Sugar

Soosan's Birthday Cake

2011-10-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends Soosan had a Masquerade Ball for her party this year & asked me to make her cake. As she is one of the most wonderful women alive on this planet, I naturally said yes. I made her a two tiered vanilla cake covered in delicious vanilla buttercream. Everyone loved it & it was completely gone by the end of the night!

Soosan was the picture of elegance in her gorgeous black birthday dress & a fantastic red & gold mask. I'm so glad she enjoyed her cake & her party!

Last year I had a 'Prom Night' themed party that took hours & hours of preparation. I am very fortunate to have a friend like Soosan who gave up her Friday night to come over & help me cook (& bring me dinner)! Having a friend like Soosan makes me feel terribly lucky!

Love,

x Sunny x

Donna Hay Brownie Mix

2011-09-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

I recently tried Donna Hay's new Brownie Mix and OMG it was flipping fantastic. It has shot to the front of the queue to become my new favourite brownie - pushing its way in front of all my non-packet-mix recipes. Yep, its that good.

But in the name of fairness, I took the brownies to work & gave some to my boyfriend to get an impartial opinion. All I received back were rave reviews and requests for more. At $8 a packet, it's worth every cent!

Also, the smell that wafts from the oven as they are cooking is ammmaaaaaazing!

Love Sunny xx

Tres Leches Cake (the cheats version!)

2011-08-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

Picture source

Tres Leches cake (or ‘Three Milks’ Cake) is a Spanish cake usually made by soaking a sponge or butter cake in three kinds of milk – evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. It’s super yummy and completely addictive. My boyfriend who hates cake LOVES it!

Now whilst I am all for the authentic taste of starting from scratch, I prefer the shortcut for this recipe. And let’s face it, why make yourself slave in the kitchen all day if you don’t have to?

Ingredients:
1 box of vanilla butter or sponge cake
1 can evaporated milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tub thickened cream

Method:
1. Make the sponge or butter cake as per instructions on the box. I like to leave some of the butter out (if not all of it) to keep it dry.

2. Once the cake has cooled completely, get a skewer and poke some holes throughout the cake.

3. Pour the three milks into a container that is bigger than the cake – I like to use a large Tupperware container. Leave the cake to sit in the fridge for about 6 hours.

Depending on the size of the container you may need to either weigh down your cake in the liquid or baste it every hour or so. When the cake is done serve it as is, or ice it & top with strawberries. Just make sure you take into account the sweetness of the cake before icing!

Love Sunny x

Coconut Creme Caramel

2011-06-23T03:54:00.001-07:00

Photograph by Steve Brown

I first saw this recipe on Taste.com & thought I'd give it a try as I LOVE creme caramel (or flan as we call it in my family). I was shocked at how quick & easy this version was & it is silky and delicious! It's so good, my boyfriend just aboiut wet himself with delight when he tried it!

Ingredients (serves 8)

1 1/2 cups caster sugar
300mls thickened cream
400ml can coconut milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 eggs

Method

1. Place 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup cold water in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until sugar has dissolved. Increase heat to medium. Cook, without stirring, brushing down sides of pan occasionally with a wet pastry brush, for 8 to 10 minutes or until deep golden. Remove from heat. Pour caramel into a 6cm-deep, 20cm (base) round cake pan. Set aside to cool and harden. (Before pouring your caramel, make sure you have a pan that will fit in a bigger dish because the caramel will harden quickly once poured into the pan).

2. Preheat oven to 160°C/140°C fan-forced. Place cream, milk and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until hot and small bubbles form at edge of pan. Remove from heat.

3. Whisk eggs and remaining sugar in a large bowl. Slowly add cream mixture, whisking constantly. Strain mixture into cake pan.

4. Place cake pan in a baking dish. Pour boiling water into baking dish until halfway up sides of pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until firm and just set and the custard has a sexy jiggle to it. Remove pan from oven and water bath. Set aside to cool. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

5. Run a thin knife around edge of custard. Turn out onto a plate - To turn out, place plate over top of pan. Carefully turn pan over, pressing base of pan to release creme caramel - and serve.

x Sunny x

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-05-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

Photography by Mark O'Meara

I have recently been baking up a storm and this week my attentions were directed at making cookies! Yesterday I made a batch of Dark Chocolate & Walnut cookies and a batch of White Chocolate & Macadamia cookies. This recipe makes 30 small cookies or 20 regular sized cookies.

Ingredients:
125g butter, softened
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg, at room temperature
2 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons milk

Optional:
2 teaspoons Chai powder - I use Arcadia Vanilla Chai
1/2 cup chopped nuts of your choice
1/2 cup chocolate chips of your choice

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, chai powder and vanilla in a small bowl until pale and creamy. Add egg and mix until well combined. Sift the flour and baking powder over butter mixture. Add milk and stir until just combined.

