Aint Cleaning FUN?

Today was rainy and a little chilly (especially after the heat we've been having), and the house was a mess... which I hate, expecially when you're stuck inside.

So I thought we'd try something a little different... a Cleaning Party!

I told the kids: "Righto, I'm going to put on some party music and we're going to dance and clean and have fun. Then I will make muffins for all the people who have done a great job!"

They looked a little unsure at first, so I put on Dash's Sports Party CD (which has lots of high energy songs) and started to sing and dance while I unloaded the dishwasher... they caught on real quick!

Dash got Scraggy dancing in the kitchen while Rory swept the floor and Princess tidied her room. Eventually Dash stopped dancing with the baby long enough to go and do his fair share - which left the Scrag to his own devices, and he thought he'd have a go at his room too...!

Oops, sorry Scrag, not quite what we had in mind!

Without being asked Miss Fab went in and straightened out the mess Scrag had made, even making his bed. What a star!

We got the whole house straightened out and had fun along the way boogying with the broom to Dubi Dum Dum, Crazy Frog and Ole Ole Ole Ole among others.

We ran out of time to make muffins before we had to go out, but a promise is a promise so I'll make them as soon as I get a chance.

I thought I'd have a go at making my cousin Trish's Lemon and Poppyseed ones... she brought them over the other day for morning tea and I have to say, YUM! (And they looked pretty special too)...

Trish's Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

125g softened butter

1/2 cup caster sugar

2 eggs

1 cup plain yoghurt

zest of 1 lemon

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup poppy seeds

2 cups self raising flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

• Heat oven to 200C. Grease 12 hole standard muffin tin or line tin with paper muffin cases
• In a bowl beat butter & caster sugar together until pale & creamy
• Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Beat in yoghurt, lemon zest & juice and the poppy seeds.
• Sift the flour & baking soda over creamed mixture and fold in to just combine into a smooth batter. Do not over mix.
• Spoon mixture into prepared muffin tin and bake for 15-20mins or until muffins are golden. If you want to test to see if the muffins are cooked all the way through just insert a skewer and if it comes out clean, they are done
• Remove muffins from tin to cool.

Icing
2 cups icing sugar
100g melted butter
1/4 tspn vanilla essence
2 Tblspn hot water OR 2 Tblspn lemon juice

Sift icing sugar into a bowl.
Add butter & vanilla essence.
Add hot water (or lemon juice) gradually until desired consistancy obtained.

TIP: try using a piping bag to apply icing onto muffins - Happy baking!