Search Results for: christmas

Ginger Balls …

November 20, 2014

Ginger Balls 001

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 some contain nuts and can’t be sent to school). So here is another yummy Ball recipe to add to my growing collection … Ginger Balls … they are absolutely delicious, the ginger is quite subtle but adds just the right hint of flavour. Enjoy!

5.0 from 1 reviews

Ginger Balls …

Author: Mrs Organised

Serves: 24 – 26

Ingredients …

2 cups fresh dates, seeds removed and roughly chopped
1½ cups almond meal
½ cup desiccated coconut
2 tablespoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or vanilla essence)
desiccated coconut, extra for rolling

Method …

Combine all ingredients (except extra desiccated coconut for rolling) in a food processor and mix until well blended.
Measure 1 tablespoon of mixture and roll into a ball. Continue until all mixture is finished.
Roll in extra desiccated coconut until well coated. Place in fridge until needed or recipe will freeze for up to 2 months.

Filed Under: Balls, Recipes

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

Author: Mrs Organised

Ingredients …

1 ½ cups fresh dates
1 cup dried apricots
1 ½ cups desiccated coconut
2 tablespoon cocoa powder (I used raw cacao)
2 tablespoons honey
extra desiccated coconut for rolling
2 – 3 drops red food colouring
2 – 3 drops green food colouring

Method …

Combine dates, dried apricots, coconut, cocoa and honey in a food processor and blend until well combined.
Measure approximately 1 tablespoon of mixture, squeeze together firmly and roll to make a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture to make approximately 24 balls.
Add red food colouring to a small amount of extra desiccated coconut and mix until well combined. Roll half of the balls in the red coconut.
Add green food colouring to a small amount of extra desiccated coconut and mix until well combined. Roll remaining half of the balls in the green coconut.

So tell me, do you have any favourite recipes you alter or convert to create something festive for Christmas and, if so, what do you make?

Filed Under: Balls, Christmas Recipe, Lunchbox, Recipes

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 Cook and Dine range or similar items from $2 shops will work just as well. I also pick up a range of little decorations and Christmas ribbon, which I can use to make the gifts look really festive. And finally, the cellophane bags can be found in craft stores, kitchen shops or $2 shops.

Rum Balls … the Ideal Gift for Teachers …

Author: Mrs Organised

Serves: 30 – 36

Ingredients …

1 pkt (250g) Marie Biscuits (or substitute with Arrowroot Biscuits or similar)
1 can (400g) sweetened condensed milk
1 ¼ cup desiccated coconut
¼ cup cocoa (I used raw cacao)
2 ½ tablespoons rum
extra desiccated coconut, (for rolling

Method …

Place biscuits in food processor and blend until reduced to breadcrumb consistency.
Add remaining ingredients (except extra desiccated coconut for rolling) and process until well blended.
Wet your hands and then roll tablespoons of mixture into balls and then coat in coconut.

Clever Tricks, Tips and Hints …

So you don’t get caught up in the end of school mayhem, make up the quantity you will need and freeze them for up to a month.

Consider adding Rum Balls to a Cheese platter for a bit of variety.

If you’re preparing them for a function or event I prefer to make them the day before so they have the chance to firm up nicely.

If you would prefer not to send sweet items containing alcohol to school, here are some other ball recipes that have featured on the blog and would substitute as a teacher’s gift perfectly.

Filed Under: Balls, Chocolate, Christmas Recipe, Recipes, Sweet Treats

How to Organise Travel Documents …

October 31, 2014

Going on holidays and travelling is a great way to see the world and escape from everyday life. So, if you’re lucky enough to get away, it’s important to have all your information and travel documents well organised so you can access them quickly and easily. Nothing’s worse than having to dig around in your bag looking for airline tickets and passports when you’re trying to check in at the airport or hotel or, worse still, losing some important document.

I usually carry a large bag or backpack when I travel so I can store everything I need in a single place … room for my wallet, camera, jumper, water bottle and travel documents. I have always used a travel wallet of some kind but a couple of years ago, I tried out a B5 sized expanding file. These are somewhat larger than a wallet with loads of dividers, and for me, they have proved to be the perfect solution … lots of space and an easy way to separate everything. Every couple of years I buy a new one and I picked one up just this week from Officeworks for only $2 … what a bargain! They come in 4 different colours (purple, orange, blue and green).

