Cheesecake anyone? Happy Easter

Happy Easter!  Today I made a cheesecake.  My usual 'low fat' modified version with low fat ricotta, cream cheese and yoghurt .....BUT THEN! I totally fattened it up with layers of fudge and chocolate!

Thought I would share :)

 biscuit base ..... 90 grams crushed biscuit and 45 grams melted butter
Bake base in a preheated oven at 160 degrees celcius for 10 minutes.

 Fudge - 200g chocolate, 25g butter, 1/2 tin light sweetened condensed milk.  Stir in pan until well combined and smooth.  Continuous stirring!

Cheesecake mix - 250g low fat cream cheese

                            250g low fat ricotta cheese

                            250g low fat natural yoghurt

                            2 eggs, 1/3 cup caster sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blend it all together in a food processor.

spread some fudge on the cooled base then pour over the cheesecake misture.

 Bake in oven at 160 for 35 - 40 minutes.  It doesn't matter if it wobbles slightly in the middle still.
Let it cool in the oven with the oven door ajar.

Then top with more of the fudge mix ... you will have to gently reheat your fudge pan to make the fudge      
                                                     spreadable.

ok .. things went terribly wrong here ... I wanted to do a thin shell of white chocolate on top ... it wouldn't spread and went lumpy .... I think its the type of chocolate I used :(

but I fixed it up with a good thick layer of melted dark chocolate!

topped with some eggs and then refrigerated until chocolate set.

 This is the end result!  Way too much chocolate on top ... and was very hard to cut through!

Would have been much better with just the thin layer of chocolate on top.  But it's Easter ...... LOL.

and sliced into ..... ooozey ... yummy and very rich!

Happy Easter and I hope you enjoy this post.  Usually I make this cheesecake ... without the fudge and chocolate and it is absolutely delicious!  So if you would like a healthier version perhaps just do it that way.

xoxoxoxoxo Carly

Shimmer and Shine

Hello there.  Are you all ready for Easter?  Madalyn asked me today how big the Easter Bunny was because she wanted to make him a necklace.  Awwwwww.

I have another Gorjuss Clear stamp card to show you again today.  This is called Purrrfect Pals.  I managed to colour a few of them a while back .. and have just been putting together a card here and there when I get a chance.

I made this one into a square .... the paper was so nice but I struggled to match it to anything.  I think its from a Kaisercraft pad called Candy Lane Collection.

I'm really loving this gorgeous stamp.  It is amazing how fun she is to colour .. and the cat doesn't take long.

I hope the week has been treating you well ... and I hope the Easter Bunny visits you and brings you and your family together for a special day.

Big chocolate hugs and bunny whiskers ...

xoxoxo Carly

Hot Cross Buns ... Hot Cross Buns ......

Hi there :)  Well a Happy Easter to you too :)  its almost upon us .. a time for reflection, perhaps a visit to church and of course the over indulgence of goodies including chocolate and hot cross buns.

This morning I made two batches of Hot Cross Buns ... the traditional fruit variety and a chocolate variety.  They both turned out delicious!  So I thought I would share this very easy recipe with you.  Now of course this recipe is half real and half tinkered with ... if you know what I mean ..... especially the chocolate one.

You know me ... I can't stand the huge amounts of fat and sugar in things so I must tweak it ...... but these are by no means healthy!  So don't eat too many :)

This recipe makes 6 good sized Hot Cross Buns.

Ingredients

1  3/4         cups of plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon bread improver
3 teaspoons caster sugar
3 teaspoons yeast
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 teaspoons butter (or margarine)
3/4 cup warm water
3/4 to 1 cup of mixed fruit (I used mixed fruit and peel)

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl (except fruit).
Add butter and warm water.
Combine to form a dough.
Turn out onto a lightly floured board (I use a silicone mat from Bosco) and knead for 3-5 minutes
Place in lightly oiled bowl and rest for 15 minutes.
Stretch out dough and add fruit then knead for another 3 minutes or so .. until the fruit is well combined.
Put it back in the bowl and let it rest for another 10 minutes
Dived dough into 6 even pieces and roll into balls.
Place the balls on a greased tray (I use a tray with baking paper to cut back on oils) giving them enough room to double in size.
Allow to rest in a warm area until doubled in size (mine took 40 minutes) (while this is happening preheat your oven to 190 degrees celcius)
Pipe a cross on each one and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and add glaze while still hot.

