Sunday 8 June 2014

Chocolate Caramel Slice

There's nothing better that sitting down and helping yourself to a chocolatey treat. This home-made chocolate and caramel slice is a real favourite and is prefect to share around with family and friends. Not to mention, it's quite simple to prepare when you're in a rush! Be prepared...it is quite addictive!


Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 crushed sweet biscuits
  • 2 tablespoons of cocoa
  • 60grams butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
  • 1x 440gram tin condensed milk
  • 2 tablespoons golden syrup
  • 60 grams butter, melted
  • 1 x 200gram block of milk chocolate
 Base Method: 
  1. Combine biscuits, cocoa, nuts and melted butter in a processor and pulse until well combined
  2. Press biscuit mixture into the base of a lined, square, 20cm cake tin.
  3. Refrigerate whilst making filling
Filling Method:
  1. In a saucepan, place the condensed milk, butter and golden syrup.
  2. Stir over low heat for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens
  3. Pour immediately onto the refrigerated base
  4. Melt the milk chocolate in the microwave and then spread evenly over the filling. 
  5. Refrigerate the slice for at least 2 hours to become firm.
Isabella's Tip:
Using choc-chip cookies in the base mixture gives an extra crunch. 

Tuna Toasties


Whether you work full time and manage a family or you’re a student who is late catching the bus to university, these tuna toasties are quick to make, easy to prepare and very filling. They’re also extremely nutritious and are exactly what your body needs as a warm snack during those Winter months. Above all, you don’t need to be a skilled chef to prepare these treats. 


Ingredients:
2 soft hamburger roles
1 x 200g tin of sandwich tuna
1 jar of mayonnaise
1 pack of low fat cheese slices

Method:
1. Slice buns in half and place under preheated grill, bottom side up
2. Lightly toast and then place buns on plate to cool.
3. Meanwhile, drain tuna well and mix with ½ cup of mayonnaise in bowl.
4. Spoon mixture over the soft centres of the buns then top each with 1 slice of cheese.
5. Place buns back under grill until cheese is melted and bubbling.
6. Serve immediately.  

Isabella's Tips:
Try to add less mayonnaise to your tuna if you want a healthier meal!

Wonderful Waffles

From start to finish, these waffles take approximately 15 minutes to prepare. This quick dessert is great to prepare for just yourself or even a whole crowd of people and they are an old-time favourite!

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup self raising flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2eggs
  • 3/4cup thickened cream
  • 60grams butter, melted
Method:
  1. Separate the eggs and beat the eggwhites in a bowl until soft peaks form
  2. Place the egg yolks and all other ingredients in a separate bowl and gently fold in the beaten eggwhites
  3. Heat the waffle-maker and when ready, place 1/2 cup of mixture on the hotplace
  4. Cook until lightly brown
  5. Repeat until all mixture has been used
Isabella's Tips:
Serve waffles warm with your favourite toppings such as nutella, jam or sifted icing sugar. Waffles are even better served with a scoop of vanilla icing and hot chocolate sauce. 

Choc Chunk Butter Cookies

Ever had such a bad day that the only thing to make it feel better is a serious chocolate fix? If so, these are the cookies for you!


Ingredients:
  • 250grams of butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons of condensed milk
  • 2 1/4 cups plain flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 100 grams chopped walnuts
  • 50 grams dark chocolate, chopped
  • 50 grams white chocolate, chopped
Method:
  1. Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixmaster
  2. Beat in the condensed milk 
  3. Add the sifted flour and baking powder
  4. Add the chopped chocolate and nuts
  5. Tip dough onto benchtop and form into a large ball
  6. Take tablespoons of the dough and roll into balls
  7. Place on a baking tray and flatten the dough with a fork
  8. Bake in a preheated oven at 160 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes
  9. When cooked, transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
  10. Store in an airtight container
Isabella's Tips:
These cookies are awesome made with a combination of dark milk and white chocolate. 

Cheesy Vegemite Scrolls

This is quite possibly the easiest and simplest recipe to make when in a hurry and in need of a tasty and filling snack. Go easy on the vegemite if you're not as obsessed with it as I am or replace it in general with frozen vegetables if you're looking for a way to get your recommended daily intake of vegies!


Ingredients:
  • 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry
  • 1 jar of vegemite
  • 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese
Method:
  1. Spread vegemite to the edges of the puff pastry sheet
  2. Top with grated cheese right to the edges
  3. Roll up in the shape of a sausage
  4. Cut into 4cm slices
  5. Place slices upright on a baking tray
  6. Bake in a preheated oven at 220 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes


Isabella's Tips:
Serve immediately whilst the cheese is hot and still stringy. Enjoy!

Prawn and Bokchoy Risotto

In need of a healthy meal? This recipe will satisfy your desire for a hearty meal with some fresh seafood. Yummmm!




Ingredients:
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • 6 spring onions finally chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of grated, fresh ginger
  • 1 1/2 cups risotto rice
  • Finely grated lemon rind from 2 lemons
  • 350grams shelled, cleaned fresh prawns
  • 3/4cup frozen peas
  • 1 bunch bok choy, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 4 cups of boiling water
 Method:
  1. Heat butter in a large saucepan and fry the spring onions in ginger until soft
  2. Add the rice and stir for 5 minutes
  3. Add the hot water and lemon zest, along with the salt and pepper
  4. Stir to combine and bring to the boil
  5. Simmer for 15 minutes 
  6. Stir in the prawns, peas and bok choy and cook for another 2 minutes
  7. Stir in the lemon juice and add more salt and pepper as required
Isabella's Tip:
Serve immediately so that the rice retains its firmness.

Saturday 7 June 2014

Spring Rolls

Spring rolls are perfect foods to prepare for functions because these savoury items taste great with most foods. They're also exactly what you want in this cold winter weather. How would I know, well, they flew off the table at the engagement party! Don't just take my word for it, try it yourself!




Ingredients:
  • 2 packets of spring roll wrappers, defrosted to room temperature
  • 500grams of pork mince
  • 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce
  • 2 spring onions, finely chopped
  • 1 small tin of finely sliced water chestnuts
  • Vegetable oil
Method:
  1. Lay out the spring roll wrappers individually on your kitchen bench
  2. Mix all of the filling ingredients in a bowl
  3. Place 2 tablespoons of the filling in the centre of each spring roll wrapper
  4. Fold insides and roll up tightly
  5. Repeat steps with remaining wrappers and filling
  6. Heat 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a frypan or wok
  7. Fry four spring rolls at a time in the wok for 5 minutes on each side
  8. Drain on paper towel and serve hot.

Isabella's Tasty Tip:
These spring rolls taste great with a generous serving of sweet chilli or soy sauce!