Trifle

This is a really easy and delicious trifle I took to our family Christmas gathering.

Ingredients

1 packet of jam rolls
1 packet of jelly
1 vanilla pudding mix
Cream
Strawberries
Bananas

Method

1. Make the vanilla pudding and jelly ahead of time according to the instructions on the packets and put in the fridge to set.
2. Whip the cream using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
3. Place the jam rolls in the bottom of a large bowl.
4. Place the jelly, then the vanilla pudding on top of the jam rolls.
5. Put the whipped cream on top of the vanilla pudding, then decorate with bananas and strawberries.

Choc-Orange Cookies

I bought some orange m&ms for movie night on Saturday night and since we had quite a few leftover I decided to make some Choc-Orange Cookies, using Bakerella's Cowgirl Cookie Recipe. I changed a couple of the ingredients to suit my taste and they are so good!! Here's my recipe:

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup oats

1 cup orange flavoured m&ms

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup butter

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).

2. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.

3. Lightly beat the egg in a separate bowl and add it to the dry ingredients.

4. Soften (but don't melt) the butter in the microwave and add it to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

5. Form the mixture into 1 inch balls and place them on a greased baking tray.

6. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes.

Summer Salads

If you're looking for some yummy salad ideas here are a few of my favourites:

Caesar Salad
I think Caesar Salad is probably my favourite salad of all time and this recipe is one of the best I've come across.

Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is always a favourite at barbecues and lasts for a few days in the fridge. I use extra dressing if the mixture is looking too dry, and my dad's secret is to use couscous instead of bulghur for a finer texture.

Grilled Turkey Salad
This is a great salad to make with left-over turkey breast.

Greek Pasta Salad
This is a fast and easy recipe for a healthy meal or side-dish.

Tuna Salad
I love eating cold tuna in Summer and this recipe works well as a complete meal. I leave out the basil and rosemary as I find they can be too strong with the other flavours.

Potato Salad
This is my husband's recipe:

Ingredients
5 large boiled potatoes
1 lime
5 boiled eggs
1 cup whole egg mayonnaise
100 grams finely diced bacon
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons horseradish
2 shallots chopped

Method
1. Steam Potatoes for 20 minutes or until cooked but still firm. Rinse Potatoes thoroughly in cold water to stop cooking process. Once rinsed and still cooling splash with Juice of 1 Lime and let lime infuse as potatoes continue to cool
2. Hard boil 5 Eggs. Cut eggs in half and extract solid egg yoke into a small mixing bowl. Using a tablespoon from the mayonnaise mash egg yolks into paste.
3. In a pan fry pan thoroughly cook bacon and then allow to cool in fridge
4. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly mix remainder of mayonnaise, sour cream, egg yoke paste and horseradish.
5. In another large shallow mixing bowl cut potatoes into large cubes and add quartered boiled eggs (without yolks). Drizzle potato salad dressing over potato and egg mix and gently fold through.
6. Sprinkle shallots and bacon pieces over mix.

Fruit Salad
Chop your favourite fruit into bite sized pieces and mix together in a large bowl. Chill before serving. I like to use apples, bananas, peaches, strawberries, grapes, and mandarins. If you prefer a sweeter recipe, try this one.

Crepe Wheel

Crepes are like a really thin pancake that are usually served folded with a sweet or savory filling inside. Here are the instructions on how to make this yummy crepe pinwheel.

Ingredients

2 eggs

150 ml milk

150 ml water

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon salt

125g all-purpose flour

Method

1. Combine the eggs, milk, water and melted butter in a bowl and beat using an electric mixer.

2. Add the salt, then pour in the flour slowly while the mixer is still running.

3. Refrigerate the mixture for 1-2 hours.

4. Heat a fry pan on medium heat and melt about 1 teaspoon of butter in it.

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5. Pour in enough mixture to make a large, round shape. Move the pan around slowly to help the mixture run along the sides. (I used an electirc fry pan but a regular one on the stove top is just as good.).

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6. Cook one side until bubbles start to form on top then flip it over.

7. Cook the other side until it is golden brown.

8. Remove the crepe from the pan and place it onto a chopping board.

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9. Cut the crepe in half and spread your filling across one half. I used ham, cheese and pineapple although in this photo I think I'd only added the cheese.

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10. Fold the crepe in half by bringing the side without any filling across the other side, on top of the filling. .

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11. Fold the crepe in half again.

12. Lay the crepe on a plate and repeat the process with the other half and with more crepes.

Makes approximately 6 crepes (or 12 pieces for the pin wheel).

