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Gorgeous Easy No-Bake Oreo Blackberry Mousse Tart

Oh my look at you, You’re Gorgeous!!!

I’ve never seen a tart like you before…

There have been many before but you take the cake…see what I did there. 😉

SOOOOO Gorgeous! The No-Bake Oreo Blackberry Mousse Tart posing for the camera.

The Oreo Blackberry Mousse Tart is decorated with blackberries and blueberries and topped with some flowers. The dark cookie base makes the colours pop!



OREO BASE

Estimated time to create the base: 30 minutes (including 15 minutes in the freezer to set the base).

The Oreo Cookies ready for the cookie base

BLACKBERRY MOUSSE

Estimated time to create the mousse: Around 20 to 30 minutes.

  • 225 grams of blackberries – I purchased 3 punnets to have enough to decorate the tart
  • 2 punnets of blueberries to decorate the tart
  • 225 grams of Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese
  • 75 grams of caster sugar
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 300ml of thickened cream
  • 60ml of milk
  • 6 sheets of natural gelatine leaves
Yummy and fresh blackberries from Todarello’s in Katoomba

I’ve been diving deep into the world of online recipes and let me tell you, it’s a riot of colours out there! From jaw-dropping cakes to slices that are more vibrant than a Taylor Swift song, and even pasta sporting hues that would make a rainbow jealous, cooks are truly artists in their own right. Recently, I stumbled upon this Oreo Cookie-based tart, and oh boy, that dark crust was the superstar alongside the dazzling colours of raspberry and blueberry—totally spoke to my taste buds!

Now, here’s the kicker—it’s a no-bake wonder! Yup, just pop it in the fridge and freezer, and voila! I’m all about saving time in the kitchen, so this dessert is right up my alley.

For my twist, I’m thinking of infusing the mousse with blackberries. Yep, blackberries! This recipe has got me all excited about trying something totally new in my culinary playbook.

And speaking of summer, it’s the season when blackberries and blueberries shine bright like my love for a catchy summer tune (Swiftie alert!). As someone who lives and breathes summer berries (hello, favourite season!), knowing they’re in season makes me gleeful. It’s like a shortcut to creating a tart bursting with the freshest summer berries—a total win-win situation!

Did you know?

Blackberries are the tiny, mighty warriors of goodness! These delightful berries bring a whole parade of perks to the party. Here’s a sneak peek into the fantastic world of benefits that these little black gems bring along:

  • High in vitamin C
  • High in fibre
  • Can help reduce cholesterol
  • Manage blood sugar levels by slowing the rate of sugar absorption
  • A good source of vitamin K
  • High in manganese
  • May improve brain health
  • Also supports oral health

As you can see not only do blackberries and blueberries look pretty, they are delicious
and very good for you.

Blueberries are like the rockstars of superfoods! These little powerhouses are bursting with goodness, and their list of amazing deeds is simply off the charts. Check out below all the fantastic things these tiny but mighty blue dynamos can do:

  • High in antioxidants
  • Protect against DNA damage, which may help protect against aging and cancer
  • Blueberries help prevent oxidative damage to “bad” LDL cholesterol
  • Help prevent heart disease
  • Help your brain and memory
  • Blueberries have been shown to have anti-diabetes effects
  • Help with inflammation after exercise

Do you need more of a reason to have a
second helping of the No-Bake Oreo
Blackberry Mousse Tart?

For my fresh produce, I like to shop locally at Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market.

Outside Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market
Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market

I can’t get enough of Todarello’s! Their produce selection is seriously impressive—I mean, it’s like a treasure trove every time I walk in. But you know what really seals the deal? The people there are just amazing. They’re like your own personal shopping squad, always there to lend a hand and make your grocery trip a breeze. No question is too much trouble, and they’re more than happy to help carry your bags to the car. They’re the real MVPs (Most Valuable Player) of the grocery store, making the whole experience a whole lot easier!

Very red and yummy looking tomatoes
Inside Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market
and the colourful vegetables

Stepping into Todarello’s Katoomba is like entering a vibrant wonderland for your senses! The explosion of colours from fresh fruits and vegetables is an absolute feast for the eyes. Every corner boasts a stunning array of produce, each piece seemingly competing to be the most tempting. And you know what? It’s not just about the looks—every single item on display here is top-notch. It’s a guarantee that when you pick something up, you’re getting the absolute best, freshest ingredients available. It’s like having a palette of nature’s finest at your fingertips.

Strawberries and Blackberries at Todarello’s
Blueberries outside Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market

Eggplant
A very red bunch of capsicum


During my visit to Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market, I purchased three punnets of luscious blackberries and two punnets of tantalizing blueberries—all set and primed for my upcoming no-bake tart adventure!

This tart might seem like a tough nut to crack, but let me tell you, it’s a breeze! Creating this masterpiece is an absolute cinch—effortless and oh-so-fun!

How do you make this gorgeous dessert?

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GORGEOUS EASY NO-BAKE OREO BLACKBERRY MOUSSE TART

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    METHOD

    Step 1: Create the Oreo base. You will need a blender to turn the Oreo Cookies into powder. Unwrap all three packets to give you 33 cookies and add them to the blender. Once all the cookies have been cut up and resemble dirt, add the melted butter to the Oreo mixture. This will form a dough to create the crust for the tart.

    Step 2: Add the Oreo dough to the tart pan (make sure to have a tart pan with a removable bottom). Press the Oreo dough into the tart pan to cover all the bottom and the sides of the tart.

    Step 3: Once the dough is all spread out into the tart pan, put it in the freezer for 15 minutes. Don’t leave for longer than 15 minutes. After 15 minutes put the tart pan in the fridge so that you can work on the blackberry mousse filling.

    Oreo Cookies all crushed up for the tart base
    Melted butter to mix in with the Oreo Cookies to
    create the tart crust

    Making sure that the Oreo crust is spread evening over the tart pan
    Nearly done and just smoothing the Oreo crust out in the tart pan

    Step 4: Creating the blackberry mousse. Add blackberries into the blender until they are pureed, then add the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla essence until it is a smooth consistency. You might need to stop the blender and stir some ingredients around to ensure all is mixed correctly and there are no lumps.

    Pouring the blackberry mousse into the tart pan
    The blackberry mousse in the tart pan and ready to set in the fridge overnight.

    Step 5: Whip the cream until firm in a separate bowl.

    Step 6: Hydrate the gelatin sheets.

    Step 7: Heat milk in the microwave but not to boiling (needs to be hot). Make sure to drain the gelatin sheets and then add them to the hot milk and stir until they have dissolved into the milk.

    Step 8: Add the milk to the blackberry puree and mix until all is combined well.

