Yummy homemade treats for your and the family, or to share with friends and loved ones.
Easy Filo Pastry Apple Pie Recipe
Apple Pie – one of our favourite desserts, and this one may be the best yet. It’s light, fragrant, delicious and oh-so-easy and quick to make. Serve hot or cold.
My Best Christmas Cake Recipes!
The kitchen can be a sacred space. Where magic is created, whether it’s mixing up a potion, or baking a cake for friends. The whole process is part of this spell – intention being just as important as the ingredients! The Kitchen Witch keeps a warm and happy home infused with magic. ~ Sarah Robinson Hello, […]
Pear and Chocolate Bread Pudding Recipe
If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you. But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage? ~Marie Rabutin-Chantal De Sévigné Hey, Lovelies! What can be better for dessert than the classic combination of pear and chocolate, […]
Easy Home Made Easter Treats
It’s fun to make these yummy Easter treats, and even more fun to eat them!
Easy Christmas Festive Fudge Recipe
They always gives me bath salts,” complained Nobby. “And bath soap and bubble bath and herbal bath lumps and tons of bath stuff and I can’t think why, ‘cos it’s not as if I hardly ever has a bath. You’d think they’d take the hint, wouldn’t you? Terry Pratchett Hey, Lovelies! I’ve had so many […]
Easy Christmas Rum Ball Recipe
“You little beauty! I wait all year for these Rum Balls!” Michael the Tractor Man Hey, Lovelies. One of our family traditions is making Christmas Rum Balls. Some we keep for ourselves, but some we share as gifts with neighbours and friends, and with the people who have served and supported us throughout the year. […]
I Need To Hire A Detective!
The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes. Arthur Conan Doyle Hey, Lovelies. The strangest thing has happened. Just over a fortnight ago I bought quite a selection of (mostly) high quality chocolate bars. The reason? I intended to make chocolate truffles this week. I thought I’d make some […]
The Pleasure Of Working Out What To Bake
“Oh, you smell delicious! What’ve you been baking today?” “Roasted strawberries and rhubarb for a mascarpone ice cream. Lemon tart pastry, mint meringues, sun-dried tomato rolls, honey cake.” Brianne Moore Hey, Lovelies. A friend has her birthday on Sunday. I’ve invited her over to share a meal and, of course, because it is her birthday […]
Christmas Crack Recipe – Easy, Good, Legal
Anything is good if it’s made of chocolate. Jo Brand Hey, Lovelies. As promised, here is my Christmas Crack recipe. This is an easy-to-make and all-too-easy-to-eat chocolate and caramel slice that makes a great gift, or contribution to a festive meal. I got this recipe from an American friend almost thirty years ago. Her family […]
Nanna’s Easy Chocolate Cake
This is part of what makes me, ahem, an excellent houseguest: I’m game. I’m flexible. I’ll make you feel okay about eating an entire chocolate cake in one sitting because I’m right there by your side with my own fork. Jen Sincero Hey, Lovelies. Ben and some friends moved all of my big, heavy, timber […]
Coconut Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Figs and Walnuts – Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Can Be Sugar Free or Vegan
If we are looking for insurance against want and oppression, we will find it only in our neighbors’ prosperity and goodwill and, beyond that, in the good health of our worldly places, our homelands. If we were sincerely looking for a place of safety, for real security and success, then we would begin to turn […]
Quick Cinnamon Rolls With A Twist
“You’ve never had a cinnamon roll? You haven’t lived. Come on, Boss! We gotta get that sorted.” Christi Smither Hey, Lovelies,Earlier this year, when I was in Arizona with Christi she introduced me to the joy of a cinnamon roll with my morning coffee. Oh my! How good that was. When I came back to […]
Easter Treats To Make At Home
“No, we can’t go to the shops. Try making it yourself.” Mum, a million times during the school holidays as we were growing up – PS thanks Mum! Hey, Lovelies,Almost all of us will be staying home this Easter, thanks to Coronavirus. But it doesn’t mean we can’t still have an Easter celebration or indulge […]
Valentine’s Chocolate Oracle Of Love
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my […]
Best Christmas Cake Recipes!
