While I’ve had variations of Rum Balls, my favourite is using Weetpix as the main ingredients. Our family prefers this recipe. Somehow, it tastes more wholesome, probably because Weetpix as a cereal would fill us up at breakfast before heading off to school. It is an easy recipe and one that I used to use…
Tis the season to be jolly. Every season should be jolly for that matter — Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn (or Fall). This season of jolliness, which has Christmas, is a time for family, fun and frivolity. The Christmas lights about the streets herald: It’s ‘Christmas time of year’. When visiting my Brisbane family recently,…
My clever niece said these are really easy to make. One of the teachers gave her one at school as a treat. My niece said, ‘These taste like Cherry Ripe balls.’ When she went home, she asked mum if she could make them. She used ‘The Google’, found the recipe and made it for Christmas.…
Leading into the festive season, two semi-retired teachers who are talented card makers, held a Christmas card making workshop last year. I was one of the numerous enthusiastic ones and loved every minute of it. Our instructors, made it look so easy, which of course made me feel and look extremely clever. My original intention…
One of the Christmas specialties in our family is the traditional plum pudding. This recipe has been in the family for about 80 years. It’s usually made in September or October, leading into Christmas. Back in the day, it used to be cooked in a copper boiler in calico. Then it was hung and stored…
Rudolph stared, tiny teddy drove and marshmallow sat on a saucer. These wonderful concoctions of cleverness and creativity had children oohing and aahing, at their end of school year breakup. For that matter, I was as well. I have brought these back this year because of their popularity. Enjoy. Rudolph sat staring with a jaffa…
Apricot balls are my favourite. Something about the way the cornflakes and chopped up apricots combined with the condensed milk, make them rather moorish. They are very simple to make, but time consuming as you roll each individual ball in coconut for the finishing touches. My sister is the clever one who made these. Ingredients…
Written by Jacqui Halpin and Illustrated by John Phillips How delightfully disturbing having a horse behaving like a dog – a racehorse at that. Even the name Parmesan was intriguing as it has the same namesake as the dry Italian parmesan pasta cheese. At the author’s storytelling, I looked and listened to her reading the book.…
Picture Book Author & Illustrator, Peter Carnavas gave us permission to daydream through our writing room window. A window as a portal to outside — to anywhere. And as you daydream, look, see, observe… the detail. Next, what can’t you see… behind that leaf, under that sill, in the mailbox? Daydreaming relaxes the mind, calms and frees…
My niece and QCWA Charters have one thing in common. They both made gingerbread houses. QCWA Charters Towers, outback Queensland have been making and selling Gingerbread Houses. My sister-in-law bought another one this year. We were in awe of the detail and precision in making the houses look so fantastic. In 2016 they only cost…
Written by Yvonne Mes & Illustrated by Sandra Eterovic Meet… Sidney Nolan is a well crafted story which follows painter Sidney Nolan’s life. It starts with an earnest little boy, who lifts his grandfather’s tales into his imagination. Next, a young Sidney tries to follow his dream of capturing his fascination for bushranger, Ned Kelly…
A surprisingly deliciously moist fruit cake, which could double as a Christmas pudding with custard. A friend of mine, Dot, shared this recipe, which she got from Facebook. She thought she should try this, even though it sounded ‘yucky’ — the chocolate milk didn’t do it for her either. However, she was pleasantly surprised –…
Big Sister Blogs - Maria Parenti 