One Pot Wonder

Who doesn't salivate  at the word chocolate brownie, that gooey warm chocolate on the inside and chewy on the outside, perfect warm with ice cream as dessert on a cold evening ( or  anytime for that matter) don't let me stop you from indulging, our brownies do not survive in the tins for very long!

I love baking brownies, they are easy and require no fuss, a perfect delight, cold,  for a picnic or equally moreish warmed and served with cream or ice cream. Definately a one pot wonder.   There are so many versions out there, this is divine!

This makes 12-16 depending on the tray you use and the size you cut them

250g Butter
2 Cups muscovado sugar (light brown)
4 Eggs
1/2 Cup Dark good quality cocoa
2 Tsp Vanilla essence
1 Cup dark chocolate chopped up
1 Cup Plain flour (sifted)
1 Cup dessicated coconut
1 Tsp Baking powder
1/2 cup raspberries (when in season) optional

1. Pre heat the oven to 180 c

2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the cocoa, stir over a low heat for 1-2 min.  Remove from the heat and add the sugar ( you can use ordinary white sugar).

3. Add the eggs one at a time, making sure you beat well between each egg, add the vanilla, coconut and chopped chocolate and then the flour and baking powder.  Stir the mixture until it is smooth and luscious and everything is well mixed.

4. Pour into a lined shallow baking tin, I used a square one 23 x23 x 5 cm, it doesn't matter, you will cut them to your desired pieces.  When in season I scatter  raspberries in just before baking, and gently push them in just  below the surface.

5. Bake for  25-30  min, the brownie will look set but  with a wobble when you take it out, and the skewer comes out chocolaty, this is good.  Transfer to a rack to cool and then cut in the desired pieces, dust with icing sugar and you can serve these warm or cold.  Yum!

 

Enjoy!

Till next time

Ashia

Sausage Tray Bake

This is a great meal to do when you have a large number to feed, or simply don't have the time to cook, just chuck everything in a tray and you will have a lovely heart  warming meal.

It is adapted from Delia's sausage, thyme and apple bake.  The sausages she uses are pork and  then she compliments it with thyme and apple.  I don't eat pork so have often made it with beef or lamb sausages.  And used rosemary, but i still use the apple. And this time I also  added chunks of carrot, I don't usually, but it actually tasted great.

This recipe serves  3-4 people I usually double it.

1 Tbl Olive oil
500g New potatoes thickly sliced (I leave the skin on)
2 Tbls Onion Marmalade
2  Red apples (whatever is in season - peeled, cored and cut into wedges)
2 Tbl  chopped thyme and /or rosemary
500g Lamb or Beef sausages
2-3 carrots peeled and cut into 3-4 cm chunks (optional)
300ml Chicken/Vegetable  stock

1. Pre heat the oven to  180c.  Heat the oil in frying pan and cook the potatoes over a high heat for 2-3 min until they start to brown.

2. Transfer to a roasting pan and stir though the onion marmalade, add the apples and carrots  with the chopped herbs and plenty of seasoning.

3. Tuck in the sausages in amongst the potatoes and apples and then pour over the stock to almost cover.  Bake for 50-60 min until everything is cooked through. Serve with your choice of vegetables.

 

Enjoy!

 

Till next time

 

Ashia

Media coverage!

Well what a busy and exciting month it's been.  With the food feature in NZ House and Garden - June issue and then an interview with the Breeze radio as a follow up!

If you have missed the radio interview, it is on their website now, so if you go on to Auckland Breeze Radio website it's there on the homepage,   they have called it "Ashia's Dream" .  They have done a fabulous job with it, it's great!  here is the link too :

http://www.thebreeze.co.nz/Regions/Auckland/Home/tabid/76/Default.aspx

The June issue of NZ House & garden should still be available but not for long! So if you haven't got your copy, hurry!  I will be posting the article on my blog when the magazine goes off sale too so look out for it.

I am also off to my sister's wedding in the UK in 4 weeks time, and will be blogging from there with lots of yummy family recipes as I will be  in my family home cooking up a storm with my mum and  3 sisters.

So the next couple of recipes are simple no fuss, one tray, one pot, great if you are rushing around and perfect for winter

Enjoy!

Ashia