Kitchen Organizer

I'm bringing you a bonus post today because I made these this morning and they were such a huge hit with my kids that I just had to share it straight away!  I got the concept from a 4 Ingredients recipe, but made a few changes and am so happy with how they turned out.  You could easily add creamed corn, grated carrot, any other veges you have in the fridge, ham or cooked chicken...the options are endless!

Ingredients (makes 10)
1 packet of 2-minute noodles (chicken flavour)
4 eggs
1/2 zucchini, grated
1/2 cup corn kernels
1/2 cup grated cheese
1 teaspoon dried herbs

Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees/160 fan-forced.

Cook 2-minute noodles according to packet.  Drain.  In a separate bowl, lightly beat eggs, then add the rest of the ingredients, including noodles.

Pour into a muffin pan (if you use a silicone one, there's no need to grease.  You could also make them mini-muffins or in patty pans).  Bake for 20 minutes.  Serve.

I found this recipe in a great book called "Grill" and thought it would be perfect to try out my new cast-iron grill pan (thankyou Aldi!!!)  This dish was fantastic - filling, flavoursome and healthy.  The kids ate it all up, even the little guy, who's not yet 1.  Easy to pull together, it's a perfect weeknight dinner.

Ingredients (serves 4 - 287 calories per serve)
1/2 cup couscous
1/2 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup pine nuts (I used flaked almonds and toasted them separately and sprinkled them on top)
1 clove garlic
1/2 small red onion
1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 red capsicum, chopped finely
200g piece pumpkin, chopped finely
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
700g zucchini, cut into 3-4 strips, lengthways

Lemon Yoghurt:
1/2 cup greek style yoghurt
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

These are a delicious treat, perfect as the weather warms up. They are super easy (thanks Women's Weekly) and the kids love them. I actually used less sugar than what the recipe said and they were plenty sweet enough. I picked up these ice block holders from Ikea for about $2.50, - a summer must-have!

Ingredients (makes 6, 73 calories per serve)
1/4 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup icing sugar
1 cup sparkling mineral water

Method
Stir sugar & juice until sugar dissolves. Stir in mineral water.

Pour into moulds. Freeze overnight.

Weeknight dinners don't get much easier or healthier than this!  I adapted it from a Women's Weekly recipe, adding rice to make it a meal, rather than a side salad.  It's tasty and simple, you'll love it!

Get all your fresh ingredients from Charlie's Fruit Market!

Ingredients
400g cannellini beans OR 5 bean mix, rinsed & drained
2 cobs of corn, grilled, kernels removed OR 400g can corn kernels, rinsed & drained
2 celery stalks, trimmed & chopped
100g chargrilled capsicum, chopped
1 large avocado, chopped
1 cup cooked rice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Method
Put all ingredients in a bowl and toss to combine.

You can always buy marinated chicken skewers from the shops - but it really is quick, easy and cheap to make your own! You generally pay at least $1 per skewer, but these come in at about 50 cents, so it's definitely good value! And it's only 55 calories per skewer. Kids seem to love food on sticks, so give it a go!

Ingredients (serves 4)
400g chicken breast, diced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
Spray olive oil
Salad (I used cucumber, corn & capsicum)

Method
Combine soy sauce, honey & ginger in a bowl. Add diced chicken. Cover and marinade for a couple of hours or overnight.

Thread onto 8 bamboo skewers (soak skewers in water before use, so they don't burn). Cook on a barbecue or grill pan until brown & cooked through. Serve with salad.

Ingredients
1 cup raisins
1 cup cornflakes
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup self-raising flour
1/2 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 egg

Method
Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan-forced. Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Combine raisins, cornflakes, oats, flours and sugar in a bowl. Whisk oil, egg and 1/4 cup cold water together in a jug. Stir into raisin mixture.

Using floured hands, roll 2 tablespoons of mixture at a time into balls. Place balls, 3cm apart, on prepared tray. Flatten slightly. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden. Cool on tray. Serve.

