Blog - Page 12 of 19 - The Kiwi Country Girl

The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (ever!)

July 28, 2016 By Laura 109 Comments

The best homemade chewy chocolate chip cookies! Basic ingredients, 1 bowl, no softened butter, no chilling, just 25 minutes between you and cookie perfection!

The actual best chewy chocolate chocolate chip cookies in the world ever. No mixer, no chilling, no fuss, just 20 minutes between you and cookie perfection! | thekiwicountrygirl.com

Let's talk cookies, or more specifically, the BEST chewy chocolate chip cookies ever.

I am a firm believer that everyone needs a solid chocolate chip cookie recipe that you know by heart and make on a semi (or very) regular basis, and I'm happy to report that THESE are those cookies!

You guys know by now how much I love cookies - we've made homemade versions of so many favourites like oreos stuffed with different flavoured icing, the nostalgic 100's & 1000's biscuits of our 90's childhoods, delicious peppermint flavoured mint slices and even jam filled Shrewsbury biscuits. Well, as much as I love making them, the cookies that are on almost a weekly baking schedule in our house are these ones.

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Cold Fighting Citrus Green Smoothie

July 25, 2016 By Laura 11 Comments

Beat the winter ills & chills with this cold fighting citrus green smoothie - oranges, lemon, ginger, pineapple & spinach make a delicious healthy smoothie.

Ok, I'm officially ready for winter to take a hike. It's probably only because we are having the wettest winter in ages! The ground is soggy, the animals are muddy and I am sick of having wet feet. Where are my frosty morning-turning into beautiful crisp winter days at??

Also, I have a scratchy throat and sitting inside looking at the rain makes you start feeling a little bit sorry for yourself. 3 weeks ago it was summer!

When I start feeling a bit under the weather I do everything I can to avoid taking cold & flu medicine...I have a super hippy dippy attitude towards stuff like that. Don't get me wrong, if it gets really bad I'll be popping pills all day but if I can stop it in it's tracks with a more natural remedy I am all for it. [Read more...]

Homemade Marinara Sauce

July 21, 2016 By Laura 14 Comments

Homemade marinara sauce - the easiest way to make dinner on a Sunday. Throw the ingredients in a pot and simmer away. Simple, delicious & versatile!

Homemade marinara sauce aka the best sauce ever that you can put with eeeeeeeverything!! Spaghetti, in lasagne, enchiladas, on pizza,with meatballs to be served with the previously mentioned and smothered spaghetti or even put in a sub? Yes please to all of the above.

This is Sunday cooking at it's best. Let the sauce simmer away on the stove filling your house with delicious smells making it out like you're in a small Italian village and this is what you do everyday because cooking is life. And so is this sauce. [Read more...]

Homemade French Vanilla Coffee Creamer

July 18, 2016 By Laura 6 Comments

Homemade French Vanilla Coffee Creamer - the best flavour of coffee creamer just got an easy homemade twist - 3 ingredients, 2 minutes - it's the most delicious cup of coffee ever!

If you are someone who is happy with just a splash of milk in your morning coffee, I am so sorry. Coffee will never be the same again. But if you are someone who loves a splash of coffee creamer - in particular French vanilla, you are in luck. Your favourite creamer just got made from scratch - it's homemade French vanilla coffee creamer!

America has definitely got a lot to answer for. Not only am I sure I gained weight (I refuse to get on the scales!) I have also come back with insatiable cravings for so many of the delicious things we ate over there.

The first morning we were in the States we went down for our standard issue Holiday Inn complimentary breakfast and 2 awesome things happened. 1. They had a waffle maker aaaand the waffles were in the shape of Texas. Mind. Blown. And 2. Sitting right next to the coffee machine were teeny little serves of French vanilla coffee creamer. I usually don't even put sugar in my coffee but these little packets of vanilla-y sweetness made that cup of coffee. Every morning after that I kept my eyes out and if the breakfast had it, I had it. No more boring milk in my coffee, it was sweet vanilla coffee all the time. [Read more...]

