Baked leek, gorgonzola and walnut penne

As it is National Vegetarian Week, here is a delicious pasta dish that 'veggies' and 'non veggies' shall thoroughly enjoy.

A recent survey of the vegetarian food market states that as many as 3.8 million people describe themselves as ‘mainly vegetarian’ (occasionally eat fish) and 1.9m describe themselves as ‘strictly vegetarian’. It’s likely that someone in your family may announce one day that they are no longer eating meat.The majority of us should probably reduce our meat intake anyway, for cost, environmental and health reasons.

cipesFood for thought!!

Baked leek, gorgonzola and walnut penne 

Ingredients
100g/3½oz unsalted butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2-3 leeks, finely sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
100g/3½oz frozen peas
1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
½ lemon, juice only
150g/5½oz crème fraîche
150g/5½oz gorgonzola
200g/7oz walnuts halves
400g/14oz cooked penne pasta

To serve
Garlic bread

Preparation method

• Preheat the grill to its highest setting. 
• Melt the butter in a frying pan and add the oil. 
• Fry the leek and garlic for about five minutes, or until soft. 
• Add the peas, tarragon and lemon juice. Stir in the crème fraîche along with half of the gorgonzola and half of the walnuts until warmed through. 
• Add the cooked penne and spoon into four dishes. 
• Top the dishes with the rest of the nuts and cheese and place under the grill for three minutes, or until golden-brown. 
• Serve with garlic bread. 

Preparation time:  Less than 30 mins
Cooking time: 10 to 30 mins

Serves 4

Enjoy!
Marilyn 

Mumpreneurs invent light up potty

Two enterprising mothers have been busy celebrating their first invention - a light up potty.

Kerry Marriott, 35, and Rachael Forder, 40, from Southsea, Hampshire, came up with the idea when they realised their own youngsters were finding it difficult to locate the toilet in the dark.

The pair hope their LumiPotti, which illuminates when movement is detected, will go on sale in December priced at around £16.

Before the patented concept goes to market the women are recruiting toddlers to give the potty a trial run.

Explaining their eureka moment Mrs Marriott, mother to Hollie,5, and 18-month-old Rowan, said: 'We both potty trained our children in a similar way.

'Rachael used a transparent potty with a night light underneath and I plugged a night light in to the wall nearby.

'Our children liked the idea that they could get up and find the potty on their own at night. They were quite proud of themselves.

“It wasn’t 100 per cent fool proof but it proved really effective. We started telling other parents about the method and they said it had worked for them.

'We were laughing about it one day, joking like mums do and saying ‘why doesn’t someone make something like this?’ It went from there.'

The friends sat on the idea for two years before investigating whether anything similar was already available.

But when they realised their product was unique, they began working on a design.

They estimate that if it is successful, it could save parents up to half a tonne of disposable night-time nappies in just six months and allow for a better night's sleep.

Mrs Marriott, added: 'Toilet training is this immensely fraught time for parents, especially if you’re a new parent because you have no idea what to expect.

'You know there’s going to be endless traipsing to the potty.

'You’ve probably only just got your sleep back and now you know your night is going to be broken again.'

Mrs Marriott and engineer Miss Forder, who is due to give birth to her second child in two weeks, plan to sell the finished model later this year

Article source : Daily Mail

Lady Bug Collage Craft

Its spring time still and this is a great spring craft to do with your little one. Its a fun and simple lady bug collage

What you'll need:

Thick paper

Red tissue paper

Black paper or magazine cut outs

Glue

Scissors

1. Draw a lady bug with pencil on a thick piece of paper and then cut about 1cm around the shape. 
2. Rip pieces of red tissue paper and scrunch them into little balls. I had Emma help me with this part.
3. Cut 6 larger black circles for Lady Bug spots and 2 smaller ones for antennae.  We ran out of black paper, and we had no black tissue paper so we ended up using magazine pages with black print on them. 

Next is the really fun part.  Have your child put glue all over the lady bug.  She'd need to be supervised for this, or if its a small child you could put the glue yourself.

Glue the spots first.

Then glue the red tissue to the body of the Lady Bug.

Next come the rest of the black bits.

And voila! You're done! Its such a simple activity and its great to do as part of your Spring Time theme educational activities.

Emma wanted to put this on her wall immediately! We will, of course, as soon as its dry.

Take a look at other fun crafts at Emma's Lunch Crafts Corner.

Have fun crafting!

Vanja

Larnaka Municipality Weekly Press Release 30th April - 6th May 2012

This weekly press release is part of an effort to inform our citizens and the public in general about the activities of our Municipality.

Cultural Events
For more information call the Larnaka Municipality Cultural Department on 24657745 or 24629333

Administration
Larnaka Municipality Administration informs the public that the following contest is in progress:

Contest No. 4/2012 Architect-Urban Planner Service Provision required for the implementation of the actions as well as the planning for the network “Mediterranean network for the promotion of sustainable urban development strategies and three new urban development strategies” which has been approved within the framework of the European Programme ENPI-CBC MED. Submission deadline: 07/05/2012

Construction work
The Department of Construction of the Municipality of Larnaka informs the public that between 30/04-06/05/2012, the following construction work will be in progress:

• Pavement construction in the Shopping Centre.
• Railing painting at the Pattiheio Municipal Theatre.
• Wooden platform maintenance at the sea front.
• Construction works on the facilities project at the sea front for the Beach Volley World Championship.
• Premix construction on the streets: Adonido, Terpsitheas and Olympiados

Finance Department
The Larnaka Municipality Finance Department informs the public that payment of the Municipal Property Tax, Corporate Tax and Business Premises Permit for the year 2011 as well as for the previous years is possible only at Larnaka Municipality Offices. A 10% fine will be added on the initial tax amount.

As far as the Refuse Collection Tax is concerned, the payment deadline has already passed and legal proceedings have begun.

The public should settle their payments to Larnaka Municipality on time and within the given deadlines to avoid added legal and court costs.

Visit the website: www.larnaka.com

Energy Team and Environmental Management Department: www.larnaka202020.eu

Contact: 24816559, 24816581/email: perivallon@larnaca.com

Translation kindly provided by

Eri Constantinou

 www.greek4kids.eu 

Annual CHARITY Festival of Love & Hope

Sunday 27th May 2012 

Xylophagou 

11.00 - 18.00