Gingerbread biscuits (with recipe)

Using my favourite gingerbread biscuit recipe to make a batch of biscuits today. 

Melt 115g butter, 170g brown sugar and 4 tblsp golden syrup together until just melted, but not too hot (using the Thermomix for this was great - set it to 37 degrees, so it wouldn't end up too hot for the next step)
Add 1 egg, lightly beaten, and mix together.
Add 340g flour, 2tsp ginger & 1tsp baking soda and knead until a ball of dough forms

The recipe suggests then chilling the dough before rolling and cutting into shapes, but I prefer to at this stage to roll them into logs and chill before cutting into rounds.  I use my Sushezi to make them nice and even - really handy when making Belgian biscuits or anything you want to make biscuits "sandwiches".

Of course, if the kids are wanting to cut shapes, all that goes out the window, but they are far to busy to help me today!  Playing nicely together which makes a welcome change to the usual antics.  They managed to find a few moments to come and "test" the dough though. ;)

Once chilled, cut and bake at 190degrees for about 8 mins (recipe suggested 10-15mins, but that is far too long in my oven)

And here's the finished product:

 

 



They seem to taste alright too - half a dozen demolished in the first 5 minutes (and not even by me!)

More baking

Yesterday afternoon I made another batch of brioche dough for custard scrolls - here they are before baking.

Also on the list was another batch of yoghurt - made a smaller (1 litre) batch this time, with some added milk powder, and it looks a lot thicker and creamier than the last batch.  We'll have a taste test later today after it's chilled.

And to use up the last of the previous yoghurt and some slight over-ripe bananas, there are Banana Yoghurt Muffins in the oven now. 

Last night was sushi for dinner, which was well received, and I was nowhere near fast enough to get a photo.  Always a good sign. :)

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Last night's dinner:

Strangely enough, I'm usually the one in my family who finds fresh ginger overpowering, but I really enjoyed this, while my husband was not too sure!
The kids demolished the lot though.

Happy Mothers' Day

I was woken up this morning with a "Happy Mothers' Day" from my lovely boy, along with a card he'd made at school.  The message read:
"To Mum
I hope you have a happy day. I lov you.
Lov Anton"

He and his sister (with a little fatherly assistance) made me breakfast in bed (weetbix and a glass of water!), followed by a pancake and cup of coffee all together at the table. 

So a pretty lovely mothers day here!

Since then, it's been business as usual here - have made pizza scrolls for lunch boxes, frittata for lunch and a banana cake to have for afternoon tea today with guests.

More than I expected to make today

Since my son brought a friend home after school today, I've managed to get a surprising amount done this afternoon!

Banana muffins for the lunchboxes

 

 

Roast lamb and vege are cooking away - just about to steam a few greens and we will be eating.

Made some hummus for snacks and lunchboxes

And some brioche dough rising to make custard scrolls (custard is also cooling in the fridge)

Can hardly wait...

Yum, I have some chicken kebabs marinating in a spiced yoghurt mixture with mint and lemon, and it smells delicious! 
Will be served with a kumara & leek soup, which also has a little mint in it.  And with that we'll use up some of the bread sticks made for today's lunches. 

 

And here's how the pesto bread creation turned out:

Pizza rolls with just pesto and cheese on top. 

Needing to find some inspiration for lunchbox fillers again too - I always think what I've made will last longer than it actually does.  Making 3 boxes a day, plus occasionally some for myself, it really doesn't go that far...

This weekend in the kitchen

Not actually too much coming from the kitchen this weekend - we have had birthday parties on both Saturday and Sunday, as well as a night out on Friday (kids stayed with the grampies), and soccer on Saturday morning.

So, just getting into some cooking now...

For lunch, a vegetable frittata with mushrooms, capsicum, onion, courgette & feta.  Served with sliced tomato and avocado.
This was the first frittata made in my new Pizza Maker machine, and it was great.  This is definitely a new favourite gadget!  Have made great pizzas, tortillas and now the frittata. 

Mum harvested a big bundle of basil from her garden for me, so we are EXTREMELY well stocked with basil pesto for a while (made with parmesan, cashews, olive oil and a little garlic....and a lot of basil of course)
It is a bit of a darker green in real life!

 

Not much to look at, but here is 2 litres of homemade yoghurt.  Just milk and the last scraps of last week's yoghurt as a starter.

And some Melted Cheese Dip in one of our new le snak type containers.  I'll pop in some carrot sticks and crackers in the morning. 

And in the oven now is a plain vanilla cake for lunchbox treats. 

I'm yet to decide what bread/rolls make, so just making a very basic dough now and will have to come up with a plan while it rises.  Something with pesto, perhaps...