Melting Chocolate Meringues

They may not look like the do in the book but they taste amazing, they were a huge hit and if you have a sweet tooth family you may need to double the recipe.

 

Need:

2 egg whites

1 cup icing sugar (powered)

1/8 salt (I didnt put this in)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 1/2oz chocolate chopped to pea size chunks

1.  Preheat oven to 180 C/350 F line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine egg whites, icing sugar and salt in stainless steel bowl, place over a pan with just-simmering water. Whisk to combine, then continue to whisk until temp reaches 49C/120F
3. Take off the heat, add vanilla and using electric whisk, whisk until whites form a stiff peak. fold in chocolate.
4. scoop into piping bag (or in my case a sandwich bag with corner cut off) pipe each one about a table spoon size.
5. Place in oven with door ajar with wooden spoon, cook for about 20 minutes, you should be able to move them easily around the paper

Punch

Easy, Fun and so yummy

1 bottle of sprite (2 litres)

I packet of cool aid

Small tub of frozen sherbet

 

Mix altogether and enjoy!!

Macaroons

Easy recipe even for little ones that are excited to bake.

You Will Need:

2 egg whites

4 1/4oz caster (super fine) Sugar

1/8 salt

2tbs honey

3 3/4oz desiccated (dry unsweetened) coconut

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 3/4oz chocolate

 1. Preheat oven 160c or 325f
2. line baking tray with parchment paper
3. Combine all ingredients except chocolate in heavy pan, cook over medium heat for about 7 minutes, stir constantly until mixture is opaque and sticky
4.Put mixture in bowl and allow to cool completely.
5. Roll into desired size balls and place on baking tray, dent the middle
6. bake for about 12 minutes until they are golden brown
7. Melt chocolate, place in a sandwich bag and cut the corner
8. "pipe" chocolate in the center of each Macaroon. Unless you are allergic to chocolate and then just leave it off.

Mum and Daughter Marshmallows

This is a bit tricky but well worth it, if you want a good laugh with your Mum this is a good start.

Needs:
Vegetable oil, Greasing
50g or 1/2 cup icing sugar (confectioner's)
50g or 1/2 cup corn flour (cornstarch)
2 Egg Whites
400g or 2 Cups Caster Sugar
15ml or 1tbsp glucose syprup (light corn syrup)
375 ml or 13oz cold water
60ml or 4 tbsp powered gelatine
5ml or 1tsp vanilla
3 drops of green color
3 drops of yellow color

1. Grease baking tray, Combine icing sugar and corn flour in large bowl. Put it through a sieve into another bowl. Liberally sift some of the mixture on the baking tray. Set aside.

2. Whisk the egg whites until they form peaks (electric whisk works much better and faster). Set aside, when ready to use them give them an extra whisk as they separate slightly.

3.Combine caster sugar, corn syrup and half the water in a small pan over low heat, stir until sugar dissolves.

4. Bring syrup to boil and boil until it reaches the hard boil stage (130c/266f)

5. Meanwhile, soften the gelatine with the remaining cold water in a small pan, off the heat. Just before before the sugar syrup reaches the hard-ball stage, place the gelatine mixture over a low heat and stir til dissolved.

6. When the syrup reaches the correct temp and the gelatine has dissolved, combine the two. Stir in vanilla extract.

7. While whisking the egg whites with electric mixer pour in the syrup and gelatine mixture with a slow and steady stream.

8. Whisk mixture on high for 7 minutes or until it holds soft peaks.

9. Divide the mixture into two bowls and add a different color to each one. Using the electric whisk, mix (both) until almost stiff.

10. Pour one part onto prepared baking tray and and spread quickly.

11. Quickly spread the other part on top.  Allow to set for 5 hours.

12 Dust the top with remaining Icing sugar and cornflour mixture, then cut marshmallow into strips with oiled knife.

13. Serve immediately or store in air tight container.

Nestle Cookie's

Ingredients

 2 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
1tsp baking soda
1 cup of butter or margarine
3/4 granulated sugar
3/4 brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cup (11.5 oz pkg) chocolate morsels (chips)

Directions
Combine flour and baking soda
Different bowl, beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs one at a time beating them into the mixture. Add the flour mixture and beat (electric whizzer). Stir in morsels
Drop rounded tablespoons onto un greased baking tray
Bake for 9-11 minutes in pre heated oven (375 F)

The best cookies ever!

Nachos and Banana Lollies

Nachos might not be the healthiest dinner but it sure is tasty.  A quick Friday night meal.

Ingredients

Tortilla chips

Ground Beef (or turkey)

Taco seasoning

Nacho cheese

Any topping that suits your family, mine includes: Guacamole, chopped onions and tomato's black olives

 Basically pour on the cheese & meat (cooked and seasoned) and add whatever you want on top.  The picture below is my allergy version, crumbled goats cheese with a few teaspoons of water mixed in and microwaved for 30 seconds.

 We used the store brand Banana pops and the kids loved them, As the chocolate is not the best tasting I thought next time we would try with some Cadburys or Hersey chocolate and see if it would work.  I don't see why not. Freeze the bananas for about 2 hours, warm the chocolate and dip.  The cold banana and warm chocolate make a crisp coating, Yum.

Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe is time consuming but so worth the wait.

Ingredients:
4 1/4 c. Flour
1 pkg active dry yeast
1 1/4 c. Milk
1/4 c. Sugar
1/4 c. Butter
2 Eggs
6 tbsp. Butter, softened
1/2 c. brown sugar (white sugar works well too)
2 tsp ground Cinnamon

Step 1: Combine 1 1/2 cups of flour & yeast. Heat the milk, sugar (1/4c.) and the butter until warm (butter will be almost melted). Keep it moving.

Step 2: Add milk mixture to flour mixture, add the eggs. Beat with electric mixer for 30 seconds on low.  Beat on high for 3 minutes. using a spoon, stir in remaining flour (dough will be soft). Place dough on floured surface, knead for 3 to 5 minutes. Shape into a ball.

Step 3: Place dough in lightly greased bowl. Cover. Let rise in warm place until doubled (roughly 1-1 1/2 hours)

Step 4: Punch down dough. On a lightly floured surface, divide into half. Shape each one into a ball. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.

Step 5: On a lightly floured surface roll half the dough, not too thin. Spread with 3 tbsp of butter. combine brown sugar and Cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle half over the prepared dough. Roll up and seal the edges. Repeat on other half.

Step 6: Slice each dough roll into 8 pieces. Arrange slices, cut side down onto a greased baking tray. Cover and let rise for about 30 minutes.

Step 7: Bake rolls in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until lightly brown. Place each roll onto a wire rack, cool slightly then drizzle with glaze (below). Serve warm.

Powdered sugar glaze
1 cup of powered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 3-4 tsp of milk.