The last couple of days have been a chilly, windy return to wintery weather (regardless of the sun!) – what I hope will be the last stint of cold and yuck before a long summer. It got me thinking about warmer things – like hot soup, and savoury scrolls (pizza pinwheels, as I prefer to… Continue reading Warming Up to Spring with Pizza Pinwheels
I’ve had a score to settle with Swiss Meringue Buttercream icing since promising to post about it several times…since forever!!! SMB, as it’s known in the cake world, is also the ‘problem child’ of frostings/icings and can cause much heartache to the amateur cake decorator, such as I am. But if I can do it, then so can… Continue reading Perfect Piping with Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Although I have less-recent photos for posts on other topics waiting to be written… I can’t resist writing about this month’s baking adventure – my first two-tiered masterpiece! The birthday trifecta of my lovely MIL, her brother, and one of my Bros in Law was a great reason to try out several caking techniques in fact. Thanks… Continue reading Tiers without Tears: The Story of a Three-Timing Birthday Cake
I should point out that I’m not ‘farewelling’ this blog – after less than six month’s efforts! This post is about the farewell morning tea that I held a couple of months ago when I left my previous job. I’m well overdue for a post, and I’ve been meaning to share the shots and recipes of what… Continue reading A Farewell Feast
I’ve always been a fan of big blocks of the lolly, marshmallow and nut-studded chocolatey mess that is rocky road. Recently one of my work colleagues produced some absolutely delish rocky road that set me on a spin for the stuff. So when a noticed a supermarket flyer with a recipe for it that I’d once… Continue reading Choccy Rocky (and Roll-y) Road
Happy 1,000 page-views to the IBS blog!!! I still can’t believe anyone bothers to read what I have to say about baking (or any topic…) but thank y’all for your kind contributions to making this ‘milestone’ in blogology 🙂 Yes, there is a counter that I see when I go behind-the-scenes and write posts, and… Continue reading Celebrating 1,000 page-views with Instant Pudding…Biscuits??
What better use for a long weekend than some time in the kitchen, baking up a storm. There are few things that make me happier! However a poorly-timed cold/flu took me down during the week so I’ve been trying not to go crazy with baking, let alone blogging about it. (‘Poorly-timed’ because a) when is… Continue reading Long Weekend Baking: Brownie Galore and Memorial Day Cupcakes
I have much to learn. That’s generally the conclusion of any PhD student, and while I don’t have the stomach for such a qualification, I’m beginning to feel that way about the world of cake decorating. Thankfully, learning is rarely achieved alone, and I’m grateful to have lovely friends and inspirers to teach and encourage me… Continue reading [I Can’t Believe It’s So Easy] Fun with Fondant Art – Floral Edition
After a bit of time off work over the Easter break (largely spent without my computer!) I’m now tidying up some blogging ideas that didn’t quite get polished off before the holiday. At one point recently I made around 200 cupcakes within one week – in fact, it felt like I did little else in… Continue reading Two Cupcakes For The Price of One: Chocolate Berry Cupcakes x 2
Always in search of food-related inspiration and advice, I hurried to The Food Show when it came to Christchurch earlier this month. In particular, I was hoping to get some good baking tips from Julie Le Clerc (pronounced ‘clear’, as in my name!), who was running a demonstration on cakes, having just returned from India… Continue reading Foodie Goes To The Food Show… and finds Julie Le Clerc’s Best Ever Vanilla Cupcakes!
Sweet nor'westerly 