Apple Cake

• 100 g butter
• 4 tablespoons apple sauce
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 310 g self raising flour
• 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 120 g caster sugar
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped
• icing sugar to serve

Heat oven to 160 ℃. Grease and line base of a 20cm round tin.

Place butter, apple sauce, golden syrup and vanilla into a heat proof bowl, add 300 ml boiling water and whisk with fork to combine.

Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add butter mixture and gently mix until just combined. Transfer to cake tin and top with chopped apple. Lightly push into batter.

Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until well risen, golden and the top springs back when lightly touched. Cool in tin for 10 minutes before turning out on a wire rack to cool. Serve dusted with icing sugar.

Chocolate Cake

• 2 cups self raising flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 4 1/2 tablespoons Nuttilex (non dairy margarine)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups boiling water

Mix flour, sugar and cocoa in a bowl. Mix golden syrup, Nuttilex, vanilla and water. Mix the wet ingredients gently until butter has melted. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and combine with a wooden spoon.

Pour mixture into a greased cake tim and cook for 30 mins at 180 ℃.

Note: Can be made a little cakes - bake for 5-10 minutes.

Date Cake or Slice

• 1 1/2 cup self raising flour
• 1 1/2 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup raw sugar
• 1 tablespoon nuttilex (non dairy margarine)
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon bicarb soda
• 3/4 cup boiling water

Combine dates, sugar, Nuttilex, ginger and bicarb in a bowl. Pour in the boiling water. Sift in flour and blend well with a spoon.

Bake in a moderate oven for 45 min.

Can be topped with butter (Nuttilex) icing or served plain.

Happy Lunch Ideas

Don't let your kids taste buds get bored.

Everyday lunch ideas for when you need a little inspiration.

Sandwich Fillings

• Ham and cream cheese
• Ham and avocado
• Avocado
• Hummus

Snacks

• Rice crackers
• Hummus
• Dried fruit +/- cream cheese
• Cherry tomatoes
• Olives
• Green beans
• Bocconcini cheese
• Puffed corn
• Yoghurt

Classic Pistou

• 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 1/2 cups basil leaves, torn into pieces (2 ounces)
• 1/4 cup oarsely grated plum tomatoes
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup inely rated Mimolette or slightly aged Gouda (3 ounces)

In a large mortar, pound the garlic with the salt to a paste. Add the basil by the handful and grind the leaves against the side of the mortar until almost smooth. Stir in the tomatoes, then gradually stir in the olive oil until it's incorporated. Stir in the cheese and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Fruit Loaf

• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup self raising flour
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup sugar (can be reduced to 1/2 cup)
• 1 cup fruit medley (mixed fruit)

Combine all ingredients and bake in a loaf pan for 40 mins at 180 ° C.

Pinwheel Scones

• 3 cups plain flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• pinch salt
• 50 g cold butter, grated
• 1 cup buttermilk
• extra milk for brushing

Fillings (Choose whatever fillings kids like, it is very versatile)

• 2 tbsp pesto
• 1/2 cup grated parmesean
• Chopped ham and pineapple
• 1 cup grated cheese
• zucchini
• sundried tomatoes
• parmesean
• Dates
• cinnamon

Preheat oven 200 ° C. Grease baking sheet

Sift flour baking powder and salt into large bowl. Add butter and rub through to create coarse crumbs. Pour in buttermilk slowly and mix to create soft dough. Knead briefly on floured bench.

Divide into 2 pieces. Roll each piece into a 1cm thick rectangle and spread with filling. Roll up and cut into 1 cm lengths cut side up.

Brush with milk.

Bake 10-12 minutes until they have risen and are golden.