Berry Banana Loaf - Recipe

I love to bake, but I love to bake simple things. Simple, yummy and freezable are my main requirements in a recipe and this one fits the brief perfectly!! Banana bread is a big favourite for our kids , and when I found some frozen raspberry's in the freezer ( they are safe , I promise!) that our house sitter left  behind , I knew exactly what I was going to make !

I've had this recipe for years and love it. It was from an amazing blog I used to read religiously and now, through fate and a whole lot of laughs , I now call Jade a wonderful friend. Jade has a Facebook Page called Project Happiness  where she shares lots of crafts, home decor and organising tips! 

You can add whatever berries you have to this recipe, originally it was with Blueberries but I have used Raspberries and the kids love it with some strawberries too! The berries keep it light and moist and its perfect served with a scrape of butter. Yummy 

Ingredients 

1 1/4 cups Self Raising Flour

1 tsp Cinnamon

20g Butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg beaten lightly

1/4 cup milk

1 banana - mashed

1/3 cup berries ( Raspberry, blue berry , strawberry etc)

Method

1)  Sift flour and Cinnamon into large bowl and then rub in butter

2)  Stir in sugar , egg, milk, berry's and banana. Do not over mix the batter , it should be lumpy

3)  Spoon into a prepared pan and bake in hot oven for about 30 mins 

NB- I used my Thermomix for this recipe as I do for most,  and still did step one separately on speed 4 for about 10 seconds. Then added everything else in Step 2 , on reverse and speed 4 for about 15 seconds. 

Delicious served warm and perfect for school lunch boxes! 

Banana Granola Muffins

On our recent trip away, I got to thinking about how to make our travel time easier and more time efficient. Less time preparing on one end means more time enjoying on the other!

The main thing that I had thought of was our breakfasts when departing and while in the car.

More often than not, we leave for our trips at night and travel while the kids sleep, which means they are hungry for breakfast in the morning, or we leave around 4am, transfer the kids while asleep then need something to eat around 6:30am ish. 

Insert 'Breakfast Muffin'. Packed full of goodness, granola and fruit, it covers all bases and fills up the tum tum. Plus they are super easy to be able to hand out and clean up while travelling. So I had a play in the kitchen the other day and came up with these yummy Banana Granola Muffins, using the 'Goodie Goodie Granola' that I made recently. 

BANANA AND GRANOLA MUFFINS

Ingredients

2 cup Wholemeal SR Flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp nutmeg

1 cup oats/bran/granola (whatever you choose, I used Granola) and a little extra for sprinkling

1/2 cup sultanas

2 eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup milk

2 ripe bananas, mashed

250g Greek Yoghurt

1 tbsp Rice Malt Syrup

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl until combined.

Make a well in the centre and add the wet ingredients, stir thoroughly until combined

Pour into muffins cases/patty pans, and sprinkle the tops with some granola (or oats/muesli etc)

Bake for 15-20 mins or until slightly golden and firm to touch.

Super yummy, no added sugar, butter or oil and perfect as a breakfast muffin or afternoon snack!

(and even better served while warm with a little butter, ummmm maaarr!)

Goodie Goodie Granola

After sharing a piccie on my Facebook page yesterday of a tray of freshly toasted Granola that I had made, I had quite a few requests for the recipe. So here we are ...

I have never been much of a breakfast eater. In fact I haven't eaten the meal for years. 

I know , I know, its the most important meal of the day. I really should eat it and I am trying to make the change to my diet and carve some time to prepare and enjoy this crucial meal of the day.

I am not a fan of milk, so cereal is out. I am trying to lay off the bread, so toast it out. I leave home at 7:40am after getting 4 kids ready, so it has to be fast, filling and of course, tasty.

Enter my new found obsession..... Granola. 

Full of yummy goodie goodie goodness, nuts, seeds, oats and topped with more yummy stuff , whats not to love?

And seeing as though I have passed my new obsession down to the kids, and it can get quite pricey to buy Granola from the supermarket (small box for big $$) I decided to make my own. 

This is only my second time at making Granola,  but I now know what flavours I like etc so I think I am on to a winner!

The base of this recipe is from Sarah Wilsons I Quit Sugar Coco- Nutty Granola  which I then changed and added to as I pleased, based on a little research on some Granola boxes in the supermarket. 

