White Christmas Bites

My mother used to make white Christmas. Although i love it, I'm not a huge fan of dried fruit so i have adapted this recipe to suit, well, me.

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 1 1/2 cups rice bubbles
• 125g copha (i had to use more)
• 90g white chocolate
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1 turkish delight chocolate bar, chopped finely
• Any decoration: cachous, sprinkles, stars etc.

1. Put 24 patty cases on 1 - 2 baking trays
2. Combine powdered milk, icing sugar, coconut and rice bubbles in a large bowl
3. Melt copha in saucepan and remove from heat. Stir in white chocolate. Add to dry ingredients and mix until combined. Add mini marshmallows and turkish delight.
4. Spoon into cases and top with decoration. Refrigerate until set.

Caramel Brownie Cakes

Every time i attempt to make brownies, i fail. For some reason these worked and i was so excited! I think it was because i made individual ones instead of a large pan of them.

These did not last, i had to hide this heart shaped brownie so that i could take a picture of it!

They have Rollo's pressed into them. YUM!

• 1/2 cup macadamia nuts, chopped  (i just used chocolate that contained macadamias.)
• 80g butter
• 150g dark eating chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup plain flour
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 x packets Rollo's

1. Preheat oven 180c. Grease mini muffin pans/cupcake pan, heart shaped silicone mould or whatever you have :)
2. Melt butter and chocolate in saucepan over low heat, do not boil. (i used the microwave) Cool slightly.
3. Stir sugar and egg into mixture, then sifted flour and sour cream. Spoon mixture into pans. Press one Rollo into each if using mini muffin pans or 2 or 3 Rollo's depending on the size of your brownies.
4. Bake in oven approx 15 mins for mini or 30 mins for for large.

Cool in pans and eat while warm!!

Rumless Rum Balls

I hate rum. I told everyone that i don't put rum in these so that the kids can eat them.
Now they are just called 'balls'.
You might like to call them chocolate balls.

They are very easy to make and taste delicious.

• 1 packet marie biscuits, crushed
• 1 tin condensed milk
• 3/4 cup coconut
• 2 tbsp cocoa

Mix all ingredients together, roll in balls and roll in extra coconut.

Hide them.

Jelly Slice

Jelly slice.... I make this every Christmas and i always have to make a second batch. If you have never heard of jelly slice, you are missing out. The base is a sugary biscuit, the middle layer is condensed milk and the top is, well, jelly.
I saw people make this slice for years and i wouldn't even try it. My husbands mother used to buy it from a local lady and put candles in it for her children's birthday.
i decided to make it one day for my husband to bring back some childhood memories and once i tried mine i was obsessed! I had to make another batch to take to the work Christmas party and i had people ask me to make more for them!
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as i do :)

• 1 packet Arnotts 'nice' biscuits
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 175g unsalted butter
• 1 can condensed milk
• 1 tbsp and 1 tsp gelatine powder
• 1 packet raspberry jelly

1. Line a slice tray (or in my case a container) with baking paper
2. Dissolve jelly in 1 1/2 cups boiling water and place in fridge to cool
3. Crush biscuits and combine with melted butter and sugar. Press in to slice tray and refrigerate 30 mins
4. Dissolve gleatine in 1/2 cup hot water. Combine with condensed milk and pour over biscuit base. Refrigerate 30 mins until nearly set
5. Pour cold jelly mixture over slice and return to the fridge to set.
6. Slice into squares and enjoy!

Chocolate Mudslides

Last night, while over at a friends house, i had the most amazing thing. Alcohol + chocolate together.
I know, they have been around for a while but i have never drank a commercial chocolate mudslide purely becasue i hate milk.  After trying a home made one, i think i am now obsessed. Uh-ha!

Now, i cannot take the credit for this dreamy alcoholic cup of greatness because i didnt make it. but i will! Probably often.

Too often.

My friends husband whipped it up in just a few minutes and i wasn't really watching. When he brought it over i nearly died. I HAD to have one. It was worth every horrible calorie.