Pumpkin Week Recipe Round-Up

July 15, 2016 By Laura 6 Comments

What better way to end Pumpkin Week than with a round up of all of my favourite pumpkin recipes from around the internet...it's the first annual Pumpkin Week Recipe Round-Up!!

Surely by now you must all agree with me that pumpkin is the best vegetable...right? 😉

Before we make anything with pumpkins, we need to know how to prepare a whole pumpkin

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Pumpkin Spice Granola

July 13, 2016 By Laura 9 Comments

Enjoy the flavours of fall at any time of year with this healthy homemade Pumpkin Spice Granola! It's super easy to make, full of flavour and extra goodies like pumpkin seeds, quinoa and cranberries...it's autumn in a bowl!

It's the return of homemade granola! I know how much y'all (yes, I came back from our USA trip speaking Southern) love your homemade granola - honey nut, mocha java, peanut butter & banana. Today I bring you the pumpkin version...pumpkin spice granola! Because duh, it's Pumpkin Week!!

It's sweet, spicy and full of extra goodies - pumpkin seeds, crunchy quinoa and juicy cranberries. It's autumn in a bowl! Makes you just want to dive right into it and eat your way out through all the deliciousness right?! Just me? Ohhh k sorry.

Also, in other completely non food related news, I sort of snapped the aerial off the top of my car yesterday when I was taking the cover off to stop my windscreen from frosting (winter's fault). Does this mean I can't listen to the radio anymore? No more getting over the top excited when my favourite song comes on and singing super loud to it even though I have it right there on my phone and can listen to it any time I want? Also, can I fix this? Or do I just get a whole new car? (kiiiinda angling for this option!) Help? Really though, Josh can probably fix it but I'm hoping if I get an army of "get a new car" behind me we may have a case... 😉 [Read more...]

Thai Spiced Pumpkin Soup

July 12, 2016 By Laura 9 Comments

Easy and delicious, thick and creamy pumpkin soup with a spicy kick - Thai spiced pumpkin soup!

Pumpkin Week, Pumpkin Week, Pumpkin Week!

Are you guys LOVING Pumpkin Week as much as I am? I mean I know it's only day 2, but so far so good right?

I actually think this is something that's going to become annual...except will we maybe be more organised and actually have it in autumn next year so that we can appreciate the pumpkiness all winter long? Yes, I think so.

But pumpkin soup...it's only just cold enough now to be thinking about soup and you know that I am in full blown denial about it getting cold until I can't feel my toes anymore, so autumn and soup don't really go together for me. But now that I've been thrown into the depths of winter and I have given in and started wearing closed in shoes to work I'm ready for soup. And what better way to kick off soup season that with Thai spiced pumpkin soup! That, and the fact that I have cute new ~~bowls~~ 1 bowl (it was expensive) that I have been dying to put something pretty into. Case closed. [Read more...]

How to roast a whole pumpkin (homemade pumpkin puree)

July 11, 2016 By Laura 3 Comments

Here is a simple step by step tutorial showing you how to roast a whole pumpkin and how to make pumpkin puree! Perfect for pies, breads, muffins and all of your autumn pumpkin recipes!

Welcome to pumpkin week!! Yes, seriously. It's a week with ALLTHEPUMPKINTHINGS which is actually just me showcasing my love for my favourite vegetable!! I know it's more of an autumn/fall thing but we had such a mild autumn that I wasn't ready for cosy things before we went on our trip so now that we're back, and it's cold and we're ready to start getting excited about spicy smells and hot bowls of warming goodness, let's do pumpkin!

But first, how was your weekend? I spent a pretty good part of mine snuggling our 6 week old niece. She could not be any cuter if she tried! We also spent a bit of time replanting our polytunnel vege garden...somebody's puppies got in there while we were away and had a bit of fun digging some holes...big ones! It's lucky they're so cute otherwise they would have been in big trouble!

