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Growing Strawberries in Raised Beds

August 22, 2018 By Laura 1 Comment

I've already given you my top tips for planting strawberries, now let me show you how we are growing strawberries in raised beds this year!

If you saw my post a few weeks ago about how to grow strawberries, you'll be feeling well equipped to plant strawberries in your garden this year. We have grown strawberries for a few years now but this year we have decided to do it a little differently. Today I thought I would share with you how we are growing our strawberries in raised garden bed...strawberry farm style! This is a total experiment for us (as is all of my gardening!) but I thought it would be fun to share so that you can see how it works!

Our strawberries have always done extremely well - until last year when we somehow ended up with wild strawberries growing rampant in our patch. Not only did they take over the entire garden, they didn't even produce any berries! As our strawberry plants were due to be replaced anyway, we decided to pull everything out and start over and we figured we would take this opportunity to set up our plants to try and maximise our berry production!...

Oven Baked BBQ Pork Ribs

August 19, 2018 By Laura 2 Comments

Oven baked BBQ pork ribs using my homemade dry rub recipe. They are slow cooked in the oven for 3 hours before being smothered in a made from scratch BBQ sauce, making them melt in your mouth delicious!

Remember how you were under strict instructions to make a batch of my homemade BBQ Spice Rub earlier in the week to prepare you for something epic? Well, the time has come, so if you missed the memo, RUN! Go and make the spice mix because you are not going to want to miss out on making these oven baked BBQ Pork Ribs today!

These are the ribs that I harped on about a few days ago. The ones that I had been making for almost a year before I really nailed the recipe. This is it. Because obviously I wouldn't let you make subpar ribs - Josh doesn't let me make subpar ribs!...

BBQ Spice Rub

August 14, 2018 By Laura 10 Comments

Easy to make, flavourful BBQ Spice Rub! Perfect for ribs, chicken, beef and more! It also makes a great homemade gift for anyone who loves to BBQ!

BBQ Spice Rub is not something that was ever really on my radar. Sure in New Zealand we do a lot of barbequing but it's more of a "throw a steak on the barbie and you're good to go" kind of situation. Simple, summery and perfect.

But then in 2016 we travelled to the Southern USA and came to the realisation that without even knowing, our lives had been totally devoid of real barbeque. In the Southern states we visited - Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee - barbeque is more than just a method of cooking, it's practically a religion. We ate more spicy, slow cooked, basted and completely delicious meat in 3 weeks than we ever had before. And we were converted....

Double Chocolate Muffins

August 10, 2018 By Laura 2 Comments

The best recipe for double chocolate muffins! Simple ingredients, quick to make and super chocolatey. Enjoy now or freeze for a quick portable snack!

I'm not totally sure why it has taken me this long to get a recipe for double chocolate muffins up here. I have plenty of other easy muffin recipes - blueberry muffins, raspberry & white chocolate muffins, banana chocolate chip muffins and more but it's taken a while to get this one perfect. Well good news for you...it's perfect! Yay for double chocolate muffins! ...

10 Reasons to Keep Backyard Chickens

August 7, 2018 By Laura 1 Comment

If you're thinking about getting chickens but still need a little convincing, (or need to convince someone else!) here is our list of 10 reasons to keep backyard chickens!

I had never been that fussed on chickens - to be completely honest with you, they kind of freaked me out a little. But when we stayed with my aunt & uncle who keep chickens and saw how great it was being able to just go out to the backyard and collect the fresh eggs everyday I was sold. We got home and within a few weeks plans were in motion for our chooks and we have never looked back. I love having chickens so much that I even managed to sell the idea to a couple of my workmates who got a few of their own - and they live in the city!

But if you need a little convincing, here are 10 reasons to keep backyard chickens (townies included!)...

Crusty No-Knead Bread

August 2, 2018 By Laura 18 Comments

Kicking off the Monthly Bread Baking Challenge with this super easy, 4 ingredient, crusty No-Knead Bread recipe! Mix the ingredients, leave overnight, shape and bake the next day! You'll all be bread makers in no time!

Welcome to the first Monthly Bread Baking Challenge!

