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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
    Recipes

    Make Chicken & Broccoli Soup

    It is getting colder. The nights are getting darker and spending time in front of the fire is a must.

    Make these cool nights better with some tasty and healthy soup.

    Download the Chicken and Broccoli Soup Recipe here!

    Voome's Chicken and Broccoli Soup 
    Chicken and Broccoli Soup

    Don’t be put off by the fact that it looks so vibrantly green. It tastes amazing!

    All my ingredients for the Chicken & Broccoli Soup.
    All my ingredients for the Chicken & Broccoli Soup.

    Ingredients

    • 1 Teaspoon of vegetable stock powder. ( I used some stock cubes I already had in the cupboard)
    • 300g of Broccoli chopped up
    • 3 Shallots (18g) chopped
    • 50g of Baby Spinach
    • 225g of Grilled lean Chicken Breast – Shredded (I used BBQ Chicken without the skin. I cut it up so that it was like it was shredded)
    • 1 Tablespoon of Basil Pesto (20g)
    • 1 Wholemeal Pita Bread (40g)

    My version of Voome's Chicken & Broccoli Soup. Mine had more water in it so therefore was not as thick looking as Voome's version. Tastes amazing!
    My Chicken & Broccoli Soup. Mine had more water in it, so it was not as thick-looking as the recipe. Tastes amazing anyway!

    Method

    1. Pour 2 and a half cups or 625ml of water into a saucepan. Bring it to the boil.  (I added too much water as I was wanting to feed more people. If I added less the soup would not have been as watery. It did not take away from the taste and I even ended up getting seconds as it was so yummy. )
    2. Add stock powder and broccoli. Cover and return to the boil. Cook for about 3 minutes or until tender.
    3. Add the shallots and spinach. Cook for another 2 minutes.
    4. Remove from the heat and blitz with a handheld blender. Once all the ingredients are mixed in and all is smooth then return to the heat.
    5. Add the chicken and pesto.
    6. Season to serve. You could add ground black pepper, crunchy croutons, or as some other readers have done lemon juice was added, just a squeeze to enhance the flavour.

    Suggestions

    • You could add some ravioli to the soup or maybe some noodles.
    • Maybe some crunchy bacon bits to the top of the soup to add with the texture and give you an added crunch with the soup.

    Lillian tried out the Chicken & Broccoli Soup by Voome. She had a bit but not as much as I had hoped. I suppose it is good she gave it a go.
    Lillian tried out the Chicken & Broccoli Soup by Voome. She had a bit but not as much as I had hoped. I suppose it is good she gave it a go.

    The broccoli ready to go into the soup. Broccoli is good for you. It has Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folate, Beta-Carotene that helps the body convert to Vitamin A, it also has Sulforaphane which has been said to help fight cancer.
    The broccoli ready to go into the soup. Broccoli is good for you. It has Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folate, Beta-Carotene that helps the body convert to Vitamin A, it also has Sulforaphane which has been said to help fight cancer.

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    Originally published July 4 2017

    Categories
    Recipes

    Mad About Mandarins

    I love Mandarins!

    My mum would get a whole bunch and just as soon as she put them in the fruit bowl they were gone. Yep, I would eat all of them in record time. I just couldn’t get enough. Now that I’m an adult not much has changed about my obsession with Mandarins.

    Mandarins for me are perfect. They taste yummy, are sweet, are a perfect snack you can take anywhere, and of course can be made into anything; a dessert, a sauce, chutney or even a drink!

    My favourite variety is the Imperial Mandarins.

    As it is finally Mandarin season I thought, why don’t you see more dishes with Mandarins in them? Can you add Mandarins to your cooking? If so, what else could you cook?

    My first thought was to investigate what I could make and made sure it was something I wanted to eat. However, I needed to make sure the rest of the family liked the recipes too.

    The bright and colourful Todarello’s Fruit Market

    Once I narrowed down what I was going to create, fresh produce was needed and the main one was, of course, Mandarins. I chose to shop at Todarello’s Fruit Market at Katoomba.

    Todarello’s has a vast array of fresh fruit and vegetables. They are all displayed beautifully, and all the food displays are fresh, colourful and inviting. Shopping at Todarello’s is a delight for your eyes as the colours make you imagine delicious and colourful dishes that are great for a feast, and will also fill your belly.

    After you fill your box or bag with all your shopping at Todarello’s you can get help from the kind staff to carry it all to your car. What a great service Todarello’s offer and any time I have needed help staff always have a smile on their face and nothing is an issue to help a customer. If you do want to shop from the convenience of your home Toddarello’s has a website that allows you to order and have it all delivered to your home.

    Once I had plenty of Mandarins and other items that would assist in the creation of my meals, I was ready to make some amazing dishes.

    Mandarins at Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market

    To celebrate Mandarins I have cooked a variety of different dishes.

    Download The Printable Mandarin Recipes Below

    Mandarin Curd Tart

    I saw this online and had to give it a go. The recipe was inspired by Rainbow Nourishments, and I changed it a little.

    Ingredients

    Crust

    • 1 cup plain or all-purpose flour
    • ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
    • ¼ cup water
    • ½ cup almond meal
    • 3 tbsp of sugar
    • 2 tbsp of LSA ( Linseeds, Sunflowers and Almonds)

    Mandarin curd

    • 4-5 mandarins and also the zest of the mandarins
    • ½ cup (120g) canned coconut cream ( I used the whole can)
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 2 tbsp of corn starch
    • 2 tsp (6g) Dr. Oetker Gelatine Powder ( I couldn’t find agar powder and this did the trick)

    Decorations

    • 2- 3 mandarins peeled with seeds removed
    • Diced Pistachios

    Method

    Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F)

    I used a non-stick tart pan for the tart base

    Making the Crust

    Add all ingredients and mix to make a dough. If too dry add a little water and if too wet add a little flour. Roll out dough to be around 3mm thick (⅛ inch) and then put into tart pan. Cook for 15mins until golden brown and remove to cool.

    The dough ready for the Mandarin Curd Tart Crust
    The uncooked crust about to go into the oven

    Making the Mandarin Curd

    Add all ingredients to a saucepan and stir over heat until the mixture thickens. I cut up all the mandarin, removed the seeds and zapped it all in the blender to make sure it is all mixed nicely. Once the mixture has cooled down add to tart base and put in the fridge to set for 2 hours. You can leave for longer if you wish.

    Decorate with Mandarin pieces & pistachios, remember to remove the seeds.

    Mandarin Curd Tart
    Mandarin Curd Tart cut and ready to eat – It was so tasty and you really got the hit of mandarin in the curd.

    Spiced Mandarin Marinade

    Previously I added mandarin pieces to a chicken, vegetable and noodle stir fry dish, but wanted to see what it would be like if mandarin was a marinade.

