Butterscotch Peanut Slice

I've found that as I bake, a lot of ingredients get left open and run the risk of going stale. My very logical and beautiful boyfriend decided that it would be a good idea to stop this happening and went through the cupboard with me. Any open packets had to go. So if you've found yourself with a whole heap of peanuts and icing sugar, don't panic - I've got a solution.

Butterscotch Peanut Slice

(Makes 24 Squares)

Ingredients

Slice

 

125g butter
3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup milk
1 1/3 cup self-raising flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup peanuts
 

Icing
 

30g butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 cup icing sugar

Method

 

Combine butter, sugar and cream in medium saucepan until sugar dissolves then allow to cool. Stir flour, eggs and nuts into the mixture then spread it into pan. Bake for about 25 minutes in a 170 degree oven.
 

Now, the icing is where things get complicated, not because it's difficult. No, you just throw everything together in a bowl for that. But what is actually tricky is deciding when to make the icing. If you put it together too early, it will set in the bowl, if you make it too late, you will need to make a new slice because you'll just want to eat it now. The choice is yours.

Price

 

Slice

 

72c for the butter

25c for the brown sugar

6c for the milk
5c for the flour

74c for the eggs
91c for the peanuts
 

Icing
 

12c for the butter
8c for the brown sugar
1c for the milk
37c for the icing sugar

 

 Now, the slice isn't really the same without the icing but when the slice is only $2.73, splashing out 58c on icing isn't really a big deal and $3.31 to get rid of all the 'almost stale' things in my cupboard, I was more than happy to pay the price.

Jam Drop Cookies

To my knowledge, pretty much everyone has had some experience with this. A grandmother, a mother, an aunty - there is someone in your life that has made these cookies and you were just like, wow. Or maybe not. If so, you should probably begin your own wow experience right now.

Jam Drop Cookies 

(Makes 30)

Ingredients

125g butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 egg

1 1/4 cup self-raising flour

1/4 cup jam

Method

Lets pretend we're making normal cookies. Beat the sugar, butter and vanilla essence, add the egg, then sift in the flour (I actually don't sift anything, I'm lazy. I probably don't even own a sive. I just sound like a professional whenever I tell you to sift anything.)

Spoon out the cookie dough onto a tray, just like normal cookies, remember? Now, exciting news! These aren't normal cookies! In fact, you should now poke little holes into the dough. Not all the way through, just a little home for our jam. I generally don't put the jam in a cup. I think that's weird. And messy. I just measured it out for the more precise members of the audience. But basically, spoon the jam from wherever it is currently living, into its new home. And then, throw them in the oven to cook.

If you cook them in a 180 degree oven for 15 minutes they will be perfect. But if you try to eat them directly after they've come out of the oven, you will burn your mouth. It will hurt. And you will get no sympathy. (oh, fine, maybe a little bit. but it's your fault, dammit!)

Price

72c for the butter
12c for the sugar
8c for the vanilla essence
37c for the egg
4c for the flour
30c for the jam

I'm sure this price will vary depending on the quality of the jam you use, but I just have the Coles brand raspberry one. For $1.63, I'm happy with this trip nostalgia/tastiness.

Cauliflower and Green Bean Casserole

I don't know about you, but I start my week off with such idealistic intentions, particularly in my weekly shop. I buy plethora's of fresh vegetables and think of all the delicious things I'll make. By the end of the week, I look at the sad wilting veggies and think of what could have been. Thankfully, I usually manage to salvage them and tonight is no exception. Sure, the combinations are sometimes a little strange, but so am I.

Cauliflower and Green Bean Casserole

(Serves 3)

Ingredients

1 cauliflower

1 bag of green beans

1 tablespoon of butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons of flour

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of mixed herds

2 cups of milk

1/2 cup of cheese

Method

Prepare the vegetables and throw them all into a heatproof dish. Then, melt the butter and olive oil in a saucepan. Once they're liquid-y, just add everything else and stir until the cheese is no longer lumpy. It should be a fairly smooth consistency. Once you're happy with it, pour it over your veggies and throw it into the oven for about 40 minutes. Add a little extra cheese on the top if you like that browned look. Otherwise, its done. Too easy.

Price

$2 for the cauliflower

$2 for the green beans

9c for the butter

1c for the flour

50c for the milk

84c for the cheese

Because I can't include things like the oil, the salt, the pepper etc my estimation of $5.44 may need to be rounded up to $5.50, but regardless, a tasty, cheap meal that leaves you feeling far less guilty about wasting food.

