Savoury Bakes
The 62nd Bake: Pizzettes
It’s ball season again and I tried to make these Pizzettes for the pre-ball on Saturday. I failed miserably because despite having all the ingredients laid out on the bench, I spent the whole day running, as you do from hair to makeup appointments for my daughter. So a plate of cheese and crackers it was. But I did make these the next day for lunch and then we had them for dinner as well. So yum, with caramelized onions and blue cheese. I made the dough, by (more…)
Sticky Apply Sponge Pudding was simplicity and goodness at it’s best. Using Braeburn Apples for a bit of a bite, I sliced and sauteed the apples in demerara sugar and butter until they were golden brown, then placed these on the bottom of a baking dish covered in maple syrup. Quite sweet! I did this step before heading to the supermarket to get a couple of things. While in the public toilet which has recently been renovated at the mall, I overheard an elderly couple waxing eloquent about how wonderful the new toilets were. It went something like: 
This is a staple of any New Zealand cuisine. It is good for a meal or for a picnic or to take to someone’s place to share. With all the tragedy and uncertainty around these days, with people suffering from depression and them and their families suffering the sometimes devastating consequences of this, we need to look after each other. A friend recently posted on Facebook ” It is easier together, It is easier TOGETHER. If you are doing this life heavy, don’t do it in secret. Tell me. Tell someone. We can do it together.” It’s so important to look out for each other, especially those that are doing it tough, or may be feeling vulnerable and alone. I recently experienced an intervention when I felt someone wasn’t safe. Sometimes we have to put ourselves out there, intervene, even if we risk interfering. Take them a bacon and egg pie, sit down and have chat. Here’s the recipe: 
Well who would have thought I would have got here, half way, the 60th bake out of 120 from The Great British Bake Off, Big Book of Baking!! Phew, long journey, long way to go. Feels like a marathon, not an unpleasant one though. I was about to whip up a quick 
Making bread is so much fun and soooo therapeutic. As Mary Berry once said to Paul Hollywood in a masterclass, “When you’re making bread it takes a lot of energy out of you and if you’re feeling a bit cross and angry it releases it.” Well, I don’t know about angry, but it certainly releases a lot of emotion in me, warm, fuzzy yum emotions. There’s nothing more satisfying than mixing the dough, adding the delicious ingredients, getting the satisfaction of seeing it rise and then baking the loaf in the oven. Should be like a daily mantra or prayer to keep us all satisfied and sane, although that would take a lot of time and be very fattening! Speaking of Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, the next Great British Bake off is about to start!! 
How exciting, Paul Hollywood posted a photo of the lucky contestants. 🙂 So baking this bread was easy and fun… 
I went to the gym last night and somehow over the last week, between the Princesstarta, the Hot Cross Bun Loaf and scones with jam and cream I have gained a bit of weight!!! How did that happen? Or not you may ask with all this baking in the house! Anyway, who says what is an ideal weight. Tbh, I don’t mind these extra curves, for a while. And why should society dictate my weight anyway, which I googled out of interest and found that I should be 8 kg lighter…ridiculous, that would make me a size 8!!! I went to a Poetry Slam yesterday and 
When your life involves writing, reading, editing – everything to do with screen time, let alone social media, having concussion and being told to do nothing for 48 hours is like a prison sentence. I couldn’t watch TV – that’s apparently the worst thing you can do because the blue light is very stimulating for your brain. I couldn’t bake – unless I didn’t have to read a recipe! (well I didn’t read a recipe for the 
I got concussed in the weekend, very random accident of an elbow shoved in the temple. Anyway, on Monday morning, prediagnosis, I decided to make a cake. I threw everything into the kitchen wizz, starting with butter, oh dear, just a little left in the house, cooking oil then? None. The only thing I could find to use was lemon infused olive oil so I added that to the left over softened butter, (about 2 tbspoons butter and 1/3 cup oil) I got a recipe book out but found all the measures in ounces so I decided to wing it, make up the recipe as I went. And here it is… 
I went to a mother daughter breakfast at my daughter’s school. Lovely idea. Lucy Lawless as a past pupil was the guest speaker. She expounded about the merits of being yourself, “live brave but live authentically.” I do like that message, and she emphasized the importance of following a career path that you love. It got me thinking, how important it is to be exceptional in whatever you do, you owe it to yourself to shine, 
I was looking for a good cake to bake for a parrrtttyyy!! My samba teacher Gabi was inspired by my baking and decided to hold a Samba Passion Cultural food day at her house. In addition she needed a cake to celebrate one of the teams 30th birthdays, so that was me done for the day…Baking on!!! I liked the look of this Princesstarta as it has several layers, vanilla custard and cream, not to mention the home made marzipan icing!! Wow, flash.