Duffins How To #2

I came across another easy teat time treat that is very much worth sharing -  Duffins. A fun muffin doughnut cross with a jam centre. There is no hassle of frying but the fluffy warm doughnut texture can be enjoyed

You will need:

300g self-raising flour

100g caster sugar

pinch of salt

pinch of dry yeast

½ tsp of nutmeg

80ml vegetable oil

1 large egg

175ml buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla essence

About 6 Tbsp jam (strawberry or raspberry work best)
 

For the coating:

• 100g melted butter
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon mixed with ½ cup caster sugar

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180°C  and grease a 6-hole muffin tin. If you make them smaller you would be able to get about 9 duffins in total.

• Put the flour, salt, caster sugar, yeast and nutmeg into a large bowl.
  
• In another bowl, combine the vegetable oil, egg, buttermilk and vanilla extract.
  
  
  
  
• Add to the dry ingredients and mix into a thick dough.

• Place a spoonful of the dough in each muffin hole and make an indent in the centre. Fill each indent with a tablespoon of jam (more if you can manage it) then carefully cover the jam with the dough.

• Bake for 20-30 minutes until firm and golden on top.
• Remove from the oven and put on a wire rack to cool

• When the duffins are cool enough to handle, dip them in the melted butter and then dip in the cinnamon sugar.

cinnamon and caster sugar 

 

Proper recognition must be given to the founders of these babies, Beas of Bloomsbury

http://shop.beasofbloomshttp://shop.beasofbloomsbury.com/products/duffinsbury.com/products/duffins

When I'm visiting the bustling city of London again I promise to stop by ♡ 

Now all  that's left to do is switch on the kettle and prepare yourself a well deserved cup of tea  to enjoy with that Delectable Duffin that you worked so hard on (wink) (wink) 

♡  

V Day Specials

The annual day of love comes around and gives us all that tingly feeling of love, romance and Red Velvet Cuppies

 

 

 

As usual in an attempt to spread the love and because of all the requests from my loyal customers,  I baked Red Velvet Cupcakes, iced with Cream Cheese Icing

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were packaged in 4's and sent of in a cute red ribbon

 

 

These little treats brought happiness to many Valentine recipients and at the end of the day, that's what matters the most on this magical Day of Love  !!!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Valentines Day

Always Remember to spread the Love

 

 

 





Hannah Jane's Peter Rabbit Party

Our beautiful Jannie turned 3 this year and she is as lovely as ever. Senora had bought her a pet rabbit named Betsy and  that started our little princess's love for these fury little bunnies.

This year mum decided to carry the bunny theme to the party planning and we decided on the charming tales of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.

Jannie's cake was my very first attempt at a two tiered cake. I used a normal vanilla sponge which I coloured with green alternating with chocolate cake.
This was an attempt to get the green and brown to resemble grass and sand.

I used royal icing and decorated with sugar flowers and carrots.
Peter on the top of the cake was a cardboard printout and stuck on with a skewer stick

Mini cupcakes for the Birthday Girl and other treats

we all remember and love

 (especially those little cones)

 

Peter Party Packs

Bubbles !!!!!

Party entertainment, and Pren clearly wanting to jump  on

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday my dear Jannie
I wish you many more fun birthday parties and wonderful memories

Lots of Love & Hugs
Your Cool Aunt Sam

 

Soji Ladoo

The festival of Kavady is one of the most auspicious occasions on the Tamil calendar  and is one of the festivals that has always been celebrated by my family.

From as long as I can remember we have been observing this occasion and my childhood memories are filled with the blistering Durban heat, cups and cups of sweetened milkshakes , sweet rice and of course, delicious breyani.

Every year I try go home to Durban to celebrate this time and like to take along some nice treat for our beloved Muruga.

For more information of this festival and its significance, I have found this this helpful link:
http://www.lenzshree.co.za/kavadysignificance.htm


Now the treat I made this year was Soji Laado, its incredibly easy and like most Indian Sweetmeats, doesn't need any oven time 

Ingredients
500g semolina
1.5 cups of coconut
1.5 cuos of castor sugar
250g butter or ghee
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp elachi (cardamom)
25ml of sesame seeds
125g chopped almonds
397ml condensed milk
Red Food Colouring (or any colour of your choice)

Method
- Melt butter or ghee in a thick base pot
- Add in the semolina and let brown then add in coconut
- Remove from the heat
- Add castor sugar, nutmeg, elechi, sesame seeds and mix together
- Mix together the condensed milk and almonds into the semolina mixture
- Add colouring as desired, depending on how dark or light you wish. A few drops do the trick
- The consistency of the mixture will be slightly sticky and is now ready to be rolled into small balls
   The balls should hold nicely and hardens almost immediately


Done ! Easy Peezy

By adding a little red you get a pretty pinkish tint, these

are how they turned out

Thanks to my mum for this easy recipe  !