    Chilies and Mandarin ready to become Spiced Mandarin Marinade

    Ingredients

    • 4-5 mandarins (I used Imperial Mandarins but you can use any type you wish)
    • Half a red chilli with seeds intact
    • 3 tablespoons of sugar
    • 1 lime juiced
    • 2 tablespoons of olive/vegetable oil
    • Grate mandarin zest as well
    Mixing the chicken with the Spicy Mandarin Marinade – after this was done it was put in the fridge until ready to cook.
    Spicy Mandarin Marinade in a chicken stir fry

    Method

    • Cut up 4-5 mandarins and make sure to remove the seeds
    • Add the zest of the mandarins too for a more intense mandarin flavour
    • Add the zest and mandarin pieces to the blender and mix so that all the mandarin is blended together
    • Remove the blended mandarin from the blender in a bowl and add lime juice, chilli, oil and sugar
    • Mix all the ingredients well
    • Now add the item you wish to marinade, I used chicken. You can use beef, prawns or fish.
    • Cut up all vegetables you wish to have in your stir fry and then cook the vegetables a little
    • Now add the chicken with the Spiced Mandarin Marinade to the wok or fry pan
    • I added Udon noodles but you can have rice if you wish
    • Once all cooked serve in a bowl and enjoy
    Chicken, Vegetables and Noodles with Spiced Mandarin Marinade

    I hope this gives you some more ways to enjoy mandarin. Adding mandarin pieces to a beef or chicken stir fry is yummy as well if you don’t wish to go to the trouble of making a marinade. It is a simple way to add something different to your dish.

    You don’t have to cook with mandarins to enjoy them, they can be added to your breakfast as well.

    In Australia mandarins are available from April to October, however, the Imperial variety is only available till June. If you are like me and your mandarin of choice is the Imperial you need to be enjoying this fruit now.

    What is your favourite way to add mandarins to your cooking?

    I am exploring more ways to incorporate mandarins in more meals, make sure to send in your suggestions.

    Previously I have made Mandarin and Rhubarb Crumble, it is very easy to make and will impress dinner guests.

    Post Feast Review

    Mandarin Curd Tart


    I initially looked at this recipe and thought it was very complicated. Too much going on for a cook to just simply create a dessert. My love of mandarins and trying something new took hold and made me try it. The recipe is actually deceptively simple, as well as being delicious. It was a nice change to have mandarin for the curd and not lemon or lime. The addition of pistachios gave an added crunch and texture.

    Will I make it again?
    I would definitely make this recipe again, it got eaten in record time and came out just like it should. Next time I would love to make it even tangier with mandarin flavour, and create smaller individual tarts rather than one big one.

    Spicy Mandarin Marinade


    I have been thinking of different ways to add mandarins to meals and this recipe was something right out of my imagination. It was a simple and easy recipe to create and added enough mandarin flavour to the dish.

    Will I make it again?
    Yes, I would make this again but with a few changes. I would add more mandarins and zest to give a punchier mandarin flavour and make it a thicker sauce for the marinade.

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    Originally published April 15, 2021

    Categories
    Recipes

    Airfryer Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake

    A yummy cake for afternoon tea is always the best.

    It doesn’t matter what it is for as long as it is yummy and also quick to make.

    This airfryer cake is exactly what you need and it is indeed extremely quick to bake!

    Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake with super orangey icing and fresh oranges.
    Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake with super orangey icing and fresh oranges.

    I was looking online for something different to give people rather than the traditional fruit cake. I love orange and poppy seed and thought it would make a nice gift.

    After looking online, I came across this recipe from BakerbyNature.com and had to give it a go.

    Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake all cut and ready to eat. YUMMY!
    Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake all cut and ready to eat. YUMMY!

    Ingredients

    • 4 large eggs
    • 3/4 cup full-fat Greek yogurt (I didn’t have Greek yoghurt and used Jalna Vanilla Yoghurt)
    • 1½ cups plain flour
    • 1/4 cup poppy seeds
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 large organic orange, zested and juiced; divided
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup olive oil
    My finished and very orangey, Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake.
    My finished and very orangey, Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake.

    Method

    • In the original, by Baker by Nature, it wanted to separate all ingredients and then add them with the wet and combine after having the orange be fragrant with the sugar.
    • I started off with the sugar and added the orange zest and then added all ingredients in one bowl.
    • Grease a pan and then pour in your cake mixture.
    • If you are making it in an oven you need it to be on about 180°C
    • The original recipe was from America and therefore had the temperature at 350 °F which equates to 176°C.
    • The timing of cooking this cake was listed at 50-55 minutes. Check if the top of the cake is golden and if your cake tester (skewer or knife like I use) comes out clean, then the cake is done.
    • I cooked this cake in the airfryer. It was on for 180°C for 28 minutes and it came out perfect.

    Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake all ready for afternoon tea... would you love a slice now?
    Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake all ready for afternoon tea… would you love a slice now?

    Orange Icing

    I did my own version of the icing and added more orange to make it really pack a punch of orange.

    • 1 cup and half of icing sugar
    • 2 oranges using the zest and juice as well
    • Mix together and then you have some wonderfully orange icing

    Wait for the cake to cool before icing and if you are gifting it is a good idea to ice the cake before gifting.

    Serve with ice cream or cream if you wish, or just have the cake while warm on its own.

    This cake is perfect to slice up and gift in a hamper or make for a special occasion.   Stay tuned for more fab recipes in the Philips XXL Airfryer.

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    Categories
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    Make Warm Chicken Salad with Veggies

    Would you like to make a really simple and easy dinner?

    A dinner that is also healthy as well?

    How about super yummy too?

    Make this yummy warm chicken salad with veggies. It is such a quick and easy meal to make for dinner.
    Make this yummy warm chicken salad with veggies. It is such a quick and easy meal to make for dinner.

    Ingredients

    • A pack of fresh salad leaves – I purchased a fresh mixed leaf pack from Woolies. In the salad mix was also to the carrot.
    • Mushrooms
    • Broccoli
    • Beans
    • Capsicum
    • 500 grams of Chicken
    • Soy Sauce
    • Chilli Flakes
    • Birch and Waite Thai, Lime and Coriander Dressing.

     

    The super tasty and yummy Birch & Waite Thai , Lime and Coriander Dressing.
    The super tasty and yummy Birch & Waite Thai , Lime and Coriander Dressing.

     

    Adding the Birch & Waite Thai , Lime and Coriander Dressing to the salad leaves. I did this before I put the chicken and veggies in with the salad leaves.
    Adding the Birch & Waite Thai , Lime and Coriander Dressing to the salad leaves. I did this before I put the chicken and veggies in with the salad leaves.

     




     

     

    Method

    1. Cook the vegetables first. I cut up the mushrooms, beans, broccoli, capsicum and added them to a fry pan. In the fry pan I put some olive oil.
    2. The vegetables cooked for about 10 – 15 mins in a very hot fry pan. This allowed them to get some colour and to be cooked through without being to overdone.
    3. I added some soy sauce to the mixture to create some flavour for the veggies.
    4. I sprinkled in a little bit of chilli flakes to have a little spice and taste.
    5. Once the veggies were done I removed them from the pan. They stayed in a bowl to then allow me to cook the chicken.
    6. I added some more olive oil to make sure that the chicken did not stick. The pan still had the flavours of the soy sauce and the chilli flakes. This made the chicken get a nice brown coating on the outside.
    7. Once the chicken was cooked I added the veggies back to the pan.
    8. I got a bowl to add the salad leaves to. I poured in the Birch and Waite Thai, Lime and Coriander Dressing all over the leaves. I did not add the whole bottle but just enough to coat the leaves and give the taste of the dressing throughout the salad.
    9. Now add the chicken and veggies to the bowl with the salad leaves and mix around.
    10. Serve and enjoy this tasty, yummy and healthy salad.

