Costco Recipe Files: Cookie Bakes with Ice-cream

Otis Spunkmeyer chocolate chip cookies are, to my knowledge, only available here in Australia, at Costco. If you know otherwise, please let me know.Anyway, I had not heard of them being here in Australia until I saw them at Costco. The box is in the frozen dessert section and you got a box of 72 portions, which is 72 cookies for around $16.56 which is about 23cents/cookie. The cookies are delicious and I created a new dessert which I think you will like. This dessert can easily be created with Aunty May's cookie dough logs but you would have to experiement with how much to use. Also, if you make your own cookie dough, again, no reason why you can't use your own. I would suggest freezing portions to make it easier to bake in the cupcake pan/tray.

Cookie Bakes with Ice-cream

12 capacity cupcake/muffin tray - spray with oil spray or lightly butter each cupcake hole.
12 portions of Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough
1 scoop of vanilla ice-cream per cookie bake.

1.Oven to 180C
2. Place cookie portion in each greased cupcake part.
3. Cook for about 10-15mins, or until very lightly browned on top - if you like a chewier cookie, don't let it brown much at all. Allow to cool for 10mins. The cookie bakes will dip in the middle, but this is what you want it to do.
4. Take out the cookie bake from tray and add scoop of vanilla ice-cream - or ice cream of choice and serve immediately.

Bon Appetit!

Costco Recipe Files: Roasted Tomatoes with Bacon and Pasta

I know a promised a Part 3 to my Costco review, but so much time has passed since I said I would, and since I have had a really topsy turvy past month, I am going to leave it there. Instead, I thought I would share with you some recipes I have created with the ingredients I have purchased from Costco since it has opened. I have no affliation with Costco, or any of the brands they sell, this is something I have done on my own. I will add recipes as I make them, so that it helps with your choice making when you are next there. I also think that some of the quanities that are available are a bit overwhelming and leave you thinking, what on earth am I going to do with that much? I am more than happy to share my best foodie knowledge and tips, maybe you might end up like me!!! Hahaha!!! I wouldn't wish that on you!!!

Roasted Tomatoes with Bacon and Pasta

When I saw that Costco were selling grape, cherry, and mini trussot and roma, tomatoes by the kilo, I was in heaven!! I really don't know why, but these items are so expensive at Coles and Woolworths. By the kilo most of these are at least $15-$24/kg. A couple of years ago I was buying mini roma tomatoes by the kilo at sydney's Femington Fruit Markets for $2/kg, so why were they being so grossly overcharged? Well, I suppose we don't have to be a genius to know the answer to that one!! Anyway, I had trouble purchasing mini tomoatoes of any kind over the past few years unless they were on special. Naturally, when I discovered Costco's prices ranged from $6-$10/kg I was over the moon. Why? Not only do my kids love these, and not only do are they good in salads, but they are also amazingly versatile in heaps of different recipes. When I got my mini romas for $2/kg I made amazing pasta sauces and they were also mouth wateringly delicious roasted with garlic and herbs and tossed through pasta. The later dish is what I did a lot because its not only healthy, but super cheap!!!
Here is what I did with my grape tomatoes from Costco.

Ingredients

500g grape tomatoes
350g bacon
Olive oil
2 tbsp minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste.
1-2 tbsp dried mixed herbs - or herbs of choice
Pasta of choice - cook according to packet directs.

Method
1. Oven at 180C, line baking dish with foil.
2. Cut tops of each tomato and squeeze out juice and seeds and add to baking dish. This is can take some time. Its up to you, you can just as easily cut them length wise and add them straight to baking dish.

3.Add oil and garlic together in a small bowl and mix well.Add herbs and stir through.
4.Pour oil mixture over tomatoes and toss to coat. Sprinkle salt and pepper to liking.

** Be careful with salt, if your mixed herbs or herb seasoning already has salt, you may not need to add anymore**
5. Bake in oven for up to 20mins or until kicthen smells delicious and tomatoes are black around edges.

5. While tomatoes are baking, chop bacon and cook in frying pan on medium/high heat until brown and crispy. Drain excess oil off bacon by putting on paper towel.

** I also added some zuccini by peeling it with one of these:
Add zuccini just towards end of bacon crisping up.

6. Add tomatoes and all juices and bacon into cooked pasta and gently stir through.

**Optional: add some dried chilli before serving***
Bon Appetit!!

LUCKY WINNERS FROM LATEST GIVEAWAY

Thankyou to everyone who entered my giveaway:) I am a little late drawing the winners due to a pretty horrid start to my week. I had some issues with my car, I am not over the flu, and today I fell in the shop carpark with my son in my arms and I fell directly on my knee! So yeah, not the best of weeks, but hopefully tomorrow will be a better day....it better be anyway!!

I absolutely love doing giveaways, its so much fun! So here are the lucky winners:

1. Lauren
2. Melanie
3. Sarah
4. Mme Grenouille

Congratulations! For those who didn't win, I will be doing more giveaways in the future, so please do come back to visit often. Thanks again, and here's to a great rest of the week!!

Introducing: A Little Bit Craftsie? Jewelry and Hair Clips Giveaway!

Are you a little bit craftsie too? I have been working on a 'little' business since the beginning of this year. I love hair clips and I have been making hair  accessories and jewelry for over 4 years now. I started making hair accessories, as alot of us do, for my daughter and then family and friends. I always got positive reactions so I then dabbled in selling on line. I also sold to a few children's boutiques before I had baby number 4.

 I recently renamed my shop A Little Bit Craftsie?, because that is what I consider myself to be and my shop is for those who like items that are a little bit craftsie!! One of my favourite sites is Etsy, but not far behind is Pintrest. I love to see how creative and clever humans can be and I find so much inspiration in these two sites and in so many things around me. When I see what other people can do it get's my creative juices flowing and I can't stop myself.   I love to create items that are bright and cheerful and will bring a smile to not only the wearer, but to those around them.

