Why This Is My No.1 Recipe

5 Cups is my number one recipe for three reasons.

The first two are obvious. Not only is it really yummy, it’s also drop-dead easy to make. Easier than a salad sandwich.

The third reason is not so obvious, although it’s my favourite.

Each time a new client comes on board, I bake this slice to say thank you for choosing Suncow.

Of course, I could buy them a bottle of wine or a basket of fruit which would be much easier, but there’s a specific reason why I like to bake this slice.

It serves as a metaphor for Suncow’s approach to Financial Planning, in particular, our approach to investing.

As the name suggests, the ‘5 Cups’ recipe consists of five ingredients – choc chips, mixed fruit, desiccated coconut, flaked almonds and condensed milk. Just one cup of each. Easy peasy.

The metaphor works like this.

Everyone wants a good outcome however there are different roads to Rome as well.

The purpose of the 5 Cups recipe is to show clients, in a very yummy way, that you can achieve a really good outcome using just five ingredients (investments). You don’t need to over complicate things.

By comparison, you could choose a Banana Cake instead but it has thirteen ingredients. And even though the final outcome is super delicious, many would argue it’s no nicer than the 5 Cups slice, it’s just more complicated.

Our investment advice is exactly the same. Nice and simple. And that’s the message we try to convey by gifting clients a yummy, homemade slice. Cooked by yours truly.

One of the things I love most about 5 Cups is it explodes this myth about investing that says, ‘more is better’. Meaning, the more diversified you are, the better off you will be. I disagree. In fact, I believe you can very easily ‘di-worsify’ a portfolio.

For example, some commentators will suggest you need two or three different investments across every asset class – international shares and local shares, international property and local property, international fixed interest and local fixed interest, and on it goes.

Eventually, you end up with an investment portfolio with fifteen plus investments that looks more like a banana cake even though the outcome is no better. It’s just more complicated which means there’s probably less chance a client will understand it. The worst outcome of all.

And that’s why 5 Cups is my No.1 recipe. It proves that by keeping things drop-dead simple, you can still produce a very good outcome.

End of deliciousness.

Have a great weekend!

Adam

Credit: A very big thank you to Azalea Sitali for her photography!

Farmhouse – here is the 5 Cups recipe. Note – you don’t need an electric mixer.

Ingredients
• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk (400gm tin)
• 1 cup of fine desiccated coconut
• 1 cup of dried fruit (can be mixed, apricots, dates, cherries, etc.)
• 1 cup of choc chips. A 200gm packet is perfect.
• 1 cup of nuts. My favourite is flaked almonds but you can use whatever.

Method
1. Turn oven on to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Get a tray that is 27x17x3cm in size (Perfect for apple slices too!) and line with non-stick baking paper
3. Using a wooden spoon, mix ingredients in a bowl, transfer to baking tray and place in oven for about 40 minutes or until slice has a golden tinge
4. Allow to stand for at least 30 minutes on a cooling rack

Bloke notes – don’t cut corners and buy the cheapest ingredients. Buy the best quality ingredients, ideally when you see them on special. Your friends, family and clients will appreciate it!

What others have to say about this recipe…

Seriously, this recipe is pure gold. I love it!
– Caroline Hemming, Rozelle

This recipe is easy and highly recommended. A yummy, sweet mouthful guaranteed to satisfy… a great slice.
– Michael Mol, Freshwater

We all love your ” 5 cups ” slice, so easy to make too easy to eat!! It’s a family favourite.
– Bev Munnoch, Currarong

I absolutely love this recipe. So good!
Todd Nosti, Ryde

Ahhhhh! My favourite ingredients, condensed milk & chocolate chip. This slice is tasty and has great flavour, an easy choice when a snack is required. Very easy to make and will hit your sweet spot every time.
– Colette Coelho, Quakers Hill

This is absolutely the best slice in Sydney and a clear winner. You have to taste it to believe it!
– Ben Van Der Westhuizen, Balmain

I can’t stop eating it! Full of flavour and so easy to make, how can something so simple be so delicious!?
– Tim Dhanu, Drummoyne

Such an easy recipe to make, a “one pot wonder” you can mix up quickly and throw in the oven for the time poor chef like me. My workmates love it and it’s a great tasting treat to have with my afternoon cup of coffee. And being Adam’s recipe, it makes me think about my finances to!
– Gareth McDougall, Penshurst

Adam normally meets with us for our annual review around my birthday. He normally brings one of his wonderful baked creations and a couple of years back he brought us his ‘5 cups’ slice…I had to fight my son to get one slice … he absolutely loved it!!!!
– Jan Loudon, Nth Wilberforce

The 5 cups slice is a sweet, wicked temptation. It’s simple and tastes so good. Worth the pain and agony of going to the gym to watch my weight. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too!
– Margaret de Silva, Parramatta

So easy to make and with more than a few in the family with a sweet tooth, this never lasts long…
– Robyn Masala, Baulkham Hills

The 5 Cups should be called the ‘Bitsa’ – it has a bit of everything in it that’s Christmassy and delicious!
– Sam Edwards, Randwick

They say all great things come in 3’s! I suppose all great things now come in 5’s! Amazing slice Adam!
– Azalea Sitali, Newtown

I wanted to send you a quick note to let you now how much I LOVED the slice. It not only looked wonderful but it tasted great too. I cannot put into words how amazing and delicious it was. You totally WOWed me. THANK YOU for being so creative and making wonderful treats for our office!
– Esther Kokkera, Regus, Balmain

It doesn’t surprise me that a recipe as basic as 5 Cups would be Suncow’s favourite. Like Adam, its painfully simple!
– Coops, Dubbo

Sweet, sticky, nutty and addictive. Nothing like its maker! ;
– Peta Palomino, Balmain
(There’s a reason why I put your comment at the bottom – cute but cheeky!)