Choc Coated Orange Peel
This is something that I make for special occasions. And sometimes also give this and other home made goodies to special people.


2 large thick skinned oranges
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
125g dark chocolate
Step 1
Mark orange in quarters through skin only,
using orange peeler run along under skin and
remove skin, leaving each quarter of orange
peel in one piece. Cut quarters into strips
approx 1cm wide. Drop the strips into a pan of
boiling water and bring back to boiling, drain
and repeat the process twice more. Combine
water and sugar and stir over a low heat until
sugar is dissolved "DO NOT BOIL". Add strips
and bring to boil reduce heat and simmer
uncovered for 5-10mins or until they become
translucent. Stir occasionally.
Step 2
remove strips from pan and place on a wire
rack overnight to dry.
Step 3
Melt chocolate (place water in a saucepan and
sit a glass bowl on top of open saucepan with
chocolate in to melt) remove from saucepan
from heat. Using a tooth pick or small 2 prong
fork, place several orange peel strips in
chocolate then remove and allow excess
chocolate to drip off. place on a foil lined
tray and allow to set in fridge. Store in
airtight containers in fridge.

Chocolate Rum Balls
This is a favourite of mine, I have bought the odd pack of rum balls but they just dont measure up to what I can make, I can also add more or less rum, to suit my taste.
8 weetbix (crushed)
1 tin condensed milk
1 cup saltanas
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (chopped)
1/2 cup coconut
2 tbsp cocoa
2 tbsp rum

Mix ingredients well, roll into small balls and roll in additional coconut. Store in airtight container in fridge until needed.

I usually make this mixture up twice as it is too hard to mix if you double the recipe.
This is also one that you can put in a gift basket and give as a present.

Gail's Biscuits
These ones have been made with the cookie press. Using one of these you can make lots in a short time. They are an ideal gift, and have that personal touch, you can put them in a cellophane bag or in a container that can be used after the biscuits are eaten. Here is one recipe I will put another up tomorrow.

Here is my favourite basic biscuit:
6 x 20ml spoon butter
half cup caster sugar
1 3/4 cups self raising flour
1 x 50g egg
vanilla
pinch salt


Beat butter and sugar to a cream.
Add the egg and beat well. Add vanilla.
Gradually add sifted flour and salt.
Mix into a stiff paste.
Roll into long roll and put in cookie press and start.
Bake in a moderate oven until golden brown.

Biscuits for Cookie Cutters
The grandchildren like home made biscuits so these I make when they are coming. I have been able to source a range of cookie cutters especially for kids. You will find them at debskitchen.com.au I dont normally put icing on them as Son and Daughter in law find the kids are active enough without a sugar fix.

Sugar Biscuits
200g of Self Raising Flour
pinch salt
25g Cornflour
100g Cooking marg
100g Castor Sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp Vanilla Esscence
little milk

Sift the flour, salt and cornflour into a bowl. Rub in the butter, then add the sugar. Beat the egg and vanilla and a little milk and mix with round top knife, then use hands to combine ingredients to a ball. Knead lightly, then chill for 30 mins.
Break off chunks and knead again and roll out to 1/4 inch thick and cut into shapes. Pace on oven tray lined with baking paper. Bake in a moderately hot oven 190-200c for 8-10 mins or until golden brown. Cool initially on tray and then put on wire cooling rack. Can be iced if desired.