The All Time Favourite No Bake Lemon Slice!!!

Today Im going to share with you an all time favourite family recipe that is whipped up quite regularly in our household.

Its a non bake lemon slice! Super quick to make, uses pantry staples and the kind of slice where you just can't stop at just one piece! Its incredibly moreish and will have your guests coming back for more!

I have a bit of a weakness for any sweet treat with a citrus flavour. Somehow, I have convinced myself that citrus = low fat……so its okay to eat seconds, thirds or even fourth helpings!

I found this recipe several years ago in one of my handful of old (and well loved) CWA cookbooks. Its seen many an agricultural field day, morning tea treat at work, playdates, picnics, weekends away with family and friends, and the perfect drop off foodie gift for a new mum or friend who just needs a pick me up! In the last year we have been making this slice at least once a fortnite. Our two eldest have taken a keen interest in helping out in the kitchen and this is a perfect one for them to partake in- although I need to keep a very watchful eye on the mixture which can disappear rather quickly! I now keep a regular supply of Marie biscuits and condensed milk in the pantry, along with coconut, icing sugar and butter.

If your not into lemon (or don't have any on hand) I think you could quite easily change the flavour of the icing to chocolate or passionfruit, etc. Ive often thought to experiment  with it a bit, but then I remind myself of the saying….If its not broke, don't fix it!

For the slice-
250g Sweet biscuits- I use a whole packet of Marie Biscuits
90g coconut
125g melted butter or margarine
1/2 can condensed milk

Icing-
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
juice of a lemon
lemon zest & extra coconut to sprinkle on top!

Crush the biscuits in a food processor, or the good old anger management way of clip lock bag and roller, until you have fine to medium crumbs! Add coconut, followed by melted butter and condensed milk. Stir together and mix thoroughly. Press into a 9" square tin or 11' x 7" tin and place in fridge to set.
To make icing- Mix the lemon juice and icing sugar together. Pour on to slice then sprinkle some zest and extra coconut on top. Place back into fridge. Once set, cut into small squares or fingers.
I like to keep mine in the fridge (hidden) !!!!!

Have you a favourite slice that is loved by all? 

Until next time…..Kx

PS. Enjoy the slice!xx

2/52-Weekly Stills

1. This first photo was taken by my husband. He is an irrigation designer and above is one of his latest projects. A good feeling when you 'flick the switch' and the water comes out! Im in love with the clouds in this shot!
2, 3 & 4. Yes…..more tomatoes! We have had tomatoes for breakfast, lunch and tea this past week. Todays variation on using up our tomato stash was home made pizza's- prosciutta, mixed tomatoes, baby bocconcini & fresh basil, all layered of course, on a home made tomato sauce base. Delicious!
5 & 6. Home made lemon slice- recipe can be found here
7. Time to clean the silver!
8. Some Hebe flowers- a gift from my 2 year old son……
9. One of the many lovely old buildings in our local town
10. The mighty Murray!

See you next week…Kx

A visit to Stonefields-The weekend home of Paul Bangay

At the end of Last November, I was lucky to be invited by a lovely friend from Gilgandra in North West NSW, to join her and her girlfriends to see Paul Bangay's Open Day at "Stonefields" near Daylesford, Victoria. We also visited the beautiful "Musk Farm"- also designed by Paul.

It was a rather miserable, cold spring day, with sleeting rain and bursts of sunshine in between dark clouds. But the journey south was definitely worth it-the gardens didn't disappoint. The weather also didn't put off the thousands of visitors that walked through soaking up all the various 'rooms' and clever designs.

The group of girls I was with were from North West NSW. Friends who came together regularly through their gardening group and all big fans of Paul Bangay's work. They had been here two years earlier at the previous open day and this time they had even got up extra early to do the private tour with Paul himself that morning. They owned all his books and had designed their own gardens inspired by Paul's work.

What I found most interesting talking to these girls, is that despite both regions being so different in temperature, climate and landscape, how they adapted their gardens with plants and trees that were a "Paul Bangay" Style but would survive in their harsh environment. For example, using succulents as hedging rather than the traditional box hedging. Watering was a major issue for many of the girls, some living in town and some out on properties. There was lots of water talk, to say the least!

Below are some photos taken by myself on the day. As you will see, the sun didn't need to shine that day to appreciate the love, care and skill needed to grow these gardens….although it would have been nice!

For more information on Paul Bangay's work, click here.

Enjoy x

All photos taken by myself x