This is a simply delicious soup, courtesy of the Women's Weekly "Good Food Fast" book.  It ticks all the boxes - healthy, tasty, quick, easy and cheap.  You can easily adjust the quantity of curry paste according to what your family likes - enjoy!

Ingredients (serves 6)
2 tbsp. mild curry paste
400g can of diced tomatoes
3 cups chicken stock
1 large carrot, chopped finely
2 trimmed celery sticks, chopped finely
1 medium potato, chopped finely
1 large zucchini, chopped finely
3/4 cup red lentils
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/3 cup light coconut milk

Method
Cook curry paste in heated large saucepan, stirring, about 1 minute or until fragrant. Add undrained tomatoes, stock, carrot, celery, potato and zucchini; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Add lentils to soup mixture; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes or until lentils are tender.

Add peas; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer soup mixture, uncovered, until peas are just tender. Remove soup from heat and stir in coconut milk.

Features

• Modular unit that can be stacked for optimal space saving
• Great for organizing beverages condiments meats and more
• Durable plastic construction provides years of reliable use
• Built in handles and fee
• 14 by 4 by 4 inches

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Product Description
Finally get the fridge organized! Fridge Binz is ideal for gathering small jars and bottles. They'll help you find what you are looking for more quickly and put an end to wasted time with the door open. Or use for meats, cheeses, dairy products or whatever else you want to keep accessible.

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A delightful afternoon tea cake, with just the right balance of sweetness and citrus!  This one didn't last long in my house :-)  Thanks to www.taste.com.au.

Ingredients
Melted butter, to grease
200g (1 1/3 cups) plain flour
150g (1 cup) self-raising flour
285g (1 1/3 cups) caster sugar
150g butter, melted, cooled
3 eggs
100ml milk
1 tbs finely grated lemon rind
125ml (1/2 cup) fresh lemon juice
150g (1 cup) pure icing sugar, sifted
Lemon rind, zested, to decorate

Method
Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a 22cm (top measurement) bundt pan with melted butter. Sift combined flour into a bowl. Stir in caster sugar. Make a well in the centre. Whisk the butter, eggs, milk, lemon rind and 100ml of lemon juice in a bowl until combined.

Add the lemon mixture to the flour mixture and stir until well combined. Spoon into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into cake comes out clean. Turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Place cake on a serving platter. Combine the icing sugar and remaining lemon juice in a small bowl. Spoon icing over the cake and decorate with lemon rind. Set aside to set.

Features

• Kitchen Wrap Organizer Features:
• Easily and conveniently holds up to 9 boxed wraps.
• Can be stored in a pantry cupboard or large kitchen drawer.
• Top shelf is ideal for holding other boxed items like snack and sandwich bags.
• Sturdy wire design makes it easy to insert boxes as well as take them out.

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Product Description
Keep your cabinets and drawers from getting crowded and messy by holding your aluminum foil plastic wrap and other boxed rolls in this Kitchen Wrap Organizer. This organizer is a great kitchen and pantry accessory as it keeps all of your boxed wraps together in one spot so youll never wonder where you left them again. The simple design allows you to easily take out and put away your boxed wraps with ease. Because of the open wire design you can fit up to nine different boxed wraps easily with each of the three shelves holding up to three rolls. The top shelf is not only great for holding boxed wraps but its also ideal for storing other small boxed items like plastic sandwich bags. This kitchen cupboard storage organizer is light enough to move wherever you need it so you no longer need to struggle to pull your aluminum foil or plastic wrap from the bottom of a cluttered stack of boxes. Kitchen Wrap Organizer Features: Easily and conveniently holds up to 9 boxed wraps. Can be stored

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When we talk about the traditional Aussie Barbecue, we'd always first think of meat.  But, vegetarians don't have to miss out!  Here's some easy and tasty meatless rissoles - not only are they super-healthy (about 220 calories per serve), but they are so cheap to make (less than $5 for 4 serves!)  My one-year-old devoured these in no time - win!  You can mix it up with spices and flavours too.  Give them a go!

