{{so...Christmas is fast approaching...here are some awesome concepts to try...}}

Everybody loves Christmas! The BUZZ, the longer nights at the malls, the discounts...everything! For me personally, in my head I plan the menus! Things we can make with the kids, and just in general!

So all year round we live in Wellington. My Husband being Indian, Indian is the predominant culture in the house. I myself am Samoan, and so when we get to Auckland...Christmas is extra special...as we get to eat the Samoan style foods! Corned beef...(not everyday - but definitely on Christmas), chop suey, taro with coconut cream...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Also the baking! My siblings all have specific dishes that we make! My eldest sister makes chop suey like Mum makes...we usually have chicken chop suey and a few other yummies. My younger sister makes the bomb salads, surimi salad, green salads etc. The lil' bro has perfected the bacon and egg pie...the list goes on!!

So with all that in my head...I am thinking of cute ways to decorate the tree and lil' bits and pieces - check out what I hope to try this Christmas...

These are soooo cute and seem easy to make! Felt is cheap depending on where you purchase it from. Check out your local fabric stores, or just head on down to your trusty Spot light store.

The link for these are here... you will find the template and 'how to' info...

super cute!

I love Martha Stewart, she and her team have such amazing minds! They also have come up

with this very easy and cost effective concept. You could make these for centerpieces maybe? How

beautiful :) Not food but these would work so well on the table...YES?

check out the 'how to' here...

CUTENESS!!! The kids would LOVE this!! In making it - it would be difficult

because kids have their own ideas, and would want to inject far more colour! Maybe if you make one

the night before Christmas for your centerpiece and have bits and pieces ready for the kids to

construct their own? It could make for an awesome 'following instruction' activity.

Want the 'how to'?? Say yes :P check it out here...

These are cool, both in Wellington and Auckland we don't do alcohol - but these can be made for

any bottle! I think these would look cute for cans of pop or small bottles of pop. Very cute!

I can see my men and I make these on the lead up to Christmas...fun!!

here's how...

Do you attend semi-formal Christmas functions? Or wanting to spice up your own? Get the kids

in on it - these look awesome...and expensive :P

Here's the 'how to'...

Being a female who loves to wear jewellery - some often get pulled and end up broken! Well especially when you have kids, that tends to happen! So when I saw this, I thought..."this is perfect",

I get to use up my old broken necklaces and earrings to do something creative! I haven't thrown

any of it away, so I have a lot of stuff to work with!

Find out how to make these here...

LOVE THESE!! Look how beautiful these look...and colour just makes everything pop!! Make these, make these!!! Get the recipe here...

I don't know if you do peanuts...we don't - but presented like this...we could :P Especially with a cute

little hammer...

check it out...

cute and simple!! Packaging makes everything that much more expensive looking! On a tight budget and need to make some cool gifts or to hang something on the tree? Makes these...

check out the 'how to'...

OK, you know I can do this all night!! It's almost 5pm here in India and so about midnight in New Zealand! I haven't been around much lately...because when I was in NZ I was soooo flat out with orders. Now here on holiday - I'm holidaying. As mentioned ages ago...I will be blogging so not only am I keeping this blog but also another filled with our adventures here in India!

Check out what we get up to here...

I really miss baking, it's been about 20days since the last time I baked...and I'm craving to try some recipes! Having said that...we don't have an oven here at home...but my other sister in law down the road might. I will keep you all informed as much as possible!

Hope these concepts are circulating in your minds, giving inspiration...it's not far til Christmas so get your skates on!!

xox

[recipes you should try...]

Pumpkin Caramel Layer Cake

with Cinnamon Pecan Topping

INGREDIENTS

Frosting:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened

2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 pound cream cheese, cut into 2-inch cubes

2 tsp vanilla extract

Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 1/4 cups light brown sugar

4 large eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

One 15-ounce can pumpkin puree

1/2 cup whole milk

Cinnamon Pecan Topping:

1 cup crushed pecans

1 egg white

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Salted Caramel Sauce:

1 cup sugar

6 Tbsp Salted Butter- cut into small pieces

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

Directions:

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Cook over high heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Using a wet pastry brush, wash down any crystals from the side of the pan. Cook over moderate heat without stirring until a medium-dark amber caramel forms, about 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the butter and heavy cream. (Don't worry if the butter separates.) Stir in Vanilla extract.

Transfer the caramel to the large bowl and using an electric mixer, beat at low speed until the caramel cools slightly and comes together, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on, beat in the cream cheese, 1 cube at a time and beating well between additions, until silky. Transfer the frosting to a bowl and refrigerate until very firm, at least 6 hours.

Meanwhile:

Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, nutmeg and cloves.

