Chocolate Crackles - for the young and young at heart!

Yummy crunchy chocolate crackles - don't they bring back those childhood memories of Mum making them for birthdays and parties. And, if you are like our family, we still love them today! 

I made some over the weekend for a friends sons birthday. They were devoured in no time by ravenous boys leaving none for the adults. Must remember to make a double batch next time! 

Chocolate crackles are a fantastic recipe for kids to create and are a great change from cup cakes for birthdays at school. I'm looking forward to making my next batch and hopefully keeping some to have with a cuppa at night. Enjoy

Chocolate Crackles

4 cups of rice bubbles

250g Copha

1 cup desiccated coconut

1 cup icing sugar

4 Tablespoons Cocoa

In large bowl mix rice bubbles, coconut, icing sugar and cocoa. 

Slowly  melt Copha in saucepan over low heat. Cool slightly and add to mixture. 

Spoon mixture into paper party cases and refrigerate until firm. 

Yamba and Strawberry Jam - a match made in heaven!

On a whim we ventured down to Yamba, NSW for a bit of R and R and a spot of fishing on the long weekend. Found a fantastic place to stay, with the Clarence River on your doorstep, The Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort www.bluedolphin.com.au/.  We now know why  people love going there.  It is a caravan and camping ground, with playground, two pools, one heated and lots of activities  and facilities for families.    There is even the option of  pancakes cooked in the camp kitchen on Sunday!  The pelicans are a sight not be missed and certainly don't go hungry, pacing around and sqawking at each other eagerly waiting for the fishermen to throw their left overs. Heaven help if you get in their way, pelicans share their food with no-one! 

We had a fantastic  day exploring and fishing the river,  but as usual, no fish to be caught! My 11 year old was amazed as we went for a walk along the river and wondered why a pelican can drop his head and swoop up a foot long fish just like that and we can't catch a jolly one and would struggle to survive if our life depended on catching fish.  But we did get a tip from one of the master fishermen who catches many - "buy green prawns from the deli at Coles or Woolies, not frozen ones from the bait shop". And I love this one - "what you don't  use can be thrown on the barbie later"! We will give this a go next weekend. At this stage our youngest is winning our fishing comp at 1 to zero!  

In town  we found  some  explored some great little shops and came across a cafe that makes fabulous coffee and the best passionfruit and coconut slice around. The  Caper Berry Cafe is definitely worth a visit www.caperberriescafe.com. 

All in all we  had a fantastic time in Yamba, it was nice to chill out and relax and there are so many places to explore around Yamba.

On our many stops on the way  home we  found a stall on the side of the road selling beautiful strawberries. Scones, cream and strawberry jam - a match made in heaven!

Strawberry Jam 

500 g of strawberries
100 g of sugar
Juice of half a lemon
(makes approx 1 x 200ml jar)

Husk strawberries and put the strawberries in a large shallow mixing bowl. Sprinkle the sugar on top.
Mix in the strawberries and the sugar until well coated.
With your hand scrunch up the sugared strawberries until it turns into rough mush and pulpy, and the sugar  is dissolved.
Pour the mixture to a sauce pan and bring to boil, Simmer for 30 minutes.
Skim off any foam during the cooking process.
Let cool and put it in a sterilised jar.  Enjoy

Paradise Point Markets

This beautiful sunny morning we awoke to find Paradise Point was alive with people.   People and cars parked in every street. The Village Markets had moved north from Burleigh Heads to Paradise Point and people had come from far afield to enjoy the ambience and village atmosphere that Paradise Point is known for.

What better backdrop to  have,  stalls of beautiful clothes, vintage clothing and accessories, homewares and gorgeous food in the park with the broadwater and park on one side, the cafes and restaurants on the other.  It was lovely  to stroll around and grab a coffee on the walk home.  

