SIMPLE CHOCOLATE CAKE.....

Hello again!...ok... a very easy chocolate cake...just had a piece with ice-cream...quite yummy. Now that was a decadent breakfast!!  Hay why not...life too short for tea and toast!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup water
3/4 cup of sugar ..  more or less...depending on your sweet tooth!
125 grams real butter
1/3 cup cocoa
2 eggs (lightly beaten)  free range
1 1/2 cups plain flour
3 level  teaspoons baking powder
dash vanilla




METHOD:

Combine the cocoa water..butter..sugar  in saucepan and warm till butter melted...do not boil.
Transfer to a bowl...let cool down ..beat the eggs and vanilla...pour into mixture..stir in sifted flour and baking powder and mix well.

bake in moderate oven  180 Celsius approx. 40 minutes...give or take...

done!!  how easy was that!

I used a 20cm spring form pan...but if you want a higher cake...I defiantly would use a smaller pan...I will next time...I like height!!  :)

I have a few more recipes up my sleeve... coming soon!

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS.....

Hay its Sunday!...ok looking outside the weather...well hmmm...could be sunnier...but if I need an excuse not to mow the backyard...I have one. That chocolate cake didn't get baked yesterday...cocoa was non existent in my pantry...will pop down the store...in the meantime....muffins....very quick to whip up...

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups of organic SR flour
1/2-3/4 cup brown sugar
dash vanilla concentrate
cup of milk
1 large egg (free-range)
120 grams real butter.. melted
full cup of blueberries......I used frozen (Australian..not imported)

teaspoon of grated lime rind...optional... I did use  :)

METHOD...

sift your flour and add  sugar, rind and blueberries into bowl

melt your butter add to milk and beaten egg and vanilla ...wisk..add to dry ingredients

bake approx. 35 min or so... at 180 Celsius...

DONT OVERMIX...you don't want rubbery muffins!
It makes 6 large muffins...or 12 small.....

simple....

Had a quick impromptu BBQ yesterday for lunch... how come when one cooks outside the kitchen seemed in worse shape when lunch was over! 

Have a fantastic day!!  

CREAMY HOME MADE ICE-CREAM....

 

 

I'm back already...that was quick....Yesterday I made a delicious creamy bourbon splashed ice cream....4 ingredients and easy peasy...I just had to share,and it certainly doesn't taste bourbony..  :) more like a French vanilla....really nice.

INGREDIENTS:

600ml of full fat  cream
splash of vanilla concentrate
can of condensed milk
2 tablespoons of Bourbon.

METHOD:

Pour the condensed milk into a large bowl...add vanilla and Bourbon....mix till combined.

In another bowl  whip the cream till peaks form

FOLD the cream into the milk mixture...till well mixed.....

put into whatever container you like...

I chose an old corning ware oven dish....perfect size! Cover with a lid or plastic wrap ect...

Keep in freezer overnight...or until frozen! 

Done!...and its ever so yummy!...decadent...calorie filled...but oh so yummy and so easy!

Oh  ...had to add the pic of condensed milk...forgot to include in group shot...duh! lol  :)

I'll be making chocolate cake soon...so be sure to drop by.

SPOONS...SWANS...and SUNLIGHT SOAP.....

 

 

 

Hello again!....ok so this morning...no recipe...I just had to  have a spiel about teaspoons...well any piece of cutlery hiding in the bottom of the sink, really...doesn't matter...after a day BBQ..ing with family ...cutlery at a premium...the draw empty... one dives into the sink full and after several attempts still coming up without the elusive teaspoon....Now I know we've all done this...  numerous times... brought out every piece except what your after.....ahh yes....in frustration one thinks of emptying the sink...convinced the spoon fairy has made off with them all.  But just when you give up...and try one more time... the spoon.. yay ..its like finding buried treasure!

On the subject of sinks....Ive been using good ole fashioned Sunlight soap...when I ran out of dishwashing liquid...may not look the same...no bubbles...and sink all cloudy...but does a marvellous job....you can even put your hands in the sink without fear of chemical overload!  Just give everything a rinse...as one should always do anyway..and whalah...I may not go back to conventional dishwash liquid....and the price..cheap cheap... I just heard a bird in my head!    :)  grate a little bit or just swish it  of the bar....marvellous!  ( and no..ha ha  I have no affiliation with the  Sunlight soap company)

Snapped a pic of the local swans and their offspring yesterday whilst we were frolicking in the local park ...So FUZZY....so very cute! (clicking on pic makes it bigger)

 

 

 

Also went to Toowoomba over the weekend....I could write a short story..on the GPS giving wrong directions and hubby on motorbike disappearing ahead, taking us way out and around the beautiful inland city... wrong way...over an hour late...and daughter having to come find us to show us the way from the other end of town!!  lol... It was a comedy of errors!!  Pic ......up the lookout   at Picnic Point...surveying the countryside towards Brisbane. Next trip will have a whole range of snaps of the beauty of the place....time was at a premium this day!

