3 Minute Microwave Chocolate Slice

I can remember my good friend Claire telling me about a microwave slice recipe and I was positive I kept a copy of it but couldn’t find it anywhere especially when I had company coming for afternoon tea and I needed something to feed the kids. I did a quick Google search and found this one on Best Recipes.

I can see this recipe being one of my favourites. Mix it all up in a dish suitable for the microwave, press down, cook for 3 minutes, allow to cool, ice and serve. I’ll add some nuts, use different flavoured icings and sprinkles, omit the cocoa, add sultanas, choc chips, dried fruit, you name it.

This is the perfect recipe for the busy Mum or for the kids to make up. (Just be careful when it comes out of the microwave as its very hot.)

3 Minute Microwave Chocolate Slice
(from www.bestrecipes.com.au)

• 1 cup self raising flour
• 1 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 2 tbs golden syrup
• 150g butter, melted

1. Mix all ingredients together in a microwave dish that will double as the slice dish. No need to grease the dish.
2. Cook on medium high for 3 minutes. (I had an 1100w microwave and cooked mine for 2 minutes 30 seconds and checked then I cooked for a further 30 seconds.)
3. Allow to cool slightly and ice with a simple icing of icing sugar, cocoa and milk. Top with sprinkles if desired.

Variations:

• Omit cocoa
• Add sultanas, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips
• Serve uniced or with a drizzle of melted chocolate

Easy Microwave Chocolate Fudge

 

There’s nothing quite like homemade fudge for a sweet treat and as much as I love traditional fudge made with sugar, cocoa and boiled on the stove top, this easy microwave chocolate fudge is quick, rich and hits the spot when you’re in a hurry.

I don’t ever buy special ingredients when making sweet treats or baking but rather use what I have. I nearly always have chocolate melts or a block of chocolate in my pantry to add to baking. I always have a tin of condensed milk in my pantry which can be used for so many things and with the addition of a small bag of marshmallows that I had used for something else, this fudge came out really good.

First start by emptying the can of condensed milk, 60gm butter (approx 3 tablespoons) and a block of your favourite chocolate, broken up, into a microwave safe mixing bowl.

All microwaves are different so test by melting ingredients together, on high, in 30 second increments. Once chocolate has melted, stir ingredients well to combine.

Line a 9 inch square baking pan with baking paper. I sprinkled the marshmallows onto the bottom of the pan. If I would’ve added them to the melted chocolate fudge mixture they would’ve melted. Pour melted fudge mixture into pan and allow to set in fridge for at least 2 hours.

This batch of fudge was destined to be a ‘Rocky Road’ version with the addition of peanuts but because my daughter doesn’t eat peanuts, I didn’t add them. There are so many variations to this basic recipe you could try. You could try flavoured chocolate, white chocolate, add chopped cookies for a “Cookies & Cream” fudge, nuts, dried fruit etc. Really anything you have in your pantry that needs using up.

Recipe

• 200gm block of chocolate or chocolate buttons
• 1 can condensed milk
• 60gm (or 3 tablespoons) butter

1. Line 9 inch baking pan with baking pan.
2. Combine all ingredients in a microwave save bowl.
3. Microwave on high in 30 second increments until chocolate is melted.
4. Mix melted ingredients together and pour into lined baking pan.
5. Allow to set in the fridge for approximately 2 hours.

Variations:

• Use white chocolate
• Use flavoured chocolate, eg peppermint, rum’n’raisin, caramel, etc
• Add nuts and marshmallow for ‘Rocky Road’
• Add nuts of any kind
• Add dried fruit
• Add chopped cookies
• Add coconut
• Top fudge with ingredients you used in fudge, eg cookie crumbs for a Cookies & Cream fudge
• Add chopped candy

You’ll find more great recipes for easy sweet treats right here.

90 second Mini Pavlovas in the Microwave

I have to admit this isn’t my idea but I saw it pop up in my Facebook feed probably a couple years ago and it’s just one of those things that hasn’t gone away. Having a small family that eat like sparrows, making a big pavlova is just a waste of time because you know who’s going to eat it all? Yes, that’s right. Me! I don’t even make big cakes much anymore rather opting for individual mini loaves, cupcakes or muffins because I can put them all in the freezer and only take out what I need. My supply usually lasts for months. Anyway, with Australia Day just around the corner, the microwave meringue idea popped back into my head and I decided to give it a try. I’m sad I didn’t try it earlier because it’s bloody marvellous!

Pavlova is a very traditional Australian dessert. We’ve claimed it as our own but it was in fact created in New Zealand for the famous ballerina, Anna Pavlov back in the 1920’s. Exactly which country has right to the claim still isn’t 100% clear but nonetheless, it’s a really special dessert for us Australians and now made even easier with this microwave recipe.

