Author: Caroline

In the Den Kitchen: Anzac Biscuits

You can now find previous In the Den Kitchen posts here or on Pinterest. Clicking Recipes in the menu above will also take you to my In the Den Kitchen Pinterest board. I’m slowly reworking some older posts so they will show up there too.
Links to any Your Inspiration at Home (YIAH) products will take you to my YIAH page. You can shop in Australia, New Zealand, USA & Canada from my page. If you are interested in learning about YIAH jump over to my Facebook page.

Tomorrow is Anzac Day. A national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served.”

It’s also a time when we make Anzac biscuits (these are NEVER to be called cookies). You can make these any time of year but they always seem more special on the 25th April.

ANZAC Biscuits

A little history of the Anzac biscuit (thanks to Sky News, you can read the whole thing here)

The first known Anzac biscuit recipe appeared in The War Chest Cookery Book, which was published in Sydney in 1917, but this recipe was for a cake, not a biscuit.

It is said that biscuits with a similar recipe to the one we knew today appeared in magazines under different names, sometimes called “Rolled Oat Biscuits” or “Soldier’s Biscuits”. The current name only came about after the legendary ANZAC Gallipoli Campaign.

Anzac biscuit recipes, in the form we know them today, began appearing in cookbooks in the 1920s. They were sometimes called “Anzac crisps” or “Anzac crispies” (but not “Anzac cookies”) in reference to their hardness. The earliest recipe for these “crispies” found to date is from a New Zealand cookbook published in 1921.

There’s hundreds of recipes out there but I’m sharing the recipe I’ve made for years. We also now make the Anzac biscuit recipe in the Thermomix Everyday Cookbook but this one is my favourite.

[yumprint-recipe id=’18’]

In the Den Kitchen – Happy Easter

You can now find previous In the Den Kitchen posts here or on Pinterest. Clicking Recipes in the menu above will also take you to my In the Den Kitchen Pinterest board. I’m slowly reworking some older posts so they will show up there too.
Links to any Your Inspiration at Home (YIAH) products will take you to my YIAH page. You can shop in Australia, New Zealand, USA & Canada from my page. If you are interested in learning about YIAH jump over to my Facebook page.

Slightly belated Easter greeting. Two things I love about Easter -it means it’s time for Hot Cross Buns (yay) and Cadbury Creme Eggs. But as much as I love these buns I’m not a fan of them appearing in the stores in late December/early January – I mean, really? And, I might get heaps of hate for this, but I’m not a fan of those which are full of fruit. Me, I prefer simple – sultanas and currents (or craisins) or choc chip.

The last couple of years I’ve been making my own. I’ve been using the recipe in the Thermomix Everyday Cookbook. I modify it every time I make it. This year I’ve added a little YIAH Pumpkin Pie baking spice. I thought I’d also share with you my choc chip modification of the original recipe. This is hubby’s favourite – he doesn’t like dried fruit (strange man LOL)

[yumprint-recipe id=’17’]

And the best bit – leave off the cross and they are yummy choc chip buns to eat any time of year!

The Life:Captured Project – March 2015

Check out all my Life:Captured project posts. Read more about Life:Captured here.

01. What was the last thing you talked about with your mother?
We’re busy planning our Afternoon Teal event that we postponed due to my youngest being sick.

02. What is your favourite colour, and why?
Purple or black. No real reason apart from the fact I like them.

03. When was the last time you did something reckless?
I honestly can’t remember. Most likely back in my 20s cause I’m old and boring now. What? 37 is old lol

04. What do you love about summer?
The warm weather. Get to wear cute dresses. 

05. What sort of dessert do you like in the evenings?
Hmm favourite desserts Рcr̬me caramel or caramel oranges would have to be my two really favourites or chocolate mousse

06. How would you describe yourself in less than 500 words?
Mum. Wife. Daughter. Aunt. Sister. Lister. Scrapbooker. Photographer. Geek. Girl gamer. Lover of chocolate. Foodie. Blogger. Soccer Mum. Me. All the above and so much more.

07. Describe a moment from today that you want to remember always.
That you really should watch how you move your laptop. Otherwise you break the screen.

08. What are your favourite drinks?
Hot – hot chocolate. Cold – Iced chocolate, Coke

09. What do you like to wear to bed?
In summer as little as possible. In winter something nice and warm.

10. What do you remember about your primary school days?
The horrid school uniform – brown and green. Playing marbles. Having a great teacher in Grade 6.

