Trying again...

I have had an extended sojourn from blog writing. There were a number of reasons for this. I was unsure who I was really doing it for, what was my purpose? I felt I didn't have the flair for writing that my favoured blogs have, and I questioned if I had anything worthwhile to share.

Also, I had felt a little embarrassed after one of my posts was grammatically corrected by an anonymous poster. I couldn't bring myself to write more because I was worried I was going to continue making mistakes.

However, I have decided to try again. I need to work on my grammar and punctuation anyway! I answered my own questions about who I am doing this for. I am doing this for myself. I like to share recipes, or cool things I have found on the internet with friends. This is a way of doing that.

Finally, I am starting on a new journey in life. I am currently 35 weeks pregnant. I am hoping I may use this as an online journal of this moment in my life. This may become a place for me to share that journey. Not with anyone in particular. Really, to share it with myself.

So, here we go again...

Cherry Ripe & Bounty Balls

I made these beauties as presents for the teachers at work. They were a huge hit, but are oh so simple to make.

I used to make Cherry ripe slice, however the recipe didn’t always work. Last year a batch crumbled when I cut it, so I rolled it into balls, dipped it in chocolate and VOILA!

I decided to do something similar this year. I took inspiration from a Christmas edition of Family Circle. They had a recipe for coconut bon bons. When I read it, it reminded me of my Cherry ripe balls. Their recipe used icing sugar as well but I felt this was unnecessary.

The original recipe also called for shredded coconut. I made a batch using that, but then I made a batch using desiccated coconut and found I liked the desiccated better.

Cherry Ripe balls

1 Can condensed milk

250g Coconut

30g Copha (I made a batch without this and it worked fine!)

1 Packet Glace Cherries

Red food dye

300g Dark chocolate

1 Tbsp Vegetable oil

White chocolate (Optional)

1. Melt copha in microwave.
2. Mix the coconut, condensed milk, cherries & colouring together. Make sure you mix it well so that the coconut is fully mixed in.
3. Put the mix into the fridge until it is firm (about 1 ½ hr).
4. Once firm roll teaspoons of the mix into balls. Refrigerate again until firm.
5. Melt Chocolate in the microwave. Mine takes about 1 minute, stirring every 10 – 15 seconds. Add oil once melted and stir in.
6. Take balls out of refrigerate and dip into chocolate using a fork. Set back on tray, allowing the balls to set. (Use a tray that has been refrigerated to help the chocolates set quicker). Refrigerate if needed.
7. Once the chocolates were set I drizzled white chocolate on the top to make them look pretty.

To make Bounty

Omit the cherries and red colouring; add in a teaspoon of coconut essence.

Crazy holiday season!

I have been very remiss in updating my blog. I have thought about it often but everything just seemed so crazy! The last few weeks at school were nuts, with SRC elections, formals, graduation assemblies and end of year festivities. THEN the Christmas craziness started!

Shopping, baking, more shopping & more baking. SIGH. All this made for a much neglected blog. However on the bright side it did make for a lot of great recipes... although I did tend to forget to photograph most of it. DOH!

Some of the yummy Christmas goodies I made were

- Cherry ripe & Bounty balls

- Sugar cookies- Christmas trees, snowmen, stars and baubles. (My photos of these turned out blurry. They didn't look blurry on my camera but when I loaded them they are. I will see if I can fix them before posting!).

- Mini Gingerbread house (I also made a large one, but that was a major FAIL)

I had a wonderful Christmas. I was spoilt by my husband and family, and received EVERYTHING that was on my wish list. I was VERY excited to receive a wheelbarrow and a compost bin too, as I becoming quite a keen gardener!

We had an absolute feast both days (I see Christmas as a two day event, with separate family get -togethers!). Christmas day was a slightly overcast but mildly warm day, perfect for the cold buffet spread that Mike's family had put together. We had Turkey, Ham & Pork, then a multitude of salads such as Caesar, mango and avocado (my contribution)a DIY garden salad (A plater with all the bits and pieces so people could put in what they like!) a yummy potato salad, pasta salad & quiche. PHEW!

This was followed be the much anticipated dessert, a heavily laden table filled with goodies. I confess that I always eat very light for my lunch because I would rather leave room for the main event DESSERT!

We had outdone ourselves this year with a decadent trifle, cannoli, Ice cream cake (Cherry ripe flavour- made by moi), A rummy Christmas pudding (Made by my Mum as a gift to Mikes family), then cherry ripe balls and iced cookies for coffee.

GROAN.... it was really wonderful, with the only thing better than the food was the company!!

The next day we hosted my family for our Chrissie get together! I tried not to let everyone go overboard with bringing food as there was a smaller gathering of only 11 adults and 4 kids. Unfortunately the weather was decidedly damp. I really wanted to have the celebration on our outdoor deck, so we put up some large silver tarps to enclose the area, and then put on our outdoor heater. It made the area really really cosy, although maybe not as pretty as I had hoped. I also hung 12 white paper lanterns from the roof.

Lunch was one huge ham glazed with cranberry and balsamic vinegar (Mum), 3 roasted chickens stuffed with cranberry, almond and pistachio (Me), Seafood salad and prawns (My sister)and more salads such mango and avocado salad (when your onto a winner stick to it I say...) Sweet potato and beetroot salad (Mum)& Italian Salad (Aunty). It was all very tasty!

Again, the dessert was the main event, with trifle (My Nanna's), Pudding (Mum again), DIY Ice Cream sundaes, Ice Cream cake & Fruit platter. MMMMMMmmmmmmm

Again it was another day filled with laughter, talking and love. At the end of the day, that's what Christmas is about isn't it? Love, sharing, and celebration!