We’re heading off on a cruise at the end of the year, so in preparation, here’s a list of how I’ve labelled the 12 separate dividers:

Passports

Itinerary

Airline Tickets

Duty Free (Receipts to claim at the Airport for GST refund)

Hotel/Accommodation Vouchers

Car Rental

Bus/Train Tickets

Sightseeing/Tours/Event Tickets

Travel Insurance Documents

Airport Parking Details/Receipts

Receipts for shopping

Miscellaneous

This list should work for most trips but you can label the dividers to suit yourself and your own circumstances. This is a simple and cheap solution that gets everything organised and puts all your travel documents easily at your fingertips. It’s also a great way to keep a “hard copy” of all your documents. Even though most information is sent electronically these days, it’s a good idea to carry a “hard copy” of everything in case your mobile device gets lost or stolen or you simply don’t have internet or mobile access.

So tell me, are you looking forward to the Christmas holidays? Are you travelling to visit family and friends or travelling to a new destination? If so, where are you going?

Filed Under: Organisation, Organisation Ideas, Organise, Organising, Travel, Travel Tips

How to Save Money on Gift Wrapping …

July 23, 2014

Many times throughout the year, we all find the need to give gifts for all kinds of events such as birthdays, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, special days like Mothers Day and Fathers Day, Christmas and so on. And while sticking to a budget to purchase these gifts, the cost of wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbons, bows, boxes and cards is often overlooked. These extra items can be quite expensive and can significantly add up of the space of one year.

Here are some tips and suggestions that I use to help reduce the cost:

Buy your wrapping paper from a discount store. Wrapping paper purchased from a Department store or Newsagency can be expensive and you can pay on average $5.00/sheet. Head to a discount store instead (like Crazy Clarks, Sams Warehouse, Stacks and The Reject Shop to name a few) and you will pay as little as 50 cents/sheet. That’s a big difference, so let’s do the maths. Say you had to wrap 25 gifts/year and you purchased a new sheet of wrapping paper for each gift: 25 x $5.00 = $125.00. Now buy those same 25 sheets from a discount store @ 50 cents/sheet and it will only cost you $12.50. Now that’s a great saving of $112.50 … think about what you could use that money for. And if you still need to be convinced, just remember, that beautiful wrapping paper that you agonised over in the shop, is most likely going to be ripped off in the excitement of the moment and end up in the bin!

Try buying rolls of wrapping paper instead. Once again, I would head to the discount stores but another trick is to purchase full rolls of wrapping paper at the Boxing Day Sales after Christmas. Just choose a pattern that can be used at any time of the year, like spots or stripes or even consider simple plain colours. I did this last year and bought rolls of wrapping paper that were 750 mm wide and 10 metres long and paid only $2.50 each. A couple of these would be more than enough for the entire year.

Create a Gift Wrapping Box to keep a supply of paper on hand. This means you won’t have to run out at the last minute to buy wrapping paper (and pay top dollar) because you’ve forgotten it. Buy a plastic crate with a lid, add a selection of paper from your local discount store (their range is really very good), add to the box a pair of scissors and sticky tape if you like and you’re good to go. I keep a second box with blank cards in various sizes and in a third box I keep some curly ribbon and bows, also from the discount shop, to jazz up my gifts if I feel like it.

Now here’s another little trick that I came up with only recently. When I’m wrapping a present using a sheet of wrapping paper, I always end up with lots of offcuts … you know, the pieces that get cut off the edges of a sheet of wrapping paper when you cut it down to size. They are usually too small to be used to wrap another gift. I always save them because I hate waste but they seemed to accumulate in the Gift Wrapping Box and mock me every time I opened it looking for a piece to fit the gift I needed to wrap. Not any more! I’ve discovered that by joining the pieces together, I can create a new sheet which saves me money and eliminates the waste. I don’t worry too much about “matching” the pieces I put together and in fact I think a lot of the character comes from the mismatches. It’s a bit like scrapbooking or putting together a patchwork quilt … some of the most unlikely combinations of pattern and colour just seem to work! Don’t worry too much about the size of the scraps left over, just mix and match, sticky tape them together to create a new sheet and then neatly trim the edges. Here are some examples of some I’ve put together recently and I think they look really unique and interesting:

Get creative and use “non-traditional” items for gift wrapping. On occasions I have used humble brown paper with a doily attached as a card. It look amazing and so many people have liked it and commented. Brown paper is one of the cheapest items you can buy and a pack of doilies picked up at a local market will cost you as little as 3 – 4 cents/doily. I love any idea that will give you maximum impact for minimum cash.

