Baking: Strawberry Frosting and Cupcakes

Vanilla Cupcakes

The girls from Lovely Wee Days bought some dried fruit powder from Fresh As. I was lucky enough to have been asked to go in with them for some strawberry and passionfruit powder. After picking it up last week I couldn't wait to try it. Therefore yesterday I made some vanilla cupcakes and smothered them with strawberry frosting (normal frosting with 1 teaspoon dried strawberry powder).


Probably some of the best icing I have ever had! Especially for the minimal fuss it required!

Ingredients:
125g Butter

3/4 Cup Sugar

3 Eggs

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence

1 1/2 Cups Flour
3 Teaspoons Baking Powder 
1/3 Cup Milk

1. Preheat oven to 180C

2. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

3. Add eggs one by one, beating well after each addition.

4. Add vanilla, flour, baking powder and milk and beat until just combined.

5. Spoon into paper cases and bake for 15 - 20 minutes.

6. Place each on wire tray to cool before icing with your choice of frosting.
 

Kitchen Things: Pink Piggy Pancake Pan

I am very much a night owl, therefore a wee snack at 10pm or so is a treat i sometimes indulge in.

Lately one or two bite size piggy pancakes have done the trick. I think much of the satisfaction is down to the novelty factor.  I have never seen these cute wee pink piggy pancake pans (thats a lot of P's) in stores in NZ, however for my birthday this year my dear friend Lucinda brought me one back from Singapore.

The photo perhaps doesn't illustrate the little pig faces as well as seeing them in person, but you get the idea.

 

Little and Friday, Auckland

I have been having a blog break post quake... I think that rhymes....

Anyway getting back on track... A few weeks ago I finally got to Little and Friday, on Auckland's North Shore, for a fabulous morning tea (Note I believe they are now opening another L&F in Newmarket).

I had read reviews and seen their cupcakes in various magazines and, to be honest, I couldn't wait to try their cone shaped lamingtons to ensure they tasted as good as they looked.

On a somewhat damp Saturday morning the little neighbourhood cafe was packed. It is nestled in a somewhat shabby block of shops which back in their heyday would have been a busy spot. Its clean crisp white interior echos fashionable shabby chic, with mismatched white chairs and patterned plates as well as a milkcrate bookcase of beautifully wrapped treats to purchase.    

However first a savory treat was in order before my sweet finale. Lisa, Mum and I ordered savory pastries, topped with mushrooms or pesto and onion or encasing a mince and cheese pie filling. They were absolutely delicious, despite being eaten on a somewhat clumsy milk crate table (which I will say wasn't an easy task with flaky pastry!).

Three desserts were purchased and each taste tested. First was my chocolate lamington, second and third were two custard tarts with different fruit toppings (the apple one is pictured below). I believe mine was a real winner if you were a chocoholic, like myself, however Mum argued that hers may not have been as visually pleasing tasted divine.  

I intend to try and make my own cone shaped lamingtons (however I may tone down the chocolate rating, perhaps replacing the layers of chocolate ganche with a chocolate buttercream or replacing the chocolate cake with a traditional sponge cake).

I have added two links for you to browse and salivate over. 

If you are in Auckland I definitely recommend making time for morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea at Little and Friday even if its a quick stop in and take away.

http://blog.coffeesupreme.com/2010/07/08/little-and-friday-and-slightly-bigger-and-cuter/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Friday/159309440759582#!/pages/Little-Friday/159309440759582?closeTheater=1

Mains: Piri Piri Chicken

Piri Piri Chicken

As my grandmothers family is from the Azores (islands off Portugal's coast), my family have always been interested in Portuguese cooking. This is a favourite we often have. The chicken is flattened. If you have a good butcher, he can do this for you, or if you have a sharp pair of kitchen scissors you can do it yourself.

Essentially all I do is cut either side of the  backbone and pull it out completely. I also pull out the smaller bones connected to it (ribs) for ease of cutting when cooked, and push hard down on it when it is laid out on the tray so it lies flat (you are not pushing hard enough unless you can hear a few bones breaking).

I find this meal tasty and easy to prepare with minimal ingredients. Try it yourself.