So here is my Granola,  because its full of lots of goodness, and tastes like a goodie too!

GOODIE GOODIE GRANOLA

    INGREDIENTS

    - 5 cups oats
    - 2 cups of nuts, roughly chopped ( I used a combination of Pecans and Almonds)
    - 3 tbsp chia seeds
    - 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
    - 1/2 cup pepitas ( I used a seed comination mix of sunflower and pepitas so 1 1/4 c)
    - 1/2 cup sesame seeds
    - 100g coconut oil (can also use vegetable or sunflower oil)
    - 100ml rice malt syrup, plus extra to drizzle during toasting (You can substitute for Golden syrup)
    - 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
    - 1 cup coconut (I used desiccated)
    - 1 cup of dried fruit - e.g.  apricots/cranberries/sultanas
   

Combine all ingredients in a LARGE mixing bowl (this makes quite a bit of mixture) and spread it out on a baking tray. You may need to do a few batches, I used 3 trays. 

Bake in a pre heated oven on 160 degrees for about 10-15 mins (depending on how much you like it toasted), then remove, stir and turn the granola, drizzling a little more Rice Malt Syrup and bake for another 10 mins or so. 

Remove and allow to cool before sealing in a container. 

(I like this container to store a large batch and I can use a scoop)

Serve as you wish.  I like to have my Granola with yoghurt and fresh fruit and 2 of our kids like it with just milk . Its filling, satisfies you for hours and tastes super yummy. Have a try at making it yourself, change it up to suit you and  your tastes/ allergies etc. 

Back to School Baking - The Recipes

Earlier today I shared a post on my Back To School baking and freezing system. 

I definitely have some super favourite recipes that are high on the baking rotation at our house, but I do like to try new recipes out as well. Especially when baking in bulk, to keep the kids interested in the goodies. 

I find that most recipes freeze well. I haven't ever really had an issue with many things other than scones, they tend to go a little hard when defrosted. But on a whole, I think that as long as the items are sealed then you should be right.

I have tried many a Banana bread recipe but this is by far my favourite yet. So moist and delicious and the brown sugar and oat topping really makes it feel and taste special. Its a big batter recipe too , so I made a loaf, 12 muffins and 24 mini muffins all from one batch.

I use this recipe from a little delightful.

I also made a yummy Sultana Loaf and used the recipe from HERE but decreased the butter to 150g and sugar to 1/2 a cup . 

I like baking loafs as they are yummy , don't need icing and are easy to cut up into whatever portion sizes you need. 

Another family favourite of ours  is the good old Date Loaf. The kids especially love it! 

I used this easy recipe from HERE. 

Biscuits are always a hit when it comes to kids snacks. They are easy to make, bake and eat. You can also change a basic recipe by changing the flavours you add to them. I use this recipe from The Organised Housewife HERE. I didn't add the sugar , and divided my mixture in half. One half I added white and milk chocolate chips and the other some Passion fruit pulp (left over from Australia Day Pavs). They take next to no time to cook and the mixture really does make a heap of biscuits!

These were the major snacks and recipes, not forgetting the good old Zucchini Slice. By cooking the batter in Muffin tins, they are perfect for lunchbox snacks. 

This is the recipe HERE,  that I have used since I have started making this dish. I add Carrot and bacon as well but you could really add whatever you wish. 

Well there you go, all the places you can find the recipes to bake up a storm of your own!! 

Do you have any great recipes that freeze well? I'd love for you to share!

No waste where there's pigs!!

One of my pet peeves with having little kids, is the way they waste perfectly good food. They say they are hungry and want an apple, and then it ends up like above. A perfectly good apple wasted!! 

Don't they know there are starving people in Africa?! Hell, in Australia! 

I do usually cut up apples for them, but occasionally I am lazy or they want it whole, and most of the time they do do an alright job. However not this day!

So as my beautiful Grandma used to say "No waste where there's pigs" , I hopped on the Thermomix Forum, searched apple and decided to put the good apples to use. 

I just cut off all the pre munched pieces and between 3 apples I had enough for a yummy apple loaf!/bread!