In case you missed the intro post yesterday, here's a recap:

Monthly Bread Baking Challenge:

At the beginning of each month I will post a new recipe for a different type of bread. We will start slowly, and work out way up to more complicated recipes. Each recipe post will be accompanied by step by step photos and instructions, tips and tricks and a video showing you exactly how to do it.
I want you to bake the same recipe that month and share it with me! Comment on the post letting me know how you got on, email me, or share a picture on Instagram (and if you do, tag it #thekiwicountrygirl)

So let's get right into it! Homemade, crusty no-knead bread!...

Monthly Bread Baking Challenge

August 1, 2018 By Laura 4 Comments

If you've been following along for a while, you may remember that way back in the dark ages of this blog, I did a Homemade Challenge. I had just started the blog, was starting to grow an interest in cooking and making food from scratch at home and I wanted to challenge myself to make something entirely from scratch, once a week that I would normally buy from the supermarket.

So many awesome recipes came out of that year, and so many that I still use all the time now. Burrito Spice Mix, Chicken Stock, Vanilla Ice-Cream, Vanilla Extract and more. I even have an ebook with 14 of my favourite recipes that I send when you sign up for my email list!

I've been thinking for a while about another similar type of challenge I could take on, I asked on my Instagram and in my Facebook group and the answer was clear...you guys want to know how to bake bread! This makes me SO happy, as bread baking is something I've recently started getting really into and is an area that I would love to learn more about. ...

Cheesy One Pan Mince Pasta

July 27, 2018 By Laura 83 Comments

This easy, cheesy one pan mince pasta is going to be your new go-to quick weeknight meal. 30 minutes from start to finish and everything (including the pasta) is cooked in one pan!

Close up of scoop of cheesy mince pasta with herbs on top

I have to tell you, I am seriously considering not ever posting another dinner recipe on this blog ever again. We are so outright obsessed with this cheesy one pan mince pasta that I am struggling to think how I am going to top this.

Not only is it the ultimate comfort food situation, it also wins ALL the prizes for being speedy, cost efficient, easy to cook and ONE PAN!! We have been eating this at least once a week for the last couple of months and it's got to the point where I don't even erase it from the blackboard meal planner because it has well and truly earned a permanent spot there.

This recipe was originally going to be a mince pasta bake - it's such a classic family meal. But then I remembered that I hate doing dishes and knew that there had to be a way to avoid the frying pan + pasta pot + baked on cheese in the oven dish situation. Lightbulb. Throw the uncooked pasta into the mince when you add the sauce ingredients, cover up and let it do it's thing.

It's a miracle. The pasta cooks PERFECTLY in the sauce. I am never cooking pasta in a pot ever again.

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Mocha Energy Bites

July 24, 2018 By Laura 4 Comments

Healthy Mocha Energy Bites - a quick easy & healthy snack made with walnuts, rolled oats and coffee and without dates! Easy to make, easier to eat and the perfect afternoon pick me up!

Can I admit something to you? I'm a bit sick of dates. I love the idea of recipes being made healthy but I find that a lot of the time, the dates totally take over and actually leave you feeling like you've eaten something way more sickly than a real life salted caramel cupcake and wishing you'd just gone for that option. Anyone else?

And while we're having a bit of a rant session (just me?) I am still a little lost on the whole bliss ball thing. Not the concept, just the name. It's very deceptive! I mean, no offense to bliss balls but my idea of bliss certainly isn't a mixture of nuts and dried fruit masquerading as dessert. Bliss is a piece of creamy no bake peanut butter cup cheesecake bars and a glass of wine with the kids at the grandparents, am I right??...

How To Grow Strawberries

July 20, 2018 By Laura 18 Comments

If you want fresh strawberries in your garden this summer it's time to plant! Here is my easy guide with 5 quick tips, plus answers to some common questions to help you grow the best strawberries this season!

Is there anything better than strawberries in summer? We love strawberries in our house - they're delicious on granola for breakfast, with ice cream for dessert or as a quick snack at any time of day and nothing beats a strawberry picked straight off the plant. And I want you to experience the joy that is freshly picked strawberries so I've put together a guide that covers everything you need to know about how to grow strawberries!

The great thing about growing strawberries is that they are really easy! You can pretty well just plant them and let them do their thing but to ensure you get the most out of your strawberry plants I've got 5 quick tips for success and I've also answered some common questions that you may have when it comes to growing strawberries.

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10 Tips For An Epic 1st Birthday Cake Smash

July 16, 2018 By Laura Leave a Comment

Is it even a 1st birthday without a cake smash? Before you jump in, here are my 10 tips for an epic 1st birthday cake smash so that goes well and is fun for everyone!

