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Vinegar and baking soda: a cleaning hack or just a bunch of fizz?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a></em></p> <p>Vinegar and baking soda are staples in the kitchen. Many of us have combined them in childhood scientific experiments: think fizzy volcanoes and geysers.</p> <p>But people also frequently mix vinegar and baking soda to produce a reportedly effective household cleaner. Unfortunately, the chemistry behind the bubbly reaction doesn’t support the cleaning hype. The fizzy action is essentially <a href="https://theconversation.com/six-surprising-things-about-placebos-everyone-should-know-220829">a visual “placebo</a>”, formed by the combination of an acid and a base.</p> <p>So, how does it work, and is it worth using these chemicals for cleaning? To understand all this, it helps to know a little more about chemistry.</p> <h2>What’s an acid?</h2> <p>Foods with a sour taste typically contain acids. These include citric acid in lemon juice, malic acid in apples, lactic acid in yoghurt and <a href="https://theconversation.com/kitchen-science-everything-you-eat-is-made-of-chemicals-56583">phosphoric acids in soft drinks</a>. Most vinegars contain around 4–10% acetic acid, the rest is water and small amounts of flavour chemicals.</p> <p>There are other naturally occurring acids, such as formic acid in ant bites and hydrochloric acid in our stomachs. Industrially, sulfuric acid is used in mineral processing, nitric acid for <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-ammonium-nitrate-the-chemical-that-exploded-in-beirut-143979">fertiliser manufacturing</a> and the highly potent hydrofluoric acid is used to etch glass.</p> <p>All of these acids share similar properties. They can all release hydrogen ions (positively charged atoms) into water. Depending on their potency, acids can also dissolve minerals and metals through various chemical reactions.</p> <p>This is why vinegar is an excellent cleaner for showers or kettles – it can react with and dissolve mineral deposits like limescale.</p> <p>Other common acidic cleaning ingredients are oxalic acid, used for revitalising timber decks, hydrochloric acid in concrete and masonry cleaners, and sulfamic acid in potent toilet cleaners.</p> <h2>What’s a base?</h2> <p>In chemistry, bases – the opposite of acids in many ways – can bind, rather than release hydrogen ions. This can help lift and dissolve insoluble grime into water. Bases can also break apart fat molecules.</p> <p>Baking soda (also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or bicarb) is a relatively weak base. Stronger common bases include sodium carbonate (washing soda), sodium hydroxide (lye) and ammonia.</p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/spill-at-a-nuclear-facility-shows-potential-burn-risks-from-a-household-chemical-112763">Sodium hydroxide</a> is a potent drain cleaner – its strong base properties can dissolve fats and hair. This allows blockages to be broken down and easily flushed away.</p> <h2>Mixing a base and an acid</h2> <p>Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an immediate chemical reaction. This reaction forms water, sodium acetate (a salt) and carbon dioxide – the fizzy part.</p> <p>The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over <a href="https://www.chemedx.org/JCESoft/jcesoftSubscriber/CCA/CCA8/MAIN/8/06/2/4/movie.html">five litres of gas</a>! But only if you add enough acid.</p> <p>Reactions in chemistry often use equal quantities of chemical reagents. A perfect balance of acetic acid and baking soda would give you just water, carbon dioxide and sodium acetate.</p> <p>But the majority of vinegar and bicarb cleaner recipes use a large excess of one or the other components. An example from TikTok for a DIY oven cleaner calls for one and a half cups of baking soda and one quarter cup of vinegar.</p> <p>Crunching the numbers behind the chemical reaction shows that after the fizz subsides, over 99% of the added baking soda remains. So the active cleaning agent here is actually the baking soda (and the “elbow grease” of scrubbing).</p> <p>Ovens can be cleaned much more rigorously with stronger, sodium hydroxide based cleaners (although these are also more caustic). Many modern ovens also have a self-cleaning feature, so read your product manual before reaching for a chemical cleaner of any sort.</p> <h2>What about the sodium acetate?</h2> <p>Devotees of vinegar and baking soda mixtures might be wondering if the product of the fizzy reaction, sodium acetate, is the undercover cleaning agent.</p> <p>Unfortunately, sodium acetate is an even weaker base than baking soda, so it doesn’t do much to clean the surface you’re trying to scrub.</p> <p>Sodium acetate is used in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vABpel-11Nc">crystallisation-based heating packs</a> and as a concrete sealant, but not typically as a cleaner.</p> <p>Fun fact: sodium acetate can be combined with acetic acid to make a crystalline <a href="https://theconversation.com/busting-the-myth-that-all-food-additives-are-bad-a-quick-guide-for-label-readers-82883">food additive</a> called sodium diacetate. These crystals give the vinegar flavour to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0hEutu_goY">salt and vinegar chips</a> without making them soggy.</p> <h2>Sorry to burst your bubbles</h2> <p>There are a few rare cases where mixing vinegar and baking soda may be useful for cleaning. This is where the bubbling has a mechanical effect, such as in a blocked drain.</p> <p>But in most cases you’ll want to use either vinegar or baking soda by itself, depending on what you’re trying to clean. It will be less <a href="https://theconversation.com/visually-striking-science-experiments-at-school-can-be-fun-inspiring-and-safe-banning-is-not-the-answer-195362">visually exciting</a>, but it should get the job done.</p> <p>Lastly, remember that mixing cleaning chemicals at home can be risky. Always carefully read the product label and directions before engaging in DIY concoctions. And, to be extra sure, you can find out more safety information by reading the product’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-new-tiktok-trend-has-people-drinking-toxic-borax-an-expert-explains-the-risks-and-how-to-read-product-labels-210278">safety data sheet</a>.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225177/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082"><em>Nathan Kilah</em></a><em>, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vinegar-and-baking-soda-a-cleaning-hack-or-just-a-bunch-of-fizz-225177">original article</a>.</em></p>

