So somehow I managed to get three days off work in a row - am still not entirely sure how that happened but it has been so good to have a mini holiday! I have done so much cooking (but forgotten to take photos of most of it) and spent a lot of time with my favourite little miss and her lovely mama. Have also caught up on some reading and went for a swim in the pool - it is so hot here at the moment. Feels like I am melting, and I don't think that cooking is helping! Tomorrow is one of my friends and also my brother's girlfriend's birthday! I thought that would be an excellent opportunity to make cake, so when I asked JezBomb what kind of cupcakes he would like for his birthday he said chocolate. Now don't get me wrong, I love chocolate cupcakes, but they aren't that exciting so I decided to go for something new and make Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes and Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting. JezBomb didn't object so hopefully he enjoys them! I love pumpkin!!!
Other things that I have made over the last couple of days: Kofta Balls and Turkish Pilaf with Pine Nuts (from my Hare Krishna cookbook - something I picked up at the Palm Creek Folk Festival after eating at their stall for three days straight), White Chocolate and Roast Cherry Tart , and delicious, simple pizzas. So I have managed to catch up on the cooking front - I will have to do some sewing now, orders for replicas of the apron that I made for my best friend's daughter have been coming in, although I am slightly apprehensive about making adult sized ones - definitely not as cute as ones for a three year old, and possibly a lot more work! I still have to come up with christmas presents for a whole bunch of people - only 18 days to go!
Before I get recipe-ing, I thought I would leave you with a photo by the lovely and very talented Miss Alice - it is a frankie.pleure tea party. Just chilling with the bearcats - getting into the christmas spirit. I would encourage you all to tea party with your bearcats too!
much love,
frankie.pleure
White Chocolate and Roast Cherry Tart
Click here for the recipe!
Simple Pizza (makes 6 slices - serves 2 as a meal, or 3 as a snack)
1 pre-made pizza base
2 tablespoons tomato paste
5 mini bocconcini cheese, sliced
about 16 1cm cubes of feta
about 6 olives, sliced
handful of basil, washed and shredded
pre-heat oven to 180C
spread tomato paste on pizza base, sprinkle on cheese, olives and basil
place on a tray and cook for 8-10 minutes or until bocconcini is melted and base is slightly brown around the edges
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting (makes 24 cupcakes)
Cupcakes
2 1/2 cups self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup softened butter
1 3/4 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk (if needed)
about 2 cups pumpkin
1 tsp minced ginger
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
Frosting
1 tub philly cheese
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cup icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
Cupcakes
Preheat Oven to 180C and line cupcake trays with patty pans
Cut pumpkin into cubes and cook in microwave with a litte water in the bottom of the container (or steam over a double boiler) until cooked through, then mash up and leave to cool
Whisk butter, then add sugar and mix until fluffy
Whisk in the eggs
Mix in baking powder and 1 cup of flour and stir through
Add ginger, vanilla, and cinnamon to mashed pumpkin
Mix half of pumpkin mixture through cake batter,
Then mix another cup of flour,
Then add the rest of the pumpkin mixure,
Then the last 1/2 cup of flour,
Then the milk (depending on how wet your pumpkin is will depend on how moist your cake mix is - if it is very thick add milk)
Spoon into cupcake papers so that they are 3/4 full
Another photo just for good measure :-)
Cook in 180C oven for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into them
Frosting
Whisk all ingredients together
When frosting is fluffy, put in the refrigerator until cupcakes are cool
Spread frosting over cooled cupcakes
and ENJOY!!
Happy Birthday JezBomb!!
ps - getting so excited for christmas! don't know what to make there are so many yummy options!!!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment