I have never been able to figure out the difference between banana cake and banana bread. I think one is baked in a round cake tin and the other in a loaf tin, otherwise they're pretty much the same. I've found a loophole by being non-committal and I'm calling this choc banana loaf. For me, the addition of the dark choc chips makes this 10 times more amazing than a regular ...
Archives for December 2011
Stock from leftover Roast
We enjoyed some delicious roast duck on Christmas day. I always make stock with the bones leftover from a roast because it's basically free and not to mention, yum! The duck made a lovely dark and rich stock, which I think I will use in a risotto. The stock is also nice as a soup base with some tiny pasta and a few diced veggies.If you're feeling frugal you can collect the ends ...
Spinach and Cranberry Salad
Well here's my twelfth, and therefore last day of Christmas. It's been lots of fun putting together all these Christmas posts and I hope you've enjoyed reading them. This salad is a staple in our house during the Summer. I get requested to make it every Easter and we often have it at home for a light dinner. What I love about this salad is that it's a great way to to use up ...
Gingerbread Ice Cream
What could be better for a Southern Hemisphere Christmas dessert than gingerbread ice cream? This tastes just like gingerbread and you don't need to turn the oven on to make it. Christmas Day is forecast to be quite hot here in Melbourne, so we will be having this as a light and cooling dessert. Gingerbread Ice Cream makes 1.5 litres* 2 eggs 2/3 cup (150g) packed brown ...
Peppermint Schnapps
Day 10 of my 12 days of Christmas...and time for a drink! Peppermint Schnapps is a lovely and refreshing aperitif and makes a nice, home made Christmas gift. I can't figure out if there is a difference between Peppermint Schnapps and Creme de Menthe, but I don't think it matters. This recipe is made using grain spirit. It's also known as Polish spirit or Everclear. You can ...
Christmas Stocking – Tutorial
I'm really picky with the shape of Christmas Stockings, and I think I've finally settled on a shape I love. These stockings are quick and easy to make up and there is no end to the options for decorating these. They can be made from felt, burlap, Christmas fabric, velvet, old felted wool sweaters...the list goes on. Christmas Stocking You'll need: Main fabric - approx 40 x 60 ...
White Chocolate Christmas Cake
I first saw this recipe in the Sunbeam Christmas Recipe book and just reading the ingredients had my mouth watering. Hubby prefers light Christmas cake, so I thought this would be right up his alley. I've tweaked the ingredients a bit from the original, but it certainly does not disappoint. I also did some more testing with the Fresh Express and grated the chocolate up ...
Glitter Letters
Well, I'm now past the half way mark and pretty surprised I've managed to keep up all the Christmas posts. Roman has a cold and a new crop of teeth coming through this week :( He likes to get them in batches, which means we don't get a lot of sleep during the weeks he gets new teeth. I'm being very productive in my down time though, and these festive crafts are lots of fun. ...
Tefal Fresh Express Winner – Take 2!
Well, after 3 days the first winner did not get back to me, so sadly for Amelia, but excitingly for everyone else, I have selected a new winner.The winner of the Tefal Fresh Express giveaway is:Karen McNeil!! Congratulations!Karen said: My favourite kitchen gadget is the coffee machine... No explanation required I am sure!Karen, I have sent you a message on Facebook ...
Tasty Treats for Furry Friends – Dog Biscuit Recipe
There are a few dogs in our extended family, and I always like to give them something for Christmas too. That way, I don't feel so bad when they're begging for the meat off my plate... I'm definitely not going to share that! This dog biscuit recipe is flavoured with peanut butter and they smell pretty good when they're cooking. Last time I baked these at my Mother in law's, ...
Salt Dough Decorations
Making decorations with salt dough is a fun way to get the kids involved in the Christmas festivities. If your kids are too young to make decorations themselves, like Roman is, then you can press their hands or feet into the dough and cut them out. These make good keepsakes or gifts to give to the grandparents.This recipe made enough for me to make 8 footprint ornaments and a ...
Tefal Fresh Express Giveaway: Winner!
The winner of the Tefal Fresh Express giveaway is:Amelia McDermott!! Congratulations!Amelia said: My favourite kitchen gadget (that I have - my favourite one that I don't have is a kitchenaid stand mixer! oh well, a girl can dream) is my ice cream machine. So easy to use and so delicious! I can have lovely resh home made ice cream all year round. Yum.I love my ice ...