Home & Garden

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Victoria Beckham's cooking skills hilariously slammed by her own daughter

<p>Victoria Beckham's cooking skills have been playfully roasted by her daughter, Harper Beckham.</p> <p>In an Instagram story shared to her 31.4 million followers, the former Spice Girl documented a family baking session featuring herself, husband David Beckham, and their daughter Harper.</p> <p>David was filmed in the middle of whipping up an apple crumble using apples from the "Beckham Orchard," while Harper was busy baking chocolate chip cookies.</p> <p>While the father-daughter duo were channeling their inner baker, Victoria was filming the moment and asked Harper whether she inherited her culinary talents from her mum or dad.</p> <p>"Did you learn to cook from daddy or mummy?" Victoria asked Harper in the light-hearted clip.</p> <p>With a mischievous grin, Harper retorted, "Mummy, you can't even make cereal!"</p> <p>"Oh wow, Mummy can't even make cereal," Victoria responded. </p> <p>"Well you can make chicken Kiev but that comes from M&amp;S," the 12-year-old said, adding insult to injury. </p> <p>M&amp;S (Marks and Spencer) is the local British retailer, which specialises in clothing, food and home products among other things. </p> <p>Victoria hilariously captioned the video: "I get it Harper… I can't cook."</p> <p>The Beckhams often invite fans into their kitchen through their social media, and document their cooking escapades. </p> <p>Watch the full clip <a href="https://kitchen.nine.com.au/latest/harper-beckham-roasts-mum-victoria-beckham-cooking-skills-in-new-clip/e538cdaa-f295-427d-b334-4bb7351da1bd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Stuffed baked potatoes

<p>A steaming-hot baked potato makes perfect comfort food and doesn't need lashings of butter and cheese to be delicious. This tasty vegetarian filling combines marinated mushrooms and zucchini for a healthy filling. Other fillings are limited only by your imagination.</p> <p><strong>Serves:</strong> 4</p> <p><strong>Ingredients: </strong></p> <ul> <li>4 baking potatoes, about 300g each</li> <li>2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>200g small open-cup mushrooms, about 5cm in diameter</li> <li>1 large zucchini, about 170g, sliced</li> <li>1 teaspoon red wine vinegar</li> <li>1 teaspoon dijon mustard</li> <li>Salt and pepper</li> <li>⅓ cup (10g) chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preparation:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Preheat the oven to 200°C.</li> <li>Push a metal skewer through each potato or push the potatoes onto a potato roasting rack. (Pushing a metal skewer into the potatoes helps to conduct heat through to their centres so that they cook more quickly.</li> <li>Place the potatoes directly on the shelf in the oven and bake for 1½ hours or until tender.</li> <li>Make the zucchini and mushroom filling when you first put the potatoes in the oven so that it has time to marinate.</li> <li>Alternatively, it can be made just before the potatoes are cooked and served hot.</li> <li>Heat a large ridged chargrill or frying pan.</li> <li>Drizzle half the oil over the pan and cook the mushrooms and zucchini slices for 10-15 minutes or until they are well-browned in places and softened and have released their juices.</li> <li>Transfer the vegetables to a bowl with all their juices and add the remaining oil, the vinegar and mustard.</li> <li>Season to taste, mix well and leave to marinate until the potatoes are cooked.</li> <li>Split open the baked potatoes, then press gently to part the halves, keeping them joined at the base.</li> <li>Stir the parsley into the marinated vegetables, then pile them into the potatoes.</li> <li>Serve immediately.</li> </ol> <p><em>This article first appeared in <strong><a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/stuffed-baked-potatoes">Reader’s Digest</a></strong>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Super simple cake decorating ideas

