nutritious and delicious.

ooo there are somethings that on sight, smell or taste can take me right back to summer time and childhood; lego, soft lawns, sunblock- and ice cream sandwiches!

we recently had a dinner party and a guest brought the most delicious tub of Kapiti Gold Hokey Pokey Ice Cream and a box of wafers for dessert.  I had forgotten how creamy and sweet ice cream could be after weening myself of dairy products.  The wafers were the bonus deal as it meant we could eat with our hands instead of making more dishes!

the novelty has not worn off, and although the tub is getting decidedly lighter I fear I am not!  However they do say that sandwiches are good for you, and Im sure the amount of calcium Im getting from the cream is good… right?!

the perfect combination of naughty and nice

my first cupcake.

so, recently I had the pleasure of teaching a group of eleven year old girls. They were lovely and sweet and I heard rumors that on my last day they were going to surprise me with a lunch time party!

I know that the cupcake craze has been around for a lil while now, and I too wander past the bakeries marveling at how a lil piece of cake can tug at my heart strings so; but I have never felt the need to try myself. Until now. I turned the kitchen into a cupcake production line and had the most fun!

The following is the recipe I used; they were lovely if a lil on the dry side (that is probably more to do with running out of vanilla essence and butter, than fault with the recipe itself!), but the icing was the best part of all- and soo simple. So, as follows:

Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

Preheat oven to 180 degrees (Celsius)
Line a 12 cupcake pan with assorted color cups

Ingredients
150g softened butter
150g caster sugar
175g self raising flour
3 eggs
2 Tbsp coco powder
1 tsp vanilla extract

* crack eggs into a bowl and beat lightly with a fork
* place all ingredients in a large bowl and beat for two minutes (or until light and fluffy)
* divide the mixture evenly into prepared trays
* bake for 18- 20 minutes until they have risen and are firm to touch
* cool for a few minutes and then transfer onto a wire rack; allow to cool fully before icing!

Vanilla Icing

Ingredients

150g softened butter

250g icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 tsp hot water

* beat butter and sugar

* when well combined add vanilla and water

* beat until smooth and creamy

I then added colored sprinkles and the most delicious raspberry jelly lollies, the were fragrant and soft and melted in your mouth!

enjoy xox

and she was a sickly child.

My poor kid’s have taken a beating of late!

I thought I had broken my back gardening; but infact I had a kidney infection! O my it was sooo painful. So I have been resting in bed and eating grapes (apparently they help) but I still cannot manage to keep a thought in my head.

I will be a much better blogger from now on…promise! x