Teriyaki Sauce

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 1/2 cup soy sauce
 1/4 cup mirin*
 1/4 cup caster sugar
 1 tablespoon honey
 1 tablespoon sesame oil
 2 teaspoons finely grated ginger
 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced



Do This - 

Place soy sauce, mirin, sugar, honey, sesame oil, ginger and garlic in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.


*Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine that adds a mild acidity. If you don’t have it in your cupboard you can use dry sherry, sweet marsala wine, dry white wine, or rice vinegar and mix in about 1/2 teaspoon sugar per tablespoon. 

Gooey Choc/Caramel Banana Muffins

Makes 12

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1 cup self-raising flour
3/4 cup plain flour
1/4 cup caster sugar
60g butter, melted, cooled
1 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
pinch of salt
1 cup mashed banana
3 mini Mars Bars, cut into 4 slices

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 190°C/170°C fan-forced. Line a 12 hole, 1/3 cup-capacity muffin pan with paper cases.
2. Combine flours, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Add butter, milk, egg and vanilla. Mix until just combined. Fold in banana.
3. Spoon mixture evenly between paper cases. Press one Mars Bar slice into the middle of each muffin. 
4. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until golden and just firm to touch. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve.

Cheesecake Brownies

Makes 16

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Melted butter, to grease
150g butter, chopped
300g good-quality dark cooking chocolate, chopped
3 eggs
215g (1 cup) caster sugar
225g (1 1/2 cups) plain flour
65g (1/4 cup) sour cream
1 x 250g pkt cream cheese, at room temperature


Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a square 20cm (base measurement) cake pan with melted butter to lightly grease. Line the base and 2 opposite sides with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang.
2. Combine the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool.
3. Whisk 2 of the eggs in a small bowl. Add whisked eggs and 140g (2/3 cup) of the sugar to the chocolate mixture, and stir to combine. Add the flour and sour cream and stir until well combined.
4. Use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese and remaining sugar in a bowl until smooth. Add the remaining egg and beat until just combined.
5. Spoon chocolate and cream cheese mixtures, alternately, over base of pan. Use a skewer to swirl to create a marble effect. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 1 hour to cool. Cut into squares to serve.

Cornflake Biscuits

Makes 14

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125g butter, at room temperature
 100g (1/2 cup) caster sugar
 1 egg
 150g (1 cup) self-raising flour
 Pinch salt
 60g (2 cups) cornflakes, crushed slightly



Do This -

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
2. Use electric beaters to beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and creamy. Beat in the egg. Fold in the flour and salt and mix until well combined.
3. Place the cornflakes in a bowl. Spoon slightly heaped tablespoonfuls of the butter mixture into the cornflakes. Toss the mixture gently in the cornflakes to coat and form balls.
4. Place the balls, 8cm apart to allow room for spreading, on the prepared tray. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden. Cool the biscuits for 10 minutes on the trays before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Double Choc Chip Biscuits

Another one for the lunchboxes.

makes 22

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125g butter, softened
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg, at room temperature
2 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 cup white or milk choc bits
1/2 cup dark choc bits

Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl until pale and creamy. Add egg and mix until well combined. Sift flour and baking powder over butter mixture. Add milk and stir until just combined.
3. Add white and dark choc bits. Using hands, knead dough to evenly distribute the choc bits.
4. Using 1 heaped tablespoon of mixture at a time, roll mixture into balls. Place on baking trays lined with baking paper. Using the heel of your hand, flatten biscuits slightly (allow room for spreading).
5. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, swapping trays over in oven after 10 minutes, or until light golden. Allow biscuits to cool on trays for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

From Taste.com.au