<p>Whether you’re making a cake for a special occasion or simply want to create something extra fancy for a family dinner, you’d be surprised how easy it can be to decorate a cake into something fit for a cooking show. Whether it’s using a few store-bought meringues, slicing up some strawberries or using your favourite biscuits to make a balloon feature, you’ll never make a plain old cake again after reading our super simple cake decorating ideas.</p> <p><strong>Meringue on the mind</strong><br />For an effective alternative to piped-frosting rosettes or expensive store-bought edible roses, opt for some mini meringues from the supermarket. Use them around the edge of the cake for a simple yet stylish finish that packs a crunchy punch.</p> <p><strong>Up, up and away with cookies</strong><br />Whether you want to make biscuits of your own or buy your favourite biccies from the shop, once you’ve iced your cake arrange a cluster of biscuits nearer to one end of the cake and use liquorice shoestrings (or another thin long lolly of your choosing) to form the balloon strings coming from the biscuits. You may want to knot the strings for extra detail. Another tip you may want to use is, if your biscuits are on the plan side, cover them in different colour frostings and then decorate them with colours sprinkles.</p> <p><strong>Strawberry fields</strong><br />Sometimes things in your very own fridge make the perfect cake decorations. Strawberries not only taste delicious and fresh, their vibrant colour makes them an eye-catching decoration. Thinly slice one punnet of fresh strawberries. Starting from the outside perimeter, place a ring of strawberries around the cake, pointed facing out. Continue layering rings around the cake until you reach the centre.</p> <p><strong>Shaved Chocolate</strong><br />For all the chocoholics out there, this one’s for you. A decadent way to decorate a cake is with shavings of chocolate. If you’re worried you won’t be so good at making your own shavings, some stores do sell them. You can mix and match milk, white and dark chocolate and even throw in a few different flavours – think orange, mint or chilli chocolate. While there are many ways you can arrange the shavings, the circular, ring-type layering described above in strawberry fields works well.</p> <p><strong>Spotty dotty</strong><br />Polka dots are all the rage and white frosting dots on a cake that has been iced in a pale colour, will look extremely lovely. For neatly piped dots, you’ll want to use a pastry bag. Hold the pastry bag in both hands; keep the tip just above the cake's surface, at a slight angle. Gently squeeze out icing, release, and pull back. Frosting dots will also help to hide smudged edges or spotty icing. You can either use different size dots or big and small ones. But whatever you do, start with the large ones.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“What do I actually do?”: Woman’s costly chocolate-coated crisis

<p>A woman in the United States has been left with quite the mess on her hands after her cake order took a questionable - and rather expensive -  turn. </p> <p>In a video posted to TikTok, by user @libbycarlsonn, she revealed what had become of her $300 USD (~$443 AUD/NZD) request after it had been dropped off by the baker.</p> <p>The clip featured her with a hand covering her face and the text “guys I paid $300 for this and the lady just dropped it off what do I actually do” across the top of the screen. </p> <p>It continued on to show an image of a carefully constructed chocolate cake, the one that the TikToker had been hoping to receive, and concluded with what she’d actually been delivered: something best described as a sort of chocolate avalanche, with chocolate melting down haphazardly placed chunks of cake, and a dusting of sprinkles over it all. </p> <p>“TikTok, work your magic because I need advice right now," her caption read. </p> <p>The video gained over 3.7m views, and over 4,000 comments, though most weren’t offering advice so much as commiserating with her, or poking fun at the sillier side of her situation, and many were of the opinion that she should demand a refund immediately. </p> <p>“When you say dropped it off, did she literally drop it?” one user wanted to know. “Also how is that the same as the one in the photo??? HOW?”</p> <p>Another pressing concern came soon after, with someone asking “why are there sprinkles???”</p> <p>“Put it in the fridge probably just melted a bit,” one suggested. </p> <p>“No way that’s what they gave you!! I would’ve flip[ped] that cake onto their face. Wow!!” another said. </p> <p>“Tbf…. I prefer the disaster cake,” one shared, “it looks tastier but I’d definitely ask for a refund.”</p> <p>Another felt quite strongly about that, telling the TikToker “well obviously it's false advertising and that's illegal”.</p> <p>One, however, simply refused to accept that the story was true, writing “I’m sorry I literally do not believe you”.</p> <p>“Girl you made that. Quit playing! Lol,” another agreed. </p> <p>And as one said, “honestly, there’s no way this is true or you dropped it before posting.”</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“Grandma meant Elmo”: Cake-maker reveals hilarious baking blunder