Ok, time for pumpkin! I know I'm only going to appeal to about 50% of people when I announce how firmly I sit in team "pumpkin is sweet & savoury". But really...pie - yes, granola - yes, muffins - yes, pumpkin cinnamon rolls? Yes. And then...roast pumpkin, pumpkin lasagne, pumpkin soup, pumpkin salad. Yes, yes, yes and yes. Pumpkin in everything.

I had a conversation with a girl I work with the other day (hey Emma!) about how I think pumpkin is the most versatile vegetable in terms of how many different things it can go in - both sweet & savoury. She didn't think so and said she was going to come back to me when she had thought of a better one. I'm still waiting Emma, which means pumpkin wins.

So if we're going to be making pumpkin everything, we need to know how to deal with these beauties. Because as pretty as they are, they can be kind of a pain to prepare. Giant pumpkin + small knife = big problem. And do you peel them? Boil, bake, roast? And then there are the seeds....gah!

Chill out...we've got this. Let's learn how to roast a whole pumpkin and make pumpkin puree...with minimum fuss! [Read more...]

Key Lime Pie Cheesecake Bars

July 7, 2016 By Laura Leave a Comment

Well, we've been back in the country for 3 days and I'm ready to go back on holiday. Take me baaaaaaack to summer! Not helping the situation, 1 workmate + majority of my family are currently en route to sunny spots around the globe. Major unwarranted jealousy happening right now.

Lucky for us we have 2 puppies that were actually out of control, beside themselves excited to see us when we got home which totally made coming home worth it! Sage was so cute, she hung out with us all afternoon, we put her to bed and then the next morning when I went to let her off she got excited all over again...it was almost like she thought it may have been a dream that we were home, but then when she realised we were actually still there it was the best morning ever! Well, that's kind of what I imagine was happening in her head. You start thinking weird things when you become a puppy parent.

Anywhoooo less of the puppy talk because, um yes this is a food blog, and more about dessert. Even though I am pretty sure that most of you are here to see pictures of these guys more than anything amiright?? 100% ok with that.

So, key lime pie cheesecake bars. They are limey and cheesecakey and ultimately delicious buuuut technically speaking they aren't key limes. [Read more...]

Easy Banana Bread

July 1, 2016 By Laura 79 Comments

Classic easy banana bread recipe made in 1 bowl, and is ready to eat in 1 hour! It's the perfect way to use up overripe bananas and bake for the freezer. Adjust the amount of sugar to your taste and customise the recipe by adding walnuts for crunch or chocolate chips for the ultimate flavour combination!

Classic easy banana bread recipe made in 1 bowl, and is ready to eat in 1 hour! | recipe at thekiwicountrygirl.com

Grab those ugly brown bananas that have been forgotten in your fruit bowl...today we're making easy banana bread!

This easy banana bread recipe is one of my current favourites and is on regular baking rotation in my kitchen. There are so many things I love to bake, but when you just need to whip up something delicious quickly and without having to think too hard about it, you need a few back pocket recipes that you know will deliver the goods every time without fail. Chewy chocolate chip cookies fall into that category for me, along with white chocolate and raspberry muffins and of course this banana bread.

It's made in 1 bowl, and is ready to eat in 1 hour - minimal dishes, minimal hands on time and maximum reward when you take the first bite, even after you slightly burn your fingers cutting into it before it's cooled enough because who can resist fresh out of the oven banana bread? No one.

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Sage & Tilly

June 28, 2016 By Laura 4 Comments

So I'm not really sure how it happened but in the space of 6 weeks we went from having no puppies to having 2 puppies!! How lucky are we!! In case you hadn't read about it already Sage is our black lab pup and Tilly is Josh's dad's new Huntaway farm pup. And these two!! They are the most mischievous little pups in the world.

It was love at first sight - in a play fighting/not sure if they're seriously fighting sometimes kinda way. We thought they could be cute and sleep together which was hilarious. Poor Tilly was so tired after playing but Sage wouldn't let her sleep...she just wanted to play! So like little kids, they have separate kennels now!

