Recipe: Copycat Gluten Free Arnott's "Vegemite" and Cheese Shapes

Wishing you could eat the new Arnott’s Vegemite and Cheese Shapes? You don’t have to wish any longer. This Homemade Gluten Free Cheesymite Crackers Copycat Recipe is so easy to make and so delicious to eat. Gluten free, egg free, sugar free, clean eating friendly and seriously delicious - with a vegan option too! An Aussie fave that's perfect for Australia Day!

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Sometimes I don’t know what would be harder, never eating gluten or eating gluten for years and then never again. For me, I ate gluten for 19 years before finding out I had coeliac disease - so I know what all the delicious gluten-filled foods taste like, but I can never eat them again.

Usually that doesn’t bother me, but sometimes new food products come out that I wish I could eat - and that’s exactly what happened when Arnott’s released their new Vegemite and Cheese Shapes.

Begin recipe testing mode. 

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When Jesse bought a packet of the shapes and raved about them, I sprung into action... on a mission to create my own version.... and somehow I nailed the copycat version!

Jesse decided these tasted exactly like the gluten-filled version and they were so easy to make. Better still? They’re free of questionable ingredients, egg free and made in minutes. Perfect for snacking, School lunchboxes or get-togethers with friends. 

They’re best eaten fresh so they’re super crunchy, but if you roll them out really thin (not thicker like the photos - they have softer centres and crunchy edges), they’ll stay fresh for 2-3 days at room temperature. 

Oh and if you're worried, don't be! This recipe doesn't use actual Vegemite (which is not gluten free!) - so you're safe!

So let me share the recipe with you >>

Recipe: Easy Tim Tam Truffles (The Perfect Last Minute Australia Day Recipe!)

Hello, my name is Kristy and I am EXTREMELY type A. 

I'm a planner, a scheduler, an organiser and let's be honest... a MAJOR perfectionist... and probably a bit obsessive too. 

When I entertain, it's planned to the nth degree. You'll find me with lists or what I'm making, what I need to buy, what needs to be made when - I'll even plan out what plates and serving dishes I'll use. 

But lately? I've been trying to be a little more spontaneous. This means less elaborate plans and more spur-of-the-moment celebrations - and that calls for some quick and easy last minute recipes. 

With Australia Day this Friday, I thought now was the perfect opportunity to share a quick and easy last-minute treat recipe that you can literally make in minutes. 

That way, whether you've got an elaborate celebration pre-planned or need something to whip together for an unscheduled catch up, I've got you covered.

Be warned though... these truffles are kind of addictive. They're not a healthy treat per-say - but I'm one who thinks moderation is always healthier than restriction - so enjoy away!

And, if you've got a preplanned celebration - I've also shared some ideas to make these truffles even more impressive.

Let me share the recipe with you! >> 

Recipe: Traditional Aussie Damper {GLUTEN FREE!}

Traditions are a funny thing, you know. 

I was talking to some friends about damper the other week and had a bit of a realisation. In case you don't know what damper is, it's a traditional campfire soda style bread that was originally prepared by swagmen and drovers and stockmen using the very basic rations they had. It's one of those iconic Australian foods that everyone only really eats once a year - or at a school camp. 

You see, when I was talking to my friends about damper - I realised that sometimes our traditional foods are actually ones that we'd never eat if they weren't tradition. 

All of the words used to describe damper were words we'd usually consider bad. It's not like normal bread whatsoever, it's kind of doughy with a crusty exterior and soft cakey middle - but it's a traditional recipe that people love. 

I was curious to see if Jesse, being an American, would like this traditional Aussie fare and I was actually quite surprised to find that he did! Damper is one of those foods you just need to compare to itself - you can't compare it to a loaf of bread because it's not - you've just got to eat it warm, served with a bit of butter or maple syrup if you fancy.

This version uses butter in the dough, as it's one that I grew up making at Girl Guides (and more modern damper recipes use butter for added flavour and texture) but you can make damper without adding butter and only using water. You can also use milk instead of the water for a better tasting dough.

Last year, when I did our Australian Week of Recipes for Australia Day, I found I got lots of emails asking if I could do a gluten free damper recipe - and to be honest, I kind of forgot until just recently when I remembered Australia Day was rolling around once again. 

Nevertheless, I've come up with a super simple damper recipe that works with both gluten free and regular flours - so you can enjoy a slice of your own ASAP! 

So let me share the recipe with you >> 

Recipe: Homemade Raw Lamington Chocolates

Psst: It's Australia Week on Southern In-Law! 