This recipe was moist, delicious and was actually meant to have a cinnamon topping , however I just sprinkled a little cinnamon sugar on top and it was yummy!! I also didn't have any buttermilk, so I just used normal milk and it was fine too! 

You can find it on the Thermomix forum HERE, and for non TM owners, I think using a mixer and just grating the apple would work the same. 

The moral of the story, don't let the perfectly good fruit and veg go to waste, recreate it into something yummy!! And guess what?! The kid loved this, even if they didn't eat the apple in the first place !!! 

Back to School Cake

Today marked the second day of Stella's Pre Primary year at school. The first few of many days of full time schooling. This is it, what things will be like for her for some time to come.

To show her how proud I am of the way she has handled the transition and for something a little special, I decided to tizzy up afternoon tea for a change.

I baked a basic Simplicity Cake (this time in the thermomix but a basic mixer is all you need) , smothered it in some yummy buttercream icing and then used these gorgeous 'Back to School' printables from eighteen25 to make a cake bunting and flags.

All you need for a cake bunting is 2 sticks (sometimes I use white cake pop sticks, sometimes skewers) , some glue and your bunting flags.  I like to tie the string on the sticks first and add a dab of glue so the string won't slip. Then run some glue along the top of the flags and stick them down. Easy

Stella loved coming home to something a bit special and it didn't take a lot of effort either!

The cake was pretty delicious, if I do say so myself, and I loved sitting down to a yummy afternoon tea with my big girl and other kiddos, and talking about our days. Such a wonderful tradition and routine I would love to continue for all their schooling lives.

Do you make afternoon tea for your children? Ever make anything a bit special,  'just because'?

Well why not pop some cute bunting on a cake and make their day, or memories for a lifetime?!

Bring A Plate- Guest Post

GUEST POST - By a gorgeous cyber friend, fabulous baker, amazing decorator and all round lovely lady - Jane Mayall

(An introductory post on my guest bloggers will tell you all a bit more about Jane, that's coming tomorrow , but for now, ENJOY!)

I am very honoured to be asked by Liz to contribute to her Christmas Series on her gorgeous Blog. A very Happy Christmas to all Bizzy Dayz readers!

This special time of the year requires many whip ups of yummy plates to share at festive tables. Tomorrow we have a Picnic and Christmas Carols at my boys’ school. I have made Malt Surprise Slice to take. I like it because it’s an alternative to the very popular Rocky Road and its super quick and easy.

Malt Surprise Slice

(originally taken from Women’s Weekly)

You’ll need

200g packet Eclair lollies

1 Tablespoon cream

1 cup Rice Bubbles

100g Marsh mellows, chopped coarsely

165g Malteasers



Prepare 8cm x 25cm loaf tin
Place eclairs and cream in saucepan and stir over low heat until smooth.

Remove from heat and stir in Rice bubbles and marsh mellows and finally Malteasers.

Press into prepped pan and pop in fridge until set.

Pass bowl to child…they will happily oblige to clean it!

I also love that this recipe can be make and stored in fridge for up to a week if its hidden!).

Cut with a serrated knife and serve.

Enjoy x



Honey Health Cake

Yesterday was a home day for us. You the type, kids happily playing screaming and shouting and fighting, so on these days I like to bake some snacks for our family, plus I was expecting a rare visit from my Nanny and Aunt. ( it was so lovely to have them visiting and chatting) So I wanted to bake something yummy for afternoon tea. I made the easy and yummy Simplicity Cake and then while I was putting some things away, I noticed a very yummy sounding recipe on the back of the White Wings Wholemeal SR Flour Packet. Upon closer inspection, I knew I didn't have over half the ingredients but thought I could make up my own sort of cake.

So I did.

And its yummy.

Like really yummy.

So yummy that I had to take this dodgy night time photo quickly , in case it is all gone by tomorrow!!

However if you don't like nuts or fruit in your cake, you enjoy the sweeter things in life, then it may not be the cake for you!

HONEY HEALTH CAKE

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups Wholemeal SR Flour

1 cup Honey

1 cup Water

1/4 cup brown sugar

30 g butter

250g mixed fruit ( mine didn't have Glace cherries)

1/4 cup slithered almonds

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

1/4 cup LSA mix

1 Tbsp White Chia seeds

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease and line a 19cm square cake tin.