    Step 9: Pour into the bowl with the whipped cream and carefully mix well folding over slowly to mix using enveloping movements.

    Step 10: Pour the blackberry mouse into the tart pan and smooth out the mixture to make sure it sets with no lumps or bumps on the top of the tart.

    Step 11: Refrigerate the tart for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) to set.

    The stunningly gorgeous No-Bake Oreo Blackberry Mousse Tart cut and ready to eat!


    Once the mousse is set you can safely remove the tart from the pan. If you have some difficulty removing your tart from the pan The Cozy Plum has a great instructional video that might help.

    A piece of the tart cut and served ready to eat
    Check out the dark Oreo Base it looks amazing with the blackberry mousse.

    YUMMY! It looks so fantastic…Don’t you just want a slice?


    Decorate with: Blackberries, blueberries, nuts, dark chocolate, raspberries or whatever takes your fancy. Serve with fresh cream or ice cream.

    Enjoy this gorgeous treat!

    Admiring the dark Oreo cookie base of the blackberry mousse tart.

    POST FEAST REVIEW

    I was seriously blown away by how ridiculously easy this tart was to whip up! I mean, no cooking at all—just some fridge and freezer magic, and bam! Talk about a turbo-speed dessert! And the taste? Oh, boy, let me tell you—it was a mouthful of pure creamy goodness with that punchy blackberry zing. But guess what? Not only did it taste like a dream, but it also looked like a showstopper! Seriously, it’s a double win when delicious meets stunning!

    The added blackberries, blueberries and flowers make this no-bake tart look magical.

    WOULD I MAKE THIS AGAIN?

    Oh, heck yes! This tart was an absolute flavour bomb and a sight for sore eyes! But you know what? I’m already brainstorming some wild ideas for the next round. Picture this: a funky dance of colours in the mousse—maybe a raspberry rave or a mixed berry bash with blackberries and blueberries. I’m aiming for this majestic deep purple hue in the mousse that’ll pop against the rich, dark Oreo cookie base. Talk about a visual treat!

    And hey, why stick to one big tart when you can have a squad of mini-tarts, right? I’m thinking of snagging some individual tart pans for these bite-sized delights. They’re perfect for those quick, “I-deserve-a-treat” moments.

    But wait, the party doesn’t stop there! I’m on a mission to jazz up the decorations too. Picture this: a canvas of melted dark chocolate creating artsy lines, topped with a crunchy medley of roasted nuts—pistachios, almonds, and maybe a sprinkle of other berries for that extra pizzazz. Get ready, taste buds, because we’re about to take this tart game to a whole new level.

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    Originally published on December 30, 2023

    Categories
    Party ideas

    Harry Potter Birthday Party

    This year the girls wanted a Harry Potter or Wizard themed birthday party. (Read on to get the free takeaway – Harry Potter Cupcake Toppers)

    I thought how do I get into the spirit of the Harry Potter theme?

    The invitations are the way to set the scene.  Making sure that the invites are on track with the Harry Potter/Wizard theme is a good start.

    I create my own for the twins birthday parties and this year was no exception.

    The invitation that I created for the girls 9th birthday party. I got inspired by another invite I saw and used some of the text. The images were all ones that I found online and all are clip art so free to use.
    The invitation that I created for the girls 9th birthday party. I got inspired by another invite I saw and used some of the text. The images were all ones that I found online and all are clip art so free to use.

    To make my invitation have the right look I had to have the Harry Potter Font or something like it. Font Space have free Harry Potter fonts and are easy to download, install and start using.

    Instructions if you are installing a font for your very own Harry Potter invitation:

    1. Download the font
    2. Install the font into the fonts folder in the control panel
    3. Once the font or fonts are now added to your fonts folder you should see them in Photoshop or other programs you use to create your invitation. (I used Photoshop but if you don’t have Photoshop you can use a free web based Photoshop like editor called PIXLR EDITOR)
    4. Now you have your fonts you can get creative with your invitation.

    Now you have created your Harry Potter/Wizard invitations, the food and decor are something to think about.

    What type of things will you serve to make the kids feel like they are at a Harry Potter Party? The twins told me that if it is not 100% Harry Potter that is okay, it just has to be wizard like.

    Phew I thought, I was worried that it might not be exact and of course not accurately Harry Potter.

    I googled for inspiration. I also went to Pinterest too.

    Below is what I created for the party. I did my best to keep with the Harry Potter or Wizard theme. 

    1. I saw from Darla at Bakingdom that she did a coloured layered cake for each house in Harry Potter. After getting depressed about all the fancy cakes out there, I thought that this would be easier to do. I have done
      The different coloured layers of the Harry Potter Cake. This is to show the different houses.
      The different coloured layers of the Harry Potter Cake. This is to show the different houses.

      one similar the year or so before but it was a cake that had sweets inside...yep a surprise for everyone. I used the layered cake idea for the Harry Potter Party but did my own decorations.

      For the layers I added food colouring to four cakes to get one for each house:

      Gryffindor – Red
      Hufflepuff – Yellow
      Ravenclaw – Blue
      Slytherin – Greeen

    2. My decorations for the cake were piped out of dark chocolate in the shape of Harry Potter’s glasses and also the scar on his forehead. I also used chocolate stars that were already made in the cake section of the supermarket.
      The dark chocolate that I piped to form the decorations on the Harry Potter Cake. I got the exact shapes from a printed download and copied that. Once done I put in the fridge to set.
      The dark chocolate that I piped to form the decorations on the Harry Potter Cake. I got the exact shapes from a printed download and copied that. Once done I put in the fridge to set.
      The chocolate decorations for the Harry Potter cake. I kept it simple.
      The chocolate decorations for the Harry Potter cake. I kept it simple.
      Finished Harry Potter cake all ready for the party.
      Finished the Harry Potter cake all ready for the party.

       

    3. Sorting Hat Cupcakes – I saw them online and had to give them a go. Make your cupcakes. Cut a bit out of the middle and put in a few coloured M&M’s (I used the ones that didn’t have peanuts in case of allergies). The colours need to match the houses in Harry Potter. I did have to stand for a while and separate the colours I needed from a big bag of M&M’s. Once you have put the secret M&M’s into the cupcake put the cake back on top and then ice it. Decorate and done. Now do it the rest of them and then all your sorting hat cupcakes are organised. I made sure that there was an even number of each colour. Below are the colours I needed for the sorting hat cupcakes and as said got only those colours in six cupcakes each. I made chocolate vegan cupcakes with very dark chocolate icing. The icing was just icing sugar, organic cocoa powder from the health food shop, and water. This icing is just like pure chocolate and perfect for anyone who cannot have butter or other ingredients.

