Choc Mint Slice

I love mint slice biscuits and have come across this recipe before, but I waited to make it for the office since it's such a huuuuuge amount! 

 

Choc Mint Slice 

Choc Mint Slice Recipe (Thermomix and Non Thermomix Methods!):

 



 http://www.themotherhubbardscupboard.com/chocolate-peppermint-slice/

 

There are 3 layers - a base layer which is a spongey chocolate cake type layer which needs to be baked, then an oozy peppermint layer, and a chocolate top layer. It is best served and eaten right out of the fridge and is really refreshing on a summer's day. I left it at room temperature in the office and the peppermint middle section melted really quickly and oozed out, so had to quickly put it back in the fridge to firm up again!

 

The recipe suggests 2 - 4 teaspoons peppermint essence. I used 4 as I wanted it to be a strong and obvious peppermint taste, and I thought it was a perfect amount, similar to the mintiness from a mint slice!

 

I don't have a huge slice tin as I usually use square silicon baking tins for my slices, so I used my Scanpan non stick roasting tray with baking paper.

 

 

Chocolate sponge batter base ready to bake

 

 

Chocolate sponge base out of the oven

 

 

Peppermint layer poured over the base and left to cool

 

 

Chocolate top layer poured on and left to cool at room temp, then placed in the fridge to chill

 

 

Once set in the fridge, I cut the sides off to create a sharp edge so that all of the pieces would be even in shape. I cut 40 large pieces (10 x 4) with offcuts to snack on ;)

 This is a great summery refreshing snack or dessert, or to bring to a party (just needs to be kept in the fridge until serving!)

 

Christmas Icecream Cake

This is a super easy Christmas dessert on a hot summers day which can be made way beforehand and kept in the freezer until serving.

 



 

Christmas Icecream Cake

 

Ice Cream Crunch Cake Recipe:

 

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/18492/easy+ice+cream+crunch+cake

 

The apple and strawberry liquorice in this looks really festive and it is a perfect dessert for an Aussie summer Christmas!

 

I used a round silicon mould from Ikea - http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/80256624/ (the larger size).

 

On Christmas Day, once it was dessert time, I popped the icecream cake upside down onto the serving platter. I then drizzled with chocolate and white chocolate Icecream Magic. I had premade fondant holly leaves with pre-bought green fondant and a holly leaf cookie cutter. I also found some fresh cranberries sold at Woolies to top it off with flaked almonds and silver cachous!

SOOO EASYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

 

This is my 'go to' icecream cake, having made it for my SIL's birthday cake too:

 

http://thermotwinning.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/ice-cream-crunch-cake.html

 

It's an interesting mix of ingredients by itself, yet it is also simple enough in flavour to accompany other desserts!

Advent Calendar for Toddlers

After years of searching, I've finally found a wooden Advent Calender that I am in love with!!!

 

 

Advent Calendar

  

Now to fill it! As the boys are still young for little toys like yoyos, lollies/chocolates, activities like Christmas light watching (the boys are in bed before it's dark!), this is my 25 days of Christmas advent Calender activities suitable for 15 month old toddlers (and the family)!!

 

1. Take photos with Santa

 

2. Start wearing Christmas Pyjamas

 

3. Finger paint Christmas cards/wrapping paper

 

4. Read Christmas stories

 

5. Feed the birds some bird seed

 

6. Make salt dough hand print Christmas ornaments

Non Thermomix - http://www.mommymoment.ca/2013/04/salt-dough-handprint.html

Thermomix - http://www.trtlmt.com.au/salt-dough/

 

7. Sing and dance to Christmas carols

 

8. Take Christmas themed photos at home

 

9. Make homemade hot chocolate with marshmallows (their first taste of hot chocolate!) https://thermobexta.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/thermobextas-heartwarming-hot-chocolate/

 

10. Check out Christmas displays at a shopping centre

 

11. Stocking game - place toys in Christmas stockings and get them to pull them out one by one to play with

 

12. Have a picnic in the backyard with Christmas themed food

 

13. Go the beach and make sandcastles

 

14. Make little canvas paintings for presents - use painters tape, and tape a shape/initial on a canvas, and finger print on top - when dry, peel off the painters tape!