I can’t give credit to the person I saw who posted that video but I Googled it again and there are a few people who’ve cottoned on to the idea now and have posted recipes. If you don’t believe me that it would work, you really have to give it a try. It’s so, so easy and the pavs turn out fantastic.

You can keep them whole or crush to use in an Eton’s Mess type dessert. I did both. My son devoured it all crushed up mixed with whipped cream and fresh, seasonal mangoes. (Probably a better way of eating it for him.) The adults in the house were a little more refined and enjoyed them with the whipped cream and fruit piled high on top.

It’s hard to believe just one, yes just one egg white and 300 grams of icing sugar can product 6 beautiful large round individual pavlovas from the microwave. It’s like watching a science experiment happen right before your eyes. Check out the video below. (It’s not the most clear but you can get a general idea.)

 

If you’re taking a plate to an Australia Day function, these pavs will be ready by the time your partner has loaded the kids and the bags into the car. Top with your choice of whipped cream, fresh seasonal summer fruit and/or chopped nuts.

Microwaved Mexican stuffed potato

I’d forgotten how easy it was to make a meal out of one humble potato. I used to do these ‘stuffed’ potatoes all the time on my own for a quick meal and thought I’d start doing it again when it’s only the man and I at home for an easy night’s meal. It’s done in next to no time and it’s a great way to use up leftovers like the Chilli Con Carne I’d cooked the night before.

It only takes a couple of minutes per potato in the microwave to cook it. First, prick all over with a fork, place on paper towel in the microwave and for this medium sized potato, I allowed 4 minutes. After two minutes, I turn the potato over and do the other side for 2 minutes. Better to under cook it and then zap for an extra minute or two. If it’s overcooked, the skin will be quite tough. While it’s cooking I get the toppings ready.

I had an avocado in the fridge and whipped up my easy, ‘no fuss’ guacamole which is just mashed avocado, salt and pepper and a bit of lime juice.

Just enough leftover chilli, for two. This gets heated in the microwave too for a couple minutes.

Grate some cheese. Gotta have cheese!

Now that the potato is cooked, time to assemble. Be careful with the potato because it will be super hot. Cut into quarters, not quite cutting all the way through. Top with a knob of butter. Top with the heated chilli, grated cheese, guacamole, sour cream and salsa (if you have it). 

In around 10 minutes, you have a quick, healthy meal for two. The topping ideas are endless. Use any kind of leftovers, cooked meats, salads like coleslaw, baked beans and bacon (for example). I’m going to go back to the humbled stuffed potato more often now. I know this one was well received.

Microwaved Mexican Stuffed Potato

• one potato per person
• leftover Chilli Con Carne (or savoury mince, for example)
• butter
• guacamole (made by mashing avocado and adding salt, pepper and lime juice)
• cheese, grated
• sour cream
• salsa

1. Prick potato all over with a fork and place on a paper towel in the microwave.
2. Cook for 2 minutes (for a medium sized potato) and turn over, cooking for a further 2 minutes. 
3. Repeat for more potatoes. (You can cook all potatoes at once but will have to experiment with cooking times.)
4. Cut potato in quarters in serving dish and top with a knob of butter.
5. Add toppings and serve.

1 Minute Microwave Hot Choc Fudge Peanut Sauce

Okay, look away now if you’re on a diet or avoiding sugar.

I’ve been making this sauce for a few years now (probably more times than I should have) especially when I have a little bit of cream that needs using up. Its either this chocolate fudge sauce or I use the cream in a pasta dish. Either way, I probably shouldn’t.

Nigella Lawson’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae

This is a sauce based on Nigella’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae Recipe but instead of worrying about cooking it over the stove top in a saucepan, I use a microwave suitable dish and cook it for 1 minute. Yes, that’s all folks. In one minute (60 seconds) you can have this delicious, rich, thick, chocolate-y, gooey, fudge-y sauce. You can pour it over ice cream, as I have done in this Banana Split OR, if you’re really naughty, you can put in the fridge to harden and its the perfect recipe for truffles. Take small pieces of mixture, roll into a ball and roll in cocoa, icing sugar, crushed nuts or coconut. You can also omit the peanut butter and add nutella with a sprinkling of chocolate hazelnuts. You could also allow to set slightly and ice a cake with it.

Whichever way you have this, enjoy, in moderation of course. (Do as I say, not as I do!)

1 Minute Microwave Hot Choc Fudge Peanut Sauce

• equal quantities of cream, chocolate and peanut butter
• 2 tbs of golden syrup (based on approx 100ml each of above ingredients – use more or less based on above quanitities)

1. Put all ingredients into a microwave safe jug and heat for 1 minute.
2. Stir until ingredients have combined.
3. Use as required.