<p>An American baker has left the internet in stitches after misreading her customer’s custom cake request, instead delivering a baking blunder for the Sesame Street history books.</p> <p>In a video posted to her TikTok account, Brianna Romero - who is known professionally as Brinni Cakes - confessed her mistake to the world, recounting the story of how a recent order from a grandmother had led her to the creation of her new friend ‘Emo Elmo’.</p> <p>“So my worst nightmare happened,” she said, with audio playing over a timelapse of Brianne constructing another cake. “Last week a lady DMed me and asked me if I could make her an emo cake, and I was thinking ‘yes, of course, I love emo and I love goth, and I know I’ve been perfecting my black frosting so I’m ready for this’.” </p> <p>Brianna went on to explain that she’d gotten all of her customer’s information, and set to work. However, an hour before she was set to deliver the cake, she decided to offer the woman a number candle - an offer that was soon accepted. </p> <p>“She said ‘yes, the cake is for my granddaughter and she’s turning four’”, Brianna explained in the clip. “And I thought that that was a little bit weird, ‘cause I don’t know an emo four year old.”</p> <p>After trying to understand the weird request, Brianna figured that the little girl must just be a fan of something like Netflix’s Wednesday series. Unfortunately, this was not the case. </p> <p>“Something felt wrong,” she noted, before describing how she’d reach out again to ask what the theme of the party was, only to find out it was Sesame Street. </p> <p>“So my heart sinks a little bit because this is now making sense to me,” she said. It was then that Brianna returned to the original exchange between herself and her customer, and had her worst fears confirmed. </p> <p>“I misread emo,” Brianna admitted, “and it said an Elmo cake.”</p> <p>Luckily, Brianna was a quick thinker in her time of stress and rushed out to find an Elmo topper for her cake, before offering the cake for free.</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610.266px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7212109376436391210&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40brinnicakes%2Fvideo%2F7212109376436391210&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fe19d4562cc04495c8778154678f1d382_1679200086%7Etplv-dmt-logom%3Atos-useast5-i-0068-tx%2F1ad8d307d5f74948880bf2e0f91228f3.image%3Fx-expires%3D1683669600%26x-signature%3DCxdjPe36YRrx4SrRRwvAPwRsevY%253D&amp;key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p>Brianna’s audience were obsessed with her tale, and the video shot to viral heights, with over 11.7 million views to its name. </p> <p>“As soon as you revealed it was for a 4yr old I was like ‘oh no, grandma meant Elmo’,” one follower wrote. </p> <p>“Praying it’s Elmo with a side bang,” said another. </p> <p>Her misfortune drew in over a thousand comments, but there was a recurring thought that stood out among the chorus, and that was a request to see the baked blunder. </p> <p>And while Brianna admitted in an update that she hadn’t had the time to snap pictures on the day of delivery, she did her best with her follow-up video, sharing photos of cakes that looked “almost exactly” like her own, to the delight of her worldwide audience. </p> <p>“This is so funny,” someone said. “Elmo with a side bang has me in tears.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, another commenter wanted to know what the recipients had thought about their unique goods. </p> <p>“She tried to pay still but I told her everything that happened and we just laughed it off,” Brianna said. “It was just for a small family party anyway.”</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“The stuff of nightmares”: Baked to imperfection

