Big news everybody - You can now find all these posts & all my future foodie posts on my main blog The Life of Sunny!
I'll also be turning off comments on this blog, so please feel free to mosey on over to The Life of Sunny to tell me whats on your mind!
See you there! xx
Thursday, June 14, 2012
We've Moved! (Sort of...)
Posted by Sunny at 9:45 PM 0 comments
Labels: About Sunny
Friday, May 18, 2012
Lemon Meringue Pies
Posted by Sunny at 12:23 PM 0 comments
Labels: Afternoon/Morning Tea, Dessert, Easy, Finger Food, Recipes
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Mini Caramel Tarts
These are a great treat to bring to a picnic, high tea or morning tea. I make these either as the mini way seen below, or with store bought shortcrust pastry cups (from the frozen section of your supermarket).
Ingredients:
1/2 can Nestle Top'n'fill
2 sheets shortcrust pastry (or pre-bought pastry shells)
Canola oil spray
Flake crumbs (optional)
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 180C. Spay a mini muffin tray with canola oil spray.
2. Cut pastry sheets into 12 squares. Slightly stretch each square and place into a mini muffin hole. Use a knife to cut around any edges to make perfect little cups - or leave as is if you want a more rustic look. Repeat with remaining pastry.
3. Prick bottom of pastry rounds and place in oven. Cook until golden. Remove and set aside until completely cool. If you rush this step the caramel will melt & leak all over!
4. Place caramel into a small mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth (it may take a minute or two). Using a teaspoon, place caramel into cooled pastry shells. Serve immediately, or later that day.
Sunny xx
Posted by Sunny at 12:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Afternoon/Morning Tea, Dessert, Easy, Finger Food, Recipes
Monday, May 14, 2012
Baked French Toast! (aka Bread & Butter Pudding)
Growing up I hands-down hated bread and butter pudding. It was boring & bland & covered in sultanas (which I am most definitely NOT a fan of). Whenever it was on the menu, I was suddenly full after dinner and couldn't fit in another spoon full.
It wasn't until a couple years ago, when I saw the Pioneer Woman's recipe that I thought it was worth giving it a try. Her recipe (thank god) did not contain sultanas. When I tried it I was bowled over, it takes just like french toast! Here is my adapted version of the recipe -
Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups milk
1 cup sugar
3 1/2 to 5 cups sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup nuts, chopped finely - pecans, walnuts or slivered almonds are my favourite
1 tsp cinnamon sugar
Maple syrup & thickened cream to serve
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 160C. Lightly grease a large pie baking dish or a 9 inch regular baking dish.
2. Beat together eggs, butter, vanilla, milk & sugar. Mix until all the sugar has dissolved.
3. Arrange your bread cubes tightly in the baking dish, keeping the crusts facing upwards around the rim. Pour the wet ingredients over the bread. Top with nuts & sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the top. Bake in the oven for 55 - 70 minutes or until crust is golden on top. You'll notice the bread puffs up whilst cooking.
4. Drizzle the pudding with maple syrup, serve with thickened cream.
Sunny xx
Chocolate Drizzled Potato Chips
When I first saw Chocolate Drizzled Potato chips mentioned I thought 'ewww that sounds gross'. But then I kept thinking about it, and about 2 hours later I had convinced myself that I needed to try them. I love the salty/sweet combo you get from eating McDonald's fries whilst drinking a chocolate shake, or dipping the chips into an ice cream cone (don't judge, its awesome. I swear.) so for that reason I gave the chocolate drizzled chips a chance. And they were delicious.
Ingredients:
1 large packet of thick cut plain potato chips (salted)
30g Dark chocolate (I used Lindt)
20g Milk Chocolate (I used Cadbury)
Method:
1. Line a large baking tray with grease proof paper. Lay your chips on the paper, making sure they are evenly dispersed so that every chip gets some chocolaty goodness.
2. Place the milk & dark chocolate in a microwave safe bowl (I just use a small ramekin) and microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir until all lumps have disappeared.
3. Dip the ends of a fork into the chocolate, then drizzle over potato chips. Remember, start with a little & build up. Leave chips to set (mine took about 20 minutes for the chocolate to harden). Serve!
I found that a little went a long way with the chocolate, but taste as you go & adjust to your preference. These look gorgeous plated up in little bowls for each person or in paper ice cream cups.
Sunny xx
Posted by Sunny at 11:33 AM 0 comments
Labels: Afternoon/Morning Tea, Chocolate, Easy, Finger Food, Recipes, Snacks
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Peanut Butter & Honey Cups
Ingredients:
1 block of chocolate
Peanut butter
Honey – you can use regular or creamed
Mini cupcake patty cases
Method:
1. Melt the block of chocolate in the microwave – cook for 1 minute then stir. Cook for another 30 seconds & stir until fully melted.
2. Place the mini patty cases in a mini cupcake tin – this helps the chocolates keep their shape. Place 1 teaspoon melted chocolate in each case.
3. Place a half teaspoon of peanut butter and a half teaspoon of honey on top of the chocolates.
4. Cover with another teaspoon or so of chocolate. Decorate & refrigerate.
Other ways to spice it up:
- Use caramel top‘n’fill instead of the peanut butter & honey to make soft caramel centres.
- Use flavoured chocolate such as nut varieties (we love Cadbury macadamia) or liquor chocolate.
- Replace the peanut butter and honey with nutella for a super chocolaty hit!
- Decorate using coloured white chocolate, by placing a nut on top or with sprinkles!
Sunny xx
Posted by Sunny at 9:33 PM 0 comments
Labels: Afternoon/Morning Tea, Chocolate, Christmas, Easy, Finger Food, Recipes
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Egg Salad Sandwiches
I made these egg sandwiches for my family picnic last week and they were a massive hit. I made loads of them & they were devoured by the hungry people almost instantly. I made mine plain, but I usually add lettuce, alfalfa sprouts or some thinly sliced (and well seasoned) cucumber.
Please excuse my very blue picture - I took a quick picture whilst we were sitting under a tree because I didnt have time to take one before I left my house!
Ingredients:
6 eggs
2 tablespoons good quality mayo
2 tablespoons butter
4 drops lemon juice
1 heaped teaspoon chopped chives (adjust to your tastes)
Salt & Pepper
Fresh bread – I use white, but use whatever you prefer
Method:
1. Hard boil eggs. I like to put my eggs into cold water & put on high heat for about 7 minutes – this makes the whites hard & the centres still a little soft.
2. Remove eggs from pot and place into ice water for a minute or two until cool enough to handle.
3. Remove the shells and place eggs into a large bowl. Add butter.
4. Using a fork, mash the eggs until you have your desired consistency. I like mine smooth but with some texture to it. Add mayo, chives, lemon juice and some salt & pepper. Mix well and taste. Adjust seasonings and chives if needed.
5. Serve as a sandwich filling on fresh bread with lettuce, alfalfa sprouts or cucumber (or all of the above!).
Make these for your next picnic, luncheon or for a snack! Sunny xx
Posted by Sunny at 8:45 AM 0 comments
Labels: Afternoon/Morning Tea, Easy, Finger Food, Lunch, Recipes, Savoury