EATrite

This post is not about cupcakes, but bear with me....

Those of you that follow me on Facebook will have seen me raving about my lunch today. When Himself is home we tend to eat badly. Since Baby Cupcake started eating solids we agreed that we need to be a good example to her.

I recently came across EATrite foods and immediately ordered meals. Delivery was 7 days after ordering and the guys at EATrite were great about communicating via email.
After stocking our freezer with these amazing looking meals, I finally got to try one for lunch today.

This is where I would normally post a picture of my meal, but I was too busy enjoying it to take a photo :)

WOW! Anyone who says healthy food isn't tasty has not tried the EATrite meals! (And is probably totally lacking in the imagination department)

Our very well stocked freezer

I would give you the whole spiel about the benefits of EATrite, but you can just check it out yourself here.

Happy eating!

Baking Basics

I'm sure you have read a recipe and thought to yourself, "but that's not important" or "I don't have time to...". I have! I've done some research over the years and thought I'd save you the time.

This may be totally boring, but let's talk about eggs.

One of the basics is using room temperature eggs. Why would that make a difference? Well, when baking cakes and cupcakes it does matter! Here's why.....

Eggs beat to a higher volume at room temperature, so your cakes will bake better. 

Ever had a lumpy mixture and don't know why? Cold eggs won't incorporate with butter (or which ever fat you are using). 

Problem is, it takes ages for the eggs to get to room temperature. And if you're anything like me, you decide to bake at a moment's notice and can't wait for the eggs to stand. The best way to warm them up is to gently place them in a bowl of warm tap water until you need them. 

What are your best baking tips? 

Happy baking!

Making Chocolate

There is a certain brand of raw, organic chocolate that I love. So much so that I pay the exorbitant price and then divide it up into little portions that I keep in the fridge and savor one tiny piece at a time (which takes a lot of discipline!).

At the Taste of Christmas last year I noticed that there are quite a few people out their making raw and organic chocolate. All charge insane prices!

For a long time I've wanted to do some internet research and experiment. I had no idea it would be so easy to find a recipe and make your own chocolate. Best of all.... the first batch turned out perfectly, and almost identical to the one I have been buying.

So here's how to make your own chocolate....

Melt 5 tablespoons of organic cacao butter and 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil in a glass bowl over boiling water.

 

Once the cacao butter and coconut oil are melted remove from the stove and mix in 5 tablespoons of cacao powder, 5 tablespoons of agave syrup and vanilla from one pod.

One of the best smells on earth!

Pour into molds, put into the fridge to harden and......

Voila! Your own chocolate at a fraction of the cost.

Unfortunately, a fraction of the cost is still pretty expensive. I found that Faithful to Nature were the most reasonable for the ingredients, and I trust that their products are all natural and organic. Of course, I also love them because I can order online and it will arrive on my door-step a day or two later. 

I have since made another batch and doubled the recipe. This made 16 small bars. I'd be lying if I said I was as disciplined about eating it, but hey, it's healthy isn't it ;)

Happy baking & chocolate making!

Valentines Day

Share a smile. 
Fill the world with cheer. 
Spread Valentine spirit far and near.

Happy Valentines day all! To celebrate I made these little chocolate and ganache treats. They are the perfect comfort food since I am feeling sorry for myself (Himself is out of the country for work).

 

Gananche is super simple yet really impressive.

All you need is 500g good quality chocolate and 250ml of cream. Bring the cream to a boil in a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water. Remove from the heat and add the chocolate and stir. Put in the fridge, stirring every 5 minutes until the mixture is thick enough to spread.

I left the mixture fairly runny and poured it on top of the cupcakes while they were still warm. This let it sink into the cake, making it rich and gooey.... my favorite!

The cupcake toppers are from One Charming Party. I love getting their newsletter every day with free printables and great party ideas.

I've also been indulging in peanut butter M&M's. I absolutely love that they do them in holiday colours (Valentines ones pictured above).

