Thursday, July 8, 2010

Little Red Bird Cake Pops

EDIT UPDATE
I now have a quick youtube video on how to make these cute cake pops here:

My gorgeous niece and God daughter Molly is about to turn 3. I just received her invitation with the cutest little red birdie on it and I had a crazy idea to make bird cake pops for her party.

Seemed like a simple enough idea.

So I sat down to channel my inner Bakerella (cake pop queen).......but just so you know not in a creepy Julia and Julia blogging way where I sat around in pearls and made my husband watch endless videos.


I thought I had a pretty good plan, but like everything it seems so much easier when someone else does it. My first one was pretty lumpy. But I quickly worked out a dipping and twirling technique that seemed to make all the difference. These birds required dipping the back/top first, then starting at one side, the front, other side and finally the back in a kind of twirly movement.

But I persevered and I'm not unhappy with my little red bird cake pops,


and also their matching red polka dot partners.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Violet Macarons


I'm not a fan of Masterchef.

I don't get to watch a lot of TV. Not in a TV is so dull and I am so much better than that kind of way, more in a I have 3 kids and if they're not watching it I'm gonna catch up on some sleep type of way.

But I did record the macaron cake tower on Monday's Masterchef to watch when my friend alerted me to the fact that it would be on.

Eeeek - what a crazy show. Although I must admit I had to fast forward a lot of it, from what I could understand they gave the contestants less time to complete this than they knew required and then sat there belittleing their contructions.

I say good work to all those poor contestants, think I would have been in tears in the same situation.


Oh well, I guess that's what the show is about.

Although it has inspired me. I have been looking at some macaron cake towers lately and I think I will put it on my to do list.

In the meantime here are some Violet Macarons.

Take your time, relax, take a big deep breath and enjoy them.

Life unlike Masterchef is not a race.

recipe after jump

Friday, July 2, 2010

Black bottom oreo cupcakes a variation on a delicious favourite


What is it about adding an oreo cookie to the bottom of a cupcake that makes such a difference. I don't even really care for them on their own. Oreo's that is, their Ok but gimme a home baked cookie any time instead and I'm much happier.

But on the bottom of a cupcake, especially a cheesecake type cupcake and it's a different story.

Oreo + Cupcake =  Delicious

This Black Bottom Cupcake is adapted from the More from Magnolia cookbook. It's a chocolate base topped with cheesecake studded with chocolate chips.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Debbie Brown Brisbane Australia Workshop, Amazing cakes and making new friends


On Sunday the 27th of June I was lucky enough to secure a place at the Brisbane Workshop held by the famous and fabulous UK cake decorator, author and teacher Debbie Brown.

Debbie has a stack of wonderful cake decorating books published, and these books have long been a favorite of mine. The books are beautiful and  easy to follow and I do have a number of them but I still found it so worthwhile to see Debbie in action. Goodness the ease and perfection when she models arms and hands is a sight to behold.

Gorgeous and Gruesome Cakes for Children


Debbie Brown's new book available 25th July 2010. I've preordered my copy


Debbie held 4 workshops here in Brisbane and the session I managed to secure was a 'Funky Fairy' cake.


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Chocolate Pavlovas with Chocolate Marscapone Mousse - June 2010 Daring Bakers


The June 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Dawn of Doable and Delicious. Dawn challenged the Daring Bakers’ to make Chocolate Pavlovas and Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse. The challenge recipe is based on a recipe from the book Chocolate Epiphany by Francois Payard.

I'll start this by saying yum, it was a very delicious challenge. I'm not always one for creamy sauces or mousses but these ingredients all worked together so well that I was happy to eat the various versions I put together.


I started with a layered parfait topped with raspberries, then used some of the leftovers for a mini version in shot glasses,


and finally tried out a deconstructed plated version, decorated with some gorgeous chocolate modeling paste butterflies.


Saturday, June 26, 2010

Raspberry and Dark Chocolate macarons


This picture reminds me of the nursery rhyme build them up build them up build them higher, build it up, up, up into the sky. Think it's the clouds in the background.


A batch of macrons with Raspberry Dark Chocolate ganache filling, using the same recipe as the rose macarons, Click Here for recipe link.

Just omit sprinkling crystallised rose on the tops and fill with Dark Chocolate Raspberry ganache. I actually made it with raspberry chocolate oil instead of real raspberries to make the ganache a little more stable.


Recipe after jump

Thursday, June 24, 2010

I heart macarons


 
Just a couple of pics of some macarons I popped a heart onto with some gel food colour.

They are actually just a tad undermixed as I was adding some food colour to the batch but wanted a couple of white ones as well, see  how they are a little bit too domed at the top, although they still have the feet/frill at the bottom and do taste perfectly lovely.

Oh macaron I do  ♥  you but you are so temperamental.
 
  
♥  ♥ ♥