Pecan and maple syrup muffins

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 125 grams butter
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

1. Sift dry ingredients into a bowl
2. Stir in first measure of nuts
3. Melt butter and maple syrup together
4. Beat in milk and egg
5. Mix with dry ingredients to just moisten
6. Fill muffin tins
7. Combine topping and sprinkle over batter
8. Bake at 190 degrees Celsius for 15-2 minutes

Lemon muffins

• 2 cups self-raising flour
• 60 grams melted butter
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 fresh lemon
• 1/4 cup sugar

1. Mix butter, egg milk and lemon rind
2. Combine with sifted dry ingredients
3. Spoon into muffins tins
4. Bake at 200 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes
5. Heat together lemon juice and sugar till sugar is dissolved
6. Spoon over muffins as they come out of the oven

Grilled Asparagus Cheesies

• 6 slices white bread (sandwich sliced)
• 425 grams can asparagus
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 1 tbsp melted butter

1. Cut crusts from bread
2. Mix cheese and drained asparagus
3. Divide mixture among bread slices and roll up on the diagonal
4. Place on baking tray, brush with melted butter and grill till golden brown

Cucumber rounds with herbed cream cheese

• 125 grams cream cheese
• 1 tbsp sour cream
• 1 tbsp chopped basil
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• (another couple of tbsp of chopped herbs if desired)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• roasted red pepper (optional)

1. Cut a long cucumber into 5 cm rounds
2. Hollow out the middle of each round
3. Mix the filling ingredients together
4. Spoon filling into cucumber rounds
5. Top with pieces of red pepper if desired

Potato Cheese Bake ....

• 6 potatoes sliced
• 75 grams butter
• 3 Tblsp flour
• 2 tsp mustard
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 1/4 grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp paprika

1. Cook potatoes for 15 min until tender
2. Melt butter, add flour and mustard 
3. Add milk stirring until thickened
4. Stir in cheese
5. Place thin layer of sauce on bottom of baking dish
6. Cover with overlapping slices of potato
7. Continue to layer
8. Finish with sauce
9. Sprinkle paprika over the top
10. Bake 180 degrees Celsius for 40 min till hot and golden

Yummy Christmas Bites

• small pastry cases - vol au vent or filo
• cranberry sauce and jelly
• port wine
• brie cheese

1. Chop cheese and soak in a small amount of port wine for 30 minutes
2. Fill cases with spoonful of cranberry sauce and place piece of cheese on top
3. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes

Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Dip

• 1 can reduced cream
• 1 pkt onion soup mix
• 1 tsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1 tblsp chopped parsley
• 1 roasted red pepper finely chopped

1. Combine the reduced cream, soup mix, vinegar and paste
2. Mix well
3. Stir in remaining ingredients
4. Cover and chill