Check out the other recipes: Healthy Cheesymite Scrolls//Healthy Chocolate Crackle Slice (AKA: Lamington Rice Crispy Treats)//Low Fat ANZAC Biscuits//Healthier Lamington Cupcakes//Low Fat Buttermilk Scones//Raw Lamington Bites

Happy Australia Day! Even though it feels like it's been Australia Day here all week on the blog, it's finally the actual day. We're keeping it low key by heading to church this morning and then having a barbeque with family. But onto today's recipe - and the final recipe for Australia Week! 

It seems that many of you loved our Healthy Homemade Chocolates last week - and there's no wondering why, because they're absolutely delish! Penny even made some Southern In-Law chocolates which were super cute!

I was just about to whip up another batch for us - when a new idea struck! In the spirit of Australia Day (and Australia Week on the blog!) I decided to try my hand at making some lamington chocolates - and they were a HUGE success! 

These are a little bit softer than the original recipe and a little bit sweeter for those who don't like rich dark chocolate - but they're delicious nonetheless!

We have had so much fun with Australia week on the blog that we're even thinking about other "weeks" we could do throughout the year. Every single recipe this week has been loved by the whole family and many of them I know will be making regular appearances. 

But let's get onto this final Australia Week Recipe! >

Recipe: Raw Lamington Truffles (Raw Chocolate and Coconut Bites)

Psst: It's Australia Week on Southern In-Law! Check out the other recipes: Healthy Cheesymite Scrolls//Healthy Chocolate Crackle Slice (AKA: Lamington Rice Crispy Treats)//Healthy ANZAC Biscuits//Healthier Lamington Cupcakes//Low Fat Buttermilk Scones//

Can you tell we're on jussssssssst a little bit of a lamington kick? We're kind of obsessed with the chocolate coconut combination at the moment and this may just be one of our new favourite recipes. 

I love raw treats - but the rest of the SIL family aren't exactly converts... well... they weren't. You see, usually I make raw treats and Jesse and Katrina are keen as a bean to try them, but SIL Mama and Papa shy away from my "hippie treats". 

But not this time. In fact, they even these over the lamington cupcakes. SIL Mama came home and I had two containers on the kitchen bench  - one with the Lamington Cupcakes and the other with these raw bites. She looked at the cupcakes, but the raw bites sparked her interest and she took one of those instead. 

"Oh wow, these are good" she said - and then she asked me what was in them....

She couldn't quite believe that these Lamington Truffles used just dates, almonds, cocoa, coconut and maple syrup - because they really do taste just like a lamington.

After much tweaking and testing and adapting - I even got the texture right. These feel like cake pops or cake truffles - but they're completely healthy and they don't even spend a second in the oven.

They're chocolatey, coconutty and ohhhhhhhhhhh so good - I promise they'll be a hit in any chocolate and coconut loving household.

But that said, Jesse isn't usually a coconut fan - but the Healthy Chocolate Crackles, Lamington Cupcakes and these Raw Lamington Bites have totally converted him and he can't get enough! 

Let's get onto the recipe > 

Recipe: Healthy Buttermilk Scones Recipe

Psst: It's Australia Week on Southern In-Law! 

Check out the other recipes: Healthy Cheesymite Scrolls//Healthy Chocolate Crackle Slice (AKA: Lamington Rice Crispy Treats)//Low Fat ANZAC Biscuits//Lightened Up Lamington Cupcakes

Scones - generally speaking, they're not thought of as a healthy option, right? Neither are Southern style biscuits. If you've read Southern In-Law, you'd know that I love creating healthier versions of classic recipes - so naturally, I wanted to create a Healthy Buttermilk Scones Recipe (Jesse wants you to know he thinks these are actually Healthy Buttermilk Biscuits) for Australia Week.

I wanted to take something that is traditionally loaded with butter or cream and lighten it up - to SILify it, as we say in our house :P
What I managed to come up with is a totally scrum-diddly-umptious recipe that has totally made me a scone lover (especially when you add dates!) 

Now, granted these aren't the biggest and fluffiest scones in the world and they almost didn't make the blog - but when you create a batch of low fat, low sugar, gluten free scones that manages to disappear in just 2 hours, you kind of get the impression that it's a recipe worth sharing.

You can make them taller and fluffier, simply by shaping them differently and making a smaller batch from the dough.

I didn't use a scone cutter as I was too lazy to look for one so I simply shaped these with my hands - so don't think you need to go out and buy anything special to make this recipe.

Let's get onto the recipe >> 

Recipe: Healthier Lamington Cupcakes

 

Psst: It's Australia Week on Southern In-Law! 

