in the middle of the flour and butter mix and pour in the milk
• Using a knife mix the flour and milk by cutting across it until a dough begins to form.
• Using your hands lightly bring the dough into one ball. You may need a little bit milk if it is a little crumbly or a little bit of flour if it is sticky.
• On a floured tray flatten the dough into a rectangle shape that is still at least 1.5cm high or higher (tray to top of dough)
• Cut into 16 squares and bake for 10 mins or until brown on top
• Enjoy warm or cold with butter and jam

Hope this finds you all happy, healthy and enjoying the life you have.

Arohanui

Y

www.becominghealthy.co.nz

Time for a change

Yes … it is time for a change here.  For those of you who aren’t closer by I thought I would update you on the changes afoot for myself and the family.  You see 3 weeks ago we got a house bus and our plan is to hit the road in it come Christmas this year!!  It is super exciting and a dream that has been many years in the making however the reality is starting to hit home as I have to sort, de-clutter and prioritize what will come with us.

Our new home

On the whole we don’t have that much stuff but when your kitchen space is suddenly about a quarter (maybe even less) of what you have then things start to get interesting.  As I open my kitchen cupboards and begin the process of deciding what comes, what is stored and what is given away I realize just how much sits there waiting for an occasional use.  Three sizes of cake tins, two loaf tins, three different kind of muffin tins …. now it will be down to one of each.  Do I sell things which haven’t really been used yet …. like that Tupperware thing that looked so good at the party??!! ….. do I start using them or do I just store it to deal with later?

No more of this stockpile … Not even sure I’ll get my flour jars on.

Even our shopping habits are going to have to change with our limited cupboard space on the bus.  At the moment we do one weekly shop and a monthly bulk co-op order however I can already see that this will have to be converted to a few little shops in the week.  We just don’t have the space to stockpile or have things just in case any more.  Our cooking and baking will also all have to be adapted to a tiny space and while I’m welcoming the challenge I’m also aware that there are things I haven’t even considered yet.  Things that I’m sure will come to bite me in the you know where once we start the shift from house to bus.

My new kitchen!! There is a fridge/freezer opposite and a few other  little cupboards to the side but pretty much this is it.

So please excuse me if the blog is a little late or non-existent in the next few weeks/months as it will be due to our focus on sorting and using up the stockpile of food, which I doubt will be that exciting to share, rather than baking up a storm and trying new recipes.  Soon enough though I’m sure I’ll be in the swing of things and bringing your recipes from on the road 🙂

I’ll keep you posted and until next time, I hope this finds you healthy, happy and full of the joys of life.

Arohanui

Y

www.becominghealthy.co.nz