The Cakery .... Plums and Chocolate

Well, I have been too busy recently, and for some odd reason, I have done many cakes. I think I am turning into a cakery! .... a carrot cake came out of the oven today too. I am going through the cake stage and ganache stage. Dark chocolate melt and mix (recipe is the old one here) and white chocolate cake with doris black plums

Oh ganache....how much I love you! I only eat cakes with ganache, all other cakes are not as good as you! .... Oh Doris Plums ... you have been way too good to me! won't ever leave you alone! ....

2000 views and counting ....

Still a few months left till the 1st birthday of this site, but, it still managed to stay well and alive, and reach 2000 views. Thank you to all you Kiwis, who are the top viewers, followed by USA, Australia, Canada, UK, Russia, Malaysia, Germany, Japan and finally Indonesia. A bit of a random mix of viewers, but hopefully you will keep coming back in the near future.

I Heart Cookies ....

Macarons

Macarons have a class of their own, and recently, they have taken the baking world by storm! I guess the best part of it is that they are available in many colours, and you no longer have to fly them from Paris to your doorstep.

This suits slow home ovens really well, as it needs low temperature to dry out the outside of it into a hard shell. Beat 3 egg whites with gradually adding 2 tablespoons caster sugar until glossy and soft peaks form. Extreme glossy and stifness is the trick! Fold in 1 1/4 cup sieved icing sugar and 1 cup almond meal. Fold in carefully is the trick! Rest the mix in the mixing bowl for 10mins. Pipe the mix into tablespoon sizes on a paper lined tray, rest for 10 mins. Then into a heated oven at 160C for 15 minutes or slightly golden. Sandwich together with butter icing or ganache ... place them on a cute serving dish and show off your new skills ...

Mini Almond Torte with Black Doris Plums

Facebook ... A first for NZ Baking Diary

You might have noticed already but, YAY!! finally!!! NZ Baking Diary has it's own page! I am ready for orders, and this week started well with orders.

Looks like I won't be resting anytime soon with Valentine's day next Monday. I can gaurantee you there will be tonnes of heart shaped baking on the way .... baking is exhausting!

Caramelised Pear Tea Cake

I have made tea cakes before and found them rather boring. I think it's all about extra ingredients that will make it interesting. Today, I caramelised some sliced pears and added them into my usual buttercake. It tastes pretty good ... a cuppa tea and a slice of pear tea cake with some yoghurt on the side ... so deliscious!

Baking Better Communities . . .

Freestore Waitakere is opening next week and nzbakingdiary is happy to supply! Opening for a month in the middle of Henderson, which will be a grocery store with all items at NO CHARGE! So get out there and volunteer for shop hours, or if you have extra pantry items or over-stocked at your business, give them a call, they are happy to pick up stock any time.


http://www.communitywaitakere.org.nz/index.php/noticeboard/eventsworkshopsforums/2574-some-more-volunteers-needed-for-the-freestore

Kids back at school???? .... Rocky Roads to the Rescue!!

Rocky roads are fun to make and make a great afternoon treat, so why wont you try melting some chocolate and throw in some nuts, coconut, cookie crumbs and maybe raisins or cranberries???