Red Lentil and Tomato Soup …

March 25, 2019

When my kids were younger, I have to confess that I used to sneak healthy ingredients into any meal I could and this Red Lentil and Tomato Soup was a prime example … although I used to simply call it Tomato Soup because I’m reasonably confident that any mention of the word “Lentil” would have been greeted with the word … yuk! Now that they’re older, however, and consciously eating healthy food, I no longer need to hide either the lentils or any reference to them! This is a really tasty soup and super healthy because it’s full of fresh veggies and lentils which … read more

Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia …

March 18, 2019

    Hubby and I recently returned from 3 weeks travelling through various parts of Asia and our first stop was Kuala Lumpur (KL). We had previously visited KL about 15 years ago and decided to stopover for 3 nights on our way to Vietnam. As we had seen most of the sites on our last trip, we wanted to visit somewhere new and settled on the Batu Caves.   Taking their name from the Batu River that flows nearby, the Batu Caves can be found inside a large limestone hill which features 3 main caves and a series of smaller ones. It’s a very … read more

Slow Cooked Apricot Pork …

March 11, 2019

This recipe for Slow Cooked Apricot Pork is an absolute winner for me because it’s just sooooo easy and only needs 6 ingredients! It’s one of those dishes that is perfect for a night when I know I’ve got a lot going on and I won’t have much time to cook dinner. I often prepare this dish the night before putting all the ingredients in the slow cooker bowl, covering and refrigerating until morning. Then all I need to do is put the dish in the slow cooker, flick the “on” switch and dinner takes care of itself … not only that, it’s absolutely delicious … love it! … read more

School Formal Checklist …

September 3, 2018

  Grade 12 is the final year of High School for most Australian kids. It can be stressful for those that are striving for entry into their chosen university, whereas it can be a more relaxed experience for those who just want to finish school and make it to the end. But regardless of the stresses and workload, one of the highlights of the final year is the School Formal.   Depending on the school, the Formal can be held at any stage throughout Year 12 but mostly it’s at the end of the year as a Celebration of the end of around 13 years of schooling. … read more

Chocolate Rice Bubble Bars and Bites …

August 27, 2018

This recipe for Chocolate Rice Bubble Bars or Bites is super easy and perfect for lunchboxes or a quick snack. I love this recipe because the bars remain firm, hold their shape and won’t fall apart. With only 6 ingredients, there is no baking required and they also freeze beautifully. Cut these as Bars or Bites to any size that will suit either your child’s appetite or to fit perfectly into their lunchbox, particularly if you use a Bento style lunchbox. I also served up a plate of these with dessert for Christmas lunch and they vanished in a flash! … read more

Mexican Chicken Enchiladas …

February 26, 2018

Here’s a recipe that’s sure to become a family favourite … Mexican Chicken Enchiladas! It’s delicious, full of veggies and easy to make. Enjoy! Mexican Chicken Enchiladas …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Cuisine: Mexican Ingredients … 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon garlic, crushed 1 medium brown onion, sliced 1 small red capsicum, diced 1 x 800g can crushed tomatoes 1 tablespoon brown vinegar ¾ cup chicken stock ½ teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon chilli powder 1 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon dried oregano 2 cobs of corn, … read more

Slow Cooked Massaman Beef Curry …

February 12, 2018

It’s no secret I love a good curry and this Slow Cooked Massaman Beef Curry is a winner! It’s also a firm favourite amongst my kids, having just enough flavour without being too spicy. Don’t feel restricted by the recipe either. If getting the kids to eat more veggies is a challenge, just add them to the curry. I will often steam some peas, broccoli, cauliflower or green beans and simply stir them through just before serving. This is a generous recipe for four, with enough left over for lunch for Mum and Dad the next day. Enjoy! Slow Cooked Massaman … read more

Choc Orange Choc Chip Cookies …

January 29, 2018

This recipe for Choc Orange Choc Chip Cookies is a wonderful twist on the standard Chocolate Chip Cookie … and they’re the “bee’s knees”. Miss 19 was a bit reluctant to try them at first, as she isn’t a big fan of oranges, but once I coaxed her she loved them … couldn’t get enough of them, in fact! Suitable to freeze, these are great for morning or afternoon tea and kid’s school lunchboxes. Enjoy! Choc Orange Choc Chip Cookies …   Print Cook time 10 mins Total time 10 mins   Recipe type: Biscuits/Cookies Ingredients … 3 ½ cups … read more