Sugar Cookies and Birthday Parties

There's only one month until my daughter's first birthday party and we're planning a butterfly theme. I'm going to make a butterfly cake and some butterfly cookies like these ones. I'm not the best cookie decorator so I decided to start practising early. I made these sugar cookies to take to playgroup earlier in the week.

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I used Peggy Porschen's sugar cookie recipe with royal icing.

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Sugar Cookies

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Ingredients

200g unsalted soft butter
200g caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
400g plain flour, plus more for dusting

Method
1. Cream the butter and sugar in an electric mixer until well mixed and creamy.
2. Add the egg and continue beating.

3. Add the flour and mix on low speed until a dough forms.

4. Put the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling wrap and put it in the fridge for at least an hour.
5. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead it briefly. Roll it out to about 5mm thickness.
6. Use cookie cutters to cut out the shapes and place them on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.
7. Put them back in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

8. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).
9. Bake in the oven for 8-12 minutes until the edges become golden brown.
10. Let the cookies cool completely before icing them.

Royal Icing

Ingredients

2 egg whites

4 cups icing sugar

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

water

food colouring

Method

1. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

2. Add the cream of tartar and beat a little bit more.

3. Pour in the sifted icing sugar slowly while continuing to beat the mixture.

4. When it's all mixed through test the consistency of the icing by running a spoon across the top. If the icing falls back into shape within 5-10 seconds it's ready to use. If not, start adding a teaspoon of water at a time and mix it through until you get the right consistency.

5. Add the food colouring and stir through.

Chocolate Rice Cream

Ingredients
1 tin of sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup of cooked rice
1/2 cup milk

Method
1. Combine condensed milk and cocoa in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously.
2. When the mixture begins to thicken, add rice and milk.
3. Continue stirring over heat for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl.
5. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
6. Sprinkle icing sugar, coconut or chocolate sprinkles on top.

Serve chilled. The consistency will be thick and creamy.

Serves 6

Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls

These spring rolls are great for a summer lunch because you serve them cold. They're also much healthier than fried spring rolls.

Ingredients
8 spring roll wraps
50g tin of shrimp, cooked and shelled
3 lettuce leaves, shredded
4 teaspoons minced coriander
1 small cucumber, grated
1 carrot, grated
vermicelli noodles
1/2 an avocado
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Method
1. Place one spring roll wrap in cold water until it is soft.

2. Remove the wrap from the water and lay it flat on the bench.

3. Place a small amount of each of the remaining ingredients down the centre of the wrap and fold it over, tucking in both ends.

4. Allow the wrap to dry slightly, then peel off the top side and pull it over again to make it tighter.

5. Make the remaining spring rolls in the same way.
6. Serve with sweet chilli sauce.

Tip: You can buy the spring roll wrappers from regular supermarkets but I have found that the ones from Asian grocery stores are better quality.

Makes 8 Spring Rolls.

Go to Tammy's Recipes for more yummy things to make.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

A few weeks ago I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and for some reason they turned out awful. Well since tomorrow is my turn to host playgroup I was trying to decide whether to make another batch with a different recipe or just buy a packet from the store. Then I came across Geri's award winning recipe. That's right! Geri won first prize in the New Mexico State Fair with this Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. So I decided to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did! They look good, they taste great and they have that wonderful slightly-crispy-on-the-outside-chewy-on-the-inside texture that I love.

So, go ahead and give them a try then go and thank Geri for sharing her award-winning recipe.

Fish Finger Parmigiana

This meal is so quick and easy, and your kids will love it!

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1. Place some frozen fish fingers in a baking dish. (You can use frozen, crumbed chicken pieces if you prefer).

2. Bake them in the oven according to the directions on the packet.

3. Just before the fish fingers have finished cooking, take them out of the oven. Spoon some spaghetti sauce across the top and sprinkle with grated cheese.

4. Put them back in the oven and continue baking until the cheese has melted.

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If you want some other quick and easy meal ideas, go to http://www.lifeasmom.com/

Easy Monster Cake

This cake is very cute and super easy to make.

1.Bake two round cakes, a large one for the body and a smaller one for the head.

2. Let the cakes cool then ice them with green icing.

3. Decorate with various lollies and sprinkles, using two lollipops on the top for horns.

The recipe for this cake came from The Australian Women's Weekly Kids' Bithday Cakes book.

Summer Drinks

Following on from my earlier Summer Menu posts, here are some of my favourite drinks for summertime, and some that I can't wait to try when the weather gets warmer.