      Gryffindor – Red
      Hufflepuff – Yellow
      Ravenclaw – Blue
      Slytherin – Greeen       
    4. Wizard Bread – Fairy bread but these were stars and therefore more wizardry than normal fairy bread. I had fresh bread on the day of the party, and simply cut out star shapes with a cookie cutter. Once all done I put a little bit of butter on each star and decorated them with hundreds and thousands.
      Yummy Wizard Bread
      Yummy Wizard Bread
    5. Broomsticks –  I got the idea from One Little Project and this can also be used for Halloween as well. All you need is straight pretzels, cheese sticks that are able to be created into the end of the broom (I used Bega Stringers as the cheese allows you to take the ends and turn them up to look like a straw broom), and then you need some chives to tie around the base of the cheese and pretzel to make it look like the tie holding the broom and the handle together.Making the broomsticks is rather fiddly so if you are like me there might be a few words said when they don’t go your way. You need to be extra careful when you push in the pretzel into the cheese.One tip that helps is to make a hole in the cheese to allow the pretzel to go in easily, however be careful as it might make the cheese break too.
      Some my first broomsticks that I made. Don't they look awesome!
      Some my first broomsticks that I made. Don’t they look awesome!

       

       

      More broomsticks.
      More broomsticks.
      Broomsticks all ready for the kids to eat them at the party.
      Broomsticks are all ready for the kids to eat at the party.

       

    6. Magic Wizard Chocolate – I saw this online ages ago and have used it for a few parties now. I have made it different by some things I used in the chocolate and of course naming it Magic Wizard Chocolate helped make it more special for the party.
      To create the magic wizard chocolate. Firstly purchase some dark chocolate or the chocolate of choice to melt. You will need a couple of packs as you need to melt the chocolate and lay it on a big tray. If you have a lot of chocolate you can make two trays. You will be amazed at how quickly this gets eaten. I chose dark-cooking chocolate and got three packs of the chocolate. You then need to have sweets to stick into the melted chocolate before it hardens. Feel free to add whatever you wish as it is up to you and the theme of your party. I chose eyes, bright candy, Kit-Kats, raspberries, and sprinkles. Once the chocolate has set (I helped it along by putting it in the fridge). All you need to do is break it into little pieces so that the kids can just take a bite-sized part and not a whole bit of it. The eyes help it look a bit spooky so will be a perfect party treat for Halloween, monsters, and of course a wizard party like Harry Potter.
    7. Lolly Snakes – I made sure to have snakes as one house is called Slytherin and a birthday party really has to have more sweets it seemed to make sense.
      Slytherin snakes for the kids... of course they are not real but lollies instead.
      Slytherin snakes for the kids… of course, they are not real but lollies instead.

       

       

    8. Magic Chocolate Frogs – In Harry Potter there are chocolate frogs that fly away. Mine were not like this and nearly all the frogs got eaten to never return on the day. Sad but they were very yummy.
      Magic Chocolate Frogs and Wizard Chocolate
      Magic Chocolate Frogs and Wizard Chocolate

    I made sure that all food had labels that fit in with the theme of the party. This way everyone got involved in the fun.

    The birthday girls excited to cut the cake.
    The birthday girls are excited to cut the cake.

    There was also a seat that had invisible cloaks for anyone who needed one. Yep I wore mine although no one knew due to it being invisible.

    Some great tips and more inspiration to throw an amazing Harry Potter Party is listed in the BuzzFeed’s article on 33 cheap ways to organise an epic Harry Potter Halloween Party

     

    I hope this gives you some great ideas for a Harry Potter Party or even Halloween.

    Inside the Harry Potter Cake for the girls 9th Birthday Party.
    Inside the Harry Potter Cake for the girls 9th Birthday Party.

     

    FREE TAKEAWAY BELOW!

    I’ve created a fabulous download for you. Harry Potter Cupcake Toppers. Perfect for your next party.

    Originally published October 24 2017

    Categories
    Creative

    Mini Pumpkin Jack O’Lanterns

    Mini Pumpkins, one for each kid.
    Mini Pumpkins, one for each kid.

    Yesterday the kids and I created mini Jack O’Lanterns.

    Three mini pumpkins, just the right size for kids to carve and also the right number for each child. Also, they were a little cheaper than the bigger ones. So if you wish to have a little celebration and not spend a fortune, get a mini pumpkin.

     

    Mini Pumpkins, one for each kid.
    Mini Pumpkins, one for each kid.

     

     

    This year we did it a bit differently with the way we cut out the design for each pumpkin.

    • I let the kids draw on their pumpkins with a permanent marker so they could easily see the shapes they had to cut out.
    • As the pumpkin was smaller than we have had in the past putting a printout and sizing it correctly would have been a pain to do.
    • Drawing on the pumpkin allowed the freedom to change the design although you could still see the texta marks.

     

    NOTE: I made sure that I supervised the kids with the knife. I showed them carefully what to do and when I realized things were getting difficult I took over. I didn’t want any lost fingers prior to Halloween and frankly, I can live without that drama. We have all got our fingers intact and this is how we like it.

    Make sure you supervise kids using a knife and in doubt do it for them.

    Julia and Lillian help me

    make Mini Jack O’ Lanterns








    Note the lovely sibling love when Lillian says to Julia that she will not survive due to stinging herself with the inside of the pumpkin due to a cut. Nice sisterly love.

    Also, you can hear the cicadas in the background, they are very noisy and go nonstop during the day. They are not as noisy during the cool nights.

    I hope you liked our Jack O’Lanterns. Make some to celebrate Halloween today. Or if it is not for Halloween cut out a different decoration.

     

    The finished product. 3 lovely scary mini Jack O'Lanterns.
    The finished product. 3 lovely scary mini Jack O’Lanterns.

    Sign up to download FREE Harry Potter Cupcake Toppers

    Perfect for your next party, a spooky one, or just a birthday celebration.

    Originally published Oct 30, 2017

    Categories
    Recipes

    Mandarin & Rhubarb Crumble

    Would you like to make a super yummy and easy dessert?

    This crumble is so simple and tastes amazing, it will impress everyone.

    If you are taking a dessert to a dinner party this is the thing to make, you can make a big tray of it and all you need to add after heating it up is some vanilla ice cream.

    Many of these crumbles call for oranges, not mandarins, I love mandarins and look forward to mandarin season, so adding mandarins to a dessert is vital. Since I have never added mandarins to anything I have cooked before I thought why not give it a go.

