Love at First Bite

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Imelda's Ensaimada

2007-04-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

These uber soft ensaimadas/brioches are my mother-in-laws secret recipe. A
big "Thank You" to her for sharing this AND her son
with me! For more deelish pics, check out my dessert blog: http://www.princesspastrypresents.blogspot.com/

"Always Coca-Cola..."

2007-04-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

When Coca-Cola released their Limited Edition Easter Bottles there was only one word on my mind......"SOLD!!!"

The Sydney Royal Easter Show

2007-04-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

"The Sydney Royal Easter Show is
the largest annual event staged in Australia, attracting on average around one
million Showgoers each year. Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park is
transformed to play host to a festival that is unique to Australia and its
diverse cultural and rural heritage. The Show runs for 14 days over the Easter
period and is a pinnacle event enjoyed by Australians of all ages...Whether it’s
a culinary feast you desire or a day of adrenaline pumping action, fireworks and
fashion, rides and races, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is your ticket to the
real Australia. "

-Sydney RAS

Fairground Food: Shaved Ice

2007-04-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

Royal Easter Show Cake Awardees

2007-04-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

Fruitcake...yes, I know what you're thinking!

2007-04-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

I have yet to meet someone who loves to eat fruitcake but when I saw these babies, I knew I had to get a few photos. Now I know why these have become the customary Christmas gift...they're so darn pretty--or at least the well made ones are! I have to admit though that not one of the fruitcakes we've ever received over Christmases past have looked anywhere near as nice as these Royal Easter Show winners.

Royal Easter Show Food & Vegetable Art

2007-04-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

Tens of thousands of fruits and vegetables go into the making of these MASSIVE "sculptures." I made sure that there were onlookers when I took these photos so you could get an idea of the displays actual size.

Fairground Food: Carnival cafe & chips

2007-04-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

Fairground Food: Cream filled waffles

2007-04-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

Hand pressed waffles are quickly rolled into tubes and filled with sweet dairy cream. This goes straight to the hips..don't say I didn't warn you!

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Steak Burgers & chips

2007-04-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

This is the kind of sandwich you usually find at markets and fetes, and one that I've loved at first bite...how could I not like a tender slab of meat sandwiched between a soft roll and garnished with caramelized onions and lettuce? Drizzle some barbecue sauce and chow down with chips(thick-cut fries) that have been liberally dusted with chicken salt. Honestly, after a meal like this I don't know why I even bothered with the diet Coke!

Fairground Food: Swagman's Roast

2007-04-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

3 words....NOT FOR VEGETARIANS!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

2007-03-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

"To Santa the bigest one is for rudolph
and pick the other carets and just pick
the two last ones for the best working reindeers.
the bigest is the one with no stalk."

Quinito, age 8

We figured Santa would enjoy a nice glass of red ,Stroopwafels and a chocolate covered German pretzel instead of the usual milk & cookies...I'm sure we got a big nod of approval from old St. Nick(wink! wink!).

The Batard Bastard

2007-03-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

This artisan bread is said to be the inferior cousin of the baguette--hence the translation Batard=bastard...but don't let that turn you off! This crusty loaf is chewy on the inside with a fantastic mouthfeel and is wonderful for sandwiches. Long live the Bastard!

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Flowerpot Scones at the Wayzegoose Cafe

2007-03-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

If your travels find you in Leura(on the way to the Blue Mountains in Sydney), don't forget to stop over at the Wayzegoose Cafe. This charming little place is often packed to the brim with people ready to dig into their Flowerpot Scones. Traditional english scones are baked(as you order) in adorable little terracotta pots and served with a huge dollop of clotted cream and jam on the side.

The Wayzegoose Cafe, Leura NSW

The Bee's Knees

2007-03-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

This is my mom's favorite breakfast...sweet & creamy vanilla yogurt sprinkled with bee pollen. Bee pollen is an energy-boosting nutritional supplement, gathered from flowers and collected on bee's legs as they forage for nectar.
Known as one of nature's most complete foods, bee pollen has a wide range of health promoting nutrients - 18 amino acids, more than 12 vitamins, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes, 14 beneficial fatty acids, 11 carbohydrates and is even low in calories.

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Italian Scrambled Eggs

2007-03-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

Soft, shimmery eggs are cooked with prosciutto, fresh tomatoes, parsley and served with lashings of Hollandaise on top of garlic infused toast. Now THAT'S how I like to start my mornings!

Harry's Cafe de Wheels

2007-03-29T18:38:00.000-07:00

This Aussie icon has been around since 1945 and boasts a client list of famous political figures and celebrities(Russel Crowe also happens to live right around the corner). Brave the midnight queues and grab yourself a Tiger Pie--beef pie with mashed potatoes, gravy and mushy peas or a hotdog with creamy cheese, grilled onions and mushy peas. Harry's Cafe de Wheels, Wooloomooloo Bay, Sydney

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Caramels au Beurre Sale'

2007-03-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

Ooooh la la! Smooth buttery caramels liberally sprinkled with sea salt--the French knew what they were doing when they created this decadent treat! The sea salt cuts through the sweetness of the caramels allowing you to eat more than you actually should!

Let them eat cake!

2007-03-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

Marie Antoinette would have been proud!

This old world cake shop holds shelves groaning under the weight of numerous pastries, cookies and cakes. Standouts are the Italian Cannoli--a crispy fried pastry shaped in a tube and traditionally filled with sweetened ricotta cheese but are equally good filled with yellow custard and half-dipped in chocolate--and the Melting Moments which are 2 buttery shortbread cookies sandwiched together with a smooth vanilla filling. Yummmmy!

