Skinnymixers Butter Chicken

A lot has changed since I started this blog back in 2012... Added another (and the final!) kid to the family, moved from Townsville to Brisbane, and joined the 'thermal cooking revolution'. My machine of choice is currently the Bellini Intelli Kitchen Master, and it has served me very well for over 2.5 years now. It is, however, starting to get past its prime. Luckily a new Bellini is scheduled to be released in May, with a heap more functions, bringing it even closer to the pinnacle, the Thermomix. Personally, I feel slightly sick at the $2000 price tag, particularly when there are alternatives that do the same job.

Anyway, one of the best things about joining the revolution is discovering Skinnymixers. Every recipe is fantastic. Every single one. The maestro Nik has produced 3 recipe books so far (A Little Taste Of India, A Little Taste Of Asia and The Healthy Mix), as well as countless recipes on her website. Tonight's Butter Chicken is made using the A Little Taste Of India recipe, however a variation is available on the website http://skinnymixers.com.au/skinnymixers-butter-chicken/

I highly recommend giving this cult classic a try!

Well hello there!

Goodness me, I've just remembered I had this blog, thanks to Facebook and it's 'on this day' feature. Just when I'm finally getting back into my baking!

I've found an app that I am quite in love with, feel free to check out my recipe box on copy me that. I may just revive this blog to post about my successes and failures, my memory isn't what it used to be!

http://www.copymethat.com/recipebox/bec-lapham/473690/

Have fun baking!

Bec

Cake Batter Fudge

Another Pinterest gem, original recipe is from here.


I followed this one to the T, and was NOT disappointed!!!  So quick and easy to whip up!


Ingredients

1 can sweetened condensed milk

3.5 cups white chocolate chips

3 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp Almond Extract

Rainbow Sprinkles

Pour milk and white chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 2-3 minutes, or until white chocolate is almost completely melted. DO NOT OVERHEAT. Stir until completely blended, melted, and smooth.

Immediately add vanilla and almond and combine thoroughly. Add a handful or so of rainbow sprinkles and fold in quickly, because they will melt (and if they are stirred for too long they’ll turn the fudge an ugly muddy colour).

Transfer to an aluminum-foil lined 8×8 inch baking pan for very thick fudge, or a 11X7 pan (recommended). Let set at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Once set,  cut into cubes (and peel off the foil!). Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place.

Another one to take to work so I dont eat it all..... :)

Cheesy Mushroom Crepes

I remember my mum making these when I was a kid, and LOVING the gooey cheesy filling.  Now I can appreciate the mushroom goodness more too ;)

Ingredients
Crepes:
1 C Self Raising Flour
1 C Plain Flour
2 1/2 C Milk
1 Egg
Juice of half a lemon

Filling:
1 3/4 C Grated Cheese
1 Egg
1/2 tsp Mixed Herbs
Salt & Pepper

Topping:
6 Spring Onions (chopped)
1C Sliced Mushrooms
1C Cream

Method
Preheat over to 200
First we make the crepes......
Sift flours together, add milk,egg & lemon juice & mix into a smooth batter.
Pour into a hot buttered pan and cook both sides, making sure they are lovely and thin.

Mix filling ingredients together, and spoon filling onto each crepe and roll up, and place in an oven dish.

Cook in the oven for about 10min

Whilst these are baking, make up your topping.  I didnt have any spring onions on hand so just diced an onion.  I also felt like corn, so added a tin of corn to my topping.
Melt 1tbs of butter in a pan.  Saute spring onions and mushrooms.  Add the cream and heat through.

Serve crepes up and pour topping over the top.  DELISH!

Fudgey Crunchy Mars Bar Brownies

I came up with the name myself....I really dont know what else to call them!

The blog I got the inspiration from for this recipe started the post with an apology.  I really do need to take a leaf from their book, and also apologise.  These are good.  Really good.  So I must apologise if you really dont need to be encouraged to make, and eat, the most deliciously devilish chocolate treats you have ever tried.  I really am sorry.

So what ARE Fudgey Crunchy Mars Bar Brownies?  A delightful triple chocolate fudge brownie, topped with Mars Bar Slice.  Yep, you read that right.  Chocolate chocolate and more chocolate!  The original post I found (on Pinterest of course) used packet mix brownie, and Reeses Peanut Butter cups and peanut butter and stuff for the top layer.  Mine isnt really similar in that sense.  But is is brownie topped with crispy chocolatey goodness.

I will share with you this amazing brownie recipe.  It is SO easy, and oh so yummy!!!  I did take some photos for you, but got carried away in some parts and forgot, but Im sure you all know what flour etc looks like :)  I cant remember where this brownie recipe came from,but I have been making them for a few years now.