Cross Mixture is - 1/2 cup cornflour, 2 tablespoons caster sugar (optional), 1 tablespoon plain flour and  3-4 tablespoons of water .... mix to a stiff paste.  Pop it into a zip lock bag and snip a tiny bit off the corner .. voila a piping bag.

Glaze - 1/2 cup caster sugar, 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice and 2 tablespoons water.  Stir over heat until it boils gently.  Remove from heat and brush over the buns while still hot.

For the chocolate buns I did exactly the same except I left out the fruit and added 3/4 cup chocolate chips and I also used a tiny bit less flour and added 1/4 cup cocoa powder.

I hope you enjoy them ....

 the traditional hot cross bun mix

 the chocolate mix .. before the chocolate chips

spread evenly apart on tray   

 doubled in size

 the cross mixture

 the finished glossy, sweet, sticky buns.

mmmm light and fluffy ... YUM!

Happy Easter ... may you enjoy and safe and fun weekend.

xoxoxo Carly

ooops I missed St Patricks day ...

Oh dear ... it looked like I missed St Patricks day .... sigh .... oh well.  So in the spirit of things here is a green card.

I have used a Gorjuss Clear stamps range called Purrrfect Pals. and some Kaisercraft papers from the Antique Rose range.  A lovely little die in the corner ..... and done.

Nice and simple ... made today with Miss 3.5 helping out ... so no glitter glues as you can guess how that would have ended.

And just in case you are not looking forward to Monday .... here is something to brighten you up a bit ...

A gorgeous bouquet and a sweet smile :)  

Enjoy the upcoming week and happy crafting.
xoxoxox Carly

MMMmmmmmmmm a gorgeous healthy sauce!

Hi there ... I've been busy this afternoon in the kitchen.  A roast for tea, a chocolate and zucchini cake, stewed rhubarb (fresh out of the garden) and a date orange puree/sauce.

This recipe is not my recipe .. I saw it on TV and Madalyn begged me to make it ...so I did.
The recipe is from a gorgeous Australian Nutritionist called Janella Purcell.

The recipe is:-

1 cup of Dates (pitted and roughly chopped) ... I used the dried ones
1 cup of orange juice ..... I used one orange .. juiced after I had zested the rind
zest of one orange

Bring to a simmer in a small pan, simmer for 10 minutes or until dates are soft.  (I found it only took 5 minutes).

Once cooled add one cup of natural unsweetened yoghurt and blend it with a stick blender (or whatever you have available).

I must admit I was almost out of yoghurt so I think I added just over 1/2 a cup .... Oh My Goodness!  its sensational!  You must try it.

We had it with the stewed rhubarb but you could put it with any fruit or even as a topping on a pudding ... which is what I am going to do with the left overs.

Here it is with the stewed rhubarb and a slice of my chocolate zucchini cake ..... YUM!

Oh and just to sweeten the deal ... here is my sweet daughter Madalyn enjoying the best part of cake making.

 ... enjoy living a healthy but fun life.
xoxoxo Carly

I've been published!

Hi there!  I'm soooooo excited!  I've known about this for a month or so but couldn't say anything.  But finally.. .the magazine is out!

I often send my healthy recipe ideas into magazines in the hope they will share them with others.  And it has finally happened!

In the Australian Healthy Food Guide .. this month .. you will find my delicious crepe/pancake recipe.

I hope you enjoy my recipe .... we absolutely love them.  I'm thrilled to have my very own recipe featured in a magazine I love.

xoxoxo Carly

Happy 2nd Birthday to my Nephew

Hello :)  These photos are from a week or so ago ... but I thought I would share them.

This is a card I made for my little Nephew's 2nd Birthday.  I used Kaisercraft JungleBug Collection 6x6 pad.

It was so quick to make .. just a quick snip around some pieces I wanted and then I stamped the Sentiment in the tag and used some glossy accents on the ants and the 'brads' on the tag.  Voila!

 Here is my gorgeous girl Madalyn (3.5) giving Cooper (2) his gift.  She decorated this paper bag to use as wrapping paper and also made him a card.  Wish I had taken photos ....

and here is my girl bouncing on the fabulous trampoline my Sister has.  Later on they had the sprinkler on under it ... and she got soaking wet!  

Thanks for stopping by ... see you again soon.

xoxoxo Carly

Purple! is back .....

Hello again my lovely followers and craft friends.  It seems I have some mojo back ... well maybe a little and a little bit of time also.  I have been colouring bits of images whilst my 3.5 year old daughter does her colouring :)  Its a way to get something productive done ... and then I can use what little time I have in the evening to put a card together.