Ingredients
500g sweet potato
400g tin lentils or chickpeas
2 teaspoons dried herbs
1/2 tablespoon tomato or barbecue sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
olive oil spray

Method
Peel and chop sweet potato and steam (on the stovetop or in microwave) until soft.  Mash.

Process lentils or chickpeas until soft.  Mix with sweet potato, along with herbs, sauce, egg and breadcrumbs.

Form into 12 patties and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Heat a barbecue or frying pan over medium heat and spray with oil.

Cook rissoles until browned.  Serve with salad.

I'm very excited to have a special guest blogger today - none other than my husband, our very own "Dad in the Kitchen", Dean!  This is a pizza he whipped up a couple of Friday nights ago and it was so good!  Here he is :-)

"All right men in the kitchen, it's time to throw out all those pink frilly items that decorate your lady friend's kitchen and subtly remind her that the best chefs in the world are men.  That means you could possibly be the next Oliver, Ramsey or Sanders! Here's a way to impress your lady friend the next time she's out at her CWA annual general meeting or playing women's rugby. It's a simple pizza that will impress. You could sneakily throw this in a dominos box and she wouldn't pick it - but I don't know if that's a good thing? Anyhow, give it a go men. It's simple a way to wow your lady friend. And for you ladies reading this, don't forget to thank your man at the end of the night by allowing him some quiet time with his pipe and a scotch in his library or den! Dean (the only man following Mums in the Kitchen!)"

Ingredients
Pizza base
Oyster sauce
BBQ sauce
Chicken breast
Sweet potato
Onion
Low-fat ricotta cheese
Olive oil

Method
Get your pizza base and spread your half a cup combo of BBQ sauce and oyster sauce over base. Fry up your chicken with olive oil till brown. Remove chicken and fry up onion till brown. Remove onion and fry up small cubed sweet potato till brown.

Top all ingredients onto pizza base and dollop some descents chunks of low-fat ricotta cheese evenly over the pizza. Get your oven to 200 degrees, throw it in and keep an eye on it from 10 minutes, depending on how you like your pizza.

Features

• Tension-free mechanism allows for easy installation and customization
• Simply press button to activate springs for a secure fit
• 4-inch high dividers fit many drawer types
• Sturdy dividers expand from 11 1/8-inch to 17 1/8-inch-inch
• Ideal for organizing socks, undergarments and more

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Product Description
Take control of messy dresser drawers with the OXO Good Grips Expandable Drawer Dividers. This set includes two Dividers that are each 4-inch tall and expand from 11-inch to 17-inch to fit most drawers front to back or side to side. The mechanism is easy to use, extremely sturdy and does not require tools for installation. Just push down on the gray handle to secure the divider in place so it wont budge, even if the drawer is opened and closed frequently. These Expandable Dividers are perfect for keeping socks and undergarments neatly separated from other items in the drawer, dividing drawers to fit baby and childrens clothing, organizing jewelry and many other uses. The Dividers can also be used in deeper kitchen or office drawers. Set/2

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I made these biscuits for the kids - they are nothing "wow" but perfect for what I wanted - an alternative to plain, bought biscuits, where I can control the sugar & other nasties!  They're from my Women's Weekly "1000 Best-Ever Recipes" book. Another batch of these I added some finely chopped dried apricot and cut back on the sugar, and that worked well too.

Ingredients
1 cup plain flour
1 cup unprocessed bran
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
60g butter, chopped
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons water (approx)

Method
Process flour, bran, oats, soda and butter until crumbly; add sugar, egg and enough of the water to make a firm dough.  Knead on floured surface until smooth; cover, refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius/160 fan-forced.  Grease oven trays; line with baking paper.

Divide dough in half; roll each half between sheets of baking paper to about 5mm thickness.  Cut dough into 7cm rounds; place on trays 2cm apart.

Bake biscuits about 15 minutes.  Stand on tray 5 minutes; transfer to wire rack to cool.