3. Add your chocolate and nuts. Using hands, knead the dough to evenly distribute.

4. Using 1 heaped tablespoon of mixture at a time, roll mixture into balls. Place on baking trays lined with baking paper. Using a fork, flatten biscuits slightly (allow room for spreading).

5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until light golden. Allow biscuits to cool on trays for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Serve to happy people with big glasses of milk or hot chocolate!

The great thing about this recipe is you can swap the choc chips & nuts for just about anything, creating as many flavour combinations as your imagination will allow!

x Sunny x

Turtle Brownies

2011-05-14T22:43:00.000-07:00

Today is Sunday and I had no plans. I woke up, kissed my lover goodbye & settled in for a day of cleaning, cooking & watching bad Sci-Fi television. Then I remembered seeing this recipe that The Pioneer Woman put up on her blog last week & I knew I had to try it!

Turtle Brownies (as the Americans call them) are brownies with a middle layer of caramel goodness. I amended Ree's recipe to suit my tastes and what was available at the time. Here's my version:

Ingredients
■1 box Chocolate Cake Mix (I Used White Wings Chocolate Cake)
■1 cup Finely Chopped Walnuts
■⅓ cup Evaporated Milk
■½ cup Butter, Melted
■½ cup Nestle Caramel Top'n'Fill (adjust to your own taste)
■⅓ cup Chopped Dark Chocolate or Chocolate Chips
■¼ cups Powdered Sugar

1. Preheat your oven to 160C degrees.

2. In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, chopped walnuts, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, and melted butter. Stir together until totally combined. Mixture will be very thick & similar to cookie dough.

3. Press half the mixture into a well-greased 9 x 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and set aside.

4. Mix caramel until it is smooth. Layer over brownie base. Sprinkle chocolate/chips as evenly as you can over the caramel.

5. Turn out remaining brownie dough on a piece of baking paper. Use your hands to press it into a large square a little smaller than the pan. Flip the paper over the mix to easily lay the brownie top on top of the caramel and chocolate. You could also create the square top on your work surface and move it across with a spatula.

6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for several hours. When ready to serve, generously sift powdered sugar over the surface of the brownies. Cut into twelve helpings and carefully remove from the pan.

Enjoy! But remember, make the servings small as it is devilishly rich!

x Sunny x

Sunny's Easy Caramel Pie

2011-05-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

This is a quick and easy dessert that is sure to please! Perfect for dinner parties as 3 ingredients is all it takes to have dessert ready, leaving you plenty of time to concentrate on your other courses.

Ingredients:
1 sweet tart shell (available in the freezer section, near the pastry)
400 g can Nestle Top n Fill Caramel
1 cup thickened cream

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C.

2. Cook pastry shell in the oven until it is golden brown. Allow to cool completely.

3. Pour caramel into a bowl and stir until smooth. Scoop into pastry shell & and smooth into an even layer. Refridgerate.

4. Whip cream until it creates firm peaks. Spoon whipped cream generously over caramel. Serve.

To decorate you could use cocoa powder dusted over the top, toffee chips sprinked on top or crumble a flake bar on top.

x Sunny x

Bourke Street Bakery

2011-05-01T00:23:00.000-07:00

Check out my post on The Life of Sunny about the Bourke Street Bakery!

x Sunny x

Chocolate Fudge

2011-03-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

I made this on the weekend for a bake sale & received rave reviews. It is the best fudge recipe I've ever come across & was given to me by my good friend Emily.

1 packet milk chocolate melts

1 tin sweetened condensed milk

1 cup nuts (macadamias, walnuts, almonds)

2 Tablespoon butter

Method:

1. Put chocolate melts, condensed milk and butter into a microwave container. Microwave in 1 minute lots, stirring in between, until you reach a smooth consistency.

2. Chop nuts, roughly. Add to smooth chocolate.

3. Line a tin or container with baking paper. Pour in chocolate mixture and refrigerate until hard. When hard, cut into small pieces and serve.

x Sunny x

De Pho, Chatswood

2011-03-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

If you’re going to De Pho there is only one dish you should be thinking of ordering – number 33. Crispy skinned chicken with rice noodles in a beef broth for $11.

Ben & I went for some chicken-noodle-goodness during the week. It is a great place for a work lunch because your food comes out quickly & you usually don’t have to wait long to be seated.

We walked in to the tiny restaurant – and I mean it when I say tiny, they only have 6 communal tables – and were delighted to find ourselves at the front of the line. Because De Pho has communal tables you will usually be sat next to other families and couples all enjoying their meals. The atmosphere is social with people talking across tables & slurping noodles. We were directed to a two person table (very rare occurrence!) and said the magic words “Number 33 please”. Five minutes later our dishes arrived. I use chopsticks like a pro but I always ask for a fork to avoid having to use my fingers to peel the chicken flesh away from the bones.

