Last week was my daughter’s class Christmas party, and this week is my son’s. Boys had to bring in something savoury, but I still wanted it to have a Christmas-y touch. Christmas tree scones were perfect! I mixed up a buttermilk scone dough with parmesan for a cheesy taste. The scones were cut out with […]
Christmas Rocky Road
It’s Christmas and sometimes you need something loaded with sugar to get you through the days. This Christmas Rocky Road will definitely give you (or the kids) a sugary buzz! For my daughter’s kindy class party, the girls had to bring something sweet and the boys something savoury. Woohoo! Just the excuse I need to […]
Simple Apricot Walnut Slice to Share
It’s heading towards the end of the year, and reasons to get backing are coming in thick and fast. School Christmas parties, gifts for friends and neighbours, and just having to feed the kids each day. But energy levels are dropping, as we head into the festive season. I don’t have the time and energy […]
Space-Themed Birthday Party Food
Last week, I shared the games we played for my son’s space-themed birthday party. Today, I’m going to share the space-themed birthday party food. Planets and Space Sugar Cookies I’m always looking for an excuse to make sugar cookies and practice my cookie decorating techniques (which still needs a LOT of practice!). When I started […]
Fruit Smoothie for Beginners
My health kick continues in fits and starts. I still lapse into old habits just a little too easily. One way I kick-start my healthy eating (and keep going back to when I get off track) is smoothies. I’m not big breakfast eater and a smoothie for breakfast is a nice way to start the […]
Chicken, Pesto and Corn Scrolls Recipe
Last week, I started making another batch of pizza scrolls for my son’s lunch box. When I went to the fridge for the fillings, I spotted some leftover chicken meat (from making broth) and corn kernels (can’t remember what they were from!). So I decided to change tack and make something a little fancier. I used […]
Nut bars {recipe}
I’m not a fan of muesli bars. The oats feel heavy in my stomach. I’m also a bit fussy and don’t like dried fruit with nuts. So it’s hard to find the perfect snack bar for me – lots of nuts, a little sweet and with a good crunch. When I finally find one that […]
Vanilla Marshmallow Stars Recipe
There’s always someone on your Christmas list who’s difficult to shop for. They have everything they need and don’t give any hints about what to give them (hmmm, that sounds a bit like me!). If they’re are a bit of a foodie or love baking, the RedBalloon MarketPlace has gourmet gift box subscriptions (they’re not […]
Popcorn Christmas Tree Tutorial
While thinking about what food to make for my son’s Kindy Christmas party next week, Popcorn Christmas Trees popped into my head and I just had to make them straight away. My first thought was to use green candy melts, but I didn’t have any (and I’ve just about hit that point where I don’t […]
Incaberry and White Chocolate Cookies
Have you tried Incaberries? They are the latest superfood – high in fibre and anti-oxidants and packed with nutritional goodness. But do they taste any good? I was sent a sample of incaberries to try, and was pleasantly surprised. (Image source: Incaberry.com.au) I’m hit and miss when it comes to eating dried fruit. I like […]
Cupcake Roses
My husband turned one of those milestones that end with a zero last month. We had a casual afternoon/evening barbecue party, with friends coming and going as they pleased – definitely easier for families with kids. I made most of the food for the party (and cursed myself for giving myself the stress in the […]
Pizza Scrolls
Growing up, we always had sandwiches for lunch and now, I’m really not a fan. I’m always looking for different tasty options for lunch and these pizza scrolls really hit the spot. Gourmet Garden fresh herbs make it easy to add a bit more flavour – just simply spread it on with the tomato paste. […]
Lime Meringue Slice
I love a good slice! It’s a great treat to take to a friend’s house, and when you cheat and use a pre-made lime curd, this doesn’t take any longer than making and icing (frosting) a cake. I also think it looks just a little bit fancier and more grown up than cake. It’s just […]
Cornflake Cookies
Lately, I’ve wanted to cook food from my childhood. I love the idea of baking the same things for my kids that my Mum made for me. These cornflake cookies fit the bill (although my Mum always put sultanas in them – I’m not a fan). I also like to fool myself that homemade cookies […]
Yummy Brownies
I’d never heard of brownies when I was a kid (or muffins for that matter). It was cakes and biscuits (of the cookie kind) for baked treats in our house. I’m not sure when I first heard of brownies, probably from American sitcoms, but I though they were too American (with that defensive “anti-Americanisation of […]
Guest Me Me Me-er: Mrs Bettie Rocker
It’s time to welcome my first guest blogger for Me Me Me Month: Becky (aka Mrs Bettie Rocker). I love all the sweet treats she posts, and just how real she is (although, to be honest, dorky, nerdy me would never be cool enough to speak to her in real life – I love that […]
Honeyed ANZAC Biscuits
ANZAC biscuits (cookies for my American readers) are an Australian icon. A little crispy on the outside, but chewy on the inside, filled with oat-y, coconut-y goodness. It’s a simple recipe, great to make with kids. Usually made with golden syrup, this version from Delicious magazine (Issue 101, February, 2011) uses honey instead, giving a […]
Quick Pesto Chicken Mini-Quiches
When I’m asked to bring a plate of finger food to a gathering, I like to bring something savoury. Mini-quiches always go down a treat. I made these just before Christmas for a neighbourhood party. As an added bonus, they taste just as good cold as hot. Ingredients 3 sheets puff pastry 1 small barbecue […]
Triple Decker Chocolate Treat
Friends living in a small country town recently visited us, and requested Thai takeaway for dinner. I was more than happy not to cook (especially as I usually go over the top when I have guests), but I couldn’t not make anything. A simple dessert was in order – a small tasty treat after mountains […]
Apple Sultana Chews
I spotted this recipe for Apple Raisin Chews at Healthy Home Recipes on Twitter the other day, and thought I would give it a go. (Side note: Yes, I’m on Twitter @CookCleanCraft) I don’t normally like to cook from recipes that don’t have a picture – I like to see what it’s supposed to look […]
Banana Bread
Everyone should have a good Banana Bread recipe. So tasty and a bit healthy (hey, it has fruit). I haven’t been able to make it for a while as my son loves bananas, so they all get eaten before they get mushy. Somehow, we ended up with three heading towards blackness, and finally I could […]
Pineapple Platter
It’s the middle of winter here in Australia, and while Brisbane winters are mild, I’m missing the sunshine and fresh fruit of summer. Looking through some photos of our housewaerming last year, I spotted this very summery Pineapple Platter. Maybe those of you in the Northern Hemisphere enjoying their summer holidays could use the recipe […]
Cheese and Corn Muffins
Here is my latest attempt in the quest to get a few more vegetables into my son’s life (and let’s face, my diet could use a few more vegies too!). After having cheese sandwiches for lunch a few too many days in a row (and finally feeling better from the eternal cold that’s been dragging […]
Chocolate Choc-chip muffins
Making muffins is so quick and easy, and so rewarding in yumminess. All you need is a mixing bowl, a measuring jug and some measuring spoons, and you’re ready to go. This is another recipe from Nigella Lawson for Chocolate Choc-chip Muffins. I whipped these up in next to no time when I was hosting […]