Caramel Popcorn

Today started early, 5am to be exact. For some unbeknown reason Auron thought it was acceptable to start his day before the sun had even risen. I had a friend coming over with her kids to finish planning our kids birthday party next month. Lili and her daughter turn one a week apart so we are having a combined party, since we pretty much have all the same friends.
I needed something quick to make as a snack for the kids (and us), my orignal idea failed when I realised I was out of cocoa. So caramel popcorn it was. I usually just eyeball the ingredients since I was going to post it on here for the world to see decided it was best to actually measure things.

Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients

Large bowl of already popped popcorn. 

125g (1/2C) Butter

2 Tablespoons Honey

1/2 C Firmly Packed Brown Sugar

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan combine butter, honey and sugar
2. Stir over a low heat until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved
3. Bring to a boil
4. Continue stirring for a further 3mins
5. Add baking soda and stir quickly (it will froth up) 
6. Pour over popcorn and stir to coat evenly

Tips and Tricks

• To tell if the caramel is ready drop some into a glass of really cold water. If the drops form into little balls you're good to go.
• Keep a close eye on the caramel while cooking as it can burn easily
• Roll into balls, wrap in clear plastic and add a ribbon for an easy gift
• If you aren't going to eat it straight away, allow to cool then transfer to an airtight container

Lemon Yoghurt Cake

We have been M.I.A. the past week or so, sorry about that.We have had been busy, exhausted, and making big decisions but I wont bore you with the details! Our month of fun has continued and I will try and update you all soon but for now, here's the most delicious Lemon Yoghurt cake I have ever had!

Lemon Yoghurt Cake

1 3/4 C Sugar

2 Eggs

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2-3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice (about half a lemon)

Grated rind of one lemon

3/4 C Oil

1 C Plain Yoghurt

2 C Self Raising Flour

In a bowl mix sugar, eggs, oil and rind with a whisk

Add remaining ingredients and mix well

Pour into a prepared tin 

Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 30mins or until a skewer comes out clean.

I found this photo today, how cute was he!

Making Ricotta Cheese

I am loving being back home, and cooking for my family. We (I) have decided we are going to eat more of a vegetarian diet and much less meat. Aarahi doesn't seem to mind, he's been telling me for awhile now that we should eat more meatless dinners. He doesn't care a great deal for vegetables though.
Our first vege dinner was a pasta bake type thing. It was going to be lasagne but I couldn't be bothered making the pasta sheets. The recipe called for Ricotta cheese. I didn't have any but had read somewhere that you could make some. It just so happened that I had all the ingredients.

Here's how it all went down.

900ml milk
1 C cream
Pinch of Salt
3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

In a LARGE saucepan slowly bring the milk,cream and salt to a rolling boil over a medium heat

Add the lemon juice and stir until it curdles

Lay a cheese cloth/muslin cloth/tea towel in a large sieve/strainer over a large bowl

Pour the curds into the cloth to drain for about an hour. The longer you leave it the drier the cheese will be.

Note: I didn't have a sieve large enough so you tied the cloth to the tap, with a bowl underneath to drain. It worked really well.

This recipe made me about 2 1/2 cups or 750g of ricotta it cost about $2.30 to make. At the supermarket the cost was $4.60 for 250g

The left over liquid is called whey and can be used in smoothies, or baking when milk or water is called for. I used mine to make some bread.

I used one of the kids muslin swaddling wraps to strain the cheese. 

The Best Crumbed Chicken

Last night was a long night with Lili, seriously if anyone has any ideas how to get her to stay asleep at night I will take them! I'm thinking of taking her to a chiropractor next week as lots of friends have had success with this.  She is a great day sleeper no issues there, just keeps waking at night for some reason. At least my body is used to functioning on little sleep now!
We went to playgroup this morning, one of the mums just had a new baby a couple of weeks ago. She was so TINY! I think you forget how little they are, she wasn't even a "small" baby. I am trying to get every sorted for our trip this week but I'm sure I will miss something!

This is what we are having for dinner tonight! It is seriously the best crumbed chicken I have had, I love the idea of using the shredded coconut instead of bread crumbs. The chicken is full of flavour as well. I'm sure you could change up what herbs and spices you flavour with too. I serve ours with a fresh salad and a jacket potato or kumara...usually kumara.

You can find the recipe HERE

Easy Microwave Fudge

This was originally our neighbours recipe but has since been claimed by many.

Simple easy with perfect results every time. Just don't eat it all at once...

Easy Microwave Fudge 


How to do it?

2 cups brown sugar
250g butter
1 cup condensed milk

put into a microwave-proof bowl and microwave on high for 2mins. stir and return to microwave and repeat 4 more times, stirring between each time.

ADD...

250g chocolate buttons (white chocolate works best I think)
1tsp vanilla

mix and stand for 1min (it looks curdled but dont worry)
beat on medium speed for 1 1/2 to 2mins
pour into a dish lined with baking paper and spread with a spoon, allow to cool a little before cutting into squares and refrigerating. 

My cutie bum Auron, he's grown so much in a Year

Teri's No Fail Amish Chocolate Cake

This recipe is pretty much fool proof and consistently delivers perfect results. It is our family go to cake and is actually pretty famous. Moist, fluffy, delicious, quick and easy, what more could you ask for in a cake! It converts well to make muffins instead.
Even if you aren't the best baker this will impress. I have made it and forgotten the eggs once and a friend made it and forget to shut the oven door and it still came out great.
This cake is best with caramel icing but I'm sure any icing would be good.


Ingredients

2 C Flour
2 C Sugar
3/4 C Cocoa
1 tsp Baking Powder
2 tsp Baking soda
1 cup hot coffee/or coffee substitute (I used 3tsp mixed with 1C boiling water)
3/4 C Oil
1 C Milk
1 Egg

Method

Sift all dry ingredients together
Make a well in the centre
Add the dry ingredients
Mix until well combined
Pour into a LINED cake tin (20cm works well) or into muffin cases
Bake in a 180 degree over for 40mins or until it springs back when lightly touched. Muffins take about 15mins

Caramel Icing

2 T butter
3 T brown sugar
1/4 C milk
about 1-1 1/2 C icing sugar

Method

Combine butter and sugar in a saucepan on medium heat until butter is melted and sugar dissolved
Allow to come to the boil for 30 sec being careful not to let it burn
Remove from heat and whisk in milk
Allow to cool completely (if you don't let it cool no matter how much icing sugar you add it will NEVER thicken up)
When cool mix in the icing sugar until it is a spreading consistency