Ok fellow bloggers...Ill be back this way very soon...with another recipe..as to what .....your guess is as good as mine!! ...till then...may your week be as sunny and warm as a beautiful spring day.

DATE AND PECAN LOAF.......

 

 

HI!!    Happy day to all........I have  a date loaf in the oven...so until I get it out and pic up...Ill start on the blogging...

hmm lets see...I didn't follow a specific recipe...I like to make things up as I go along sometimes....

INGREDIANTS:

2 cups of organic SR flour..
125 grams of real butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup of boiled water
11/4 cup  chopped dates
1 cup chopped  pecans...or walnuts...I had pecans in my pantry.
1 beaten egg
1/2 teaspoon bi carb of soda
teaspoon of mixed spice
cinnamon. ginger..whatever your fancy...I used mixed spice and extra ginger for more of a kick.
dash vanilla (I use extract concentrate)

METHOD:

chop up your dates...add to a saucepan with cup of  boiled water... butter...and spices...and dash of vanilla.....bring to the boil....take of heat and stir till all combined and mushy....

transfer to another bowl... add your bicarb...watch it froth...always fun  :).....let cool for 5 minutes...

when reasonably cool...add beaten egg quickly stirring....then add your sifted flour...one cup at a time...folding in with a fork...to well combined....don't use a mixer here...nope...just a fork....then add your pecans last....

transfer to greased and lined loaf tin....I used a 23x13x6cm tin....larger size..

bake for approx. 40 minutes in a 180 degree oven...that's celcius.. 

and don't forget fellow bloggers....organic and fresh is best...free range eggs at all times...and real butter...not plastic margarine...ughh.......quickly steps off that soap box.... :)

Its a gorgeous day outside here today...Ill be in the garden doing some weeding ...fresh air...and some rays...getting my D's...lol....best kind, fresh from the sun!

Ok I best go check on that loaf!!....

oh yes...cold spread with butter...yummy!

All stay as awesome as you are...till next time!





 

LEMON COCONUT CAKE.....

 

 

 

HI again so soon... now this cake can also be a vanilla coconut cake...just substitute lemon and lemon frosting for vanilla...easy peasy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups Self Raising Flour
plus 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (for extra fluffiness)
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
3/4 cup sugar  ( I used organic raw)
2 eggs  (room temperature)
1 cup milk
125 grams melted butter
1 Tablespoon of grated lemon rind.

Fresh lemon juice for frosting.

Lemon frosting:

Icing mixture
real butter and fresh lemon juice to the consistency you'd like.
every body has their own fav mix...so do what makes you happy!

METHOD:

Add all dry ingredients into bowl
beat the eggs...add to the milk...then add melted butter
immediately pour into dry ingredients....MIX with a WOODEN SPOON>

don't use an electric mixer...just mix till lumps are gone. Don't over do it.  ok folks...that's it oh 30-40 minutes in the oven about 180 degrees Celsius.... or how ever your oven behaves!!
I sprinkled coconut over the top of mine  :)  Till next time ...BELIEVE  its all magic!

ALL PURPOSE TOMATO POURING SAUCE...

Hello!!!    OK..Todays recipe is home made  all purpose sauce...great for pasta dishes...minestrone soup...all kinds of ways to use it...Ill be making minestrone soup with mine. Nothing like all fresh ingredients oven roasted at home.

ok what you need is

Tomatoes  as many as youd like really   :)
Capsicums (bell peppers)
Onions
Garlic  (fresh)
chilli (optional of course)  :) picked my chilli fresh from the garden.



sea salt
pepper
extra virgin olive oil.

cut them all up as per pic....and deseed the chilli if you don't like it burning hot...

drizzle with a sprinkle of olive oil...dash pepper and salt

bake in a moderate oven till charring on the bottom..and well softened...a good hour or so....roasted nicely. pic below...not quite done yet...  :) another 10 minutes....

put into your food processor and wiz.

that simple...with a boiled jar and added while still hot...your lid should seal itself after awhile....so can keep in fridge for a little bit....if not needed straight away.

This recipe can be added too....celery, mushrooms...whatever takes your fancy!


                                      

 

I have a lemon coconut cake..I made before the sauce...2 blogs at once...lol...have to taste test it first...if it delicious...excpect a blog tomorrow!!  until the next time...be magic!