11. Write about three friendships of yours which you know are for life.
My hubby.
My bestie, Lisa. We don’t see each other often or talk often enough but will always consider her a friends.

12. Name five people you admire, and discuss why.
My parents. Just because.
Eden Riley. I have such a girl crush on Eden. Amazing, strong woman. Been through so much and lives to tell the tale. Awesome blogger & slam poet.
Angelina Jolie. Dunno why, just always admired her.
Rosie Batty. Strong woman. Advocate against domestic violence.
I can’t think of anyone else right now.

13. Is there anything weighing on your heart right now?
Worrying about my mum

14. Write about a grandparent with whom you connected.
I can’t say I connected more with any of y grandparents. I used to watch daytime soapies with one of my grandmothers and then I found out after her death she used to enjoy watching pro-wrestling too.

15. What do you and your best mates like to do together?
Hang out, watch footy, talk about stuff.

16. How do you feel when it rains?
Love it of a night time. Nothing like the sound of rain on a tin roof.

17. Who were some of your childhood heroes?
I can’t really remember. Wonder Woman probably. MacGyver. The A-Team. 

18. Write down one family recipe that you will cherish forever.
I don’t have the actual recipe but my grandmother’s cherry cake. I’ve tried to make different recipes but never have the success. I’m hoping someone in the family has the actual recipe. 

19. What do you usually do around three o’clock in the afternoon?
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday pick up Miss K from school. Other days it’s getting stuff ready for tea.

20. Describe a typical Monday.
Get up, drag bum out of bed. Make a cuppa. Get Miss K out of bed. Breakfast. Showers. Take Miss K to school. Come home. Have another cuppa. Check emails. Do some work. Do some housework. Look after Miss A. Pick up Miss K from school. Home and get tea on. Bath girls. Get them to bed. Quiet time for me & hubby (tv, blogging, washing, reading). Cuppa. Bed.

21. What sort of adventures do you dream of going on?
Scotland. Machu Pichu. Canada. I really want to travel.

22. Is there anything about yourself that you want to change?
My hair colour – I want to go red.

23. Write about a recent dream that you’ve had.
*blush* um no

24. Write about your favourite place to eat as a family.
We have a few favourite places to go and eat as a family. Recently we’ve been going to the local hotel that does wicked pub meals AND they have an awesome kids room.

25. How does your family usually celebrate birthdays?
Depends on the person. Most of the time we go out for a meal. Unless it’s a big birthday then there’s usually a party. Of course if you are Miss K, you want a big party every year.

26. How do you feel about motherhood?
Love it. Hate it. Mostly love it.

27. Write down something funny that’s happened this last week.
Miss A doing a poop in the bath. Not all that funny but Miss K’s reaction had me giggling. She was in the bath when it happened.

28. What are three things from this past month that have been stressful?
Afternoon Teal (but I LOVE doing it). Money issues. Breaking my laptop

29. What are three things from this past month that has made you smile?
Afternoon Teal. Miss K’s athletics carnival. Signing up for YIAH

30. How are you feeling today?
A little annoyed. Long story short. People saying they will do something then not doing what we’d discussed

31. What is your favourite thing about mornings right now?
Cuddles with my girls.

Scrap Teal You Drop 2015

For the last couple of years I’ve taken part in the Ovarian Cancer Australia fundraising event – Afternoon Teal. Mum & I have named our event Scrap Teal You Drop and attendees take part in a full day of scrapbooking and card making.

This year we gave our small group two challenges. The first challenge which took up the morning portion of the day was to create two cards in an hour. We gave the ladies a bag which contained two cards (one rectangle and the other was either a teapot or teacup), 2 pieces of ribbon, some twine, 2 blank boxes to add a sentiment to if they wished, some embellishments, 3 pieces of pattern paper and a doily. They could only use what was in their bag plus our range of stamps, inks and paper punches.

