Christmas Recipe - Vanilla Shortbread

This delicious recipe is one I found on the packaging of some Bakers Secret cookie cutters I bought several years ago. I tried it for the first time a few days ago. It's so simple & the shortbread is mouth-watering. Try it, just in time for Christmas....

• 150g unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 210g plain flour (sifted)
• pinch of salt

In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar & vanilla until light & fluffy. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour until smooth & well combined. Form a ball (I use my hands here) & refrigerate, covered, for a 1/2 hour.

Preheat oven to 150C


On lightly sugared surface, roll out dough, one part at a time, approximately 1cm thick. Use any biscuit cutters to cut out cookies. Place 2cm apart on non stick baking tray (I also use baking paper on the tray).

Bake for about 20mins, depending on your oven, or until light golden brown around the edges (I have an old oven with no fan, so it takes about a 1/2 hour for them to cook). Transfer to a wire rack to cool. 

For an extra treat, sprinkle with vanilla flavoured sugar whilst still warm.

Makes approximately 18.


Enjoy!!

x Kathy x

Tip - How to get all the cream out of your hand cream tube

You've squeezed as much as you can, & you know there's still more cream in there but you just can't get it out.

Solution: cut the tube in half (pictured) & scoop out the remaining cream.

You'll be surprised how much is still in there, & it usually gets thrown out with the packaging.

You can do the same for your toothpaste too.

x Kathy x

Christmas Craft - Orange & Clove Pomanders

Here's a popular craft idea for Christmas, & so easy to make. There are many variations of ingredients, but these are the ones I like. Of course, you can use Ginger, Star Anise or other powdered spices you like, & instead of oranges, you can use lemons or even apples.
These aromatic pomanders send a fabulous fragrance through the house. Why not give them a try? Here's how: 

• 100g ground cinnamon
• 50g ground cloves
• 15g ground allspice
• 15g ground nutmeg
• large ceramic bowl
• 6 oranges
• 100g whole cloves
• thick needle
• plastic cling wrap

Mix all the powdered spices in the bowl.
Pierce holes in the oranges with the needle & stud with the whole cloves. You can cover the whole surface of the oranges with cloves, or create a simple pattern, as I have.

Place oranges in the bowl with the mixed spices, tossing gently until
their whole surface is covered with spice.
Cover bowl gently with the cling wrap.
Turn pomanders daily for 2-3 weeks, after which time they’re ready for
displaying in a pretty crystal or glass bowl.


Just in time for Christmas!
x Kathy x

Toddler Recipe - Beef Casserole

An easy, very basic recipe to cook for your toddler. I usually just make it up as I go, but this is my regular list of ingredients, as I usually have them in my pantry & fridge.
You can substitute the vegetables in this recipe for whatever you may have at the time: zucchini, sweet potato, parsnip, pumpkin, etc. If you're using zucchini or pumpkin, add them close to the end, as they cook very quickly. 
I used to cook this for my Little Miss when she was a young baby on solids, but I pureed or mashed it for her.

• beef (eye fillet or porterhouse) cut into very small pieces, suitable for a toddler
• 1 tbsp tomato paste or 1/4 cup tomato puree
• 1 carrot (chopped into very small pieces)
• 1 potato (chopped into very small pieces)
• a handful of frozen corn kernels
• a handful of frozen peas
• boiled water (as much as is needed)
• 1 tsp olive oil

Put beef & oil in saucepan & brown the beef. 
Add enough boiled water to cover the beef & start skimming the impurities off the top of the water with a spoon, continuing this until there are no more impurities on the top. Add the carrot & cook for a few minutes, then add the potato & cook for a further few minutes, then add the corn & peas. Finally, add the tomato paste or tomato puree & continue cooking. 
Keep topping up the water & simmering, so the water is just covering the casserole. 
Simmer for between 30-45mins. To check whether it's cooked, take a sample of each ingredient & taste. If the vegetables are soft & the meat is cooked, it's ready. 

Hugs

Does every day always have to feel so rushed?

I often ask my friends how they cope with having 2, 3 or 4 kids, when I’m busy coping with 1. They reassure me that it’s always hardest when you go from none to one. Is that true? I know it’s a major life change to be a first-time mum, rather than a seasoned expert raising 2 kids or more, so I often ask those “seasoned expert” friends of mine for advice. A lot of the time they reply that every child is different &, it doesn't matter how many kids they have, they're still learning about motherhood as their kids grow. I guess we’re all in the same boat & we can all be comforted by each other's experiences, whether we're new mums or experienced ones.

So, at the end of the day, after a hard, tiring, rushed, challenging day, a warm hug from my 15 month old is all I need to melt the tension away. For all of you who have had, or are having, one of those days, at the end of the day make sure you make time for a hug for mummy - you deserve it!

Kathy