Tea and biscuits, anyone?

There's nothing better than sharing good food with friends.

A cup of tea and a biscuit? Of course!

Springhill Farm were kind enough to send me a box filled with their delicious slices and biscuits so I did what any normal person would do - turn on the kettle and round up some taste testers!

The Wildberry and Nougat Slice is a combination of Italian Nougat, dried cranberries, blueberries and raspberries and topped with white chocolate and a berry swirl. 

The soft base had a rich coconut flavour and I loved the chunks of berries, while the smooth chocolate topping melted in your mouth. 

I was actually surprised to find this was one of my favourites as I first thought it would be way too sweet, but thankfully it was jussssssssssssssssssssssst right!

The Summer Fruit slice was courteously passed over to my taste testers as I'm actually allergic to pineapple and pear, which the bar contained.

The slice is a combination of Australian dried fruits, amaranth and rice pops and topped with milk chocolate and a white chocolate swirl. 

My taste testers liked the citrus and coconut flavours and, like the nougat slice, all agreed it melted in your mouth. 

It's also Gluten Free! so it's a perfect treat for someone with a gluten intolerance.

The Lemon Lime and White Chocolate Biscuits are gluten free so they're perfect for sharing, even with your coeliac pals!

We all agreed that they definitely don't taste gluten free. 

In fact, if I didn't know otherwise, I'd have guessed it was just a regular shortbread style recipe.

It was crumbly and melted in your mouth with a delicate lemon and lime flavour. 

The Lemon and Yogurt slice combined the smooth creaminess of yogurt with the freshness of lemon that was balanced perfectly. 

Springhill Farm have been using this recipe for 20 years and I can see why!

 

The Springhill Farm journey began when Ray and Jo Barber hosted kindergarten and primary school children for a sensory filled farm visit experience in 1983. 

At the end of a day filled with horse and tractor rides, milking and collecting eggs, the children got to experience farm style cooking whilst sampling Jo's homemade muesli slice.

The slice was so popular that Jo began producing it to sell and the Muesli and Honey slice is the original recipe enjoyed by the children on the farm visits.

It's obvious why it was a hit! It's filled with whole grains, honey and Australian dried fruits and it topped with a creamy yogurt swirl.

I loved the crispiness of the oats against the soft bursts of raisins and dried fruit. 

It's safe to say that the Toasted Muesli biscuit is delicious and most definitely one of my clear favourites.

The moist biscuit is filled with chewy fruit pieces and crunchy rice bran flakes.

The crunch of the rice bran flakes is definitely what made the biscuit for me - it took it from a boring old cookie to something you could enjoy time and time again.

We decided if you gave us a lifetime supply of these biscuits, we'd be as happy as a pig in mud on the Springhill Farm!

Springhill Farm has chocoholics covered too with their Chocolate and Oat slice and Macadamia and Chocolate Chunk biscuit.

The Chocolate and Oat slice was also one of my favourites, so much so, that if you had me choose between the slice and the Muesli biscuit I don't think I'd be able to make up my mind! 

The soft oat base has a delicious coconut flavour and is filled with chocolate chips and delicious Australian Sultanas. It melts in your mouth, especially with the generous layer of chocolate sitting on top! 

This is Springhill Farm's best seller and there's no doubting why!

The Macadamia and Chocolate Chunk biscuit is for the serious chocolate lover!

The chocolate biscuit base is filled with chunks of dark chocolate and Australian macadamias.

It is the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of tea or coffee!

The Cranberry Pistachio and White Chocolate biscuit was generously filled with chewy dried cranberries and crunchy pistachios and drizzled with a white chocolate swirl.

All of the ingredients match perfectly, creating a delicious biscuit!

The Vanilla Chocolate Chunk biscuit isn't just your average chocolate chip cookie!

The delicious vanilla biscuit is filled with generous chunks of creamy milk chocolate and topped with an extra chocolate drizzle.

I was actually surprised when I realised the biscuit was gluten free because you could never tell!

It melted in your mouth with a shortbread like texture and we all agreed it was an extremely high quality treat! 

All of these biscuits and slices were fantastic and I would happily serve them to my friends again!

(and I'm sure they would be equally as pleased :P) 

You can have Springhill Farm products delivered straight to your door by ordering online!

So tell me, 

Are you a city person or a country person? 

and what's your favourite food to share with friends?

Kristy received Springhill Farm products courtesy of www.springhillfarm.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Lunchbox Lunacy

On this post, I found that quite a few of you swear by snacks to get you through your day, just like me!

Sooo, I have another delicious snacking solution for you! 

