All posts tagged: home baking

Morning Sunshine

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Breakfast is one of those meals where we all do something different! Grab a coffee, some cereal, maybe a piece of fruit on the run. Even skip it!  It was the custom in Italy to call into a corner bar, stand and grab a quick espresso and maybe a pastry and head off to work. Here in Australia it’s anything from coffee, toast and vegemite to a cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon and baked beans. I was an oatmeal and yoghurt girl, fresh fruit or toast and vegemite…things are a changing. Bread hasn’t been in my daily diet for approximately three weeks…so of course because I love the texture of bread, I had to research a little and find a non grain substitute. Now, the look of this bread might seem a little bland, but it has a wonderful ‘nutty’ texture, but hey not very exciting for the morning…how about a little boost of sunshine! Slices of ‘no grain’ bread made into delicious french toast. Soaked in two eggs for 2/3 minutes then fry in …

Baked Banana Cheesecake

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How wonderful to share with you my friends, what a lovely day it’s been today. A few rays of Autumn sunshine, although the air is crisp and cool, a little home-style baking,  time to write and hear back from a friend via e-mail and an afternoon ‘happy moment’ with my sister with  coffee and a slice of this baked banana cheesecake. ‘Happy Moment’ a small indulgence while on the Slimmer Mediterranean Diet This baked banana cheesecake, sort of just came together while out shopping, I had decided not to through away those forgotten bananas before not attempting to bake something with them. In my mind, was my favourite banana bread recipe, but while out I picked up one (I have too many!!) of my monthly cooking magazines. And wow! just what I needed a seasonal special on baking with banana’s. Chocolate & Banana French toasties;Banana & Apple friands; Beef vindaloo with coconut & banana sambal; Banoffee trifle; Spiced banana tarte tatin…but I had to use those over ripen banana’s and the recipe to win me …

Cherry 3.14

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Who can say no if you’re in the know of this one… I’ve never actually made this delight before and wanted to try it, Sunday afternoon, time to relax after a morning of teaching and where do I head, but for the kitchen. Fresh cherries are not in season so the best next thing is canned pitted cherries and mixed berries in their natural juices, …I love making pastry, but just wasn’t up to waiting an hour for it to rest in the fridge so opted for the ready made pastry sheets. No rocket science here…my friends..just making good use of pre-canned, pre-cut, pre-made…and the test kitchen is in business. And as you can see, the results were fantastic, a beautiful crusty rustic pastry, with the glorious ‘beefy’ plump taste of cherries and mixed sweet fruits. Read on for the recipe…

Sweet Blessings

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A beautiful  Sunday, and Happy Mothers Day. I made a special cake for my sister today to celebrate Mother’s Day with the family. A Vanilla Strawberry Buttercake. Its the first time I’ve used this giant cupcake tin, so a little trial and error, but some great results. And some wonderful ideas for future baking were discussed by us girls….  A Mothers Blessing Thank you, Holy Father, for Your special gift of mothers; for the example of Your unconditional love they share with their children. Thank You for the mother who lets her child know without doubt he or she is loved, and for the child who returns that love. Lord, today we pray You will protect and guide mothers everywhere; that You will grant them Your wisdom in loving and teaching their children. Today, may children everywhere remember the warm caresses and whispers in the night; the tears dried and Band-Aids, the peach cobbler, the laughter; and the blood curdling scream, ‘No!’ at the brink of danger. Thank You for the mothers who played with …

The Violets Of March

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The Violets of March **** (Good Read) by Sarah Jio I’m linking to Jain at Food for Thought and Mary at Home is Where the Boat is, please go and check out their book review, and if you’re interested in reading and baking this is a diverse way to create..just email these lovely ladies for the years book list to join in. Now to this fabulous book… This book is a mix of romance, love, secrets and family history. A book that has you hooked from the beginning, and one that I read over a weekend. Soaking up the romance of young love, and intrigued by making my own endings, and hoping for the happy one.This book was captivating. This book is about Emily who is trying to find herself, and by visiting her  great Aunt, she falls under the magical spray on Bainbridge Island, to not only find new love but solve the secret mystery within her family. “Mix a love story, history and a mystery and what takes root? The Violets of March, …

Cockatoo Chatter

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What have we been up to….children’s baking! A few week’s ago, my niece was having a farewell party at school for one of her schoolmates who was returning overseas. The decision was made to have an Australian theme. From an array of fauna and flora Australian icons, the decision was made to make those ever enjoyable cupcakes as a base and decorate them as cockatoo’s and koala’s The Sulphur-crested cockatoo can be found widely north and east of Australia, and actually right at our back door.Their distinctive raucous call can be very loud, repeat very loud. The plumage is overall white, the expressive crest is yellow. The bill is black, the legs are grey, and the eye-ring is whitish. Males typically have almost black eyes, whereas the females have a more red or brown eye. Wikipedia So, with a bit of detail, we made cockatoo cupcakes…cupcakes were a basic vanilla mixture covered in assorted lollies: banana’s,licorice,marshmallows and vanilla frosting. So, I know you’re now wondering what our koala’s looked like… Chocolate cupcakes with choc frosted …