Rocky Road

Some days, you just need an excessive amount of chocolate and someone to tell you it'll be okay. Today is one of those days.

Rocky Road

(makes 24 squares)

Ingredients

2 x blocks of chocolate

1/2 pack of marshmellows

1 x pack of glace cherries

1 x pack of crushed peanuts

1/2 cup of coconut

Method

Put the chocolate into a bowl and place the bowl over a saucepan. Let it melt and, once its all yummy and melt-y add all of the other ingredients. Stir it around and pour it into a pan. Throw it into the fridge to set.

Price

$4.26 for the chocolate
$1 for the marshmellows

$3.20 for the glace cherries

$1.11 for the peanuts

25c for the coconut

At $9.82, it is one of the more expensive things I've cooked, but with a nice quality chocolate and that reassuring chocolate taste that I needed, it was worth every cent.

Vanilla Cupcakes w/ Lemon Icing

My best friend finished all of his exams today and I am super dooper proud of him. Congratulatory cupcakes were baked and then nommed. (But first, to his amusement, photographed for my blog)

Vanilla Cupcakes w/ Lemon Icing

(Makes 15)

 

Ingredients 

Cupcakes:

2 cups self raising flour 

100 grams of butter, softened 

3/4 cup sugar 

2 eggs

1 cup milk 

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Icing:

1 cup icing sugar

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Method

Cream the butter and the sugar, adding the egg, vanilla and milk when it looks nice and fluffy. Add the remaining ingredients and scoop the mixture into a cupcake tray. As you may be able to see, I used patty cake thingies. I have no real reason for this, I just think they're cute.

Cook at 180 degrees for twenty minutes or until golden on the top. Now is the hardest part. Let them cool down before icing them.

Eep. Icing is easy. Just throw everything into a bowl and stir. But look at your cupcakes! Don't you just want to eat them now? You can't wait, can you? Oh, you can? Good job.

Price

Cupcakes:

5c for the self raising flour 

44c for the butter

18c for the sugar 

74c for the eggs

25c for the milk 

8c for the vanilla essence

Icing:

37c cup icing sugar

4c for the butter

2c for the lemon juice

I've separated the icing and the cupcakes for this one because I know that some people don't like icing and what not. Personally, I prefer them without, but hey, they were best friend cupcakes so the decision was his.

Either way, when your cupcakes are only costing $1.74 splashing out 43c for some icing isn't really a big deal.

Easiest Stir Fry Ever

You know those days when you are too lazy to do anything? Yup, it's one of those days. So, here in all it's glory is the easiest stir fry ever.

Easy Stir Fry

(Serves 3)

Ingredients

1 pack Hokien Noodles

3 tablespoons Soy Sauce

1 pack Frozen Vegetables

Method

Soften the noodles in boiling water and put the vegetables into a wok. Once they look reletively cooked, add the drained noodles and three teaspoons of  soy sauce. Toss it together and cook for a few more minutes.

Price

$2.16 for the Hokien Noodles

2c for the Soy Sauce

$3.20 for the Frozen Vegetables

It will take no more than ten minutes from pang of hunger to plate. I know this isn't really cooking, but I just want you hungry students to remember that eating doesn't have to be a hassle and for $5.38 they can have food to last them a few days.

Coconut Macaroons

Anyone who grew up with me will remember these biscuits fondly. I have been making these for years from a recipe I found in a cute little book that I still own today. Even eight year old me thought they were easy, and eighteen year old me is not only inclined to agree, but just wants to eat them all of the time.

Coconut Macaroons

(Makes 18)

Ingredients

2 cups of coconut

1 cup of sugar

2 teaspoons of corn flour

2 eggs

a pinch of salt

Method

Combine the ingredients.  Yup, that's it. I have seen so many complex recipes for these where you are asked to only use the whites of eggs are the yolks or spin around three times and sift the flour through a conch shell. But really, I'm not a fan of complex.

These do get a little sticky, so I would suggest lining the tray with foil first, but aside from that, set them all out nicely then throw them in the oven at 180 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Price 

$1 for the coconut

23c for the sugar
74c for the eggs
3c for the corn flour

As an afternoon treat, $2 seems a pretty reasonable price. Trust me, you'll enjoy them.