Banana Milkshake

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
2 bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)

Put all ingredients into the blender and mix. Serve in a tall glass.

Tropical Frappe

Ingredients:
6 fluid ounces fruit juice
2 tablespoons cream of coconut
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 ripe banana
6 large ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until the ice is crushed and the mixture is thick. Serve in tall glasses with a straw. Sprinkle ground nutmeg or cinnamon on top and garnish with fresh fruit.

Fruit Punch

Ingredients:
3 litres of fruit juice
1.25 litres lemonade or soda water
1.25 litres ginger ale
800 grams tinned fruit salad or diced fresh fruit
fresh mint leaves (optional)

Mix all the ingredients together in a large glass bowl and serve cold.

Mango Lassi

Ingredients:
3 glasses of yogurt (use a glass you will serve the lassi in, to measure)
1 glass of crushed ice (measure as above)
1 glass ripe mango pieces or pulp
Sugar to taste/unsweetened fruit juice or pulp
a dollop of thick cream for each glass (optional)

Put the yogurt, mango, ice and sugar/juice/pulp in a blender and blend till smooth.
Pour out into glasses, top with a dollop of cream.

Frozen Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients:
1/2 cup orange juice (or other juice)
1 large banana
1/2 can peaches, drained
1 cup whole frozen strawberries
1/2 cup pineapple, drained

Whirl in blender until smooth. Makes two big servings. You can add your own variations, such as fresh peaches, papaya, or coconut milk for a tropical taste. The essential elements are a banana, the whole frozen strawberries, and some juice.

Strawberry Ice Cream Soda

Ingredients:
strawberry jam
crushed fresh strawberries
heavy cream
strawberry ice cream
soda water
whipped cream
more berries for garnish or cherries

For each ice cream soda, put a heaping tablespoonful of strawberry jam and a heaping tablespoonful of crushed fresh strawberries in large (16 ounce size) glass. Add 2 tablespoons heavy cream and a big scoop of strawberry ice cream. Fill up to 2/3 full with soda water, then add another big scoop of strawberry ice cream. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a garnish of chopped berries, if desired. Serve with straws and a long iced teaspoon.

Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 package (10 ounces) frozen strawberries, thawed
4 cups milk
1 pint (2 cups) strawberry ice cream
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

In an electric blender, combine half of the strawberries, milk, ice cream, and lemon zest. Blend at high speed for 1 minute; transfer to pitcher or tall glasses. Repeat for second batch. Strawberry smoothie recipe makes about 8 cups.


It can add such a nice touch to serve cold drinks with colourful ice cubes, so I have included some ice cube recipes below.

Strawberry Ice Cubes

Servings: Makes 1 to 2 trays

Ingredients
1 lb strawberries, halved (3 cups)
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

Purée all ingredients in a blender until smooth; strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large glass measure. Freeze in ice-cube trays until solid, at least 4 hours.

Add 2 or 3 cubes for a glass of lemonade.

Lemon Ice Cubes

Ingredients

1 medium lemon
1 qt. cold water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Cut each lime into 1/4-inch-thick slices; cut each slice into 4 wedges. Stir together 1 qt. cold water and 1/4 cup lime juice. Fill each compartment of 3 ice cube trays evenly with lime juice mixture. Place 1 lime wedge in each ice cube compartment. Freeze 8 hours or until firm. Makes 42 ice cubes











Watermelon Ice Cubes

1 large watermelon

Cut watermelon into workable pieces. Remove the seeds and the rind. Puree the watermelon in a blender or food processor. Pour the puree into ice cube trays and freeze.

Summer Dinners

Since we're at the end of July there's only one month left of Winter. Which means that Summer is practically here!! Okay, so that's a bit of a stretch but it's been a really long winter :) Anyway, I've been thinking about some foods that I love to eat in Summer. Here are some great Summer recipes for dinner.

BBQ or Grilled Shrimp

This is a simple recipe involving olive oil, paprika, garlic salt, seasoning and lime. Alternatively, shrimp can be marinated in a Cajun or teriyaki sauce before being placed on the skewers. It can also be nice to add some pineapple, tomato and red pepper chunks to the skewers.

Tandoori Chicken

This recipe explains how to make the tandoori sauce from scratch. My mum makes the best tandoori chicken wings and drumsticks I've ever tried and she just buys the sauce ready-made in a bottle. She marinates the chicken in the sauce for a couple of hours then bakes it in an baking dish for about 40-50 minutes at 180 Celsius (350 Fahrenheit). If you want to make the recipe from scratch without all the ingredients, use 1 cup plain yoghurt, juice of one lemon, 1 tablespoon tandoori paste, 1 clove crushed garlic and a pinch of salt. Mix and pour over the chicken, marinate then cook.