Way before Sadie turned 1 I saw these 1st birthday cake smashes popping up all over the place and I knew we would do one for her birthday! It was a lot of fun and something I would highly recommend - the photos are so cute and are definitely something we will love looking back on!

We did learn a bit along the way, so here are the 10 tips to help you create an epic 1st birthday cake smash for your little one!...

Sadie turns one!

July 10, 2018 By Laura Leave a Comment

Yeeeees I know it's been over a month since Sadie turned one but maybe I'm in denial ok?? But this milestone felt like a really big deal...it is a really big deal! 1 whole year! Parenting is so much harder but also so much more rewarding that I ever imagined it would be and even though we were of course celebrating Sadie turning one, we were also celebrating our first year as parents and the fact that we survived...and kept her alive too!

Sadie has been SO busy since the last update....

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Slice

July 5, 2018 By Laura 12 Comments

You only need 5 ingredients and 25 minutes to make this epic No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Slice - it tastes just like peanut butter cups!

This post was originally published in August 2015 – it has been retested, rephotographed, rewritten, and republished (to make it better for you!) in July 2018

For how much of a sweet tooth I have, I am one of those really annoying people who can keep chocolate in the house and not touch it. I was that kid who still had her Christmas chocolate at Easter. I know!! I don’t mean to brag, but my willpower is pretty strong.

But guys...this No-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Slice has been my undoing. I cannot be in the same house, let alone room as this creamy, chocolatey pan of peanut butter cup goodness without inhaling the entire slice. And it’s not just a one off, current favourite either. I first made this slice back in 2015 and it’s been calling my name ever since.

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DIY Ruler Growth Chart

July 2, 2018 By Laura 1 Comment

A step by step tutorial to show you how to make your own DIY Ruler Growth Chart, that can move with you from house to house! No more writing on the door frame!

Do you remember how exciting it was as a kid when it came time to see how much you had grown? As a lifelong shorty I would hang out to see where I was on the chart because any extra height I could get was a huge deal! Like most families, we marked our height on the door frame, and when my parents moved out of our childhood home, that was left behind. I'm definitely not sentimental about it but it did make me think that it would be nice to have a height chart for Sadie (and future kids) that can move with us when that happens.

There are plenty of options to buy some pretty amazing wooden growth charts but they can come with a hefty price tag, so rather than shell out close to $100 for one, I decided to spend around $30 and make one!...

Easy Butter Chicken Recipe

June 25, 2018 By Laura 19 Comments

Have you always wanted to know how to make Indian butter chicken at home? Well now you can with my super easy Butter Chicken recipe. Ready in 30 minutes, and delicious served on white rice with garlic naan on the side. Plus, prepare the spice mix in advance and it's even quicker!

Overhead shot of white bowl with butter chicken and rice with bowl of white rice, naan bread and blue tea towel in background

You know that amazing feeling at the end of a long week, when you are sitting at home on the couch with the whole weekend ahead of you and the biggest decision you are faced with is what to order in for dinner? Well, when you live in the middle of nowhere with no possibility of having any sort of takeout delivered, you've gotta get a bit creative. Because we miss the luxury of takeaways on a Friday night, I'm slowly working my way through the list of our favourite takeout meals and recreating them at home. It's not quite the same, but that's what you get for living in the boonies!

This is my version of the Indian takeaway classic, and one of our favourites - butter chicken. You are going to LOVE it!! While it may not be totally authentic, it's a super simplified recipe and is so quick to make! And both Josh & I think it's as good as any we've had from an Indian place and so much better than any sauce that comes from a jar. There is no marinating involved - mostly because I always get mad when I'm frantically looking for inspiration at 5...ok 6pm and come across a recipe that looks perfect except that I needed to start it 4 hours ago.

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Spinach Blueberry Smoothie {Toddler Approved)

June 20, 2018 By Laura 4 Comments

A 5 minute recipe for a healthy and delicious spinach blueberry smoothie packed with superfood ingredients that is toddler approved!

It took me 5 minutes to make this spinach blueberry smoothie, 10 minutes to take photos of it and 2 minutes to drink it. And then I spent close to an hour stuck on writing this post and trying to figure out how to sell you on this epic spinach blueberry smoothie.

