Home Economics 

Ingredients

1 ½ cups (225 g) self-raising flour, sifted

½ cup (75 g) plain flour 

½ cup (125 g) caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

¾ - 1 cup (190-250 ml) buttermilk or milk

¾ cup (190 ml) light vegetable oil

1 egg

1 cup (200 g) fresh or frozen blueberries

Icing sugar, for sprinkling 

Procedure: Preheat oven to 180 C. Grease a set of muffin tins of 1/3 cup capacity, or line with muffin papers. Sift flours into a mixing bowl, stir in sugar. Then make a well in the middle.

In a small bowl beat egg, add milk, vanilla and oil, then pour into the flour and sugar mixture. 

Add the blueberries and stir gently only until the flour is completely moistened- do not beat. Divide the mixture evenly between muffin tins. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, until golden brown. Allow muffins to stand for a few minutes then carefully remove from the tin. Serve warm or cold with sprinkling of icing sugar on top.

      Spoon mixture into a 12-hole ½ cup capacity (125 ml) muffin tin lined with paper patty cases. Sprinkle the tops with sugar and bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Remove from tin and cool on a wire rack. Makes 12.

Zoodles or Courgette pasta    Makes 4 serves

Ingredients

1-2 medium zucchinis

2-3 large cloves or 2 teaspoon garlic mince

1 tablespoon oil

Pasta sauce 

300 g spaghetti 

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. Follow instructions on the packet to cook spaghetti. Strain and reserve some pasta water to go into the sauce. 
2. Chop tip off the zucchini, cut into manageable pieces then twist it around in the spiralizer.  Place spiralizer zucchinis on a few paper towels. Salt to draw out the water. Then cover with another paper towel.

3. In a large fry pan, heat the oil and fry the garlic for 1 to 2 minutes until you can smell it and it turns a very pale gold. Careful not to burn. Turn off the heat.

4. Add the zucchini noodles and cook until al dente. Add the pasta sauce. Add spaghetti and some pasta water to the sauce if needed. Season to taste. Remove from the heat. Transfer to a bowl. Add grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.