Ingredients:

1 Large Chicken

1 Red Thai Chili, Seeded and Chopped Finely

1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika

4 Cloves Garlic, Chopped Finely

1 Lemon, Juiced

2 Tablespoon Dried Oregano

4 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1. Preheat oven to 160C

2. Combine all ingredients apart from chicken in a bowl and mix together.

3. Pour mixture over chicken in a roasting tray and cook in the oven for about two hours.

4.  Baste chicken with the juices around it every twenty minutes or so.

5. When cooked allow to rest for five mixtures, before cutting into pieces and serving with a green salad and some baked potato.

Basics: Cream Cheese Pastry

Cream Cheese Pastry

This can be used as an alternative to puff pastry for quiches, pies and over savory pastry based dishes. Its great due to the fact its relatively quick and easy to make up from ingredients which normally you would have in your fridge or pantry! A family friend of ours, Jenny Parry, introduced Mum and I to this fab recipe.

This recipe is a Ruth Pretty creation.

Ingredients:
2 Cups + 1 Tablespoon Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Cup Cream Cheese
170g Unsalted Butter, Diced
2 Tablespoons Iced Water
1 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar

1. Place flour, baking powder and cream cheese in a food processor and whiz until almost combined.

2. Add butter and process until butter is size of small peas.

3. Add water and vinegar and process further until dough just beginning to come together.

4. Knead on a lightly floured board and work into a ball.

5. Wrap the ball in clingfilm and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight before rolling out.

Mains: Chicken and Potato Mess

Chicken and Potato Mess

Quick, Easy and Tasty

Ingredients:
1 kg potatoes - preferably new- use small potatoes or cut larger ones up
6 Chicken thighs - preferably boned but unboned is ok if it’s what you happen to have in the fridge. Chicken breast would do. Remember to adjust cooking time for different cuts.
3 Cups Cherry or 4-5 large Tomatoes, Chopped 
Basil, Large Bunch
4 T Olive Oil
2 T Balsamic Vinegar
2 Large Red Onions, Chopped
4 or 5 Cloves Garlic, Peeled
Couple Grinds of Pepper
Pinch Salt

1. Boil potatoes in water with the oxo cube until almost cooked. I like how the oxo cube adds flavor to the potatoes, but the water is ideal for later on in the recipe so do not discard.

2. In a heavy based roasting dish (with lid) over a medium heat add 3 good glugs of olive oil. Brown chicken and turn off heat. Add particularly cooked potatoes and a 1/2 cup of the water.

3. Place chicken and the rest of the ingredients in a ovenproof baking dish with a lid.

4. Bake for 40 minutes.

Note: Cake Pops

Cake Pops have apparently taken the world by storm. In the UK and US they have become very popular as they can be decorated beautifully (google images Cake Pops and you will see what I mean). I decided to test out what they actually tasted like, not paying much attention to its aesthetic value. Sadley I was very disapointed.  

From my understanding by reading other recipes:

To make cake pops you make a cake (in my case a red velvet cake dyed black) and crumble it into icing (in my case chocolate icing). Mix it all up and roll it into balls. Allow to set in fridge. Pop a stick into each ball then dip in chocolate.

For all this effort, I did not think it was at all worth it! I would much rather have a chocolate truffle or in fact a slice of iced cake. The texture of these cake pops is what I think I did not enjoy.

They were also quite rich which surprised me, as red velvet cake has very little cocoa in it and the chocolate icing was not overly chocolatey. I think my parents chickens will be enjoying my Cake Pops tonight for their dinner.

I think I will make truffles on a stick (Truffle Pops) instead. As they are both delicious and able to be decorated beautifully.

Note: What can you as a Wellingtonian do to help Christchurch?

Either make something and bring it along OR pop along and buy something yummy for morning tea!

http://www.thegreatsundaybakeoff.org/

Basics: Lazy Chili Sauce

Lazy Chili Sauce

When I make this, I make 5 - 8 times the recipe given. I would make at least double, as you will only produce about one or two jars (which is definitely not enough as this sauce is amazing!).

I am lazy and can't be bothered coring and cutting fresh tomatos into small pieces. If you want to use up ripe tomatoes just weigh how many you have and adjust the recipe to suit.

Ingredients:
400 g Tomatos (1 Can of Plum Tomatoes Whole or Crushed)
1 Medium Whole Chili, With Green Top Removed
2 Tablespoons Thai Fish Sauce
3/4 Cup Malt Vinegar
1 1/4 Cup Sugar
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Thumb Size Piece of Ginger

1. Place 1/4 can of tomatoes, chilis, fish sauce, vinegar, garlic and ginger into the food processor and liquidise.

2. Place rest of tomato into a large saucepan. If you are using whole canned tomato's, run a knife around the saucepan to break the tomato's into smaller pieces.

