{Locally Found} Why you should head local this weekend

Posted in Locally found, The nest eats out, This is life by centralwestnest

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Sometimes it is so easy to take for granted the wonder that surrounds us.

We are so very lucky to live in a such a wonderfully, beautiful and resourceful part of Australia.

Orange is the food basket of New South Wales and offers some of the best wines and food that Australia has to offer.

This short video reminds us locals just how lucky we are to live in such a remarkably gorgeous part of the world.

Why not grab some friends and head local this weekend?.

You can find more information at: www.visitorange.com.au

5Aug2014

{Raising Little People} Green Fries for your little birdies

Posted in The Nest Can Cook, The nest eats by centralwestnest

Getting the little birdies to eat green beans is not the easiest thing. Especially if you make an epic fail and let it slip that they are good for them..

So, instead of just cooking them the old-fashioned-steaming-way, why not try something just a little bit different?

The fantastic team at Super Healthy Kids have added a little spin on the boring old beans. You can’t tell me that “Green Fries’ doesn’t sound just a little more appetising?

Head here to find the recipe -> Green Fries

Do you have a sneaky way to get your kids to eat more veggies?

Happy eating Nesters!

28Apr2014

{The Nest Can Cook} Steamed dot-dot cupcakes, just do it.

Posted in The Nest Can Cook, The nest eats by centralwestnest

Cooking is for me, is what classical music is for smart people. Relaxing. Enjoyable. Escapism.

I really enjoy finding exciting, new ways to cook. Ways, that aren’t exactly the norm.

Steamed cupcakes – who-woulda-thunk-it?

These little bad-boys look like little dreams I can’t wait to try out!

You can find the recipe here -> Steam cupcakes: Apam Dot Dot

Enjoy cooking Nesters!

1Apr2014

{Locally Found} Orange FOOD Week is here, must-find-elastic-waisted-pants..

Posted in Locally found, The nest eats, The nest eats out by centralwestnest

Orange FOOD Week is nearly here! Kicking off on 4 April it continues through to Sunday 13 April 2014.

This is your opportunity to experience ‘The Food Basket” of NSW in Australia’s longest running food festival.

It is an opportunity for local producers to showcase their fine products, for chefs to show off their skills and for everyday food loving Australians to experience all that is delicious around Orange, NSW.

You should get some elastic waisted pants and head over to -> Orange FOOD Week‘s website for more information!

Happy eating Nesters!

{Do this} This Australia Day why not head down to the Lithgow Regional Markets?

11Jan2014

{Food} Snack on this, and no it’s not a soggy pear or ‘gourmet’ Vegemite sanga..

Posted in The Nest Can Cook by centralwestnest

Some days I am very motivated and my children eat the proper serves of fruit and vegetables a day, drink copious amounts of water and spend the afternoon snacking on organic hummus and carrots. Then, more commonly are the other days where a Vegemite sandwich is turned gourmet because I slap on a slice of Kraft ‘plastic’ cheese and cut it into triangles.

Preparing healthy, delicious and nutritious meals some days is tough but is made easier by the fabulous team at One Handed Cooks.

I can honestly say they have saved my kids from a future of honey on toast and a soggy pear cut into quarters.

They make meals that are easy, practical and completely possible whilst holding a sack of potatoes on your hip (read: unhelpful, teething 10 month old) at the same time as negotiating with toddler bird on the pros and cons of wrapping the cat in toilet paper.

Plus, you now have less of an excuse for baby bird (and the whole family) to eat poorly when out-&-about or snacking. One Handed Cooks have provided a generous list of healthy snacks you can make and take with you. Some of the fabulous choices are:

I really recommend putting One Handed Cooks into your favourites, for in time your little birdies will thank you for it.

Happy cooking nesters!

3Jan2014

{Delicious} Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?

Posted in The Nest Can Cook by centralwestnest

Soooo, this ~~probably~~, ~~maybe~~, definitely isn’t likely to be the best help for any health new years resolutions you have made in the last few days but this was just too pretty/delicious/cute not to share.

Buzzfeed has compiled 33 of the best cakes you are likely to see in a while. You can find the link here -> Buzzfeed – Cutest Cakes of 2013

There is everything from cheesecakes to ombre to gummy bears.

As they say, “If you ever doubt that the world is a beautiful place, just remember: We’ll always have sugar, butter and flour”.

Happy sugar loading Nesters!

15Dec2013

{Cook this} Roll me in sprinkles and call me chocolate balls

Posted in The Nest Can Cook by centralwestnest

Let me start by making a public service announcement. These are not good for you. AT ALL. Not even in your wildest ‘but chocolate comes from cocoa which comes from a tree that makes it a plant, therefore is pretty much the same as a salad‘ justifications will this ever be good for you.

BUT. THEY. ARE. EASY. POPULAR. DELICIOUS. LITTLE. TREATS

The chocolate balls are super simple (like even I can make them, okay admittedly the three year old little birdie did most of the work) but we made them for a party we had and they went quicker than Miley Cyrus’ Disney Contract.

You can find the original recipe here at the fabulous -> The Organised Housewife blog.

Feel free to live dangerously and perhaps even roll them in coconut.. or honeycomb… or more cocoa…. or milo…. or really anything that you think will add another 40bazillion calories.

Just remember Nesters that these are simply a sometimes food… Like sometimes you just neeeeeeeed them.

Happy cooking Nesters!

13Dec2013

{Prizeapolooza} Need some sweetening up this Christmas?

Posted in Locally found, The Nest giveaways by centralwestnest

You are either a naturally gifted baker… or you are me. Katrina Tobin is a superstar of the first variety!

Katrina is a qualified chef who started her business while at home also looking after her three children! She has been making speciality cakes for all occasions for the people of the Central West since 2012.

Cakes by Katrina are not only wonderful to look at, they also back up their appearance with a delicious taste. Your tastebuds will dance once you try one of her cakes (I can personally attend to that!)

Prior to Katrina’s entry into the marketplace, Bathurst did not have a wide variety of cake suppliers who were actually able to deliver awesome handmade-hand-decorated cakes at a reasonable price!

All products are individually designed and tailored specifically to your needs – and the best bit…the absolute magnitude of flavour choices to choose from!

So whenever the need for cakes, cupcakes, biscuits or cake pops strikes (for example every Wednesday at 3.17pm in my office) Katrina is the person who should be on your speed dial!

You now have an answer for your wedding, engagement or christening cakes! She also offers novelty cakes, cake toppers and the best birthday cakes you have ever seen!

You can contact Cakes by Katrina as follows:

Phone: 0438 442 028

Email: cakesbykatrinatobin@hotmail.com

Website: Coming SOON!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cakesbykatrinatobin

Cakes by Katrina are baking their way into your heart by offering one very special Nester the chance to take home their very own handmade, scrumptious chocolate mud Christmas cake this year (valued at approximately $70.00!) Imagine how much that would impress the in-laws (or out-laws as my hubby-bird calls them!) For your chance to win all you have to do is be a ‘liker’ of Cakes by Katrina’s Facebook page and be a ‘liker’ of The Central Nest!

25Nov2013

{Design} Frame it, cook it, love it

Posted in Great pieces by centralwestnest

Some people are clever. Like not can-recite-the-full-version-of-Wannabe-by-the-Spice-Girls-16-years-after-its-release-date-clever but really actually clever.

Felicita Sala is one such person and she is Ah-mazing!