Ben putting mint into his broth

The chicken skin is crispy and the flesh is soft and moist, falling away from the bones. The noodles are silky and the broth is deliciously beefy and salty. They give you a side dish of lemon, bean sprouts and mint to add to your taste preference but I prefer mine virgin. Ben puts all of it in his noodle soup. Whilst adding copious amounts of mint he says “Man, I hate mint” making me give him a very puzzled expression. He tells me it apparently it tastes great in the soup though! Personally, I prefer my mint to stay in my mojitos.

I like to alternate bites of chicken, noodles and broth but Ben likes to combine them all. By the time we are done Ben’s bowl is almost empty (he’s a man, and spends more time at the gym than I do!) and my bowl is probably only half empty. We are both full to bursting and consider the feasibility of having an afternoon nap. If you’re not starving you could quite easily consider sharing one & just asking for a second bowl. Once you’re done just head up to the counter to pay!

de_Pho
Shop 21 Lemon Grove Shopping Centre
427-441 Victoria Ave, Chatswood

x Sunny x

Pokemon Cupcakes!

2011-02-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

This month was one of my best friend's birthdays. So in celebration I made her some pokeball cupcakes! Please excuse my crappy middle-of-the-night-phone-camera photography!

They were very simple to make. Here's how:

1. Make some regular vanilla cupcakes
2. Whip up some buttercream icing and colour half red, leaving the other half white. Gel colours are nest as a liquid will make your icing runny.
3. Ice half the cupcake with the white icing. If you have time, put in the fridge for 20 minutes.
4. Ice the other half of the cupcakes red. Leave in the fridge for another 20 minutes.
5. Melt some dark chocolate in the microwave. Put into a piping bag and pipe a straight line down the cupcake where the colours meet.
6. Place a round white lolly (I used koolmints) on top and pipe melted chocolate around it to keep it secure.

This recipe also works really well with BIG cupcakes, so when making the cupcakes try to fill the patty cases 3/4 of the way up before baking.

x Sunny x

My Favourite Nightcap

2011-02-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

In winter I have this every other night before bed & it makes me endlessly happy!

Ingredients:
1 cup (250ml) skim milk
2 tsp Cadbury Drinking Chocolate
A few drops of vanilla essence
A sprinkling of cinnamon sugar

Method:
1. Heat the milk in either the microwave or over the stove. Pour into your cup.
2. Mix in the drinking chocolate. Stir until all dissolved.
3. Add vanilla essence & cinnamon sugar, adapting to your taste.

In a hurry? Just make the drinking chocolate with the milk & its still delicious!

x Sunny x

Pumpkin & Feta Tarts

2011-01-29T23:33:00.000-08:00

These are my favourite thing to cook & eat. I first found this recipe a few years ago on Taste & adapted it along the way, making adjustments where needed. I’ve made them for both cocktail parties (adapting the recipe to make them bite size by using a mini muffin tray & a smaller cutter) & summer luncheons (served with a yummy side salad & lots of drinks!).

They have a great balance between the saltiness of the feta & the smoothness of the pumpkin. It’s the stuff dreams are made of!

Makes 20

Ingredients
• 350g pumpkin, peeled, cut into 1cm cubes
• 1 tsp dried rosemary, chopped
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 3 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 2 eggs
• 100ml light thickened cream
• 100g low-fat feta, crumbled

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease two 12-hole muffin pans.

2. Place pumpkin on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle rosemary on top and season. Roast for 20 minutes or until cooked.

3. Cut 20 rounds from the pastry sheets using a 6.5cm cutter. Press into muffin holes to cover base and a little of the sides.

4. Whisk eggs and cream together.

5. Divide pumpkin among rounds, top with 1 teaspoon of egg mixture, then sprinkle with feta. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden. Cool slightly, then turn out.

Now go & melt their hearts with your culinary skills!

x Sunny x

Chocolate Risotto

2011-01-28T17:12:00.000-08:00

OK so after posting my risotto & risotto ball recipes I was inspired to try making a sweet risotto. It’s something I’d heard of & read about but hadn’t actually tried yet. Whilst it was verrrry yummy, I’m not a fan of rice deserts because of the texture. But for those of you who are, I would greatly recommend it!

Ingredients (serves 4)
1 1/2 tbsp. cocoa
1 vanilla bean, split or 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
1/2 cup Arborio rice
2 cups (500ml) milk
1/2 cup caster sugar or brown sugar depending on your preference
30g unsalted butter
250ml (1 cup) thick cream
60ml (1/4 cup) brandy or alcohol of your choice. Baileys or Kahlua also work quite well.
Ice cream and biscotti, to serve

Method:
1. Place cocoa in a saucepan with 1 cup water and vanilla bean, bring to the boil.
2. Add rice then turn off heat and allow to soak for 5 minutes.
3. Return rice to low heat, add the milk and cook very gently, stirring occasionally until rice is tender.
4. Add sugar, butter, cream and brandy, and cook over low heat, stirring for a further 5 minutes. 5. Remove vanilla bean pod (if used). Serve immediately with a biscotti & some ice cream.

