Christmas Gifts

I bought 4 normal sized blocks for 1 house and 2 huge blocks for the other house.

4 block house:
- cut 2 blocks in half (I left them at room temp and in the foil to cut with a serrated knife, then no fingerprints)
- the other 2 blocks I cut a triangle top, again in the foil with the serrated knife
- I put all blocks into the freezer to harden in foil...the excess chocolate (from the triangle top parts) I put in a glad bag, zipped it and sat it in hot water (it melted very easily) this I used to stick everything together....I didn't need to remelt it at anytime as it was a warm day.

2 large block house:
- cut 1 block into 4 pieces (I just followed the grooves and did it in the packet/foil with a serrated knife)
- the 2nd block I cut in half then created a triangle top on both sides and put all of them in the freezer and used the left overs for joining

I joined the walls wrong, lol....you need to join the side walls to the back of the front and back parts, not to the side of the front and back parts...this way the roof will over hang, but will sit nicely on the peak and wall sections...mine had a gap as the wall sat out too far...basically just play with the construction first...

I froze the plate before commencing, then put a glass in the middle of the plate and used it to support the walls while I put melted piping chocolate on the base and sides I was about to join...when the frame was done I whacked it in the freeze to set before doing the roof and then back in to set again...you can use your finger to make the joins smooth (and great for taste testing, lol)

and then I layered the Chocolate freckles and Nestle White button melts on the roof starting at the bottom so they overlapped like shingles...I found they wanted to slide off due to the melted chocolate, so work fast (either put the melted blob on the back of each piece and stick or do a row...what ever gets them to stay before putting back in the freezer)

I used mini m&m's for around the roof as they are light and easy to use...

I had a white chocolate decorating tube/pen from coles for the door and windows, and just chocolate money for the "stainglass" window above the door.

I found the marshmallow trees at coles, super cheap and the candy cane to cover the roof join at the top, just snapped the hook off.

The video shows her using mini candy canes to make a heart shaped window on the side, but I couldn't find little ones, lol...

I hope you have a great time making them! I know I did...I only made 2 as I had bought all the decorations and didn't want leftovers...I still have enough to decorate the gingerbread house I am going to make boxing day with the kids :P

Super simple banana bread...

‎2-3 mashed banana's (just mash with a fork before adding other ingredients into the bowl)
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
90gms butter (melted)
2 cups self raising flour
...1/4 cup caster sugar

mix together (i used a fork, lol)
Pour mix into a loaf pan
cook at 180 degrees for 50mins (or till skewer comes out clean and bread is golden)

very easy and super delish!

Delish dinner

Tuna, Rocket, baby spinach, kumato cherry tomatoes, cottage cheese and a homemade dressing (soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, lemon juice, sesame oil, fresh ginger, black pepper! whisk up and pour over salad)

Catching up on some things I have cooked lately....

I have an addiction to making and eating Sushi!!



Birthday cake for my Dad's 70th

Todays lunch is Pizza!

Leftover bbq chicken cut into pieces
handful of corn kernels
bbq & tomato sauce (to taste)
2 tablespoons lite cottage cheese
handful of shredded cheese
1 sheet puff pastry

method:
spread puff pastry sheet with tomato sauce & cottage cheese
sprinkle chicken & corn over the base
drizzle with bbq sauce
sprinkle with shredded cheese

Cook at 180 degrees for 20mins....

cut & eat!

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup super crunchy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg

Mix, make into balls and place on trays, press down slightly (give room, they will spread)

180 degree oven, cook for 10-15mins till lightly golden

EAT


Choc Oat Cookies

1 cup SR flour
1.5cups rolled oats
0.5-1cup caster sugar
0.5-1cup choc chips

Mix dry ingredients in big bowl.

Melt 125gms butter and 2 tbsp Golden syrup in saucepan….mix 1 tsp bicarb soda with 2 tbsp water….then when butter mix is melted, put bicarb mix into it, stir frothy mixture and tip into dry mix and mix quickly…then make into teaspoon sized balls and flatten on baking trays…flatten and leave room for spreading…

180 degree oven, bake for 8-10mins

Eat

Max's 2nd Birthday - 29th July 2010

Tonights dinner -

Slow cooked Lamb shanks

(4hrs @ 160 degrees, 2 large shanks in roasting pan, add 2 cups water, cover with a bit of olive oil, soy sauce & seasoning of choice - cover with foil to seal in moisture)

Mash potato, fresh carrot sticks & peas

gravy made with bit of gravy mix, vegie juices & some of the shank oils

served with fresh crusty bread straight out of the bread maker *drool*

Cookies :0)

Made using this recipe

LINK

but I used these add ins:

1 lot had choc chips, milo and 100&1000's in them, and the other lot had crushed up oreo's, apricot bits, milky ways cut up and some honey roasted cashews....very very yummy!!!!!

Cupcakes for a yummy mummy meet :0)

Gingerbread men

the casualties :(

My taste tester waiting to eat some

decorated men

Nudie gingerbread men :0)

Blue Pancakes for morning tea

I felt like Pancakes and my 3.5yr old decided they had to be blue! lol...

I only got a few as he was enjoying them way too much!!!

mmm, lunch time again, lol

Fried Rice (with couscous instead)

• Cook 1/2 cup couscous
• scramble 3 eggs with a little olive oil and Salt to taste
• add chopped up left over bbq chicken
• add cooked couscous
• add handful frozen peas

stir fry together...eggs should be dryish scramble

• add 1/2 can 4 bean mix
• add soy sauce
• add a bit more salt and some pepper to taste

EAT!!!

Todays lunch....

• Outback seasoning - ginger & lime & chilli - 1 teaspoon
• 1/2 cup couscous - cook first
• 1/2 tin 4 bean mix
• 1 small tin tuna in springwater
• handful of peas
• 1 tablespoon cottage cheese
• pinch paprika
• salt to season

add all to frypan, stirfry till hot!

NOICE!!!

5min MUG cake...

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons plain flour


• 4 tablespoons sugar


• 2 tablespoons cocoa


• 1 egg


• 3 tablespoons milk


• 3 tablespoons oil


• 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)


• A small splash of vanilla extract


• 1 large coffee mug - V shaped is best or 2 ramekins

Method:

• Add all ingredients into a small bowl, mix well. fill mug.


• Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 2 minutes on high.


• The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.


• EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

• And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world ?


• Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night

Eden's 40th Birthday - 9th January 2010

I made a profiterole tower for my brothers birthday and drizzled melted chocolate all over it...filled with custard cream...

Was sooooo yummy!

Valentine's Day

Another Chocolate Mud cake (Mike's favourite) cut into a heart shape, covered in chocolate Ganache and decorated to celebrate Valentines day with lots of gooey lovey dovey soppy goodness...hehehhee...not sure whether Mike was that pls about the look, but he did manage to make alot of it disappear quickly! *drool*

Daddy's Birthday - January 18th 2010

The basic choc mud cake that Jack and I made, then drew a pic of Daddy's plane on it...lol, very basic, but tasted very very yummy!!!

Annie's 35th Birthday - 4th March 2010

The Cupcake "Birthday Cake" the boys and I made for Aunty Annie's Birthday last month <3