I am often looking for delicious ways to use up home grown produce around here. This recipe is good for eggs and lemons.

Mmm, pancakes.

I  1/3 cup Plain Flour
2 egg whites (or 1 egg)
1 3/4 cup Milk
Butter for frying.
Toppings

Stand in the fridge for one hour (I don't think I have ever done this)

Melt butter over a medium heat.

Cook until lightly brown.

Eat with your favourite toppings...we like lemon and sugar, golden syrup or maple syrup.

This cake is very moreish!

I have used this recipe since I was a teenager, although I can't remember the original source.

I use rice bran oil and I like to replace the walnuts with cashews  for a bit of tasty crunch, though you can omit the nuts completely.

In the past I've found the grating of the carrots a bit time consuming but not so now with the Thermochef ;-)

Enjoy!

"Carrot lovers" inspired by the Munch Bunch children's books from the early eighties.

Our family loves this easy Salmon Pasta

Pics inspired by The Munch Bunch ;-)

Popcorn in the microwave is a very easy and quick snack...plus making it from scratch means you know exactly what has gone into it.

Here's how we do it.

1. Use a glass bowl with a lid. This is a Pyrex brand casserole dish that I've had for about 15 years. It is a winner.

2. Add popcorn kernels to the bottom of the bowl with a dob of butter.  A bag of popcorn kernels costs about $1.50 and you will get at least 4 big bowls of cooked popcorn for that ....bargain.

3. Microwave for approximately 3 minutes, with the lid on. It'll be crazy hot when you take it out so be careful removing the lid.

4. Now add your favourite topping. Do you like it plain and healthy? Would you like to add some more butter and salt?  What about icing sugar and salt for Sweet and Salty popcorn?

Enjoy!

Here is a easy, super healthy recipe for Banana Muesli Bars.

I've been looking for different ways to use my over ripe bananas. I think these will be good for lunch boxes, next time I will leave out the nuts so they are suitable for school.

Banana Muesli Bars -                                                   Adapted from www.thekitchn.com

2 large, very ripe bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup pitted, chopped dried dates
1/4 cup chopped nuts, ie. walnuts, slivered almonds, pecans or raw cashews
Cinnamon/nutmeg/coconut for sprinkling.

Heat the oven to 180 degrees and line a shallow baking tray with baking paper.
(Mine was 20cm x 15cm)

Mash the banana flesh until no chunky bits remain.
Add vanilla essence. 
Add the oats.
Add salt, dates, and nuts.

Press down into your slice tray.
Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg and coconut.

Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges just begin to crisp up.

Enjoy!

How do you like to eat your bananas?

My son and I love bananas but we are very fussy about when we best like to eat them...perfectly yellow and ripe. A couple of days later? The flavour really changes in my opinion and we prefer to make smoothies in our house, either to drink straight away or to make creamy iceblocks. (We like to use the juice left over from tin fruit instead of milk.)

I was very pleased when a friend posted this recipe on facebook...

Banana biscuits                                                          Source: Kidspot

Ingredients:

• 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
• 125g butter
• 1 cup sugar (I used 3/4 cup, I will try 1/2 cup next time)
  
• 1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup rolled oats

Method: Preheat oven to 230°C. Line baking tray with baking paper and set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar. (Mine was a half hearted attempt and they still worked out ;-)

Stir in the bananas until combined.

Stir in flour, oats and coconut.

Place teaspoons of the mixture on the tray, leaving room for them to spread.

Place in the oven and turn it down to 200°C.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Yummy and a great way to use up over ripe bananas!

The website suggests pecans or dates for a boost and I think I will try slivered almonds next time.

Next week I'm going to try a banana muesli bar recipe. Please sing out if you have one.

xx

Harvest indeed. Or perhaps death by home grown apricots.

We have a bumper crop at the moment.

I'm no gardener, I may have said that before, but we were very lucky to have several established fruit trees on our property when we purchased it.

The Man of the House came home from work yesterday, counted the stones on the kitchen counter and then asked me if I'd eaten twenty apricots today.

"Hmm, I've eaten 20 apricots in the last hour or so!" Perhaps a slight over exaggeration but not by much! 

No tummy ache yet!

Time for stewing.

I've been stewing up literally hundreds this afternoon thanks to my lovely local friend's advice on what to do.

Enough apricots to cover the bottom of the pot and a little bit of water. Cook til soft. EASY!

They taste great off the tree but even better stewed, super sweet.

Now it's time for pie.

It is cooking away in the oven now so here's a pic of one I prepared earlier.

Let me know if you try it. Serve with icecream or cream, mmmm.

Do you have fruit trees?  Would you like some?