Monday 27 February 2012

Cake Batter Fudge



Another Pinterest gem, original recipe is from here.

I followed this one to the T, and was NOT disappointed!!!  So quick and easy to whip up!

Ingredients

1 can sweetened condensed milk
3.5 cups white chocolate chips
3 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Almond Extract
Rainbow Sprinkles
Pour milk and white chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 2-3 minutes, or until white chocolate is almost completely melted. DO NOT OVERHEAT. Stir until completely blended, melted, and smooth.
Immediately add vanilla and almond and combine thoroughly. Add a handful or so of rainbow sprinkles and fold in quickly, because they will melt (and if they are stirred for too long they’ll turn the fudge an ugly muddy colour).
Transfer to an aluminum-foil lined 8×8 inch baking pan for very thick fudge, or a 11X7 pan (recommended). Let set at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Once set,  cut into cubes (and peel off the foil!). Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place.

Another one to take to work so I dont eat it all..... :)



Saturday 25 February 2012

Cheesy Mushroom Crepes



I remember my mum making these when I was a kid, and LOVING the gooey cheesy filling.  Now I can appreciate the mushroom goodness more too ;)

Ingredients
Crepes:
1 C Self Raising Flour
1 C Plain Flour
2 1/2 C Milk
1 Egg
Juice of half a lemon

Filling:
1 3/4 C Grated Cheese
1 Egg
1/2 tsp Mixed Herbs
Salt & Pepper

Topping:
6 Spring Onions (chopped)
1C Sliced Mushrooms
1C Cream
Method
Preheat over to 200
First we make the crepes......
Sift flours together, add milk,egg & lemon juice & mix into a smooth batter.
Pour into a hot buttered pan and cook both sides, making sure they are lovely and thin.

Mix filling ingredients together, and spoon filling onto each crepe and roll up, and place in an oven dish.

Cook in the oven for about 10min

Whilst these are baking, make up your topping.  I didnt have any spring onions on hand so just diced an onion.  I also felt like corn, so added a tin of corn to my topping.
Melt 1tbs of butter in a pan.  Saute spring onions and mushrooms.  Add the cream and heat through.


Serve crepes up and pour topping over the top.  DELISH!


Sunday 19 February 2012

Fudgey Crunchy Mars Bar Brownies



I came up with the name myself....I really dont know what else to call them!

The blog I got the inspiration from for this recipe started the post with an apology.  I really do need to take a leaf from their book, and also apologise.  These are good.  Really good.  So I must apologise if you really dont need to be encouraged to make, and eat, the most deliciously devilish chocolate treats you have ever tried.  I really am sorry.

So what ARE Fudgey Crunchy Mars Bar Brownies?  A delightful triple chocolate fudge brownie, topped with Mars Bar Slice.  Yep, you read that right.  Chocolate chocolate and more chocolate!  The original post I found (on Pinterest of course) used packet mix brownie, and Reeses Peanut Butter cups and peanut butter and stuff for the top layer.  Mine isnt really similar in that sense.  But is is brownie topped with crispy chocolatey goodness.

I will share with you this amazing brownie recipe.  It is SO easy, and oh so yummy!!!  I did take some photos for you, but got carried away in some parts and forgot, but Im sure you all know what flour etc looks like :)  I cant remember where this brownie recipe came from,but I have been making them for a few years now.

Ingredients
125gm Butter, chopped, room temp
200gm Dark Chocolate
3/4 Cup Caster Sugar
2 Eggs, beaten lightly
1 Cup Plain Flour
150gm White Chocolate bits
100gm Milk Chocolate bits

Preheat oven to 160
Grease/line a slice pan (unless you have an awesome Chefs Toolbox silicone slice tray like I do, in which case get it out of the cupboard/drawer)
Combine butter and dark chocolate on a low heat, stirring until melted.

Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, and finally flour.
Stir in white and milk chocolate bits
Spread into pan and bake for 30-35min



Next comes the Mars Bar Slice layer.  These recipes are all over the place, the one I use was given to me by my wonderful sister in law Heather.

Ingredients
100gm Butter
4 Mars Bars,chopped
3 Cups Rice Bubbles

Combine butter and Mars Bars in a saucepan over a low heat until nicely mixed.  Add Rice Bubbles.

Now, heres the fun part...Pour this over your baked Brownie Slice (I didnt start making this layer until the brownie was finished in the oven)

If you like (and I did) you can add more chocolate by melting 200-300gm of milk chocolate and spreading over the top.

This part is tricky.  I know it's tempting, but it really is best if you pop it in the fridge now to set.

Give it an hour or so, and you can dig in.

I DID say sorry... ;)  This is DIVINE!

So quick and easy, and oh so deliciously chocolate!

Bake On!




Saturday 18 February 2012

Scrummy Pizza Scroll...things...



You know those days when you forget to get something out of the freezer and dinner time rolls around and suddenly it's panic stations?  That was me tonight!  Pre baby days this wasnt such an issue, I could whip up something random (and trust me - I can do random, just ask my husband!).  But now, with a 13 month old to feed theres a bit more pressure.  Gone are the days when hubby is away and I can blob out!

Anyway, as I was considering my predicament I turned to the smorgasbord that is Pinterest.  Pinterest never fails me!  And as I expected,perusing the 'popular' pins I found this little gem.  Now I used it more as inspiration, rather than following the instructions (can you even buy pizza dough in roll form in the frozen food section in Oz???).  I digress.  Basically you make a pizza, roll it up, cut into slices and voila, pizza scroll...things... :)  Here's what I did.