3. Add sugar, and liquidised tomato mixture into saucepan and simmer for at least 20 minutes. The sauce mixture volume should reduce by approximately a fifth and it should look nice and syrupy. If you are making multiple quantities, this process of simmering could take up to an hour depending on the volume.

4. Pour mixture into sterilised jars. Cover with jam covers and when cool jar lids (this is the same process that is followed with jam and described in the link following http://ppbluecuisine.blogspot.com/2011/02/basics-plum-jam.html).

Christchurch Quake No. 2

I have not posted anything for approximately a week as I went to a wedding last week/ weekend and secondly I went back to university in Christchurch.

As most of you will know, while I was there a fatal earthquake struck. My friends, family and myself were very lucky and none were seriously injured.

At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who were not so lucky.The damage to Christchurch is horrific, and I hope everyone throughout the country bands together to help the Garden City in this time of great need.

My brother and I have evaluated to Wellington due to problems with water and the structural integrity of my flat. Also evaluating (home to Mum and Dad) seemed sensible, as the strain due to shear volume of people is being felt on water, power, communication and wastewater services.

I was there for the first quake in Sep '10. This quake (22 Feb '11) felt very very different. As we all wait, we will hopefully see many more rescued from the collapsed buildings in the CBD and Christchurch will again be able to pick itself up and start again.

Baking: Rosewater Teacupcakes with Raspberry Icing

Rosewater Teacupcakes with Raspeberry Icing

 

Today is my birthday.

This morning I had a lovely present from Vic University (Wellington).My summer school paper's exam. Due to the very little time (approx 1 hour) I had at home (inbetween the exam and going out), I was not able to make a proper happy birthday cake.

However I have being dying to use the Teacupcakes - (bake and serve cupcake molds shaped like a teacups complete with saucers) I was given for Christmas. I was given a set by my good friend Lydia Ng and by my nextdoor neighbour/subsitute mother Colleen Munro.

They both must know me well, as I adore them (they are so cute) and receiving two packets of them is ideal to fit a batch of cupcake mixture (as each packet contains 4 sets).  

Ingredients:
225g Butter
225g Caster Sugar
4 Large Eggs
225g Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
2 Teaspoons Rosewater

Icing
200g Butter
2 1/2 Cups Icing Sugar
3 - 4 Drops Red Food Colouring
1 - 1 1/2 Teaspoons Raspberry Essence (taste it before adding more)
1 Tablespoon Boiling Water


1. Preheat oven to 180C

2. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy using an electric beater.

3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. Add flour, baking powder and rosewater, and mix until just combined.

5. Spoon out into greased teacupcake moulds or cupcake cases.

6. Bake for 20 mins.

7. Allow to cool on wire rack, until room temperature.

8. Mix together, using an electric beater, butter, icing sugar, food colouring rasperberry essence and water until light and fluffy. It should be still but malleable, if not add more water or icing sugar until it is required texture.

9. Pipe icing onto cakes, and top with a rose (i used fake rose buds which can be washed and used again).

Basics: Plum Jam

Plum Jam

Essentially all fruit jams are the same 1:1 fruit to sugar. Easy, right? 

The only difficult part is knowing when the jam has cooked long enough that it will set.

My Nanny (Grandmother) used to be a great preserve maker. Jams. Chutneys. Sauces. My Mum also makes her own marmalade and raspberry jam, however I know, in these times, this is quite uncommon. Despite this, I can't think of anything better than homemade jam.

You CAN taste the difference from the mass produced store bought!

Ingredients:

1 kg Plums (stones removed) - can use raspberries, strawberries etc.

1 kg White Sugar

2 Tablespoon Water

1. Place all ingredients in a saucepan and mix together. As it heats it will start to form a syrup.

2. Simmer for at least 10 - 20 mins. Keep checking to see if it is cooked by using a teaspoon to drop a teeny tiny (smaller than a 10c piece) onto a saucer. Wait for a minute or so. If it starts to set it is ready i.e. it is no longer liquidy but like a gel.

3. Skim foam off the top of the jam, and set aside (put it in a separate bowl to use on toast or in a trifle). If you leave the foam in the jam, your jam will be cloudy when it sets in the jar.

4. Pour boiling water into your jam jars and whish it around (to kill any bacteria in the jar). Pour it out, and pat dry with a clean tea towel.

