This is the recipe for the best brownies ever, it happens to be gluten free and you do need to buy a gluten free bread mix for it but it is totally worth it because you will make them again and again!
200g butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups sugar (white, brown, castor or a mix, whatever you have will work)
1 cup cocoa
3 eggs
1/2 cup GF bread mix (I use Healtheries Bread and Baking Mix)
150g chocolate chips
Cream butter, sugar and cocoa.
Beat in eggs one at a time.
Stir in bread mix and chocolate chips.
Pour into paper lined baking tin and bake at 150 for 30 - 50 minutes*
Cool in tray then cut into squares.
These are delicious by themselves or as a dessert with a good vanilla ice-cream.
* to test if brownies are cooked insert a skewer (or if you are me a fondue fork) the inside should not be gloopy but some crumbs should stick to the skewer/fork
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
In my kitchen - my favourite things
Kitchen Appliance: my sandwich press, more accurately my "Breville Cafe Style Sandwich Press".
The internet ha this to say about it: Makes 2 rounds of sandwiches. Cafe style toasted panini and ciabatta snacks in minutes. 2000 watts for rapid heat up. Non-stick flat cooking plates. Unique floating hinge top plate. Adjustable top plate - suitable for melting cheese. Power on/ready lights. Upright storage facilities.
I have had it for a few years now ... not sure how many ... think it's about 5 years.
Not only can you make toasted sandwiches, paninis, etc but you can also cook chicken nuggets, fish fingers, hash browns and other freezer type snacks in it. Even after all this time the plates are still non-stick and it works perfectly.
We even use it as a toaster after our one bit the dust about 6 months ago.
It is perfect for making quesadillas which are a really easy and quick dinner for kids.
Quesadillas:
Take 2 tortillas, on one scatter fillings such as ham, chicken, beans, mince, veggies then add a sauce of your choice (salsa is yum!) then scatter over grated cheese and put the other tortilla on top. Cook in press until hot and browned. Yum!
Our kids like them sliced in wedges, like a pizza.
The only drawback is that it won't do "filled" toasted sandwiches, such as spaghetti, creamed corn, baked beans, as they just squish out the sides! For that you need a "jaffle pie" maker (which are really cheap anyway so we do have one!)
The internet ha this to say about it: Makes 2 rounds of sandwiches. Cafe style toasted panini and ciabatta snacks in minutes. 2000 watts for rapid heat up. Non-stick flat cooking plates. Unique floating hinge top plate. Adjustable top plate - suitable for melting cheese. Power on/ready lights. Upright storage facilities.
I have had it for a few years now ... not sure how many ... think it's about 5 years.
Not only can you make toasted sandwiches, paninis, etc but you can also cook chicken nuggets, fish fingers, hash browns and other freezer type snacks in it. Even after all this time the plates are still non-stick and it works perfectly.
We even use it as a toaster after our one bit the dust about 6 months ago.
It is perfect for making quesadillas which are a really easy and quick dinner for kids.
Quesadillas:
Take 2 tortillas, on one scatter fillings such as ham, chicken, beans, mince, veggies then add a sauce of your choice (salsa is yum!) then scatter over grated cheese and put the other tortilla on top. Cook in press until hot and browned. Yum!
Our kids like them sliced in wedges, like a pizza.
The only drawback is that it won't do "filled" toasted sandwiches, such as spaghetti, creamed corn, baked beans, as they just squish out the sides! For that you need a "jaffle pie" maker (which are really cheap anyway so we do have one!)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Pancakes (the egg free way!)
These are great. They are egg-free, can be dairy free and are made with basic pantry ingredients so even without milk or eggs you can whip up pancakes any time!
1 cup white flour
3 Tblsp white sugar
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
Pinch salt
2 1/2 Tblsp margarine (for dairy free) or butter
3/4 cup water (approx. This makes more of a hotcake, if you want thinner pancakes then add more water)
plus 2 Tblsp water or 1 egg replacer or 1 egg (I tend to use water because I'm lazy :P)
* This recipe kind of makes enough for 2 - 3 people, if you are feeding more (or hungrier) people then I would double it.
Sift dry ingredients together.
