Anabel's lemon cordial

wow this was one of my favourite Christmas gifts - homemade lemon cordial & it tasted sensational.

• 4 cups (1 litre) water
• 5 cups sugar
• 4 lemons (rind & juice)
• 5 tsp citric acid
• 3 tsp tartaric acid
• 3 tsp epsom salts

1. Bring water, sugar & finely grated lemon rind to the boil.
2. Stir to dissolve sugar.
3. Remove from heat & add other ingredients. Stirring well until acids & epsom salts dissolve.
4. Allow to cool & then pour into glass jars.
5. To serve dilute with hot or cold water.
   

Lemon Yoghurt Cake

This is the BIGGEST cake I've ever made. Recipe from a work colleague & I'm making it for my team Extravaganza tomorrow.

Mix the following until just combined:

• 3 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• juice & grated rind of 4 lemons
• 1-½ - 2 cups of flavourless oil e.g grapeseed - I used 1-½ C Rice Bran oil
• 1-¾ cup plain unsweetened yoghurt
• 4 cups self raising flour
• pinch salt

Transfer to a greased 28-30cm tin & bake 160° C for 1-½ hours until springy to the touch. Cool before turning out.

Ice with cream cheese icing if desired - mix in a food processor (or serve with thickened cream).

• 75g soft butter
• 250g cream cheese (not spreadable)
• juice & finely grated rind of 1 lemon
• 4 cup icing sugar

Slow cooked pork chops with peaches

Coat slow cooker with non-stick spray & turn onto HIGH to preheat.

• 6 large pork chops ~1.2kg total
• ½ tsp paprika
• ½ tsp white pepper
• 2 Tbsp flour

Mix all together & lightly brown the chops in ~1 Tbsp oil. Then add the chops to slow cooker. Overlap if necessary.

• Add 1 diced onion to hot pan & cook until softened. Sprinkle on top of the chops.

In a separate bowl mix:

• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp tomato sauce
  
• 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
  
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 x 400g can sliced peaches in juice

Add all to the slow cooker, cover, turn the heat down to LOW & cook for 8 hours. Turn once. Thicken with cornflour before serving.

Banana & Chocolate Chip Muffins

• 1 cup white flour
• 1 cup wholemeal flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips/buds
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt

Mix all together in a large bowl.

• 100g melted butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1tsp vanilla essence
• 2 mashed bananas

Mix together & then add to dry ingredients. Fold until just dampened, don't over mix.

Spray 12 medium sized muffin pans. Add approx. 1/4 cup of mixture to each pan.

Bake at 220°C for 12-15 minutes.

Brown Rice Salad

My friend Cathy made this for a BBQ on Saturday night & it might possibly be the nicest rice salad I've ever tried!

1 cup uncooked brown rice
1-3/4 cup water
1/4 cup light soy sauce
1/2 medium onion - finely chopped
3 spring onions - finely chopped
1 red capsicum - chopped into tiny cubes
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup roasted peanuts - coarsely chopped
1/2 cup each of roasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds & sesame seeds

Dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 clove crushed garlic
1 tsp grated fresh root ginger
1 tsp honey

• Combine and process until smooth (or shake in a jar).

Method:

• Place rice and unsalted water in a tightly covered pot.
• Simmer 20-25 minutes until rice is tender and water absorbed.
• Add soy sauce and finely chopped onion to hot cooked rice. Mix well.
• Leave at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Just before serving, toss through the dressing.