    All the ingredients ready to make Mandarin & Rhubarb Crumble
    All the ingredients ready to make Mandarin & Rhubarb Crumble

     

     

    Download the recipe card for Mandarin & Rhubarb Crumble

     

    Chopping up the rhubarb
    Chopping up the rhubarb

     

    Put oven on 180°C or  356°F to heat up
    while you get everything ready

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups chopped Rhubarb
    • (I used 1 big bunch of Rhubarb)
    • 1 1/2 cups sugar
    • I small bag of mandarins
    • 1 cup packed brown sugar
    • 1 cup quick-cooking oats
    • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
    • Ice cream to serve

     

    Make sure to cut out the mandarin seeds
    Make sure to cut out the mandarin seeds

     

     

    Method

    Step 1: Cut up Rhubarb into small pieces

    Step 2: Peel all the Mandarins and cut out the seeds

    Step 3: In a large bowl, add the rhubarb and sugar let stand for 15 mins, stirring occasionally.

    Step 4: In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar, oats, flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

    Step 5: Add Rhubarb and sugar mixture to a large baking dish

    Step 6: Add the Mandarins on top of the Rhubarb – make sure they are evenly spread

    Step 7: Add the crumble mixture on top making sure it fully covers the top

    Step 8: Bake at 180° for 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown

    Step 9: Eat the yummy mandarin and rhubarb crumble with some ice cream. ENJOY!

    Mandarin & Rhubarb Crumble cooling down and getting ready to eat!
    Mandarin & Rhubarb Crumble cooling down and getting ready to eat!

    I hope you enjoy this yummy recipe.

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    Categories
    Recipes

    Passionfruitty Goodness

    Passionfruit is a distinct and flavoursome summer fruit, and one that I really like a lot—yes, I do like a lot of fruit!

    Yummy passionfruits – pity you could not smell my kitchen, it was amazing!

    I grew up in North Queensland and as a kid, I had bananas, mangos, paw paw, and of course passionfruits growing in my garden, plus loads more. It was a garden filled with everything you needed. I loved the fact that you could just go outside and pick something yummy to eat. It took me a while to adjust that in the city people don’t have the same as I did as a kid. I was spoilt for choice and it did allow me to try more food. I wonder if we had more growing in my garden, would it mean that my kids would eat more food?

    Are you the type of person that wonders what else you can do with an ingredient? If so, you are not alone, I do this too.  I test things out and give things a go to see if they will work. And my latest project has been seeing what more I can do with passionfruit.

    I usually add passionfruit to my breakfast, fruit salad and icing for cakes. However, with the abundance of passionfruit this season I was thinking, “What else could I make with passionfruit that isn’t cake or slices?”

    A simple search on the internet for passionfruit recipes produces a myriad of layered cakes and slices, however, I wanted to do something totally different, or at the very least something that not everyone would do.

    A bunch of passionfruits, don’t they look delicious

    A little bit more about passionfruit

    Passionfruit is in season in Australia from Summer to Winter. I had no idea that they are available during winter.  Due to our temperate climate in Australia and the fact that most of the passionfruit vines are in a tropical climate passionfruit is available nearly all year round. 

    There are a few different varieties: Misty Gems, Sweethearts and Panamas. 

    Passionfruit not only tastes and looks amazing it is also good for you too. This yummy fruit has Vitamin A, Vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and folate.

    Passionfruit from Todarello’s at Katoomba.

    Where do I get my fresh produce?

    I shop at Todarello’s at Katoomba, they have the freshest fruit and vegetables and fabulous service to boot.

    Todarello’s Fruit Market at Katoomba
    So many passionfruits
    Oranges and apples

    Todarello’s has stunning colourful displays and they have so much on offer, not only do they stock all fresh produce, but Todarello’s also have pasta, sauces, snacks, meat, bread and other pantry staples.

    Red Ripe Tomatoes
    Stunning ripe tomatoes
    Capsicums at Toderello’s Fruit Market

    If you are also a passionfruit lover, you will love my recipes, you can get more passionfruit into your diet, and of course, have more passion!  

    I’ve designed the recipes as a progression for a complete dinner – main meal, salad and dessert.

    You can download the free eBook with all three passionfruit recipes here. Once your email has been confirmed your download will happen automatically.

    Mango and Passionfruit Stir-Fry Sauce

    Stir-fry dinners are simple and quick to make and are also something that can be a great addition to your dinner party. Adding passionfruit to your sauce brings the tangy passionfruit flavour and a bit of summer into your day. I found this recipe from gourmandelle.com/ and made it my own.

    Ingredients

    • 80ml (⅓ cup) passion fruit juice (Maybe add a cup of passionfruit to make it more passionfruity – that should be a word, don’t you think?)
    • 1 large mango, peeled and cored
    • 1 clove of garlic, peeled
    • 1 tbsp soy sauce
    • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
    • 1 tbsp sesame oil
    • 2 tsp lemon juice
    • 1 tsp honey
    Mango and Passionfruit Stir-Fry Sauce ingredients

    Method

    Place all your ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. Strain the sauce, cover, and set aside. You can use the sauce immediately or store it in the fridge for later.

    I used the sauce as a marinade for my chicken stir-fry, the sauce can be used as a dipping sauce too.

    The finished Mango and Passionfruit Stir-Fry Sauce

    What did I use in the stir-fry?

    • Chicken
    • Broccolini
    • Mushrooms
    • Spanish onion
    • Yellow tomatoes
    • And the main ingredient, my very own Mango and Passionfruit Stir-Fry Sauce (the sauce was tasty, however next time I will add more passionfruit to make it more tangier).
    Chicken and vegetable stir-fry with Mango and Passionfruit Stir-Fry Sauce

    Passionfruit Salad Dressing

    I have never seen a passionfruit salad dressing and wondered why. The passionfruit pulp and tangy taste are perfect for a salad, I looked around and found a recipe and gave it a go.  The recipe was inspired by https://curryandvanilla.com/

    I made it different from the Curry and Vanilla version by adding more passionfruit pulp with the seeds for texture.

    Passionfruit Salad Dressing Ingredients
    >

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups passionfruit puree
    • 2 tbsp honey/maple syrup
    • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 3 tbsp lemon
    • ½ teaspoon of salt
    • Crushed black pepper
    Salad waiting for the Passionfruit Salad Dressing

    Method

    Blitz all ingredients in a blender, and strain the mixture to remove seeds and other lumps. I added extra passionfruit pulp (2 extra passionfruit) to the mixture as I wanted the extra passionfruit taste and the crunch of the seeds. You can remove the seeds if you wish and just have the juice and pulp. Once complete add to a container and refrigerate. You can serve it right away or store it for a few weeks in the fridge.

    The dressing looked more like ranch dressing but not as thick. It gave a great tang and lift to the salad and was yummy and moreish. 

    Salad with Passionfruit Salad Dressing

    What did I add to the salad?