<p>Some people are destined for the kitchen, while others may be better suited to a career in comedy, if these cake decorating disasters are anything to go by.</p> <p>Even armed with a visual guide and the world’s best intentions, some bakers are just in for a wild time - and thanks to some good-natured social media posts, we can all enjoy the colourful consequences right along with them. </p> <p>Lucy was one such baker to face a betrayal from her cake. Posting to the Facebook page Woolies/Coles Mudcake Hacks, she shared her experience trying to follow professional baker Tegan ‘Tigga’ Maccormack’s Bluey birthday cake tutorial. </p> <p>Needless to say, their end results weren’t exactly mirror images.</p> <p>"Enjoy this absolute abomination - it looked easy on TikTok," Lucy wrote, attaching a picture of her hilarious creation. </p> <p>Fellow Facebook users loved her attempt, with some even trying to make Lucy feel better.</p> <p>One informed her that although it was nothing like the inspiration picture, it was “very cute”.</p> <p>“OMG I genuinely love it!” another declared. “It made me smile, thank you for sharing.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, one mum wrote that her seven-year-old encouraged Lucy to “keep trying!”, before stating that “it looks so bad she should probably eat the whole thing.” </p> <p>On Reddit, someone had another unfortunate cake story to share - though this time they weren’t the baker responsible, simply the customer who got something they certainly hadn’t paid for. </p> <p>“The ice cream cake we ordered vs what we received,” they wrote, sharing the image of two monkey cakes. One, the ‘expectation’ image, was a smoothly iced monkey head. The second, the ‘received’ product, was at least discernible as a monkey, even if the ‘smooth’ icing job left a lot to be desired. </p> <p>“This was an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins," it was explained. “They usually come out exactly as pictured online, but this time was truly spectacular."</p> <p>And while many thought this particular approach to replicating the vision was hilarious, most were of the opinion that this had not actually been a failure, but instead an improvement. According to the majority in the comments, “frosting tastes much better than fondant” anyway.</p> <p>Another Reddit user referenced a tweet they’d seen of another cake disaster, this time of a Minnie Mouse cake that someone had purchased for their niece, and the nightmare they’d gotten in return. </p> <p>“I saw that it was posted in Arabic on Twitter, and it was pretty funny,” the Reddit user said, “so I just wanted to share it with a wider audience!"</p> <p>“The cake's shininess is the stuff of nightmares,” was all one had to say about it. </p> <p>“I would not have paid for that abomination,” another said. </p> <p>Thankfully for the individual who had dealt with the cake firsthand, they were able to return it for a full refund. </p> <p>"The cake was for my sister for her birthday," they told TODAY. "In the beginning, it was a horrible shock for us, but after I posted the picture on Twitter, I was laughing because of people's reactions."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Shutterstock</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Best baked goods in Australia crowned

<p>The Victorian Baking Show, held by the Baking Association of Australia, has enjoyed another year of treats and celebration in 2023. </p> <p>The annual show took place in Bendigo for the second time, with judges enjoying their share of 590 different baked goods from 143 passionate bakers across Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. </p> <p>And despite the very difficult task ahead of them, the panel were able to crown winners in numerous bread, pastry, and sweet categories. </p> <p>The show’s most sought after titles? Australia’s Best Hot Cross Bun and Australia’s Best Vanilla Slice. </p> <p>North End Bakehouse in Shepparton, Victoria, seized victory with their vanilla slice. The Australian classic typically features a thick layer of vanilla custard between layers of puff pastry, most often with icing sugar sprinkled on top. But North End Bakehouse opt to shake things up, with their slice showcasing a sleek coating of white fondant instead. </p> <p>“This was an absolute stand out,” executive officer of the Baking Association, and host of the Victorian Baking Show, Tony Smith declared, “the judges couldn’t believe how creamy the custard was, and the fondant was tempered perfectly on top. The pastry was crisp and thin, not soggy.” </p> <p>“John Humphrey, one of the main judges - along with Stewart Latter, Chief Judge for the BAA - judged the vanilla slices and stated that sometimes it’s very hard to temper the fondant and allow it to sit perfectly on top,” he continued “along with this, some people have custard filling that leaves a gritty or grainy feeling in your mouth.</p> <p>“But this was perfect!”</p> <p>North End Bakehouse’s success didn’t stop there, either, with the bakery also taking home a win for its 680g sourdough loaf. And although they didn’t snag the coveted first place prize for their hot cross buns, they did secure the title of “Best Innovative Hot Cross Bun” for their Vegemite-flavoured treat. </p> <p>Meanwhile, the accolade of Australia’s Best Hot Cross Bun went to South Australia’s Banana Boogie. And not only did they seize first place, but also the second-place trophy. </p> <p>“The Hot Cross Bun Competition is judged over several sections by two judges,” Tony explained, “the main thing is the judges cut one in half across from left to right, and then another on a diagonal. This allows the judges to see the fruit distribution in the bun and make sure it is evenly spread.</p> <p>“Of course, there is spice aroma and then mouth feel, making sure it is fresh and doesn’t stick to the roof of your mouth.”</p> <p>The baked goods just kept coming from there, with winners across all of the show’s categories announced. </p> <p>For the category of 2 Small Individual Fruit Tartlets, Mildura’s Sunraysia Bread and Butter Bakery claimed the top spot. They also now boast the title of having Australia’s best pasties.</p> <p>Melbourne’s Country Cob Bakery had the best meat pies, as well as the judges’ favourite gourmet pies. </p> <p>Victoria’s McKinnon Village Bakery found their claim to fame with everyone’s favourite: Australia’s Best Sausage Rolls.</p> <p>And last but not least, Mooroopna Bakery - also in Victoria - set tastebuds tingling with their iced doughnuts.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Food & Wine

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6 delicious cheesecake recipes to delight the whole family

