Lunch box baking

The holidays are finally over at our house. Daddy has been back at work for a few days, tomorrow the older girls start Grades 3 and 2, and then Hannah and Ruby start next Monday.

They're off to Kindergarten - which I can't quite believe - but I know they'll love it. Their big sisters have set up a daily schedule to go and check on them every chance they get! Here in Tasmania, kinder is the first year of formal school, around 2-3 full days, starting the year you turn 5. Their uniforms are ready and they've spent two days carrying oversized backpacks and school hats around the house!

And so we began baking. The freezer and biscuit tins are now stocked up nicely and there's been lots of fun in the kitchen. But there has been a shift. Baking has changed. Up until now I've made one dozen muffins or one slice or one batch of biscuits at any one time (yes, Mum, while the oven was already on for dinner!) For years this worked. It was plenty. For days! But no longer.

Honey Oat Squares

We've definitely moved into the 'double batch' or 'multiple products' stage of family baking. I now know I need a second muffin tin, I need to allow more eggs and time for each baking session, and I need to make freezer friendly biscuits. I think many of you are there already.

Nalda's Apple Muffins (and my new spotty plate from Coles in Melbourne! Love it)

So first off it was apple muffins. We love this recipe so thought I'd share it. I used to be put off having to use cooked apple but our apple peeler/slicer makes it much quicker. I find that stewing the diced apple while we get the rest of the ingredients ready gives it plenty of time. The recipe comes from the Longreach School of the Air recipe book: it has become one of my absolute favourites.

Nalda's Apple Muffins

Beat together 125g caster sugar, 250ml milk, 125g butter (melted and partly cooled) and 2 eggs

Add 1 cup (about 2 apples) cooked apple (or tinned apple)

Fold in 1 1/2 c SR flour, 2 tsp cinnamon

Spoon into greased muffin tin. Bake at 200 C for 20-25 min. The recipe states it makes 12 but they are very big so I make 12 regular (ie child friendly) sized plus about 6-8 mini ones.

Hope you enjoy them too. I'm off to organise the muffins above into their respective lunch boxes.