Combine Honey, water, butter and brown sugar in a saucepan and stir constantly until dissolved and mixed. Do not bring it to the boil.

Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

Sift flour into a mixing bowl.

Add nuts, LSA mix, Chia seeds , spices and Mixed fruit and stir.

When saucepan contents are cool, at to the dry mix and fold together.

Pour into prepared Cake tin and bake for 50 mins for until cooked through .

Cool in tin and either serve on its own or with lemon/orange icing ( I used the juice of a mandarine in our icing).

This cake is a bit of a cross with a slice. It has some gorgeous flavours and would be so easy to mix up and create new versions.
For instance, swapping the nutmeg for mixed spice, or the cinnamon for ginger.
The peanuts and almonds for walnuts and pecans.
The Mixed fruit for dates and the White chia seeds for sesame.
As long as the dry ingredients are the same ratio , it should be ok.

Now all that is left to do , is boil the kettle, make a cuppa and enjoy :)

Mango Fruit Cake

I have been sharing a few recipes around here lately. You are either loving it or hating it, regardless, here is another one for you!! LOL!

I was given this recipe and enjoyed my first taste of it when it was baked by one of my gorgeous friends. She is always trying new things, and whipping up some delicious cakes and slices. Not only is she a great cook though, she is a truly beautiful person, inside and out. xo

The thing I like most about this cake , is it has no sugar!! Or butter and milk for that matter. Its still super moist but is a healthier take on the traditional fruit cake.

Mango Fruit Cake

1 x 425g can Mango slices

500g Mixed Dried fruit, incl Glace Cherries

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 teaspoon Bi Carb Soda

1 1/2 cups SR Flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

METHOD

Grease 19cm square cake pan and line.

Drain Mangoes over a saucepan (so the liquid is in the pot) , chop the mangoes into small cubes and put in the pot with mixed fruit and water.

Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 1 min.

Remove from heat and cool.

Stir in combined sifted flour and soda with eggs and mix well.

Add cooled fruit in pot with all juice.

Pour into prepared pan and cook in moderate oven ( 160degrees) for 1 hour or by testing.

Cool cake in the pan and lightly dust with icing sugar to serve

Enjoy :)

This really is very yummy, my darling husband who doesn't normally like fruit cakes, LOVES this



Choc Bit Slice

This weekend, the weather here has been so wild and woolly, a lot of inside activities were had. One of them being some baking!
Today I whipped up this super easy slice, and yesterday it was yummy Vanilla slice, with passion fruit icing!! Not good for the figure, but good for the soul, and for the visitors that have been popping in for a cuppa!

This slice , has become a staple in our home over the years. The recipe was given to me , in the hand written cookbook ,my sister gave to us as a Wedding present. Its full of family and favourite recipes and gets used almost daily!

Each time I make it, its that little bit different, as its so easy to adapt with whatever you have in the pantry or to try something new.

No Bowl Choc Bit Slice

90g butter, melted
1 1/2 cups choc bits
1 cup mixed nuts , chopped ( I just used chopped peanuts)
1 cup sweet biscuit crumbs ( I use Milk Arrowroot's)
1 cup Shredded Coconut ( I used desiccated)
400g can Sweet Condensed Milk

*That is the basic recipe but today I have added Glace Cherries, Sultanas and slithered almonds for the top.
Other ingredients you can try are; Mixed dried fruit, oats, sunflower seeds, lollies (eeek), dried apricots

Method
Prepare your slice tray with grease paper and grease.
Pour butter into prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with biscuit crumbs
Sprinkle choc bits, coconut and nuts (and whatever else you choose to add) onto the biscuit base.
Drizzle the can of Condensed Milk over the top , covering the whole slice.
Bake in a moderate oven for about 30 mins, or until slightly browned.
Cool in the pan before cutting and refrigerate.
Enjoy

This really is so easy, and I love that it can be adapted to a healthier slice (as it can be ) or full of naughty stuff. I have given this in my Christmas gift bags  for the past few years and tend to make it for anything we go to.
I also love having a recipe that I have most of the ingredients for in the pantry, and that doesn't contain an egg, its always the times you need one, that they have run out!

I hope you enjoy it!

