Happy Easter

To celebrate Easter with my family I decided to attempt a "Checker Board" cake using a slightly different technique than my previous attempt. I found a beautiful recipe "White Velvet Buttercake" as the base, adding some colour. All the decorations (excluding the chocolate Easter eggs) I hand made, yes including the lamb and the little rabbits.

Explosions of Flavour

With my continued research into the world of baking and my desire to experiment, I have been in the kitchen trying out a few more recipes. My husband is big fan of macadamia nuts and requested I make some cupcakes using them in the batter. After some thought I baked Maple Syrup and Macadamia Nut Cupcakes. Rather than rely on feedback I sampled one and was pleased with both the flavour and the texture.

It was back to the kitchen to again try something new. My audience was well known for their "sweet tooth", so I decided to create a true chocolate experience; milk chocolate cup cakes iced with milk chocolate butter cream and then decorated with candy coated chocolate pieces. My husband and I enjoyed half a cup cake each, and we were both delightfully surprised.

Some of my readers know that I participate in the 'Relay for Life' each year, an event which raises money for the Cancer Council to fund cancer research. The Maple Syrup and Macadamia Nut Cupcakes and the Milk Chocolate Cupcakes were sold and the proceeds donated to this fundraising.

Alternatively, you may wish to sponsor me directly via this link: http://relay.cancercouncil.com.au/2011/sutherland_shire_relay_for_life_2011/Happy-Feet/214501

Farewell.....

I made this cake as a surprise, to farewell a colleague. It is a Vanilla Bean Cake filled and iced with White Chocolate Ganache and then decorated in fondant.

Tempting the Tastebuds

Over the last few weeks I have been scanning the Internet and cookbook aisles of bookstores looking for cake recipes, to add a little variety to the mix. This has been a very interesting exercise, not only have I found some new recipes and exciting flavours, I have also picked up quite a few baking tips along the way.

 

Last weekend I baked a lemon, lime and white chocolate mud cake. The cake was filled and covered in a coconut, lemon, lime and white chocolate ganache. I was a little concerned the ganache may have been a little too rich. However, my judges (my husbands shift of approximately 16 people at his Fire Station) gave me rave reviews, "spot on", "the best yet", and "that cake was to die for". I myself did not taste the cake so I'll rely on their judgement.

NB. Unfortunately I did not get a photo of this cake.



This week I was very excited to find some very interesting recipes and I was keen to experiment a little more. To pick up a few rare but essential ingredients I visited The Essential Ingredient - Rozelle, this store is fabulous, and I spent far too much money. After admiring my purchases and reviewing a few recipes I decided upon Lavender and Honey Cup Cakes. I implemented the new tips I had picked up through my research and took great care with the ingredients, mixing and baking. The end result was 18 lovely cupcakes that have again been sent off to my "judges" - I'll keep you posted on the feedback.

Afternoon Tea

My lovely 3 year old niece helped me bake some vanilla cupcakes to take to Poppy's house for afternoon tea. The cakes were iced with meringue buttercream.

A Little Girl's 1st Birthday

A little Man's 1st Birthday!