Let's Bake: Easy, Peasy, Healthy Biscuits

If I said to you that you could bake some easy, peasy biscuits that were not only simple, BUT insanely good for you, you'd think I'd gone BANANAS wouldn't you?

Well...the good news is that I have not in fact GONE bananas, I am instead going to BAKE with bananas. Check it out:

Banana & Oat Cookies

Ingredients:
2 bananas
2 cups of oats
Makes approximately 15 biscuits

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (fan forced)

Blend 1 cup of oats with the bananas (you can use a blender or food processor) until smooth

Mix the banana/oat paste with the other cups of oats until you have a nice consistency. If you like sweetness and that's the kind of biscuit you're going for, add some honey.

You can now add any extras you would like (the aim is to think healthy, so for example sultanas, goji berries, etc, or if you want a chocolate hit but want to stay healthy, opt for some cacao nibs, or you could just put some dark choc bits in, I won't tell on you!). I used sultanas in mine, so I just threw a handful or so in.

On a lined baking tray, place evenly  sized dollops of biscuit batter and press down lightly with a fork (or leave in a ball like I did for more of a "banana and oats bite" look). Place in the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes (depending on your oven) or until golden brown.

Leave to cool completely and then enjoy your delicious, simple and healthy biscuits!
(Store in an airtight container)

Let's Bake: Cupcakes

Because I looooveee baking and often desserts and baked goods are integral parts of events, I thought I would share my love of baking with you all.

First recipe post: Basic Cupcakes

150g unsalted butter, softened

150g caster sugar

175g self-raising flour

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 12-hole muffin pan with 12 cupcake papers.

2. Crack eggs into a cup and beat lightly with a fork.3

3. Place all ingredients into a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes or until light and creamy. Divide mixture evenly between cupcake cases.

4. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes (depending on oven) or until firm to touch. Allow to cool for a few minutes and transfer to a wire rack. Allow to cool completely before icing.

Tips

- I always use unsalted butter in my cooking, but you can use normal butter if you wish.

- I chop my softened butter up into little pieces and then cream it by itself before adding anything else. I beat until pale and then add the rest of the ingredients. It just helps to ensure that all the butter is sufficnetly beat and to mix better with the other ingredients

- I find 1 tsp of vanilla extract never enough, so I always add a bit extra

- Make sure eggs are room temperature

What was that you say? You don't want just BASIC cupcakes? Easy...

Now, to turn these basic cupcakes into Tim Tam Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache. Now, don't panic, it's a lot easier than it sounds, all you have to do is add some crushed up Tim Tams after Step 3. I put some Tim Tams in a zip lock bag and beat them with a rolling pin (a good time to take any frustrations out, give them a reaaaallllyy good beat and crush them to smithereens). Bake as normal

After you let your cupcakes cool, place one larger saucepan with a bit of water in it on your stove, and in the other saucepan, place half a block of chocolate and half a cup of thickened cream. Stir continuously until melted and then spread on your cupcakes. Easy!

DIY Ideas

Some simple DIY ideas for your next event!

Pretty Fairy Lights

Purchase a packet of paper drinking cups and push the bulbs of a string of fairy lights through the cups. You now have some unique lights for your event!

Candle Holders

Collect some jars (big enough to put a tea light candle in) and clean them thoroughly. After they have dried, using one sheet of tissue paper (whichever colour/s you like, light colours work best) cover the jar with PVA glue and then wrap in the tissue paper. Leave to dry and voila! Pretty candle holders. Pop a tea light candle in each and watch them glow.

Photobooth

Using a plain coloured sheet (white is a good idea), hang it over something that allows it to be used as a backdrop (e.g. tree branches, a clothes rack, etc). You can leave it at that, or you can use some garlands to create a unique look (see above, metallic garlands) or you could stick some cut out shapes onto the curtain. Then you use a normal camera, or a polaroid if you have one, and take photos!

Name Tags For Drinks 

Instead of purchasing expensive drink identifiers, a simple solution is to use rubber bands! Place the band around a glass and using a ball point pen, write the person's name on the glass. No more mixed up glasses again!

Carrot Cutlery 

A cute idea for an Easter picnic/event is to bundle green cutlery up in an orange serviette (as seen above). Secure with a green ribbon and you have yourself some carrot cutlery! This simple idea is sure to put a smile on your guests faces