    • Red oak lettuce
    • Green oak lettuce
    • Mushrooms
    • Spanish onions
    • Capsicum
    • Yellow tomatoes – Sun Delight tomatoes
    • Broccolini
    • And of course, my very own passionfruit salad dressing
    Salad with Mount Victoria Microgreens

    On the stir-fry and salad, I used Mount Victoria Microgreens. The microgreens are grown in the Blue Mountains and are fresh and so tasty. If you want to add some extra taste and be healthier Mount Victoria Microgreens is the way to go. My favourites are the purple radish and the broccoli.

    Passionfruit Flummery

    My husband is mad about flummery and makes the raspberry flummery based on the Aeroplane Jelly Recipe. I thought why not make a passionfruit flummery instead. 

    Flummery is a dessert that isn’t a popular menu item, you don’t see flummery anywhere. It has been said that the flummery goes back to the 1500’s in Scotland and the recipes that I remember say they are from the 1950’s or earlier. 

    Passionfruit Flummery in my op shop glasses

    As I was new to flummery from a cooking perspective (I have eaten a few before), I thought it would be fun to give it a go and used the Aeroplane Jelly recipe as well. 

    Ingredients

    • 1 x 85 g Mango Passionfruit/Mango/Orange Aeroplane Jelly
    • 1 cup (250 mL) boiling water
    • 1 x 375 mL evaporated milk, chilled

    Note: I bought two packs of Mango Passionfruit Lite Aeroplane Jelly, however, each pack only has about 20g, so I used all 4 packs for my flummery. Next time I will use an orange or mango aeroplane jelly pack that has the exact 85g.

    Passionfruit Flummery with oodles of fresh passionfruit

    Method

    • Mix Aeroplane Jelly crystals and boiling water in a medium bowl. Stir until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate until the consistency of a thick syrup (Approximately 1-2 hours).
    • Make sure that you keep an eye on the jelly as you don’t want to solid before you mix it with the evaporated milk.
    • Using an electric mixer, beat evaporated milk with slightly set jelly on high speed for approximately 5 minutes or until doubled in volume. Should be thick and glossy.
    • Spoon into serving bowls, cover and refrigerate for a further 2 hours or until set firm. Serve with yoghurt, ice cream and fresh passionfruit.

    The glasses that I used were purchased from the local op shop. I just loved the blue stems with the square stand. I managed to acquire three Bombay Sapphire Gin glasses that were just perfect for a dessert.

    Super yummy looking Passionfruit Flummery

    POST FEAST REVIEW

    Mango and Passionfruit Stir Fry Sauce
    This was a simple recipe to make and tasted nice with the chicken and vegetables. I did think that the mango was a bit overpowering and to balance this out I would add more passionfruit next time. Even though I thought it needed more passionfruit it was delicious and both bowls were finished in record time.

    Passionfruit Salad Dressing 
    Another simple recipe that was very tasty and lifted a simple salad to new heights. As mentioned in the recipe I added extra passionfruit afterwards as it needed that extra flavour. It was a huge hit with my dinner guests, and I think that having some in the fridge always is a must!

    Passionfruit Flummery
    I had never made flummery before and was surprised at the reaction to the near jelly and evaporated milk. It doubles in size in record time. It tasted amazing with the fresh passionfruit over the fluffy dessert.

    Passionfruit ready to be cooked

    WOULD I MAKE THIS AGAIN?

    Yes, I would make all three recipes again in a heartbeat. Although next time I would make a few little tweaks:

    • Mango and Passionfruit Stir-Fry Sauce 
      I would add more passionfruit and see if I could make it a little thicker
    • Passionfruit Salad Dressing
      I added more passionfruit to the end mixture and believe that it could be tangier but that could be my preference. The version I created was very tasty and was a huge hit.
    • Passionfruit Flummery
      This an amazing light and delicious dessert. The one change I would make is to have the flummery in smaller cups to serve. 

    I hope you enjoy these passionfruit recipes.

    The passionfruit was fresh and tasty.

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    Originally published March 5, 2022

    Categories
    Family

    FREE Father’s Day Card Download

    Are you busy getting things organised for dad or your husband for Father’s Day? Do you wish you had the perfect card?

    Would you like to get a nice free and easy card that you can print from home or the office?

     

    No Father's Day card would be complete without some dad jokes.
    No Father’s Day card would be complete without some dad jokes.

    Well I have the answer for you.

    You can download all 5 Father’s Day Cards for FREE! Yep you read that right. Free and you don’t just get one card, you get five!

    Father's Day card to dad from the kids.
    Father’s Day card to dad from the kids.

    Another silly but funny dad joke. I'm sure this will make dad laugh as well as the kids.
    Another silly but funny dad joke. I’m sure this will make dad laugh as well as the kids.

    Best Hubby Ever Father's Day Card
    Best Hubby Ever Father’s Day Card

     

     

    Sign up to the blog to download

    You will receive all five printable Father’s Day cards in a zip file.

    To print open the file into Adobe Acrobat. When you select print choose fit page and then print away.

    Make sure to print on thicker paper than standard printer paper.

     

    Enjoy the Father’s Day Cards and I hope your dad or hubby have a wonderful Father’s Day.

     

    Categories
    Recipes TV

    Celebrate Season 2 of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ and make some Dip

    The show ‘Only Murders in the Building’ reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Rear Window’. The show looks into other people’s apartments and bit by bit you learn more about their lives. As a viewer, you get involved, invested, and need to find out what will happen next. The art deco animation for the intro titles is also reminiscent of old films, well I think it is.

    Learn about the Art of the Arconia

    DID YOU KNOW
    Sesason 1 of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ was the most watched show on Hulu

    I just love Selena Gomez’s outfit from the first season of Only Murders in the Building

    What are Only Murders in the Building about?

    “Only Murders in the Building is an American mystery-comedy streaming television series created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman. The ten-episode first season premiered on Hulu on August 31, 2021. The plot follows three strangers played by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who share an obsession with a true-crime podcast. After a suspicious death in their affluent Upper West Side apartment building, the Arconia, the three neighbors decide to start their own podcast about their investigation of the death, which the police ruled a suicide.” Wikipedia.

    I loved the show and have been waiting eagerly for season 2. It is so cleverly written, acted, and a well-cast show. A joy to watch!

    Have you ever thought there might be secret things hidden in the opening titles? If you have, well you were right. Brian Cronin from Pop Culture References has a complete list of all of the opening titles Easter Eggs from Only Murders in the Building Season 1.

    One of the Hardy Boy books from Tim Kono’s apartment

    Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building starts 28th of June 2022

    Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage in Season 2. Charles is shocked at being accused of murder.
    Martin Short as Oliver Putnam in season 2 and not happy about being accused of murder.
    Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora having her photo taken at the police station in season 2. It is not looking good for Mabel having blood over her shirt.