This recipe made 4

• 30mls chocolate mozart gold
• 30mls vodka
• 30mls baileys
• Chocolate topping
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3-4 cups ice
• Squirty cream from a can
• Chocolate powder (Quik or cocoa)

Crush ice in a blender and then pour in a few squirts of chocolate topping, chocolate liqueur, vodka, baileys and milk.
Decorate a glass with squirts of chocolate topping and pour in the liquid.
Refrain from taking sips until complete.
Squirt some cream on the top of each one and then in to your mouth. Because its fun.
Sprinkle chocolate on top and poke a straw in there somewhere.

Enjoy and go back for many more!!

Ladies Racing Hat Biscuits

I love Melbourne Cup! On the odd occasion i get to go to the races providing i have no children and a lot of money. This year i have no money and my 2 year old so i am off to an indoor play centre for lunch with a friend.
Last year i made these biscuits for everyone at work and they all loved them. They had better, these biscuits are painstakingly time consuming! I think it was 2 hours this year.

But they are cute.

And they actually taste really good!
The royal icing sticks the marshmallow on and sets hard so they are really easy to eat.
If you have the money, buy proper sugar flowers, it took me ages just to cut my colored fruit sticks let alone assemble these damn things!

• 250g packet marie biscuits
• 1 large packet pascall marshmallows
• Sugar flowers or fruit sticks cut into thin slices.
• 2 egg whites
• 3 cups pure icing sugar
• 3-4 tbsp lemon juice
• Food coloring

The icing makes quite a bit so i also made gingerbread men and used the left over icing for them x

Make the icing: Place egg whites in a bowl and whisk with a fork until just foamy. Add icing sugar and stir until think and lump free. Stir in enough lemon juice until the icing becomes a little thinner and spreadable.
Spoon half the icing into a separate bowl and tint with food coloring. Put glad wrap over the bowl so that it doesn't start to set.
Tint the rest of the icing another colour.
Divide the biscuits in two portions.
Working with one portion, spread a biscuit with icing using a butter knife. Place a marshmallow on top and cover it with more icing making sure to fill the gaps between the biscuit and the marshmallow. Place sugar flowers on side of hat. Leave biscuit out until set completely hard.
Repeat with remaining ingredients. (Allow plenty of time!)
Store in an airtight container.

I Heart My Body 2011

OK. I admit, I got lucky with my body.

Then I had 2 children and got even luckier.

It must be in my genes as my mother was a size 8 after 3 kids and my sister aka Veggie Mama has a 7 month old baby and she could still pose for Playboy if she wanted to! (NOT that she would.) It was my sister that also blogged her body for I heart my body which prompted me to join the club.

I love my body, flaws and all and you should too. (Your own, not mine.) If you don't, do something about it, you only have one and you have it for the rest of your life. Only YOU can change yourself. As Dr Phil always says "You chose the behaviour, you chose the consequence."

Just because i might have today's 'ideal' body does not mean i don't have body issues like everyone else.

I do. A lot.

There are days when i look in the mirror and I'm actually horrified at what i see. Sometimes all i see is the dark pigmentation under my eyes that have gotten darker recently, my freckly face (hence the makeup) my 'coco pop' mole on my back that i wont get removed because i am a chicken shit. My caesarean scar that brought my two children into the world when my body failed to do its natural thing. My *cough* saggy boobs that still have their E cup skin but not enough filling. My spider veins that have lingered since pregnancy and my gigantic feet. (No fair, I'm not even tall!)

But tomorrow is I heart my body day 2011 so I'm supposed to talk about what i DO like.

I love that my body has grown two humans inside it, all by itself. I like my legs, they look good in any outfit that i wear. I like my hair, i don't take care of it, rarely trim it and wash it in $2 ALDI shampoo and it still looks good. (Thank you GHD!). I love my eyelashes, i used to get in to trouble in high school for wearing mascara..... except i wasn't wearing any. I love my bum. So does my husband.

We should all love and be proud of our body. Show it off, accept your flaws and take care of yourself. Remind yourself just how amazing your body is and learn to love it.

Don't laugh at my dodgy bathroom. You are, arne't you?