     

    The finished product! The warm chicken and veggie salad is ready to eat.
    The finished product! The warm chicken and veggie salad is ready to eat.

    I hope you enjoy this meal as much as we did. Hubby and I managed to finish the whole bowl of salad between us.

    If you don’t eat meat you can add more vegetables, tofu or other items to make it a veterinarian option. You can also play around with ingredients and maybe use fish or beef with your next salad creation.

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    Categories
    Recipes

    Cooking With The Philips Airfryer XXL

    I was sent a Philips Airfryer XXL to test out. Read on to learn how to cook hot chips and lamb chops & veggies in the airfryer.

    Insert happy dance here. I do like getting lovely presents that can help the family, and especially me.

    A big and huge thank you to Philips for this amazing gift.

      Previous to getting an email about this wonderful airfryer I really hadn’t heard about them. Yes, I was in the dark about the world of airfrying.   The airfyer is a healthier way to cook.

    • Healthiest way to fry* Twin TurboStar technology makes great-tasting fried food with the least amount of  fat.**
    • XXL family size 1.4 kg capacity is large enough for a whole chicken or six portions of fries for the whole family.
    • Automatic settings 5 preset programs & Keep Warm mode — with digital display and QuickControl dial.
    • Easy to clean QuickClean basket & non-stick drawer wash up in 90 seconds — or pop them in the dishwasher.

     

    So what is an airfryer?

    Twin TurboStar technology combines with 2225 watts of power for effective fat removal. A ‘tornado’ of hot air melts away fat — capturing it all in the bottom of the Airfryer XXL for easy disposal. *Based on the fat content of chicken and pork compared to deep-fat frying and wok frying. The airfryer circulates hot air at high speed, and in turn, cooks the food. Food is crispy outside and tender on the inside. The Philips Airfryer can grill, fry, bake and roast.  

    How to make chips in the Philips Airfyer XXL

    You might be surprised that making hot chips is rather simple. Ingredients:

    • 6 potatoes
    • Oil of choice

    Preparation time: 30 minutes, this includes cutting up potatoes and soaking the chips for 20 minutes. 

    Method:

    • I cut up 6 potatoes. I like to keep the skin on and therefore just washed them to take the excess dirt of them.
    • Once cut up they had to be soaked in water for 20mins.
    • After they have had their 20min bath, the chips need to be dried. You can either use a tea towel or a paper towel. I chose to use a tea towel.
    • Put the chips in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of oil.
    • Mix the oil around so that all the chips get coated in the oil.
    • Put all the chips in the airfyer basket. Make sure to do this by hand and to not tip them from the bowl into the tray. The airfyer does not like oil spilled in the try and therefore might have a negative outcome for the chips and machine if you do this.
    • Once in the basket, the chips are ready to be cooked.
    • Select the chips preset, make sure it on for 180 degrees Celsius and select 25 minutes for the cooking time.
    • At various times throughout cooking the chips stop the airfyer and move the chips around. This makes sure that they are all cooking well.
    • You will see the different times that you stop and stir the chips just how fast they are cooking.
    • Once all cooked, you can now enjoy yummy and healthy hot chips.

    Yummy hot chips that I made with the Philips Airfryer XXL. They were so tasty and quick to make. Plus healthy as well.
    Yummy hot chips that I made with the Philips Airfryer XXL. They were so tasty and quick to make. Plus healthy as well.

     

    Lamb Chops and Vegetables cooked with the Airfryer

    Hubby decided he wanted to have a go of the new airfryer. He cooked the below meal and found the airfryer so easy to use.

    Happy and cooking dinner with the Philips Airfryer XXL
    Happy and cooking dinner with the Philips Airfryer XXL

    Ingredients:

    • 4 Lamb Chops
    • Rosemary and mint for marinade
    • 2 Carrots finely chopped
    • 2 Potatoes finely chopped
    • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
    • Rice to serve. Hubby used the quick microwave rice that takes 9o seconds to cook. You can make your own or do the quick way like we did. (the actual recipe suggested mash potato but since we added potato to the vegetables we decided to use rice  instead)

    Lamb Chops and Vegetables cooked in the Philips Airfryer XXL.
    Lamb Chops and Vegetables cooked in the Philips Airfryer XXL.

    Preparation time is roughly about 3 and half hours. This is taking into account the 3 hours time for the lamb chops to marinade and prep time for the vegetables. Cooking time is about 8 mins. 2 mins to sear the chops and then 6 more minutes to cook the vegetables with the chops. Method:

    • Marinade chops with mint and rosemary for 3 hours. You can cut the mint and rosemary into fine pieces or zap it as a paste in a mixer.
    • Once the meat is fully marinated then you can get ready to organise the other ingredients.
    • Cut up the carrot and potatoes into fine cubes. Note: You can use different vegetables if you like, it is up to you.
    • Soak the carrot and potatoes in water for 20 minutes. Drain thoroughly before adding to the airfryer pan.
    • Add the oil to the airfryer pan and move around to coat the bottom of the pan. This way it will allow your chops to not stick.
    • Heat the airfryer to 200 degrees Celsius.
    • Put the lamb chops in the air fryer to sear. This is only for 2 minutes.
    • Take out the lamb chops and set aside for a second.
    • Put in the vegetables on the bottom of the airfryer pan, then add the lamb chops on top of the vegetables.
    • Cook again at 200 degrees Celcius for another 6 minutes.
    • Now it is cooked you can make the rice. If you are using the quick and easy method of microwave rice it will only take you 9o seconds.  We used Sunrice’s Rice & Quinoa
    • Now all done, you can enjoy your yummy meal.

     

     

    Recipes for the Philips Airfyer XXL

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    You can also check out the Philips website for how to’s and video recipes for your airfryer. 
    Stay tuned for more airfryer recipes.

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    Recipes

    20 Reasons Why Bananas Are Great For Mum and Little Ones

    From the moment you realise you are going to be a mum until your child is getting dressed all by themselves, Australian bananas are the ideal addition to both your diets. Accredited Practising Dietitian, Glenn Cardwell provides 20 reasons why:

    Cavendish Bananas
    Cavendish Bananas

     

    Pregnant & New Mums

    Pregnancy is the time to pamper your body and understand the impact of your eating – especially since you are dining for two. One way to give your diet a pinch of powerful production is to add nature’s non-stop energy snack, bananas.

