We’re big in to Christmas trees in our house. Did you know that my Mum and Dad grow fresh pine trees, selling them at their ‘cut your own’ Christmas tree farm each year? For as long as I can remember we’ve always had a fresh tree, no fake plastic ones in sight. We’ve got many […]
Category: little hands make
gingerbread cookies
November is the new December. Or so my good friend Anna tells me. It’s only the 13th of the month and judging by my insta feed, you’d think it was Christmas Eve already. I must admit it felt like Christmas here today. Along with the smell of gingerbread in the air, there were Santa lists […]
homemade potato gnocchi with burnt butter + sage
We didn’t grow up eating potato gnocchi. My sister Casey can attest to that. During high school she was in a public speaking competition. Dad reckons she “had it in the bag” after absolutely killing her prepared monologue and of course without bias thought she was a shoe in for a place. The contestants were […]
vanilla cupcakes
This is the same recipe that I used to make with Mim at the farm in school holidays. They were my Pa’s favourite. We’d always make a double batch as they’d disappear pretty quickly, that’s for sure. Such beautiful, happy memories to cherish forever. I make these with my girls all the time and they […]
smartie cookies
Winter school holidays and what better time to whip up a batch of these Smartie cookies. We’re lucky enough to be spending them at the beach; filled with lots of walks, park dates, cousin catch ups, ice cream cones and loads of beach time. And talk about the perfect beach weather. I love it when […]
charlotte’s chocolate cupcakes
You’ve heard of the saying “the dog ate my homework”. In this case, it’s more like “the dog ate my cupcakes”. Blue Dog ate the entire tray of Charlotte’s chocolate cupcakes! Blue. Dog! Oh, and it gets worse. Not only did he pinch the cupcakes, but also gone was a whole loaf of freshly baked […]
easy apple + berry crumble
In times like these… drink coffee. I’ve been drinking lots of coffee. I’ve been feeling helpless;I’ve been laughing at memes;I’ve been picking flowers from the garden;I’ve been browsing through my cookbooks, my endless number of cookbooks;I’ve been doing anything to try and take my mind off what’s happening in the world right now. I’ve been […]
oven baked chicken thighs | easy + delicious
All credit goes to Nagi from Recipe Tin Eats for this recipe. If you don’t follow this blog already, do yourself a favour and do so now! It’s the only food blog you’ll ever need (!) and my personal favourite. Full of delicious, no fuss recipes and packed with fabulous videos – needless to say it’s well […]
fairy meringue kisses | sweet little pink meringues filled with chantilly cream
Charlotte brought home a recipe for these ‘fairy meringue kisses’ from a cookbook she found at school in her classroom. Pause for reaction. Like mother, like daughter some might say. Char fell in love with “pavalova” last Christmas and has always had a soft spot for whipped cream (doesn’t everyone!?) so it’s easy to see […]
healthier carrot muffins | perfect for little people’s lunchboxes
School went back last week. A busy and emotional time in our household as our darling Charlotte headed off to Kindergarten. People have always told me how busy it is when your child starts school and I have to say – I totally agree with them! I’ve been flat chat keeping up with all the […]
colourful marble cake | one for the kiddies
I’ve been pretty quiet on the blog front of late. Expecting our third baby this coming Wednesday (State of Origin Game 3!) my good friend Flemo and I’ve been joking around that we’ll have to call him or her Mal, Freddy, Ricky or some other rugby league inspired name! And with our darling Annabubby turning 4 […]
quick + easy chocolate cake
Another oldie but a goodie – my mother-in-law, Nee remembers this cake as being the first cake she ever cooked. So quick and easy – you simply throw all ingredients in to a bowl and mix on high for 3 minutes. Whack it in the oven and Viola! You’re left with a cake that’s light […]
rainbow cake | butter sponge cake
They say less is more? Not true! Especially in the case of a five year old’s birthday cake. I’m still recovering from little Miss Charlotte’s birthday party yesterday. It wasn’t the preparation and cooking that took it out of me – but instead trying to entertain the 35 kiddies! It probably didn’t help that they’d […]
mum’s 200 gram cake
Mum’s been making this easy and delicious 200 gram cake since my twin sisters (AKA the twinnie bubbies) were born over 23 years ago. Using only 4 ingredients – Mum loved it because she was able to make it whilst carrying one of the girls in the baby carrier strapped to her chest with the […]
good old fashioned rock cakes
Nee remembers making rock cakes in her very first home economics class back in highschool (just a couple of years ago) and I have very fond memories helping Mim make these every school holidays at the farm. Pa loved them and so did I; just as long as I could pick out the sultanas. These […]
homemade ‘splice’ ice blocks | fresh pineapple juice + vanilla bean yoghurt
Everybody had a favourite ice-cream growing up; whether it be a Bubble O’Bill, Cornetto or Calipo. I used to love going to the corner shop for an ice cream after school. For me – it was always a Chocolate Heart if it was for a ‘real special treat’, or a lemonade icy pole on those […]
banana muffins | ever so simple but oh so delicious
When you go to someone’s house you should never turn up empty handed. This is something that I firmly believe in and apparently Meghan Markle agrees with. The Duchess of Sussex reportedly made some banana bread to take along to the Woodley family’s farm in Dubbo this week. Cooked the night before whilst staying at […]
best playdough recipe
‘Play School’ is an Aussie institution. Recently celebrating 50 years of the beloved preschoolers television show, it’s still going strong and holds a special place in many a person’s heart- both young and old. I love trying to guess which window they’re going through, look forward to finding out the time on the ‘rocket clock’ […]
everybody’s favourite chocolate chip cookies
I don’t have a massive sweet tooth but gee do I enjoy one of these cookies with a hot cuppa every now and then. They’re so easy to make but please do me a favour. Please don’t burn them. Don’t leave the kitchen to go and put a load of washing on or to peg […]
chocolate buttermilk layer cake | the ultimate birthday cake | a donna hay recipe
I was 10 when the ‘twinnie bubbies’ were born. I can still remember seeing Dad walk through the school playground at little lunch searching for Pete, Elles and I to take us to meet our new little sisters in hospital. We drove the whole way to the ‘San’ with the windows down, honking the horn […]