Look What I Made :)

I've just finished making a cake for a pre-wedding party this Friday night so I thought I would share the pics with you. It is a white chocolate and raspberry swirl cake with marshmallow frosting :)

I'm really happy with how it turned out, I just hope the family and the future bride and groom love it too!

Before


After


Happy Wednesday everyone :)

xx

Ta-Da!!!

Ok so after more or less a week of sitting around feeling sorry for myself and a particularly bad night on Friday, I got out of bed Saturday determined to knock this stupid mood on the head. I was supposed to go to my 10 Year High School Reunion that afternoon and you know I was not looking forward to it one little bit. At school I was the fat nerdy kid with frizzy hair, not alot of fashion sense and even fewer friends. I'd like to think I've changed dramatically since then, I've lost a heap of weight, I'm confident, on the odd day I think I look hot and I have some fantastic friends...plus I discovered high heels and hair straighteners! But just the thought of being back there with the same people made me feel ill. Nonetheless, Alice twisted my arm and we decided to brave it together and you know it really wasn't as bad as I thought. The reunion was held at the school and we went for a bit of a tour to see how much it had changed and then we headed to the nearest beer garden because it was such a beautiful day and we weren't quite finished catching up. Occasionally I still felt like that fat akward little girl, but then I remembered we are all adults and just went and started talking to someone. That was one of the great things about it, people who never said boo to each other at school were all of a sudden having in depth conversations, people who used to think they were better then everyone else all of a sudden looked like hell and people who used to be shy and akward all of a sudden could hold their heads high :)

That was step one....step two was getting my motivation back. No more moping, no more sitting around. I went for a huge walk in the sunshine on Sunday and will try and keep it up. Walking makes me feel great, not only for the exercise but I find it relaxing and a nice way to de-stress at the end of the day. I also got a heap of things crossed off my to do list, including having a play in the garden...and look what I found when I was out there...my first flower :) now if that doesn't make you smile, nothing will!


And the thrid and final step....get back in the kitchen!! I have always always always said baking is good for the soul, it makes me happy, it clears my head, it makes me feel calm and peaceful and I missed it. So on Sunday afternoon when I had done all my other bits and pieces, I put my pjs on, I put the radio on and I cooked my little heart out. Nothing overly exciting, just some things for OH's lunches when he comes home next week and I started making the frostings for a wedding cake I'm doing this week :)


OH, me and our sheep!


Caramel Banana Rice Bubble Slice
Ohhhh now this slice is very simple and very easy....melt 150g butter with 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbspns banana topping and 1 tbspn honey. Combine with 2-3 cups of rice bubbles until they are well coated and press into a lined slice tin. Refrigerate overnight and then cut into slices. If you wanted you could drizzle these with some melted dark chocolate too :)

So basically the general theory is pick yourself up, dust yourself off, put on your highest pair of heels, your sexiest outfit and do something that always makes you smile and before you know it, you won't be able to stop yourself :) And a big hug (thank you Netty) is always good to throw in there too :)

Em x

Catching Up.....

So I've been coming here a few times over the last few days to update because I like to do it every few days if I can. But I have sat here so many nights staring at the screen waiting for an entry to type itself....I haven't been cooking, I haven't been doing much of anything, I wanted to come write a blog just to say hello and I'm still here but it just didn't happen. Truth be told, my head has been all over the show. A long time ago, when I was at school I was all sorts of messed up, my head hurt all the time, my mood swings were ridiculous, I just wanted to be on my own and truth be told I spent a hell of alot of time sitting on my floor, balling my eyes out, music cranking, razor blade at the ready....luckily I never did anything too stupid and the scars were so tiny they faded long ago. It took a long time but I realised one of the main triggers was listening to certain music, don't ask me why, but normally I can keep a hold on it, but certain music just knocks me for six. Anyway OH and I were going through our CD's last weekend to try and finalise the wedding music and he pulled out this CD that I had long forgotten about. I thought seeing as so many years had passed and I haven't had any trouble, maybe I would be strong enough to listen to it and just enjoy it. Turns out I can't. I just can't seem to snap out of it and in the last few days I've been flipping from ridiculously happy to sitting on the floor in tears to utter inner peace so often it's making my head spin....so just bear with me while I sort this out please?

