Victoria Sponge

The first recipe I made using my kitchenaid stand mixer was this Victoria Sponge.

I followed the kitchenaid recipe for their gluten free sponge, but since gluten is ok for my family to eat I substituted for regular flour and excluded the gum.

My lesson learnt: never step away from the mixer when whipping cream! It was a little over whipped but not yet butter, as the cake had to travel, it did stand up well to a trip in the car.

And here is my baby, I've had her for 2 years now and she it yet to get a name.

I'm thinking something 1950's housewife'ish???

Any suggestions?

I may be linked up at these parties.

Raspberry and white chocolate muffins

My go to recipe for muffins would have to be this one. 

The recipe was given to me by an old college of mine and it has never failed. 

Raspberry and white chocolate muffins

INGREDIENTS

2 cups plain flour
3 teaspoon baking powder
¾ cup caster sugar
1 cup white choc-bits
1 cup buttermilk or milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
100g butter, melted, cooled slightly
1 cup frozen raspberries

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 12 x ½-cup muffin pan or line with patty cases.

2. Sift flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Stir in sugar and choc-bits.

3. Whisk buttermilk or milk, eggs, vanilla and melted butter in a large jug until well combined. Using a large metal spoon, stir mixture into dry ingredients until just combined. Gently swirl through frozen raspberries (do not over-mix).

4. Spoon mixture into prepared muffin pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Stand in pans for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool. Lightly dust with icing sugar if desired.


I may be linked up at these parties.

Summer holiday is done!

I decided to take January off blogging after December was mighty busy. 

Alongside the usual Christmas fan fair, I made and sold 20 gingerbread houses.

We wrapped up at work the day before my birthday so some much needed celebrating was had to kick off the 'silly season'

We have 3 extended family catch ups over the break to make sure we see most of the family, along with 4 other family birthdays. 

Busy, Busy, Busy.

I went back to work for a week and a bit then took off again for a much needed break. 

A friend and I spent one amazing week in Singapore!

Neither of us had been before, and we spent our days venturing out in the city, shopping, eating, sightseeing and of course some relaxing by the pool. 

I really thought I would have posted a little earlier than this, but of course things went a little awry, when I had a set back with my lower back. So little sitting/standing/walking for me for the last few days. Even tilting up in bed was agony so until now it has been difficult to type anything. 

It's on the mend, and I've been here a few times in the past decade, so as frustrating as it is to be unable to get up and do anything quickly, I know it will get better if I do as I'm told. 

          - let's not mention my goal for this year was to start clinical pilates, yep I'll be looking into classes as soon as my Dr gives the OK.