    Oliver, who is played by Martin Short exclusively eats dips. “I haven’t had a real entree in years,” he proudly shares. “It’s all containers and fingers.”

    While Oliver (Martin Short), Mabel (Selena Gomez), and Charles (Steve Martin) attended the body corporate meeting to discuss the recent murder and there were a bunch of dips for the residents. Oliver decided to take them all as he declared it a meal and why waste it!

    Celebrate Season 2 of Only Murders in the Building while eating dip!

    Download the Only Murders in the Building Dip Cookbook

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      Spicy Sesame Guacamole ready to eat

      Spicy Sesame Guacamole

      INGREDIENTS

      • 4 medium ripe avocados, peeled and pitted (or 1 pack of frozen avocado pieces thawed)
      • 2 limes juiced
      • 2- 4 green onions, coarsely chopped, plus extra for garnish (if you have fewer avocados use less onion.
      • 4 tbsp. chopped coriander
      • 2 tsp. chilli garlic paste
      • 1 tsp. soy sauce
      • 1/2 tsp. salt
      • 1/4 tsp. sesame seeds
      Toasted sesame seeds on the Spicy Sesame Guacamole

      DIRECTIONS

      1. In a large bowl, mash avocados and lime juice with a fork or potato masher to desired consistency, leaving some chunks. Stir in green onions, coriander, chilli garlic paste, soy sauce, and salt.

      2. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately with tortilla chips or crackers. You can make it ahead. Make sure to place plastic wrap directly on top of the guacamole to prevent browning and refrigerate.

      Beetroot Houmous

      INGREDIENTS

      • 1 cup Chickpeas cooked
      • 1 medium Beetroot
      • 2 cloves of Garlic
      • 1 tbsp Lemon juice 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
      • 1/2 tsp Salt
      • Water to thin out
      Cutting up the beetroot

      INSTRUCTIONS

      Step 1: Cut up beetroot and cook in a pot with a little water over medium heat. Cook till soft. Cool down the beetroot before starting step 2.

      Step 2: In a food processor, place chickpeas and cooked beetroot and process for one minute or until smooth. Add garlic, lemon juice, cumin powder, and salt and process by adding water to thin the mixture out.

      Step 3: Refrigerate or enjoy immediately. The dip should last for a week in an airtight container.

      Beetroot Houmous

      Roasted Eggplant Dip

      INGREDIENTS

      • 1 large eggplant
      • 1 lemon, juiced
      • 3 garlic cloves
      • 1/2 Spanish onion, quartered
      • 1/2 cup parsley
      • 4 slices of bread
      • Olive oil
      • Salt and pepper to season

      INSTRUCTIONS

      Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180°C.
      Step 2: Cut the eggplant in half and place it on a baking tray, cut side up. Bake in the oven until the eggplant is brown and soft.
      Step 3: Remove from the oven and allow to cool for five minutes before peeling back the skin of the eggplant from the soft flesh. (Don’t wait too long to peel off the skin or else it will be stuck).
      Step 4: Purée all ingredients in a food processor for 60 seconds before drizzling in the olive oil. You’ll need to add the olive oil slowly and add just enough to bring all the ingredients together into a thick paste. Season with salt and pepper and blitz again.
      Step 5: Serve with bread or crackers.

      Eggplant cut and ready to cook

      Roasted Pumpkin & Cumin Houmous

      INGREDIENTS

      500g pumpkin, peeled, seeded, cut into 3cm pieces 400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained
      1 garlic clove, crushed
      1 tbsp ground cumin
      2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
      80ml (1/3 cup) olive oil
      Chopped fresh continental parsley, to serve Crackers or bread to serve

      INSTRUCTIONS

      Step 1: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Bake for around 30-35 minutes, until the pumpkin is soft. Set aside for around 20 minutes to cool down before you start the next step.
      Step 2: Process the pumpkin, chickpeas, garlic and cumin in a food processor until almost smooth. Add the lemon juice and process until well combined.
      Step 3: With the motor running, add the oil in a thin steady stream until smooth. Once done, transfer the hummus to a bowl. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with crackers or bread.

      Enjoy the dips while you watch the new season of Only Murders in the Building.

      Categories
      News

      2022 Fresh Content Finalist

      I am very excited to announce that I have been selected as 1 of the 4 finalists for this year’s Fresh Content Awards. The other finalists are:

      • Anita Garrido – Created by Anita
      • Mary Politis – Mary’s Kouzina
      • Tilly Pamment – Tilly’s Table

      Congratulations to everyone that has been nominated and I am super keen to be attending the in-person event in June. The last in-person event was in 2019, in 2020 the whole event was cancelled due to COVID, and 2021 the event was postponed and then cancelled and the winners were announced online.

      I have entered this competition since it started, and was lucky to be a finalist last year and also again this year. I would so love to win but am just happy to be acknowledged for my content and hard work.

      Passionfruits used for my Passionfruit recipes

      What is the Fresh Content Awards?

      “The Fresh Awards program and gala awards event are an opportunity to showcase heroes within the NSW and ACT fresh produce industry who excel at their profession. Relaunched in 2015 to amalgamate Sydney Markets’ long-running retailer excellence programs (Greengrocer and Florist of the Year Awards, and the Fruit & Vegetable and Flower Grower of the Year Awards), the Fresh Awards has grown to also include awards to acknowledge fresh produce wholesalers and bloggers who champion fresh produce and the people grow or sell fruit, vegetable or flowers.”

      The Fresh Awards consists of six categories:

      What did I enter for the 2022 Fresh Content Awards?

      This year I chose passionfruit as my key ingredient. It was in season and I just love passionfruit. My aim was to do something different with the fruit that wasn’t icing on a cake or in a slice.

      I decided to create 3 recipes as a dinner progression. I made a mango and passionfruit stir-fry sauce, a passionfruit salad dressing and for dessert a passionfruit flummery. For each recipe, I created a video to show how it was made and then also created an eBook with the recipe cards.

      Make sure to download the recipes and watch the videos to make your own passionfruit recipes too.

      I sourced all my fresh ingredients from Todarello’s Fruit Market at Katoomba.

      Passionfruit at Todarello’s Fruit Market
      Stunning looking tomatoes
      Tomatoes looking so ripe and tasty
      Todarello’s Fruit Market at Katoomba

      Now I need to find an outfit to attend the awards night in June. I do have an idea of what I would like but it is a matter of seeing it and it also being priced just right.

      Wish me luck on the night!