    Circular Flour-less White Chocolate Cake with Orange Blossom and Banana
    Circular Flour-less White Chocolate Cake with Orange Blossom and Banana

    Bananas are excellent when you are expecting because they not only contain essential nutrients for the healthy growth of your bundle of joy, but they are also good for managing morning sickness and constipation that sometimes come with having a baby on board.

    1. Relieving Your Heaving

    Thankfully, morning sickness usually only lasts the first trimester but that doesn’t make it fun (however if you are like me pregnancy makes you sick all the time. Bananas have been helping me feel better for breakfast now that I’m in my 3rd trimester.) Eating dry crackers, toast or a piece of fruit like a banana in the morning before you get out of bed, and having small snacks frequently through the day can help as it keeps the stomach from being empty, which can make you feel unwell. Avoiding spicy and fatty foods can sometimes help ease nausea as well.

    1. Reduce Constipation

    As the muscles in the intestine lose some of their tone during pregnancy, foods pass more slowly through the gut. The pressure of the baby on the mother’s intestines can also slow down the passage of food and waste, resulting in constipation. The solution is copious amounts of fibre, which bananas provide aplenty, fluids and physical activity. Although the banana is an obvious choice to boost your fibre intake, other fruits, wholegrain breads and cereals and legumes are good options.

    1. Energy to Burn

    Bananas are an excellent source of carbohydrate energy in the form of natural sugars and starch. It’s no wonder they call it nature’s non-stop energy snack.

    1. Protect Against Spinal Cord Defects

    Folate is vital in the development of a baby’s spinal cord in the womb. It is so critical that the vitamin is recommended to women considering pregnancy. An overwhelming body of evidence has linked folate deficiency in early pregnancy to increased risk of neural tube defects, most commonly known as spina bifida, in infants. One banana will provide about 10 per cent of your folate needs each day.

    1. Form Strong Gums

    Extra Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is required for forming new blood vessels, skin, gums, and other tissues, and even bones. One or two bananas each day will provide valuable vitamin C, as will other fruit, fruit juice and salad vegetables.

    Banana and Coconut Milk Pops
    Banana and Coconut Milk Pops

    1. Absorb Your Iron

    In order for a healthy amount of oxygen to reach your baby via the placenta, your body (and your blood) needs about 50 per cent more iron than usual. Although a banana provides only a little iron, its vitamin C greatly helps with iron absorption from other foods. Iron supplements (usually with folate) are commonly recommended during pregnancy.

    1. Strengthen Bones and Teeth

    Calcium is required for strong bones and teeth, and in nerve and muscle growth, both for mum and baby. An extra 300mg of calcium is required for pregnant teenagers as they are still growing as well as nourishing the baby. The perfect way to bump up calcium intake is to regularly drink smoothies – simply blend a banana with a cup of high calcium milk.

    1. Help Babies Grow

    Extra protein is needed during pregnancy and breastfeeding to support the growth of the baby, and the production of breast milk. This is easily achieved by adding a delicious banana smoothie (a medium banana and 200mL of milk) to your daily diet.

    1. Boost Your B6

    Uniquely, bananas are one of the richest fruit sources for vitamin B6. This powerful vitamin is important for cardiovascular, digestive, immune, muscular, and nervous system function. New or expecting mothers’ daily need for it increases by almost 50 per cent, making bananas a great solution.

    Square Flour-less White Chocolate Slice with Orange Blossom and Banana
    Square Flour-less White Chocolate Slice with Orange Blossom and Banana

    1. Baby’s First Food

    After six months, your baby’s exclusive exposure to the bottle or the boob is coming to an end. Their digestive system is now ready for solid food. Here are a few reasons why Australian Bananas make the ideal first food:

    1. Essential Nutrients

    Bananas are soft, easy for an infant to tackle, and rich with essential nutrients, including vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and natural sugars for energy.

    • Half a medium banana will give an infant:
      • Folate: 33 per cent of their daily needs
      • Magnesium: 25 per cent of their daily needs
      • Vitamin B6: 50 per cent of their daily needs
    1. Familiar Consistency

    Mash a banana with breast milk or formula when introducing solids. It is more likely to be accepted quickly as a new food.

    1. Made For Tiny Hands

    The banana is the ideal finger food. It can be nibbled, chewed, sucked and squished. Give your child a small amount at a time.

    LadyFinger Bananas
    LadyFinger Bananas

    1. Easing Teething

    During teething, a cool or frozen banana can help relieve the pain of a tooth coming through.

    Nature’s Long-Lasting Energy Snack For Toddlers

    Australian bananas make the ideal snack for toddlers. Whether they are just starting to walk or speaking in sentences, children at this age need one fruit serve each day. This might be a medium banana, or half a banana and half of another fruit. While bananas are very popular with young children, it is also important to introduce them to other fruits, especially once they start getting teeth towards the end of their first year of life.

    1. Great Source of Carbohydrates for Energy

    To fuel the activity of a toddler, they need carbohydrates at each meal. Bananas are an excellent source of the nutrient in the form of natural sugars and starch.

    1. Protein for Growth

    Normal growth needs protein to help produce new cells. A small banana smoothie (150 mL milk and a half banana) as a snack or meal is an excellent source of both protein and calcium.

    1. Vitamin B6 for Blood Health

    This vitamin is needed for making red blood cells, and carrying nerve impulses. A small banana will provide about one third of their B6 needs for the day.

    Banana Guacamole for Kids
    Banana Guacamole for Kids

    1. Folate for Growth and Brain Health

    The B vitamin folate is needed for proper growth and development. Half a banana will give a toddler about 15 per cent of their folate needs each day.

    1. Fibre for Digestive Health

    Bananas are a great-tasting source of fibre, so even a small serving a day for a young child will help keep them regular.

    1. Convenience

    Toddlers only want to eat when they are hungry, and they may not want to finish everything on their plate, making snacks like bananas so convenient. You can simply cut them in two and save half in the refrigerator in plastic wrap for later.

    Glenn Cardwell is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with 35 years in clinical and public health nutrition, including 10 years as consultant dietitian to the National Heart Foundation, five years at the Children’s Hospital in Sydney, and was a major player in establishing the WA School Canteen Association in 1994.

    For the latest news and information, ‘LIKE’ Australian Bananas on Facebook www.facebook.com/AustralianBananas and Instagram @australianbananas

     

    Drooling over the Circular Flour-less White Chocolate Cake with Orange Blossom and Banana
    Drooling over the Circular Flour-less White Chocolate Cake with Orange Blossom and Banana

    Categories
    Recipes

    Make Slow Cooked Beef & Veggie Casserole

    All my ingredients for my slow cooked beef and vegetable casserole. I did leave out the capsicum so don't worry about that item.
    All my ingredients for my slow cooked beef and vegetable casserole. I did leave out the capsicum so don't worry about that item.

    I love going to the Veggie Patch in Blackheath. As the name suggests they sell fresh produce: fruit and vegetables. However, they also sell pasta, sauces, and all sorts of yummy things.