Marshmallow Mum xxxxx

Choc Mint Sauce

200g peppermint cream dark chocolate block, chopped/broken
1/4 cup cream
4 mint slice biscuits, chopped finely

Melt chocolate and cream in small saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil.
Serve over your favourite dessert and sprinkle with crushed biscuits.

Snickers Sauce

2x 60g snickers chocolate bars, chopped coarsely
1/2 cup cream
Handful chopped peanuts

Place chocolate bars and cream in a small saucepan and melt over medium heat. Do not boil. Sauce should thicken slightly. Stand 5 minutes before serving.

Pour over your favourite dessert and sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

Choc Marshmallow Sauce

 4 x 60g mars bars, chopped finely
300ml cream
100g packet marshmallows

Stir chocolate bars and cream in a small saucepan, over low heat, until smooth. Add marshmallows and stir until melted.

This recipe makes 2 cups so if you don't want that much, just halve it.... or not!

This sauce makes a great fondue sauce!

Cheesymite Pull-apart

Why does Vegemite and cheese taste so good together? I don't know why, but it does, and my kids love it. We spend $3 a pop at the bakery buying cheesymite scrolls so i thought id give it a go myself.
This recipe was very easy and i had everything i needed in my pantry. Yay for me!

• 2 cups SR flour
• 30g butter, chilled and chopped
• 3/4 cup  milk
• Vegemite
• 1 cup grated cheese
• Extra milk to glaze

1. Preheat oven to 220c and line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Sift flour in a bowl and using fingertips, rub butter into flour until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. (Mine looked nothing like breadcrumbs!)
3. Make a well in the centre and add milk.
4. Using a butter knife 'cut' through the mixture until it forms a soft dough (add more milk if necessary)
5. Turn out on to a lightly floured surface and knead gently until smooth (don't over knead)
6. Roll out until you have approximately 30cm x 20 cm rectangle
7. Spread over desired amount of Vegemite and sprinkle with cheese.
8. Roll up firmly and transfer to baking tray, seam side down.
9. Using scissors, cut into top of dough at 3cm intervals without cutting all the way through.
10. Pull slice to the left and right and brush with milk
11. Bake for 20-25 mins and serve. Best served warm!!

Enjoy.... We did!!

Carrot and Walnut Cake

I nearly died when i tried this cake, even the batter was addictive! It seriously tasted like something from an expensive cafe.... Mind you, it cost me around $15 to make! (Soooooooooo worth it though!)
I am no fancy baker so it looks like crap but it was so moist and delicious!

• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups SR flour
• 1 tsp bicarb soda
• 1 1/1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups firmly packed grated carrot (approx 3x large or 5x small)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 block cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven 180c. Grease a round cake tin.
2. Combine oil, sugar and eggs in a bowl and whisk well. Add flour, bicarb and cinnamon and stir gently.
3. Add carrot and walnuts and mix. Pour mixture into pan and bake 50 mins or until cooked.
4. Cool 10 minutes in tin before turning out to cool completely.
5. Make icing: Beat cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla until thick.

                                                       The kids certainly enjoyed it!

                                                                    I enjoyed mine!

Happily Ever After

Today is our 4th Wedding anniversary and i woke up alone :(
Its hard with Andy out in the mines so i am going to go through all our wedding photos and share the love with you!
We had such an amazing day, amazing weather, amazing family and amazing friends xxxxx
 
 

Recipe for Love

Ingredients

2 Hearts Full of Love
2 Heaping Cups of Kindness
2 Armfuls of Gentleness
2 Cups of Friendship
2 Cups of Joy
2 Big Hearts Full of Forgiveness
1 Lifetime of Togetherness
2 Minds Full of Tenderness

Method

Stir daily with Happiness, Humor and Patience.
Serve with Warmth and Compassion, Respect and Loyalty.

~ Author Unknown ~

Such a beautiful photo <3

This is my favourite, it is hanging up in our loungeroom x

                          My wonderful bridal party

                           Gorgeous bridesmaids! x

                  The moment my $2 wedding knife broke!

                          Mr & Mrs Marshmallow

          Cant have a wedding without your best friends

                 I dont remember this part, its a blur!

