Table For Five

I hate wasting food, particularly lovely juicy fruit that can otherwise be saved. Over ripe and excess fruit is great for baking, whether it is used as is, frozen for later or stewed there is no limit to the tasty delights they could create. Don't throw it out, give it a second chance! Freezing your fruit: The good news is that freezing doesn't significantly reduce the nutritional content of fresh fruit and may even help preserve vitamins. Make sure you use airtight containers or ziplock bags. Peels contain added vitamins and minerals in many fruits so whether you peel or not is all down to personal preference and what you intended to use it for. Seeds and pits are more easily removed before freezing. Cutting fruit into smaller chunks will save space in the freezer and time when it comes to using it. Fruits should be deseeded or pitted before stewing or freezing.

I love the end of summer. Those few weeks when the nights are cooler, the leaves are turning yellow on the trees and SOUP starts to make it's return to  the menu.

Have you ever watched a dog chase it's own tail? It's amusing isn't it, they go round and round in circles while that excited tail tries it's darndest to get away. What happens if it's caught? Nothing, the dog will release it's grip and start again.

It really worries me, the volume of people who blindly follow the pack without question or reason when it comes to personal health. The coconut oil 'FAD' in particular concerns me a great deal. With a range of excellent cooking properties and the fact that it comes from coconuts, I can understand why the assumption can be easily made that you've stumbled on the holy grail of cooking oils. Unfortunately, this is far from truth. Essentially, oils are fats nothing else qualifies on the nutritional labels to receive a mention apart from the occasional vitamin or mineral mention which in most cases will be removed in any cooking process anyway and only receives a mention so you think you are receiving additional benefits. But if oils are just fat, shouldn't they all be equal? Fats are evil artery clogging, pimple inducing, obesity makers. How could any of them be considered a healthy option? Facts on fats Our bodies need a small amount of fat to help provi...

A friend of mine came for morning tea the other day. We met 12 years ago, both pregnant with our first babies. We've seen each other through three more pregnancies each since then. Between the two of us there are now seven children. Upon her arrival she produced a bag of used clothes her children had grown out of and in return I produced a similar bag for her. She gave me a pair of jeans that are now too small for her, I gave her a pair that are too big for me, both pairs virtually new and perfect fits. She gave me a padded bra and I gave her a set of nursing pads. How many friends do you have who would swap breast pads with you? I wish you all friends you can laugh with, friends you can cry with and friends you can share breast pads with. Date Scones 2 1/2 cups self raising flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 Tablespoon caster sugar Pinch of salt 30g butter/cooking margarine 1-1 1/2 cups whole Dates 3/4 cup milk 1/4 cup water

When is a rum ball not a rum ball? When there's no rum in it! Fear not, dear Recipe Seeker, these rumballs are rum rich, delicious and extremely messy  easy to make. Choose whichever method works for you, I know which one I prefer.

REM said it best, or should I say 'Played' it best, "Everybody Hurts Sometimes." The song was released in 1992 and aimed at teen suicide prevention, I wonder if they had any idea how powerful the words of this song would still be over a decade later.

I love this recipe, mostly for it's flavour but also for it's forgiving nature. With children under my feet it can be easy to make an error of judgement or measurement and this recipe is flexible in both. Apple Pie Filling 5 medium apples, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups) 1Tablespoon brown sugar (more if you like) 1Tablespoon cornflour 2 teaspoons  YIAH Country Apple Pie spice mix 1 1/2 cups water Don't have YIAH? You can substitute nutmeg and cinnamon. Although the flavour will not be the same, it is an adequate replacement. Method: 1.Place all ingredients in small-med saucepan, mix to combine. 2.Place on high heat and boil for 2 mins storing after each minute. 3.Turn down heat and simmer for 10 mins. Stirring occasionally. Will keep in the fridge for a week, can be frozen too. A quick and easy way to serve in short crust tart cases. If you have more time, you can make your own. I have also use puff pastry to make tarts as we...