Author: Meatballs and Muffins
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Spinach, Feta & Pinenuts Muffins
Well hello, Thanks for visiting! If you’re a mum who’s looking for a healthy snack to add to your child’s lunchbox, then you MUST try these delicious muffins. They have just enough feta to add a little saltiness and the pinenuts add a delicious nutty flavour, making them a great way to get kids to…
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Peanut Butter & Chocolate Muffins
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ll know I’ve had some dramas with perfecting my peanut butter & chocolate muffins. Well … After “adding a little more of this and a little less of that”…my PEANUT BUTTER & CHOCOLATE MUFFIN recipe is “now perfect” and that’s according to my home food critics, who always tell…
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Easy Spaghetti & Meatballs
This is one of my ‘go to’ dishes when I need to cook a hearty meal but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. I can have this dish on the table in 15 minutes from start to finish. Although it’s not made the traditional way, my version of spaghetti and meatballs is just…
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Fennel & Orange Salad
If you are looking for a simple but very fresh and delicious salad, this is it! The star ingredient in this salad is fennel, a crunchy, slightly sweet vegetable that adds a refreshing taste to any dish. Fennel’s aromatic taste is often described as reminiscent of liquorice and anise. Fennel is an excellent source of vitamin…
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The Bitter and Sweet of Christmas!
This morning I woke up to realise it’s only 4 weeks to Christmas, so today is the day I started preparing to cook all things Christmas for this special time of the year. I love Christmas and everything it represents: the decorations, the birth of Christ, giving more than receiving, forgiveness, family time, food, holidays,…
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Food, Fun, Laughter & Song
FOOD, FUN, LAUGHTER and SONG – these are the words that come to mind when I think about our Sunday family dinners and our last one was no exception. Last Sunday was such a warm sunny day, which seems to be the norm in Melbourne at the moment and I’m loving it, so we had…
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Spring Pasta with Asparagus
What do you cook for dinner on a warm Spring night that doesn’t require slaving over a hot stove? PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS, PANCETTA & CHERRY TOMATOES – what else! If you’re like me and you want to provide a great tasting healthy dinner for your family, but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen…
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Special Dinner for Two
Hello again, Recently I shared a post with you about a wonderful dinner I had with my son Anthony. It was one of those special moments that I got to spend one-on-one time with one of my boys. “Gee, it must be great now that your 3 boys have all grown up and are independent.…
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Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan and Aged Balsamic
Hi Reader, Here is another asparagus recipe as part of my Spring series that I know you and your family will enjoy. This is a ‘no brainer’ dish to make during the working week when you come home after a long day at work and need to cook something quick and easy for dinner. This…
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Zucchini Muffins with Pancetta & Dukka
I decided to ‘joosh up’ my zucchini muffins by adding pancetta and dukka to make an adult version of the plainer zucchini & cheese ones I have previously shared that kids love. These muffins are a little spicy, so they’re perfect as finger food to serve with drinks or as a snack when you get…
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A Word of Thanks
I just wanted to say “thank you so much” to everyone who has clicked that FOLLOW button on my blog so far. Like many bloggers, setting up Meatballs and Muffins started out as a fun thing to do, but I can now honestly say that I AM HOOKED and it’s mainly because of you! Knowing…
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Asparagus, Ricotta and Feta Tart
This is another dish that celebrates Spring! This delicious tart has a creamy filling and light buttery pastry. It’s one of those recipes that you will go back to again again because it’s easy to make and so delicious to eat. It makes a perfect lunch served with my BABY LEAVES & HERB SALAD on…
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Manny is getting married!
My nephew and his lady Nicole are getting married and a couple of weeks ago we were invited to meet Nicole’s family. With only a few months until the wedding, we were excited to get to know the people who raised the lovely young lady who would soon join our family. It was no surprise…
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Welcome Home Lydia
A great night was had by all last Saturday celebrating Lydia’s birthday and safe return from the UK. It’s so great to have you back with us – Billy is especially happy 🙂 Well done Billy on arranging such a successful night and well done to your mum for putting on a great spread. Here’s…
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A Cake for Lydia
Hi Reader, Thanks for taking the time to visit. I know your time is precious, so I’ll do my best to make good use of it by sharing something I hope you will enjoy or find useful. Once you’ve read it, I’d love to know what you think because, as someone who is new to…
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Grilled Asparagus with Toasted Walnuts & Feta
I came up with this dish recently quite by accident and I loved it so much that I decided to share it with you as part of my series of asparagus dishes. But, there is a story behind this dish. It was last Friday when I had gone shopping to pick up a few things,…
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Asparagus – an impressive vegetable
You don’t need to do very much to asparagus to make it any more delicious than it already is. Simply lightly grilling it on the BBQ or baking it, then drizzle over a really really good extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar and sprinkle a little sea salt, brings out the unique earthy…
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Not just another cheesecake
Rhubarb and Almond Cheesecake This is one of those cheesecakes that you will never forget once you taste it the first time. It has a sensational tangy flavour that makes you want to eat more than you know you should.
