Breakfast - Berry Parfait

 

 

 

Over the weekend we hosted a brunch at the Whitecottage for some friends, the weather was perfect.
  

When I host an event I always cater food that I know well and that is easy to prepare so I can spend more time with our guests. One of the dishes I made was Berry Parfait. These are the easiest, yummiest, healthy breakfast idea.

 

I make these on a regular basis and they look delish, taste delish and they are also perfect if you are on the run especially on those days that I am running late in the morning.

BERRY PARFAIT

  What you need:

* Jam Jar with lid
*lite yogurt
*fresh berries
*frozen berries
*Granola, muesli or Special K 

How to: 

*Place a spoonful of yogurt at bottom of the jam jar, add the cereal then frozen berries.
 *Repeat the process in layers when you get to the top of the Jam Jar leave a space for the fresh berries then place the lid on.

  IMPORTANT;

*Make the night before, but the day of is ok too.
 *you can use any cereal or fruit your heart contends, our munchkins love this parfait we use Special K for the children and they love it.
 Well, enjoy.

Karla

 

The Perfect Spring Lunch

It is spring here in Australia and we are on school holidays, we are having such a blast entertaining at the whitecottage, today I had two of my fabulous girlfriends and their munchkins over for a spring lunch. I cooked my staple spring dishes, I know them well, I cooked them for years and they are always a hit, we had a great time chatting, laughing and eating.

The munchkins 8 of them to be exact ran around the house like headless chooks they had a blast and that's when you know the luncheon was a success - happy munchkins = happy mothers. 

I am having a Nigella moment as I write this I am having a cuppa and some left over cake that my gorgeous friend Leanne brought, Chocolate Quinoa Cake, so decadent so delish.

I wrote the recipes for the perfect Spring Lunch.

Why don't you give them a go. Cheers Karla

TODAY'S SPRING MENU

 

Baked ricotta garnish with Rosemary and sea salt

Grilled Salmon

Green beans, peas and mint salad with a mustard vinaigrette

Grilled chicken

Grana Padano, pear rocket salad with a balsamic vinegar

Baked Pumpkin with fresh herbs

Frozen berry yogurt, meringues with  raspberry sauce

 

BAKE RICOTTA

Dress with fresh rosemary, seal salt and drizzle with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes at 220c, serve hot.

 

GRILLED SALMON

Grill skin first until crispy, 2-3 minutes then 1 minute on each side depending how well cooked you prefer.

GREEN BEANS, PEAS  AND MINT SALAD

Boil beans for 4 minutes in hot water then add peas and cook for a further 2 minutes

when cool add sliced red onion and fresh mint leafs.

MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE - 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard. 2 tbsp. white balsamic vinegar. 1 tbsp. olive oil a pinch of sugar, salt and pepper and stir until thickened, drizzle over salad.

GRILLED CHICKEN

2 chicken breast thinly sliced

MARINADE- 2 tbsp. American mustard 1 tbsp. Vegetable seasoning. 1tbsp olive oil mixed together  and coat chicken pieces and grill for 2-3 minutes each side or until cooked.

GRANA PADANO, PEAR ROCKET SALAD

Rocket leaves, sliced pear and grana padano, drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

 

BAKED PUMKIN

Butternut pumpkin sprinkled with chopped fresh sage, thyme, chilli flakes and drizzle with olive oil bake for 40 minutes.

DESSERT

Shop bought meringue, berry and cream yogurt, fresh strawberries and raspberries.

RASPBERRY SAUCE - 100g frozen raspberry 2 tbsp icing sugar 50 mls apple juice and blitz with the blender until smooth and drizzle over your delish dessert.

 

At the Fete

 

Last weekend I was one of three conveyors for the Bake Stall at the school fete, I have been to many fetes but never have been involved in organising one. Who knew how much organising goes into organising a fete stall. The Fete took weeks of organising, endless emails, recruiting volunteers to bake the most delicious cakes and sweets, at times I felt like the Avon lady asking any unsuspecting mother to bake a cake for the bake stall while she was trying to do her 2 minute drop off or pick up.

 

Our cake and sweet stall was a success, most people took time from their busy schedules and baked like crazy Master Bakers and the day was fun, we greeted our customers with big smiles and told stories about our goodies.

 

Of course I was no different from any other stall conveyor we all worked hard to make the fete as successful as possible, it is amazing how people come together to organise such a fun family event and funds raised will be put to a good use.

 

Well I had this past week to take it easy and put my feet up and now the school holidays are here.

 

I made some of my baking recipes for the fete, why don't you give them a go this holidays. The shortbread men decorations were a hit and I am sure we will be making some during this holidays.

 

Cheers

Karla



Father's Day

 Hummus

 Penne Pasta, Ricotta and Chives

Apple Tea Cake

Jam Drops

This weekend we are celebrating Father's day and we have plans to go for a picnic, our favourite family past time.

I have decided to make some of our favourite foods that can be taken in a picnic basket. The munchkins and I have been busy baking papa's gift, his favourite Jam drops.

What's on the menu

*Hummus
*Penne pasta, Ricotta and Chives
*Apple Tea Cake
*Fresh fruit
*Fresh Green Salad
 & Jam Drops (gift)

I hope Farmer Joe aka Papa enjoys his Father's day as he deserves it he is a good man and a good father to the munchkins.

Cheers,
Karla

Baby Munchkin goes to Daycare

Our youngest baby munchkin went to day care for the first time ever yesterday I was nervous and happy at the same time.
 Time flies too fast, these last 2 years have gone in a flash, and it was hard yakka at the start with feeding problems, tongue tie, reflux; she is my baby munchkin and will always be my baby the last of three munchkins.
 Yesterday I had grand plans after drop off, I thought I would go and wander the stores, have a coffee at my favourite coffee shop which I miss dearly and I day dream that since I was going to be child-free for one day I could actually make a hair appointment or go and watch a movie, my mind was in overdrive with all the wonderful things I was going to do on my first one day off in two years.
 The reality was I came home and lasted two whole hours before I called the daycare centre to see how she was going as luck would have it she was sitting next to the director having an good old time eating her morning tea, yes she did cry for a minute or two after we left but she soon forgot about it once she met all her new little friends, she even went to the toilet twice so who knew I guess it's time to toilet train now, she had the time of her life.
 As for me I am such a mum instead of going to the hairdresser or to wander around my favourite stores I came home and did all the jobs I can not do while baby munchkin is home, I tidied up all the kids bedrooms, I vacuumed, sorted clothes, dropped off clothes for the refugee centre and before I knew it? it was time to go and pick up all the munchkins.
 Maybe next week I will go for wander to the stores.

The first day of spring at the whitecottage

A picture tells a thousand words

Glorious!!!!!