Change it up by adding some coffee or cinnamon!

x Sunny x

Sunny’s Risotto Balls

2011-01-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

(Makes 20 – 50 depending on size) - Picture taken by Milton at my birthday party.

I made these for my Prom Night and they were enjoyed so much that I have since been hounded to put the recipe up!

Whilst my Grandma was the one who taught me how to cook risotto, these were essentially a ‘see a need, fill a need’ recipe. I always had leftover risotto (I am completely unable to cook for just one person!!) and it never tasted as good the next day. And so, my risotto balls were born! They are great for parties as you can make & even cook them the night before & simply reheat when needed.

Ingredients:
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 cup plain flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 batch of Parmesan Risotto – see this recipe for the how-to.
1 block of tasty cheese
Oil for frying

Method:
1. Cut the block of tasty cheese into 1cm (or less) cubes. Put aside.

2. Roll a tablespoon of risotto into a ball (you can change the size of these depending on your preference). Using either the small end of a wooden spoon or your thumb, create an indent in the ball. Place a cube of cheese inside and form the rice around it. Put the ball aside on a plate. Continue doing this with the remainder of the risotto mixture.

3. Place the egg, flour & breadcrumbs into separate bowls. Roll balls in the four mixture, then coat with the egg mixture & finally with the breadcrumbs. Place on a plate & chill for half an hour.

4. In a large fry pan, heat the oil until a piece of bread turns slightly golden within 2 seconds. Add the risotto balls, working in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan. Turn, ensuring all sides are golden. Place onto some absorbent paper towel to remove excess oil. Serve immediately or place aside to be reheated in an oven. The cheese in the centre should be melted and gooey when you bite into it.

You can mix it up by trying different risotto’s (although keep extra ingredients like bacon or zucchini chopped quite finely) and different cheeses. It’s really good with a mushroom risotto. I like to keep mine bite size & make sure you hand people napkins when you offer them one as it is definitely finger food! This is one of my favourites & one of my most requested foods.

Enjoy!

x Sunny x

Parmesan Risotto

2011-01-23T16:28:00.000-08:00

(Serves 4 as a main, or 6 as an entree)

Ingredients:

1 cup of arborio rice
3 cups chicken stock
Water, as needed
½ white onion, diced – I like to use frozen diced onion as there is no watery eyes & it’s wicked easy.
½ tsp minced garlic
½ cup grated Parmesan (the best kind you can get)
1 large or 2 small bay leave/s
1 Glass of white wine
Olive Oil

1. Heat a large pot over a high heat with a splash of olive oil. Add the onion & cook for 2 minutes or until soft without turning brown. Add the garlic and cook for a further 30 seconds.

2. Add the Arborio rice and stir until the grains are coated and glossy. Add the glass of wine and bay leaves, stirring constantly, until the wine is absorbed.

3. Begin adding the stock in 1 cup at a time, stirring until the liquid is absorbed. If you run out of stock, finish with water (otherwise I find it gets too salty). The risotto is ready when the grains are well cooked. Some people like their risotto more al dente, but I like mine relatively soft.

4. Remove the bay leaves and stir through Parmesan. Garnish with extra Parmesan. Serve immediately.

This is the way my Uruguayan grandmother taught me to make risotto but you can make it any way you like! For instance, create a more complex flavour by:
- Frying some bacon & mushrooms, then adding them when you add the wine & bay leaves.
- Once served, top it with some pieces of cooked zucchini or asparagus.
- Adding your favourite herb/flavouring like thyme or lemon zest.
- Mix up the alcohol. Try adding champagne or a sweeter/dryer wine instead to alter the flavour.

x Sunny x

The Perfect Sunday Breakfast

2011-01-22T16:55:00.000-08:00

Sunday mornings were made for eating fantastic breakfasts, lazing around in your pajamas & doing relaxing activities like having picnics & reading your favourite book. But what classifies as a fantastic breakfast? For starters it helps if it's aesthetically pleasing - set out on a tray, on gorgeous serving ware with a special touch like a flower or beautiful cloth napkin.

My idea's of a perfect breakfast are:

- The classic: Eggs, bacon & a hash brown

- Eggs Benedict - the one breakfast I never cook at home!

- Waffles or pancakes with maple syrup & a good quality vanilla bean ice cream

- Fresh strawberries & vanilla yogurt perhaps with a piece of oatmeal slice (recipe to come!)

- Asparagus, fried haloumi & a poached egg.

- Cinnamon toast

All these served with orange juice, your favourite tea/hot chocolate or coffee. These breakfasts will brighten up any day & make life endlessly fantastic!

Enjoy your weekend!

x Sunny x

Scones

2011-01-17T23:26:00.000-08:00

Nearly everyone loves scones. Personally I think there is nothing better on a Sunday afternoon than sitting down to scones with cream and jam, a great tea (see my tea post for inspiration) and good friends! And they are so yummy that one is never enough... just ask my workmates who beg me to make them every Melbourne cup day! So for those who agree with me, here is my favourite recipe!