<p>Whether your sweet tooth steers you towards something bejewelled in berries or coated in chocolate, cheesecakes make for an excellent dessert all year round. </p> <p>In no particular order, here are 10 recipes to try at home, whether you want to impress the whole family at your next event or want to dig in solo for a cheesecake demolition (no experience required). </p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://justamumnz.com/2016/10/23/caramello-chocolate-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caramello cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p>Caramel and chocolate go hand in hand, so it only makes sense to pair Caramello with cake. And with a prep time of only 20 minutes (though 4 hours are recommended for setting), this sweet treat can be yours in record time after the cake craving strikes. </p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="Custard%20apple%20cheesecake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Custard apple cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p>In another take on a classic combo, Woolworths’ recipe promises a 45 minute prep time, with only four steps. Best yet, it doesn’t require baking, so there’s no fear of burning it before you even get the chance to enjoy it. </p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.recipetineats.com/no-bake-mango-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No bake mango cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p><em>RecipeTin Eats</em>' Nagi Maehashi credits bargain mangoes for this recipe, and no matter its humble origins, the multitude of ways this one can be played with makes it the perfect base to experiment. Plus, Nagi lists her notes, tips, and tricks to help any baker through the process. </p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/ultimate-choc-mint-cheesecake-recipe/zwfw4gs8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ultimate choc-mint cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p>For KitKat lovers, and avid fans of mint chocolate, this recipe is a must. It provides a grand opportunity to get creative with decorating too, though it could be a bit of a challenge to improve upon the surewire winner KitKat ring. </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.readersdigest.ca/food/recipes/lemon-curd-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Lemon curd cheesecake</strong></a></li> </ul> <p>With lemon curd involved, is there ever any need to say more? This recipe, although from a Canadian, gives bakers the option to swap their measurements to metric for an easier experience. And even more, you can edit the portion size, so no more guessing while adjusting the recipe to suit.</p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.modernasianbaking.com/recipes/the-best-japanese-cheesecake-recipe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Foolproof Japanese cheesecake</a> </strong></li> </ul> <p>And last but certainly not least is the bouncy and brilliant Japanese cheesecake. These cakes, also known as a cotton cheesecake or a soufflé cheesecake, cannot be missed. And with notes from recipe author Kat Lieu to assist, now is as good a time as any to give it a go. </p> <p>The <em>OverSixty </em>team shared their favourite cheesecake flavours too, and though they may not all be family friendly, they’re certainly nothing short of absolutely scrumptious. </p> <p>Coming in first? Baileys. Indulgent and creamy, any cheesecake recipe that features the liqueur is sure to be a winner.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/baileys-cheesecake-recipe/633f1u7z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baileys cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/caramilk-baileys-salted-caramel-cheesecake-recipe/9bnmlwmn?r=baking/66odb6fv&amp;h=baking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caramilk, Baileys, and salted caramel cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://bakeplaysmile.com/baileys-chocolate-cheesecake-no-bake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No bake Baileys chocolate cheesecake</a></li> </ul> <p>And second up, though no less desirable, are fruit cheesecakes (lemon, blueberry, and raspberry topping our lists). Typically a more humble option, but certainly no less delicious, with hundreds of flavours available to make them shine inside and out. </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.recipetineats.com/blueberry-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blueberry cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/lemon-and-blueberry-cheesecake-1489" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lemon and blueberry cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/no-bake-lemon-cheesecake-recipe-2/z5ltaea8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No bake lemon cheesecake</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/25642/white-chocolate-raspberry-cheesecake/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White chocolate raspberry cheesecake</a></li> </ul> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

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Recipe: Cheesy potato bake

<p>The perfect accompaniment to any meal, everyone needs a great potato bake recipe in his or her repertoire and this one is delicious (and simple). </p> <p><strong>Serves:</strong> Six</p> <p><strong>Preparation time:</strong> 20 minutes</p> <p><strong>Cooking time:</strong> One hour 30 minutes</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span> </strong></p> <ul> <li>60g of butter, plus extra for greasing</li> <li>2 ⅓ cups milk</li> <li>400ml cream</li> <li>2 cups of cheese (tasty or parmesan work well), grated</li> <li>1½ kg potatoes (Sebago, Desiree, or similar), peeled and thinly sliced1 onion, finely chopped</li> <li>3 garlic cloves</li> <li>1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves</li> <li>Salt and pepper to season</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p> <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 180 °C or 160 °C for fan forced. Lightly grease a seven-cup ovenproof dish. </li> <li>Melt butter in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Slowly add milk and cream, stirring constantly until well combined. </li> <li>Add one and half cups of cheese. Stir to combine. </li> <li>Layer one third of potatoes over base overlapping slightly. Top with half the onion, garlic, thyme and one third of cheese sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat two more times. </li> <li>Brush a sheet of foil with oil and place oil-side down over the potato. Seal tightly. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and brush top with melted butter. Cook a further 45 minutes until tender and golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining cheese for last 15 minutes of cooking.</li> </ol> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Another delicious way to enjoy the sweet, sweet banana

