Washing Leeks

Leeks! Delicious but always tricky to wash out the muddy grit trapped between layers. Simply cut a criss-cross into the top layers and place under running water and with your hands wipe away the grit. It works!

Almond Cookie, Cherry Cookie, Pecan Nut Cookie, Macadamia Cookie

Almond Cookies Masquerade:

It is an almond cookie:

Is it a pecan cookie?

Is it a cherry cookie?

Is it a macadamia cookie?

No. It is all an Almond Cookie Masquerade.

Holiday Painting Impressions

His sea-side:


Her sea-side:

Geomag ballet

My 2yr old loves making ballerinas with Geomag. On this occasion my 6yr old obliged by making a dancing partner. It's great when they play together harmoniously:)

Fish and chips

My sons special request: Mummy's home-made fish and chips.

Once this bit is done, the rest is easy!

Recipe improver tips:

1. Use freeze-dried chives in the breadcrumb mix.
2. Season flour with salt, pepper, smokey paprika and mustard powder.
   

Rocket Cake

This chocolate brownie cake tastes a lot better than its gaudy looks.

The mix for it was rather colourful too!

Mukka Express

I miss my Mukka!! Good looking, sometimes high maintenance but worth it....I had a short love affair with my mukka but it was turning me into too much of a coffee junkie. So I made someones day on e-bay:).

I used to sprinkle the top with drinking choc and vanilla sugar. What a treat!

Love it and set it free. If it was true love, one day it will be back. That day is beckoning.

Fruity Breakfast Creatures

Hot Chocolate Float with Sprinkles

When you can't wait for hot chocolate to cool down before drinking-hot choc float!

His n Hers

Quick Healthy Chocolate Fruit n Nut Brownies

This recipe has been requested by many who have tried them. Made healthy by adding lots of dried fruits and 'good fat' nuts.

In a bowl add:

• 150g golden granulated sugar
• 100g dark muscovado sugar
• 75g ground almonds
• 65g cocoa powder
• 100g SR flour

A handful of each or either of:

• pumpkin seeds
• milk chocolate chips
• white chocolate chips
• dried cranberries or sour cherries
  
• dried bluberries or raisins
  
• dried organic apricots
• pecans or walnuts
• chopped hazelnuts or brazil nuts
  Mix these together (the bold is my preferred combination) and then add:

• 200ml rapeseed oil
• 2-3 t vanilla extract
• 3 large eggs
  
  

Mix dry with wet and tranfer to a rectangle cake tin lined with greaseproof paper and cook at 160C for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in tin before cutting into desired pieces. Great with coffee!

Photos to follow with next batch. I keep giving them away and my family miss them so its back to the baking bowl.