I'm SO excited to announce a partnership my little old blog is starting with Charlie's Fruit Market!

For all the Brisbane/South-East Queensland readers, they are based at Everton Park and have a fantastic store with great quality produce.  They have started advertising on 96five, the radio station I work for, and are on board with Mums in the Kitchen to bring you more easy, healthy, tasty, quick and family-friendly recipes.

They do next-day delivery to the whole region and are a wonderful family-owned business.

Check out their website here and their Facebook page here - make sure you "like" it, because they are always doing giveaways of wonderful produce and vouchers.

So stay tuned for some exciting new recipes, made with the freshest & tastiest ingredients from Charlie's! xo

The kids and I whipped up these cute little biscuits to take to Mainly Music this week.  We also packaged some up to give to their Nanas for Valentine's Day.

They are made using my old faithful Spice Biscuits recipe, originally found here - I always get comments about what a delicious biscuit they are!

I used Pillar Box Red colouring for the icing and I love how they turned out.

Give a sweet treat to your sweet heart tomorrow!

Ingredients:125g butter, softened
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup golden syrup
2 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon ground clove

Icing
1 egg white, beaten lightly
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 teaspoons plain flour
2 teaspoons lemon juice (approx)
food colouring


Method:
Beat butter, sugar and egg with electric mixer until combined.  Stir in syrup and sifted dry ingredients, in two batches.

Knead dough until smoothe, then roll out between sheets of baking paper until 5mm thick.  Pop in the fridge for about half an hour. 

Cut shapes from dough and place on trays lined with baking paper.  Bake for about 15 minutes, at 150 degrees or 130 degrees fan-forced.

Cool on trays or a wire rack.  Spread with icing and set at room temperature.

Icing: 
Place egg white in small bowl, stir in half the sifted icing sugar; add remaining sifted icing sugar, flour and enough juice to make a thick spreadable icing.  Tint icing with colouring.

Features

• Sturdy metal construction
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To close out the week of Healthy Easter Treats, I decided to have a crack at some Hot Cross Buns.  My standards of home-made HCBs are extremely high, considering both my mum and mother-in-law are exceptional Hot Cross Bun-makers.  They simply have their recipes down pat and are always generous in feeding us a constant supply in the lead-up to Easter.  Yes, I consider myself very fortunate!

I love Christmas and the many opportunities it brings to make pretty things!  I just want to share with you a few handmade ideas that I've done this year.  People always love receiving handmade things and they don't always take too much time or effort to do.  I've done some decorating around the home too, to get into the spirit - and it always gives me joy to see it!

I've handmade my cards for the last few years and always love doing it.  People don't receive many home-made cards anymore, so it's something I like to put the effort into.  These supplies were from Spotlight & super easy to make!

Using the same Spotlight paper, I whipped up some bunting and some hanging decorations for the entry.  The stensils were from old Better Homes & Gardens Magazines.

A little display I set up in the entry using bits & pieces I've collected over the years.  The butterflies were made from the same Spotlight paper.

Hard to get a good photo but here's my Christmas tree!  I LOVE it and I love seeing the special decorations have fun memories attached.  The kids know which ones are their own significant ones and love to look and touch!

Hope's special decoration this year :-)

A friend made me this beautiful fabric bunting - it fits so perfectly, I love it!

My daughter's name has special significance at this time of year :-)

I prettied up our deck with some handmade baubles attacked to ribbon - easy and very effective!

My little piano display of bits and pieces.  I got the Advent Calendar this year and had so much fun filling it - and the kids are absolutely loving it!  Some of the things inside the drawers have been Christmas stickers, stamps, chocolates, beaded decorations and special messages.  It'll be fun thinking of more age-appropriate ideas in the coming years.

Some handmade gifts by the kids (with a little help from me!)  I'll be sharing the recipe for these tomorrow.

It's so special and fun to make handmade things and to step back and remember that Christmas isn't just all about spending and buying.  I'd love to hear your handmade ideas too!