Archives for November 2014

Christmas Planner … Free to Download …

November 30, 2014

  Christmas is such a wonderful, magical time of the year and the best gift you can give yourself is a holiday season that’s prepared, organised and stress-free. So, to help you do this, I’ve created a Christmas Planner and the best news of all is that it’s ABSOLUTELY FREE.   I started using a Christmas Planner many years ago and have spent a lot of time creating lists and worksheets to help me get organised. It has proven to be a valuable resource that eliminates frustration, keeps me on track, ensures I stay on budget and keeps everything sorted in a … read more

Macadamia and White Chocolate Cookies …

November 28, 2014

These are one of my favourite cookies and perfect to create for a morning tea with family or friends. These can also be baked without the macadamias for a nut-free lunchbox treat for the kids. Macadamia and White Chocolate Cookies …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 1 ¾ cups self-raising flour ⅔ cup castor sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon 125g butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 cup white choc bits ¾ cup macadamias, chopped coarsely Method … Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced and line three … read more

French Onion Soup …

November 26, 2014

Many people will associate soups with winter but I’m happy to eat it all year round. I love whipping up a huge batch and then freezing it in individual portions. It’s perfect when I’m in a hurry and don’t have much time but I still want to eat something healthy, homemade and nutritious. French Onion Soup is a fairly traditional soup but it’s easy to make, full of flavour and definitely one of my favourites! French Onion Soup …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 50g butter 6 large brown onions, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed … read more

Toblerone Dip …

November 24, 2014

About 4 months ago, I shared a photo on Instagram of a beautiful platter of fruit I had prepared and taken to a barbecue when I had been asked to bring a plate. I mentioned at the time that it was a fantastic alternative to a plate of nibblies as it looked great, tasted great and was so healthy. Below is the original photo I shared. At the time, one of my lovely readers suggested that a bowl of Toblerone Dip would be the perfect addition to my fruit platter. Well, I finally got around to making it and I have to say, it’s divine. It requires only 2 … read more

Christmas Family Traditions …

November 22, 2014

  Christmas is a special time of year to spend time with family and friends and creating family traditions is a wonderful way to build lifelong memories. Family traditions are simply the things we do year after year that have meaning, purpose and significance for us. Every family will have different traditions that reflect their personalities, culture, budget and spirituality and having traditions is a delightful way to bond and reconnect with the people in our lives.   As an example, one of our family traditions is our Annual Pudding Day. It’s usually … read more

Ginger Balls …

November 20, 2014

If you haven’t already guessed, I love making Balls … such a perfect snack to eat in the afternoon when energy levels are low and just the right size to satisfy those sweet cravings. I also love making these little balls of goodness around Christmas time because I can make them a couple of weeks early and simply freeze them until needed. This helps me get organised and alleviates my stress levels at this busy time of year. Ball recipes are so versatile too as they can be served on their own, added to a cheese platter or great for lunchboxes (but do be aware that … read more

Decluttering (Part 5) … A How to Guide and Where to Start …

November 18, 2014

  Previously on the blog, we’ve talked about Decluttering and if you have just joined in, you can catch up on your reading by clicking on the links below:   Part 1: What is Clutter?   Part 2: The Benefits of Decluttering   Part 3: Where will I find the time to declutter?   Part 4: Questions you need to ask yourself to help you declutter   So it’s time for me to share my tips on HOW I declutter … the actual process I use to get more organised. This is what I do … it may or may not work for you but if … read more

Jingle Balls …

November 16, 2014

Christmas is just around the corner and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be looking for recipe ideas for the festive season. These are a wonderful chocolate treat that can be made up as a gift for a friend or a teacher or made to be enjoyed at a Christmas function or on Christmas day. Of course, these can be enjoyed any time of the year but to get in the spirit, I’ve added a couple of drops of red and green food colouring to the coconut for rolling to create a healthy, nut-free, guilt-free festive treat. 5.0 from 2 reviews Jingle Balls   Print … read more

