Homemade Christmas Gifts

An inexpensive way to treat loved ones on any occasion is to make homemade gifts. This Christmas I made homemade Baileys, Pesto and Laundry washing liquid. I found a really easy Baileys recipe on Pinterest (click link for original recipe) but I've converted it below to make it easier to follow. the pesto recipe is my own - trialled and tested on my husband and friends, and the laundry washing liquid recipe is from a dear friend.

Happy Homemaking! X

Homemade Baileys

1 & 2/3 cups of your choice of Whiskey - I used the Highlands brand from Aldi ($26)
1 can of condensed milk
1 cup of thickened cream
2 tbsps of chocolate syrup
2 tsp of vanilla essence
1 tsp of coffee (dissolved in a drop of hot water)

If you can be bothered taking your blender out, pour all the ingredients in and wazz up for a minute or two until a smooth consistency. Otherwise pour the ingredients onto a jug and whisk up until smooth. This yields about 1 litre or just under.

I mark the use by date by the cream date, but the alcohol can preserve it for a week or so longer. If you're worried, pour the baileys into a ice cube tray and freeze it.



Homemade Pesto 

2 bunches of washed basil with stems cut off
150g bag of pine nuts
60g grated Parmesan
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a mortar and pestle or a food processor and pour enough olive oil until you're happy with the consistency. And you're done! Use this as a dip with cheese and crackers or use about half a cups worth in a cream sauce. Yummo!



Laundry Washing Liquid

1 & 1/2 litre of water for the stove 
1 cup Lux Soap Flakes (from the grocery store)
1/2 cup Borax (from Bunnings)
1/2 cup washing soda (from the grocery store)
8 litres of cold tap water
8 - 12 drops of essential oil of your choice (lemon, lavender, orange, rosemary, clove)

Put 1 1/2 litres of water on the stove in your regular saucepan and add 1 cup soap flakes, 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup washing soda. Using a whisk, allow the mixture to fully dissolve as you stir it whilst on low-medium heat.
Once you think the mixture has dissolved, put approximately 8 litres of cold water in a 10L bucket and add the hot soapy mix to the cold water and stir. At this time you can also go ahead and add your choice of essential oil.
Using a soup ladle and a funnel, pour the mixture into containers. (I use old milk and juice bottles)

Use ½ cup in a normal load of washing and use a booster for really soiled clothes. 

You can continue to use a fabric softener if you need, although I use White Vinegar as a fabric softener.

Cinnamon Scrolls

Sugary, buttery, doughy goodness! 

Today I share my recipe for cinnamon scrolls. 

Be prepared to be addicted!

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Dough Ingredients:

• 7g or 1 packet of yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup scalded milk (just before boiling point)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups flour

Filling ingredients:

• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Icing Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 to 6 tablespoons water

Directions:

Dough:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and leave to sit. 
2. In a large bowl mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg. 
3. Add 2 cups of flour and mix with a fork until smooth. Then go ahead and add the yeast mixture. 
4. Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle. You might have to switch to using clean hands.
5. Knead the dough on lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes until you have a smooth ball of dough.
6. Place in well-greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, usually 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Filling:

1. When doubled in size, punch down the dough. 
2. Roll out between two pieces of baking paper into a rectangle shape. 
3. Melt the butter in the microwave until soft, (this makes it easier to spread) and with a pastry brush, spread the melted butter all over dough. 
4. Sprinkle the sugar over the the buttered dough and then do the same with the cinnamon.
5. Beginning at the top of the rectangle, role up the dough and pinch the edge together to seal. 
6. Cut into 12 to 15 slices. at least 3-4 cm's in width.

Spray a baking dish of your choice and place the cinnamon roll slices close together in the pan.

Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rise again until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

* Bake in a 180(fan forced) or 200 degree oven for 20-30mins, checking them for a golden colour in the last 10mins. *

Icing:

1. Mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. You might find the mixture is separating, so add 1 tablespoon of water  at a time until the glaze reaches desired consistency. Spread over slightly cooled rolls.

Go eat, share with friends and E N J O Y! 

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Food Crawl

Last nights adventures were 10 funs! We had an absolute food crawl...We started in Hyde Park where the Good Food Festival is being held. Noodle and dumplings, ciders and beers and goodies everywhere. The lines were outrageous, but luckily went quick.
Everywhere I looked there were thousands of others enjoying food and friends.
One of the attractions were the beautiful lanterns. We stayed here posing and taking photos, while the boys photobombed anyone they could.
We then walked 20mins to satisfy Dave's lust for ice-cream and arrived at Messina Gelato in the Cross. I can't tell you I've ever had anything better! The salted caramel white chocolate and pisachio just melted in your mouth. I think I actually drank it!
We ended the night at Frankie's for Margahrita Pizza and drinks. This is a Pizza/Bar experience on its own. It has a hipstery vibe with neon lights and vintage posters/stickers stuck to every wall.
A night spent well with the best of friends. X

PS. Need to get a new camera...my phone camera sux!

Pasta Maker

Yesterday I made pasta for the first time. Some dear friends had given me a pasta machine for my birthday in May and I hadn't yet found the chance to use it. So yesterday I whipped the box open and worked it like an Italian nonna.
After reading Jamie Oliver's fresh egg pasta recipe, I thought to myself, ok yeah that sounds simple, I can do that...boy was I wrong! 

My first mistake was that instead of using a bowl to make the dough, I tried to be all fancy and just make a flour well on the kitchen counter like he does. Big mistake, I found myself running after rivers of egg mixture all over the counter top haha! I finally got the mixture together and didn't realize what a workout kneading the dough is!!!! My fadoopadoopers are sore this morning!
My second mistake was not having enough room on my kitchen counter. I didn't realize how long the pasta stretched out through the machine, so I found myself looking like a mummy with all this pasta wrapped around my arms!
Having a new machine, I also spent a lot of time cleaning out the factory grease and grime with a spare ball of pasta dough. This took so long!!!

Lastly, I think I made the pasta too thin. After it had dried on the rack, taking it off was a nightmare. It kept crumbling and I had so much pasta on the floor rather than the rack!
Although I had some disasters, I would do it again. Now that I know what i'm doing, I could probably do it quicker.
The taste and freshness of homemade pasta was amazing. It just melted in our mouths! 

I served the pasta in a creamy pesto chicken sauce and it was devoured in under 10minutes! 

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