Garbage Truck Cake

 

I made this super simple garbage truck cake for Elliott's 3rd birthday. I actually bought the garbage truck a year ago for his birthday cake last year but changed my mind and did the Very Hungry Caterpillar instead. So I've been looking forward to doing this one. I wanted to keep it simple and colourful so used chocolate icing (instead of coconut grass etc) and wafers, smarties, licorice allsorts and freckles with some 100s and 1000s sprinkled around. And that was it! The buttons on the truck could be pressed to make it's noises, which was a bit of added fun..

Fruit-mince Pie Ice-cream

2L vanilla ice-cream
95g pure butter shortbread, roughly chopped
12 waffle cones, to serve
1 cup mixed dried fruit (Fruit medley)
75grams dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried diced figs
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 tsp mixed spice
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbs apricot jam
1/4 cup brandy 

Place mixed fruit, cranberries, figs, almonds, spices, sugar, jam and brandy in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Stir until well combined. Cover and stand overnight, stirring occasionally. Place ice-cream in a large bowl. Stand for 10 minutes or until softened but not melted. Add fruit mince mixture and shortbread. Gently fold until just combined. Spoon into a 11 x 21cm (7cm deep) loaf pan and gently press to compact. Cover and freeze overnight or until firm. Remove from the freezer and stand for 3 minutes. Using an ice-cream scoop, scoop ice-cream and place in cones. Serve immediately.

 

Via Woolworths

Vicki's Banana and Oatmeal Muffins

3-4 ripe bananas
3-4 cups rolled oats
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
2tsp cinnamon
2tsp vanilla essence

Mash bananas. Mix in all other ingredients. Spoon into muffin tray. Cook in oven, 180C for 25mins.