Simplicity Cake

I like to bake. Alot. And my kids and husband like to eat what I bake.  Alot

Favourites around my home are Choc Chip cookies, cupcakes and the good old chocolate cake.

We were lucky enough, when we got married, to receive a hand written Recipe book from my sister , with alot of the recipes to meals and sweets that I have been eating since I was a child.

One of the recipes is this 'Simplicity Cake'

Called Simplicity cake because it is just that, a very simple and easy cake to make, but when this cake pictured, was baked and tasted, my husband assured me it was the best cake he had eaten. Hmmm I think he liked it!!

So you may have lots of cake recipes, especially chocolate cake ones, but for a really nice, simple recipe, try this.

Simplicity Cake

Ingredients

1 cup SR Flour

1 cup Sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tpn Vanilla essence

2 tbsp drinking chocolate

 ( can use cocoa but drinking chocolate gives a MUCH better flavour!)

3 tbsp butter

Method

Melt the butter and mix into the other ingredients.

Beath for 3 mins (I use my Mixer and tend to beat until the mixture turns a lighter colourand fluffy)

Pour into a well greased and lined 20cm cake pan and bake for 25-35mins or until cooked through

Ice with buttercream icing ( butter, icing sugar and dash milk)

For variety, try omitting the drinking chocolate and adding grated orange rind for a noice moist orange cake etc.

It doesn't look the best, but oh was it yummy!! I was trying to take a photo while Max screamed for cake!

Enjoy!

Banana and Berry Muffins

Our family is absolutely loving the fact that bananas are back to an affordable price, as the kids eat them like they are going out of fashion, and they are always a nice addition to baking.

With Stella at Kindy 3 days a week, and the school having a "Healthy lunchbox" attitude, I have been conscious of making healthier treats for the kids and husband to eat. ( I am on a weightloss mission so they aren't really for me, but if I do sneak one, at least I know they aren't all bad!).

Last week I baked up a storm, and made 3 batches, of different variations of these muffins, using a recipe from Jade at the Super Organiser Mum blog, but with my own twist.

Banana and Berry Muffins

3/4 cup Wholemeal SR Flour

3/4 cup SR Flour

1/3 cup Caster Sugar

60g Butter

2/3 cup Mashed Banana (approx 1 large banana)

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup of Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)

In a large bowl rub together flour, sugar and butter until it resembles fine bread crumbs (I simply put it in a bowl and stir it with a wooden spoon until its well combined , I am not one for steps in a recipe! haha)

Stir in rest of ingredietns to combine.

Spoon mixture into muffins pans and bake at 190 degrees for 20 mins

Now the variations on the recipe that I used were;

A tube of the berry pulp (pictured below) , and added 1/2 cup of LSA (Linseed, Sunflower and Almond mix ground up and purchased from a Health food store) for these ones.

Fresh Blueberries, and a packet of the Rafferty's Apple, Pear and Cinnamon mix and the banana for these.

And for these, I had a tin of mixed berries that I had used a few days earlier for a loaf and had left overs, I simply mixed those in with the bananas, and again, 1/2 a cup of LSA mix.

These ingredients, may not be fresh but they are still a lot healthier than choc chips or icing! And when baking, especially numerous batches, I like to keep things pretty simple.

They were all a BIG hit amongst the kids. They absolutely loved them, nd infact, Master Max had quiet a few tantrums over wanting more cakes!

Gotta love that!! hmmmm

Mexican Bean Wraps

I love finding a meal that the whole family loves, EATS and its cheap and healthy too!
I got the inspiration for this meal off a friends Facebook Status about having Burritos for tea, and I was writing out our meal plan. That was it.

Its very simple, and if you have older kids, they can put them together themselves, picking and choosing their own salads etc. I remember doing this with Tacos as a kid.

Now we are lucky, Stella absolutely LOVES , loves, Mexican food. Nachos, tacos, these wraps, enchiladas,you name it. If your child does , hmm goodluck!!