 In my shop you will find super cute hand crocheted hair clips that will definately make you smile! From cute little owls, to 3D flowers and fairytale mushrooms, basically a little princess's heaven! If you prefer a more simple approach, I have some basic mini mouse designs, some resin flower clips and other items that I hope will suit most tastes. I am open to making hair clips for party favours, so keep me in mind for your next birthday celebration!

 I don't limit myself to just hair accessories. I also design jewelry. From earrings to necklaces and bracelets for girls up to ladies. I use quality items including sterling silver, glass, swarovski crystals, rhodium plated, polymer clay and gold/gold plated.

  

I so love giveaways, so be sure to follow me or like my FACEBOOK page as this is where I will be adding info about: new items, giveaways and the heads up on discounts or free shipping promotions. How do you get to my store to see all my wonderful items? To the right you will see a collage of three hair clips, click on this and it will take you directly to my store. Otherwise the address is, http://www.craftsie.com/.

Etsy is an American site, but you can pay via Paypal in AUD or any currency of your choice. For Austrlian transactions, I can also accept direct deposit payments fo if you e-mail or contact me via the Etsy Convo facility I can provide you with bank details. If both of these ways still confuse you, just e-mail me your requested items to purchase and I can work with you this way too.

To celebrate the launch of my store, I am running a giveaway where 4 lucky winners will recieve a mystery prize pack of goodies from my store.  The giveaway is open WORLDWIDE.

How to Enter:

1. Follow my blog if you don't already.
2. Like my Facebook Page if don't already - its a combination of Foodmuster and A little Bit Craftsie?
3. Leave a comment telling me what item/s you like in my store and make sure you leave an e-mail contact for me(if you aren't a google member) so I can contact you if you are a winner!
4. Tweet this giveaway for an extra entry and leave an extra comment telling me you have done this and the link.
5. FAcebook this giveaway and a seperate comment to say you have done this and a link so I can check it out.
6. Giveaway will end Midnight, Monday 22nd August, AEST.

GoodLuck!

The carrots are in love!!!

About a month ago now, my family and I set out on the farm gate trail. Farm gate trail is set up by HawkesburyHarvest. A great selection of farms and vineyards, where you go direct to the farm and choose your produce or taste before you buy. Its was such a wonderful experience and the children and had an amazing time. It was a great opportunity to get the kids involved in picking their own vegetables and seeing how amazing our local farming communities are. 
 Our best experience was out at Hawkesbury Vegetable Farm. Here, you get to enjoy walking around the farm and the farmhands will select the best vegetables for you.

The kids got to pick/dig out the potatoes and dutch carrots.

It was interesting not just for the kids but me too, to see how some of the vegetables grow. Call me naive, I don't know, but I have never grown broccoli before, so I never knew it looked like this in the ground:

We had a ball!  There is a small entry fee charge, but bags are provided for your produce. The vegetables were well priced. For example the leeks were $1/each and the dutch carrots $1.50/buch of 12!! What a great price!! Other vegetable and fruit items can also be purchased, depending on availablity.

We then headed litterally down the road to King St Wilberforce to visit M & A butchery. Where the meat comes direct from the abattoir which is on the premises and its the only one like it in Sydney. I bought about $115 worth of meat and I am still getting through it!! The prices are very reasonable and all the meat is top quality! Smells and looks fresh.  One of my memorable purchases at the butchery was the leg of lamb. I had it deboned and baked it the following night as a roast. It was this night that I made the most amazing discovery! I was washing the dutch carrots and discovered this,

Our carrots were in love!! How cute is this?

My lamb roast was to die for!! All my vegetables were from the farm. I have to say that the potatoes were milky white and opaque. They were so soft to cut before baking. Usually when I cut into potatoes from the store they have a yellowy look and starting to look kinda transparent, if you know what I mean?? Definately not opaque!!  Ialso used the juices from the meat to make my own gravy by just adding flour to the juices over medium heat. It was a flavour packed meal!

The entwined 'in-love' carrots were delicious!!

All I did for the roast was trim the fat off the leg of lamb. Place cut up vegetables in the roasting pan with the lamb. Sprinkle Masterfood's Tuscan Seasoning all over it and drizzle it with olive oil all over lamb and vegetables bake at 180C for 40mins or until crisp and cooked through, and bob's your uncle!!!

Don't forget to check out the farm gate through HAWKESBURY HARVEST and have fun!!

C'mon and join the Dessert Recipe Exchange Blog Hop party!

Thanks to everyone who joined in on the Great Recipe Exchange blog hop. We got 12 great recipes listed and they are all amazing. A lot of traffic came through too, so I am sure a lot of you were bookmarking pages and following new foodie blogs.

This time round I am going to theme the recipe exchanges. I thought this might be a better way to know exactly what recipe to choose to link into but and it helps with those OCD foodies who like to work in themes !!!  I will also leave the linky up for 2 weeks.

Looking forward to seeing a good mixture of decadent treats and healthy desserts that can be enjoyed more often:)  I'd appreciate a follow on my blog or e-mail subscription. I'm also trying to achieve 100 likers on my Facebook page, so if you can like me I would love it!!  Please follow some of the linkers and leave a comment even if its just to say you like the recipe.   Also if you could please link directly to the recipe.

Thanks again for returning to FoodMuster, if you would like a particular theme for the next blog hop, please leave me a comment.

***Appologies, but my linky subscription was just paid and I have to wait for it to update before I can get the code, so please be patient with me, I hope it will be back up to date within the next 24 hours***