Cheesy Beef and Potato Cottage Pie …

November 14, 2014

I love Cottage Pie … easy to make, delicious and packed with veggies … it’s one of those dishes that screams comfort food. I usually prepare the beef filling early in the morning, spoon it into a casserole dish or ramekins and then refrigerate. This makes it easier to spread the potato topping once the filling has had a chance to “set” in the fridge. Using only 500g mince, this dish is also kind on the budget. Cheesy Beef and Potato Cottage Pie …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 500g mince (I used heart smart) 1 onion, finely diced 1 … read more

How to Clean Your Microwave and Make it Sparkle in Under 15 Minutes …

November 12, 2014

  My microwave is one of the hardest working appliances in the kitchen. It’s used to defrost frozen items, reheat leftovers, cook vegetables and create whole family meals but, despite our best efforts, it can get dirty from splashes and spills. So, here is my microwave cleaning routine that helps keep it sparkling clean.   Daily … The simplest way to keep the microwave clean is to always cover any food placed inside. Be sure to cover everything with either paper towel, a lid with a steam vent or a loosely fitted lid that will allow steam to escape … … read more

Peanut Butter Balls …

November 10, 2014

There is only one word that adequately describes these little guys … heavenly!!! You will need a food processor to make these but I can honestly say that, after waiting as many years as I have to own one, it’s seriously worth it. I rolled this batch of Peanut Butter Balls in coconut, however, in the past I have also coated them in dark chocolate. The result is a truly decadent treat that allows you to give in to your chocolate urges without consuming an entire block. These will last in the fridge for up to a week but trust me, they wont last that long. I had … read more

Bacon, Tomato and Vegetable Pasta Bake (with Spooky Eyeballs) …

November 8, 2014

A Pasta Bake will usually find its way onto my Meal Plan at least once a fortnight because, apart from being delicious, it’s quick and easy and a lot of the chopping and preparation can be done earlier in the day. In fact, the whole dish can be created in the morning so that you only need to pop it in the oven at dinner time. I also love that everything goes into a single dish … less washing up! This is one of our family favourites and I love it also because it’s a great way to use up left over vegetables. That’s the beauty of a dish like this … you can add … read more

How Creating a Simple Routine Helped me Win the Battle Against Dirty Dishes …

November 6, 2014

  Doing the dishes is one of those tasks that’s necessary but not a whole lot of fun. I’m sure everyone you talk to will have a different method and routine but if there’s one thing everyone will agree on … the dishes can’t be ignored!   Now, I definitely don’t want to spend the entire day chained to the kitchen sink but I also don’t want everything piling up on the kitchen bench either, so for me, it’s about finding some balance, creating a routine or a process and keeping that routine simple. Here’s what works for me:   I am fortunate to own a … read more

Rum Balls … the Ideal Gift for Teachers …

November 4, 2014

October is on it’s way to being over and before we know it, the kids will be on holidays once again … time certainly flies! So today I thought I’d share my Rum Ball recipe because I often whip up a couple of batches and the kids present them to their teachers at the end of the term, just a little gift to say thank you for a great year. What I usually do is buy a stack of Christmas mugs, bowls and dishes at the Boxing Day sales where you’ll pay as little as 50 cents for these things. Plain coloured cups like the green melamine cup in the photo from the Coles … read more

Cream of Chicken Soup …

November 2, 2014

Chicken soup is the ultimate comfort food … good for the soul, soothing and, if Grandma was to be believed, it even helped you recover from a cold. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t … who knows but at the very least, this homemade recipe is absolutely delicious! The quantity in this recipe will be enough for dinner with some leftovers as well if you’re feeding a family of 4 or 5. If you plan on freezing the leftovers, I would suggest you separate the portion you wish to freeze before adding the milk (or cream) and the fresh parsley. These can be added when you … read more