MEXICAN BEAN WRAPS

A tin of Refried Beans (we use the NO chilli version)
Lemon or Lime Juice
Minced Garlic
Packet of Taco Seasoning ( I use the Woolworth Select brand)
Sour Cream
Jar of salsa
Burrito or Tortilla Wraps
Tomatoes
Lettuce
Cheese

And Wedges to serve


In a medium Saucepan, add the whole tin of Refried beans (we have leftovers after 2 adults and 3 kids, but they don't eat lightly, so maybe just half a tin if you want!)
Squirt in 2 tablespoons of Lemon Juice (I use the bottle type, whatever works I say), and add a teaspoon of minced garlic and stir.
Also sprinkle about half a packet of Taco Seasoning ( this has a little bite to it, but it never bothers my kids, because of the sour cream but add it as desired).
Give it all a stir and bring to the boil. Then turn off.

Meanwhile, dice your tomatoes, chop lettuce and grate the cheese reading for serving and make sure your wedges (if you are having them) are in the oven.

With the Tortillas, I just lightly toast each side in a large frypan, it is fiddly but I can only make one wrap at a time and they taste better!!
With the toasted wrap, spread some of your bean mix through the middle area, then swipe on some sour cream and salsa if you like (sometimes we use it , sometimes we don't) and tomatoes, cheese and lettuce and roll into a wrap.

Serve with wedges, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce (for adults). ( I like to serve with wedges incase Max and Lacey decide its a day when they don't want to eat the wraps)

I meat free, cheap meal option that can cater for up to 4-5 adults or lots of kids!!

I'm sorry I don't have a photo of them, I will be sure to take one next time we have them, but they get eaten too quick!!


NOTE- We had leftover refried bean mix, as we had these for tea on Friday night , so I used the left overs, spread over the bottom of a small glass casserole dish, then spread the left over salsa, then the sour cream (I mixed some taco seasoning in it) , then some tomatoes and another layer of salsa and sour cream and served it as a Layered Nacho dip with CC's for the AFL Grand final on Saturday . (It was just DH, Stella and Myself watching but it was a nice thing to have and it was all leftovers anyway!)

A Few Recipes

I am still here, waiting, organising, preparing. All those things that must, MUST be done before you have a baby, totally useless and not important at all, but they have somehow made it to the top of my To Do List!! Hmmm maybe thats another post all together!!

From posting my weekly Meal Plans (sorry I am a little behind here), I have received a few comments and emails about some recipes, and I am finally getting around to typing them out here.
Its pretty embarrassing really but the 2 that are the most asked about, are infact the EASIEST meals you will ever cook, seriously. And my family just love them! So much so, they are requested to be put on the Meal Plan!

First up;
CREAMY CHICKEN AND BASIL PASTA  (totally NOT a healthy dinner option, but hubby's favourite all the same)

Jar of Basil Pesto
Small carton of Cream
Fetticine Pasta
Pinenuts
Cherry tomatoes- cut in half
Chicken Breast

Cook Pasta as per directions /as normal.
Add a little oil to your pan, and cook chicken until slightly golden, add about half a jar of Basil Pesto.
Then add about 2/3 of the carton of cream, depending on how many people you are cooking for.
Simmer for about 5-10 minutes to thicken the cream.
Add pinenuts and Cherry tomatoes and cook for another minute.
Serve over pasta.

NOTE- I change this dish every time I cook it, and ratios are not that great , ha , sorry. But thats what you get when you don't use a recipe!! Sometimes I use a Sundried Tomato Pesto, sometimes add Bacon, sundried toms, olives, capsicum, salami, cherizo sausage. Whatever you like to change the flavours.
Super easy, quick and ready in 15 minutes, quicker than takeaway!!


CHICKEN PIE

2 sheets of Puff Pastry
2 Chicken Breasts (OR ca n be a cheaper cut as is going to be cut finely in a pie!  Thats what I do)
Butter or margarine
Plain Flour
Sour Cream
1-2 cups Chicken stock
Packet of Spring Garden Vegetable soup
Large Carrot cut into cubes
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup frozen corn
Beaten Egg (for glazing)
Rosemary ( I use dried)

Firstly take the Puff Pastry out of the freezer and set aside to defrost a little (its easier to mould into dish)
Dice the chicken and carrots .
Add a little oil to the pan and cook off chicken until golden. Add a dollop of Butter and then some rosemary and carrots and fry slightly.
Add a tablespoon of flour and cook until thick then gradually add the stock. Start with just one cup and see how you go, again it all depends on how big your pie needs to be. Sprinkle about half a packet of the Soup mix into the liquid and continue to stir. This will evaporate and thicken, turn down the heat to a low simmer and add 2 tablespoons of sour cream.
Add Peas and corn and simmer for a minute. Turn off mixture and let cool a little.

