Gluten free brownies

I had a group of friends over for supper the other night, one friend has gluten free requirements. I found  the most wonderful, easy and very yummmmmmy brownie recipe on the Taste.com.au website. Please see the link below for the recipe.

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/17650/chocolate+fudge+brownies+wheat+and+gluten+free

Felicity

Cream cheese tree or cob loaf dip

For non festive dip this is good served in a hollowed out cob loaf or something similar. But for Christmas, take the time and make it look like a tree!!

Ingredients

1 block cream cheese
1 tub sour cream (full fat for both to help it set)
Box of frozen spinach
I packet Spring Vegetable Soup

Method

Mix all ingredients together. (This is where it gets fiddly).
Make a cone shape out of baking paper (much like a piping bag if you were going to ice something) and fill it to the top.
Put in the fridge overnight.
Unwrap and sprinkle parsley over all of it (fresh or dried). You might need to roll it around a bit to get a good tree shape.
Put it into the freezer for a few hours so it hardens a bit.
You can decorate it with capsicum and a cardboard star!
It’s a bit messy when you are doing it, but it looks great in the end!

Naomi Hobbs

Recipes

I have run out of recipes to upload.

Question: (please post your comments below, easiest way is write your name in the comment and post it as anonymous)

If you are given 500g mince and a can of tomatoes

- What would you do with them?
- What other ingredients would you include?

Hedgehog

Ingredients

1/2 cup (125g) butter
2/3 cup caster sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons coconut
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup chopped walnuts and glace cherries (I never put these in but you can if you really want to)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups crushed sweet biscuits (just buy a pack of marie biscuits or something and throw them all in, it doesn't really matter how much there is)

Method

1. Collect ingredients.
2. Melt butter and sugar, add cocoa and mix well.
3. Remove from heat and stir in coconut and egg.
4. Add walnuts, cherries and vanilla.
5. Stir in biscuit crumbs and mix well.
6. Press into greased pan and chill.
7. Cut into fingers.

From 'Cookery the Australian Way'

Naomi Absalom

Pastry

Does anybody have a never fail sweet or savoury pastry recipe? I tried a sweet pastry that failed badly so I would love to know one that works.

If you have any requests or cooking hints and tips, please let me know, the aim of this blog is to share.

Fresh Pumpkin Soup

Serves 6

Ingredients

500g pumpkin
250g carrots
6 cups stock (or stockcubes and water)
can of tomatoes (undrained)
1 onion
Fresh Basil

Method

1. Dice pumpkin and carrots, bring to the boil in stock and cook until soft.
2. Cook tomatoes and onion in small pan over low heat until onions soften a little.
3. Add tomato mixture to pumpkin mix and puree until smooth.
4. Add chopped fresh basil and season to taste.

Note:
This soup has a little magic in it as it seems to be not only a hearty winter soup but also somehow seems light and fresh enough for summer meals. The kids love it (don't even question the vegetable-ness of it) and the no dairy aspect makes it a winner too -great for kids with allergies!
 
Alison Farr-Handley

Meringue Smash (also known as Eton Mess)

Meringue smash is also pinched from my Mum, but I have seen it sometimes in restaurants known as Eton Mess....presumably it was served at that illustrious boys' school!!

Meringue Smash (also known as Eton Mess)

Serves 6

1. Crush 6 meringue nests (or any equivalent quantity of any meringues, bought or home made)
2. In large bowl, mix 250 mls of thick pure cream, or whipped cream, plus 200 mls of plain low fat yoghurt.
3. Mix half a punnet of strawberries and half a punnet of raspberries, sprinkled with sugar.
4. Combine the whole lot, and then spoon into dessert dishes.

Variation

Use any berries you fancy! (and reduce or increase quantities to suit your needs)
 
Julie Houghton