An afternoon snack - chocolate bark

 I made this Chocolate Bark the other day when everyone was craving something sweet.

I had some milk chocolate melts in the cupboard and a packet of trail mix so I decided to combine the two. It would be even better with dark chocolate but the kids are not fans!

I can't wait to make it again with other toppings like raspberries, coconut etc. Anything goes!

Not to mention Christmas is coming up and it becomes all about the Peppermint Bark from William Sonoma. Have you tried it?

What's your favourite version of Chocolate Bark?

Drinking more water with SodaStream.

After our indulgent Easter weekend I felt like we all needed to bring some balance back into our lives. More water, fruits and vegetables were needed asap! I know I always feel happier and have more energy when I'm eating healthily and drinking lots of water. 

First thing yesterday after I dropped the boys off at school I headed to the greengrocers and stocked up on fresh fruit and vegetables. The veggies went straight into the pot to make a veggie soup and the fruit was chopped up to go into some sparkling water for the boys afternoon tea. 

Tap water is great but sometimes you need bubbles in your water to make it a little more appetising. 

I pulled out the SodaStream and made some fizzy fruit waters when the boys got home from school. So quick and easy!

SodaStream has easy-to-use Sparkling Water Makers to suit every countertop, and each machine comes with everything you need to make sparkling water anytime you like.

Each Sparkling Water Maker comes with a plastic BPA-free carbonating bottle. All bottles are safe, reusable, uniquely designed, and can save the average Australian family up to 2,190 bottles and cans over the three year life of the bottle. Every Sparkling Water Maker also comes with a C02 Cylinder which carbonates up to 60 litres of sparkling water. Once empty you can swap them at any Woolworths, Coles or Big W.

Fill, fizz and enjoy!

Everyone wanted to press the button. 

We like "high" fizz so we press the button 3 times and everyone gets a turn ;)

I made up a few combinations, orange & mint, lemon & lime and mixed berry. They were delicious and so refreshing. So much more flavoursome and thirst quenching than soft drink.

I find I always use my kitchen appliances more when they are in easy reach. 

I love that the SodaStream is compact enough to sit under the kitchen benches and blend in.

I've got this one here

You can find out more information and how SodaStream works here

Have you got a SodaStream? 

What are you favourite ingredients to add to your sparkling water?

I'd love to hear them x

I was given my Sparkling Water Maker from SodaStream but all opinions are my own.

I would never share a product that I didn't use myself and believe in.

Healthy Afternoon Snack - Our favourite Bliss Ball recipe

Bliss Balls are the perfect afternoon snack. A little healthy something to get you through to dinner time. I remember eating a Byron Bay Bliss Ball (while on holiday in Byron) about 10 years ago and trying to guess what was in there and recreate it. I never quite managed it but I did happen to stumble across heaps of different recipes and the one below is our favourite.

Recipe for Bliss Balls

1 x cup of pitted dates

1 1/2 x tablespoons of unprocessed cocoa powder

2 x tablespoons of raw cacao powder

2 x teaspoons of vanilla bean paste

1 cup combined of almonds & cashews

Desiccated coconut for rolling the balls into.

I just throw everything into the food processor together and give it a blitz.

Keep pulsing until all the nuts are finely chopped.

Use damp hands and roll them into balls.

Roll the balls in desiccated coconut.

Store in the fridge.

Super simple!

Another good one is this Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss Ball

Recipe found here

Do you like Bliss Balls? What's your favourite recipe?

Saturday Baking - Nutella Pull-Apart Pastry

We made this Nutella Pull-Apart Pastry today for afternoon tea. It was cold, the boys wanted something warm and chocolatey so I looked in the pantry to see what I could find. 

I saw a jar of Nutella on the shelf and I remembered seeing this clip on how to make 

Nutella Braided Tear + Share Bread on You Tube

After watching it a couple of times I decided to take a short cut and use some ready made pastry I had in the freezer. I had a lot of "helpers" around and I wanted something fast and pretty simple.

Using the pastry was quick and easy but I will give Steve's way a try in the future as it really does look delicious. Here are a few pics of my baking below-

Do you have any delicious Nutella recipes up your sleeve?

I don't really think you can go wrong with it!

7 Afternoon Tea Ideas for kids. Lots of fruit, in different ways!

When the boys come home from school I always make sure I have something ready for their afternoon tea. I think we all remember how starving we were after school!

I like to mix it up a bit with fruit, muffins, bliss balls, sandwiches, cake, veggies + dip.  Of course some things are more popular than others but I always try to offer variety through the week.

  

It's amazing how rearranging fruit in a different way can make it seem exciting and tastier and make them forget about cake!

I get lots of ideas over at Pinterest and it is always fun to give them a try. Like I said it's not an everyday thing. Just something I do when I have the time.

Here are a few of the boys favourites -

Orange Fish

Watermelon Cake

Fruity pizza

Summer Fruit Salad

Fruit Kebabs

The addition of a marshmallow makes all the difference! ;)

Sometimes I do a smoothie or fruity water.

Of course sometimes all you feel like is chocolate cake!

You can see more of my pins over here

What are your favourite afternoon snacks?

I'm loving.......

I'm loving Iced Tea at the moment. 

I am loving experimenting with different flavours and when I saw Jamie Oliver make some Hibiscus Iced Tea on tv the other day I had to make some to!

I think it is perfect for this scorching weather we are having!

This is not Jamie's recipe but it is similar.

Ingredients

For the tea:

• 4 berry-hibiscus herbal tea bags (recommended: Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger)
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 cup simple syrup, or to taste
• 1/2 orange, cut into wedges
• 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
• 8 frozen raspberries

For the simple syrup:

• 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Put tea bags in a heatproof pitcher.

In a saucepan bring water just to a boil and pour over tea bags.Steep tea 5 minutes and remove tea bags. Cool tea and chill, covered, until cold, about 1 hour.

Stir in simple syrup, to taste. Squeeze orange and lime wedges into tea and add wedges. Serve tea in tall glasses. Garnish with frozen raspberries.

To prepare the simple syrup:

Add sugar and water to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute; stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Let syrup cool.

Doesn't it sound delish?!