I was amazed at the variety of cards that were created. The judging process was not a job I wanted on the day. I recruited my dad and uncles to be our judges for the day and the whole process was anonymous with only myself knowing which creation belonged to which attendant. So I wasn’t allowed to talk to the judges all day 😉

Our winners were the following cards and I’ve placed the rest of the cards up on my Facebook page

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The afternoon challenge was a bit harder. The Teal Throw Down challenge the ladies to create a 6×12 page using only the colours we gave them – teal, pink, yellow, purple and a neutral (white or kraft) plus 3 embellishments, a piece of pattern paper ,a piece or ribbon OR twine (not both) and no more than 5 rhinestones or sequins. Honestly I would struggle with this one but the ladies created some amazing pages. A couple worked in pairs while others worked alone. The judges picked this page as our winner:

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the other pages can be seen on my Facebook page as well.

Everyone had a great time and we managed to raise $800. Donations are still open so if you would like to donate to this cause, pop on over to my Afternoon Teal page.

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A huge thank you to the wonderful businesses who donated prizes for our day. Please go check them out and give them some love!

Bev’s Cross Craft, Kellie Stamps, Simple Scrapper, Max & I, Sweets Caroline and ThermoFun.

A MASSIVE thank you must go to my mum (& dad), who let us use their house, organised a delicious lunch and helped with all the prep and running the day.

Lastly thanks to all who came along. Hope you had a great day. Look forward to seeing you all next year!

In the Den Kitchen – Afternoon Teal

You can now find previous In the Den Kitchen posts here or on Pinterest. Clicking Recipes in the menu above will also take you to my In the Den Kitchen Pinterest board. I’m slowly reworking some older posts so they will show up there too.
Links to any Your Inspiration at Home (YIAH) products will take you to my YIAH page. You can shop in Australia, New Zealand, USA & Canada from my page. If you are interested in learning about YIAH jump over to my Facebook page.

I am turning into a food blogger LOL looking at my last few posts – they are nearly all foodie ones. And here’s another!

Last Sunday I held one of my annual fundraisers, raising money for Ovarian Cancer Australia. This year Scrap Teal You Drop was a smaller affair mainly due to a rescheduling of date (we were going to hold it in mid-February but a little person got sick) Anywho, we raised about $800. If you are interested in donating you can go to my Afternoon Teal page. I’ll be blogging about my Afternoon Teal next week.

Today on In The Den Kitchen – Afternoon Teal I thought I’d share some of the food that I cooked for everyone to munch on after a day of creating.

I’m still doing lots of experimenting with YIAH products. First of the sweet treats I cooked was my favourite 5 second coconut slice but I added some YIAH Black Forest Dukkah to the base and some YIAH Chocolate Raspberry Truffle powder to the icing. Next was Chocolate Orange Balls using YIAH Choc Orange powder (this stuff smells and tastes like Jaffas) and Apricot Fudge using YIAH White Chocolate powder.

Afternoon Teal food Afternoon Teal food - Coconut slice

I also made some Mars Bar Surprise slice, Teal cupcakes and a Teal Ribbon cake

Afternoon Teal food Afternoon Teal food Afternoon Teal - Teal Ribbon Cake

In the Den Kitchen – Cob loaf

You can now find previous In the Den Kitchen posts here or on Pinterest. Clicking Recipes in the menu above will also take you to my In the Den Kitchen Pinterest board. I’m slowly reworking some older posts so they will show up there too.

So last week I promised you my recipe for Cob Loaf. This is a Thermomix recipe but you could easily make it without.

cobloaf

 

[yumprint-recipe id=’16’]Now you can just eat this as is with butter (warm from the oven yum!!) or fill it with one of the many filled cob loaf recipes out there (like the one I shared last week)
Enjoy!

In the Den Kitchen

You can now find previous In the Den Kitchen posts here or on Pinterest. Clicking Recipes in the menu above will also take you to my In the Den Kitchen Pinterest board. I’m slowly reworking some older posts so they will show up there too.

Since we’ve waved goodbye to summer here in Australia I thought I’d share my favourite recipes for using up your summer berries. You can do these any time of the year with frozen berries (just check your berries haven’t been recalled first – well months after you use them :/)

Of course a big favourite for berries is jam. Over Christmas I made a few batches of jam in the attempt to gather a few favourites I will use over & over. So here they are – Nightwolf’s Den favourite jam recipes…

In The Den Kitchen Nightwolf's Den favourite jam recipes

Strawberry Vanilla Jam by Tenina

Photo of Strawberry Vanilla Jam

Raspberry Jam (I used recipe 1)

Thermomix Raspberry Jam Recipe

Orange Marmalade

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Bacon Jam by ThermoFun (not a fruit jam but so, so yummy. If you like bacon, try it)

ThermoFunBaconJam

and finally not a jam but a way to use up leftover strawberries – Strawberry Sauce (very nice over ice cream, in  a milkshake or mixed in lemonade)

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What’s your favourite jam recipe? I’m always looking for more jams to try out.

