Archives for September 2015

Simple Tips to Help you Organise the Kitchen Pantry …

September 30, 2015

  The pantry is one of the largest cupboards in the average home which also means it has the greatest potential to be the most disorganised. But because we can spend a lot of time in the kitchen and need to access things from the pantry several times a day, it’s important that it’s well organised and efficient so we can find things quickly and easily.   These are the four main reasons why I work hard to keep my pantry organised:   It saves money … if everything is easy to see, it means I won’t double up and buy duplicates of things I already … read more

Kitchen Hints and Tips #5 … How to Bake without Sifting your Ingredients …

September 28, 2015

  I love to bake and, over the years, I’ve made a huge variety of beautiful biscuits, slices, muffins, cakes, etc. They’re all tried and true recipes that give me confidence they’ll turn out perfectly every time.   I also love finding new recipes but any new recipe must pass the test and meet the following criteria, it must:   be simple … I don’t like recipes that are complex and much prefer recipes where the instructions are clear, logical and easy to follow with the ingredients listed in the order in which they’re needed.   be quick … read more

Pear and Walnut Loaf …

September 26, 2015

This is a quick and easy recipe you can whip up if friends call to say they’re coming for morning tea. Deliciously moist, I just love the combination of the nutty flavour from the walnuts and the sweetness from the pears. Just keep a tin of pears in the pantry and you should have everything else. For this recipe, I used the Coles Australian Pear Slices, which I drained and chopped into small pieces. I was really happy with the quality, as the pears were nice and firm and not mushy. Enjoy! Pear and Walnut Loaf …   Print Author: Mrs Organised … read more

Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Bake …

September 24, 2015

If you need an easy recipe to satisfy your hungry family, this is it … a delicious combination of vegetables, chicken and pasta that’s guaranteed to please. You can either poach and shred some chicken breast or use left overs from a barbecue chicken Add different veggies to again use up leftovers or simply add and subtract other vegetables to suit your family’s tastebuds! Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Bake …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 2 cups dried pasta, cooked 1 tablespoon oil 2 small cloves garlic, crushed 1 medium onion, diced … read more

Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA …

September 22, 2015

  We recently went to Las Vegas to attend a friend’s wedding and decided that we’d turn it into a bit of a holiday. After going to the wedding and spending an action packed 6 days in Las Vegas, the pace slowed a little when we hired a car and headed to Utah to visit Bryce Canyon. I’d always been intrigued by this part of the country having heard wonderful stories about the spectacular scenery but nothing really prepared us for just how spectacular it was.     Bryce Canyon is a National Park and has the largest collection of hoodoos in the … read more

Kitchen Hints and Tips #4 … How to Freeze Bananas …

September 20, 2015

  My family loves bananas and I use them a lot in cooking as well but occasionally I end up with too many. I don’t like throwing them out or wasting bananas that are over ripe so I simply freeze them.   Choose bananas that have completely ripened as they will be the sweetest but, having said that, I do avoid bananas that have really started to blacken substantially. Try also to avoid freezing bananas that are still partly green as freezing won’t help them to ripen or improve their flavour.   There are three different methods that work quite well so … read more

Slow Cooked Lamb Biryani …

September 18, 2015

It’s no secret that I love Indian food and this Slow Cooked Lamb Biryani is a definite favourite … easy to make and absolutely delicious. It’s also very mild and suitable for most kids. The other reason I love cooking this dish is that it’s kind to the budget. I found these 2 mini Lamb Shoulder Roast at Coles for under $12.00 and fed 6 people generously. Enjoy! Slow Cooked Lamb Biryani …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 2 tablespoons oil 2 brown onions, sliced 600 – 700 g boneless lamb shoulder 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 teaspoon … read more

The Day I was SAVED by Cake 2 The Rescue & a Giveaway!