The kitchen can be a sacred space. Where magic is created, whether it’s mixing up a potion, or baking a cake for friends. The whole process is part of this spell – intention being just as important as the ingredients! The Kitchen Witch keeps a warm and happy home infused with magic. ~ Sarah Robinson Hello, […]
Lamington and Strawberry Parfait – Easy No-Bake Recipe
“One should never, but never, pass by an opportunity to celebrate.” ~ j d malouf I received this email the other day, from the daughters of one of my clients, and I present it just as it was written: dear Nicole my sister and me my name is Molly and her name is Sam need your help […]
Grown-Ups Get To Choose!
“We are always told that anyone over the age of eighteen should know what they are doing. The fact is, they don’t.” ~ Rae Earl One of the most important lessons I ever learned in life came from a trip to the corner store at the end of the street. I was cooking dinner and realised I […]
Hot Cross Bun Bread And Butter Pudding – SO Easy and Yum!
“You don’t win friends with salad.”~ Homer Simpson Easter is nearly here. I love this time of year in Australia as the days get shorter, the nights cooler, and we begin our slow descent toward winter. Today’s recipe is a seasonal twist on one of my favourite easy-to-whip-up crowd-pleasing desserts. It uses Hot Cross Buns […]
Five Yummy Easter Treats to Try at Home
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” ~ Mother Theresa I thought I’d share some of the recipes I’m making for Easter. Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced cook – these recipes are EASY, tasty and lots of fun, and there are plenty of ways to get the […]
Easy Sour Cream Baked Cheesecake with White Chocolate Ganache and Fresh Raspberries
“If there’s cheesecake in the house, I’ll have some.” ~ Kelly Ripa Every year a dear friend comes to our farm to hang out, write and celebrate her birthday. And, of course, birthdays need good cake. Our cake of choice this year was a simple sour cream cheesecake which we then fancied up with a […]
Simple Christmas Baking and Treat Recipes
“Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving.” ~ B.C. Forbes It’s less than a month until Christmas, but there is still plenty of time to whip up a tasty treat or two to share with friends, to gift, or […]
Easy Fruitcake Rum Ball Recipe for Christmas
“You little beauty! I wait all year for these Rum Balls!” ~ Michael the Tractor Man We live on a farm, as members of a small regional community here in the Byron Bay Shire. Each year we use the same services, eat at the same cafes, shop at the same markets. Over time the […]
Salted Caramel Rice Pudding Recipe
“I like rice. Rice is great if you’re hungry and want 2000 of something. ” ~ Mich Ehrenborg This simple rice-based gluten-free dessert is a modern twist on a family favourite. The pudding is sweet, creamy and has that salty more-ish kick. It can be easily made using your favourite kind of milk, so vegans and […]
Ginger Cookie Ice-Cream Sandwich Recipe
“…stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot oftener, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. ” ~ Robert J. Hastings You’ll love these tasty ice-cream treats. They are easy enough for the kids to […]
Chunky Choc-Chip Oat Cookies – Easy Recipe!
“Baking cookies is comforting, and cookies are the sweetest little bit of comfort food. They are very bite-sized and personal.” ~Sandra Lee School holidays are almost here, and this is a great recipe for kids in the kitchen. They are tasty, easy and use simple ingredients. We love these chunky cookies here at the farm […]
Easy Stewed Pears Recipe
“It is, in my view, the duty of an apple to be crisp and crunchable, but a pear should have such a texture as leads to silent consumption.” ~ Edward Bunyard After the excess of Easter it is a relief to be back to simple food again. One of Autumn’s great pleasures for me is pears. This […]
Cadbury Creme Egg and Salted Caramel Cheesecake Recipe
“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!” ~ Mae West Easter’s almost here. A while ago a friend and I were throwing around ideas for an Easter Dessert. We wanted something decadent but easy to make – one that was seasonal and delicious and a bit over-the-top. Welcome to the Cadbury Creme Egg and […]
Healthy Bounty Bar Easter Eggs!
