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!

SAVOURY MUFFINS...

 

 

UPDATE:   Oh my!! everybody...I totally forgot an ingredient...and I apologise for anybody who has made them already!!  oh goodness!!

1 cup of grated cheddar cheese!!!


HI everybody......ok just whipped up a batch of savoury muffins to go with home made chicken soup...they are quick and easy.. really no fail....

INGREDIANTS

2 cups self raising flour
3/4 level teaspoon baking powder
dash salt
pepper
125 grams melted butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 cup of grated cheddar cheese!!

small grated carrot
handful spring onion

OPTIONAL

capsicum  (peppers)
ham or cooked bacon or salami
grated zucchini ..squeezed dry

METHOD

Add to your bowl.. flour, baking powder, cheese, salt , carrot ect...and whatever you chose as optional   if any....

Beat your eggs with a fork ... add them to the milk and melted butter....

Combine with the dry ingredients.

mix with a metal spoon till just combined

These make 6 large Texas size muffins...as the pic shows  :)

Today I used capsican...no ham ...but have made them several different ways...all delish...even if you only have cheese and carrots....delightful!

Put in oven for 20-30 minutes at 200 degrees  Celsius...give or take.....every oven different.

They are delicious and fluffy...go well with soup..stews...even on their own for an afternoon snack!

Pic is of my spring onions. I have growing, bought them from the greengrocer months ago and planted them...they just keep supplying me with more!

Hope you try out the muffins.......till the next time... :)

HOMEMADE WASHING POWDER.....

 

UPDATED: 

 

HI!!   As you know...I like a green healthy home as best as possible...so I decided it was about time I started making my own washing powder...with out all the nasties ect.  So surfing around the Internet and finding all the lovely people putting on their recipes ect for home made cleaning products...I decided on this as best for me...smells lemony too!

4 cups grated pure soap  approx 4 bars.....(found in the laundry isle)

2 cups of washing soda  (laundry isle)

2 cups of BiCarb Soda ....  Arm and Hammer (laundry isle in Woolworths)....

I cup BORAX  (some supermarkets...all hardware stores)

and essential oil...I used lemongrass....(health food stores)

now you dont have to use essential oil..but I like the smell...and you can choose any oil you like...bought from the health food store....but if you want to save money...you can omit it!  :)...but having said that.. Id rather a pleasent smelling powder...that makes me smile!...

now prices approx...

pure soap.....   approx $3.30

washing soda..  1 kilo...3.70

Bicarb  1 kilo....4.50

Borax  500 grm... $4.50

you only use half the soda, borax and bicarb....so its cheap to make!

roughly $8 - $9   for  over a kilo in homemade washing powder....I don't do it for the cost...but for the satisfaction and knowing of less chemicals.

METHOD:  Ok   just grate up your box of soap....there is 4 bars...make sure you have a sturdy grater!!...and some elbow grease!  good exercise...lol

I then wizzed mine through a processor to make it very fine!...add the other ingredients...wizz some more...and your done!!.here you can add drops of your chosen essential oil..as much as you like...but dont go overboard...a little goes a long way!...now if you don't have a processor...not to worry..still works the same...just not finely powdered.

I use  2 tablspoons of powder... :)  

Ok ...it doesnt suds up all frothy...no no....which is great for front loaders....just a few bubbles....I use warm water....so Ill have to try it out in cold....

White vinagar in the rinse water...gives it a fresher smell..and helps soften....but by all means  find a green...eco friendly softner for  the finishing touch!

Works a treat!!...and of course dried out in the sunshine..I recommend...sunlight is natures brightener!

      

Oh and I did bake a cake!!  just wasn't up to blogging standards that day! Ok till the next post.....bye bye!

SATURDAY IN THE CITY...

Had  a day In Brisbane ...went to South Bank...jumped on the Big Wheel...it would be spectacular at night....considering I'm not good with heights... it wasn't scary at all  :). 

Walked across the river into the city...  went ghost hunting in the Brisbane arcade....apparently a spirit  lady traverses the top floor gallery...didn't see her this time...but always on the look out for a good ghost haunt!...The chocolate shop full of international lolly and chocolates ...was pleasing to the eye..to say the least  :).     One of Brisbane's original shopping arcades...refurbished and just a delight to wonder through.

I may bake tomorrow...if I do Ill be sure to blog...maybe a chocolate cake...but hmmm not sure....an apple cake...maybe sultana...lol...whateva I wake up craving I suppose!!

 

and as usual...click on pics to make them bigger.

 

bye for now...  

 

 

 

ANZAC BISCUITS.....

HI...   :)  Long time no see...

Being a most auspicious day this day ..whilst hubby went to dawn service...I fluttered about the kitchen making Anzac Biccies.... so lets get straight into it..

INGREDIENTS:

1 CUP OF ORGANIC ROLLED OATS
1 CUP OF PLAIN FLOUR
3/4 CUP BROWN SUGAR
1/2 HEAPED CUP COCONUT
125 GRAMS REAL BUTTER
2 HEAPED TABLESPOONS OF GOLDEN SYRUP
1 TABLESPOON BOILING WATER
1/2 TEASPOON BICARB

METHOD:

add flour sugar oats and coconut to bowl

melt butter add syrup then water and bicarb...
when all frothy add to dry ingredients. stir till welled mixed
roll into walnut size balls
flatten down lightly with a fork

bake for roughly 15 minutes on 180 degrees...give or take..how eva your oven is...careful...they golden up quickly...I nearly burnt mine!  :)

they will harden when cooled...I spooned melted chocolate onto mine...delish!  also you can add...sultanas  or some pecans  ect...whateva takes your fancy!