100 things in 2015

Disclaimer: Links are affiliate

Well here we are in March and I noticed I haven’t gotten around to posting my list of 100 things in 2015 from my 2015 Create Your Shining Year workbook. Have you got yours yet? Why not? They are amazing!!

For the last couple of years I’ve been posting my lists on my blog, making me a bit more accountable. So no excuses and here is my 100 things in 2015. There are quite a few things from last year that either didn’t get done or I want to continue doing.

As with previous years bold is started, strike thru is finished & red isn’t done

  1. Increase my social media following (see 2-5)
  2. Get more Twitter followers (Jan 1 – 658   Dec 31 – )
  3. Get more Facebook followers (Jan 1 – 150   Dec 31 – )
  4. Get more Pinterest followers (Jan 1 – 569   Dec 31 – )
  5. Get more Instagram followers (Jan 1 – 227   Dec 31 – )
  6. Organise my Pinterest boards (try & reduce the number of boards)
  7. Learn a new recipe each month. Blog about it.
  8. Blog a recipe a week – one of mine or something I’ve tried (In the Den Kitchen)
  9. Create a back up of my blog monthly
  10. Try something I’ve pinned and blog about it.
  11. Start a new blog series
  12. Finish garden beds and start using them
  13. Get a garden shed
  14. Set up gazebo/outdoor area
  15. Do HabitHacker – Nest (when the site comes back up)
  16. Work on Declutter 365
  17. Finish custom recipe book
  18. Declutter recipe books I don’t use
  19. Paint laundry & put up laminate
  20. New door & window in lounge
  21. New curtains for the lounge
  22. Get kitchen blinds
  23. Get new cupboard in hallway
  24. Get floors polished
  25. Organise office so it can be used
  26. Organise garage
  27. Start a garden journal
  28. Work through (& complete) Creating your Goddess Haven e-course
  29. Tidy the pantry – make it more organised
  30. Sort linens and make less cluttered
  31. Have a candlelit dinner with hubby
  32. Family holiday to Melbourne
  33. Have parents & in-laws over for dinner
  34. Go to the Anzac Day dawn service
  35. Get a family photo of me, mum, dad & bro
  36. Get an updated family photo done
  37. Have a weekend away
  38. Try and have a date night every month
  39. Put money into Christmas Club account
  40. Put money in the girls accounts
  41. Have a family movie night (complete with popcorn & choc tops)
  42. Spend a day at the beach
  43. Go on a picnic
  44. Go for a drive somewhere for no reason other than getting out
  45. Spend a rainy day in PJs watching TV/movies
  46. See more of Tassie
  47. Work on family tree
  48. Go to Tasmania Zoo
  49. Go to the Botanical Gardens
  50. Visit QVMAG
  51. Get BAS in on time
  52. Keep up to date with work accounts
  53. Work thru Business Goddess e-course
  54. Launch new work site
  55. Upgrade laptops decided to keep these & upgrade hard drives
  56. Make laptop & pc better organised – less double ups of files
  57. Work on better backups of important files
  58. Find an inspirational quote & make it into a piece of artwork
  59. Finish JYC 2012 & 2013 & 2014
  60. Scrapbook with mum more
  61. Finish wedding scrapbook
  62. Do #30Lists (March, September, December)
  63. Organise all my paper scrapbook supplies
  64. Scrapbook with others more
  65. Backup digital Project Life supplies
  66. Organise a scrapbook day
  67. Complete a cross stitch
  68. Work thru Creative Goddess ecourse
  69. Project life date one weekend a month
  70. Do some more classes & finish them
  71. Create a scrapping binder
  72. Apply for more design teams
  73. Get dt work done before it’s due
  74. Actually DO some of the things I’ve pinned
  75. Create more pages about me
  76. keep up to date with Project Life (see #69)
  77. Raise at least $2000 at Afternoon Teal
  78. Do Frocktober
  79. Watch sunrise & sunset in the same day 
  80. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
  81. Keep a gratitude journal every day for a month (0/30)
  82. Do Habit Hacker’s Create
  83. Get a massage
  84. Get a manicure
  85. Make a list of 30 books I want to read & then read those books (0/30) 
  86. Exercise every day for a month (0/30)
  87. Create a mini Goddess altar
  88. Meditate more
  89. Enjoy life
  90. Finish off front yard
  91. Redo herb gardens
  92. sort my bookmarks
  93. Burn to CD/DVD stuff I don’t need on my PC all the time
  94. Look at getting built in wardrobe in girls bedroom
  95. Do something special for our wedding anniversary
  96. Have a girls day out with mum
  97. Star Wars!
  98. Sort & cull movie folder
  99. Maybe go to 20 yr reunion for school
  100. Organise some play dates for the girls