Fish and Chips
My favourite recipe for fish batter is to mix 1 cup of flour, 3 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 3/4 cup water. Cut the fish into pieces, pat dry, dip in batter then fry in a fry pan with oil for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

My husband is the best chip maker in our house. He peels and cuts some potatoes and fries them in some oil. Just before taking them out of the pan he sprinkles them with salt or chicken stock powder. Yum!!

Hamburgers

This is a yummy recipe for a hamburger beef patty. I like to add cheese, tomato, a pineapple ring, some beetroot slices and ketchup to the bun as well.

Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls
Served cold, these healthy alternatives to spring rolls are a delicious starter or main course. This recipe includes a dipping sauce.

Salmon Steaks
This is a delicious and simple recipe for a very healthy meal.

Image courtesy of www.art.com

Chicken Burgers

These burgers are great for a summer dinner outside.

Ingredients

500 grams ground chicken

1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon Moroccan seasoning or dried taco seasoning

1 egg

6 bread rolls

6 pineapple rings

2 tomatoes sliced

6 cheese slices

6 lettuce leaves

ketchup or other sauce

Method

1. Mix the first four ingredients in a bowl.

2. Form the mixture into burger patties and put them in the fridge for one hour.

3. Take the patties out of the fridge and place them in a greased frying pan on medium heat.

4. Cook slowly on both sides. (Cover with a lid if you need to so that they're cooked right through).

5. When the patties are almost cooked, place the cheese on top to melt.

6. Cut the rolls in half and toast them lightly under a grill.

7. Butter the rolls and place on the pineapple, tomato and lettuce.

8. Put the patties with cheese onto the roll and add some sauce. Yummy!

Makes 6 chicken burgers.

More Cupcakes

I just can't seem to stop decorating cupcakes lately. Here are some more that were made for a couple of recent birthdays.

Flowers made with mini marshmallows. (Cut a few mini marshmallows into three pieces with a pair of scissors to make the petals.)

Faces made with m&ms and jelly beans.

Flowers made with m&ms and smarties.

Cupcakes decorated with sour animal lollies.

Cupcakes

These aren't the cupcakes that I made for the baby shower last weekend but they're an easy and yummy recipe. The baby shower cupcakes had babies on top and were just so cute. I think I downloaded those photos off the camera and I can't remember where I put them. Anyway, here is the recipe for these cupcakes.

Ingredients
125g butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1/4 cup milk

Butter Cream Icing
100g butter
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 tablespoons milk
food colouring (if desired)

Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
2. Combine butter, extract, sugar, eggs, flour and milk in small bowl and mix with an electric beater for about 3 minutes.
3. Divide mixture into patty cases and bake for 20 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a rack.
5. Beat the ingredients for the butter cream icing and spread onto cupcakes.

Note: To make chocolate cupcakes, add 1/4 cup of cocoa to the cupcake mixture.

Scones with Jam and Cream

Ingredients

2 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sugar

50 grams butter

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl. Add the sugar and mix it through.

3. Rub the butter through the dry ingredients with your fingertips.

4. Pour in the milk and mix it lightly so that it becomes a soft dough.

5. Put the dough onto a lightly floured bench top and press it down until it's about half an inch thick.

6. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out the scone shapes and place them on a greased oven tray.

7. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until cooked through but not brown.

8. Cut the scones in half and serve with jam and cream.

Makes 12 scones.

Mickey Mouse Cake

This post was originally published on my old blog, Summer At Home, in March 2009.

This is a cake I made last month for a 1st Birthday party. I got the original design from "The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book" and changed a few things. First, I made a butter cake mixture (recipe below) and poured it into a round cake tin for the face, and two muffin tins for the ears.

Once the cake had completely cooled I iced the ears with chocolate icing (recipe below) and rolled them in chocolate sprinkles. I ended up pouring the sprinkles into a bowl and pressing the iced cupcakes into the sprinkles firmly to get them to stick on.

Then I used a sharp knife to lightly draw the shape across the top of Mickey's head and iced the top half with chocolate icing. This time I poured the sprinkles into place and gently pressed them down with my finger tips.

Next I made butter icing (recipe below) and used a skewer to carefully add a drop of red food colouring to make the icing skin-coloured. I used this icing to decorate the bottom half of Mickey's face.