 Marshmallow Mum without makeup folks!!! The  morning of the wedding.

                                 Reception fun

                       My little boy was so.... little!!

Ive taken my hair out, ive got my stuff and im ready to leave!

Happily Ever After xxxx

Marshmallow Cones

Marshmallow cones..... I buy them from the bakery sometimes and they are ok but i thought i would give them a go myself. WELL! I thought that they would taste even worse then the bakery ones, but i was wrong! These are the creamiest and thickest marshmallow cones i have ever had!

Homemade all the way!

They also happened to be the cheapest things i have ever made as i had everything in the cupboard!

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp powdered gelatine
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Flat based ice cream cones
• Sprinkles

1. Place sugar, water and gelatine in saucepan on med/high heat and stir until dissolved (about 2 mins)
2. Stop stirring, bring to a light boil, reduce heat if it starts to rise but maintain boil.
3. Boil 10 mins without stirring.
4. Remove saucepan from heat and place on wire cake rack to cool for 15 mins.
5. When marshmallow has cooled it will look like this:

6. When marshmallow has cooled, add vanilla and beat with beaters for 5 mins until thick, white and creamy.

7. Add food coloring if you like at this point.
8. Spoon into ice-cream cones and decorate with sprinkles.

For best results leave to set in refrigerator 24 hours - I wouldnt know, i ate one after 2 hours in the fridge and it was amazing! 



Choc Coconut Slice

This recipe is exactly the same as when i make Rum Balls - minus the rum.... EW!
This recipe can also be rolled into balls and then rolled in coconut for a perfect Christmas present or just because. If you like, rum or rum essence can be added.

• 250g packet plain biscuits
• 3/4 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1x can condensed milk

Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Crush biscuits leaving a few larger chunks. (I go to town with a potato masher and a mixing bowl!!)
Stir 1/2 cup coconut with rest of dry ingredients.
Add condensed milk and mix until combined.
Spoon mixture into pan and flatten with back of a spoon. Sprinkle remaining coconut on top.
Chill 3 hours or overnight. Cut into squares to serve.
Best stored in a container in the fridge. :)

Lemon Slice

People rave about this slice, the recipe was given to me by my sister when i was a teenager and i have been making it since then!

• 1/2 can condensed milk
• 1/2 packet crushed Marie biscuits
• 1 cup coconut
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• Lemon rind of 1 lemon (Lemon is then used for icing.)

      Icing

• Mix squeezed lemon juice with icing sugar and a little hot water to make a spreadable paste.

Melt butter and stir in condensed milk. Add crushed biscuits, coconut and rind. Press into a baking paper lined tin and set in refrigerator. Ice with lemon icing. Sprinkle with extra coconut if you like.

Mars Bar Slice

A friend made this for me and i instantly asked for the recipe! A also ate the lot in one go and could of had more!

• 3 cups rice bubbles
• 5 mars bars
• 90g butter
• 1x block chocolate - milk or dark. I used dark as it makes it really rich!

Line a tray with baking paper.
Melt mars bars and butter together in the microwave.
Mix through rice bubbles and put in tray.
Melt chocolate and spread on top.
Refrigerate and cut in slices to serve..... BIG slices or you will be going back for more!

*** The picture is a slightly different version as i had 2x packets of fun size mars bars and wanted to use the lot like the pig that i am.... I threw in 100g butter and an extra cup of rice bubbles to compensate for my junk food obsessed mind ***

My helper eating a bowl of rice bubbles while the slice is setting!

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

No these are not ice creams, they are cupcakes! Dont you think they are just the cutest things? Even cuter was my beautiful little helper for the afternoon:

These are really easy to make and lots of fun. All you do is make any cake batter (I put hundreds and thousands through mine) and pour it into flat bottomed ice cream cones (stand each cone in a muffin hole) and fill until 3/4 full.
Bake for around 20 mins and you have yourself an ice cream cone cupcake!
The cones stay crunchy but they are best eaten on the day.

Ice with your favourite butter cream and add sprinkles and a jaffa on top, or in my case a malteaser.

ENJOY!!

Some of my food!!!

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