Lately...

We are in the first week of the term three school holidays. I can't believe the year has gone so fast! We are always so busy, so to spend the last few days of holidays with family has been lovely, here is a little snap shot...

We've been baking

Alexis has been "Super meow meow"

Poppy has been watching the veggies in her little garden grow, finding worms and relocating them here and watering, so much watering.

We watched Poppy dance in the all schools dance event in the last week of school.

They've been playing nicely so far these school holidays, they even weeded the garden for hours.

Tommy and I have been meal planning, especially healthy lunches.

We flew kites.

We stocked the fridge with healthy treats. 

We've enjoyed smoothies most days.

They've explored the 'junk yard' behind our sheds.

We walked, scootered and ridden bikes.

We enjoyed family lunch dates on rainy days.

I have been loving the gorgeous Adore U range.

I've enjoyed quiet baths after the children have gone to bed.

We've walked around the Seaport, stopping for coffee and chips.

We've swam at the Aquatics centre.

And we've pulled out a few board games and old favorites. 

We've been enjoying our own company and re-exploring the town we live in, our family usually has every day booked or double booked in the holidays, so it's been really nice spending time together. 

We are getting busier this coming week, but for now, I'll enjoy the slow paced days.

Happy Holidays! x

Muesli bars

Lately I've been trying to use what we have at home instead of popping to the shops every day(we live about a two minute walk away from a major supermarket). Our pantry, fridge and freezer are constantly full to the brim like we are stocking up for some sort of world ending event. When we run out of something I pop to the shops to get it and end up loading four more bags of groceries into the car. 

My first effort in doing this, has been preparing Tom and my lunch's on a Sunday, saving time and money and leaving out the option of a 'grab and go' not so healthy lunch (mine is usually toast with peanut butter!). I recently tried these Burrito Bowls and they were delicious.

So this morning when I realised I had run out of some school lunchbox bars, I had a poke around and found enough ingredients to make my own, they were a winner with the kids (and big kids) and so easy to make. 

What you'll need:

2 cups of oats

1 cup rice bubbles

1/2 cup of your choice, I had pretzels in the cupboard so I crushed them up and used those, but you could use nuts, m&m's, or dried fruit.

1/4 cup butter

1/4 honey

1/2 brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

What to do:

In a bowl combine oats, rice bubbles and extra of your choice (I chose pretzels as my children attend a nut free school).

In a small saucepan on high add butter, honey, brown sugar, stir until melted. Then simmer on medium for 2 minutes.

Pour butter mixture and vanilla into bowl and press firmly (really firm so the bars don't fall apart) into a slice tray lined with baking paper.

I topped mine with half mini m&m's and half melted chocolate. You could top yours with white chocolate, mini marshmallows, nuts, pretzels, sultanas or anything floating about in the pantry.

Place in the fridge to set. Mine took about 30 minutes.
Cut into bars, wrap in lunch paper and serve.

The bars we get at the shop can be priced up to about $1.00 a bar. This recipe made 12 bars and cost about $0.20c a bar, and I know exactly whats in them!

Now I just hope there is some left come Monday morning!

Smoothies

We love smoothies at our place, they are often whipped up after school for a healthy snack or on weekend mornings when we have a little more time. We have been loving them though the hot summer days, as when using frozen fruit, they are a delicious icy treat. 

I often buy the marked down stone fruit from the supermarket, slice out the bad spots and lay on a plate with baking paper in then pop in the freezer.

I then put the fruit in a zippy bag ready for our smoothie mornings. 

I also do this with bananas (a staple in all our smoothies), blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and even spinach.

Then chuck what ever fruit we choose in the blender with the liquid of choice, coconut milk or water, almond milk, cows milk, orange juice, the possibilities are endless.

Served in a cute bottle or jar, and topped off with a pretty straw, of course.

Do you smoothie at you place?

Yum! xx

Mexican Brownies

I made this easy brownie for my up coming Mexican 30th. We have already had a few pieces and I can tell you it's a total winner.

What you'll need:

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter

3 cups white sugar

6 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 teaspoons ground Mexican cinnamon (canela)

1/2 teaspoon ground pequin chile pepper

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

What to do:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Line a slice pan with baking paper.

Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and cook on Medium until the butter is about half melted, about 1 minute. Mash the butter with sugar until well combined, and stir in eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla extract.

Sift the cocoa, flour, cinnamon, pequin pepper, salt, and baking powder into a bowl. Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture, stirring to blend well, and pour the batter into the prepared slice pan.

Bake in the oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan.

Enjoy. x

Easy Peasy Sprinkle Biscuits

These Sprinkle Biscuits are great for baking with children, the recipe is so ridiculously easy that it's impossible to mess them up, perfect for freezing and delicious!

What you'll need:

125g butter

1/2 caster sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1 egg

2 cups plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tbs milk

100's and 1000's

What to do:

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line a couple of baking trays with baking paper.

In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar 

and vanilla until pale and creamy.

Add egg to butter mixture and mix until combined.

Sift flour and baking powder over butter mixture and mix in gently by hand until well combined.

Stir in milk.

Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls and press down with fingers or a fork to make flat biscuits, sprinkle 100's and 1000's over the top.

Bake for 15-18 minutes until firm.