Do I list the health benefits of the powerhouse ingredients? Do I tell you that you won't even notice there is spinach in it? (You won't) Or do I go for the obvious quick, easy and nutritious breakfast/snack angle. And then I realised that I could write one sentence and you would be running for the blender faster than you can say green smoothie.

My one year old will drink this.

The end.

But actually. So if you like the idea of green smoothies for your kids (or for you) but the thought of an actual green coloured drink doesn't appeal, let's talk....

Chicken Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Yoghurt Dressing

June 9, 2018 By Laura 4 Comments

These super easy, 30 minute Chicken Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Yoghurt Dressing are healthy, colourful and packed full of flavour! Perfect for a lazy dinner or meal prep for lunches!

This is the part where you guys say "um, Laura, burrito bowls are sooooo 2015" and the part where I reply "yes I know I'm extremely late to the party as per usual but guuuys!!!"

You need these Chicken Burrito Bowls in your life, today and tomorrow and probably 3 times this week for dinner because they will be the best thing you've eaten in ages. Well, at least since those blondies last week. And not to mention they are so quick and easy you won't actually believe it. But mostly because the chicken in these bowls that is generously coated in my favourite Homemade Burrito Spice Mix is out of this world! And did I mention the dressing? All the drooly and heart eyed emojis.

I don't know about you guys but I'm always a little bit skeptical about recipes that claim they are 30 minute meals. Because do you mean 30 minutes if I'm a trained professional in a shiny stainless steel commercial kitchen with a helper (NOT a toddler "helper") and all of my ingredients prepped and ready for me and also someone reading the recipe to me as I make it, or 30 minutes in my real life kitchen with said toddler hanging off my leg at 5pm HANGRY and nothing ready to go with just a few boring things in the fridge looking out at me as I search for inspiration like "what are you looking at??"...

Raspberry and White Chocolate Blondies

June 3, 2018 By Laura 9 Comments

These easy raspberry and white chocolate blondies with coconut will become a new favourite recipe for your family. Chewy, fudgy blondies studded with tart raspberries, white chocolate chips and coconut!

Do you know what kind of recipes are my favourite kind? The ones that are ready in under an hour, made in 1 bowl and taste good enough that they would be right at home in a fancy bakery. These raspberry and white chocolate blondies with coconut are EXACTLY that!

But first up, what is a blondie?

Simple! A blondie is pretty much the blonde version of a brownie. It's the vanilla to brownie's chocolate! The main difference between a brownie and a blondie is that instead of cocoa powder, there is just vanilla and brown sugar. It's almost like a butterscotch brownie!

They have the same crispy top, the same fudgy and chewy centre, a pretty similar list of basic ingredients and the exact same ability to coerce you into eating way too many pieces in one sitting!

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Healthy Banana Oatmeal Muffins (Blender Recipe)

May 22, 2018 By Laura 7 Comments

Healthy Banana Oatmeal Muffins made in the blender! These sugar free healthy banana muffins are perfect for breakfast on the go and for babies & toddlers! 5 minutes prep time, so easy and delicious!

Something terrible has happened. My baby is ONE!!! Somehow, 1 whole year has just completely disappeared and my squishy little newborn is now a proper little person and not a baby anymore (cue tears streaming down my face)

Ok so that was a little dramatic. It's not terrible - she had to turn 1 eventually. I just can't believe how fast it has come around! And actually, this age is amazing. Sadie is understanding us, using more words (we finally got Mama yesterday!!) and is such a little character. Way more interesting than the little squish that she was a year ago. But still...where has my baby gone?!!!

So way back when she was a teeny tiny little thing and wasn't even eating food I decided that I would hold off giving her sugar until she was 1. Mostly because she's my first child. Clearly, this isn't going to be a long term thing because 1. I don't want her to hate me and 2. I love cupcakes so there's probably only so long I can sneakily eat them without her finding out. So age 1 seemed like a really long time away and she would be such a big kid by then that she could definitely have cake on her birthday....

Homemade Squiggles Biscuits

May 19, 2018 By Laura 7 Comments

Homemade Squiggles Biscuits! Let me show you how to make a Kiwi classic, the Hokey Pokey Squiggles biscuit at home! Crispy cookie base topped with hokey pokey buttercream, hokey pokey pieces, covered in chocolate and squiggled on!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which pay me a small commission for my referral at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting The Kiwi Country Girl.