5. When jam has cooled for a few minutes, transfer it into multiple jam jars.

6. Using jam covers and the rubberbands, which come with them, seal your jam and allow to cool.

7. Once screw on the jar lids and store in a dark, cool dry place.

Note: Once jam is opened, I always store it in the fridge.

Note: Red Velvet Layer Cake

My friend Nick Bollard made this Red Velvet Cake for us when my family were at his house. It tasted beautiful, but we decided that more cake was required than the recipe produced (to balance out the icing). This inspired me to make the Red Velvet Cakelettes (as you can see by the picture he also did not believe in tooo much food colouring).

If you would like the make a Red Velvet Cake yourself, instead of the cakelettes, the cakelette recipe will produce double the cake seen in the picture. Just pour it into a round or square springform tin (the bottom lined with baking paper and with greased sides) instead of into muffin pans.

You can also use the butterscotch frosting for the middle layers. Nick iced the top of his with a meringue icing which was light and sweet.

Baking: Red Velvet Cakettes

Red Velvet Cakettes 

 Red velvet cake was popular in the 40s/50s however seemed to die out until a film called Steel Magnolias was released. After this is become increasingly more popular, a New York bakery is even very well known just for its red velvet cupcakes. I like to make cakettes (mini cakes) instead of cupcakes, as if you make a cupcake it  is difficult to add the frosting layer in the middle.

 

Below is my recipe, however as I am not a huge fan of artifical food colouring, I only add 3 Tablespoons red foodcolouring (hence why mine is not quite fire engine red). If you want some the firey red, add 4 - 5 Tablespoons red food colouring.

I have used a butterscotch and vanilla buttercream icing, however you could use crea chese, or buttercream in the middle layer and meringue icing on top.


Note: the cake is traditionally made with buttermilk, however who has that sitting in thier fridge everyday? I use normal milk (even trim if you like) and squeeze the juice of one lemon into it. This makes it curdle and will give a similar result to buttermilk.

Ingredients:
250g Butter
1 1/2 Cups Caster Sugar
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Essence
4 Large Eggs or 5 Small
1 1/2 Cups Flour, Sifted
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 Cup Dutched Cocoa
1 Cup Milk with Lemon Juice in it and left for half an hour
3 Tablespoons Red Food Colouring ( 4 - 5 if want fiery red)

250g Butter
2 1/4 Cup Icing Sugar
2 Teaspoons Butterscotch Liqueur
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Essence
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Bean Paste

1. Preheat oven to 160C

2. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.

3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. Add flour, baking powder, cocoa, milk mixture and food colouring and beat until combined.

5. Spoon mixture into greased muffin trays (I use silicon bakeware). They should be approximately 3/4 - 4/5 full.

6. Bake for 20 minutes or until when a cake tester is inserted it comes out clean.

7. Allow to cool for a few minutes before turning out onto wire tray and cooling until room temperature.

8. Combine all icing ingredients in a bowl and mix until white and fluffy.

9. Cut cakes in half, spread icing in the middle and press back together.

10. Pipe a little dollop of icing on top of the cakette also (I think the one in the picture as a little much icing for eating purposes but looks it pretty).

 

The lighting in which I took this photo isn't very good but they are red inside!

Baking: Banana Cake

Banana Cake

I think banana cake is somewhat boring and dull, however this one has been made so many  times by my Nanny (grandmother), Mother and Myself that I believe for a banana cake it is a winner!

 Its is one of our staple tin fillers, esp. when we have to many bananas sitting in the fruit bowl. Un-iced banana cake can also be frozen for when you need one in a hurry. Just thaw it on the bench for a couple of hours and slap some icing on it. Done.

Below you can see it iced with the same carmel icing as the banana muffins featured earlier in the blog. It could also be iced with cream cheese, chocolate or lemon icing if you wish.

Ingredients:
115 g Butter
1 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1.5 Cup flour
2 Mashed Bananas
1 Teaspoon Soda
2 Tablespoons Milk, Heated until hot
1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1. Preheat oven to 180C.

2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then add eggs one by one (beating after each addition).

3. Lastly combine milk and soda in a small jug and stir until stops foaming.
4. Add flour, baking powder, mashed bananas and foamy mixture and give a good beat..

5. Cook for 25 – 30 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean

6. Ice with caramel icing.

Enjoy!

