My Final Project

Today was the last lesson, from my cake decorating classes. We have spent the past 7 Saturdays learning how to cover cakes, and how to make all of the flowers etc. I am really happy how my cake, icing and flowers turned out, but I'm not happy with the colour of my piping around the bottom, the colour was the same as the one I used to do the dark fuchsia roses, but went yuk in the royal icing. The cake

I got a certificate, Yay!

The roses

Happy Father's Day!

Who would have thought getting a 10 month old to hold cardboard letters, whilst I took some photo's would be so hard. All Harrison wanted to do was eat the letters, he ended up with dark blue dye all over his mouth. I didn't get as many photo's as I would have liked, but they turned out ok.

Adam has been at work since 9pm last night (he also worked all day yesterday), and only just walked in the door, so probably not the day he had expected. We are off to my parents house for dinner later on. I have made lemon meringue cupcakes, will post the recipe later on.

On other news, Harrison has ditched his dummy. He now clamps his mouth shut at the site of it. After 2 days of bad sleeps, he is now back to normal. : )

Males are Annoying!

Tonight I was quitely sitting on the lounge watching tv, when Adam decided to start poking me. Then Harrison crawled over and started biting my foot. Then, like on cue they both started to laugh! They both thought it was hillarious.

Harrison's first night away!

Last Saturday night, Adam & I had a wedding to attend. So Harrison spent from lunch time Saturday till lunch time Sunday at Granny & Gramps's house. I had a few tears as I said good-bye, lol. I stressed all night that he wouldn't sleep for them, and that they would have to spend the entire night resettling him. Well he proved me wrong. He slept from 9.20pm till 7.45am asleep. He is such a good boy.

Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Chocolate Vienna Buttercream Frosting

These cupcakes were delicious, light yet moist. They were so quick and easy too. I had them made and in the oven in less that 10 minutes. I halved the recipe, and made 6 standard size and 12 mini size cupcakes. You may need 2 quantities of frosting if you make the 2 dozen standard size cupcakes. It depends on if you pipe, or spread the frosting on.

Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
Original recipe from Baking Bites Blog

Makes 24 standard size cupcakes, or 60 mini size cupcakes

Ingredients

3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 1/2 cups caster sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons bi-carb soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (170 degrees Celsius fan-forced). Line trays with cupcake papers
2. In a large bowl whisk cocoa, flour, sugar, soda, baking powder and salt thoroughly.
3. In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, water, buttermilk, oil and vanilla.
4. Whisk wet mix, into dry mix until all of the ingredients are combined with no flour streaks.
5. Fill cupcake papers 3/4 full with mixture.
6. Bake for 11 minutes (mini), 15 minutes (standard), or until a skewer comes out clean.
7. Remove cupcakes from pan, and cool on a wire rack. Once cool they are ready to ice.

Chocolate Vienna Butter Cream
Recipe from the Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book

Ingredients

125 grams margarine
1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
2 Tablespoons milk

Method

Beat margarine until light & creamy, add in half of the icing sugar, continue to mix until fully incorporated. Add half the milk, followed by the remaining icing sugar, beat until mixed. (sometimes you need the rest of the milk, sometimes you don't). Mixture should be smooth and easy to spread with a spatula.

Boys Night In!

Every Tuesday night for the past 2 months, I have been going out. 7 weeks of it I had Tafe, and the others I go to beading classes. Basically it's my night to do what I like.

Adam (& Harrison) have been inviting their mate Mick, and Adam's Dad Steve over for a boys night. They watch TV (Wipeout & Two & a Half Men), eat pizza & drink beer (Harrison doesn't).

Well last Tuesday, my class was cancelled, so I stayed home, so I decided to make my own pizza. The boys aren't very adventurous with their pizza, and I was asked to make Hawaiian. Easy.

Hawaiian Pizza

Dough

220ml water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
300 grams / 2 cups plain flour
75 grams / 1/2 cup wholemeal plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons dried yeast

1. Add ingredients in order they are listed to bread maker pan.
2. Set to pizza dough (50 minute)
3. Scrape down sides of pan after approx 10 minutes.
4. Let it do its thing.
5. Once the bread maker has finished, take dough out of pan, and roll out on a lined tray. (I used a biscuit tray)

Topping

2 Tablespoons tomato paste
2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce
Ham
Pineapple
Pizza cheese

1. Mix together the paste and sauce. Spread over pizza base.
2. Sprinkle a small amount of cheese over.
3. Cover with Ham, then pineapple, then cover with cheese.
4. Place in oven, and cook for 20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.
5. Slice & eat.

Five Minute Chocolate Cake

I have been wanting to have a go at this cake for a long time. It has to be the quickest cake in history. Two minutes to prepare, and three to cook, can't be too hard. I didn't really follow the directions, I just bunged it all in the mug, stirred and hoped for the best. So here it is.

Five Minute Chocolate Cake
Original recipe from Dizzy Dee's Blog

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons cake flour
4 tablespoons caster sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Method

1. Put all ingredients into mug, stir.
2. Place mug into microwave, cook for 3 minutes on high.
3. Tip mug upside down an shake slightly above bowl, cake will fall out.
4. Add some icecream and eat!

Ingredients mixed

Cake just out of the microwave

Ready to eat

The result is not like a normal cake, but quite gluggy and dense. More like a pudding. Definately needed ice-cream. Not something I would make for guests, but if I was needing a quick chocolate fix, is worth the effort.