Look forward to the next one on June the 23^rd.  www.thevillagemarketsgc.com.au

Angela xx

Window Cleaning and Quick and Easy Tarts for Lunch

What a difference sparkly clean windows make!  After months of wet weather the weather has finally taken a turn for the better and with me complaining how dirty our windows were  we finally set a  date to clean our eves and windows.  Armed with brushes, detergent, white vinegar, buckets, and a window squeegee we got stuck in and started from the front working towards the back.  Each and every time we do this we forget that our windows  do leak and we always  have a flood of water in the lounge, kitchen and toilet  to be soaked up by a mountain of towels (more washing!).   We also cleaned our window sills and our blinds in the process. As always we are  amazed at how clean and brighter our windows look.

 A job well done and time for lunch!

Quick and Easy Lunch – Tarts

• ·      3 sheets of Puff Pastry
• ·      Relish, Pesto or Tomato Paste/Sauce
• ·      Onion
• ·      Kabana, bacon, left over cooked chicken etc
• ·      Grated Cheddar Cheese or Feta Cheese
• ·      Shallots (optional)

Cut each sheet of pastry into 4 squares. Using small knife, score 1/2-inch border (do not cut through pastry) around inside edges of each square. Arrange squares on baking trays lined with paper.

Spread relish etc inside scored area and layer onion, kabana etc on top of relish.

Sprinkle with cheese and shallots if required.

Bake tarts at 180 degrees celcius until crusts are puffed and golden and filling is cooked through, approx. 10-15 minutes.  Serve with salad or on their own and enjoy!

Sydney - School Holidays

What a great place Sydney is.  There is so much to do. A friend and I decided we would take our sons on a surprise “all about them” adventure trip to Sydney as part of School Holidays. 

We found great value flights and accommodation on www.expedia.com.au.  

On arriving we purchased a travel pass that covered train, ferry and bus trips around Sydney for the next 3 days.  We stayed at the  Mercure Hotel, close to Central Station, a great spot to hop on and travel wherever you so desire and we found it well worth finding a hotel with a pool especially after a long day.  On our travels that day we took a stroll up  to Hyde Park, then on to  a monorail ride to Darling Harbour where we visited the Maritime Museum.  It was well worth exploring the Endeavour, Submarine and the Destroyer boats not to mention the interactive, action displays at the rescue exhibition.  At Darling Harbour we found a great spot for dinner,  chicken schnitzel, salad and chips with glass of beer or soft drink for $14.50. The best delicious “Chicken Schnitty” around @ The Watershed Hotel., www.thewatershedhotel.com.au.  Walking back to Town Hall Station we stumbled across  Haigh’s Chocolates in the Queen Victoria Building and bought a moreish sweet treat for our cuppa back at our unit.

The next day was a train trip to Circular Quays to see the Opera House and Sydney Harbour bridge, then a most anticipated  ferry ride to the house of fun – Luna Park. The boys loved the awesome rides. Later that night we all ventured down to the  China Town markets where the boys spent most of their pocket money and dined on fried rice and honey chicken.  We were recommended to try the Emperor Puffs from the hole in the wall at the Emperor Garden Restaurant there.  And you must….  It is the best kept secret around- they are delicious little balls of puff encasing hot custard and @ 30 cents each, a delicious dessert!

On our last day the boys explored the aisles at Paddy’s Market spending the last of their well earned pocket money on LA Lakers shirts before taking a train ride down to the boardwalk to watch the street performers at Circular Quay, a walk up to the The Rocks Markets,  and finally catching the train back to the airport for our trip home.

A great time was had by all.   We couldn’t have asked for better weather.  Unfortunately though as it all too often  happens.. we ran out of time.  Next time, it will be the Sydney Eye Tower, Bondi Beach and the Taronga Zoo…

Flokati Rugs and Laundromats

Thank goodness for Flokati Rugs and Laundromats!  After being away for a few days last week our dog still hasn’t forgiven me for leaving her home with the man of the house and has been leaving little parcels on our rug even though I have only just taken her out!

Our Flokati rug has been put through a lot over the years but it still comes up trumps.  Just a quick trip to the laundromat to throw in the industrial washer with nappisan, and hung over the clothes line to dry, it is back to brand new.

As we speak my dog is sitting on my lap gazing at me with her big brown eyes.  How can we not love them?