Activity Report: Fire safety fun for the kids

We're going to miss playgroup next year.  OK, maybe I will miss it the most.  With the last two Frills going off to school next year I'll miss our Thursday routine of playgroup.    In this semi-rural community we really do pitch in and help each other - extend friendships to newcomers and although we all may be different...

Lunchbox Legends: Easy peasy gluten free slice

I'm sure there's some of you out there who are either coeliac or have kids who are.. so I thought I'd try a gluten-free lunchbox legend this week! Even if you're not coeliac, it's yummy.  I thought my manly husband would turn his nose up at it.  Umm no.  I've had to hide it as he's had 3 pieces in one day!  Don't be put...

Cheeki BPA free water bottle giveaway

I've always been a fan of the Sigg bottle but found them a tad on the expensive side, especially when you have daughters like mine who tend to lose them on occasion!  Then last weekend at the Organic Expo I met the lovely people from Cheeki and learned all about their bottles.  Not aluminium like the Sigg - all bottles are made...

Beef and vegetable spiral pie

Who can believe it's nearly spring?  Wow!  I love spring!   Well this one is good hot or cold, so good to put in the menu plan for any time of the year.  It's a great way to use up leftovers too.  You could substitute the filling I've used with curry, casserole whatever you like!  Just make double and set half...

Sunday Baking Project: Cafe style banana bread

When we go out for coffee/afternoon tea we regularly buy the frills banana bread.  It's good to break up and share, a lot of the time it's the lesser of all evils when you are faced with choices of chocolate mud cake and caramel slice. I have to tell you - this one is the real deal.  I can't stop raving about it!  I'm never...

Party Palooza #5 - Layered birthday cake - Guest post by Danielle from Danimezza!

Hello! Danielle is a self-confessed packet mix queen.  But like a lot of Mums when her baby approached his first birthday she felt it was time to take that rite of passage - make the cake from scratch!  (I remember is well!)   Danielle shows us in this guest post how to make this very impressive layered cake! Danielle...

Frugal Fast Food: American style corn dogs

I know, I know, you're thinking 'why didn't she do the battered sav?' Right? Well I do love me a battered sav but I've had one of these once and thought it was a nice change. It's not as 'dough-y' either.  I like the taste of the cornmeal (polenta) too.  It takes literally about 10 minutes to make 6 of these.  They would...

Season Savvy Challenge Week 13 - Mushrooms

Wow, that's 3 months of season savvy - a whole season!  We've linked up 169 recipes!  I hope you've used at least one?! This week we're onto mushrooms - my girls love mushrooms.  I know, it's weird for a kid to love mushrooms, but hey, they love brussel sprouts too - what can I say! So get a-linking my friends! What is...

Winner - cookware.com $60 voucher!

Thank you everyone who entered!  What a lovely lot of entries!  I've been so inspired you've had me cooking out of my cast iron ware nearly all week - I love it so! So without any further a-do - the entry my lovely Olivia picked out of a bowl today was... Congratulations!...

Herbs anyone?

I know it's been aaages since I did a garden update, I promise there will be one soon! In the meantime pop on over to Christie's place (Childhood 101) where I've blogged today about starting a herb garden - it doesn't matter how much space or how black your thumb is - there's some inexpensive and practical tips! Let me know what...

Simple decadence - chicken pot roast

I'm a bit pot-roast crazy at the moment aren't I?  I've never tried it with a chicken and I'm surprised at how well it turned out - this is even less work than the usual roast chicken (i.e. stuff, bung it in the oven, make gravy etc) because there was no peeling of vegetables, no making gravy.  It all happens for you.  I expected...

Back to basics - Banana cake

Have you noticed how cheap bananas are getting at the moment?  I got a couple of kilos the other day when they were SIXTY-NINE-CENTS a kilo! I freeze bananas if I can't eat them - so I knew they wouldn't be wasted but I needed a make-and-stash-cake. What's is that you ask? I like having a cake either cut up for school lunches or...