September 16, 2015

  I have a huge family and, at last count, have in excess of 30 nieces and nephews … hard to believe … but it’s true! And because we’re such a close family, there’s always a birthday or other event to celebrate. One of my little nieces had a birthday coming up and my sister was fretting over how she was going to find time to bake a cake because she was just so busy. Around the same time, I was contacted by the lovely Lou Duggan from Cake 2 the Rescue to see if I would be interested in trying and reviewing one of her Cake Kits. Well, I didn’t need to be asked … read more

9 Simple Tips for Labelling your Luggage when you Travel …

September 14, 2015

  Until you’ve had one of your suitcases lost by an airline, it’s difficult to imagine that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach you experience when you’re the last person waiting beside the luggage carousel and there are no more suitcases circling on the conveyor belt.   It happened to us about ten years ago and I found myself wondering “Has someone taken/stolen my luggage either intentionally or accidentally?” or “Is my luggage on it’s way to some remote location in Alaska?” Either way, as panic sets in, you’re next thought will usually be “Am I … read more

Chocolate Brownies …

September 12, 2015

Chocolate Brownies are a delicious, decadent treat. This is a fairly simple recipe that will create a gooey Chocolate Brownie that’s just perfect … so if you’ve struggled to find the perfect Brownie recipe … look no further! Eat on it’s own or serve it with some raspberries and ice cream for a dessert that’s sure to impress. Chocolate Brownies …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … ⅔ cup plain flour ½ cup cocoa ¼ teaspoon baking powder ½ cup melted butter 100g good quality dark chocolate (I used Plaistowe by Nestle) … read more

Chicken and Corn Burritos …

September 10, 2015

This is a super quick and easy recipe if you need dinner on the table in a hurry. I love any dish that uses a barbecue chicken as one of the main ingredients because that part of the cooking has been done for you. Serve this up and watch it disappear before your eyes! Enjoy! Chicken and Corn Burritos …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Ingredients … 1 x large barbecue chicken 1 x 410g can corn kernels 2 celery sticks, chopped finely 1 ½ cup grated cheddar cheese 1 cup light sour cream 2 cloves garlic, crushed pinch ground chillies 8 x flour … read more

Kitchen Hints and Tips # 3 … Tips for Making the Most of your Slow Cooker …

September 8, 2015

  I love my Slow Cooker and use it all year round. I work part-time and it’s especially ideal for those days when I know I’ll be getting home late and won’t have the energy or motivation to cook. It’s also wonderful for cooking for large groups of people or cooking a large quantity of a particular dish allowing me to freeze several meals to be eaten at another time … and that means I get a night off.   So to ensure you get the best results, here are some simple tips:   Before adding meat to your slow cooker, take the time to brown it by … read more

Slow Cooked Lamb Ragu with Parppardelle …

September 6, 2015

It’s no secret that lamb is my favourite meat and it’s also no secret that I love my slow Cooker … marry those two things together and the result is this rich, delicious, hearty Lamb Ragu that’s as divine as it is easy! This is the perfect dish for anyone who is busy and short on time. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare and then the Slow Cooker does the rest. I love preparing this meal on days that I have to work. I usually chop and prepare the ingredients the night before, placing them in the Slow Cooker dish. I simply cover that and refrigerate and then … read more

Hotel Review … The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, USA …

September 4, 2015

  I recently shared a review on The Luxor, the hotel where we stayed on our first night in Vegas … it turned out to be ideal following our midnight arrival by plane. For the next three nights, however, we chose The Cosmopolitan. Prior to booking, I hadn’t heard of this hotel and I think that’s because it is one of the most recent to be built on The Strip. It opened on December 10, 2010, consisting of two high rise towers that feature 2,995 rooms, 3 pools, convention/meeting space, shops, restaurants, an 1,800 seat theatre and, of course, a Casino. But probably … read more

Kitchen Hints and Tips #2 … Simple Tips to Help you Open Stubborn Jars …

September 2, 2015

  Don’t you just hate it when you have to open a new jar of anything in the kitchen and that lid just won’t budge! Whether it’s a jar of jam or a jar of crushed ginger, here are some simple options for “popping” that lid:   Grab a butter knife and gently tap the edge of the lid a couple of times, rotating the jar as you go. The gentle tapping should loosen the lid and break the seal enough for you to open the lid.   Use a butter knife or teaspoon and slip it carefully between the glass and the lid and gently twist. The lid might give a … read more