<p dir="ltr">BANANA DATE AND WALNUT SPELT BREAD</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr">Serves: 8</li> <li dir="ltr">Prep time: 20 mins</li> <li dir="ltr">Cooking time: 55 mins</li> <li dir="ltr">Difficulty: Easy</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr">INGREDIENTS </p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">2/3 cup (100g) dried pitted dates, coarsely chopped</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1 cup (100g) walnuts</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1 cup (150g) wholemeal spelt flour</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1 cup (150g) white spelt flour</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">3 tsp baking powder</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">¾ tsp bicarbonate of soda</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">2 tsp ground cinnamon</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">4 Ecoganic® Red Tip® bananas, peeled,  </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">3/4 cup (180ml) light olive oil</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">2 eggs</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">¼ cup (60ml) date syrup</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Peanut butter, to serve, optional</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">METHOD</p> <p> </p> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Preheat the oven to 170°C fan forced. Grease and line the base and sides of 6cm deep, 10cmx21cm (base) loaf pan. </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Place the dates into a heatproof bowl, add 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Cover and stand for 10 minutes. Coarsely chop 2/3 cup (75g) walnuts. Set the remaining 1/3 cup aside for the top.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sift the spelt flours, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon into a large bowl, adding any husks left in the sieve from the wholemeal flour. Stir in the chopped walnuts.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Coarsely mash the bananas on a plate with a fork (you should have 11/3 cups). Transfer to a jug. Add the oil, eggs, date syrup and softened dates including any water. Stir to combine. Add to the flour mixture and stir gently until just combined. </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Top with the reserved walnuts. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the loaf comes out clean. Remove from oven. Stand 10 minutes in the pan then lift onto a wire rack. </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Slice and serve warm or serve toasted in a sandwich press spread with peanut butter.</p> </li> </ol>

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Baked eggplant with yogurt

<p>In this delicious dish, grilled slices of eggplant and zucchini are layered with a rich tomato sauce and cumin–flavoured yogurt, then baked. Thick slices of bread and a crisp green salad are the perfect accompaniments to make a satisfying meal.</p> <p><strong><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></strong></p> <div> <div> <ul> <li>3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>1 red onion, finely chopped</li> <li>2 cloves garlic, finely chopped</li> <li>1 can chopped tomatoes, about 400 g</li> <li>2 teaspoons tomato paste</li> <li>100 ml dry red wine</li> <li>1 bay leaf</li> <li>2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley</li> <li>salt and pepper</li> <li>3 eggplant, about 700 g in total, cut into 1 cm slices</li> <li>3 zucchini, about 500 g in total, thinly sliced</li> <li>½ teaspoon ground cumin</li> <li>1⅔ cups (410 g) low–fat natural yogurt</li> <li>2 eggs, beaten</li> <li>⅓ cup (35 g) freshly grated parmesan</li> </ul> </div> <div> <h4>Preparation</h4> <div data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/baked-eggplant-with-yogurt"> </div> <ol> <li>Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a saucepan, add the onion and cook for about 8 minutes, or until softened.</li> <li>Add the garlic and cook for a further minute, stirring.</li> <li>Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, wine and bay leaf.</li> <li>Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.</li> <li>Uncover the pan and let the sauce bubble for a further 10 minutes, or until thickened, stirring occasionally.</li> <li>Remove the bay leaf.</li> <li>Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.</li> <li>While the sauce is simmering, preheat the grill to moderate.</li> <li>Lightly brush the eggplant and zucchini slices with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil.</li> <li>Cook under the grill, in batches, for 3–4 minutes on each side, or until browned and very tender.</li> <li>Preheat the oven to 180°C.</li> <li>Stir the cumin into half of the yogurt.</li> <li>Arrange one–third of the eggplant slices, in one layer, in a large ovenproof dish that is about 2.</li> <li>5 litres capacity.</li> <li>Spoon over half of the tomato sauce.</li> <li>Arrange half of the zucchini slices on top, in one layer, then drizzle with half of the cumin–flavoured yogurt.</li> <li>Repeat the layers, then finish with a layer of the remaining eggplant slices.</li> <li>Mix the remaining 200 g yogurt with the beaten eggs and half of the parmesan.</li> <li>Spoon the yogurt mixture over the eggplant, spreading with the back of the spoon to cover evenly.</li> <li>Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan.</li> <li>Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and set, and the sauce is bubbling.</li> <li>Serve hot, in the baking dish.</li> </ol> <div>Serves: 4</div> <div>Preparation: 20 minutes</div> <div>Cooking: about 1¼ hours</div> <div> </div> <div>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/baked-eggplant-with-yogurt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</div> </div> </div>