Check out the other recipes: Healthy Cheesymite Scrolls//Healthy Chocolate Crackle Slice (AKA: Lamington Rice Crispy Treats)//Low Fat ANZAC Biscuits

When I told Jesse that I wanted to make a Lightened Up Butter Cake recipe, he looked at me like I'd gone mad. "A butter cake? You're going to put that on Southern In-Law? How is that going to fit with your healthy recipes.... or how are you going to make that healthier?"

Oh, ye of little faith! Of course I could create a low fat butter cake recipe (also known as a yellow cake in the US) - it was just going to take a bit of testing and tweaking and Southern In-Law magic - and by jove, she's done it!

When the idea came into my head to make Healthier Lamington Cupcakes, I knew I wanted to make them super simple and easy to make - so the usual sponge cake base of traditional lamingtons had to change. Sponge cakes tend to use too many eggs and they don't always work out as planned - so I wanted a foolproof recipe. Thus, the Healthier Low Fat Butter Cake recipe was born. 

The soft and fluffy butter cake base is then topped with a deeeeeelicious and super simple chocolate glaze/icing which is made using just three ingredients - and then all you have left to do is sprinkle on some shredded coconut for that lamington look.  Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy!

Jesse ate his first one and said "Oh wow... these are amazing... I'm glad I married you" and somehow the entire batch of cupcakes disappeared in just a few days. They're good... actually, they're better than good - and you'll want to make them ASAP. 

So let's get onto the recipe! >>  

WIN 1 of 20 Aussie Legends of Cooking Packs from Australia Post

Psst: It's Australia Week on Southern In-Law! 

Check out the recipes: Healthy Cheesymite Scrolls//Healthy Chocolate Crackle Slice (AKA: Lamington Rice Crispy Treats) - more to come this week!

Last week, Australia Post announced their Australia Post Legends Award Winners for 2014. This year, the awards have a culinary theme - with Australia Post announcing their Legends of Cooking - Margaret Fulton, Maggie Beer, Stephanie Alexander, Neil Perry and Kylie Kwong.

The award winners are recognised for their influence over Australia's food culture and the visionary role they have played in shaping Australia's palate and laying the foundations of our gastronomic success.

This year's recipients join the exclusive group of 70 other awarded Legends. The Legends Awards began 16 years ago when Sir Donald Bradman was the first living Australian to be honoured on an Australian stamp. Each legend will feature on a 60c stamp, with all legends featuring in a stamp pack, first day cover and set of maxi cards - as well as a commemorative book called "Australian Legends of Cooking", written by Michael Harden. 

And you, dearest readers, have the opportunity to win all of these things!

Australia Post, Jesse and I are giving away 20 Legends of Cooking Prize Packs. But how do you enter?

How to enter this giveaway!

Recipe: Healthy Cheesymite Scrolls (and they're gluten free too!)

Why hello! As I mentioned on Facebook and in this post the other day, this week is Australia Week on Southern In-Law, as it's Australia Day this coming Sunday. Throughout the week, I'll be sharing a bunch of healthier Australian Recipes - from classic recipes to recipes that have a bit of a SIL twist!

I wanted to start off with one of our new favourite recipes, Healthy Cheesymite Scrolls! You see, if I were ever to win Australian of the Year, it'd probably be because of one incredible act of Australianism (yeah, I made that up). 

What's that act, you ask? I got my American husband to fall in love with Vegemite. Some people say it's impossible for non-Australians to love Vegemite, but Jesse proves them wrong. 

I have an American husband who craves Vegemite, who asks for Vegemite Sandwiches on most days, who practically married me all over again when I made these Healthier Cheesymite Scrolls.

I've always been a Vegemite loving girl - but when I found out I was a coeliac, I also found out that one of my favourite foods contained gluten. Vegemite is not gluten free - but don't worry! There are replacements!

My favourite gluten free vegemite alternative has to be Mighty Mite. Actually, I've found myself loving it even more than vegemite as it's easier to spread!

When I came up with the idea of making healthy vegemite and cheese scrolls, I knew that I also wanted to make gluten free vegemite and cheese scrolls - so naturally, mighty mite had to come to the party.

And ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a party this is. 

Usually, I avoid bread doughs (or any kind of doughs) like the plague. I hate rolling dough out, resting, waiting, squishing, dough sticking to your hands and your arms and your clothes and a big sticky icky mess. Eugh. Muffins, pancakes, crepes and cakes are so much easier, mix, pour, bake. 

But this Healthy Cheesymite Scroll Recipe is so simple - and I promise it's not just a big sticky mess. I didn't even have to flour my board when rolling out the dough!

But let's get onto the recipe, shall we? >