They are really good at winding up Sue, our older farm dog who does NOT like playing.

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Best Ever Fluffy Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

June 24, 2016 By Laura 11 Comments

I have a real breakfast treat for you today guys.

Best. Ever! Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes.

It's not going to come as any surprise to you at all that Josh doesn't like pancakes. Sweet things for breakfast are most definitely off the menu for him. I on the other hand am a HUGE pancake/waffles/anything covered in syrup for breakfast kinda girl.

It's taken me about a year to nail the perfect pancakes. Mostly because week day mornings and pancakes are not friends and slow lazy weekend breakfasts take one of two directions. 1. We get up and make bacon & eggs because Josh is a boy and that's what he likes or 2. we get up so late that we are in dire need of coffee and drink 4 litres of it and then don't really feel like eating so breakfast kind of turns into lunch.

Yooooou know.

Life. [Read more...]

Classic Mojito

June 21, 2016 By Laura 8 Comments

My version of a classic mojito - my all time favourite cocktail, perfect for summer, holidays or honeymoons! Make one or make a pitcher to serve a crowd!

We are on our honeymoon, so what better way to celebrate being married and on holiday than with a classic mojito!

Everyone has a favourite cocktail right? Well, mine has always and probably will always, be mojitos. The crispness of the mint, the tanginess of the lime and the bubbles. And nothing screams summer vacation like a tropical white rum mojito.

Even Josh likes them...fancy! [Read more...]

Cranberry Almond Snack Bars

June 16, 2016 By Laura 12 Comments

Crunchy, full of flavour and chock full of goodness these Cranberry Almond Snack Bars are the perfect healthy snack!

I am officially "that person" who takes their own food on the plane. Gah! Am I 90 years old? No. Do I have 5 children in tow? No. Do I care? Nope! Because I had cranberry almond snack bars to keep me satisfied on the whole. 13. and a half. hour flight. Phew. Side note <--- look how optimistic I was...I 100% ran out of time to make these before we left...other things took priority, you know...packing my bag 2 hours before we left...

Buuuut on the plus side, we're on our honeymoon!! Wheeeeeee!!!

I'm going to keep it brief because as I write this we are 5 days away from going on our trip and I'm currently in the middle of writing out alllll the posts so that even though I'm away, you guys won't know it! I've got all sorts of goodies lined up for you to add a little sunshine to the winter cold...think of me, in 30 degrees+ weather, and don't be too jealous! [Read more...]

May in photos

June 13, 2016 By Laura Leave a Comment

First things first - if you follow me on snapchat (username laurathorrold...find me!) you may have seen that we have another puppy!! She's not really ours, she is Josh's dads new farm pup but as we are all on the same property and because Sage is such a social butterfly it's pretty much like we have 2 puppies.

I actually can't handle to cuteness overload that is happening at our house right now. Sorry in advance for the 100's of puppy posts that are coming your way.

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Salted Caramel Kettle Corn Epic Milkshake {with pretzels!}

June 9, 2016 By Laura 2 Comments

Salted Caramel Kettle Corn Epic Milkshake!!! With pretzels!!!

I have your attention right? I guess I'm feeling the movie snacks at the moment. Kettle corn anyone? Maybe it's because we're getting ready to get on a plane and watch movies for 13 whole hours while I'll be sad - (not about being on the plane!! - but wishing I had these sorts of ridiculous things to snack on, whiiiiich I won't. "Uh, ma'am, you can't take that epic milkshake through customs..." Dammit!

I think it goes without saying that this is pretty much the worst thing you could possibly eat today. But it's winter, we are not wearing bikinis and we're snuggled up on the couch watching movies. With slippers and a couch blanket. And puppies??? Please! Not us 🙁

Unless Josh isn't home...hehe 😉

So we're in camp "I don't care what I eat today as long as it makes me feel good" right? Great. Because Josh totally confirmed this and claimed that this is possibly the worst thing for you that I have ever made. Agreed. [Read more...]