I just KNOW you guys are going to be as excited about these homemade squiggles biscuits as I am! A few weeks back I asked on my Facebook page which store bought biscuit you wanted me to try and recreate next after how much you all loved Homemade 100's & 1000's Biscuits and Homemade Mint Slices. I was so happy when people asked for Hokey Pokey Squiggles!

If you're not from New Zealand you probably have never heard of these, so let me tell you a little bit about them. I don't buy a lot of biscuits but if I do, squiggles are pretty much the top contender for the spot in the trolley. So when I set out to make them at home, I knew I wouldn't stop until they were just right. Hokey Pokey Squiggles are a plain biscuit (sugar cookie) topped with hokey pokey buttercream, crushed hokey pokey pieces, covered in a milk chocolate shell and topped with a yellow white chocolate squiggle! Even if you're not familiar with them, you will still LOVE these cookies. They're pretty awesome. And so fun!...

DIY Reusable Produce Bags

May 10, 2018 By Laura Leave a Comment

A quick tutorial for DIY Reusable Produce Bags. How to make them, what material to use and simple instructions for a great way to use less plastic bags and reduce waste in your home!

Where do you sit on the waste free living scale? Do you recycle your milk bottles? Do you compost? Do you just throw everything in the rubbish? Or are you like me and own ALL the reusable supermarket bags because leave them in your car so that you're prepared and still forget to actually take them into the supermarket so end up buying more at the checkout?

I've definitely got much better - especially now that a couple of our big supermarkets are planning on getting rid of single use plastic bags....yay! But one thing that isn't quite so easy to get your hands on is reusable produce bags. There are more places now that sell them but I figured, why not make some!...

Feijoa Crumble Slice

April 21, 2018 By Laura 27 Comments

This Feijoa Crumble Slice is the perfect way to celebrate feijoa season! It's a quick easy slice with an oaty base, feijoa filling and a crumble topping that's perfect served as a warm dessert or as a lunchbox snack!

So, I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but the last few days here have felt like we skipped autumn and jumped straight into winter. Not kidding, we went from having the fan on one night, to the heater on in the hallway the next! It literally got freezing overnight! It seems to have eased a bit now but it really has me dreading winter. Over summer I actually forget what it's like to be cold and that little icy blast has me searching for mid-winter flights to tropical locations.

Luckily, now that autumn seems to have returned (for now) I am happy to embrace it, and what better way than with a cosy warm dessert that can also be served up as a lunchbox slice! This Feijoa Crumble Slice is autumn perfection, and is a great way to use up all the tiny feijoas that are too small for bottling. Or eating!...

Life with Sadie - 9-10 months

April 19, 2018 By Laura 4 Comments

It's taking me so long to get around to writing these posts - life with Sadie is so busy, especially now that she's on the move. I always have to keep one eye on her. So many people commented about how little you can get done with a newborn...showering, cooking dinner and general jobs but I honestly couldn't disagree more...I get WAY less done now! When she was tiny I could either wear her in the carrier and she would fall asleep, or I could leave her lying on the floor and she would still be there when I got back 15 minutes later. Not in the bathroom with her hands in the toilet, or in our bedroom putting my phone charging cord in her mouth, or outside letting the dog who actually rolls in poop rub up all against her...you get it. She's trouble!

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Granny's Zucchini Bread Recipe

April 10, 2018 By Laura 12 Comments

My Granny's easy zucchini bread recipe - the only zucchini bread I will ever make! Crunchy on the outside with a super tender crumb and flavour that is out of this world, you won't ever need another zucchini bread recipe!

Sometimes I get super freaked out about how conversations I have in my mind seem to occur at almost the exact same moment with my sisters. Over the last couple of months I've started collecting the recipes from my Granny that I love, thinking that it would be a great idea to get them all up on the blog so that our family has them all in one place. Then the other day, my youngest sister (hey, Claire!) who is at university in Dunedin messaged me asking if I had a recipe for one of Granny's desserts that she used to make for our birthdays. I didn't have that one, so Claire then suggested that maybe we should get all of her recipes, plus my other Grandma's and make a collection of them. Ding!

We've decided that it will be our summer project when she is home but until then, I just HAD to share this one for Granny's zucchini bread. Mostly because we are still working our way through an outrageous amount of zucchini this year. I've frozen some too, so that I can make this zucchini bread all year!

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