Hope you have a sweet day!

Black Velvet

I recently splurged on a black velvet jacket for winter. I've always loved black velvet but the new jacket has triggered an obsession. So I turned my attention to black velvet cake.

Urban Comfort

I went a little bit crazy and created a Pinterest board. You can check it out here.

It seems to be interpreted as a Halloween cake, but it's just so beautiful and rich looking that I don't think it should be limited to one holiday.

If you would like to try it out, head over to Urban Comfort (a blog I love!) for the recipe. I am dying to try the orange cream cheese frosting too!

Happy baking!

Pillsbury

Let me state up front that I am all for the use of cake mixes (yes, you read that right), as long as..... here comes the 'but'..... you do something creative with it. Fortunately Pillsbury makes this super easy by telling you how on the side of the box.

Towards the end of last year I received a stunning box of goodies from Pillsbury. I've been itching to try out the products but just hadn't had a chance yet.

If you recall, I have STILL not gotten around to making cake pops. Baby Cupcake had a play date (read 'excuse for mommies to get together') and so I decided to try my hand at the cake pops. By the time Baby Cupcake was asleep and I had read the instructions I was already exhausted.

Enter Pillsbury! I vaguely remembered seeing something about cake pops on the side of a Pillsbury box. I pulled a box out the cupboard, and there was the recipe I was looking for. It is super simple and quick.

Unfortunately, Baby Cupcake is going through a leap (more about that another day) and woke up before I got to the dipping stage. After getting her back to sleep it was late and so I improvised and did something a bit less time consuming.

They were super yummy! It just proves, cake mixes have their place in every kitchen :) You can find more Pillsbury recipes here. 

Happy baking!

Hawaiian Crush

Anyone is Joburg will attest to the fact that last week was HOT! And I had a very serious craving for ice-cream. By Friday I was desperate. The trouble is, I'm not a huge fan of ice-cream (or anything milky / creamy). After browsing the internet for inspiration I decided to just kinda wing-it and came up with a variation of a Hawaiian Crush flavour ice-cream.

In my haste, I decided to forego the ice-cream maker and do it the old fashioned way, which was a lot more work (see below for those of you that don't own an ice-cream maker). In the end I had to wait until Sunday before getting a fix, but it was well worth the wait :)

 

At the last minute I decided to add fresh cherries that added a wonderful tartness that cut through the creaminess. The pieces of fresh pineapple gave it a little extra fruitiness too.

For those of you without an ice-cream maker, you can still make your own. Here's how:

Prepare your ice-cream mixture and then chill (either overnight in the fridge or in an ice bath).

Once chilled, pour your mixture into a suitable bowl and place in the freezer.

Check after 45 minutes. As it starts to freeze around the edges beat really well with a spatula or a whisk and return to the freezer.
From my experience I would recommend using a hand-held mixer rather. Beating it by hand didn't remove the ice crystals quite enough.

Check every 30 minutes, mixing up as it freezes.

And hey presto! in 2-3 hours you have ice-cream.

Happy ice-cream making!

National Cookie Day

It's National Cookie Day in the US!

I discovered this because I was looking for 

Christmas recipes

and found this fabulous peppermint candy cookie

on a favorite site of mine, Bakerella.

Bakerella

Since we don't celebrate such fun days here in South Africa

I thought we could share in the fun of the Americans :)

What's your favorite Christmas cookie?

Happy baking!

TAKEALOT.com

I've always been a huge fan of online shopping, particularly since Baby Cupcake joined our family. TAKEALOT.com is a favorite shopping site of mine.

I was really excited when they recently contacted me letting me know about the launch of their Home &Kitchen category. They were kind enough to include a voucher that I couldn't wait to use.

While I was shopping at TAKEALOT.com I found a book that I have been trying to get my hands on. AND it was cheaper the few other sites that sell it.
Estimated delivery date for my order was 26 November, so I was really thrilled when it arrived last week!