Homemade Kettle Corn (plus the secret to perfectly popped popcorn!)

June 6, 2016 By Laura 2 Comments

Today I ruined Josh's favourite food. I am the meanest wife in the world. But the good news is, if you love kettle corn like me, you're in luck! We are making homemade kettle corn aaaaand I've got the secret to perfectly popped popcorn. No popcorn maker needed. Just good old fashioned stove top popcorn. Let's be kids again!

Josh's favourite food is actually movie popcorn. As in, he will buy the biggest bucket of buttered popcorn you can get and I have to get my own small one.

No sharing.

Apparently I missed the memo that "what's yours is mine" does not apply to movie snacks. Which doesn't actually bother me too much. I'm more of a kettle corn kinda girl (especially when you throw a bag of Maltesers through it...do it!)

If you're unfamiliar with kettle corn, it's basically popcorn with salt and sugar. Team salty & sweet strikes again. Don't get me wrong, I do love buttered popcorn but kettle corn is my jam. [Read more...]

Cheesy Spinach, Mushroom & Feta Quiche

June 2, 2016 By Laura 13 Comments

This cheesy spinach, mushroom & feta quiche is the one thing I could eat for lunch everyday of my life and be excited about it.

Ok maybe not the one thing. Probably more like one of the many things in a cycle of "omg this is the best thing ever." Eat it exclusively for 2 weeks. Make something new. Start cycle again. Anyone else?

What's really getting me is that this food is actually breakfast, lunch and dinner. YES!! Make one, eat it all day, win at life.

I know you've been hanging out to put something in the pie crust we made earlier in the week...well here it is. My absolute favourite cheesy spinach, mushroom & feta quiche. I've made this quiche 3 times in the last 2 weeks. All in the name of recipe testing for you guys....uh, yea that's why (see above ;)) [Read more...]

Homemade All Butter Pie Crust

May 30, 2016 By Laura

How to make the best homemade all butter pie crust. This simple recipe uses no shortening and is perfect for sweet or savoury pies!

Before I turn your attention to the novel on how to make homemade all butter pie crust I have really cool news - Josh & I are officially an uncle & aunty!!! Josh's brother's wife had a little baby girl on Sunday morning...it's the first baby in our family so as you can imagine we are all SUPER excited!!

Right...I'm having a moment with sweet pie.

Any pie. Apple, pumpkin, chocolate? Maybe not after The Help.

It's a new thing for me because typically in New Zealand, pie is a savoury thing.

Mince pies, mince and cheese pies, steak and cheese pies, maybe if you're feeling super adventurous a butter chicken pie from Wild Bean. But other than those pathetic little apple pie wannabes from McDonald's, sweet pies are few and far between.

Well, I'ma change that.

I'm officially becoming a sweet pie girl. I don't know if it's because in a couple of short weeks I will be heading back to the USA where I became obsessed with so many new foods last time I was there but not pie (!!?) so I feel like I have some making up to do.

I'm gonna eat alllllll the pies. [Read more...]

March & April in photos

May 26, 2016 By Laura Leave a Comment

Whoops...it's been ages since I've done a monthly round-up post! Sage has kind of taken over our lives so I could pretty much just show you pictures of her and that would be it...you're cool with that right?

Please? She's so cute!!

So other than puppy snuggles here are a few of my favourite moments of the last couple of months.

I remembered how much I love autumn with all the harvesting to do! Apples that went in these bars, pumpkins that went in this salad, beets...all my favourite things! I've been obsessing over autumn baking and flavours...I'm working on lots of things with delicious warm cosy spices...think chai, pumpkin spice and LOTS of cinnamon.

Don't forget, I love getting requests for recipes so if there is anything you would like to see, let me know! [Read more...]

