Hello 2012

Thank you to everyone who has made 2011 wonderful. A big shout out to my family who are helping me get ready fro my wedding in 2012. Also thanks to my international buddies who read this blog and use it to stay in touch. Hoping everyones wishes come true next year.

Choc-A-Holic Cookies

So I really wanted to bake yesterday. I have these cool new cookie cutters that I was going to use. Then I stumbled across 2 choc cookie recipes and decided to try a mutated version of both. These are the most chocolate tasting, fudge like centred cookies I have ever had. I made 24 only 6 survived the night. Those 6 may not survive this post...just saying.

Choc-A-Holic Cookies

Ingredients
3/4 cup (firmly packed) brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
200g butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups plain flour
1 cup Bournville Cadbury cocoa (any nice Cocoa would work I guess, let me know)
1 teaspoon baking powder
200g choc chip (milk, dark, white or combination it is your choice- I used milk)

Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat sugars, butter and vanilla until fluffy.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each.
4, Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt over.
5. Add chocolate chips.
6. Stir to combine.
7. Place 1/2 tablespoonfuls of mixture into ball like shapes on lined baking tray. Flatten with a spoon.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes (vary cooking time for size).
9. Cool biscuits on trays.

Note: Eat when warm soooooo good! I would recommend to watch the oven when you are cooking this because I made tablespoon sized ones and had to have them in for 17 mins. Pictures to come.

Christmas Light Hunting-Innisfail

Aussie Christmas lights. Santa and his sleigh being pulled by mighty Roos'


House 1 of 3, they all went in a row. It was beautiful, I loved the jumping reeindeer.


House 2 of 3, the swinging santa was cute.


House 3 of 3. The flying doves and angels looked beautiful.


All three combined made a magical site.

For those not in Australia, yes we are in the middle of summer which is why you can see the green grass, trees, bushes and flowers. It was cooler last night, only 32 degrees. It was nice for a change.

Rainforest Touches The Sea

This is Etty Bay where the Rainforest meets the sea. It is the best place in the whole world. Yes that is me playing in the water. It was beautiful and cool on such a hot day.

Cassowary- Etty Bay

I have headed home and what do you know? Head down to Etty Bay and a Cassowary was waiting to greet us. I got a few photos and video which I thought I would upload. The bird is beautiful to watch. Sorry for the shaky hands.

Kitty Christmas

Have a wonderful holiday season. Heading North to be with the family.

Mmmm Pumpkin and Cherry Pie

Hello blogging world. Well I have had my last day for the year at my second job. To celebrate I brought in Christmas presents and pies for everyone. I used the wonderful Cherry Pie recipe I got from mathaholic on swapbot and also a pumpkin pie. I am lucky to have Steve send me the pumpkin pie spices from America which make it a little easier to make. So here is the Cherry Pie recipe from mathaholic.

Cherry Pie
Ingredients
2 sheets of short crust pastry (for pie crust)
4 cups of tin cherries pitted-in America Tart Cherries (I use the black ones from Coles)
1 1/2 cups of sugar
4 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 tbsp butter

Method
1. Put cherries in medium saucepan over medium heat. Once it get soupy, remove from heat.
2. Pour sugar and cornstarch over cherries, mix well.
3. Put back on heat and cook on low until thick, stirring often.
4. Let it cool.
5. Prep crust and pour cooled cherries into pie.
6. Make a lattice work pie top.
7. Sprinkle with sugar
8. Bake in 375F oven for 50mins.
9.Let cool before serving.

Yummy, wish I had kept some at home :(