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” ~ Charles M. Schulz Easter is only a few weeks away and it can be a real drag for chocolate lovers if you are on a restricted diet or a sugar-free diet. Bounty Bars are one of my favourite chocolates. Ben’s too. […]
Healthy Summer Fruits Rice Pudding
“Summertime is always the best of what might be.” ~ Charles Bowden It’s summertime in Australia right now, one of my favourite times for fruits and simple foods. This rice dish is a firm favourite – it makes for great breakfast eating, but can also serve as a dessert. The one in the picture is dressed […]
Top 5 Christmas Sweets Recipes For You!
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” ~ Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Hello, Lovelies! It’s me again Chelsi, Nicole’s VA! As Nicole gets stormed in her farm with internet and electricity cut off, […]
Yummy Sweet Treats for You!
“Love is like a good cake; you never know when it’s coming, but you’d better eat it when it does!” ― C. JoyBell C. Hello Lovelies, Nicole is in bed today feeling sick. So I made her take a break and prepared this blog post for you. I hope you enjoy our top 5 […]
Green Goji Bliss Balls
“Humor keeps us alive. Humor and food. Don’t forget food. You can go a week without laughing.” ~ Joss Whedon I often whip up a batch of these healthy, yummy snacks. Green Goji Bliss Balls are packed full of nutrition, and the lemon gives them a lovely fresh tang. They are incredibly easy to […]
Strawberry Coconut Chia Pudding #dairyfree #glutenfree
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.” ~ Erma Bombeck I could call this delicious pudding ‘dessert’. But I have also been known to call it ‘breakfast’… This creamy strawberry pudding is a versatile and healthy option as a snack, a meal or as a […]
Chocolate Easter Nests
“Hedwig didn’t return until the end of the Easter holidays. Percy’s letter was enclosed in a package of Easter eggs that Mrs. Weasley had sent. Both Harry’s and Ron’s were the size of dragon eggs, and full of home-made toffee. Hermione’s, however, was smaller than a chicken’s egg. Her face fell when she saw it. […]
Festive Christmas Fudge Recipe
“They always gives me bath salts,” complained Nobby. “And bath soap and bubble bath and herbal bath lumps and tons of bath stuff and I can’t think why, ‘cos it’s not as if I hardly ever has a bath. You’d think they’d take the hint, wouldn’t you?” ~ Terry Pratchett, Hogfather I’ve had so […]
Melt ‘n’ Mix Sultana Slice Recipe – Easy!
“When I observe Gram, I see how fragile the notion of tradition can be. If I take my eyes off the way she kneads her Easter bread, or if I fail to study the way she sews a seam in suede, or if I lose the mental image I have of her when she negotiates […]
Chilled Coconut Soup with Tapioca and Rockmelon
“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl Many years ago, when my sister and I were sharing a house, we’d sometimes venture out for dinner to a little Asian Restaurant in Market Square at Sunnybank. Our restaurant of choice was called Gourmet Court – […]
Homemade Easter Treats
“Hedwig didn’t return until the end of the Easter holidays. Percy’s letter was enclosed in a package of Easter eggs that Mrs. Weasley had sent. Both Harry’s and Ron’s were the size of dragon eggs, and full of home-made toffee. Hermione’s, however, was smaller than a chicken’s egg. Her face fell when she saw it. […]
Easy Christmas Fudge Recipe
I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays — let […]
Real Hot Chocolate Recipe
“Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.” ~ Joanne Harris, Chocolat And I couldn’t resist this quote for me and all my writer friends and book lovers: “Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power…it is the best friend of […]
Singing the Blues while baking Easter Treats!
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” ~ Billy Joel Just one more sleep and it will be here. Bluesfest! The music festival in my own home town that showcases the best of Blues and […]
Fairy Bread Recipe – An easy party treat!