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Do you worry that your toddler is becoming a fussy eater?
Well, the good news is that you can you can stop worrying because, fussy eating is simply a stage that many toddlers go through, often in their second year. Having raised 3 children of my own and looking after my grandson (that’s him in the photo above), I can tell you from experience, that a…
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Spring in a Bowl
After what seems to have been one of the longest and coldest winters, it’s such a relief to see evidence of what looks like spring. Birds are once again singing, rose gardens are blooming and, best of all, my greengrocer has started stocking fresh spring vegetables -YES! Now don’t get me wrong, I love winter…
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Luscious Gooey Chocolate Minicakes
Are you are a lover of chocolate desserts? If you are, then I guarantee you will love these luscious gooey centred chocolate minicakes because they are quick to make and so delicious to eat. The only catch is that they must be eaten straight out of the oven. They are great for a dinner party…
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Eat Fish – your heart will love you for it
Hi Reader With heart disease on the rise, I thought I’d share some good heart health information with you today. Did you know the Australian Heart Foundation recommends that people should eat fish and seafood 2-3 times per week to maintain good heart health? How often do you eat fish and do you have a…
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How to enhance the flavour of your soup
“Soup is a lot like a family. Each ingredient enhances the others; each batch has its own characteristics; and it needs time to simmer to reach full flavour.” 6 ways to enhance your soup
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Good Food for Little People – Veggie Fritters
Getting children – big and small – to eat more vegetables is a never-ending challenge for parents. And like many parents, I spent a lot to time and effort trying to encourage my sons to eat vegetables by serving them in creative ways and as a result, they grew up to love most greens and…
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Everyone Loves a Little Chocolate Sometimes
Chocolate should be a ‘sometimes food’ and not eaten all the time. If you are going to eat chocolate then opt for dark chocolate instead of the sugary ones like milk and white chocolate, because dark chocolate is made from the seed of the cocoa tree and is one of the best sources of antioxidants…
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Mussels – a sustainable food that boosts the immune system
Not only are mussels delicious, they are inexpensive and sustainable and, most importantly, they are very good for you. The vitamins and minerals contained in mussels help to boost your immune system, your brain function and overall wellbeing. Farming methods for mussels have very little impact on surrounding ecosystems – which is great news for…
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Spanakopita with a twist
Greek ‘pita’ (or ‘pie’) is a popular savoury dish made with filo (phyllo) pastry, feta cheese and eggs (as the base ingredients) and baked until golden and crispy. It makes a healthy addition to any lunch box, a delicious anytime snack or served as finger food with drinks when family or friends gather. Although Spanakopita…
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Too many is never enough
Sunday is the one day of the week that everyone in my family indulges in ‘sometimes food’ and this week I made banana and chocolate muffins. When it comes to these BANANA & CHOCOLATE MUFFINS, my family say that “too many is never enough” especially when they are topped with cream cheese frosting. This is one…
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Tip for Busy Parents: Waste not, want not!
For years, I would discard the stalks from leafy greens such as silverbeet, spinach, chicory, broccoli and even parsley, until I saw my mum use the stalks of spinach to make a simple but very delicious salad. My mum would cut off the spinach leaves and use them to make ‘spanakopita’ (a Greek spinach and…
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“This wasn’t your best work mum!”
Like most home cooks, I’ve had my share of failures in the kitchen over the years and, whilst it is disappointing when a recipe doesn’t turn out like I hope, to me it’s just part of learning. A few months ago, I found a recipe in a food magazine that I had been looking for…
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Nuts, dates, coconut and cocoa
With nuts, dates, coconut and cocoa as the basic ingredients in this delicious slice, you don’t have to feel so bad about eating it. However, this CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SLICE will test your willpower, because stopping at one slice is almost impossible – just ask Cath and Bree – haha! What you need For the Base…
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Rainbow Coleslaw – tastes great, packed with goodness
Growing up, coleslaw was never a favourite of mine. I found the traditional way of making coleslaw using only cabbage and carrots was boring so, over the years, I’ve experimented by adding other ingredients including sweetcorn, capsicum, spring onion and apple, which lifts the flavour to a whole new level. No matter which way you…
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Tip for Busy Parents – storing & using fresh food
Storing and using fresh food correctly is important for your health and your wallet. Most fresh foods have a short shelf life and by not storing correctly you risk it being spoilt by bacteria and having to throw it out. Minced meat is one of those foods I’ve always worried about buying pre-minced and storing,…
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Summer means green beans!