Ingredients
1 sheet puff pastry
1 piece of mountain bread
Cheese spread
Pizza sauce
Salami
Chicken bread slices
Mozzarella

Lay out the puff pastry, and spread with cheese spread.  Now, this part was inspired by Dominos - who remembers Double Decandence when it was first released?!!  That was THE BOMB!  I am continually striving to reach the heights Tony Peperoni on Double Decadence took me all those years ago.  Again, I digress.  Top this with the piece of mountain bread and again spread with cheese spread.  Next add your pizza sauce.

Mine looked like this

Next add your 'toppings' - sliced salami & chicken slices in my case.


Now for the cheese


And roll baby roll!  make sure your puff pastry is nicely defrosted or it will crack.  I didnt roll it too tight, but not really loosely.  You'll work it out.


OK, so it doesnt look too exciting from the top...


But look at the insides!  Nom nom nom


Slice the roll into pieces say, oh, 2-3cm thick.

I put them in to oven on around 200 for about 30min.  Basically until the pastry puffs a bit and the cheese bubbles over.


And they're done!

These were seriously yummy!  I would definitely make them again, I think hubby would enjoy them.

OK, so I know its still not particularly nutritious for my son, but he had fruit as an 'appetiser', and for dessert!  And hey, beats party pies...right?!

Tomorrow, Im hoping to make the BEST BROWNIES EVER!  Big call I know, but ooooh man, I just know they will be awesome!

Until then, Bake On!




Tuesday 14 February 2012

Cheesy Veggie Muffins



Im pretty lucky, so far, that my son (13 months) doesnt shy away from veggies.  If that time ever comes, I will be piling these into him!  I love these - so easy, and sooo yummy, especially warm!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup Plain Flour
3 tsp Baking Powder
1 Cup Grated Cheese
2 Cups Grated Veggies (whatever you want - pumpkin, potato, zucchini, carrot, celery, whatever you have!  I also often use corn kernels and diced ham/bacon as well)
2 Eggs (lightly beaten)
1/2 Cup Milk
1/3 Cup Oil
Preheat oven to 180
Combine flour, baking powder, veggies, and about 3/4 cup of cheese
In a separate jug combine eggs, milk & oil
Add 2 mixtures together and mix until just combined
Spoon into muffin trays (I usually use my mini muffin pan)
Sprinkle remaining cheese on top
Cook for about 25min
Voila!
Right, Im off to eat mine as they have just finished in the oven...  Oh, and yes, I made some heart shaped for Valentines day :)
Bake on!




Sunday 12 February 2012

Ahem *Slutty* Brownies



So they need a more 'family friendly' name, but that in no way detracts from the awesomness of this devilish delight.  

I stumbled (how you stumble on a 'popular' post on Pinterest I havent worked out but Im sticking to it) upon this recipe on my new love - Pinterest.  I had no idea what this Pinterest phenomenon was. Then, I got it.  Now, Im trapped.  I am constantly pinning and creating new boards, and am accutely aware that I will possibly never make all of the food I've pinned, see the places I want to go, or have the cool stuff in my house.  I know that.  If you want to follow me on Pinterest you can find me here.

BUT...  Some stuff, I can do!  Hello Slutty Brownies!  Quite simply these are a dieters hell, and chocolate lovers heaven.  A layer of cookie, a layer of Oreos, a layer of brownie...How can it be wrong?!!

So cheaters version - get a box of choc chip cookie mix, 2 packets of oreos, and a packet of chocolate fudge brownie mix.  
Make the cookie mix, press it into a slice pan
Layer Oreos on top of the cookie dough
Make brownie mix according to instructions
Pour over the top of the Oreos
Bake in around 180 degree oven for about 30min

These are not actually the brownies I made...there was no time for photos with slutty brownies just discovered...  Next time...I promise!


Try not to eat it all - I recommend wearing elastic waist pants, or pyjamas... Or do what I did - share the fat and take it to work :D

**Pinterest gave me directions here for instructions**

Bake on!

Muesli Bars



This is a recipe I got from my Mum.  I dont know where she got it from, or if she created it/tweaked it etc. but it is freakin awesome!!!  Made these today using 'Craisins', apricot, and pumpkin seeds.

Mum used to make these for my brother and I to have in our school lunches.  I loved them!  And oh how I love them still...

Dry Ingredients
1 Cup Rolled Oats
1 Cup Rice Bubbles
1 Cup Coconut
4 Weetbix (crushed)
1/2 Cup Mixed Fruit/nuts etc

Wet Ingredients
1/2 Cup Honey
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
125gm Butter

Combine dry ingredients well in a large bowl
Combine wet ingredients in a pot and heat until melted
Simmer, stirring constantly for about 5min, or until thick and caramel coloured
Combine wet & dry mixtures
Press evenly into a slice tray
Chill until firm
Enjoy!

Pic to come :)

Where to begin.....



So why start a blog?  I have a shelf in my bookcase dedicated to cookbooks, cooking magazines, random bits of paper with recipes on them...  Trying to find that one recipe I know I have and I want NOW???  Its tough!  I also get a lot of requests for recipes, so figure if I blog what I bake, it's all easy, right?!

Now, I havent done this before, so I dont know how I'll go...  and I do go thru baking phases, where I bake a lot, and not so much, so I imagine I shall also go through blogging phases...

I will endeavour to attribute recipes accordingly, but some recipes I have are random, and I have no idea where I got them!  Some are my Mum's recipes, and I have no idea where SHE got them!

Well, I guess I may as well start with today's baking...

Bake on!  (like rock on but bake...get it?!  Oh I know, Im not funny!)