Chocolate Chili Cookies

May 23, 2016 By Laura 5 Comments

These Chocolate Chili Cookies are a twist on a classic. Soft and chewy chocolate cookies with a hint of chili and cinnamon plus chili chocolate chunks!

Does it seem a little weird to you that the girl who puts the teeniest amount of chili powder in enchilada sauce is suddenly adding chili powder to cookies?? Yea, me too. But I've become a bit obsessed with spices lately. Not just any old spices but the warm autumny kind of spices that make you feel all cosy inside...you know, chai things, chili things, cinnamon everything.

The killer blow was when I got into a conversation with my workmate (the one who I am blaming 100% for my current chai latte addiction) about the combination of chili and chocolate. I haven't been able to get it out of my head since! And then a block of Whittaker's Kaitaia Fire Chili Spice chocolate just happened to jump into my trolley at the supermarket.

It was fate.

Chocolate chili cookies were going to be a thing.

Poor Josh. When I told him that I was making chocolate chili cookies he pretty much did a double take. That guy is a farmer through and through. Don't be messing with his food by spicing it up. So when I was testing these cookies I made plain chocolate cookies to get the texture right and then made them with the spices. He like the plain ones. Duh. Which was awesome. Lots for me and my work taste-testers! In his defence Josh did try them, but he thought they were weird. High praise.

At least everyone else thought they were awesome...so....you know. [Read more...]

Honey Mustard Ham & Cheese Pizza Rolls

May 20, 2016 By Laura 10 Comments

An easy recipe for ham & cheese pizza rolls with honey mustard sauce...perfect for entertaining, after school snacks or weekend lunch!

I'm having a bit of a moment with bread right now. Lately, our kitchen has actually become a bakery. And by bakery I mean permanently flour covered surfaces, dough rising in weird places and ciabatta, bread rolls, banana bread, croissants, you name it, coming out my ears. I don't know what it is but I am obsessing over bread. I need to make allthebreadthings. Like, right now. Seriously, my weekly shop makes it look like I am anticipating a worldwide shortage of flour and yeast. Which, given the state of my kitchen is probably kinda accurate.

Also, there have been some failures. I'm talking a loaf of bread that spreads out over the entire baking tray, a cloud of smoke coming out of my oven because when you bake croissants on a flat baking tray the butter kinda starts melting and goes everywhere covering the bottom of your oven and setting off the smoke alarms. But, homemade croissants...I'm still winning right? They tasted good. And my oven totally needed to be cleaned anyway.

But the good news is that my house officially smells incredible. All the time!

Lucky we're coming into winter and I'm going to need allthebreadthings to eat with allthesoups I'm about to make. I'm gonna be busy!

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Chocolate Caramel Slice

May 17, 2016 By Laura 6 Comments

This slice is an absolute Kiwi classic and is one of our all time favourites. Perfect for a shared morning tea or for an extra special treat!

Triple layer chocolate caramel slice - coconut base, gooey caramel filling & dark chocolate topping

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Homemade Oreos (Vanilla, Mint & Peanut Butter Flavoured!)

May 12, 2016 By Laura 12 Comments

Oreos, oreos, oreos!

Homemade oreos!!!

Guys, I haven't been this excited since I made these! But I'm super super excited to share these homemade oreos with you...and to make them even better, not only have we nailed the classic chocolate vanilla oreo, we have mint filling...and peanut butter!!

Life goals complete.

I don't buy a lot of cookies but if I do, it's always Oreos. Mostly because I like using them to make other things (hey, cheesecake crust) but also because they're delicious. So of course, I had to make them.

When I decided I wanted to give these a go I thought about how to get the cookies perfectly round. Rolling out the dough, cutting circles and then transferring them to a tray seemed tedious and time consuming so I racked my brains until I remembered my Mum's super simple slice & bake cookies. Duh! Make a round roll of cookie dough and just slice em up. Perfect! I even used pretty much the same recipe, just subbing out the brown sugar and adding cocoa powder...and lots of it to get that super dark chocolately colour and flavour of oreos. [Read more...]