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      Categories
      Family

      Download Free Mother’s Day Cards

      I have created some fun Mother’s Day cards. You will not only get 1 card, but 5 cards to choose from.

      One big plus about these cards is that they are 100% free.

      What is the Process?

      1. Download the PDF file by subscribing below
      2. Once you confirm your subscription your download will start
      3. In the PDF you will see 5 different Mother’s Day cards to use
      4. Just pick the page you wish to print and say print that page only
      5. Use thicker card for your card and you can write your message on the other side

      I hope you enjoy the cards and have a Happy Mother’s Day.

      Klook.com

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      Categories
      Creative

      FREE DOWNLOAD: Year of the Rat Lantern Craft

      Chinese New Year is nearly here, and one great way to get kids involved is with craft.

      Example of what the Year of the Rat lantern looks like - download yours now
      Example of what the Year of the Rat lantern looks like – download yours now

      I’ve updated my printable Chinese lantern for The Year of the Rat!  Yes now, you can have your house decorated with these cute little lanterns that your kids created.

      All you need to do is to sign up with your email address, once confirmed your PDF download will be instantly sent to you. It’s that easy!

       

      I hope you enjoy this printable.

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      Save Up To 75% Off Clearance - House Online

      Categories
      Family

      Pineapples Nutrient Rich and Great for Health

      I had no idea that Pineapples were so good for you.

      Also, I don’t often drink pineapple….but don’t hate it, and yes I like many others seem to eat it more in the summer.

      DID YOU KNOW?

      • Pineapples have an enzyme called bromelain. This enzyme has anti-inflammatory properties.
      • This magical enzyme also can boost immunity and is super helpful to fight colds and flu (I wish I knew this as I am currently suffering from a bad cold or possibly the flu)

      • “Only six per cent of people class pineapples as nutrient-rich, favouring blueberries and acai berries instead”

      ·   

      Pure Gold pineapples are so good for you, read all about them.

      Pineapples also are great for your digestive system, yep more good things from eating. Bromelain breaks down proteins plus has been shown to help with symptoms of sinusitis, arthritis and sore throats.

      WOW PINEAPPLES ARE REALLY A SUPER FOOD!

      “Nutritionist and dietitian Joanna Shinewell said the key to keeping a strong immune system, particularly during the cooler months, is through vitamin C, dietary bromelain and antioxidants.”

      “To encourage a healthy immune system, the body needs a daily intake of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. While to many it is surprising that pineapples could be a hidden gem, they are truly the golden fruit that protects you from the harshness of winter from the inside, out,” said Shinewell.

      Pure Gold Pineapples are based in Central and Southern Queensland,  and available all year round. Pure Gold Pineapples are available across Australian food retailers and fruit shops nationally.

       

      If you want more info on the yummy Pure Gold Pineapples visit – For more information visit puregoldpineapples.com.au.

       

       

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      Categories
      Family

      Happy Year of the Earth Pig – Gong Xi Fa Chai

      Do you celebrate Chinese New Year? We do.

      This year it is the Year of the Pig. What does the Year of the Pig mean for you? If you are interested you can check out your Chinese Horoscope from Chinese Fortune Calendar

      “2019 Chinese New Year is arriving on February 5, 2019. That is the 4716th Chinese year. The zodiac sign of 2019 is the Pig. According to the Chinese Horoscope calendar, 2019 is the Female Earth Pig year. Brown is connected to the earth. Therefore, 2019 is also called the year of the Brown Pig ” (Chinese Fortune Calendar)

      There are many events on to celebrate and you can see a full list below:

       

       

      Celebrate Lunar New Year with Roll’d

      CHÚC MỪNG NĂM MỚI!  

      HAPPY VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR! 

      Such yummy and healthy food at Roll'd.
      Such yummy and healthy food at Roll’d.

      Soldiers® or more commonly known as rice paper rolls or Vietnamese rolls are a Vietnamese dish traditionally consisting of pork, prawns, fresh vegetables, mint and coriander wrapped in rice paper. But there are all sorts of other flavours like fish, beef poached in a lemongrass broth, tofu, grilled pork patties (nem nuong) sausages and other seafood such as whole baby octopus.
      Soldiers® or more commonly known as rice paper rolls or Vietnamese rolls are a Vietnamese dish traditionally consisting of pork, prawns, fresh vegetables, mint and coriander wrapped in rice paper. But there are all sorts of other flavours like fish, beef poached in a lemongrass broth, tofu, grilled pork patties (nem nuong) sausages and other seafood such as whole baby octopus.

       

      Roll’d is giving away celebrate the Lunar New Year.

      Luck is coming your way with one of the following gifts:

      • Buy one get one free with any menu item
      • Free side with any purchase
      • Free regular drink with any purchase
      • Free 40g Mango Weis bar

      Redeem at you nearest Roll’d between February 5, 2019 – February 12, 2019.

      Wait – THERE’S MORE! One lucky customer will also receive free Roll’d lunch for a month! 

      Find out where your nearest Roll’d Store is and plan a Lunar New Lunch today.

       

      Download a FREE Year of the Pig Chinese Lantern.

       

      Have fun and I hope you enjoy your Lunar New Year Celebrations.

       

      Categories
      Education

      Valentine’s Day Word Scramble Worksheet

      Do your kids love to do word scrambles?

      Since Valentine’s Day is around the corner a Valentine’s Day inspired worksheet is ideal.

      Do you love giving your children more worksheets so they can practice and get better at their school work? I know I do!

      Did you know that word scramble worksheets help kids with spelling?

      Kids have fun solving the scrambled word and have no idea that they are learning at the same time. What a win as a parent!

      Education.com is a wonderful resource for educational worksheets to help your children learn.

      You can also become an Education.com member and get access to more amazing content to help your kids.

      I love that Education.com ties-in times of the year to help kids have fun while they are actually doing work.  The free worksheets are based on Valentine’s Day.

       

      The Valentine’s Day Eduction.com downloads are below:

      Learn some new words for Valentine’s Day with this word scramble from Education.com!

      To get more spelling practice, check out these resources.

       

      You can even build your own worksheet from the Education.com worksheet generator.  Make your own for the kids today!

      Would you like to have more Valentine’s Day worksheets? If you do there are more. Download and have fun celebrating.

      Disclaimer: I was approached by Education.com to share this free worksheet with my readers. I love helping kids learn, and like to share great resources for parents.

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      Categories
      School

      Back to School Organising

      School goes back for my twins at the end of January. Part of me is excited that they will be starting a new year of learning, and part of me is realising that time is flying.

      The girls starting school last year. I’m sure they will be this excited this year.
      The girls starting school last year. I’m sure they will be this excited this year.

