White Chocolate Rocky Road

This Rocky Road treat is fast becoming my signature simple treat, it is so quick and easy to make and everyone of all ages just absolutely loves it!

I originally found the recipe at Taste.com I always alter the quantities to suit, here it is below:

Rainbow Cake

I had so much fun making this rainbow cake that I just had to share a few pictures and the link to the recipe I used.  The expressions on my kids faces when I cut into this cake was priceless! They were very excited about the sprinkles but the inside of the cake really was a nice surprise :-)

I based my cake on the recipe from Martha Stewart and used the icing from Table Spoon there are a few things I would try differently next time but it was fun and the results look amazing :-)

Birdseed Slice

Has anyone tried birdseed slice? I've been addicted to this lately! Its a really versatile sweet slice... its great with a cup of coffee, a snack for the kids, a sweet treat after dinner... so as you can see, its perfect for any time of the day!!

I found this recipe from healthy food guide magazine and have adapted it slightly. Actually, each time I make it I put in different quantities of the ingredients, so its really up to you how much seeds, nuts and dried fruit to put in.

Hope you enjoy it as much I do :-)

3 layer Chocolate, Banana and Custard Cake with Meringue frosting

I had a few ripe Banana's left in my fruit bowl and didn't want them to go to waste, and typical me, couldn't just make a simple banana cake! I had to try something different! So, here is my yummy creation..

Enjoyed with a nice cranberry fruit tea :-)

Recipes and step-by-step instructions to follow.

Quick and healthy dinner

I recently had a family dinner at my parents place.  Mum had the dessert covered and I always love to share my baking so I had to make something!! I decided to try something quick, tasty, and easy.  I made this Pumpkin, Feta, and Pine Nut Quiche.  It went down a treat so I just wanted to share it with you.

The recipe is as follows...

These three ingredients go so well together, another pumpkin, pinenut, and feta recipe that I love and regularly make is a salad that I discovered on taste.com.au its really really really good!!  You should definitely try it for yourself :-)  

Daffodil Day

An excellent cause....

Daffodil Day is the cancer society's most important fundraising and awareness campaign. I love daffodil day as it always reminds me of spring and the daffodils smell so beautiful.

You can donate to the cancer society by clicking here: Daffodil Day

I found these cute little daffodils in my mums garden, aren't they sweet!

I've  been busily preparing for my nephews birthday party this weekend which I'm helping to create so I haven't had time to do extra baking this week.  But that hasn't stopped me getting some beautiful spring inspiration from others.

I found these two yummy recipes from the lovely raspberricupcakes  website.

Lemon lime and bitters Macaroon shells sandwiched with a bitters buttercream... don't they sound delightful!

lemon-lime-bitters-macarons

I couldn't go past these gorgeous cupcakes without sharing...

canary-cupcakes

The cupcakes are lemon and poppy seed, the website takes you through the recipe and how to decorate. So cute!!

I love the look of this yummy dessert from Butter cream its a white genoise cake layered with fresh lemon curd and lemon infused mousse.  Sounds delicious, and the picture is so pretty.

I hope you all enjoy these early spring inspirations... and don't forget to donate to the cancer society for daffodil day :-)

Red Nose Day

Happy Red Nose day New Zealand!!

Red Nose Day is a national fundraising campaign that raises money for Cure Kids.  Red Nose Day has been around for over decades, I remember it as a kid and getting involved in fun activities at school.  It encourages everyone to be silly and have a laugh for a serious cause.

I thought it would be fun for my kids to get involved in a bit of baking for Red Nose day, and this what we came up with... cupcakes and red velvet mini cheesecakes.

Recipes:

The cupcakes are vanilla cupcakes that I sourced from the lovely Vanilla Cupcakes.  I chose a different icing this time, I used Annabel Langbein's recipe:

120g butter
200g cream cheese
2 tbsp blackcurrant cordial
1 tsp vanilla extract
Red food colouring
5 cups icing sugar
And of course, Jaffas for decoration

Beat together the butter and cream cheese (at room temperature), then beat together with blackcurrant cordial, vanilla and  cordial  until creamy smooth.  Add icing sugar and beat until smooth.  Chill for 10 minutes and then put into a piping bag to pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

For the mini red velvet cheesecakes:

I got this recipe from: Tasty Retreat

I must say, when I got to this part, I got a little bit worried that my kids were still helping!! Aprons please!!

A healthy cheesecake!

Who's ready for a healthy cheesecake??

We've all heard that eating raw food is better for you... right?  If you're thinking of going "raw" here are few reasons why raw food is beneficial for your body:

1. Heating food destroys much of the nutrients and enzymes in your food.
2. You feel more energised and sleep better...and also wake up with energy!
3. It helps to give you mental clarity
3. There's less mess to clean up! that's always a bonus
4.  The increased fibre will keep you more regular
5. You get a get a good feeling of satisfaction when you eat food from the earth, especially if you've grown it yourself.

For more detailed reasons to eat raw food look up: Eat Raw

Here is the recipe for the healthy raw blueberry cheesecake

Links:
10 reasons to eat raw - zen habits
Recipe and photo: Blueberry cheesecake - raw guru

Cheesecake!! Obsessed Much??

Wow! The Cheesecake of all cheesecakes!!

Delectable, delicious, divine, delightful... are just a few words I would use to describe this cheesecake!! I had so much fun preparing, making, and decorating this gorgeous Mocha Chocolate Cheesecake... I've added some step-by-step photos and the recipe below.

I have also shared the Multi-swirl cupcake icing from Good Life Eats which is a really cool idea if you want different colours and/or flavours in your frosting.

Mocha Chocolate Cheesecake.

Firstly make the base with crushed Oreos... YUMMMM!!

Then make the filling... you want to make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature as it makes it easier and smoother when blending.

Then you beat the creamcheese, sugar, flour and vanilla until smooth

Add the eggs

Then you need to separate out the mixture into two bowls, adding coffee to one and chocolate to the other

Pour into each of the mixtures into the base starting with the chocolate

Then cook on 160(c) for 60-65 mins.. then refrigerate overnight. 

And then you get to decorate it.. I added a chocolate glaze first and then the topping...

For the topping, remember to check out Good Life Eats for the directions

Mocha Chocolate Cheesecake recipe

Ingredients 

1.5 cups Oreo cookie crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling
2 tablespoons plus 1.5 tsp instant coffee granules
1  tablespoons hot water
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
680g cream cheese
1.5 cups sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups chocolate melts, melts and cooled

Glaze:
1/2 cup chocolate melts
3 tablespoons butter
coffee beans, chocolate-covered coffee beans, chocolate swirls... all optional

Directions

Place greased 9-inch springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 inch square).  Securly wrap foil around pan.

In a small bowl, mix cookie crumbs and butter, press into the pan.

In antoher bowl, mix the coffee granules, hotwater and cinnaom - set aside.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla until smooht. Add eggs, beat on low until jsut combined.

Divide batter in half.  Stir melted chocolate into one portion, pour over crust.  Stir coffee mixture into other half, spoon over chocolate layer.

Place the pan in another  large baking pan, add 1 inch of hot water to larger pan (the water bath).

Bake at 160 (c)  for 60-65 minutes, until centure is just set and top appears dull.  Reomve springform pan from water bath, remove foil.

Cool cheesecake on wire rack for 10 miutes. Loosen side from pran with a knife.  Cool for 1 hour longer and then refrigerate overnight.

Remove rim from pan.  If you want to glaze... melt chocolate and butter together and stir unitl smooth.  Spred over cheesecake and top however you desire!

Recipe adapted from Taste of home