Now, just a word on Christmas wrapping paper. This all goes on sale on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) for ridiculously low prices (sometimes as much as 90% off) so this is definitely the time to stock up. As long as you have a spot to store it, in either a cupboard or maybe in the office, make sure you buy enough for the following Christmas and your budget will thank you.

It really is worth the effort to create a Gift Wrapping Box and then you will always have a supply when needed, saving yourself some money as well. It’s the little things that we do every day without even thinking that can drain cash from our wallets and I personally believe that we work too hard to earn it in the first place, to spend it without making conscious choices.

So tell me, have you ever stopped to consider the amount of money that can be potentially spent (and wasted) on things like gift wrapping?

Filed Under: Budget, Budgeting, Budgeting Tips, How to …, Party, Save, Saving, Saving Tips

Grow Your Own Basil and Save…

July 7, 2014

I love to cook using fresh ingredients and this usually includes fresh herbs. I probably bought fresh herbs at least three times a week. I love to use fresh basil, coriander, parsley, thyme and many others but these tiny little bunches usually cost around $3 per bunch. So let’s do the maths, $3 x 3 times per week x 52 weeks per year = $468. Now that’s a lot and, when I thought about what I could do with that money, I decided it was time for a change.

So when Christmas was coming up last year and my family was looking for ideas, I asked for pots, punnets of basil seedlings and potting mix. They all thought that was a very boring gift but it was definitely practical and what I really wanted.

Well, I’m happy to report, I got what I asked for and, for the last 5 months, we’ve had a steady supply of gorgeous basil. Love it … beautiful fresh herbs, straight from my own garden!

So, a few things I’ve learned about growing my own basil:

I’ve saved a lot of money.

It’s been very rewarding growing something myself … nurturing and caring for these little plants.

Basil typically likes sunlight, however, I’ve successfully grown my basil in pots on the back deck in full shade but with loads of light. You don’t need big garden beds, just a couple of pots will do the trick and give you a steady supply.

I bought a really good quality potting mix from a landscape supplier but if you’re not sure what to buy, head to either Bunnings, Masters or your local plant nursery and ask for advice.

A little bit of liquid fertilizer every 6 – 8 weeks has helped keep my basil plants healthy and lush.

Basil doesn’t really like the frost but I live on the Gold Coast and grow it all year round without too much trouble.

I water my basil every day but just give it a light watering and try not to drown it. Basil grows best in a well-drained soil so make sure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom.

I’ve learned not to be afraid to cut my basil plants. I used to just grab some leaves from the sides and bottom figuring that if I cut the top where the new growth was happening I would stop the plant from growing and producing … I was wrong. Now I cut the stalk off a couple of sets of leaves from the ground. Two new branches will eventually sprout off the side of the stalk that’s been cut and the result will be a bushier plant that will last a lot longer. I’ve also learned to prune off any flowers when they appear (before they turn to seed) and the plant will last longer. Also, by picking my basil often that encourages more growth as well.

So there you have it … don’t be afraid to give it a go because it won’t cost a lot of money, is a bit of fun and will potentially save you a lot.

And it’s a great example of the thing with saving. It’s about examining everything we do on a daily and weekly basis, doing some homework and making some changes. The changes don’t necessarily have to be big because, more often than not, it’s the little savings that don’t seem very significant that can really add up.

Now that I’ve had such a great result with basil, I’m going to try growing some coriander … wish me luck!

So tell me, do you grow your own herbs and, if so, what have you had the most success with?

Filed Under: Garden, Save, Saving, Saving Tips

10 Ways to be a Savvy Fashionista and Never Pay Full Price …

June 3, 2014

If I could pass on one piece of fashion advice to my girls, it would be this … avoid paying full price for any fashion items. Regardless of what I buy, whether it’s tops, skirts, jeans, shoes, dresses, coats, handbags, etc. I very rarely pay the full price and, as a result, I save a fortune.

The fashion industry is so competitive and consequently, there are loads of sales, every couple of weeks it seems. Add to this the growing popularity of online shopping and there are plenty of ways to save money and bargains to be had for the savvy shopper.