During this process, oil you dish, I just use Spray Cook, and line with your Puff Pastry. Depending on the size of your dish you may need more sheets of Pastry.
Line the bottom and mould , add cooled mixture, and then add a sheet to the top, glaze with egg/milk mixture and piece or slice the top for steam.
Cook in the oven until golden brown, usually 180 degrees, about 15-20 mins.

NOTE- You can also add Leek, bacon, mushrooms, zucchini, onion , anything really!!

This is yummo, and I usually make 2 at the same time, one to freeze, so give that a go!!

Later on I will post another recipe that has been requested for our Mexican Bean wraps!

Sharing...

Ok, so there are a few things I would like to share with you, you might not be interested but I will try anyway, and I just thought I would ocmbine the post. After all, sharing is caring!

Just a quick meal I prepared for my family yesterday!! It must of been good because Stella ate the whole thing and fast too!!

I know as much as anyone that if you have had  a hard day, if the kids are naughty or unsettled and you need to prepare dinner whilst WW3 is happening around you, that it has to be quick and easy, aswell as nutrious and healthy for everyone.

This is my recipe for Savoury Mince, it isn't actually a proper recipe, just something that I have made our up over time. My sister gave us an amazing little hand written book as a wedding present, with alot of our family recipes. Things like my Grandmas Pastry and scones, my Dad pikelets, mock chicken, meatballs, curries , you name it, plus I have added my own in aswell. However, you don't always have all the ingredients of a recipe in your pantry and it was more often than not that I didn't have everything for Dads Savoury Mince, so here is Liz's Savoury Mince. ( I know I know that mince is not that great for us, not the healthest meat around, but Stella loves it and eats it, this is Noel's favourite meal and  it was in my freezer, plus it beats Takeaway on a hard night!!)

I started by chopping up all our veges, I like to try and do this a bit earlier in the arvo, to save time at peak hour, but whenever is good for you. Any vegies can go in this meal, and I like to try and use up all the ones that need using up, and its a great way to "hide" vegies for the kids or fussy eaters!!

We had - cauliflower, capsicum, carrot, zucchini, onion, and celery but usually I add frozen peas and corn but I forgot this time!!

Cook your mince with the onions , and add some crushed garlic.

Add your vegies, your sauces, try different combinations that are in your cupboard, ours was;

2 tbsp Tomato Sauce

1 tbsp Barbeque Sauce

1 tbsp Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce)

1 Tbsp Sweet Chilli Sauce ( it wasn't at all spicy and was fine for Stella)

1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

Adjust to your taste and liking.

Cook up some pasta, I used spirals and when cooked add to pan with everything else.

Serve and enjoy, below are Noels and Stellas dinner.

 

The babies even liked this, mixed up with a barmix to make it easier.

Yummo!!

Next of the sharing, are these 2 uber gorgeous backpacks I picked up the other day for Max and Lacey!!

Umm, hello?!!! Cute or what!!! After falling in love with the Skip Hop ones HERE and starting to search the net for a store that had them on sale, I just happened to go into my local Crazy Clarkes Store and glance over to see these beauties!! They are nearly identical, and I say they are cheap copies, but for $10, I didn't care and quickly snapped them up for my cherubs. The backpacks seem a bit smaller but we don't need anything big, I am just in planning mode for when I can ditch the nappy bag, regain my handbag and start taking their bags out instead!!
And who could resist a little puppy dog and mouse!?! So get to your nearest Crazy Clarkes, and if you don't have one, let me know, I will see what I can do and post it to you!! Who am I to deny someone such goodies!?

Lastly , after a pretty good tip off from a good friend and terrible shopping influence, I purchased these gorgeous canvas baskets, complete with handle for easy transport. They are on sale at the moment from Bambini Pronto at such an amazing price, so I snapped up one small and 2 large baskets. The small one is great, and I have replaced a white basket with a chocolate Canvas storage one to house our nappies and wipes in our living area. Fantastic and portable for a mobile change station for your babies and the large is now the home for our toys in the family room (as the rest live in the Toy Room). Again, great to transport with the handles, as I often take toys outside when we are playing out there. This makes life easier!

