Strawberries and Cream Jelly Cupcakes

Happy Australia Day one and all! Now you might predict I'd be making a typically Australian dessert or sweet on this day, but I've decided to go with a take on a take of the Australian Lamington. If you aren't familiar with the lamington, you're seriously missing out.
It's a rectangle finger of sponge cake enveloped in chocolate and sprinkled with coconut. Sometimes they're even filled with creamy goodness, and on occasion, jam. Recently I saw a spin on lamingtons in the form of jelly cakes. Jelly cakes are fantastic. They're a staple at every kid's party and a bit like a lamington, except without the chocolate. The cake is dipped in liquid jelly mix and immediately rolled in coconut.
So here's a spin on that, perfect food for a little girls (or big girl's) party. They look so quaint and pretty in all their pink glory, made deliciously moist with the addition of the jelly, and topped with a dollop of butter cream icing and a giant strawberry. They couldn't get much cuter!

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM SWIRL JELLYCAKES

1 buttercake mix
red or pink food colouring
1 packet strawberry jelly crystals
1 cup dessicated coconut
As many strawberries as cupcakes
1 cup of cream, whipped

Make the buttercake batter as directed on the box, and divide the mixture in half. In one half add a capfull of red or pink food colouring and mix well until incorporated.
Alternately spoon the two colours of batter into cupcake tray holes, layering the two colours to achieve a two tone cupcake. Use all the mixture in this manner and bake as directed on the box.
When the cupcakes are cooked and cooled, cut out the centre of each to form a well. Do not cut to the bottom of the cupcakes. Aim for a 20c piece size as a top view, big enough to sit the bottom of a strawberry in.
Discard the cake removed. 
Make the jelly as directed on the box. While still warm, dip the top of each cupcake briefly in the unset jelly mixture and then in coconut.
Fill the wells with a dollop of  whipped cream. Cut the leaves off the strawberries. Position one strawberry ontop of each dollop. Serve.

How to Make Basic Rolled Fondant or Gumpaste Roses

My sister-in-law is expecting her first baby in a few months, and the occasion called for a baby shower and I put my hand up with glee. I've got a newborn myself and found that I left everything to the last moment in my disorganization. Running out of time, I set about designing a cake and found that I lacked some of the instruments necessary to go through with the project.
Not knowing the sex of the baby, I decided to go with a Sweetpea Baby Theme with a rolled fondant garden of roses, beans and peas and some other foliage with a wee baby among it all. I had no idea how I was going to make leaves and roses without any tools used to create those perfect petals and serrated edges. So I started researching and found a great tutorial on youtube. It's a very simple process anyone can use, even for those not so artistic and it doesn't require any cutting tools for your fondant. They are basic fondant roses and can be added to if you have the time and patience.
Enjoy the tutorial!

HOW TO MAKE BASIC ROLLED FONDANT OR GUMPASTE  ROSES

To make your own fondant at home, here is a cheaper and more fun alternative to store bought rolled fondant.You can also use gumpaste.

You will need:
Any amount of rolled fondant or gumpaste
A clear, plastic folder pocket

1. Take the plastic pocket and cut off the bottom and the side that usually clips into your folder. You now have a plastic sheet that can open and close as a book would.

2. Take a portion of fondant and roll it into a smooth sausage. Cut four equal portions from the sausage. You want them to be approximately marble sized when rolled into a ball.

3.Roll three of these portions into smooth balls, and the forth into an elongated ball, a bit more oval than the others.

4. Place each of the portions along side each other inside the plastic sheet. Gently smooth each ball with your pointer so that it flattens. Smooth down one side of the ball so that it is thinner than the other side. The end closest to you should be thick, sloping down gradually to be thinner. Ensure the balls are all even in size and thickness, and that the balls keep their aerial view shape.

 5. Gently remove the oblong "ball" from the plastic. Roll the thin end of it first, between your fingers, rolling towards the thick end so that it forms a spiral. This is the centre of the rose.

6. Remove the first ball from the plastic and position it flush against the centre bud, thin side up. Place it so that only the centre of the petal is stuck to the  bud, the sides free. The top of the petal should be at the same height as the bud.

7. Take the second petal and slip it in besides the first, so that the first petal overlaps it by half.  Take the third petal and slip it in half way under the second petal. Gently fold the end of the last petal around to meet the first.

 8. You now have your basic rose. Cut the bottom half off with a knife, as this is quite bulky.
You may also like to shape the petals a little with your fingers before setting is aside to dry.

The baby drying. I use an empty chocolate tray to dry the roses in. They dried in 2 days, but this depends upon the weather.

