double baking fun-ness

Thanks to Megan's delicious photo on sugar doughnut muffins a few weeks ago, I just HAD to try make my own! They were easy to make, although I do remember getting the butter/sugar coating part a bit wrong at first which is ridiculous as it is so simple (it was one of those days). They turned out sooooo incredibly yummy! I'm going to be making more in the near future for my sister's engagement party, and I hope I make enough because I know they'll be a hit! This I know because when I made them the first time I made a double batch and my husband and I ate them all in two days....


I also tried my hand making Nelly's Apple Shortcake Afternoon Tea. This was my first time "boiling apples", if that's the right term, and I was quite happy with how they turned out. They were nice and soft and sweet, the only thing I'd change next time is make the slices a bit thinner as even though I made them the thickness the recipe said they were a bit too chunky. I had never whipped cream though so I know next time to add sugar and stop whipping before it starts to taste like butter!

Some exciting news (at least for me) via the Frankie mailing list: "Some exciting news! We've just completed our second cookbook! It’s called Sweet Treats and it is filled with the most delicious old school recipes. It's a little like Afternoon Tea except the recipes are based around candy and other sticky treats (instead of cakes)."
UPDATE: pre-order Sweet Treats here.

I really really want this and cannot wait till it's available! I've discovered the baking nerd in me, and it really shows on the days where I can't help but think "only X number of days left till we move out and I have my own kitchen". It seems pregnancy has unleashed a different side of me.

just a quickie

Life has been amazing lately, I feel so blessed! I can't wait to share it with you all. Unfortunately we've gone over our download limit so the internet is s-l-o-w and frustrating to even try to view my reader to catch up on all those lovely blogs I follow, let alone trying to upload anything of my own. So I've resorted to posting from my iPhone. Here's a preview of what's to come (hopefully by next week):
• A couple of yummy baking photos
• Etsy buy from magicqueen
• Weekend away celebrating my one year anniversary with hubby

sleepy owlette

Gentle Raindrop is no more. Welcome to Sleepy Owlette! Some may wonder why the sudden name change, especially since it means that anyone that may have been following me will no longer know where I am... That was a risk I took, and besides, other than the newly added "Followers" widget on the side I wouldn't have had any idea anyone was reading this other than myself and the few that left comments. So to those that did I have tried to reconnect by leaving new comments on their lovely blogs. Hope that helps, and thanks to all the lovely people that actually read my ramblings!

Anyhow, the reason I decided to change blog name was due to a sleepless night, thinking of all the fun the future holds when my little bundle of joy arrives. My hubby and I are sooo completely excited. Any time the baby kicks and I let him know so he can try to feel with his hand on my belly, we get completely googly-eyed and mushy and that "I'm so happy right now I could cry" look in our eyes. Since finding out about the baby, I have bought only one piece of clothing so far. This is not without effort, and the fact that we're waiting till the birth to find out if it's a girl or boy has actually been helpful, if frustrating. So in essence, the name change is in honour of our baby. :)

a little naked chef

I've been avoiding the 'Afternoon Tea' baking challenge... BUT at least I am still trying different recipes! I had a quick look through jamieoliver.com and found a few that I liked. I have since made the full english for dinner a few nights ago (hubby was completely stoked) and today I tried my hand at my version of apple pie from scratch! It turned out okay-ish.. My mistake in editing the recipe is that I replaced a few ingredients I didn't have for something "similar", ie instead of ginger in syrup I used maple syrup and instead of real blackberries I was going to use jam, but I could only find apricot jam and used that instead. The end product tastes pretty good considering, but the apricot taste is enough to make me not want more than a nibble.

I've come to the realisation that I really need to work on my photography skills. I want to be able to take memorable (not accidentally nice) photos of me and my hubby, and even more so when our little one arrives. I feel limited having only a Canon SX100 (not a DSLR) but at the same time know that having a nicer camera doesn't necessarily mean I'll take nicer photos. Better brush up on what I learned in photography back in uni a few years back!