With Winter behind us, I”m thinking about the great vegetables that will soon be in season and all the dishes I will be able cook for Sunday dinner. A summer vegetable that is always a family favourite are green beans, which is great because green beans are a rich source of vitamins A, C, and…
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“How do you make roast chicken so tasty?”
The other night, while we were cleaning up after Sunday dinner, Bree asked me “How do you make roast chicken so tasty?” My reply was “It must be what I put on it”. Later that night I started thinking about this question, so I decided to share how I prepare and cook a roast chicken…
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Is pumpkin a vegetable or fruit?
Although pumpkin is often referred to as a vegetable, technically, it is a fruit. Pumpkins belong to a family of plants known as the Curcurbita, which includes zucchini, squash and cucumber. Pumpkin is an incredibly healthy addition to anyone’s diet, rich in all kinds of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Not only is Pumpkin good for…
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Tip for Busy Parents – Homemade Tomato Sauce
Home made tomato sauce is great to make and have in the fridge or freezer ready to use for a multitude of dishes. It’s particularly good with spaghetti – a dish that Pedro loves to eat (with his hands)! Just boil spaghetti according the instructions on the pack. Once cooked, strain and add to warm…
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What makes a Greek Salad great?
You haven’t had a great Greek salad until you’ve eaten a Greek salad in Greece. And you haven’t had an amazing Greek salad until you eaten one made from tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers grown in the garden of a house in a village in Greece. Once you eaten a tomato in Greece (or Italy for…
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Unexpected Party
The night before the wedding was a ‘thank you’ dinner organised by Cath and Michael to show their appreciation to family and friends for making the long journey to Naxos for their wedding. The dinner venue was a tavern right next to ‘Banana Beach Bar’, which was where the wedding reception would happen the next…
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Marika’s Table
Sitting under the shade of a grapevine on a brilliant summer’s day at Marika’s table eating delicious Greek food made from home grown ingredients, is an experience that stays with you forever.
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Cheese on spaghetti and seafood – really?
Picture this…You’re sitting on the balcony of a funky seaside cafe on a perfect summer’s day on the Greek island of Lefkada. The sky is the bluest of blues, the water below is an array of spectacular shades of blue and the seashore is a milky white. Instead of sand, beautiful white pebbles of varying…
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The joy of food in Greece
Fresh food cooked simply is what Greek food is all about and recently I had the pleasure of eating some amazing meals whilst holidaying in Greece. The most memorable is my birthday lunch at ‘Spilia’ (Mykonos) – the most fantastic restaurant I’ve been to so far.
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Memories of a very special day
We may have missed Sunday family dinner for the past few weeks, but there’s a good reason for that – the wedding of Michael and Catherine in Naxos Greece on July 8, 2017 – a day we will remember for years to come.
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It’s too hot for soup, yiayia!
It might be too hot for soup where Pedro is but, here in Melbourne, soup is exactly what we need and lentil soup is a great way to warm up on a cold winter’s day. The lentil is one of the oldest food crops known and provides a range of essential nutrients including protein, carbohydrates,…
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Come on guys, I’m ready to go!
With suitcases packed and ready to go, last night was our last Sunday dinner before my family start to head off to Greece for the big day. The next time we’ll see each other will be on Mykonos where we’ll have a few days to relax, get some sun and ‘prepare ourselves’ for Michael and…
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Only 2 more Sunday family dinners to go!
It’s been almost 2 years since Michael and Cath came to Sunday family dinner after being away overseas, and announced they were planning to get married on the Greek Island of Naxos. Back then two years seemed so far away, but now it’s hard to believe it’s only 1 month to the wedding day –…
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Brussel Sprouts – a new favourite
Brussel sprouts have become a new favourite for my family which is great, because it’s one of those vegetables that have many health benefits (like cabbage), but are hated by most people – including me. That is until recently, when I saw them at my green grocer.
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Food Creates Memories
I have fond memories of my mum coming home after a long day at work to cook a delicious meal for us for dinner. I would watch how she would go about preparing a chicken and vegetable casserole – cutting up the chicken and chopping the vegetables – I would always love to help. When…
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Tip for Busy Parents: Homemade stock
Stock is a must for busy mums to have ready in small containers in the freezer to make healthy soups for little ones (and big ones too). Just defrost the stock, place in a pot and bring to the boil. Add some diced vegies, small pasta or diced chicken breast (or all three for a hearty…
Meatballs and Muffins 