Sweet Things from Winter

It has become obvious to many people that I really have a sweet tooth. So, when my cousin suggested we do a bit of baking, I couldn't resist. 

So first of, since I called dibs on the oven first, I made these cupcakes. I made the basic vanilla sponge cake batter 'spiked' with powdered almonds. It was more nuts then flour to be honest, which is something we seem to like.

Delicious looking or Weird?

The icing I made was a basic cream cheese icing, with Amaretto liquor and cocoa powder. To decorate the cupcakes I used flowers and leaves. If you have little ones, or little ones at heart like we are, get them to decorate the cakes. It is much more delicious when you eat something you've made :)

It was so much fun decorating!

Now onto the part I was really excited about. My cousin made a delicious chocolate and orange marble cake for a friend's baby shower and I've been on her case to make it for us ever since. I roped in my sister to join me in the pleading puppy face begging scheme and it finally paid off.

She, my cousin, made the delicious cake for us at last!!!!

My new favourite Winter warming dessert

Her tip for making this cake is 'use the best chocolate you can afford'. So after purchasing a lot of dark Swiss chocolate, and giving me evil looks for wanting to eat up the chocolate (I love dark chocolate) and for hogging the oven, she started with her baking. Be warned, this cake takes 3 hours to make!!

She made separate batters, one made with orange zest and the other with some of the chocolate. I don't  quite remember what she did, it went by in a bit of a blur on account of the chocolate I was praying she'd have leftovers of. After she had baked the cake she then turned it out, cut it up and served with melted dark chocolate. This cake has to be eaten warm - which is probably why it is best for winter.

mmm...

Need I even write the verdict: Yes! Around. This is the type of thing that makes one sound like Oliver Twist.

What is your Winter sweet of choice?

Love for Artichokes

It seems I am always apologising to you guys. Well, here it goes again. I'm sorry for not posting on here in a while. This time I was ill - I've been ill for two weeks and am happy to say I am well now (have been well for the past week :] ). 

As a result, I have quite a number of photos dating back to, let us just call it, a very long time.

One night, when it was my turn to make dinner, I made this artichoke salad for a starter. It had, as most of my food does, mixed reviews. The parents and I loved it while everyone else preferred the artichokes in the wrap.

This salad consisted of char grilled artichokes (with garlic, salt and pepper), baked aubergine (seasoned with salt and pepper and drizzled with olive oil), blanched carrots that were seasoned with salt and a bit of lemon.

The Salad

If you would like to give the salad a go, you can purchase artichokes already char grilled at Spar or fresh ones again from Spar.

Artichoke, aubergine and carrot Salad

Let me know what you think. What is your favourite salad?

Overdue Breakfast

Saturdays, well many Saturdays ago, around here are very slow. One wakes up late and then one is even much more lazy to even make breakfast. 

Where am I going with this you might ask? Well, "one" is me, and I was very lazy one Saturday. I awoke late and found my cousin had made a scrumptious omelette for breakfast. Each person in the house makes their own breakfast, since we are a bit picky and one never  knows what each person is in the mood for. The eggs I make are always sunny side up, since I like a runny egg, but that day I just wanted my cousin's breakfast. Knowing very well I couldn't replicate what she made, she very kindly allowed me to share her breakfast. 

This omelette treat consisted of Gouda cheese, ham, yellow peppers, sweet onions and parsley. 

Delicious Omelette

Seeing as she wasn't going to eat the omelette by herself, she then added two marmalade rusks (one for me and the other for herself), avocado and an extra slice of Gouda (we love cheese :p).

Yum!

The verdict: absolutely delicious!

Happy cooking (non-lazy breakfast!). Do you eat someone else's breakfast too when you are hungry?