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/painters-tape-art/

 

15. Play with bubbles

 

16. Make easy 'snow globes' for presents

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/snow-globe-crafts/

 

17. Make Christmas shapes out of red and green playdough

http://thermotwinning.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/playdough.html

 

18. Feed the fish some bread

 

19. Run in the sprinklers in the garden

 

20. Play with Christmas stickers

 

21. Make Christmas feet Reindeer

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/reindeer-footprint/

 

22. Play with red and green balloons

 

23. Tree/Star shaped pancakes for breakfast

http://www.recipecommunity.com.au/desserts-sweets-recipes/best-ever-pancakes/119949

 

24. Watch a Christmas themed movie as a family with popcorn

http://www.kidspot.com.au/MySpot-escapes-The-best-Christmas-movies-of-all-time+6494+178+article.htm

 

25. Take family photos in front of the tree and open presents!!

 

 

I cut out little cards to write the activities on to put inside the Advent Calendar boxes - Christmas shapes - I placed 3 colours of paper together and cut them together once to save time!

 

 

Write the No.'s 1 to 25 onto the shapes

 

 

Write down the activities (see my list above)

 

 

Place them in the corresponding box

 

 

Advent Calendar all ready to go for December!!

 

 

Cheat's Gingerbread House

I made this a few years ago, and it is sooooooooooooo easy!

 

 

Gingerbread House

 

I used Ikea's $4.50 Gingerbread House Kit: http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/90218783/

 

And decorated with homemade Royal Icing using this recipe:

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/27676/royal+icing

 

I first spread royal icing on the base of a tray to form a 'snow' looking ground. I then used a piping bag and a small round piping nozzle to assemble the gingerbread house and pipe the patterns.

 

Whilst the icing was still wet, I decorated with silver cachous and Fruit Fizzers (you can get these at Coles/Woolies and they look like this https://www.google.com.au/search?q=fruit+fizzers&biw=1366&bih=643&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIhI689PyVyQIVYTSmCh2kOQD2&dpr=1

 

I also used Tiny Teddies at the front of the house, and green holly leaf sprinkles (you can find them around this time of year) to assemble a little tree.

 

This is soo easy and is so much fun to smash when it comes to dessert time! This is also great for an edible table centrepiece or as a homemade gift!

 

My kids are too young to help out making one, but if you have older kids, this is a great Christmas activity!

 

Jelly Slice

This is the first time I've ever tasted or tried making this before! I made it in the afternoon before having it for dessert last night, however I think it needed more setting as the jelly slid off the top if I placed it on a part of the plate which was at a bit of an angle (serve it on a super flat plate, especially on a hot summers day!) The recipe says to set it for 6 - 8 hours, I only set it for about 2 hours, so next time I will have to be organised, make this earlier to let it set longer!

 

 

Jelly Slice

 

TRTLMT Jelly Slice Recipe:

 

http://www.trtlmt.com.au/jelly-slice/

 

It's really simple to make, and very refreshing for a summer dessert!

 

 

Make jelly as per packet instructions then place in fridge to cool. I used Raspberry flavoured Aeroplane Jelly

 

 

Add sweet biscuits and butter to make the base

 

 

I used Aldi Arrowroot biscuits (99c!)

 

 

Spread into a square baking pan

 

 

I use a metal spoon to smooth it out - it gives a super smooth finish!

 

 

Mix gelatine with boiling water

 

 

Mix with condensed milk and lemon juice (I omitted the lemon rind as I didn't feel like it being too lemony!) Leave to set in fridge for about an hour.

 

 

Pour cooled jelly mixture on the top and leave in fridge to set for a few hours.