Mains: Beer Battered Fish

Beer Battered Fish

If I am feeling lazy and the fish is beautiful and fresh I often cook it naked, in pan with just some butter and a bit of spice, however a batter does seem a little more naughty (and delicious with a tomato salsa).

This is the boys in our households favourite. Mum and I on the bother hand prefer our fish fried in fresh bread crumbs combined with a good handful of chopped herbs (i.e. parsley and chives) and a grind of black pepper.

Ingredients:
Fish / Vegetables or anything else which you desire to batter
1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Cornflour
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
3/4 Cup Beer (approx)
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
2 Shallots, Finely Diced
1 Teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
½ Lemon, Juiced

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth, but coats back of a spoon thickly.

2. Additional beer should be added if required to achieve this.

3. Dip fish into batter and fry in hot oil immediately until crisp and bubbles have formed in batter surrounding fish. Turn and cook till crispy other side.

4. Serve with a slice of lemon.

Mains: Mussels with Green Thai Curry Broth

Mussels with Green That Curry Broth

I love mussels. Ever since I tasted Bruce Manley's Mussel Fritters on a family holiday at the beach I have been obsessed. I used to make a tomato and red wine broth, but I promise you this is so much better! I am not a HUGE coconut fan therefore always use lite coconut milk (not coconut cream). 

Ingredients
1 Bag Mussels (I get enough to full a large stock pot)
2 Onions, Sliced
3 Heaped Teaspoons Green Curry Paste
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
400 ml (1 can) Lite Coconut Milk
200 ml  Trim Milk (I use the empty coconut can to measure i.e. approx 1/2 can)
1 Tablespoon Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
1 Cup Beer (I used Tui in this case as was first I put my hand on)

1. Clean mussels in sink and pull off beard.

2. Place mussels in a large saucepan and boil until they open - approx 10 minutes (do not eat any that did not open).

3. White mussels are boiling, place onions and oil in a medium sized saucepan and saute until translucent.

4. Add rest of ingredients simmer for approximately 5 minutes until mussels are ready to be drained.

5. Drain mussels (discard of unopened ones) and pour broth over top.

6. Dish into serving bowls, using togs (to remove the mussels from the saucepan) and a soup ladle to pour the both over the top.

7. Serve with crusty bread (to mop up the yummy broth).

Dessert: Rosewater Vanilla Baked Peaches

Rosewater Vanilla Baked Peaches

This is a quick easy dessert which uses ingredients which are just in the pantry! I make it when I don't have flakey pastry in the fridge to make a Peach Tarte Tartin.

Ingredients
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Sugar
3 Teaspoons Rosewater
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Essence
4 Peaches, Stone removed and cut in half

1. Combine all ingredients but the peaches in an ovenproof saucepan and bring to the boil.

2. Place peaches face down in the syrup and simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Spoon syrup over and place in oven to bake for 15 minutes

4. Remove from oven and flip peaches over in pan.

5. Serve with ice-cream and fresh/frozzen raspberries.

Basics: Vanilla Poached Pears and Syrup

Vanilla Poached Pears and Syrup

These are great for on top of a pav, in cakes or just with some ice-cream.

Ingredients:
4 Pears, Peeled, Sliced into eighths
3 Cups Water
1 Cup Sugar
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Bean Paste

1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.

2. Bring to the boil and boil for ten minutes.

3. Allow mixture to cool in saucepan for ten minutes, then remove pears and place on plate or tray.

4. Return saucepan to heat and boil until reduced to at least a 1/3.

Dessert: Mums Pavlova

Mums Pavlova

Pav is a kiwi favourite, however in our family this is our favourite recipe.

Ingredients:
3 Eggs Whites
1 ¼ Sugar
1 Teaspoon Malt Vinegar
3 Teaspoon Cornflour
Pinch Salt
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste 
3 Tablespoon Water (cold)

1.Preheat oven to 150C.

2. Beat egg whites very stiff, add water and beat.

3. Add sugar gradually beating well.

4. Lastly mix in the cornflour, salt, vinegar and vanilla.

5. Wet lunch paper (double) and put on cold oven tray – put mixture on wet side (Baking paper could be used instead of lunch paper and would not require wetting).

6. Turn oven down to 130C and cook for about one hour.

7. Allow to cool for five minutes before turnning onto plate (I prefer not to turn mine upside down, but this requires using a fish flip to loose the bottom of thr pav from the paper and gentley sliding off. 

8. Serve, when cool, with cream, berries, vanilla pears or however desired.