You may already know that I love Food for Health (proof :P)

Their Gluten Free Muesli is one of my favourite cereals and I can't get enough of their Gluten Free, Fruit Free Bars (so much so that they're currently on my shopping list because I'm all out!)
So when I heard that they had new products coming out, I was more than excited!

The new "Food for Kids" range is Nut Free, Gluten Free and Sulphur Free.

They're also extreeeeeeeeemely yum!

So much so that I'm ignoring the "kids" part and imagining the packet instead says 

Food for Kids smart people who like really delicious snacks. 

For me, these bars are the perfect size for a quick snack! 

Not too big and not too small.

The Banana Custard filled bars are most definitely my favourite! 

They're soft with a delicious banana flavour - and not too sweet as you might think!

I love Chia Seeds, so the addition of Chia in these bars was perfect, plus fussy little kids aren't going to have any idea they're filling their tums with all those omega packed little specks!

These are stashed away in both my handbag and my pantry for when the hunger monster attacks

and I will surely be adding to them to my shopping list as soon as I run out!

The Banana Custard bars might have been my favourite, but I'm not overlooking the Apple Filled bars! 

These bars taste almost like an apple pie, the soft apple filling is enclosed in the almost cakey bar.

For a kid at heart grown up, these are a perfect snack with a cup of tea! 

These bars have me wishing they were around when I was younger and at school! 

But that's okay, it just means I'll have to make up for it now - no? 

But, if you're a Mum or a Dad - buy these for your little (or big - HI MUM!) ones

they would be perfect for a school time snack!

Both of these bars are available in stores across Australia 

- Coles, Woolworths, selected IGA's, Costco, Health Food Stores etc.

Though it may take a little time for some of the smaller retailers to start stocking them as they're brand new - but keep your eyes peeled! I promise you won't regret it!

So tell me, 

When you were at school - 

What was in YOUR lunch box?

I was always a fussy eater as a child and I hated school lunches.

I know my poor Mum had a tough time figuring out what to send me.

I didn't like sandwiches, most muesli bars and the idea of sending things like cheese sticks or yogurt in a warm lunch box didn't appeal to me in the slightest (smart kid, no?) and leftovers? don't even think about packing them!

Kristy received Food for Health products courtesy of www.foodforhealth.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com 

 

Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies

I think it's safe to say I'll take any excuse that comes my way to bake.

What, someone's coming over? Oh hold on - let me whip up a cake!

Dinner party? Oh what flavour cupcakes do you want?

New job? Let's celebrate!

What? You've never had red velvet cake? Let me change that!

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Cravings? Give me 20 minutes!

These cookies were made specifically with my Mum in mind!

She's always been a fan of the chocolate/nut combination - so why not turn it into a cookie?

These cookies are the ultimate cookie for a peanut fiend.

Peanut butter cookie filled with chunks of peanutty snickers? Why of course!

Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies Pin It

recipe by ksayerphotography

makes 24 large cookies

125g Butter, chopped

1C Peanut Butter  

(smooth or crunchy works - it's up to you!)

3/4C Granulated Sugar

1/2C Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1 tbsp Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 1/4C Plain Flour

3/4 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

Pinch of Salt
(the salt depends on whether you use salted/unsalted PB as well as your salty/sweet preference)

2-3 Chopped Full Size Snickers Bars 

(or more, or less - depending on how many chunks you want!)

Preheat oven to 180*C (350*F)

In a mixer, cream butter and peanut butter until fluffy. Add sugars and beat until smooth.

Add the egg, milk and vanilla and mix until incorporated.

Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and beat until the flour mixes through completely and a dough forms. 

Stir in chopped snickers bits until evenly incorporated.

Form dough into balls (about a heaping tbsp per ball) and place onto a lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

(Don't worry about flattening them! Leaving them in a ball makes a thicker cookie as they spread themselves)

Bake for 10 - 15 minutes - depending on your cookie preference.

For a soft cookie:  

Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are slightly brown - they will firm up once cooled! 

For a crunchy cookie:

Bake for ~15 minutes or until cookies are more golden brown on the edges.

Leave cookies to cool completely before trying to move them around.

Store at room temperature in an airtight container 

(if they get to make it to the container, that is)

I think you could definitely use other candy bars in this recipe, 

even switching the peanut butter for almond/walnut/cashew butter to match!

I can't tell you how long they'll last in a container, however, because mine were eaten IN A FLASH and proclaimed as the "best cookies you (I) have ever made"

Repeat batches have already been requested - good sign, no?

