Monday, December 7, 2009

Sweet Oh Luscious Life

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!
Chloe Apron (photo by Frances Wright)

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!
frankie.pleure tea party (Photo by Miss Alice)

much love,
frankie.pleure

White Chocolate and Roast Cherry Tart
Click here for the recipe!
White Chocolate and Roast Cherry Tart (Photo by Frances Wright)

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
Simple Pizza (Photo by Frances Wright)

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
Cupcake Ingredients (Photo by Frances Wright)

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
Mushy Pumpkin (Photo by Frances Wright)
Whisk butter, then add sugar and mix until fluffy
Fluffy Butter and Sugar (Photo by Frances Wright)
Whisk in the eggs
Fluffy Butter, Sugar and Eggs (Photo by Frances Wright)
Mix in baking powder and 1 cup of flour and stir through
Add in some flour (Photo by Frances Wright)
Add ginger, vanilla, and cinnamon to mashed pumpkin
Spiced Pumpkin (Photo by Frances Wright)
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)
Cake Mix (Photo by Frances Wright)
Spoon into cupcake papers so that they are 3/4 full
Cupcake Patty Pans (Photo by Frances Wright)
Another photo just for good measure :-)
Cupcake Patty Pans #2 (Photo by Frances Wright)
Cook in 180C oven for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into them
Cooked Cupcakes (Photo by Frances Wright)

Frosting
Whisk all ingredients together
Frosting Ingredients (Photo by Frances Wright)
When frosting is fluffy, put in the refrigerator until cupcakes are cool

Spread frosting over cooled cupcakes
Iced Cupcakes (Photo by Frances Wright)
and ENJOY!!
Yummy Cupcakes! (Photo by Frances Wright)
Happy Birthday JezBomb!!

ps - getting so excited for christmas! don't know what to make there are so many yummy options!!!

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