      There is also another part of me that likes the fact that they will be at school so that mummy might be able to get a few things done….. I know many parents do rejoice when school goes back so I might not be the only one doing a happy dance.

      Although with school going back the routine returns. Lunches have to be made, bags packed, school uniforms washed and folded, kids dropped and picked up from school, and then after school activities return and therefore means that I need to take everyone to the required place for the required amount of time.

      School holidays do tend to wear me out, but I do love the fact that you can just stay home and do nothing. You don’t have to be anywhere and no one needs a lunch box to stay home.

      This was the twins last day of pre-school. 
They were super excited to be going to Kindy. Now they are in grade four, how time flies.
      This was the twins last day of pre-school. 
They were super excited to be going to Kindy. Now they are in grade four, how time flies.

      Soon the girls will be done with their primary education and move on to high school.

      Not only have I been a little down about the fact that they are growing up so quickly, I have been thinking about all the items that I need to organise for the kids before they get to their first day of term 1 this year.

      Are your kids starting school this year? If they are I bet they are very excited. 

      What do you need for the first day of school?

      • Depending on what year you are in you have different things to bring to school. Your school gives you a breakdown of all items that you need to for your child.
      • If you have attended Kindy Orientation the year before, you would have received an info pack. In the info pack you get told all about the school, bell times, teachers, where rooms are, snow and bushfire policies (Yes our school has both snow & a bushfire policy), what the kids need for their first day and so much more.

        COST SAVING TIPS: 

        TIP 1:  Look at the uniform and see how you can cut costs. If the school wears a single colour polo shirt, this same top an be purchased cheaply at Target, BigW or Kmart.  If the school has a crest on their shirts buy a few of these and get the rest in the plain colour. This way your child has the fancy one for school functions, photos and excursions.

        TIP 2: The same is for other items, like shorts, skorts (a cross between a skirt and shorts) and so on.  I purchased skorts for the twins for $8 at BigW and from the school, they are $30 each. Shopping around for school uniform items is a good idea. Oh, and if your kids are like mine and love wearing shorts, buy the boys shorts and you will save a bundle. Who cares if they are boys or girls shorts. It really doesn’t matter.

        TIP 3: If your child is at the stage you need to purchase stationery and other supplies for school, it is a good idea to see what you already have at home. I’m sure that you might already have textas, pencils, sharpener, pencil case and more already. This will save you a bit of money at the shops.

         

      For Kindy kids, the following is basically all you need:

      • Full uniform, school shoes, hat (wide-brimmed is ideal), sunblock, spare clothes if needed (In case of an accident. Pack undies, socks, pants, skirt or skort in a plastic bag).
      • Bag or backpack that is not too big for your child. Something that they can carry without any help.
      • Lunch box packed with a yummy lunch. Give the kids some snacks, finger food, a sandwich and a treat here and there. If your school has a canteen or possibly a tuck shop maybe put a $2 coin in their lunch box so they might get a treat once a week.
      • Water Bottle
      • Smock for creative tasks like painting.
      • Jumper & rain jacket in case the weather changes. If your weather is like mine it can change without notice. You don’t want your little one to be at school and freezing.
      • Make sure to label everything. Kids lose so many things and you want to be able to claim your item in the lost property box.
      • Library Bag ( I made one for the twins so that it is different from the other kids. This way it is easily recognised as theirs)

      • If you are concerned that you have not packed or supplied what is needed, it is always a good idea to check with your child’s teacher.

      NOTE: Normally you have a two-week window to get everything organised for the start of the school year. This gives you ample time to source all items.

       

      • Download my FREE Guide to Make a Book Bag

        There are many ways to add your names to items. You can write them on the items with pen or texta, or get actual labels.

      Labels can be for clothes, bags, books and more.

      One website that we have used and love is called, Stuck On You.  We liked that the labels are unique to each child, and were so fast to arrive.

      Just google labels for kids and you get so many choices that I’m sure you will find something that suits your needs.

      The above list for Kindy kids was fine until my girls got to third grade. Once we reached this level in primary school we needed to provide more for the kids.

      Each grade gets sent a list via the school newsletter and it is also available for purchase from the local newsagency.

      If your school uses SkoolBag  (SkoolBag is an app the school uses for all communication, some school use it) then you can download the equipment list from there.

       

      What the twins need for grade four: 

      • 2 x 30 cm ruler, clearly labelled with centimetre and millimetre markings (no metal or floppy rulers, please)
      • Scissors
      • Highlighters – at least two different colours
      • 2 glue sticks – 35g
      • 8 lead pencils, HB.
      • Sharpener with container
      • 2 rubbers for lead pencils
      • Coloured pencils
      • Gel pens and textas are optional
      • Pencil case large enough to hold the above items (1 pencil case only, please!)
      • Library bag
      • 4 plastic document wallets A4
      • 2 x 0.4 or 0.5 fine point black pens for map work, labelling and artwork
      • Large sheet of cardboard for Art folder
      • 3 x Lined A4 exercise books for homework/classwork
      • 2 x Boxes of tissues (this helps the classroom if each kid contributes)
      • 1 x packet whiteboard markers
      • USB 4-6GB
      • Drink bottle with water only for drinking during class
      • Please remember a hat each day

      For example, grade five will be getting extras like pens as they will have their pen licence (yes this is a thing!), extra workbooks, cardboard for folders and also a calculator for maths.

       

       

      This should give you a good idea of what to pack for your child who is starting school this year.

      One of the things I do dread is packing the kids lunches, the dread is fuelled by the fact that the twins are so fussy that it is hard to know what to pack.

      I want to give the twins something that I know that they will eat, but also try to expose them to new and yummy foods.

      Did you know that you can put in tasty, yummy and healthy snacks that will make your job as the chief lunch packer easier.

      A simple lunch box.
      A simple lunch box.

      There is a place called School Snack Box and they can send you a box of snacks that you don’t need to think about.

      All you need to do is to pick how many snacks you wish to add to your child’s lunch box and then order the box that is right for you. You can choose from a box with 22 snacks for $40/month, with $15 shipping fee. Or you can get 44 snacks for $80/month and also with an extra $15 shipping fee.

      This is a great option if you wish to have different snacks delivered each month. Add something different to the lunch box each day.

      Starting big school is a major milestone. I hope your child has a great time.

      It’s a massive step when kids start Kindy. You will be emotional even if you have told yourself it won’t happen.

      Let it happen and it is all normal.  Trust me, I was happy and still crying.

      If you are able to help out at the school, do it. It’s so amazing to see your child thrive and be more confident in their new school.

      I volunteered to help with reading when the twins were younger and will do so for Alexander as well when he starts school.

      Good luck with term one. I hope your kids have a great time and you do as well.

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