    The Veggie Patch at Blackheath. This greengrocer supplies lovely fresh produce with great service.
    The Veggie Patch at Blackheath. This greengrocer supplies lovely fresh produce with great service.
    Pasta, sauces and other yummy things available at the Veggie Patch at Blackheath.
    Pasta, sauces and other yummy things available at the Veggie Patch at Blackheath.

    The produce always looks so fresh, the staff that work there are super friendly, and seem to really care about what they are doing. Everyone that works at The Veggie Patch treats the produce with such care.

    The wonderful fresh produce from the Veggie Patch at Blackheath. They even have FREE delivery.

     

    Another nice thing that makes me love this fruit and veg shop is that it is a small business and I am helping the local economy by shopping here.

    I even purchased my meat from the local butcher (The Blackheath Butchers) and the crusty bread for this meal at the bakery (The Sourdough Bakery in Blackheath) both located in Blackheath, just doors down from the Veggie Patch. Hence, it makes all the shopping so convenient.

    Sourdough with sunflower seeds. This bread is so yummy you just want to have more of it.
    Sourdough with sunflower seeds. This bread is so yummy you just want to have more of it.

    My slow Cooked Beef & Vegetable Casserole

    I don’t have a slow cooker but I have a fancy looking casserole dish (It is a pretty blue and has white spots – very funky and retro looking).  Due to not having a slow cooker my casserole dish ends up acting like one instead. I add all the ingredients. Put it in the oven and let it cook for hours. Job done, and a delicious one too!

    You might say that this is rather old school regarding slow cooking, and you are probably right.


    I have looked at getting the new slow cookers but they are very big and will take up an enormous amount of space that I don’t have in my small kitchen with limited counter tops.

    This recipe for slow cooked beef & vegetable casserole is perfect for those cool autumn nights and when it gets even colder in winter. You can have a nice piece of crusty bread with this dish, and a glass of red wine.  I’m sure you would not want much more after this. Aside, from having a roaring wood burning fire that is.

     

    So how do you make my scrumptious casserole? Read on to find out how easy this really is.

    All my ingredients for my slow cooked beef and vegetable casserole. I did leave out the capsicum so don't worry about that item.
    All my ingredients for my slow cooked beef and vegetable casserole. I forgot the capsicum.

     

    Before you get started, make sure to heat up the oven. Set it to 180 ℃ 

     

    INGREDIENTS:

    • 2 carrots
    • A big handful of beans
    • 6-8 small potatoes cut up finely
    • 3-4 pieces of broccolini
    • 1 onion chopped to small or bite sized pieces
    • 6-8 mushrooms roughly chopped up
    • 1 tin of Diced Italian Tomatoes with Basil, garlic, and onion. My tin was from Woolworths but you can have any really, it is up to you and what type of casserole you are making.
    • Beerenberg Taka Tala Sauce and Marinade – I added the whole jar (This sauce was also purchased at the Blackheath Butchers). It is up to you what sauce you use. You could use a red wine slow roasting casserole or any sauce for slow cooked meals. I know that this sauce is really a marinade but it works very well as a casserole or in a slow cooker.
    • You can serve this with mash potato or sometimes I like to add carrots or other vegetables to the mash as well. It gives lovely different colours and add to the flavour of the dish
    • If you decide that mash is not what you would prefer, then you can choose rice or maybe some leafy greens for a nice side to balance the meat and vegetables.

    Note: You can substitute any vegetable or ingredient that you would rather. Also, if you have things in the fridge or cupboard that would work, use them, and have a tasty meal with items you already have.

    I was going to have mash potato with this meal but decided against it due to adding potatoes to the mixture. Instead I’m having some rice and serving it with some crusty bread.

    Another view of all the fabulous fresh vegetables.

    METHOD:

    • Cut up all the vegetables and add the sauce as well as the tomatoes to the casserole dish.
    • Make sure to mix up all the ingredients before you add the meat.
    • Once the meat is added stir the ingredients again in the casserole dish.
    • Add the casserole into the oven and cook for a couple of hours. Check every 30 minutes or so to making sure to stir and to check if all is cooking okay and not sticking to the dish.
    • Once done the meat should be tender and the vegetables should be soft and melt in your mouth.
    • If you are having mash potato or other vegetables it is a good idea to get this ready now. You can take out the casserole from the oven as the dish would be extremely hot and keep the dinner warm.

    I hope you enjoy my take on a slow cook casserole without using a slow cooker.

    All cooked and finished. This slow cooked beef and veggie casserole is ready to eat.
    All cooked and finished. This slow cooked beef and veggie casserole is ready to eat.

    Disclaimer: This post was written as an entry to The Fresh Awards 2017 Blogger Awards – Greengrocer Story. I go to the Veggie Patch regularly and love cooking with nice fresh produce.

    The Veggie Patch have a community spirit and update their window to help local groups and causes.

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    Originally published March 29 2017

    Categories
    News

    Thrilled to Be a Finalist for the 2024 Fresh Content Award!

    Hey there, wonderful readers!

    I have some exciting news to share—I’m a finalist for the 2024 Fresh Content Award! 🎉 This is my third time being nominated, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The excitement is even sweeter this year because my twin girls will be by my side to celebrate this special night.

    Meet the other Finalists

    I’m in great company with these amazing creators:

    Gorgeous Easy No-Bake Oreo Blackberry Mousse Tart

    As mentioned before, I was lucky enough to be a finalist two years in a row (a major highlight for me!). Check out my upcoming posts to see what I entered and read about my never-ending quest for the perfect outfit:

    The stunning Easy No-Bake Oreo Blackberry Mousse Tart is a sight to behold, with its rich Oreo base complemented by the vibrant blackberry mousse and delicate flowers.

    The Fresh Awards Gala Night is just one week away, and I can’t wait to don my stunning outfit—finally found thanks to Temu (who would have thought!)—and join my fellow finalists for an evening of celebration and recognition. Knowing that my daughters will be there cheering me on makes this moment all the more magical.

    I’ve spent what feels like an eternity hunting down the perfect outfit. The mad dash from shop to shop, trying on duds that made me look like a fashion disaster, was beyond exhausting. I’m sure you’ve been there too! It really fried my brain and zapped some of the fun out of the event prep. But hey, I finally found a great outfit (I think so, and that’s what counts), and now I’m getting excited about the occasion again!

    My latest online order—it’s a total winner! Everything looks absolutely fantastic.
    Image sourced from boredpanda.com.

    Celebrating Passion and Creativity

    Being a finalist for the third time is incredibly exciting! It showcases the dedication and creativity I pour into each post. Being recognised for my hard work is truly gratifying. I love celebrating fresh produce and flowers and sharing that joy with you all through my blog and social media brings me immense happiness! 🌸🍇

    My amazing wedding cakeover was affordable and easy to create, adorned with fresh flowers from Fine Flowers Katoomba.
    Adding a different top to a crumble creates interest – this Pretty Pastry Apple and Rhubarb Crumble looks great with the different flower-type pastry shapes.

    I love playing with ingredients, finding clever ways to make dinner parties or gatherings a breeze, and whipping up tasty treats for everyone to savour and share!