To give you an example, I recently took Miss 15 shopping as she was attending a friend’s birthday party. As we hadn’t been shopping since Christmas, I was happy to buy her a new outfit. We headed off to our local Shopping Centre and, not long after arriving, discovered that Bardot was having a massive sale … 50% off the lowest marked price. Although we originally intended to only buy a single outfit, the prices were so low that we grabbed a few extra items meaning we won’t need to buy her much more for winter. Here are some of the incredible savings we made:

Leopard Print dress: Marked down from $89.95 to $15.00

Striped Denim Jeans: Marked down from $99.95 to $25.00

Black Faux Leather Dress: Marked down from $119.95 to $20.00

Lace Strapless Top: Marked down from $89.95 to $20.00

Black Faux Leather Skirt with zips: Marked down from $89.95 to $20.00

Ripped Denim Jeans: Marked down from $139.95 to $25.00

Grey Track Shorts with Faux Leather trim: Marked down from $59.95 to $15.00

Patterned Harem Pants: Marked down from $89.95 to $15.00

Zulu Necklace: Marked down from $24.95 to $5.00

Black Top: Marked down from $69.95 to $15.00

Grey Track Pants with Faux Leather trim: Marked down from $79.95 to $20.00

$955 worth of clothing marked down to $195 … WOW!!

So here is a list of some of the things I do to get the most from my wardrobe, reduce waste and also pay the lowest prices:

Declutter your wardrobe so you know what you have. I recently read that we wear 20% of the clothes in our wardrobe, 80% of the time which means the other 80% probably consists of items that don’t fit, impulse purchases, skirts and pants without tops to match (and vice versa), items that have simply been forgotten and so on. Sort what you already have because there is no point buying a new bargain item because it’s so cheap if you already have a similar item that fits well and is in perfectly good condition. The less you buy, the more you save!
Unless you need an item urgently, wait for the Sales. Try to plan your social calendar as early as possible so you have time to also plan your outfits and time to pick up any necessary purchases (hopefully on sale). Last minute, panic buys usually end up costing much more than you planned to spend which then become purchases that you regret … especially if they come with a high price tag.
Go one step further and seek out “After Sales” Sales, similar to the one we found at Bardot. Often, items that have already been significantly marked down can be reduced even further to 50 – 70% off the lowest marked price.
Set a clothing budget and stick to it. Leave your credit cards at home and only take as much cash with you as you can afford to spend. When your wallet is empty, it’s time to head home!
Sign up for Boutique, Department Store or Shopping Centre Newsletters and Store Membership Programs as these sometimes give advance warning of sales or sometimes offer “Member Only” discounts.
Before you go shopping, think about what you want to buy, do some research and compare prices online. You may find the same items heavily discounted on sites like ebay. Do be aware though of postage charges as that adds to the cost of your item.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount although this strategy will work better in smaller owner-operated boutiques rather than larger retail chains or Department Stores.
Look for minor faults that are either unnoticeable or that can be repaired (particularly if you are handy with a sewing machine) and then ask for a discount.
Don’t forget to check out local factory outlets where you can purchase samples, seconds and stock overruns for massive discounts.
Don’t ignore cheaper retail shops. You might have to search a bit harder for what you’re after but unique pieces can be found and often at amazing prices.

Finally, remember that fashion is a fickle beast. This season’s “must have item” could find itself stuck at the back of your wardrobe next year never to be seen again if you’re the type of person who likes to keep up with the latest trends. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to follow fashion trends but it can drain cash from your wallet. Try to develop your own style rather than feeling you need to follow every trend. Build your wardrobe around “classic” pieces that don’t date and then just add a couple of “current” items each season.

So tell me, what was your last impulse buy? Do you have any items hanging in your wardrobe that you never wear and, if so, what is it?

Filed Under: Save, Saving, Saving Tips

Disneyland Tokyo and My Top Tips to Enjoy Your Visit …

May 6, 2014

I guess when most people hear the word Disneyland, they automatically think of the Disneyland at Anaheim in America but if you’re considering venturing to the “Happiest Place on Earth” then consider a trip to Tokyo. We travelled to Japan in 2007 and then again in 2010 and both times took the kids to Disneyland. You can catch the train and buses from various parts of Tokyo to get there, however, we chose to stay in Urayasu, Chiba where the resort is located. A day at Disneyland is a long day with the Park closing at 10.00 pm, so we didn’t want to add commuting to that but the main reason for staying in the area was to completely immerse ourselves in the whole “Disney” experience. And what an experience it is!