I'm glad to report that everyone enjoyed these sweet little babies which were incredibly quick and easy to prepare.

Happy Baking and always remember, if its made with love, that love will always be tasted

Movember 2013

Movember is an annual month-long event involving men growing their moustaches during the month of November. One of the events aims are to raise awareness of men's health issues such as prostate cancer and other forms of males cancers.

Although Movember  is predominantly a 'male' event, I decided to show my support and used it as an excuse to get some baking squeezed in before the years end.

Over the years, there has been a growing number of Movember followers and celebrations at my office so my fundraiser was a Cancer Cupcake Sale,  I decided to go with  Red Velvet and some Blue velvet and decorated with various symbols to mark the event as opposed to the singling out the 'TACHE'

The Blue Ribbon raises awareness for Prostate Cancer

 

The Pink Ribbons raise awareness for Breast Cancer &

The Heart is a signifies compassion

The TACHE

My cake sale was a success and all money raised went towards the Company's chosen charity.

WBHO's Mo Bro's

Getting together after a long hard week at the office is always a well needed treat, but when it's for a good cause,  that treat can be much more enjoyable !

Thanks to everyone at WBHO for the support ! ! !

Remember to do all that you do with Love and success is sure to follow and even the smallest gesture can make the biggest difference to someone out there

Through the fun, laughter and cupcakes,  I am happy to have supported the cause and look forward to next year.

How To #1: Chocolate Cream Pie

In an attempt to make my blog more interactive and informative, I wish to announce the launch  of : How To

 

This is my attempt at showing you that desserts can be easily made with the aid of pictures  step by step guided methods. I would be using recipes from various blogs and baking sites and would obviously be dependant on what tasty treat I feel like...

 

To start the show, How To #1 is going to be an old time favourite, Romany Chocolate Cream Pie

What You Need:

150 g      marshmallows

250 ml    milk

200 g      milk chocolate slab

200 g      romany creams biscuits

75 g        butter

250 ml    fresh cream

1             flake

 

Step 1
-   Preparing the pie crust

Crush the biscuits finely. (It is much easier using a food processor, alternatively you could use a ziplock bag and a rolling pin)

 

Melt the butter.(I use the microwave, be sure to check at regular intervals).

 

Stir the melted butter into the biscuit crumbs.

 

Press into a greased pie-dish, or into a springform pan (with a loose bottom.).

 

 

Chill the crust for 20 minutes in the fridge.

** I used grease proof paper as a liner for the crust, you could subsitute for cling wrap or omit entirely


Step 2
-   Cream Pie Filling

Combine marshmallows and milk in a saucepan, over medium heat.

Stir until marshmallows have melted.

Dont be alarmed by the pink, the chocolate will darken the clour.

 



 

 

Add chocolate bar and stir until melted, and mixture is smooth.

 

 

 

Take off heat, and allow to cool.

 

The mixture needs to be completly cooled, so this may take a while.

 

 

Whip the cream until peaks form, and fold into cooled chocolate mixture.

 

 

 

Pour into the prepared crust.

 

 

 

Chill overnight in fridge.

 

Lastly, crumble/grate chocolate flake  on top, loosen the pie from the springform pan (if using), and chill again, until ready to serve.

 

This recipe was taken from:

http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/romany-chocolate-cream-pie-ru332237.html


See, tasty things dont have to be complex.

Enjoy !




 

Tumelo's Kaizer Chiefs Birthday Cake

Long before I even moved to Johannesburg Lebo was responsible for cutting my hair. Pren and I have become such good friends with her and she is much more than just our stylist.

Lebo's only son, Tumelo, turned 11 today.

The story is that Tumelo is a rugby player, but mum doesn't approve and opted for a Kaizer Chiefs soccer cake, because in her opinion, thats the sport he rather be playing...

Lebo asked  for a two layered vanilla cake, iced with buttercream and plastic icing motifs

The badge as well as the soccer balls are edible

 

Lebo was extremely happy with the cake this morning and said so would the birthday boy.

Happy 11th Birthday Tumelo, I hope you enjoyed the cake & have all your wishes on this special day come true.