    I had a blast creating these for my 2024 Fresh Awards entries:

    The girls and I are gearing up for a fun day in the city, prepping for the big event and soaking in all the excitement. We’ll be dressed to impress in our cocktail finest, ready to savour the night with the other finalists and celebrate our shared love for deliciously fresh content.

    It’s going to be a treat sharing this event with my girls, giving them a taste of what it’s like to attend an awards night and showing them that hard work is the secret ingredient to being in such fabulous company with all the other finalists.

    Wishing Everyone the Best of Luck

    Sending my best wishes to my fellow finalists—Vincent, Lorraine, and Katie. It’s a true honour to be among such talented creators, and I’m excited to see what the night holds for all of us!

    Thank you to my readers and community for your unwavering support, and I’m looking forward to an unforgettable night at the Fresh Awards Gala Night! 🌿🍎🌸

    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

    Make Dinner Easy with EveryPlate

    Try Everyplate today and you’ll get up to $180 off, with dinner from as little as $4.44 per plate. Click here to get this deal.

    All set to make the Sticky Lemon Chicken with fries and stir-fried veggies

    If you are like me and love others organising things for you then you will love EveryPlate.


    As a busy and tired mum, I’m happy to hand the job of planning dinner to someone else. In fact, I would love to hand over the housework, cooking and everything else for a break, but just having not to shop, think or plan the dinners is a start.

    Part of the enormous weight of dinners is planning and thinking of different things to cook. It is so freeing to finally be done with it. It is a weight off my shoulders and does make me feel lighter. 

    Having meals planned, with recipes and all the ingredients ready to go means that anyone can cook dinner. No excuses, it is super easy and allows for mum or the person who is the go-to cook to have a much-needed break. 

    So, what did I cook with my EveryPlate Meal Kit?

    Nutty Sweet Chilli Noodles with Veggies and Sesame Seeds

    I do love a good stir fry with noodles, and it was nice to see that the kids enjoyed this meal too. One of my girls was keen to cook this recipe from EveryPlate and found the instructions easy to follow and was very happy with how the dinner turned out.

    The Nutty Sweet Chilli Noodles with Veggies and Sesame Seeds all cooked and ready to eat

    Chorizo & Roast Veggie Salad with Garlic Aioli

    This was one of my favourite recipes. It was so extremely YUMMY. It was also a very easy meal to make. 

    All you had to do is chop up all the vegetables, add the seasoning and bake in the oven for a while. Then chop up the Chorizo and add to the vegetables and cook in the oven until done.

    Vegetables ready to cook
    All cooked and ready to eat. The Chorizo & Roast Veggie Salad with Garlic Aioli was one of my favourites

    The meal was topped off with garlic aioli and promptly eaten. Everybody said that they thoroughly enjoyed this meal and finished every crumb in their bowl. 

    We need to make this again as it was a hit and very easy to create so perfectly for a mid-week dinner when you are busy.  It was so good and a meal I would never have made without my EveryPlate meal kit. 

    Sticky Lemon Chicken with Fries and Stir-fried Veggies

    When I first read this recipe, I thought it would be super complicated. I also wondered with one lemon how would it be lemony, but I was wrong on both counts. It was easy to make and in fact super lemony.

    The chicken was breast fillets and I ended up cooking them and cutting them up into smaller pieces. I added to the recipe by making chilli chips, I added chilli flakes to the chips. This was one of my favourite recipes from the EveryPlate meals, it was also a different way to do chicken from my usual chicken dinners.

    So yummy and lemony is the Sticky Lemon Chicken with Fries and Stir-fried Veggies
    I added chilli flakes to the chips

    The chips were great with added chilli flakes and added the right amount of spice to the lemon chicken.

    Mexican Chicken & Corn Salad with Sweet Potato Wedges

    The kids loved the spice on the chicken, and they ate it in record time… I was so glad that it was a hit. The meal was tasty and again easy to create as it made dinner on a weeknight easy.

    Mexican Chicken & Corn Salad with Sweet Potato Wedges was one meal that the kids loved

    The salad with added extras from my fridge

    I was missing a few ingredients for the salad, so I added bok choy and parsley. It ended up looking great with all the different colours and tasted great with all the other ingredients from the meal. 

    The meals were yummy, and easy, and helped a busy mummy make her life easier. 

    If you would love to give EveryPlate a go I have a great discount for you.

    Try EveryPlate today and you’ll get up to $180 off, with dinner from as little as $4.44 per plate. Click here to get this deal. Click here to get this deal.

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    Categories
    Family

    What did we think About HelloFresh?

    It was very nice to have a break for a week. I didn’t go on holiday; I didn’t really have a break, but it felt like a mental rest to not have to think about what was for dinner as well as not shopping for all the items to go with the meals.

    Until the job of deciding what to do for dinner is taken off my plate… see what I did there, a meal pun. I didn’t realise how much organising dinner every night weighed upon me.

    Hubby preparing to make Chicken & Creamy Peppercorn Sauce

    It felt like a holiday to have all the decisions made for me (for dinners not everything in the world). You can let HelloFresh pick your meals or you change them to suit your needs.

    Things that I loved about HelloFresh:

    • No shopping for ingredients
    • Gets delivered to your door
    • Super easy to follow recipes with portions so that there is no waste 
    • Very fresh ingredients 
    • Tasty meals with variety for the week
    • Recipes were easy to follow and create – simply match the recipe card to the right colour bag of ingredients.
    • Different meals that you normally would never cook
    I liked the fact that all you have to do is match the colour codes for your ingredients and recipe.

    The whole family got involved and cooked a HelloFresh meal each. It was great to see that the kids were excited to take part in what the family was eating for dinner each night. 

    One thing that I did really like was that the meals were easy to create. No complicated steps or things to do. However, there were some recipes that were quicker to make than others, but no matter the time the meal took to make, the steps were still easy.

    Hubby making the creamy peppercorn sauce

    A few things we noticed:

    • While Hubby was cooking the Chicken & Creamy Peppercorn Sauce he noticed that the sauce took longer to thicken up than the recipe said. The recipe said around 5 or so minutes but it took around 30 minutes to thicken up. 
    • One of my girls was cooking the Quick Sweet Chilli Beef Stir-Fry and we realised that the way they wanted us to cook the rice didn’t work, so we ended up cooking it the normal way by boiling it in a saucepan.  
    • We added what we thought was ample olive oil for the marinade mixture, but it needed a bit more as it was too dry.

    These were not major issues, and the meal was still easy to create and tasted delicious.

    Quick Sweet Chilli Beef Stir-Fry ready to eat

    I have never made a Carbonara from scratch before. I always thought it would be complicated. HelloFresh showed me that it is in fact very simple to make. 

    It was nice to make a meal that I’ve never made before and allow me to have new cooking skills for next time. 

    At least I will have the HelloFresh recipe card to help me make Creamy Bacon Carbonara again.

