{{HAPPY BELATED EASTER}}

What is going on? How are you doing? It has taken me so long to get on here to blog about EVERYTHING!! Here we are in April and the last entry was in Jan???? Tut tut tut!!!

So here's the low down...LIFE HAS BEEN SOOOO BUSY! Not only with orders...(YAY) but also with a new job that I have - so I have been flat out...3 times over! I took the job on why?? Well you see, I have a kitchen which is about to be built...and I need to be paying for this :P So I am very very very excited for that!! Having said that...it most likely won't be ready until September...which is a loooooooooooong way away...but we are not going to dwell on that......RIGHT??

We have recently bought a chainsaw...and the build has been signed off! We will be cutting down trees soon enough and making way for things to get rolling. So this year for Christmas...we won't be going away (we have been spending Christmas in Auckland every year for the past 4years...) which is a huge deal...and this means I will be around for Christmas orders, Weddings and end of year work functions! How exciting is that?? That is like winning the lotto (never tried it...but that's how excited I am about the build and hanging around for Christmas).

Sooo...Who had an amazing Easter then?? I know we did...we spent so much quality time with our babies, and cleaned the house, mowed the lawn, baked with the kids...aaahhh it was just perfect! Not to mention the unbelievely perfect weather we had here in Wellington! Blessings...I tell you! I went to the warehouse to get some 2 stroke oil for the mower...to find it was all sold out! I know alot of people were mowing their lawns over the Easter break hahaha so funny!

Here are afew images of the Chocolate Eggs we made and some cookies...

VANILLA BEAN BUNNY COOKIES

JC FOR JESUS CHRIST

E FOR EASTER

I LOVE JC :)

ALL BAKED!

OUR CHOCOLATE EASTER EGGS...

our boys were on a sugar high for alittle bit that day haha!

ROLLED SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

METHOD

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).               

Preheat oven to 170 degrees. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 2.5cm apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Mini ice cream sandwiches - just an idea :)

Hope you all had an amazing Easter break!!! Stop by the FB page and keep a look out...we have competitions happening soon :)

xox

2012 is here...

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all! I have no double been away trying to catch up with life as 2011 had me baking up a storm every week! I thoroughly enjoyed last year and it has taught me so much about myself and my limits...breaking limits and setting more goals for 2012.

I have been promising recipes and due to the lack of time and sometime Internet issues (as I have been away and out of the norm for 10 weeks) I hadn't had the chance to share with you some recipes that I have used in the past. Granted that I now use my own recipes...this is one that had been used by myself and a few friends that had shared this beauty with me...so check it out...

the GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE recipe...

4 ounces (120 grams) semi sweet chocolate, chopped

2 1/4 cups (270 grams) cake flour

3/4 cup (60 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch processed)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (240 ml) hot coffee or boiling water

1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk

1 1/4 cups (280 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

2 1/4 cups (450 grams) granulated white sugar

5 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Coconut Pecan Frosting:

1 1/4 cups (125 grams) pecans

1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar

1 cup (240 ml) evaporated milk (can also use light or heavy cream)

3 large (60 grams) egg yolks, lightly beaten

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (150 grams) sweetened flaked coconut

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Read more: http://www.joyofbaking.com/GermanChocolateCake.html#ixzz1kYdRHLXu

I frost my German Chocolate cakes with a deep
chocolate frosting...it's makes a huge difference

I didn't use the hot coffee part...but that's up to you. The method is on the site above...let me know your thoughts. Sorry that I am unable to share my very own recipe...but I know you will enjoy this one.

xox