Ingredients:

4 cups Self Raising flour
300 ml Thickened Cream
350ml Lemonade

Method:

1. Sift flour into bowl and make a well in the middle.

2. Pour cream and lemonade into the well of flour.

3. Mix until it makes a firm dough

4. Roll out and cut into rounds with a scone or cookie cutter.

5. Bake at 180C in a fan forced oven (200C if not fan forced) for about 10 - 20 minutes depending on the size of the scones. When they are golden on the top and fully puffed up take them out of the oven and cool on a wire rack. TIP: Scones rise higher if you keep them close to each other when they cook!

6. Serve with your preferred condiments whilst scones are still warm.

7. Stuff face

Enjoy my darlings!

xSunnyx

Parmesan Chicken Tenders

2011-01-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup or about 250g), melted
1 cup dried bread crumbs
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt or chicken salt (which ever you have on hand)
A large pinch of dried Italian herb mix
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
600g (approx) Chicken Tenderloins

Method

1. Preheat oven to about 210/220 Celsius in a fan forced oven.

2. In a bowl, combine the minced garlic with the melted butter. In another bowl mix together the bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley, salt, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Dip chicken pieces into garlic butter, then into crumb mixture to coat. Double crumb if you want a crunchier finish.

3. Place coated chicken pieces on to a baking dish. Try to leave a little room between each piece. Drizzle with remaining garlic butter and bake uncovered 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Note that the chicken will get much more browned on the bottom side than on the top.

Serves 4-6 - or two very hungry people :) Try it for yourselves and you'll see what I'm talking about!

xSunnyx

85 Degree Bakery, Chatswood

2011-01-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

If you haven't been to 85 Degrees Bakery, then you haven't lived! Its full of carby, sugary goodness! Me & my friend Amanda frequent the Chatswood store (326 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW, 2067) and every time we go we like to see if they have these adorable sheep & naughty bear cakes! I haven't tried one but they would totally make your birthday that much brighter!! One day I'm going to try make one at home... one day haha.

Basic Crepes

2011-01-10T16:17:00.000-08:00

I was the very lucky recipient of a crepe maker for Christmas (it's basically a round fry pan thing) and have been eager to use it. It was a gift from my parents, and holds a lot of sentimental value to me as my grandma's most famous dish is her crepes & now I can recreate them in my own home!

So this morning I opened the box, made a couple batches of batter & got cooking! There were a few recipes for crepes online so I tried a couple different ones. I found a batter containing sugar made them a bit rubbery & another batter took forever to unlumpify. Just like Goldilocks & the three little bears, the third batter was just right! Perfect, in fact. This is my favourite crepe recipe & I found it on Taste.com (one of my favourite places to trawl for new recipes).

Ingredients:
1 cup (150g) plain flour, sifted
a pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups (310ml) milk
15g butter, melted

1. Place sifted flour & salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre. Use a whisk to mix together the eggs, milk & melted butter.

2. Pour milk mixture into flour & whisk until smooth. Cover & refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3. Heat your crepe maker or crepe pan to medium. Lightly grease with butter. Pour about 1/4 cup mixture on to your pan, spread out or swirl pan until batter is thinly covering most of the surface. Cook until golden, then flip & cook for another 30 seconds or so. Serve.

Suggested toppings:
- This morning I spread a bit of Nutino (Italian nutella) on my crepe, rolled it up & served it with whipped cream.
- Squeeze some lemon on top & sprinkle with sugar.
- Top with maple syrup & ice cream
- Serve with strawberries & whipped cream.
- Recreate yum cha Mango Pancakes by filling with mango & cream then rolling into a delicious package.

xSunnyx

My Favourite Chocolate Cake

2011-01-08T15:26:00.000-08:00

(serves 8)

Ingredients:

200g butter, chopped
300g good-quality dark chocolate
1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup self-raising flour
pure icing sugar, to serve

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease a 6cm deep, 20cm (base) round cake pan. Line with baking paper.

2. Place butter, 200g chopped chocolate and hot water in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH (100%) for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute with a metal spoon, or until smooth.

3. Add cocoa to warm chocolate mixture. Stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla, caster sugar and egg. Sift flour over chocolate mixture. Stir gently to combine.

4. Pour half the batter into cake pan. Chop remaining chocolate and sprinkle half over batter. Top with remaining batter and chopped chocolate. Bake cake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre has moist crumbs clinging.

5. Allow cake to cool completely in pan. Remove and dust with icing sugar. Serve. This cake keeps well for up to 1 week stored in an airtight container lined with baking paper.

I hope you enjoy it as much as i do! i like to heat my slice in the microwave for 40 seconds and then top with cream or ice cream and suddenly nothing else in the world matters! Its quite a rich & moist cake so a little goes a long way!

Love and sunshine,

xSunnyx

Fried Brie

2011-01-03T23:56:00.001-08:00

OK, let me start by saying - if you're on a diet, don't even look at this!

I have seen many fried brie recipes but never dared to go there... however Valli Little inspired me to give it a shot. I used one of her recipes but over time it has evolved into my own no-fuss version!

Remember with this recipe - a little goes a loooong way! I usually serve a couple small wedges next to a lightly dressed salad. And for the record - it's the sweet chili sauce that makes it, so please please please use it!

Ingredients:

2 cups breadcrumbs
2 tbs of either finely chopped fresh parsley or basil (or none if your not a herb person)
3 tbs plain flour
1 egg, beaten
2 tbs milk or cream (whichever you have on hand)
350g (approximately) of brie or Camembert cut into 8 small or 4 large wedges
Oil for frying - I use sunflower or vegetable but I've tried with olive and still tastes as good
Sweet chili sauce - my favourite brand is Trident.

Method:

1. Mix breadcrumbs & parsley together. Place breadcrumbs and flour in separate bowls (or plates). Whisk the egg & milk/cream in another bowl.

2. Toss wedges first in flour, then egg mixture, then in the breadcrumbs.

3. Place on a plate & chill in the fridge for 30 minutes (or up to four hours ahead).

4. Pour enough oil in a pan so that it reaches a few millimetres up the side. The oil should be hot enough that it turns a cube of bread golden in 30 seconds.

5. Fry the cheese on each side until golden. Drain briefly on paper towel. Serve immediately with sweet chili sauce.

I tend to flip back and forth between brie and Camembert (which ever is on sale) and it comes out perfect every time! This recipe makes enough for four people.

Valli recommends using Panko breadcrumbs, a coarse & light Japanese breadcrumb variety. Personally, I like the regular stuff :)

Enjoy my darlings!

xSunnyx

Madam Brussels Inspired Poached Chicken Sandwiches

2010-12-11T15:56:00.000-08:00

If you have read my post about Madam Brussels, you know how I felt about their divine poached chicken sandwiches. From the second we left I was planning my recreation at home! So here is my version, it doesn’t taste exactly the same, but is delicious all on its own!

Sunny’s ‘Madam Brussels’ Inspired Poached Chicken Sandwiches
(Makes 2 sandwiches)

1 Chicken breast, poached & chopped
4 tablespoons Mayonnaise – the best you can get
2 teaspoons garlic chives
4 slices bread – whichever you prefer, I like multigrain
Squeeze of lemon juice
2 lemon wedges & Tabasco to serve
Butter

1. Combine mayo, chives & a squeeze of lemon in a bowl. Add slightly warmed poached chicken & mix well.

2. Butter 4 slices of bread lightly. Divide chicken mixture among 2 pieces of bread. Top with remaining slices of bread. Squish together slightly to make sure the chicken is sealed inside the bread. Butter outsides of bread well.

3. Heat a pan, without any butter or oil. Place sandwich in the pan. Fry until golden, flip & repeat.

4. Cut into quarters; serve each sandwich with a lemon wedge & Tabasco.

These were totally yummers. I just eat mine with lemon because I’m not a fan of spicy things. So simple, so easy, how can you not try it!

x Sunny x

Poached Chicken

2010-12-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

Poaching chicken is a great way to cook boneless, skinless chicken. You don’t need to use and oil or fat & the end result is juicy and flavourful. Poached chicken is great for use in sandwiches, pies, salads & any other low fat chicken dish. You can use poached chicken in almost any recipe that calls for shredded BBQ chicken, which also helps cut some calories out of your meal.

The keys to poaching are: the size of the pan, the volume of liquid and the cooking temperature.

1. Place chicken breasts flat in a pot that's just large enough to fit them in one layer.

2. Add chicken stock so that it completely covers the chicken by at least a half inch to an inch. Throw in a couple of bay leaves to get some more flavour.

3. After bringing the liquid to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer so that only an occasional bubble breaks the surface. At this point, partly cover the pot, cook for about 10 minutes, then turn off the heat, leaving the chicken to finish cooking in the hot water for 10-15 more minutes.

4. Remove chicken from the poaching liquid & chop or shred depending on what your using it for.

x Sunny x

Sunny's Chocolate Snowballs

2010-12-05T23:46:00.000-08:00

These are a great idea for cheap Christmas presents, put them in a box & tie it up with a beautiful ribbon. Voila! A beautiful gift for someone you love.

Ingredients

2 Packets of Milk Arrowroot Biscuits
2 Cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk
4 Tablespoons of Cocoa
A splash of Baileys (or your preferred alcohol)
2 Cups Dessicated Coconut or grated white chocolate

Method

1. Smash up the milk arrowroot biscuits. By smash, i mean really hack into them. I prefer to put them in a freezer bag and have at them with a meat mallet or rolling pin. Picture your boss's face in the bag and that will get you going! You can also alternatively put them in a blender and blend until there are small chunks about the size of a fly. You can completely process if desired but i prefer a bit of texture in them.