Practical Tips that Helped Cut the Cost of my Washing Powder by MORE THAN HALF …

January 22, 2018

  If you’re on a mission to save money and reduce your household budget, one place to start is in the laundry. As washing powder will be an essential item on most household shopping lists, I’ve put together a list of practical tips which will help cut its cost by at least half, if not more. Not only will you save cash but most of these tips will be kinder to the environment because less product used also means less packaging and transporting of the final product. And the savings won’t just stop there, because if you buy and use less powder and also do fewer … read more

Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Ribs …

January 15, 2018

For years, we’ve visited a local Gold Coast restaurant which serves, among other things, a kilo of Pork Ribs as one of its menu items. My husband has ordered those Ribs every single time and raved how they were “finger lickin’ good” as he gnawed every ounce of meat from the bones. I’d never cooked Ribs before but decided to give it a go a few months ago. Boy, am I glad I did, as these now feature regularly on my Meal Plans and are so easy to make it’s ridiculous. Only 5 ingredients make up the delicious sauce and the slow cooker does all the work … now that’s my … read more

How I Saved $564.00 With Just One Phone Call …

January 8, 2018

  I’m not one for making New Year Resolutions because, I’ve learned (from past experience) that I’m not good at keeping them … they are usually forgotten in a matter of days or weeks. I am a great believer, however, that new habits or changes can be made any time. So, I vowed that this year was about getting tough on household spending. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not much of a spendthrift and I do regularly evaluate our spending, but I also recognise it’s very easy to overlook the way money is spent. It’s so easy to get into the habit of doing things a certain … read more

Pumpkin, Tomato & Ricotta Lasagne …

January 1, 2018

There’s no doubt that Beef Lasagne is on the list of favourites in my house, but for a long time I’ve wanted to create a vegetarian variation of the traditional Lasagne and here it is … Pumpkin, Tomato & Ricotta Lasagne! I was a little nervous with this recipe because my husband loves his meat but even he was impressed AND came back for seconds … so that’s not a bad recommendation! This recipe is quick and easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Enjoy! Pumpkin, Tomato & Ricotta Lasagne …   Print Author: Mrs … read more

Simple Tips to Help you Produce an Amazing Sandwich Platter …

December 11, 2017

  This week we celebrated Christmas at work with a staff lunch in the office. We had already attended the “official” work Christmas Party but the lunch is a more casual tradition with everyone in the office asked to bring a plate of food to share and celebrate. We ended up with a fantastic variety of food and enjoyed a delicious lunch with great company.     One of my “go to” offerings when I’m asked to “bring a plate” is a sandwich platter. Rarely does anyone ever double up with the same thing and I always find it’s enjoyed and appreciated. … read more

Date and Cointreau Mini Christmas Cakes … a Beautiful Handmade Gift Idea for Family and Friends …

December 4, 2017

If you’re wanting to escape the “commercialism” of Christmas, embracing handmade gifts could be the perfect solution. I love nothing more than receiving things like shortbread and cakes because I can really appreciate the love and effort that goes into each handmade gift. So, if you’re looking for some ideas, these mini Date and Cointreau Christmas Cakes are ideal. The mixture is quite generous and will produce 6 beautiful mini Christmas cakes that are full of flavour and deliciously most. Mind you, once you taste these little beauties you may want to keep … read more

Snickerdoodles …

February 3, 2017

Donuts are my weakness and I think that’s why I love these Snickerdoodles so much. That smell of sugary cinnamon when these come out of the oven sends me weak at the knees. These biscuits are like little pillows of fluffiness, mildly chewy and absolutely delicious. Enjoy! Snickerdoodles …   Print Author: Mrs Organised Recipe type: Biscuits/Cookies Ingredients … 3 cups plain flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, at room temperature ¾ cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 large eggs 2 … read more