In the mean time, here is what I had for tea tonight...would you believe it's just 600g pumpkin, 1 capsicum, 1 bunch spring onions, 1 head brocolli, 100g mushrooms and 1 zucchini in a fry pan with 350g sesame tofu and 2 tspns crushed garlic? Yuuuuummmm and so simple!


And I have spent the last few days in Melbourne at a conference for work...OMG the christmas windows at Myer were up, I mean I love the christmas windows but wow early much?!


And check this out...was gorgeous to wake up to this morning :)


And last but certainly not least....Cinderella and her Prince Charming :)


Last Friday night OH and I went to a charity ball with my work...we didn't have alot of money to throw around but it was something different as we don't go to events where you get to frock up in long gowns and I can get the boy into a tie very often so we made the most of it and had a really fantastic night :)

Em x

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cake Balls

Try saying that 5 times fast....

Have you ever tried to fake tan? It's a well known fact that I'm a little pale (to put it nicely) and with the wedding coming up people keep asking me if I'm going to get a fake tan. My answer has always been no way in hell because everyone knows I'm pasty and if I show up on my wedding day looking like an oompa loompa well i think that's just silly....

However, in saying that, OH and I have a trip away coming up in the next few weeks and the thought of showing off my lily white legs on holiday to a bunch of complete strangers is just not working for me (go figure huh!?). So I took some advice from OH's sister and have been trialling a gradual tan moisturising cream. I'm not sure if it's working, I mean sometimes I look at my legs and think they are starting to look a nice shade of brown, other times I think they look the same as they always did, and occasionally I look at them and think someone has snuck in in the middle of the night and painted my knee caps and my toes a very bright shade of gold....but nonetheless I am sitting here with my legs up in the air (so that the cream soaks in evenly of course) and persevering with it...

The true test will be if OH notices when he gets home after two weeks working away tomorrow night, but in all fairness in the last fortnight I have had my nails done, had my long hair lopped off and done weird things with the colour of my legs so he may just get home and come to the conclusion I've had far too much time on my hands...

Having alot of spare time is not always a bad thing though, I've tidied the house, done some gardening, crossed several things off my to do list (and added several things to it....) and I made these Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cake Balls!

Even though when I took them to work they were met with a crowd of ladies very wary of the flavour combination, word soon got around that they were in fact rich and tasty and sweet and delicious and they disappeared quick smart...even if they were likened to testicles (thankfully only due to appearance and not to taste!)


You will need:

1 pkt buttercake mix
1.5 cups pumpkin puree
2-3 tspns mixed spice
180g cream cheese softened
300g white chocolate melts

Prepare the buttercake mix as per packet instructions replacing the liquid with the pumpkin puree - the one I was using called for 2 eggs and 3/4 cup milk so I added the eggs and 1.5 cups pumpkin puree and no milk.

Add the mixed spice and mix well.

Bake as per packet directions. Once a skewer inserted comes out clean remove it from the oven.

Allow the cake to cool for 5-10 mins. Whilst it is still warm go nuts and break it all up in a bowl ensuring it is well crumbled.

Add the cream cheese and mix it all together. The mixture should be holding together well. If you find it it crumbly add more cream cheese. Place the mixture in the fridge for 2-3 hours and leave the house so you don't eat it all.

Return to the house and remove the mix from the fridge. Scoop small balls out onto a lined baking tray. Place bake in the fridge for a further 2-3 hrs or overnight.

Melt 100g of chocolate in the microwave. Using a fork or a spoon gently roll balls one at a time through the chocolate and place back on the baking tray. Repeat with remaining chocolate and balls.

Place the tray into the fridge until the chocolate hardens. You can store these either in the fridge or at room temp.

They do take a bit of time and a few steps but they are so worth it :)

Em x

Easy Pumpkin Loaf for Halloween

So I spent today baking up a storm of Halloween goodies to take to work for morning tea tomorrow.

On the agenda was...