Baby's Sweetpea Cake

Curry Veggie Burgers

Are you vegetarian or carnivore? When I was a kid I was neither, I simply hated eating anything. Spinach was hidden on a little ledge under the dinner table, as were peas and the likes. Crackers were the only thing to be desired.Hence a skinny little runt I was. Determined not to let my own children get away with the same sneaky tricks I did, my husband and I selected a large wooden meal table without any secret ledges underneath. Ever since, I have been fossicking around for ways to incorporate good greens and beans in foods the kids will eat without fuss.
Hello delicious veggie burger!
Are you over fish and chips on Fridays as much as we are? Then mix it up a bit with these super healthy, delicious, goodness filled veggie burgers, adapted from taste.com.

CURRY VEGGIE BURGERS

1 onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. crushed garlic
1 zucchini, grated
1 small carrot, grated
3 stalks silver-beet, white removed, leaves chopped finely
3 slices wholemeal bread, crusts removed, shredded
200g canned chickpeas, drained
1 heaped tbsp mild curry paste (we used Tikka Masala paste)
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. coriander
1 cup wholemeal breadcrumbs
oil for frying

Fry the onion for five minutes on a low heat until softened. Add the garlic, silverbeet zucchini and carrot and cook for 3 minutes until wilted and softened. Drain off any liquid that is left in the pan.
Place chickpeas and shredded bread in a food processor and pulse to combine and break down the contents. Add the vegetables and curry paste, egg yolk and coriander. Process until well combined.
Form the mixture into rough patties, coating each side in breadcrumbs. Lay on a tray and refrigerate for 10 minutes before frying until golden brown.

Bounty Balls

I was feeling a bit overwhelmed the other day...two crying babies who had trouble sleeping and toys thrown all over the house, no dinner made and husband back from work any second. It was a teary moment. I started to wonder, was this what they called the baby blues? And then I realised how long it had been since I went into that kitchen and made something I didnt have to make...just make something for the sole pleasure of it.
Being in the kitchen is therapeutic to me, its my time out, where I can create and enjoy a little time by myself, and recharge the old batteries. I'm not talking that time where you have to whip up the dinner with a hungry baby crying in your ear. I'm talking the babies-in-bed-silence, glass of vino in hand and the-world-is-your-oyster type of kitchen time.
I knew that was what I needed to cheer myself up, and when my darling hubby came home I got just that. What was something totally superfluous that I could make? Then I remembered how everyone had enjoyed the homemade bounty bars I had recently made and set about making just that...but in balls, covered in dark chocolate. Talk about a cure for the "baby blues"!
I am pleased to say that there are no blues anymore, it seemed to be the perfect cure. And...my babies are sleeping much better (bye-bye insomniacs) and that my dear, is why I am able to blog a little! Ah the simple things in life. The greatest pleasures. (They're gluten free sweets, too!)

HOMEMADE BOUNTY BALLS

3 cups dessicated coconut
200g sweetened condensed milk
1/2-3/4 cup icing sugar
1 tsp. vanilla essence
350g dark chocolate, melted

Combine the coconut and condensed milk in a large bowl. Add enough icing sugar to make a stiff mixture.Add the vanilla and stir until well combined. Roll into walnut sized balls and refrigerate overnight until hardened.Coat in melted chocolate and serve when set.

Tropical Trifle

Two days before Christmas I was wondering if I was being punished for feeling such a wicked glee at the thought of the upcoming festive food gorging. Two wisdom teeth decided to make their painful way into the world on either side of my mouth and I found it incredibly hard to chew anything. I envisioned the roast meats being neglected, the chocolates sitting alone, unable to be devoured, and all the lovely festive foods going off before I could bare to have them in my mouth. Or the alternative--pureed honey glazed ham being sucked through a straw on my favourite feast day of the year, 60 years premature.
So would I be surviving the 12 days of Christmas off jelly and soup blends concocted of all the deliciousness that had been prepared for Christmas?
Determined not to miss out, I found this wonderful recipe for Tropical Trifle in a Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. I don't usually find much joy in soggy cake and cream, but this trifle was different, it was the most amazing one I have ever tasted by far.
Imagine the taste of mango combined with the zest of lemon, the smoothness of mascapone, the freshness of mint, rolls of jam sponge laced with coconut liqueur and pineapple juice atop mango jelly and passion fruit. It was simply divine.

TROPICAL TRIFLE (adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine Jan 2012)

2X 85g packets mango jelly crystals
400ml boiling water
400ml chilled water
1 mango, cheeks removed, flesh sliced thinly
250g mascapone
300ml thickened cream
1/4 caster sugar
finely grated zest of one lemon
300g jam rolettes
1/4 pineapple juice
1/3 cup coconut flavoured white rum
pulp of 6 passionfruits
extra mango thinly sliced
mint leaves to decorate