The Life:Captured Project–February 2015

Check out all my Life:Captured project posts.

01   Write down your fondest memories to do with a childhood pet.
Having one or both of our cats cuddle up with me of a nighttime.
02    What has been your most poignant experience with loss?
The loss of my (then) boyfriend the day after his 18th birthday
03    Describe your first overseas trip and how you felt.
We went to New Zealand for a rellie’s wedding. Had an amazing time and loved every minute.
04    Write down five things about your father that you always want to remember.
His love of gardening. How he’s a walking encyclopedia. That he loves me & my brother no matter what. How I always thought he could anything (even a burst balloon when I was little). He has an awesome memory.
05    How are you feeling about this year?
So far so good.
06    Where do you want to live when you are old?
By the beach or in the rainforest.
07    What are the qualities that you value in a friend?
Honesty. The ability to have fun.
08    What do you remember about falling in love for the first time?
The butterflies. Feeling so happy.
09    What were you scared of when you were little?
Dinosaurs and motorbikes.
10    What do you usually do when you feel sad or down?
Listen to music.
11   Describe your childhood home(s).
Weatherboard 3 bedroom home. Huge backyard. Fruit trees. Tree house in an old Eucalypt then a pool. Extended to include large family room and verandah out the back.
12    How do you currently like your coffee?
I don’t. Sadly I can’t drink coffee anymore due to the medication I’m on (well not on at the moment due to the whole being pregnant then now breastfeeding thing)
13    What is something that you like to do to relax?
Read, listen to music, scrapbook.
14   What do you most look forward to about growing old?
More me time hopefully. Traveling more.
15    How has life changed for you in the last year?
We’ve gone from a family of 3 to a family of four.
16    Describe a moment from today that you want to remember always.
Miss K’s 5th birthday. Cupcakes taken to school. Party food with her grandparents.
17    What are you struggling with the most right now?
Teething 6 month old and summer colds that won’t go away. Not having much me time.
18    What do you see outside your bedroom window?
Our driveway and a bare garden. Just had our front yard redone. Need to get plants. Waiting on grass to grow.
19   What is something that frustrates you?
Hubby getting to go out with his mates while I stay home, look after the girls & do the majority of the housework. Hubby not pulling his weight around home.
20    What is family life like right now?
Pretty good apart from the above 😉
21    Describe a time when you felt like life was spinning out of control.
When mum was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer.
22    What’s something that you’re currently excited about?
New Game of Thrones & the next Star Wars movie
23    What made you laugh today?
Chatting to the other kindy mums about random stuff our kids do.
24   What are you watching on television these days?
Supernatural, Star Wars Rebels, Sleepy Hollow, Agent Carter, Gotham
25    What are three things from this past month that have been surprising?
Miss A getting her first tooth. How well Miss K has settled into school. Random gifts.
26    What are three things from this past month that you’re thankful for?
Mum’s continuing good health. Good friends. The internet
27    How are you feeling today?
Tired. It’s been a long couple of weeks.
28    What is your favourite thing about Friday nights right now?
Having some me time while hubby is out & the girls are in bed. Even if me time is spent doing nothing but watching trashy tv & doing washing.

In the Den Kitchen–an update

This week I’m doing a little forward planning. Creating a list of recipes I want to write up and share. Creating a list of recipes I want to try and share.

So no recipe this week. Just a photo of some yummy looking Braided Nutella Bread (yes I’ll be giving this a go)

Braided Nutella Bread

If you want some foodie ideas you can check (& maybe even follow) my In the Den Kitchen Pinterest board. I’ll be back next week with a new recipe 😀