Opening in 1983, it was the first Disneyland to be built outside of America and, once inside the gates, it has seven themed lands:

Adventureland
Westernland
Fantasyland
Tommorowland
World Bazaar
Critter Country
Mickey’s Toontown

Tokyo Disneyland is essentially the same as the American Disneyland with the exception of one additional ride: Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, which can be found in Fantasyland. Although it’s probably meant for younger kids, this was one of our favourite rides and plenty of others must agree as this ride has some of the longest waiting times for any attraction in the park. Some of our other favourite rides were Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Carribean, The Haunted Mansion, the Jungle Cruise, It’s a Small World, Monsters Inc. Ride and Go Seek, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters and, of course, Space Mountain (love that ride). We were also incredibly lucky with our timing. On our first trip, Disneyland was decorated for Halloween and on the second trip it was decorated for Christmas and no-one decorates quite like Disney.

Compared to a day at Seaworld or Movieworld on the Gold Coast I think Disneyland is excellent value when you consider the size of the park and the number of attractions available. Current pricing is approximately:

$65.00 AUS (6200 Yen) Adults for a single day

$56.00 AUS (5300 Yen) for Juniors (aged 12 -17)

$43.00 AUS (4100 Yen) for children (aged 4 – 11)

So, what are my top tips if visiting Tokyo Disneyland?

Stay close to Disneyland Theme Park. You will start the day with a lot less stress if you can walk to the front gate or be dropped there by bus from your hotel.

Don’t have a late night the day before your visit. Make sure everyone has a good night sleep because a full day (and night) at Disneyland can be very tiring. Being well rested will also discourage you from reaching for sugary snacks for an energy hit.

“The early bird catches the worm” so arrive early (well before opening time) to avoid massive queues because the lines can be huge. Once inside the gates, I’ve heard stories of people waiting 1 ½ – 2 hours to get on some of the most popular rides at peak times.

Avoid visiting Disneyland on the weekend as it will be more popular and definitely busier.

Plan your trip for low season or off-peak months, again to avoid huge crowds. If you choose carefully when you go, there is no reason why you can’t see every attraction and go on every ride in a single day. Choose your visiting time poorly and you may only make it onto a handful of rides.

Consider visiting Disney Sea … it’s another Disney theme park located right next door and my kids loved it even more than Disneyland. By choosing to visit both parks you can save money on a single day entry by purchasing a Two-day Pass.

Plan your day. Either print off a Park map from the internet or grab one as soon as you arrive. When you’re standing in the queue at your first ride, take 5 minutes to get a rough idea of how your going to tackle the day. Find out the top rides and attractions that appeal to your group and work out how to fit them into your day. My advice is to work in a methodical pattern and keep going in the same direction. If you spend your day running from one side of the Park to the other, you will only wear yourself out, waste time and risk missing out on something you really want to do.

If you or anyone travelling with you has special dietary requirements, do some research online before you go so you know which food outlets will be suitable.

Use the Fastpass system. This was introduced a few years ago. It allows visitors to go to a Fastpass machine, select a ticket for a popular ride like Space Mountain or Buzz Lightyear and then return at the time on the ticket to enjoy the ride with very little waiting time. So what’s the catch? You can only grab one fast pass at a time and, for some super popular rides, the Fastpasses for the entire day can run out early which means you’ll have to line up. We used this system and it was great.

Pace yourself! A day at Disneyland is huge and you still want to be standing at the end of the day! Have regular breaks for drinks and snacks and make an effort to sit down. If you’re staying at a nearby hotel you might even want to return to your hotel for lunch and a nap. Trust me when I say, the day is truly exhausting!

Lunchtime (between about 12.00 and 2.00) is the best time to get on some popular rides. Everybody heads to cafes, restaurants and food outlets for lunch meaning a lot of the queues get smaller. We had an early lunch at 11.00 and then another meal break around 4.00. It meant we missed the queues for food and we squeezed in some fantastic rides without standing in long queues.

Take a couple of packaged snacks like muesli bars or something similar in your bag so you’re not spending a fortune on food. Some little vegetable packs with sticks of celery, carrots and cherry tomatoes are a great idea.