    Making the Carbonara sauce for the Creamy Bacon Carbonara with Pear Salad

    Our favourite meals were:

    • Quick Sweet Chilli Beef Stir-Fry
    • Quick Caribbean Chicken Tacos with Pineapple & Corn Salsa
    • Creamy Bacon Carbonara with Pear Salad

    So if you are like us and think you could do with some time out making decisions on what to cook for dinner, then HelloFresh can help you.

    I have a deal that gives my readers $130 off a HelloFresh meal kit

    CODE: TWINSPLUSONE130
    Offer: Get up to $130 off your first four boxes!

    Click here to go to the HelloFresh Discount Deal

    Categories
    Family

    Unboxing My HelloFresh Meal Box

    I’m a busy person, and that is not unique. I am a mother to 3 kids and work full time. I am sure that many of you are flat out and one thing that is always on your to-do list is dinner. 

    My big box of HelloFresh goodies – Keen to get started with my meals from HelloFresh

    It is always nice to have things organised for you and the shopping and organisation to get dinner sorted is a time saver.

    You can imagine my excitement to get my HelloFresh box filled with fresh food and everything I need to cook meals for the week. It is a pity that inside the box is not a chef and a housekeeper to help but I am happy with a simple meal box I can cook. 

    I was very excited to open my HelloFresh Meal Box – HelloFresh will make cooking easier. 

    One amazing thing that this box from HelloFresh does is I don’t have to go to the supermarket to get it all sorted, it is done for me. Winning already, don’t you think?

    Finding out all the deals and information inside my HelloFresh Meal box

    What did I get delivered by HelloFresh?

    I picked a box with 5 meals for 4 people and made sure to select the option for family-friendly meals.

    My box arrived early Sunday morning and we were keen to get stuck in and try out the meals that HelloFresh provided.  I promptly opened the box and discovered some information from HelloFresh, recipe cards and of course, the fresh food was quickly added to the fridge.

    All the ingredients in my HelloFresh meal box

    Next post: Stay tuned for part 2 and learn about all the meals we cooked with HelloFresh

    The kids and I cannot wait to get to cook with HelloFresh.

    If you are wanting to give HelloFresh a go
    I have a great deal for you. 

    CODE: TWINSPLUSONE130

    Offer: Get up to $130 off your first four boxes!

    Click Here to go to the deal

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    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
      Recipes

      Entertaining is easy with the Philips Airfryer XXL

      Do you have an airfryer? If you do, I’m sure you are like me and love yours as much as I do.

      A while ago I was sent the Philips Airfryer XXL to test out and see what magic I could cook up. I’ve now had this amazing appliance for a few months and I wanted to share with you all the great recipes that I’ve been able to cook in the airfryer. I also recently received the Philips Baking Master Kit, an extra addition to trying out new things.

      Philips Baking Master Kit for the Airfryer XXL
      Philips Baking Master Kit for the Airfryer XXL
      Cakes always come out perfect in the Philips Airfryer Cake Tin
      Cakes always come out perfect in the Philips Airfryer Cake Tin

      What type of things have I been cooking? 

      • Cakes – Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Blueberry and Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake 
      • Cupcakes – Chocolate and Vanilla 
      • Roast Chicken and Salad 
      • Steak and Vegetables 
      • Sausages and Lamb Chops
      Cupcakes cooked in the airfryer, super easy and so simple. Always comes out of the silicone molds in one piece.
      Cupcakes cooked in the airfryer, are super easy and so simple. It always comes out of the silicone moulds in one piece.

      Cakes

      Cakes are super simple to cook in the airfryer.

      I’ve made it even more easy and used packet mixes from the supermarket (You can make from scratch or use packet mixes)

      Method

      • Make the cake mixture
      • Grease the cake tin with a little butter or oil
      • Pour mixture into the tin
      • Set the airfryer to cake setting, 180 degrees for 28 mins
      • Leave to cook for the full 28 minutes and then wait till the airfryer beeps to tell you it is all done.
      • Once all cooked, take out of the airfryer carefully as it will be extremely hot (make sure to have an oven mitt to take out without burning yourself)
      • Leave for a bit and then take out of the tin to cool on a cooling rack.
      • Once cool, ice and decorate or serve warm with ice cream.

      Halloween cake cooked in the Philips Airfryer
      Halloween cake cooked in the Philips Airfryer

       

      Orange & Poppy Seed Pound Cake

      Orange and Poppy Seed Pound Cake cooked in the Philips Airfryer
      Orange and Poppy Seed Pound Cake cooked in the Philips Airfryer

      Cupcakes

      Method

      • Mix cake mixture
      • Fill 2/3 full in a silicone mould
      • 120 degrees for 22 minutes on the cake setting (Cake setting defaults to 180 so just press the temp icon and change it to suit)
      • Cook for the required time limit
      • Once cooked take out and allow to cool
      • The cupcakes will come out easily of the silicone moulds and you will not need butter or oil in them (So this is even better)
      Chocolate cupcakes straight out of the airfyer
      Chocolate cupcakes straight out of the airfyer

      Steak and Vegetables

      Cooking steak and vegetables in the airfryer is so quick and easy. I’ve been amazed at how well it cooks steak and in fact any meat, it seems to keep the meat so moist.

      I served the Steak and Vegetables with homemade Beetroot and Orange Spiced Chutney.
      I served the Steak and Vegetables with homemade Beetroot and Orange Spiced Chutney.

      Ingredients

      • 2 Scotch Steak Fillets
      • Olive Oil
      • 3 Carrots
      • 4 Potatoes
      • Chilli Flakes
      • Italian Herbs

      Marinade

      Soy Sauce and Honey – I added a tablespoon of honey and a good splash of soy.

      Method

      • Cut up the carrots and potatoes roughly, small enough to cook quickly and be like bite-sized chip sizes.
      • Put carrots and potatoes in a bowl and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Mix so that all vegetables have the oil on them.
      • Add a tablespoon of chilli flakes and a tablespoon of Italian herbs. Mix well together.
      • Add the vegetables to the airfryer basket.
      • Put airfryer on the M (Mixed Setting)
      • Set the temperature for 200 degrees and cook for 20 minutes. Make sure to stop at the 10-minute mark to stir and to make sure that they are cooking okay. If you don’t like your veggies crispy you might want to take them out at the 10-minute mark.
      • Once the veggies have completed the second 10 minutes of cooking time, take them out and keep warm.
      • Now make up the marinade if you haven’t done so already. Once the honey and soy marinade is complete put in the steaks so that they can be fully coated with the marinade.
      • Put the steaks in the airfryer basket
      • Set the airfryer to the meat preset
      • Set the temperature to 180 degrees and cook for 12 minutes. No need to stop to turn over, just let the meat cook.

      Sausages and chops

      Before I cooked the Steak and Vegetables, I did lamb chops and sausages for the kids’ dinner.

      It was very simple and very quick. I just had to clean up the tray and basket before I cooked the steak and veggies.

      Alexander’s Dinner
      Alexander’s Dinner

      Note: Before I cooked the sausages and chops, I sprayed the basket with a little bit of olive oil.

      The following went into the airfryer:

      • 2 chops
      • 4 sausages

      They were cooked at 200 degrees on the meat setting for 12 minutes.