In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the brown sugar and eggs at medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 minutes. Beat in the oil, then beat in the pumpkin puree. Alternately add the dry ingredients and the milk in 3 batches, beating well between additions.

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool on a rack for 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edges to loosen the cakes, then invert them onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Using a serrated knife, carefully slice each layer of cake in half to make 4 thin cake layers.

Place one layer on a plate and spread with 1 cup of the caramel–cream cheese frosting. Top with the the next 3 layers and repeat. Then, frost the top and side. Top with Candied pecans and Caramel Sauce (optional) Refrigerate the cake for 2 hours before serving.

For the Pecan Topping:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine sugar, cinnamon and salt. Whisk egg white until frothy and discard about half. Add the nuts. Toss until well coated. Add dry ingredients and stir well.

Spread nuts on a cookie sheet lined with foil, in a single layer.

Bake for 20 minutes.

One cool- break the pecans apart and sprinkle on top of the cake.

Make Ahead

The cake can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days

 Serve cold or at room temperature.

....

I am sooo looking forward to trying this one - it's difficult to source ingredients here

in India.

Another one I think looks amazing...lil' girls would love this one...especially my niece Mahlaia :D

These are an awesome idea. maybe pinks for the girls, blues for boys?? OR mixed! Green and red would look awesome for Christmas gifts...

from Bakerella...just the cutest!!!! Anyone can make these. It can be any recipe, all you have to do is pour the ingredients in evenly and put on a cut little sticker. The use of ribbons would make this cute, simple DIY project pop! I have been keeping an eye on some jars off trade me for my Christmas gifts!

More recipes up tomorrow...

feel free to check out what my family and I are up to in India HERE...

...bake something... :P

xox

{{real quick}}...

'I want...' is taking part in the 'PACIFIC ARTISTS COLLABORATION VILLAGE' and will be selling cupcakes there OCT 1st during the RUGBY WORLD CUP period!! Be sure to come check us out!!!! {check out this website and keep an eye out for updates}

Check out the 'mention' here...

SOOOOOOO, how many cupcakes do you think we should make?? I'm thinking a thousand or so??

Thoughts please.

There will be a competition!! the person to guess the cupcakes that would be sold on the day at the event above will win a box of 12 cupcakes!!

LETS GO!!

xox

{catching you up...}

HELLLLLOOOOO and here I am again, attempting to catch you up on cakes/orders that have been and gone! So I will get right to it...

the STEELERS HELMET...

It was half of the helmet. The grill had some help from wire on the inside...it was quite fidgety but worked out pretty well :)

This cake gave me a few challenges and I learnt so much with this particular cake!

Love learning new things...so this cake was really pushing my limitations.

Looking forward to the next challenge :P The black fondant was achieved by mixing black edible colour powder with the Wilton black food gel...it takes alot of kneading to get it right...but well worth it!

The next order on this long list...

25th ANNIVERSARY mini cupcakes...with customized flags!

The colour is silver for the 25th anniversary...so as you can see...that's what was used...with a lil' purple :P

just another angle of the cupcakes. There were 75 minis...looks like a lot more then that though...

there's the purple...

Minis on the stand!

Happy belated Anniversary Maureen and Chris xox

Next up another ANNIVERSARY order...

Every fortnight I have been selling bulk regular cupcakes, in boxes of 6's 9's and 12's. He's an order that was from and to someone extra special...

19 chocolate mudd cupcakes and 1 special white chocolate mudd cupcake for the someone special!

Packaging plays a big part with orders...it's important that they look presentable and gift ready...

Loved making this order...as I do every order...something about it that just says LOVE. Love for what I do, love for food, love that is given to others...as in gifts. It's all LOVE! xox

Next order...

THE BOAT!

This cake was ordered for the clients father who has always wanted a boat...but never quite got one. We all know they cost an arm and a leg...or maybe acouple legs :P so this was a lil' something special and funny...just for him!

This boat was sooo cute and was made from 2 6" round cakes! It was so much fun and also using the piped frosting as the water...FUN!



Called the boat...I'M FREE...as in...free like a bird and dreams are free...thought it was cute/funny :P

Everything was edible except the flag and the windscreen of the boat.



So much fun...loved it!! xox

So much more to show...and it will have to continue next time! hope you have been entertained! I will have a couple recipes to share as well!! Hope you are warm...

xox

[I want...HOMEMADE mayonnaise...]

CHEAPER, HEALTHIER aaaaaand BETTER!

EGGS are one of thee most amazing ingredients [i think]. Their characteristics are just amazing! Yolk thickens [mayonnaise] , egg whites make things light and fluffy [mousse], together they keep a cake recipe together, they are healthy, beaten with a little water make an egg wash, giving pastries, scones a  lovely sheen and browny colour.