“You take away all the other luxuries in life, and if you can make someone smile and laugh, you have given the most special gift: happiness.”~ Brad Garrett I try to blog a recipe each week, but being a one-eyed pirate in the remote Outback has certainly proved a challenge on that front. However, I feel […]
Walnut and Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites – Fit for a Prince!
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” ~ Charles M. Schulz While the world is abuzz with excitement at the birth of the Kate and William’s new baby boy, here we are celebrating by eating macaroons and drinking tea. Welcome, Little Prince. We shall blog about you tomorrow… […]
Easy Gluten-Free Coconut Macaroons Recipe
“A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness.” ~ Elsa Schiaparelli I love these simple little macaroons. So quick to make, so easy and they taste like heaven – all toasty and chewy on the outside and still soft and moist in the middle. These ones are gluten-free, and can easily be made […]
No-Bake Yummy Slice Recipe
“When all else fails, take a vacation.” ~ Betty Williams It’s school holidays here in Queensland, and this it the perfect easy slice to make. In fact this recipe is so easy that the kids will have a batch of these whipped up faster than you can say “you’ll like this – it has chocolate in […]
Chocolate Covered Coconut Slice Recipe
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” ~ Charles M. Schulz Chocolate and coconut is a heavenly combination, and this particular slice recipe delivers! It is quite light in texture, so it’s not rich and it’s not too sweet – a crisp biscuit base, a fluffy coconut centre and […]
Nana’s Passionfruit Slice Recipe
“Cooking is not about being the best or most perfect cook, but rather it is about sharing the table with family and friends.” ~ Skye Gyngell, My Favorite Ingredients This is an old recipe that my Nana copied out from her friend Dulcie, after a successful ‘War Wives Luncheon’ during World War Two. At least that […]
Easy Easter Treats to Make
“Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals.” ~ Charles M. Crowe Hooray. After a huge 14 hours of sleep I have woken feeling revived, optimistic and ready to cook! We have a CWA Fundraising Cake Stall in Bangalow tomorrow morning, and I […]
Coconut, Ginger and Cardamom Rice Pudding Recipe – Vegan
Because my Power Word for 2013 is HEALTH, I’ve been modifying a few of my favourite recipes. This creamy-sweet rice pudding has the added lusciousness of Indian spices, and is entirely dairy, gluten and cane-sugar free. And it’s vegan to boot, for those of you who are lovers of plant-based diets. It can be eaten […]
Passionfruit and Lime Curd ~ Passionfruit Butter Recipe
Two things grow like crazy in our neck of the woods come summer – limes and passionfruit. A friend gave me a bag of old wrinkly-looking passionfruit yesterday and asked if I might still be able to use them. You bet I can! Passionfruit are very pretty when they are all firm and plump, but […]
Best Coconut Ice Recipe ♥
This is my prize-winning Coconut Ice recipe, which made me almost as much of a Show Queen as my precious cow 767. It has been entered in many agricultural shows, and won me incredible trophies. As well as the 22 Blue Ribbons and Prize Certificates, this recipe has netted me (among other things…) a tea-towel […]
Marshmallow Recipe – Perfect for Easter
Homemade marshmallow is the yummiest, fluffiest thing. Easy and inexpensive too. The recipe will make the sort of standard coconut-covered marshmallows most people know, but it can also be used in moulds to make cool shapes. At Easter, marshmallow eggs or bunnies are very appropriate, and make delicious gifts. This Easter I’m making quite a […]
Five-Minute Fudge Recipe
I have always been an old fashioned, hard-core, boil ’em up kind of fudge maker. This makes great fudge, but it’s fiddly and I have spent many hours testing my batches to get them from ‘soft ball stage’ to ‘hard ball stage’- where I can drop a spoonful of mixture on a cold saucer and be […]
Homemade Rocky Road for life’s bumpy bits
I was torn between writing a post with a delicious Christmas recipe and writing a post about self-love and nurture. In the end I’ve decided to do both. Fingers crossed this combo will work out. I’m dedicating this post to my Nana, Joyce, who is in her nineties, and who continues to be a wonderful […]