Put jelly crystals and boiling water in a bowl and stir to dissolve. Add the chilled water and set aside to cool.
Arrange the sliced mango in the bottom of a 21 x 10.5cm glass serving bowl. Pour jelly over the top and refrigerate until the jelly has set.
Whisk the mascapone, cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Fold in the lemon zest and set aside.
Combine the rum and pineapple juice in a shallow bowl.
Slice the rolettes and dip them one by one quickly into the rum mixture, then arrange on top of the jelly.Spoon over half the mascapone mixture on top of the rolettes. Drizzle half the passion fruit pulp over the top and swirl slightly. Cover with the rest of the mascapone mixture, and decorate the top of the trifle with the extra mango, mint leaves and remaining pulp.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

 My favourite days of the month are The Secret Recipe Club's reveal days, when all those delightfully gourmet photographs appear at once on club members pages. It's the time I feast my eyes on other people's creations and marvel at the  new windows of opportunity opening around me.  So much deliciousness, so little time!
This month I was privileged to receive an assignment to work from the blog Simply. Food.
I am always fascinated by other people's food blogs and the way they go about their kitchens and their food lives. Simply Food is a blog dedicated to vegetarian cooking, keeping it simple and delicious. The blog is full of delightful recipes and I had a hard time choosing, once again. As you may know, my "food life" is sweet and perhaps sometimes a bit too complicated, so it was refreshing to see so many simple yet effective (and obviously mouth watering) recipes on this blog.
I decided to take that simplicity and make it festive, for the Christmas season ahead of us, with Simply. Food's Chocolate Dipped Strawberries.
I had bought quite giant strawberries grown in Victoria, so I halved the recipe from the original...be sure to check out Simply Food's version! And enjoy!

CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES

12 ripe strawberries, room temperature
200g white chocolate
Edible gold dust or other decoration (such as sprinkles, edible stars, coconut)
12 Toothpicks or skewers

Melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, checking and stirring frequently to prevent burning.
Insert one toothpick into each centre of the green leafy part of each strawberry. Dip the strawberries one by one into the melted chocolate, then dipping into your choice of decoration while still slightly wet. If you are using edible gold dust, use a small brush to sprinkle the powder over the chocolate. Lay aside to set before serving.

Gingerbread Christmas Boxes

If you're looking for a different and tasty way to wrap up small gifts this Christmas, you might be interested in this gingerbread alternative to cellophane or gift wrap.
These little edible boxes are ideal for those little gifts for friends like homemade biscuits, truffles and chocolates. They are adorable and are sure to bring oohs and ahhs all around.

GINGERBREAD CHRISTMAS BOXES (reworded from the Coles Christmas Magazine 2011)

125g butter, chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup golden syrup
1 egg, separated
2 1/2 cups plain flour
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 cup white chocolate chips, melted
1 3/4 cups icing sugar
Cachous to decorate

Preheat the oven to 180C.
Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add syrup and egg yolk and beat until combined.
Add sifted flour, bicarb soda and ginger. Stir through with a butter knife until a dough forms.
Gather dough together and turn out onto a sheet of non stick baking paper. Divide into two even amounts.
Wrap one portion in cling wrap and set aside.
Roll the other portion out into a rectangle about 26cm x 18cm and trim the sides to neaten. Cut dough into 12 even pieces (four rows of three). Transfer squares to a greased and lined baking sheet with a little room for spreading. Place tray in the fridge to chill while you repeat this method with the remaining dough.
Bake the first tray for 10 minutes while chilling the second tray. Leave the squares on the tray for 5 minutes to cool before removing.
Place the melted white chocolate in a piping bag and use to "glue" the edges to form boxes. Leave to set.
Whisk egg white until frothy, then gradually add sifted icing sugar to form a stiff paste. Place in a piping bag and use to fill any gaps in the joins of the gingerbread boxes. Decorate with cachous. Pipe a cross on the lid of each box. Leave to set before filling.

Mango Chilli and Lime Aioli with Prawns

 My husband is an amazing cook. I'm not just saying that because he's my husband, it's a fact, and a sweet one at that. A man that can cook and will cook and enjoys it! There should be many more of them.
Anyway, we've decided to get the family over for Boxing Day celebrations. As seafood lovers, my husband and I have decided to have prawns for appetizers before dinner, and we found the most amazing accompaniment for those orange and white babies. We jut had to try it before hand to make sure of the fact. This recipe has been adapted by my husband from Curtis Stone's Christmas Magic. So tasty!

MANGO CHILLI AND LIME AIOLI

1 small mango, peeled, stone removed
1.5 tsp fresh peeled ginger, chopped finely (we used Gourmet Garden Ginger paste)
1 tsp chilli garlic sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped

Place mango, ginger, chilli and lime juice in the food processor and blend until a puree forms. Add egg yolk and pulse until combined. With the motor still running, add the oil until you reach a smooth creamy consistency. Season with salt and pepper if desired, and add coriander.

NOTES: This aioli can be made a day ahead as the flavours develop over time. You can also use sweet chilli sauce instead of chilli garlic sauce. Serve with prawns.