I've been a little slow with the cake pop trend and am excited to start making my own with my purchases from TAKEALOT.com.

With Christmas in just 41 days I thought I'd see what else I can get from TAKEALOT.com and have ended up doing most of my Christmas shopping.

While I was shopping I put together my own wish list.

Kenwood 2 Slice Toaster

Kenwood Kmix Espresso Maker

Philips Viva Collection Air Fryer

Salton Popcorn Maker

Happy shopping!

PS - It has taken a week for me to put this post together. Can the mommy bloggers out there PLEASE let me know how they juggle baby and blog? :)

Dear Secret Santa

Dear Secret Santa

Here is a list of a few of the things I love.....

1. Cupcakes 
2. Baking
3. Coffee (the stronger the better)
4. Dark chocolate (the kind with a high cocoa content)
5. Reading
6. Journaling / blogging
7. Crocheting (I'm still learning)
8. Shoes

Love

Blogger Secret Santa

The

Blogger Secret Santa

is in it's second yearand is being run by

Stiletto Mum this year.

I love the concept of buying a gift

for someone you don't know

and

couldn't wait to sign up.

The rules are:

• All names must be entered by 16 November 2012.

• Charlotte (aka Stiletto Mum) will email you your person by 21 November 2012.

• It’s a secret, the person you’re buying for may not be buying for you so be nice or you may get coal.

• Gifts must be under the value of R100 (pre postage – make sure to get a tracking number and forward it to Stiletto Mum) if you want to spend more feel free, but if about the love that goes into the gift rather than the price.

• If you are no longer able to participate let her know ASAP.

• I will list all blogs involved as I receive them – last year we even had 2 non-bloggers, blog-followers and Tweeple are also invited. We want to GO BIG.

• Anther cute thing we did last year was a post about the things you like so that your Santa can get an idea of who you are. As soon as you have joined and did the post, email the link to set up for you. If you are not a blogger, please do a little intro about yourself and what kind of things you like and email this in Word format, Stiletto Mum will upload it on her blog as a post and link it to your name.

Email c.l.coetzee at gmail dot com if you want to join in.

SHARE this everywhere… Twitter hashtag #blogsecretsanta

Just 12 people to go before

this year's Secret Santa has

100

participants!

To join follow the instructions above.

Happy shopping!

Baby Cupcake

Baby Cupcake has been 

SPOILT!

My sister is visiting from

Taiwan and brought

MORE cute cupcake themed clothes for

Baby Cupcake.

Thank you Esti!

Baby Cupcake

As mentioned in my 

Halloween post

I had a beautiful baby girl earlier this month.

I was looking around me and was struck by

just how many cupcake themed gifts

Baby Cupcake was spoilt with.

Aren't the tiny hands and feet

ADORABLE?!

Thank you to all our 

friends and family

who have spoilt Baby Cupcake.

We heart you!

Happy Halloween

This time of the year I am tormented by the 

YUMMY

pumpkin recipes on Pinterest etc.

Unfortunately almost all of them call for 

canned pumpkin and

pumpkin pie spice

neither of which are available in South Africa

I did a little research and found the following

two alternatives....

Pumpkin Pie Spice

4 Tbsp ground cinnamon

4 tsp ground ginger

4 tsp ground nutmeg

3 teaspoons ground all spice

Simply mix and store in an airtight container

(All Recipes)

Pumpkin Puree

Preheat the oven to 165 degrees (celsius). Cut your pumpkin in half, remove the seeds and lightly oil the cut surface.

Place cut side down in an oiled roasting dish.

Bake until flesh is tender. They say 30-45 minutes, but in my experience it usually takes a bit longer.

Cool until just warm, then scrape the flesh from the peel.

Puree in either a blender or food processor.

(Squidoo)

I would love to try out some of those yummy recipes

but with a newborn (yes, a newborn..... but more about my little Cupcake later)

it's a bit tricky.

Please send me pics and recipes

of what you've made

so that I can live vicariously through my readers!