2. Combine condensed milk, smashed arrowroot biscuits, Baileys and cocoa powder in a bowl. Make sure your hands are clean and then get in there and get dirty mixing it all up. You can try and do it with a spoon or utensil of some variety but I'm telling you, its futile. Hands are the only way to go!

3. When the mixture is well combined and nice and sticky (and your hands are completely covered in it!) roll them into balls and then roll the balls into the dessicated coconut or grated white chocolate until evenly coated.

4. Chill for about half an hour and them eat until your heart is content or your chocolate craving is gone :)

Makes about 30-50 truffles depending on the size of the balls.

For something different - roll them in cocoa powder, your favourite chopped nuts or smashed honeycomb.

Enjoy my darlings!

x Sunny x

My Version of a Fredoccino

2009-02-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

Photography by Alan Benson

I guess this drink could also just be called a Mocha Frappe or something similar because that's essentially what it is, a chocolate coffee drink blended with ice. However, my main intention with this drink was to recreate the fredoccino's you get in Greece which are THE BEST ever.... I'm totally biased, but that's the way I roll....

Any who... this drink is perfect for hot weather like this heat wave we are having in Sydney & I usually make double the amount because I know how yummy it is!

Ingredients:

2 cups ice cubes
80ml (1/3 cup) Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur (I use the creme caramel version)
1 tsp instant coffee - increase the amount if your a coffee lover like my partner!
1 1/2 cups milk

1/4 tsp caster/white sugar

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
Chocolate topping, to serve

Method:

1. Place ice cubes, Baileys, instant coffee, milk, sugar and ice cream in the jug of your blender and blend until almost smooth.

2. Grab your glasses (preferably chilled) and swirl some chocolate topping around the glass artistically (no artistic ability needed).

3. Pour drink into the glass & serve immediately.

This recipe makes enough for two in tall glasses.

Alternatives:

~For kids, leave out the Baileys & add a dash of vanilla essence.

~For a more decadent cocktail, top with whipped cream & shaved chocolate or some more ice cream & chocolate sauce.

~Experiment with different toppings to swirl on the glass like caramel or choc mint flavours.

Georgie's Nanna's 80th

2009-01-31T17:38:00.000-08:00

I did these cupcakes last year for Georgie's Nanna's 80th.

The theme she gave me to work with was an antique/old world look with a light pink/brown/pearl theme. She also ordered a mini cake so her Nanna would have something to cut. I did a mix of chocolate & vanilla cupcakes & a chocolate mini-cake.

Thanks to Georgie for taking some pictures for me as i forgot to take some myself before sending them to her! These cupcakes were decorated with buttercream & fondant.

Thanks again Georgie & I hope your Nanna had an awesome birthday! xx

Pancake Thursday!

2008-12-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

Picture provided by taste.

I just adore pancakes on a sunday morning! Pancakes are so budget friendly and take only a couple minutes to whip up. I used to make mounds of them on a saturday morning after a big night when I would wake up to 5 - 8 men asleep on my loungeroom floor & really really hungry! So here is my fool proof recipe...

Ingredients

2 cups Plain flour (if you like thin pancakes) or Self raising flour (if you like fluffly pancakes)
1 ½ cups Milk
1 Egg
2 tbs White sugar
1 tsp Vanilla essence
30g Butter melted

Method

~Sift flour into a mixing bowl. Add milk, egg, suga, vanilla essence & melted butter and mix for a couple of minutes. Dont worry if there are still a few lumps here and there.
~Heat a non stick frypan on medium & melt a little more butter in it. Cook pancakes one at a time for a minute or two each side (depending on how big you are making them).
~Eat.

Its so simple, and I really dont know what people still buy the packet mix where you just add water when it only takes you a minute or two extra and costs you a fraction of the price!

My favourite Variations

~ Put some choclate chips into the batter and serve with ice cream for dessert.
~ Sandwich pancakes with a vanilla cheese cake mixture by mixing cream cheese with a few tbs sugar and a tbs vanilla extract.
~ Serve with mixed berries, whipped cream & maple syrup.
~ Serve with a bit of lemon juice on top & a sprinkle of caster sugar.

Now go forth and eat pancakes!

Love & kisses on both cheeks,
Sunny xxx

The Easiest Chocolate Mousse

2008-12-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

I just adore this chocolate mousse and it usually takes me about 10 – 15 minutes to make and an hour in the fridge which is a dream come true when your already buzzing around cooking a million things for a dinner party!

Ingredients (serves 6)

125g good-quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
125g good-quality milk chocolate, roughly chopped
3 eggs
1 ½ tbs caster sugar
1 tbs good-quality cocoa powder, sifted
300ml thickened cream, plus extra whipped cream to serve

Method

1. Place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl & cook in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If chocolate isn't fully melted yet, put it back in for another minute. Set aside to cool slightly.

2. Place eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat with electric beaters for 5 minutes, or until mixture is pale, thick and doubled in volume. Fold in cooled chocolate and cocoa powder until combined.