If you're a reaaaaal chocolate fiend you could also add a handful (or several) of chocolate chips for that extra chocolate hit!

So tell me,

How do you like your cookies?

Soft or crunchy? 

Pin It

Snack attack

I'm definitely not a 3 square meals kind of girl.

It just doesn't work for me. 

Snacks are vital for keeping my energy up and keeping me going throughout the day.

I love healthy snacks, but I'm all about balance - so you can be sure treats make it into my stomach as well. 

But my one main rule of healthy snacks? They need to taste good. 

Because, seriously, who wants to be choking something down that tastes revolting - just because it's "healthy"?

Not me!

Partner Foods seem to be on the same train as me,

Their intention when creating "Chic Nuts" was that: 

- they had to taste good

- they had to be good for you

- they had  to contribute to sustainable agriculture

Anddd you know what?
They get my BIG tick of approval! 

Chic Nuts are chickpeas roasted to perfection - they're crunchy and full of flavour and make a perfect snack!

They come in two flavours: Sicilian Herbs and Garlic and Lightly Salted.

The Sicilian Herbs and Garlic were hands down my favourite of the two. 

Crunchy with so much flavour - there was no way you could tell you were eating chickpeas! 

Now, you might be like my mum or sister who were a bit skeptical on the whole chickpea deal.

But I promise you, after you try Chic Nuts - you'll be thanking me and worshiping chickpeas :P

They do not fit the "healthy snack" stereotype in that they're bland, boring and just plain gross.

Partner Foods have also made it easier for snacking on the run with their convenient snack packs. 

Just pop one or two in your purse or bag and you're equipped for when the hunger monster attacks! 

The snack packs are also available as Fava Nuts - which are much like the Chic Nuts, only they're broadbeans instead of chickpeas. 

Chic Nuts and Fava Nuts have become pantry staples in my house!

They're perfect for when you need a crunchy or a salty snack and they're so much better than a bag of chips!

Chickpeas are full of protein, dietary fibre, zinc and a multitude of B complex vitamins and they're also low GI and gluten free!

If you're in Australia - you're in luck! You can pick up some Chic nuts for yourself at Woolworths, Safeway and IGA stores across the country as well as many Health Food and Specialty Stores.

So tell me,

Are you a 3 square meals kinda person

or do you like to include snacks in your day?

And don't forget! 

Click above to enter to win 14 Blocks of Alter Eco Chocolate!

It's open to all readers, internationally! 

Kristy received Chic and Fava Nuts courtesy of www.chicnuts.com

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com 

GIVEAWAY: Fairtrade Fortnight Fun

Mhm, you read right.. it's GIVEAWAY TIME!

and even better? It's open to ALL READERS! 

whether you live in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA or Timbuktu - you can enter :) 

Everyone likes chocolate, right? 

As a part of Fairtrade Fortnight (7-22nd May) which starts TODAY

Alter Eco and I wanted to give one lucky reader the chance to try Alter Eco's delicious Fairtrade Chocolate

All you have to do is like Alter Eco's BRAND NEW facebook page

and let me know you've "liked" them in the comment box below! 

Just hit the "like" button or open www.facebook.com/alterecopacific in your web browser

And that's all there is to it! 

The lucky winner will receive a box, delivered to their home 

that contains FOURTEEN blocks of Alter Eco Chocolate

2x Dark Chocolate Quinoa (Favourite!)

2x Dark Chocolate Velvet (Favourite!)

2x Dark Chocolate Almond

2x Dark Chocolate Mint (My current ultimate favourite)

2x Dark Chocolate Orange Twist

2x Dark Chocolate Blackout 85%

2x Dark Chocolate Cacao 73%

So what are you waiting for?! 

SCROLL UP!

HIT LIKE!

LEAVE ME A COMMENT LETTING ME KNOW!

and the winner will be chosen at random on 23rd May, 2011.

What's YOUR favourite chocolate flavour?
I love mint and dark chocolate - so dark mint chocolate probably tops the charts :P

THAT person.

Cold, wet, dreary weather. 

Winter has definitely announced itself. 

Personally, I think winter would be the type of person (if it were a person, of course) you try to avoid but always get stuck talking to.

Surely you know what I mean - the type of person you see across the street and think 

"Oh goodness - where can I hide? Have they seen me? Can I still make a dash for it?"

Does everyone have old friends that are like that - or is it just me? 

Needless to say, I do not like winter.

It makes me want to stay bundled up inside in the warmth, preferably cooking.

But maybe that's a good thing - winter means I get lots of cooking done because I'm so desperate to stand huddled over the stove or pressed against the oven. 

