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.