      So yummy it’s all eaten!
      So yummy it’s all eaten!

      Roast Chicken and Salad

      I saw the roast chicken recipe video on the Philips website and wanted to give it a go. I did mine with a twist, I purchased an already marinated and stuffed chicken from the supermarket.

      However, my chicken was a little bigger than it should have been so I was lucky that it fit okay into the airfryer. My chicken was 1.7kg and I was hoping to get a chicken that was 1.5kg at the biggest or maybe 1.2kg but the smallest was 1.7kg at the shops. It didn’t look that big, so I gave it a go.

      Philips Airfryer Roast Chicken with Salad
      Philips Airfryer Roast Chicken with Salad

      Ingredients

      1 whole chicken either marinated and stuffed by others or you can create your own.

      Salad – I picked up a salad kit at the supermarket to make dinner even easier.

      You can add vegetables, rice or other things to the chicken if you don’t want a salad.

      Method

      • Spray the airfryer tray with some olive oil
      • Add the chicken to the airfryer tray
      • Set the airfryer to 180 degrees and choose the poultry setting
      • Cook for 60 minutes

      I’ve previously made Homemade Chips and hubby wanted to give the airfryer a go and made Lamb chops & vegetables with rice.

      Homemade airfryer chips - they were a huge hit.
      Homemade airfryer chips – they were a huge hit.

      Entertaining is so easy with the Philips Airfryer XXL. You will create some super yummy and tasty meals and impress your family and friends.

      Another benefit is that the airfryer uses less oil and is a healthier way to cook, with up to 90% less fat. Plus, it is a super quick way to create some family favourites.

      Find more recipes with the Philips Airfryer App, available at the App Store and on Google Play

      You can also see further recipes on the Philips Chef website.

      More Airfryer recipes and ideas on the blog soon!

      Do you have an airfryer? What is the best recipe you have created in yours? Share so we can all try your delicious recipes.

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      This page includes affiliate links.

      Categories
      Family

      Make Dinner Easy with Hello Fresh

      Hello Fresh Australia sent us a box to test out.  I’ve never used Hello Fresh, known anyone that has, or had a chance to experience their food… well that was until now.

      We were excited to give it a go and see if all the hype and advertisements lived up to reality.  Spoiler alert: Hello Fresh is beyond amazing and more!

      Due to Father’s Day, we have been making some fabulous creations all from the help of the Hello Fresh box.

       

      I would highly recommend getting a Hello Fresh Box to make dad an amazing, healthy and yummy meal.

      It has made me not wonder what will I cook for dinner tonight… as it is already sorted.

       

      The box came with everything that you would need to cook any of the meals that are listed on the recipe cards.

      Some of the meals that we have had are:

      • Caribbean Chicken & Coconut Rice
      • Nonna’s Beef Taco’s
      • Lamb & Spinach Shepherd’s Pie
      • Chicken & Bacon Pesto Pasta

      My little masterchefs helped me make Caribbean Chicken & Coconut Rice. It was so fabulous.
      My little masterchefs helped me make Caribbean Chicken & Coconut Rice. It was so fabulous.

      You can also get inspired and get recipes via the Hello Fresh App, available at the App Store and on Google Play.

       

      I’m a busy mum to three kids, hubby and always racing here and there. Making mealtimes easier is wonderful.

      What have I loved about Hello Fresh?

      • Fresh ingredients
      • Easy to follow recipe cards
      • Food packs are in brown paper bags that have matching colours to the recipe cards. The bags fit neatly in the fridge and
      • Nearly 100% recyclable packaging (love the fact that Hello Fresh is focused on looking after the environment)

       

      I’ve been super impressed with the quality of Hello Fresh’s food and how simple it is to create gourmet meals for the family, that I have signed up as an affiliate.

      Below are the affiliate links for Hello Fresh. I know not everyone is in Australia so I’ve got links to the USA, UK and Canada to help you out.

       

      A HUGE thank you to Hello Fresh for sending us a lovely box of yummy meals to test out. We loved it and will be getting another box soon.

      Lamb & Spinach Shepherd's Pie with added cheese on top.
      Lamb & Spinach Shepherd’s Pie with added cheese on top.

       

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      Categories
      Recipes

      Healthy Energy Bars

      I have always wanted to make my own energy bars but had no way of mixing all the ingredients. I’ve had equipment failures with my blender and food mixer.

      Currently, I don’t have a food mixer and have managed to do all this recipe with my new Breville Blender.  Hubby bought me The Kinetix® Control from Breville. It’s great and so easy to use and to clean.

      Making my energy bars in my new fab blender.
      Making my energy bars in my new fab blender.

      I’m on a lookout for a new food mixer. If you are a brand that has a snazzy new mixer that I can use that would be awesome.

      I know this is a long shot, but you have to put it out there in the universe. You never know right?

      Okay, so what did I make?

      I reworked a raw chocolate, coconut and seed energy bar recipe from Taste.com.au.

      Ingredients

      • 35 grams of shredded coconut
      • 80 grams of unsalted cashew nuts
      • 30 grams of organic cocoa powder (I buy mine from the local health food shop, and it is so yummy. Adding this cocoa powder makes it taste like dark chocolate)
      • 2 tablespoons of pepitas
      • 150 grams of figs stem removed
      • 250 grams of dates pitted
      • 2 tablespoons of Zen Green Tea Matcha
      • 80 grams of cranberries
      • You will need to add some water during the process of mixing all the ingredients. Just add a bit and see how it goes. If you add too much the mixture might not come together as it should.

      Note: I found that the mixture tasted a bit bitter and really needs the cranberries or another fruit.  After adding the cranberries it was so yummy!

      Method

      1. Put in the dates, figs, into the mixer (Or in my case the blender. If you are doing it in a blender you might need to do it in batches. This helped me as it meant that the blades would spin easily for each part of the process.)
      2. Add the other ingredients one at a time to mix it all together. If you need to, take them out to free up some space in your mixer. At this stage, you might need to add a bit of water to allow the mixture to blend together.
      3. Once all done to put on a sheet of baking paper and roll out. Add to a plastic container and then add to the fridge/freezer. Once set for a day or so, cut up the energy bar into bite-sized pieces.
      4. Enjoy your yummy healthy snacks

      The energy bar mixture is all ready to go into the fridge/freezer. Cannot wait to eat one.
      The energy bar mixture is all ready to go into the fridge/freezer. Cannot wait to eat one.

      Ideas to decorate your energy bars – Sprinkle a little green tea matcha over the top of your bars, add some extra pepitas/seeds/nuts to the top of the bars.

      The healthy energy bars are now ready to eat. They are so yummy!
      The healthy energy bars are now ready to eat. They are so yummy!

      I hope this inspires you to create your own yummy and healthy energy bars. If you wish you can substitute any ingredients with others that you love more.

      You might find that you prefer sunflower seeds or wish to have almonds instead. Also, cranberries might be your favourite either. If so add the fruit that is the best for you.

      Experiment and make a bar that is right for you and the family.

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