But do tell me - 

What's your favourite winter warmer foods?  

I find myself trying to ditch salads and cold foods when it gets really cold 

and I stick to warm meals like pasta or baked vegetables. 

I've also rekindled my love of hot chocolates and my tea stash seems to deplete 100x faster

and don't forget warm winter flavours like cinnamon! 

Now for a masterchef style challenge, I have two things I've been sent - but have no idea what to do with! 

Mustard Seed Oil and Macadamia Oil.

Have you had any experience with either of these?

Any suggestions of what I should do with them?! 

Ooh and in other news!
I have a giveaway coming up on MAY 7th. 
So keep your eyes peeled! It has to do with Fairtrade Fortnight and my favourite chocolate ;) 
(It may even be an international competition :O)

Vanilla Cupcakes for an Egg-cellent Easter

Hey, it's Easter - I'm allowed to throw in a little cheesyness ;)

Last night I whipped up these little beauties for our little Good Friday dinner. 

They might look like your run of the mill vanilla cupcakes, 

but I'm pleased to say this may just be the Best Vanilla Cupcake recipe ever.

It's a bit of a frankenstein recipe - pulling bits and pieces of recipes together to create the ultimate one!

But rest assured, you'll have 12 yummy cupcakes by the end of the process.

BEST EVER Vanilla Cupcakes 

recipe by ksayerphotography

Makes 12

125g Butter, softened 

2/3C + 2 tbsp Sugar

2 Eggs 

1/2C Milk 

1/2 tbsp Vanilla Extract

1 1/3C Plain Flour 

3/4 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

Preheat oven to 160*C (320*F).

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 

Add in eggs one at a time, beating for a minute after each egg. (Don't worry if your mix looks slightly curdled, it'll come together - I promise!)

In a bowl combine milk and vanilla.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. 

With a mixer on low speed, alternatively add the flour and milk mixtures until all is combined. 

Beat for a further 3 minutes on high.

Divide into lined cupcake pans and bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on wire racks.

----

Though, if you do make this recipe - you may want to double it... or triple it... or quadruple it.

The cupcakes will vanish in a flash!

I frosted the cupcakes in a basic buttercream and then topped them with some candy coated easter eggs and sprinkles and there you have it - simple easter cupcakes :) 

So tell me,
Do you have any special Easter traditions?

Breads and spreads

To me, fresh crusty bread is one of life's simplest pleasure.

Even as a child I remember being excited when Mum bought a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery because I knew that there was a crusty end piece waiting for me. 

Luckily, no one else in my family seemed to like the "butt" of the bread, or is it the heel? 

What do you call it?

Lately I've been experimenting in the world of bread making. 

Quick breads.

Yeast breads. 

Flat breads. 

English Muffins.

Rolls.

Why? Because well, I can!

I get a little kick out of baking things most people wouldn't think twice about picking up at the supermarket. 

I mean, if you can buy english muffins why shouldn't you make them?

For ages I was scared of yeast.

It smelt like old people, bubbled and frothed and doubled in size.

Now - yeast and I are allies in the kitchen.

When I received a package of goodies from Melrose Foods I knew exactly what some of the products needed. 

Fresh bread, the perfect vessel! 

 My favourite thing to slather on fresh bread would have to be nut butter - followed closely by honey. 

Usually, I'm a peanut butter girl addict, but after making my own nut butters at home I've discovered a whole world of nutty goodness. 

Now, before I tell you about these nut butters.. It's time for a public service announcement.

See the writing on top of the jar up there? It's kind of a warning. 

"NATURAL OILS SEPARATE ON STANDING. PLACE THIS JAR ON A LEVEL SURFACE AND OPEN CAREFULLY"

Now I want you to make sure you actually do what that warning says and not be a dodo like me. 

You see, I read the warning... and then opened the jar while standing and holding the jar on an angle. 

Excuse me brain cells? WHERE DID YOU GO?!?!?!

Needless to say, my floor needed cleaning. 

Back to the nut butters!

Once I'd cleaned up the mess and stirred the oil back into the spreads (another messy job - but it's worth it!), it was time for the taste test! 

The Walnut and Cashew Spread is made up of 80% Walnuts and 20% Cashews, so it's full of Omega-3 fatty acids.

It had more of a delicate flavour, when compared to something like peanut butter, and spread really well.

It would be the perfect addition to baked goods and is perfect on a slice of toast for breakfast.

You could even use it in savoury recipes - perhaps adding it to a salad dressing or using it as part of a sauce for a stir fry.