There is just so much one can make with EGGS! You may look at the oil and think...'how is this healthier?' Well no preservatives and you know exactly what you are putting into it. Besides...you're not going to eat the lot on your own...right??

For this recipe, you just need a whisk, a bowl and the ingredients. A towel under the bowl will help it stay in the one place, as you will be whisking the whole time. I would keep this for the week, then make a new batch for the new week. Here is an awesome recipe that you can use and spruce up with a little something else.

MAYONNAISE RECIPE

2 egg yolks, at room temperature

1 tbsp Dijon mustard (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

250ml oil, at room temperature

2 tbsp white vinegar or lemon juice

METHOD

Stand a mixing bowl on a tea-towel on the work surface. Put the egg yolks, Dijon mustard (optional) a little salt and pepper in the bowl and mix with a whisk.

Slowly add the oil in a think trickle to begin with, whisking continuously.

As the Mayonnaise begins to thicken, add the oil in a steady stream, still whisking all the time. When the oil is completely incorporated, whisk more rapidly for 30 seconds, until the mayonnaise is thick and glossy.

Add the vinegar or lemon, taste and adjust the salt and pepper.

xox

{catching you up...}

OKAY! It has been a month since my last entry...my goodness have I been busy?? So much has happened and I'm just trying to get everyone caught up on what's been going on since the last time you heard from me :P

So the orders are as follows...

the ' BOY OH BOY' baby shower order. 6" moist carrot cake, with a JUNGLE theme.

in the box...

cute lil LION...rrrrraaahhh!

the naughty lil MONKEY...o o a aaa...

cute lil big hippo!

It was so much fun making the animals....first time that I had made each of them! Looking forward to the next one :P

The order came with light lemon cupcakes tied in with the theme and colours...

For the flags, I included in the animals that weren't sitting on the cake :)

Of course on the reverse side are my details.

The next order was a THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE 3D cake!

This cake is chocolate mudd cake covered in fondant! Thomas is sitting on a train track.

There are a few shrubs/bushes along the sides there. Thomas is covered in icing sugar which is supposed to be soot :P

Thomas is carrying coal :)

Ahhhh THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE!

That's all on the CATCHING UP part...more to come this week! Just REALLY busy at the moment.

KEEP WARM and BAKE SOMETHING

xox

{a lighter workload}...

I have been fortunate to have had a helping hand over the past 2 weeks and thus my workload has been alil lighter...it's AMAZING as it gives me time to do other things that are still about the business!!

Hope you all had an amazing weekend and a HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all those who are Mums! Hope your family spoilt you and made you feel special :) I had a pretty busy weekend...just like any other...here are last weeks cakes...

the SPACE THEMED CAKE.

I loved the lil' blue guy...and was inspired to make this cake for MAZ's birthday....

cute lil' red!

The cake was a triple layer 6" strawberries and cream cake. Haha LOVED making this cake!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAZ!

Next cake was a cake for Ange and Andy's baby shower...CUTE!!



This cake was a triple layer 6" round chocolate mudd cake...with a baby toosh and pea-looking toes...awwwwww!

CONGRATS to ANGE & ANDY!!

I thoroughly enjoyed making this next cake...inspiration was provided by the client...

 The client wanted something like this, with the palm trees

Also to have a flag like in the image above.

I drew these up in Illustrator for the cake.

my line work...each section is for a colour...then once that's done...apply colour...

then ready for printing!

This is what I came up with...

Just felt like adding more and more things...but my husband had to stop me ahahaha! This cake is called a Jr SLAB and measures at 14" x 18" single layer of chocolate mudd cake covered in fondant.

HAPPY 6Oth BIRTHDAY Sonny Papalii Taimalelagi!!

Last cake of the week is called 'the SLAB' and measures to 14" x 31.5"  and is a single layer chocolate mudd cake, covered in fondant and decorated with edible colours  painted on.

I was given a few images for inspiration and came up with this:

Giant tiki statues on booth ends of the cake

The centre was inspired by 'ie lava lavas...

Painted hibiscus with edible gels etc.

Here is the end product. There was another flag that was inserted by the client behind the flag. It was a lot of fun making this cake. I love painting on cakes...and so I got my fix with this cake :) This cake is a heavy one and would need alot of boot space to transport it :)

A lot of fun as always and fully love doing what I do! More exciting cakes to come this week also stacks of cupcake orders. I don't post up cupcake photos unless it's something out of the ordinary. Will be opening up to bigger cupcake orders in the weeks to come!

[the build] is coming along...alot of red tape and homework for me and my husband...but fully worth it all! I am sooo looking forward to having the kitchen made, set hours for work and set hours for home. It's all blended at the moment but all in good time! I have a recipe to share with you all sometime today. I need to get onto my sons birthday invitations and birthday to plan!

Have an amazing week y'all

xox