3. In a separate bowl, whip cream until thickened (be careful not to over-beat but make sure if forms stiff peaks). Use a large metal spoon to carefully fold the cream into the chocolate mixture, trying to keep the mixture as light as possible. Spoon into 6 serving glasses and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve remove from fridge and top with extra whipped cream and grated chocolate or some extra cocoa.

4. Eat it like its going out of fashion.... trust me, you'll love it.

Variations

~For a yummy nightcap add your favourite spirit. To keep it French, go for Cognac (or another quality brandy) or Grand Marnier, adding 1 tablespoon to the melting chocolate.

~For a flavour twist, add a tablespoon of vanilla extract to the chocolate as it melts.

~Chocolate and coffee make a great pairing, so if your feeling like a pick me up try adding two tablespoons of prepared strong black coffee to the chocolate when melting.

~For a cool treat, serve the mousse as a semifreddo - freeze for about 3 hours (but don't freeze solid). Its great for summer!

Enjoy my fellow chocolate lovers!

Love & kisses on both cheeks,

Sunny xxx

RSPCA Cupcake Day

2008-09-21T02:52:00.001-07:00

This year was the first RSPCA Cupcake day. After my friends at work alerted me to that fact we got to planning! above is the top layer of our 'tea lady' trolley that we wheeled around most of the morning. We managed to raise almost $400.00!

Here is the trolley in all its glory. My boss made some vegetarian curry pizzas to sell (on cupcake day?) and they went suprisingly fast!!

Here are some of the chocolate crackles we made. We all went over to Suzie's house on the sunday before and had a massive bake off. It was soooo much fun!

Here are Suzie and Georie filling the chocolate moulds and to the left you can see the chocolate dipped butter biscuit half bones.... complicated i know.

And the cupcakes pre-icing. It was at this point we all got on our sugar high and didnt manage to take anymore photos :)

Tash's Baby Shower!

2008-09-21T02:37:00.000-07:00

For Tash's Baby Shower I made her some vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream. It was a great shower and the food was incredible! A big welcome to baby Georgia who is the smallest and cutest thing i've seen in a while!

Pam's Birthday Cake #2

2008-06-15T05:49:00.000-07:00

Here is cake number two. Its a Chocolate Mud Cake (my specialty) and its covered in vanilla buttercream.

For this cake Pam said she wanted the icing Lilac and i was free to use my imagination for the rest! It has white chocolate writing and decoration.

I used the extra baileys cream for the white swirls and covered them in silver cachous.
Pam was very happy with both her cakes and i hope she had a wonderful birthday!!!

Pam's Birthday Cake #1

2008-06-15T05:26:00.000-07:00

Pam has asked me to do 2 cakes for her 35th birthday (for two parties the lucky thing!!) and i was so delighted! I'm really glad she likes my stuff! And i love the opportunity to unleash myself on a cupboard of ingredients :)

The flavour is Vanilla with a baileys cream in the middle all smothered in a vanilla buttercream.

Pam told me she liked the colours Mint, Fuchsia and Aqua so i worked off the colours in this cute ribbon i found.

The writing is done in white chocolate.
Once again sorry for the dodgy photos!

Leftovers for Briony's House Warming

2008-05-26T03:53:00.000-07:00

After Pamela's order i had piles of cupcakes left and you can only force your family to eat a certain amount before it gets creepy!

Here are the cupcakes i made for Briony (who moved house on the weekend and we all know what that is like!) with leftovers from Pamela's order. They are Vanilla Butter Cake with a layer of chocolate icing and a swirl of vanilla icing. Topped off with the left over blue white chocolate stars.

Again, Sorry about the crap photography! only so much you can do with a container of cupcakes at 10pm on a Sunday night - That's a little late for cupcaking but its when the brilliant idea of giving them to Briony struck me!

Now if only all my leftovers were as pretty.....

Pamela's Order- Baby Shower for Tina & Vik

2008-05-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

This is the triple decker milk and white chocolate layered mud cake I made for Pamela who hosted her friends joint baby showers.

Top Layer - Milk Chocolate Mud Cake
Middle Layer - White Chocolate Mud Cake
Bottom Layer - Milk Chocolate Mud Cake

The writing and hearts are piped in white chocolate and the icing is milk chocolate. Mmmm chocolate.

And these are the cupcakes... my pride and joy is forever cupcakes! These are Vanilla Butter Cake, made without eggs by request, and they were made in half sized cupcake tins (bigger than mini but smaller than regular size... confusing i know!).

The blue layer:

The pink layer:

A close up of the sugar paste bows...

Pink Cupcake Decorations: sugar paste birds, pink cachous, Pink sparkle sugar, white sprinkles and sugar paste bows. All on top of vanilla icing.

Blue Cupcake Decorations: White chocolate stars (coloured blue), Sugar paste birds, sugar paste bows, blue sparkle sugar and white sprinkles. All on top of vanilla icing.

These photo's aren't the best as my camera is out of action and these were taken on my mobile camera. I'll get better ones the moment mine is fixed :)