The Brazil Nut and Linseed Spread was sweeter than the Walnut and Cashew Spread thanks to the naturally sweet Brazil Nuts. 

As someone who isn't a huge Brazil nut fan, I was pleasantly suprised to find I really enjoyed this spread! 

Linseeds (also known as flaxseeds) are the richest plantsource of Omega-3 fatty acids so they're perfect for people like me who don't eat fish or eggs!
I'm thinking this spread may be the perfect addition to some banana muffins in the near future.

Melrose also have a variety of other nut spreads like Almond and Cashew spread, 

which I definitely have my eye on to try!

Tahini is something I've been thinking about trying for quite a while, but just haven't gotten around to.

Tahini is made by grinding sesame seeds and is an excellent source of calcium. 

Hulled Tahini allows for easier absorption of the calcium in the sesame seeds which would otherwise slip straight through the digestive system without being absorbed. 

Tahini is also an excellent source of protein, having more protein than milk, soy and many nuts.

Hummus is one of the most common foods that call for tahini, but it is also excellent by itself as a dip or used as a spread on sandwiches. 

Tahini can also be used in dressings and sauces in savoury dishes or used in sweet desserts.

I actually liked it straight up on bread or crackers and its delicious when mixed with a little bit of honey!

Now, mayonnaise is something I usually avoid like the plague. 

I mentioned above that I don't eat eggs, the reason I don't like mayonnaise is exactly that. 

However! this mayonnaise from Melrose (tongue twister? maybe?) is egg and dairy free

so there's none of that awful eggyness I usually despise. 

The mayonnaise is made with natural sunflower oil and is cholesterol free and vegan friendly.

I liked the tangy taste from the mustard which made it a perfect addition to salads or sandwiches, it's a perfect alternative to regular mayonnaise for those with allergies or specific food preferences. 

You can pick up Melrose products in the health food aisle of the grocery store

or at your local health food shop!

Now.... 

I want you to tell me

What is your favourite thing to have with fresh bread?

and if anyone has any delicious bread recipes, feel free to share! :)

Oh and let it be known, those lovely rolls were not created by me. 

They were bought from a bakery! I can only dream my dough shaping skills will ever become that good :P

Kristy received these products courtesy of www.melrosefoods.com

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

The ultimate chocolate cake?

"Kristy this is the best chocolate cake you have ever made"

That sentence is one that is quite shocking.

You see, my sister is a bit of a brownie snob and this carries over into chocolate cakes as well.

She's stuck on just one recipe.  

Her recipe she randomly found on the web and uses every. single. time.

To be honest, it's not even that great of a recipe.

It usually ends in disaster - either an overcooked brownie or a ridiculously undercooked brownie and quite commonly, it sinks.

But it still remains the best brownie recipe ever according to the creature of habit.

So when I received this Chocolate Mud Cake Mix from Well & Good,

I decided its fate was to stand the ultimate test.

To give the cake the best chance of winning her approval,

I decided it was best to hide the packet.

A fifteen year old would surely turn her nose up as soon as she read the words..

Gluten free

Wheat free
Nut free

Fructose friendly

Dairy free

No Trans Fat

GMO free

No Artificial Colours or Flavours

Halal

Kosher

So I baked away while she was at school, photographed and she came home to a chocolate cake precariously perched on the benchtop, awaiting its demise.

It was fudgy in the centre with a slightly chewy crust - just like the perfect brownie.

All it needed was a dusting of icing sugar to be complete.

"Ooooh what's this? Did you bake this today?"

I quickly weaved a little white lie, telling her I'd whipped up a Martha Stewart creation, before handing her a plate and a piece of cake.

She took a bite and that's when we heard...

"Kristy this is the best chocolate cake you have ever made"

My mum looked at me in shock,

my ego took a little dive (beaten by a packet mix!)

and I burst into laughter before pulling the packet from the cupboard.

"What's that? Wait.... this is from that?!"

The truth was out and her opinion stayed the same.

The only thing she was worried about was whether we could buy more!

 Luckily, all I have to do is look up the retailers.

Though, being as determined as I am, this cake mix has sparked the..

Ultimate Chocolate/Brownie Cake Challenge

 But I do have to say - go out and get yourself one of these mixes and bake it ASAP

You won't regret it - afterall, it passed the creature of habits ultimate taste test.

But do tell me!

Do you have a recipe you're stuck on using and won't budge on?

and Do you have a chocolate cake recipe you think is the best ever?!

I need suggestions!

Kristy received these products courtesy of www.wellandgood.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com