Finally, I used a decorator's writing gel pen (bought from the supermarket) to draw on the eyes, eyebrows and mouth. The nose is a mint slice biscuit and the tongue is a strawberry wafer.

I placed the cake on a chopping board covered in foil.

Butter Cake Recipe

Ingredients

185 grams (3/4 cup) butter

3/4 cup caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

3 large eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).

2. Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until light and creamy.

3. Add the eggs and continue beating until combined.

4. Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture and add the milk.

5. Stir by hand until combined.

6. Spoon part of the mixture into two greased muffin cups.

7. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

8. Pour the remaining mixture into a round, greased cake tin.

9. Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes. Put a skewer into the centre of the cakes. If it comes out clean, they have finished cooking.

10. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for a few minutes before turning onto a cooling rack.

11. Allow cakes to completely cool before icing.

Chocolate Icing

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups icing sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

125g (1/2 cup) butter

2 tablespoons milk

Method

1. Sift the icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl.

2. Add the butter and mix it through the icing sugar with your fingertips or the back of a spoon.

3. Add 1 tablespoon of milk and stir. If required, add the remaining milk. The icing should be quite thick, not runny, so that it stays on the cake.

Butter Icing

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups icing sugar

125g (1/2 cup butter)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk

1 drop of red food colouring

Method

1. Sift the icing sugar into a bowl.

2. Add the butter and mix it through the icing sugar with your fingertips or the back of a spoon.

3. Add the vanilla essence and 1 tablespoon of milk and stir. If required, add the remaining milk.

4. Dip a toothpick or skewer into the red food colouring then mix it into the icing.

Granola Bars

These granola bars are quite healthy as I reduced the amounts of sugar and honey, but that means they're not as sweet tasting as other recipes. You could try substituting fruit juice for the water and add more dried fruit to get a sweeter tasting bar. They're still yummy though and a good consistency (not too crumbly or dry).

Ingredients
2 cups oats
1/2 cup flour
1/2 t salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 t cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup melted butter


Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).

2. Mix the dry ingredients, the dried fruit and the sesame seeds together in a bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, mix the water, the honey and the melted butter.

4. Add the honey mixture to the dry ingredients and stir through.

5. Press the mixture into a greased baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

6. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before cutting.

Buttermilk Pancakes

These buttermilk pancakes are by far the fluffiest and nicest tasting pancakes I've ever made.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Method

1. Mix the flour and baking powder in a bowl and add the egg.

2. Slowly pour in the milk as you mix the ingredients with an electric mixer.

3. Beat for about 2 minutes to get all the lumps out.

4. Heat some butter in a frying pan on low-medium heat and pour in some mixture.

5. Cook the pancake slowly (as the mixture is thick) and flip the pancake over when bubbles begin to form on the top.

6. Cook the other side until lightly golden brown.

7. Serve with honey, sugar and lemon, maple syrup or fruit syrup.

Hot dinner, freezing cold night

I think today is probably the coldest day we have had all year (it's Winter in this part of the world) and I am so grateful that the Lord has provided us with a comfortable house, warm clothes and a very effective heater.

Because it is so grey and wet outside I decided that it would be the perfect day to make pumpkin soup. As with my Banana Bread, it has taken me a few tries to perfect a pumpkin soup recipe. However, I think I have finally done it. I used this recipe from www.bestrecipes.com.au and modified it a little bit.

Ingredients:
1 onion, diced
1 clove minced garlic (optional)
2kg jap pumpkin (about 3/4 of a whole pumpkin), peeled and cut
3 large potatoes, peeled and cut
3 1/2 teaspoons of vegetable stock powder
3 1/2 cups water
200ml thickened cream

Method:
1. Lightly fry the onion and garlic in some oil in a large pot.
2. Add the cut pumpkin and potato, the vegetable stock and the water.
3. Let the water simmer for about 1/2 an hour till the vegetables are soft.
4. Let the soup cool for about 1/2 hour then blend it in a blender (or use a hand-held blender if you have one).
5. Pour all the soup back into the pot but do not put back onto the heat.
6. Add the cream and stir through.
7. Put the soup into bowl and heat in the microwave.

I still had a chicken breast sitting in the fridge that I had defrosted yesterday (then decided not to use for dinner last night) so I also made mini chicken pizzas. I cut up the chicken breast, fried it then added about 1/2 cup BBQ sauce to the pan. I coated the chicken in the sauce. Then I cut up a french bread stick and baked the pieces in the oven for about 10 minutes. I put some extra BBQ sauce on the bread pieces, added the cooked chicken and sprinkled some grated cheese on top. Very simple and delicious!