Pumpkin Loaf
Spider Web Cake
Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cake Balls

For the pumpkin loaf you will need:

650g butternut pumpkin peeled and deseeded
100g softened butter
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda
1 tspn ground cinnamon
1 tspn mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat oven to 180°C and line your loaf tin with grease proof paper.

Cut the pumpkin into 4cm pieces and place in a microwave safe dish. Microwave on HIGH (100%) for 3 to 4 minutes or until pumpkin is tender. Mash until smooth and set aside to cool.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together.

Add eggs, beating until well combined.

Add pumpkin, flour, bicarb and spices. Beat on low until just combined.

Pour mixture into your prepared tin and smooth surface.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand in pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack.

This is a great recipe packed full of flavour and you can serve it warm or cold which makes it great for lunch boxes, morning teas or even breakfast!

And here is the spider web cake....I cheated and just used a packet chocolate cake mix and decorated it with vanilla buttercream, licorice and oreos!


Looks pretty cool hey!

Stay tuned because I'll post the recipe for the Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cake Balls tomorrow!!

Em x

Hidden Vegetable Curry

What a hectic week it has been. It started on Monday with a full day of interviews, on Tuesday I had a full day training, yesterday, today and tomorrow have been / will be spent attending seminars for Workplace Safe week...on top of that I got a heap of new beads so I've been busy making jewellery most nights and even found time to whip up a couple of cakes too! All of this makes this bowl of tasty, hearty mince and vegie curry with eggplant and yoghurt even more comforting and enjoyable to sit down and savour!

To whip it up for yourself (and 2 friends because it serves 3) you will need:

250g mince
1 carrot grated
1 zucchini grated
1 onion finely diced
1 eggplant diced
1 tspn butter
2-3tbspns curry paste (I used Korma)
1 tin diced tomatoes
salt and pepper
200g tub of European yoghurt to serve

In a fry pan over medium heat add your onion and mince and cook for 4-5 mins or until mince is browned.

Add the curry paste, diced tomatoes, carrot and zucchini. Season with salt and pepper and let it simmer for 5-10 mins.

Meanwhile throw your eggplant and butter into a microwave safe dish and cook for 10 mins (checking every 2mins) until the eggplant is nice and mushy and the butter is soaked up. Give it a bit of a mash up with a fork too.

Serve the mince mixture with a heaped spoonful of the eggplant and a generous dollop of yoghurt. I also think this would be delicious served with some naan bread too.

This dish is just packed with flavour, a great way to hide vegies from the kids, low in calories and very filling too!

Right, I must be off, jewellery to package, chocolate to eat...you know...the usual!

Em x

Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies

This weekend just gone was one of the best weekends I've had for a long time. OH is working away at the moment and not only was he home for 3 whole days but the weather was simply gorgeous as well. On Friday we picked up some new furniture for our bedroom, posted off all of our wedding invites and went out for a lovely seafood dinner with friends. Then on Saturday we went for a ride up to Meadowbank Dam and sat out on the jetty with our lunch.....


And that night we chilled out on the couch with the world's biggest plate of nachos (which OH washed down with an equally huge glass of buorbon!)


Yesterday we had a bit of a sleep in and spent the day pottering around in the garden before taking my bike out for a quick spin, OH even taught me how to ride the ride on mower and dump the oil out of my bike so it's ready for a service :)

So what better way to top off a beautiful summer's weekend then with these decadent Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies?


You will need:
125g butter
180g dark chocolate melts
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/4 cups plain flour
3 tbsp cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 180C / 160°C fan-forced.
Line a slice tin with baking paper.
Place butter and chocolate in a heat proof bowl in the microwave and heat in 45 second bursts (stirring in between) until smooth.
Pour into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat in the sugar.
Add eggs and beat until well combined.
Add the flour and cocoa and beat well. Mixture will be fairly thick.
Spread mixture into prepared pan and pour cheesecake mix over. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until top is firm to touch. Set aside to cool.

For the cheesecake mix you will need:

180g cream cheese
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup strawberry topping

Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until smooth.

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend and made the most of the weather!

Em x