Butterscotch Brownies

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1/2 cup butter

1 cup of brown sugar

1 capful of vanilla essence

2 tablespoons of milk

1 egg

1 cup of plain flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

Pinch of salt

Do This -

•Heat oven to 160c fan forced.

•Line a baking pan and spray with some oil.

•Melt marg in a saucepan over low heat; remove from heat.

•Stir in brown sugar, vanilla, milk and egg.

•Stir in remaining ingredients.

•Spread in pan.

•Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

•Dust with a little icing sugar, cool for 5 minutes and cut into squares.

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.

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

Anzac Biscuits

Grandma made some of these on the weekend and the kids loved them so much we had to make our own!

Makes about 24

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1 1/4 cups plain flour, sifted
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup caster sugar
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
2 tablespoons golden syrup or treacle
150g unsalted butter, chopped
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda


Do This -

1. Preheat oven to 170°C.
2. Place the flour, oats, sugar and coconut in a large bowl and stir to combine.
3. In a small saucepan place the golden syrup and butter and stir over low heat until the butter has fully melted.
4. Mix the bicarb soda with 1 1/2 tablespoons water and add to the golden syrup mixture. It will bubble whilst you are stirring together so remove from the heat.
5. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix together until fully combined.
6. Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and place on baking trays lined with non stick baking paper, pressing down on the tops to flatten slightly.
7. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

from Taste.com.au

Beef Stroganoff

I am a big fan of stroganoff.  I've posted a chicken one, now here's a beef one.  Too delicious!

Serves 4

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• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 500g beef fillet steaks, cut into 2cm-thick strips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large brown onions, halved, sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 cups beef stock
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 200g button mushrooms, halved
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• chopped spring onions to garnish

Do This -

1. Place flour in a snap-lock bag. Season with salt and pepper. Add beef strips. Seal bag and shake to coat. Remove beef. Place in a bowl.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook mushrooms, onion and garlic for 4 to 5 minutes or until soft. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add remaining oil and beef to pan. Cook for 5 minutes or until browned. Return mushrooms, onion and garlic to pan. Add stock. Bring to the boil. Add tomato paste, paprika and mustard. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, stirring, for 10 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Cook for 1 minute or until heated through.
4. Serve with mashed potato, rice, pasta or (my favourite) rice noodles. And top with spring onions.