easter jelly

Have i mentioned yet how much i love everything about jelly? While browsing the net for new interesting ideas, i found this recipe, so i say thankyou to the Food Librarian =) a fun colourful and delicious jelly for me to try! hehe (the good thing about jelly is my husband doesn't like it, it's all mine mwahahaha)

i adjusted it slightly....but not by much, because mine split while setting, i think because i added the milky mixture too soon, my jello was still hot and wasnt dissolved properly. The top green layer you'll note worked better because i figured that out, although the split layering does look kinda cool. Mind you if i wanetd it like that i bet it wouldn't happen again! =P

Easter Jello
3 or 4 boxes jello (you pick colours)
2 packets Knox gelatine
1 tin sweetened condensed milk

For each layer:
1 packet jello
1/2 package of Knox gelatin.
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup milky mixture (that you make in a minute)

Mix until totally dissolved.

Wait for it to cool to luke warm before adding the milk mixture so it blends better.

Meanwhile, while your jello cools, in a separate glass measuring jug, empty 1 can of sweetened condensed milk. Add enough boiling water to make 2 cups of liquid. Let cool slightly.

Add 1/2 cup of the milky mixture to the dissolved colored jello.

Pour into pan and let set for about 30 minutes (depending on how much gelatin you use and if you let the mixture cool a bit before pouring). Make sure your refrigerator is level! :)

Continue for other colors. Make sure every layer is set right before adding more or they will meld together. You can make up to 4 layers with the 2 cups of milky mixture.

I used watermelon pink, blueberry blue and lime green.
Lemon yellow would be good, purple grape came out too dark, so I didn’t use it.
Overall a wonderful result!

carrot cake

a delicious and simple cake. i'm so glad i found this recipe years ago, it never fails me. it's one recipe that you remember how to make and it is always a hit. i have added pineapple, walnuts, extra carrot and it always turns out! my husband absolutely LOVES this one. i swear if i wasn't around it would be eaten before i knew it =) this recipe turns out a little gooey but tasty.....but it's all good!

valentine's day cookies

so it all began with a recipe i found whilst browsing bloggers (im always browsing) at Bake at 350 an excellent foodie blog, with loads of delicious treats to try!

the cookies turned out perfect, and the recipe was so easy to follow. i managed to get 32 hearts out of one batch...

banana cake

what better than banana cake when your bananas have gone beyond the point of no return....
im a fussy one, if i am to have a banana.....
it must be perfect.
any more ripe or under ripe or too many bruises i just can't do it, makes me squeamish...but i do love a very overripe sweet banana for cake =)
i chose a banana bread recipe, doubled it, added one extra banana than suggested and baked it in a 23cm round pan and i got a moist dense banana cake, yum.

chocolate frosting

This is my favourite chocolate frosting recipe, not too sweet, not too cocoa-ey and makes enough to fill and decorate a two layer chocolate cake =)

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup cocoa

3 cups icing sugar

1/3 cup 10% cream

1 tsp vanilla

Beat butter until light and creamy.

Gradually add in the cocoa/icing sugar and alternate with the cream.

Add the vanilla and beat until the desired consistency.

Bear in mind, the longer you whip it up the lighter in colour it will get.

Keeps in the fridge for a couple of days if needed, but i tend to use it all up =)

cream cheese frosting

this is the basic recipe i use for my cream cheese frosting.....
it makes enough to cover one 23cm round cake, or cover and fill a smaller 20cm round cake.

1 (375g) package of cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1 to 2 cups icing sugar

cream the butter and cheese together until creamy and changes to a lighter shade.
gradually add in the icing sugar and beat until you get the desired consistency.

ice your cake. =)

chocolate coconut slice

just like my mum used to make. a very coconutty chocolate biscuit slice...mmmm...

Preparation Time - 10 minutes

Cooking Time - 15 minutes

Makes - 24 pieces

Ingredients
• 200g crushed cookie crumbs (any plain sweet biscuits will do)
• 1 ½ cups desiccated coconut
• 3/4 cup caster sugar
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 2 tbsp cocoa
• 200g butter
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 1/2 cups icing sugar mixture
• Extra 1 tbsp cocoa
• 2 tbsp hot water

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a 16x26cm baking pan and line with baking paper. Place biscuits into a mixing bowl with coconut and sugar. Sift over flour and cocoa and stir.

2. Melt butter in a small saucepan over a low heat. Pour over dry ingredients. Add vanilla. Mix well.

3. Spoon mixture into prepared pan and press down to level. Bake for 15 minutes or until cooked.

4. Sift icing sugar and cocoa into a small bowl. Add water and stir well. Ice slice while still hot. Cut into squares to serve.

5. Sprinkle a little extra coconut on top of icing. Cool, cut and serve.

It's more of a biscuitty slice, but yummy nonetheless!

rainbow jelly

i love jelly. the colours, the texture, the fun you can have with it!

i've been browsing online for jelly recipes that are a little more fun and unusual that your everyday bowl of jello. i found quite a few recipes which i can guarantee i will try as this first experiment went so well, looked so good and tasted great!