So here is one I'm really pleased with ..... and it's PURPLE!  my favourite colour :)

Isn't she just the cutest ....

This a stamp from the Gorjuss Clear stamps range called Purrrfect Pals.  I really love the sweetness of this image.  I have coloured her in Copic Markers.

The papers are from Kaisercraft Lilac Avenue Collection.  

The sentiment is from Stampin Up set A Word For You.

As I mentioned in a previous post I have been getting up early every morning and getting about an hours worth of exercise in and I have also started using some natural Bush Flower Essences.  You can get these in ready made blends or a blend made just for you.  I have had a personal blend made up and am also using a 'rescue remedy'.  

I tell you what .. it's only been a week but I have noticed a change in energy levels ... probably a combination of the two ......

to find out more on this and to speak to Alisha (who is a Naturopath) click on the blog link below.

http://naughtynaturopathmum.wordpress.com/category/bush-flower-essences-2/

Thanks so much for stopping by ...... hope to see you again soon.
Until then ... live your life, laugh at yourself and love who you are.

xoxoxo Carly

Chocolate Mousse .... or not??

mmmmmmm CHOCOLATE!

and what is even better than chocolate??

Healthy Chocolate Mousse

Here is the mixture ... all whizzed up in my amazing Bosco kitchen appliance that I LOVE!  This is the first time I have used the blender attachment ... awesome!!!!!  If you would like to know more about Bosco Appliances (only available in Australia) .. click HERE

Anyway this is a chocolate mousse using Silken Tofu ... yep you read that right TOFU!.

I will be tweaking this recipe as the finished product was not quite perfect.  This is the recipe I used:-

• 1 cup (190g) dark chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons water
• 500g silken tofu, drained
• 1/4 cup (65ml) soy milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
• 1 tablespoon honey

Melt the chocolate

Blend it all togehter!

Refrigerate for 2 hours.

But I think next time I will use Cocoa Powder instead of the chocolate for two reasons:-

1. the melted chocolate actually solidified again when it hit the cold tofu

2. The chocolate was grainy and not very chocolatey.

It still has a nice taste (both my Husband and I enjoyed it .. Madalyn (3.5) not so much and she usually likes tofu.  So I will make again but with a few changes. 

But all in all a nice healthy treat .........

Thanks for stopping by ..... see you again soon.
xoxoxo Carly

Life ..... this week.

Rain!  Finally we have had some rain after a few sweltering hot weeks.  Aaaaahhhhhhh ... it was so lovely that Madalyn and I ran around outside in it getting soaking wet.

Here is a couple of photos from my week.

 Creepy yucky bug! on my laundry window trying to eat me as I went out to hang the washing on the line.  He was HUGE!  I think at least 20 metres long .... ok ... only about 15 cms but that's big enough!

 Madalyn making her own sandwich .. this is the first time she has made one.  She had never asked before .. now she asks all the time LOL!  This one was Vegemite and Cheese.

 This is from today .. we made chickens .. and bunnies from egg cartons.  

I hope you enjoyed your week as much as I enjoyed mine ......

xoxoxox Carly

Happy 60th Birthday to my Dad

Hi there blogging friends and craft lovers.  I have been getting a little bit of crafting in here and there .. between gardening, working and a new exercise program (been having terrible back pain .. so I'm trying to fix that).

Here is a card I made for my Dad .. he will be 60 on Tuesday!  Hard to believe .... wow!  I struggle with Male cards .. especially older male.  I'm quite happy with this one.

I have used the Stampin Up Lovely As a Tree stamp and a sentiment also from Stampin Up.  I inked the stamps using ColourBox Fluid Chalk in Olive Pastel and Creamy Brown.  The Tree in the background was first stamped on scrap paper .. this lightened the ink for the actual card.

I have used a nice Spellbinders die and some lovely earthy looking background paper from an old Kasazz stash.

The strips on the top and bottom I made myself.  I ran them through an embossing folder and then rubbed the same two ink pads over them.  Was really happy with the effect.

Oh and I must mention that the card is sitting on a gorgeous little wooden easel given to me recently from my lovely and thoughtful friend Danie.  She thought it would be perfect for standing my cards on when taking a photo ... and she was spot on!  So thank you Danie :)

Happy Crafting
xoxoxooxoxooxoxox
Carly