Some of the shows at Disney are in air-conditioned venues so you might want to consider doing these in the middle of the day when it’s the hottest.

If your visiting when the park stays open into the evening, make sure you give yourself time to watch the night time parade … it is truly magical and the fireworks are a must see.

The crowds at Disneyland are huge (I know I’ve mentioned that already) so make sure you organise a central meeting place that everyone knows how to get to in the event that a friend or family member gets separated from the group. Make sure you give your kids clear instructions what you expect them to do if they get lost and reinforce this throughout the day.

If you’re planning on taking mobile phones and cameras make sure all the batteries (including spares are fully charged) … you don’t want to miss those magical shots because of a flat battery.

Now for the “Mum” advice! Make sure everyone has water and drinks frequently. Make sure you take plenty of sunblock and everyone should wear a hat and sunnies. Comfortable shoes are a must because you will spend the entire day on your feet and comfortable clothing, that’s suitable for the weather conditions, is essential. Try to limit the number of bags and how much stuff you bring with you. You won’t be able to take it on a lot of rides anyway. Leave at the hotel anything that’s not absolutely essential for the day and put as much in your pockets as possible. Leave your souvenir shopping for the end of the day so you’re not carrying shopping bags everywhere.

So if you want the “Disney” experience, I would definitely consider Tokyo Disney. In my experience, Japan does not deserve its reputation for being so expensive and if you can grab a cheap airfare with Jetstar, it’s a very affordable holiday. Soon I’ll be sharing my top tips for picking up 5 star accommodation for a budget price, so stay tuned …

So tell me, have you visited Disneyland (the Happiest Place on Earth … it really is) and what’s your favourite memory? If you haven’t been, is it on your “To Do” List?

Filed Under: Asia, Destination Reviews, Travel

Cherry Ripe Balls …

May 4, 2014

If you’re watching your weight, you may not want to read any further because I’m about to reveal a recipe that won’t be kind to the waistline. These Cherry Ripe Balls are so delicious and seriously addictive, you won’t be able to stop at just one. I created these after stumbling across a similar recipe on the internet but I’ve tried to make a slightly healthier version by replacing the Nice biscuits with almond meal and coconut. These would make a fabulous gift wrapped in cellophane and tied with a pretty ribbon or they would also be perfect for a birthday party or special occasion like Christmas.

Cherry Ripe Balls …

Author: Mrs Organised

Ingredients …

5 Cherry Ripe Bars
2 cups almond meal
2 tablespoons raw cacao (substitute with cocoa powder if you like)
½ cup shredded coconut (substitute with desiccated coconut if you like)
1 can lite sweetened condensed milk
desiccated coconut for rolling

Method …

Break up the Cherry Ripe Bars roughly, place in a food processor with the almond meal, raw cacao and shredded coconut and blend until combined.
Place mix in a large bowl, add sweetened condensed milk and stir until combined.
Place mixture in fridge for ½ – 1 hour so it firms up a bit.
Roll into small balls and coat in desiccated coconut.
Refrigerate again until firm and then store in a sealed container in the fridge.
Makes approximately 30 (depending on the size of the balls).

Clever Tricks, Tips & Hints:

Keep an eye out at the Supermarket and try to buy the Cherry Ripes when they’re on sale otherwise, this recipe can be quite expensive to make.

Put a couple of drops of red food colouring into the desiccated coconut for something a little different or roll the balls in hundreds and thousands for another variation.

Refrigerate overnight before eating. The balls will really firm up nicely.

Please note: If your child’s school has a nut-free policy, these will not be suitable for school lunch boxes as they contain almond meal.

Enjoy!!

Filed Under: Balls, Lunchbox, Lunchbox Ideas, Recipes

Free Downloads …

Here at Mrs Organised, I love to create and share. So, on this page you will find fabulous Checklists, Planners, Party Invitations, Routine and Reward Charts, To-do Lists, and so much more … everything you will need to get better organised at home and to help better organise your life and family! And the best news of all … everything is free … because sharing is caring!

Here’s how it works … click on a category that interests you, explore what’s available and then simply click and download! Everything is totally free and you are welcome to download, print and use as many times as you would like. Please remember to visit frequently, as more items will be added all the time, or better still, sign up and subscribe to receive daily updates by email. Just locate the “Subscribe” box on the right-hand sidebar of this site, enter your email address and press GO … easy!

Let the fun begin …