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.

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!

nimble fingers

Today was filled with origami and baking. I haven't made paper cranes in a long time. It was nice to relive one of my childhood pastimes. As for the baking, I made a double batch of cookies and tried a new recipe for banana bread. I've had to trial a couple of different recipes to get the soft springiness found in café versions, and not so dry and crumby as the last few recipes I'd tried. Today's recipe was the closest I've gotten so far.

'afternoon tea' challenge: lemon meringue pie

Last Thursday I had my first run at making lemon meringue pie. The recipe was actually pretty easy and consisted of three parts: the base, the filling and the meringue. I was a bit worried how it would work out as I'd never made any of these before but I found them all really simple to make and the result was surprisingly really yummy! This is definitely something I want to bake again. The best part? My non-lemon-loving hubby liked it so much he had seconds.

It's 2am, I feel wide awake and hungry (crazy pregnancy). Scary things happen when staying up late in Aussie summer! I'd forgotten how many flies and bugs will swarm towards whatever light is kept on in the dark of night. The last time I remember experiencing this was back in high school days, which is over six years ago. Now I feel itchy and paranoid that they're crawling on me..

On a happier note, my sister-in-law gave birth to adorable Abigail Jane yesterday! Despite attempting a natural birth, after 24 hours in labour she had an emergency C-section. I had expected this to scare me but instead, after looking at her baby's gorgeous little face and watching her yawn, I absolutely cannot wait to give birth and meet my own little baby despite all the pain that comes with it. You can see a photo of baby AJ here.

yummy baking goodness

Image from frankie.com.au. Get your own copy here.
I have been a fan of Frankie Magazine since their first issue back in Oct/Nov 2004. Each issue is beautifully designed with lots of white space and a mishmash of modern-yet-crafty illustrations and photographs. Frankie doesn't bombard you with the latest celebrity gossip nor the next fashion craze you cannot afford, but has remained faithful to staying "smart, funny, sarcastic, friendly, cute, rude, arty, curious and caring".

So when Frankie released their yummy baking cookbook "Afternoon Tea" I just had to buy it! Which I did, about two years ago. Being a lazy sort of person by nature, I hadn't really attempted more than two or three recipes in this book. Until now, where I will attempt to work my way through the entire list of recipes. Idea taken from the movie 'Julie & Julia'.