Charmaine Solomon’s Famous Cheese Daisies

This is the recipe that kicked off the cooking career of Mrs Charmaine Solomon in 1964. Far from being her first entry in a cooking competition, but definitely her most successful, the cheese biscuits are a family favourite and make great edible gifts too.

We press them out in a flower shape with a cookie press, but rolling the mixture into two logs about 4cm in diameter, chilling for a couple of hours, then slicing 5 mm thick is also an excellent way to obtain round biscuits. If you love poppy seeds, you can roll one of the logs in them, or a mix of seeds if you enjoy ‘everything’ bagels.

Ingredients

225g (11/2 cups) plain flour

2 tablespoons white sesame seeds, lightly toasted

185g salted butter

150g (11/2 cups) vintage or sharp cheddar, finely grated

30g (1/3 cup) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground chilli, if you like

Directions

Traditional method: Cream the softened butter and grated cheeses together, then add the toasted sesame seeds and the sifted flour, salt, and spices.

Use a biscuit press to form daisy biscuits, pressing directly onto the baking tray. Bake at 170 °C for 12 minutes, then cool on a rack. Makes about 40

Easy method for those with a food processor: you don’t need to grate the cheese. Just pulse all the dry ingredients together until well combined, then add the cubed, cold butter and cheese. Pulse until the mixture comes together, then continue processing to cream the mixture.

Divide the mixture into two, form into logs about 3.5cm in diameter. Roll one of them in poppy seeds or ‘bagel everything seeds’ if desired, wrap in plastic film or waxed paper.

Chill until firm. Slice into 5mm thick discs and bake in a preheated 170 °C oven for 12 minutes, or until golden in colour. This method gives you about 60 thinner biscuits.

Small Steps Create Big Shifts

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Turn Intention Into Action

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.

Make Room for Growth

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way.

The key to making things happen isn’t waiting for the perfect moment; it’s starting with what you have, where you are. Big goals can feel overwhelming when viewed all at once, but momentum builds through small, consistent action. Whether you’re working toward a personal milestone or a professional dream, progress comes from showing up — not perfectly, but persistently. Action creates clarity, and over time, those steps forward add up to something real.

You don’t need to be fearless to reach your goals, you just need to be willing. Willing to try, willing to learn, and willing to believe that you’re capable of more than you know. The road may not always be smooth, but growth rarely is. What matters most is that you keep going, keep learning, and keep believing in the version of yourself you’re becoming.