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10 ways to use bicarb soda in the garden

<p>Bicarb soda is great for around the house, but did you know it has may uses in the garden too? Here are 10 ways to use bicarb soda in the garden</p> <p><strong>1. Control powdery mildew</strong></p> <p>Mix one tablespoon of bicarb soda, one tablespoon of vegetable oil, one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap and four litres of water together. Pour mixture into spray bottle and spray on plants weekly. Make sure to check for signs of burning as some plants are sensitive.</p> <p><strong>2. Stop cabbage worms</strong></p> <p>If pesky cabbage worms are nibbling your vegetables, use this natural bicarb soda mixture to get rid of them once and for all. Mix together equal parts bicarb soda and plain flour. Sprinkle over plants.</p> <p><strong>3. Sweeten tomatoes</strong></p> <p>It is believed that a sprinkle of bicarb soda on the soil around tomato plants will sweeten tomatoes. Bicarb soda helps lower the acid levels in soil, which makes tomatoes sweeter.</p> <p><strong>4. Test soil PH levels</strong></p> <p>Before you plant your garden, scoop some soil into a small container and wet it with some water. Sprinkle bicarb soda on top of it. If the bicarb soda bubbles, the soil is most likely too acidic.<em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="../lifestyle/gardening/2015/05/gardening-and-soil-ph/"><br /></a></strong></span></em></p> <p><strong>5. Kill slugs</strong></p> <p>If you have slug problem in the garden, sprinkle bicarbonate soda directly on them. This will dry them out.</p> <p><strong>6. Discourage weeds</strong></p> <p>To prevent weeds from growing in the cracks of pavement or garden stones, pour a generous amount of bicarb soda into the cracks. This will kill off small weeds and discourage new weeds from growing. Do this every couple months.</p> <p><strong>7. Remove crabgrass</strong></p> <p>Crabgrass is one of the worst lawn weeds in the world and should be removed immediately. To kill crabgrass, spray with water and sprinkle bicarb soda on it. This will kill crabgrass in a few days. Be careful not to sprinkle bicarb soda on any other plants or grass though.</p> <p><strong>8. Keep flowers fresh</strong></p> <p>To prolong the life of a fresh bouquet of flowers, fill vase with water and mix in one teaspoon of bicarb soda.</p> <p><strong>9. Treat black spot fungus</strong></p> <p>Mix four teaspoon of bicarb soda with four litres of water. Spray on infected roses at the first sign of the disease.</p> <p><strong>10. Make a safe organic pesticide</strong></p> <p>This non-toxic pesticide will kill insects harmful to plants, like aphids, without damaging the environment. Mix one tablespoon of bicarb soda, ½ tablespoon of oil and two litres of water. Spray on plants every few day until problem insects disappear.</p>

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How to bake your pup a birthday cake

<p dir="ltr">This recipe makes one dog cake and can be served as a full meal (based on a medium size dog 10-25 kg), however, we encourage sharing amongst other furry friends or cutting a slice as a treat only. </p> <h4 dir="ltr">Dog cake recipe</h4> <h4 dir="ltr">What you'll need</h4> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Chopping board</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Knife</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Cake stand</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Bowls</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Spoon</p> </li> </ul> <h4 dir="ltr">Ingredients</h4> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">300 g Glow Raw Adult Australian Kangaroo dog food (or any preferred flavour)</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">4 salmon skin dog treats</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">9-12 mixed berries (mixture of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries)</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">10 strawberry yoghurt drops</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1 tsp melted coconut oil</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">1 tsp pumpkin seeds</p> </li> </ul> <h4 dir="ltr">Method</h4> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d3b8966e-7fff-2340-4098-edebe3d7b817"></span></p> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Create three 1cm thick patty slices out of the Glow Raw Adult dog food.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Melt the strawberry yoghurt drops.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Place one patty slice on a cake stand.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Top with two crumbled salmon skin dog treats.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Place second patty slice on top.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Top with another two crumbled salmon skin dog treats.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Place third patty slice on top.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Drizzle the melted yoghurt drops over the top and sides of the cake.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Top with mixed berries.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Drizzle over melted coconut oil.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sprinkle over pumpkin seeds.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Serve. Enjoy!</p> </li> </ol> <p><em>Image: Better Homes &amp; Gardens AU</em></p>

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