Ingredients
125gm Butter, chopped, room temp
200gm Dark Chocolate
3/4 Cup Caster Sugar
2 Eggs, beaten lightly
1 Cup Plain Flour
150gm White Chocolate bits
100gm Milk Chocolate bits

Preheat oven to 160
Grease/line a slice pan (unless you have an awesome Chefs Toolbox silicone slice tray like I do, in which case get it out of the cupboard/drawer)
Combine butter and dark chocolate on a low heat, stirring until melted.

Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, and finally flour.

Stir in white and milk chocolate bits

Spread into pan and bake for 30-35min

Next comes the Mars Bar Slice layer.  These recipes are all over the place, the one I use was given to me by my wonderful sister in law Heather.

Ingredients

100gm Butter

4 Mars Bars,chopped

3 Cups Rice Bubbles

Combine butter and Mars Bars in a saucepan over a low heat until nicely mixed.  Add Rice Bubbles.

Now, heres the fun part...Pour this over your baked Brownie Slice (I didnt start making this layer until the brownie was finished in the oven)

If you like (and I did) you can add more chocolate by melting 200-300gm of milk chocolate and spreading over the top.

This part is tricky.  I know it's tempting, but it really is best if you pop it in the fridge now to set.

Give it an hour or so, and you can dig in.

I DID say sorry... ;)  This is DIVINE!

So quick and easy, and oh so deliciously chocolate!

Bake On!

Scrummy Pizza Scroll...things...

You know those days when you forget to get something out of the freezer and dinner time rolls around and suddenly it's panic stations?  That was me tonight!  Pre baby days this wasnt such an issue, I could whip up something random (and trust me - I can do random, just ask my husband!).  But now, with a 13 month old to feed theres a bit more pressure.  Gone are the days when hubby is away and I can blob out!

Anyway, as I was considering my predicament I turned to the smorgasbord that is Pinterest.  Pinterest never fails me!  And as I expected,perusing the 'popular' pins I found this little gem.  Now I used it more as inspiration, rather than following the instructions (can you even buy pizza dough in roll form in the frozen food section in Oz???).  I digress.  Basically you make a pizza, roll it up, cut into slices and voila, pizza scroll...things... :)  Here's what I did.

Ingredients

1 sheet puff pastry

1 piece of mountain bread

Cheese spread

Pizza sauce

Salami

Chicken bread slices

Mozzarella

Lay out the puff pastry, and spread with cheese spread.  Now, this part was inspired by Dominos - who remembers Double Decandence when it was first released?!!  That was THE BOMB!  I am continually striving to reach the heights Tony Peperoni on Double Decadence took me all those years ago.  Again, I digress.  Top this with the piece of mountain bread and again spread with cheese spread.  Next add your pizza sauce.

Mine looked like this

Next add your 'toppings' - sliced salami & chicken slices in my case.

Now for the cheese

And roll baby roll!  make sure your puff pastry is nicely defrosted or it will crack.  I didnt roll it too tight, but not really loosely.  You'll work it out.

OK, so it doesnt look too exciting from the top...

But look at the insides!  Nom nom nom

Slice the roll into pieces say, oh, 2-3cm thick.

I put them in to oven on around 200 for about 30min.  Basically until the pastry puffs a bit and the cheese bubbles over.

And they're done!

These were seriously yummy!  I would definitely make them again, I think hubby would enjoy them.

OK, so I know its still not particularly nutritious for my son, but he had fruit as an 'appetiser', and for dessert!  And hey, beats party pies...right?!

Tomorrow, Im hoping to make the BEST BROWNIES EVER!  Big call I know, but ooooh man, I just know they will be awesome!

Until then, Bake On!

Cheesy Veggie Muffins

Im pretty lucky, so far, that my son (13 months) doesnt shy away from veggies.  If that time ever comes, I will be piling these into him!  I love these - so easy, and sooo yummy, especially warm!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup Plain Flour
3 tsp Baking Powder
1 Cup Grated Cheese
2 Cups Grated Veggies (whatever you want - pumpkin, potato, zucchini, carrot, celery, whatever you have!  I also often use corn kernels and diced ham/bacon as well)
2 Eggs (lightly beaten)
1/2 Cup Milk
1/3 Cup Oil
Preheat oven to 180
Combine flour, baking powder, veggies, and about 3/4 cup of cheese
In a separate jug combine eggs, milk & oil
Add 2 mixtures together and mix until just combined
Spoon into muffin trays (I usually use my mini muffin pan)
Sprinkle remaining cheese on top
Cook for about 25min
Voila!
Right, Im off to eat mine as they have just finished in the oven...  Oh, and yes, I made some heart shaped for Valentines day :)
Bake on!