There you have it, sorry if  I have heart the bank balance, but I couldn't help but share!!

Goodluck!

Christmas Baking

Last week I engaged in my love of baking, and for my favourite time of the year, what could be better?
The hardest part of it (apart from finding the time with the kids) was keeping little and big fingers off it!!

This year I decided to make some homemade goodies and bag them up to hand out as little pressies to my friends, bookclub girls and my life helpers (daycare lady, cleaning lady etc.)


I really enjoy baking and that makes it all the more enjoyable, if you however , don't like it, the supermarkets are filled with lovely goodies you could make little thankyou hampers out of.

First off I made Rocky Road (thanks for the inspiration Jess!) , now this was the hardest to keep in the fridge, DH was very tempted!
I simply melted 2 blocks of cooking chocolate (Cadbury) and poured it over a tin with chopped nuts, chopped lollies and marshmellos in the bottom (oh and I added some large White choc melts.

I then made some coconut macaroon balls. I found this recipe after seeing something on Today Tonight.

Add 2 cups of coconut , the rind of one lemon and a can of Sweet condensed Milk to a bowl, mix thoroughly and roll into balls. Bake on a tray until golden brown (ours are a little overcooked on the bases, hubby left in charge!) Yummo!!!

And Choc bit slice. Now I LOVE THIS !! SO easy, so yummy and really versatile to whatever you have left in the house at the time. Comment on this post if you would like the recipe, I will type it out and email it! BTW- My sister gave the recipe to me, Thanks Kristy!!  ( I believe credit where credits due, if you get an idea from someone , say so!! Share the love!) 

And finally some Choc chip muffins. Noel loves these so much one day I made a batch, went out for tea, came home and they were ALL GONE!! The whole lot, needless to say I didn't bake them for a while again. Apparently they are just like subway cookies!! Recipe found HERE. You will only regret it if you eat them all!!

So I packaged them all up in little plastic bags ( I had bought them off ebay for The markets once thinking they were going to be WAY bigger, alas they are not but have come in real handy since!! I used them for the lolly bags for the Christening too! Punched a hoel with the hole punch, added some gold curling ribbon and they were done! I was going to label them all pretty, but I ran out of time, and I think they are quite obvious anyway!

I also purchased a pack of small soft noughat bars (in centre of above pic) and some Christmas Choccies in a pack at Woolworths and added them .

This is how they looked when all finished and packaged up. I was so stoked with the way they turned out and I think my lovely ladies and recipients were chuffed too! Some handmade love that didn't cost much at all!!

Where to buy; -

 Obviously the bags are from Kikki K. I seriously LOVE this shop, everything organisational , which I am right into at the moment. (more on my purchases later). For those in Gero or Perth, there is a great shop in Karrinyup Centre. The bags are thing paper and fold down with a contrasting back.

The gorgeous labels are a free download from Eighteen 25. LOVE them, and thankfully my beautiful mother printed them for me on nice shimmery paper!! I just cut them out with scissors *Note to self- much add 3'' punch to Wish List.

Wooden christmas pegs were purchased from Red Dot- they are actually off a Christmas card holder , so I just snipped the string they were all attached to and voila!! 25 pegs for $2!!

And Green cord ribbon from Woolworths

Lined up for my 5 special friends in my book club!! I also have them in the fridge for those visitors that you think "oops" or anyone else you have forgotten, and our next door neighbour of course!!

For the people that keep me going (aka Daycare lady, ironing lady and cleaning lady , yes I have all 3!! Someone has to do them and they are worth their weight in gold and allow me to do other things, work and spend time with my children around that!)

These guys got bigger bags,more stuff, 2 lots of rocky road and some other nibbles.

These bags were purchased in a multi pack from Ikea!!

There you have it, my little goodie bags for some important people, hopefully they help in some way, or if not, try the recipes for yourself!! Yummo!

Luckily , for DH, another Rocky Road is setting in the fridge, oh he will be happy!!

Back tomorrow with some cool packaging for gifts.