Not just another Grand Final party..........

If you are hosting a Grand Final party this Saturday, I urge you, please please please think outside the square when it comes to your footy party food! Don't expose your guests to yet another frozen party pie or sausage roll! Give them a Grand Final party to remember and incorporate a little bit of gourmet into the mix. But better still incorporate this years hottest party trends into your party to give your guests something to really cheer for! Potato chips don't just have to be potato chips, party pies don't have to be just the same old party pies, and beer snacks do not just need to be your boring old beer snacks! Ive put together some simple ideas as some food for thought, some more simple than others, but each with their own individual wow factors!

Get Gourmet!
Yes OK, I admit it, a little food prep will be involved here, but roll your sleeves up and cast aside the frozen pre packaged rubbish and make your own gourmet party pies, sausage rolls, hot dogs and even potato skins. Nothing beats a homemade pie with pastry from scratch. Explore different flavours with Mini Beef and Guinness Pies, Moroccan Lamb pies, or how about Ale and Cider Pork Party Pies?!

Create a Food Station! 

You've heard be babble on about how hot food stations are this year, so why not incorporate one into your Grand Final party? This is where you can dress up the easy frozen or packet food but make it look gourmet. How about a potato chip bar, or better still a hot chip bar with different sauces and herbs and spices to coat them in? Let your guests build their own gourmet hot dogs with their choices of condiments and relishes. All very simple to set up yet can look very impressive with the right serving ware....think tin buckets or brightly coloured pails, paper cones made wrapped in newspaper, or even simple noodle boxes.

"Get your hot donuts!"

Footy wouldn't be footy without hot jam donuts! But don't buy them, give them the homemade touch and make your own! And get creative with your flavours too, they do not just have to be filled with jam, check out our recipe for Turkish delight flavoured donuts here. But donuts don't just have to be donuts either.....they could be hot dogs too! Combine two footy favourites into one tasty snack, like the maple bacon wrapped hot dogs in a donut bun featured below. Heart attack on a plate I know, but it is one of those 'wild pairings' that may just need to be tried!

Mix the sweet with the savoury!

We all get a bit crazy around this time of year, so why not get a bit crazy with your footy snack foods too! I love these ideas I found of choc dipped potato chips and these very out there bar snacks by themoonlightbaker.com, set with pretzel crust, smoked almond blondie base, potato chip top and dark chocolate drizzle! Wow what a mouthful! Or if you are short on time after all your baking, just simply dip some pretzels in chocolate, get our recipe here.

The Pinterest board with full image credits and loads more inspiration can be found here. 
Happy Grand Final Day!

It's a wrap!

Its taken us just under 3 months, but we've done it! We've now completed every 'sweet treat craze of 2013' giving you all great little recipes or ideas to try at home and ensure you are up there trending with the latest when it comes to desserts and sweet treats. It was back in June when Mr Meko and I read the article that featured in the Herald Sun on the top sweet treats for the year (read it here), and 3 months later, and dare I say it a couple of kilos heavier, we've covered them all off. 

I thought I would summarise for you the list and the links to the different blogs for easy access to your favourite recipes and ideas. We've had some great feedback on them all via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest and have more than proved that these flavours and ideas are all very hot right now.

Marshmallows

Popcorn 

Caramel  

Peanut Butter

Sweets on a Stick

Ombre Cakes

Winter Ice cream Flavours

Peek-a-boo cakes

Honey

Donuts

Wild Pairings

So Mr Meko and I are now going to retreat from the sweets for a couple of weeks and try and get our diets back on track......eeeeeek sugar detox! But we were glad to be the test dummies for you all over the last few months......now get baking! x

A Rocky Road to go Crais-y about!

I decided this year for the annual Fathers Day family get-together to whip up a batch of rocky road, not only to share with the family but also to gift to my lovely Dad (he just loves it!). But rather than the traditional rocky road of peanuts, marshmallows and glace cherries we decided to put a different spin on it. Standing in the fruit and nut section of the supermarket yesterday, Mr Meko and I brainstormed different combinations of fruit and nuts that might work well together. Apricot and coconut? Dried pear and fig? I think even blue cheese and fig got thrown out there as an idea! Eeeek!! But when Mr Meko  suggested craisins, macadamia nuts and coconut, I knew it would be a winning combo......and needless to say it definitely was a hit! So I thought I would share the recipe for you to try. All too easy (as any rocky road recipe is) and just a little bit different. 

Enjoy x

Craisin, Macadamia & Coconut Rocky Road

325g pink & white marshmallows
150g craisins
100g moist coconut flakes
225g macadamia halves (roasted in the oven)
300g dark couverture chocolate
375g milk chocolate melts

1. Grease and line a small baking tray with silicon paper.

2. Melt your milk and dark chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until melted.

3. Meanwhile, place you marshmallows, craisins, coconut and macadamia nuts in a bowl. Pour 3/4 of your chocolate over the dry ingredients and mix well to cover.

4. Pour your mix out into your tray and spread out. Pour the remaining chocolate over the top and smooth out using a spatula.

5. Place in the refrigerator until set. 
N.B Cover with glad wrap once set to avoid the chocolate sweating. 

6. Cut into chunks and serve.