Melt marg or butter in frying pan, making sure entire base is coated.
Pour marg/butter into bowl (leave pan on heat) and mix well with water and egg/replacer/extra water until well combined.
Mix together wet and dry ingredients until they are lump free.
At this point you could add chocolate chips or fruit, such as blueberries.
Now pour one ladleful at a time into the hot pan and cook until they bubble, then flip and cook the other side until they are just right!
Eat the first one straight away because it is always the test pancake.
I recommend having the oven on a low heat and placing each pancake in there to keep warm while you cook the others.
Serve with your choice of toppings.
* Lemon juice and white sugar
* golden syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon
* maple syrup
* maple syrup, bacon and egg (my favorite)
* golden syrup and marshmallows (Harrison's favorite)
An easy and delicious breakfast, and kids love them!
1 cup white flour
3 Tblsp white sugar
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
Pinch salt
2 1/2 Tblsp margarine (for dairy free) or butter
3/4 cup water (approx. This makes more of a hotcake, if you want thinner pancakes then add more water)
plus 2 Tblsp water or 1 egg replacer or 1 egg (I tend to use water because I'm lazy :P)
* This recipe kind of makes enough for 2 - 3 people, if you are feeding more (or hungrier) people then I would double it.
Sift dry ingredients together.
Melt marg or butter in frying pan, making sure entire base is coated.
Pour marg/butter into bowl (leave pan on heat) and mix well with water and egg/replacer/extra water until well combined.
Mix together wet and dry ingredients until they are lump free.
At this point you could add chocolate chips or fruit, such as blueberries.
Now pour one ladleful at a time into the hot pan and cook until they bubble, then flip and cook the other side until they are just right!
Eat the first one straight away because it is always the test pancake.
I recommend having the oven on a low heat and placing each pancake in there to keep warm while you cook the others.
Serve with your choice of toppings.
* Lemon juice and white sugar
* golden syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon
* maple syrup
* maple syrup, bacon and egg (my favorite)
* golden syrup and marshmallows (Harrison's favorite)
An easy and delicious breakfast, and kids love them!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Spaghetti Bowls
My first recipe is a good easy lunch for kids and grown ups.
You need a muffin tin and a pre-warmed oven (i put mine on about 180 fan bake but I don't think it matters!)
As I was using a giant (Texas) muffin tin I made six.
Take 6 slices of bread, cut the crusts off and give them a quick roll to flatten them a bit. Butter one side and push the bread, butter side down, into the muffin tin. They should form a bowl, or cup, shape.
Take a can of spaghetti, open it :D, then spoon a bit into the bottom of the bread bowls. Take some ham and put it in top of the spaghetti, then place a couple of pieces of pineapple (fresh or canned) on top of that.
Finish by grating some cheese (whatever you have) and sprinkling over the top of the fillings.
Now shove that tin int the oven until the bread has crisped up, the cheese has melted and the fillings are hot.
Take them out, let them cool and then feed to hungry people.
Harrison gives these 2 thumbs up and Joshua thinks they are "mmmmmmmm yummy!"
Sorry no photos! Will do next time, which will probably be tomorrow if Harrison has his way!
You need a muffin tin and a pre-warmed oven (i put mine on about 180 fan bake but I don't think it matters!)
As I was using a giant (Texas) muffin tin I made six.
Take 6 slices of bread, cut the crusts off and give them a quick roll to flatten them a bit. Butter one side and push the bread, butter side down, into the muffin tin. They should form a bowl, or cup, shape.
Take a can of spaghetti, open it :D, then spoon a bit into the bottom of the bread bowls. Take some ham and put it in top of the spaghetti, then place a couple of pieces of pineapple (fresh or canned) on top of that.
Finish by grating some cheese (whatever you have) and sprinkling over the top of the fillings.
Now shove that tin int the oven until the bread has crisped up, the cheese has melted and the fillings are hot.
Take them out, let them cool and then feed to hungry people.
Harrison gives these 2 thumbs up and Joshua thinks they are "mmmmmmmm yummy!"
Sorry no photos! Will do next time, which will probably be tomorrow if Harrison has his way!
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