The Acland Cake Shop, Acland St., St. Kilda, Melbourne

Banana-Q ala Jolly Jeepney

2006-06-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

Spanish Hot Chocolate

2006-05-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

Daily Bread

2006-05-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

"Prosciutto, real egg mayo, whole grain French mustard and the BEST commercial white bread I have had the pleasure of eating."

Saturday Morning at Freshie's

2006-05-04T03:59:00.000-07:00

"Typical Saturday morning fare at Freshwater Beach or 'Freshies' as the locals like to call it."

Mini Gelato Cones

2006-04-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

"Tiny sugar cones filled with mango, raspberry, hazelnut, vanilla, mint and chocolate gelato generously dipped in delicious chocolate coating."

New York Crumb Cake

2006-04-27T20:59:00.002-07:00

"This is for those of you who, like me, don't particularly like the "apple" in their Apple Pie but loooove the crumble/crust! Serve a warm slab of New York Crumb Cake together with some vanilla ice cream and you'll be in "Crumb Heaven" guaranteed."

New York Crumb Cake

2 Tbsp. canola oil
4 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c granulated sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg
1/2 c milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 c packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
powdered sugar for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 325 f. Lightly coat a 9 by 12 1/2 inch baking pan with canola oil and dust with flour. Shake off excess.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together 1 1/2 c. of flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt and set aside.
3. In a second bowl, whisk together egg, milk, canola oil, and vanilla. Using a spatula, fold flour mixture(above) into egg mixture.

4. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and set aside.

5. In a medium bowl, combine remaining 2 1/2 c. flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour melted butter over flour mixture and toss with a spatula until large crumbs form. Sprinkle crumbs over batter.
bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes then roatate the pan and cook another 10 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

6. Transfer baking pan to rack to cool. Dust with confectioners sugar. Using a serated knife, cut into 3-inch squares.

Spoiled Rotten Eggs

2006-04-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

"Laying hens on Fryar's Kangaroo Island free range farm are never locked in sheds. Mobile sheds provide hens with shelter,nesting boxes & timber rails for roosting. Hens are free to range over pasture at all times."......Hey, when can we move in???

Joaquin's Birthday Cake

2006-04-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

"I made this uber yummy version of Blum's Coffee Crunch Cake for Waxy's birthday...and yes, even the sugar crystal decor is from scratch too!"

Blum's Coffee Crunch Cake

2 1/4 c cake flour
1 1/2 c sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c vegetable oil
6 large eggs, separated
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c water

1.Preheat oven to 32o. Sift together 3/4 c sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Add 3/4 c water, oil, egg yolks and vanilla. Beat til smooth.
2.In separate bowl, whisk egg whites with remaining 3/4 c. sugar until stiff peaks form.
3. Fold in egg yolk mixture to egg whites in 2 batches. Pour in a 10 inch tube pan and bake for aprox 1 hour.

Coffee Crunch

Oil for greasing baking pan
1 1/2 c sugar
1/4 c strong brewed coffee
1/4 c light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon baking soda

1. Lightly coat a shallow baking pan with oil.
2.Combine all ingredients EXCEPT for baking soda in a saucepan over medium heat.
3. Cook until just below the hard crack stage (310 on candy thermometer).
4. Remove from heat for 10 seconds then sprinkle baking soda over sugar syrup. whisk to combine and then pour onto baking pan. Let cool 30 minutes or til dry.
5. When ready to use, tap the crunch with a spoon and crumble over cake.

Coffee Frosting

1 1/2 c heavy cream
1/4 c strong brewed coffee
3 Tbsp. superfine sugar

1. Whip the cream until stiff peaks form then add coffee and sugar. Serve immediately.

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Got Milk?

2006-04-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

Nothing says yummy to my tummy like a freshly baked batch of still warm-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies. Chewy, crunchy, cakey, with nuts, without nuts, raisin studded, oatmeal flecked,semi-sweet, white chocolate..the list goes on and on and so does my love affair with this gastronomic delight. My personal preference is a light golden brown chewy cookie with crisp edges dotted with premium semi-sweet chocolate chips and some oatmeal thrown in for good measure...it gives me the illusion that I'm eating something wholesome rather than sinfull! And so the search for my ultimate chocolate chip cookie began. Four years and at least 50 cookie recipes later(not to mention a dozen or so diasters!), I was able to tweak and come up with what I refer to as "My Precious." It all starts with the freshest and best quality ingredients you can find, specially with the butter as this goes rancid over time or with exposure to heat. Butter also has the tendency to absorb odours from the fridge giving it a slightly "off" taste and smell, so be sure to wrap or store it properly. If you intend to add oatmeal to your cookies, I recommend using rolled or old fashioned oats as opposed to instant or quick cooking as the former gives the cookie beautiful texture and a toothsome mouthfeel. Popping the cookie batter in the fridge for 20 minutes before baking produces an evenly baked cookie with good structure. Another handy rule of thumb is baking 8-10 minutes for a chewy cookie and 12-14 minutes for a crispier one. Whew, all this cookie talk is making me hungry, I'd better go and whip me up a batch...got milk, anyone?

Cookie Monster Chocolate Cake

2006-04-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

"This is the first cake I fell in love with. Moist dark chocolate butter cake with a custard filling and liberally iced with rich fudgy chocolate icing. what's not to like?!"

Cupcakes

2006-04-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

"White Mountain Frosting Cupcakes inspired by New York's famous Magnolia Bakery."

LOVE AT FIRST BITE: Sinfully Decadent Waffles

2006-04-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

"Freshly made whole egg Belgian Waffles with 2 kinds of bananas(fresh and caramelized), generous helpings of Vanilla Buttermilk ice cream liberally dotted with Valhrona chocolate crumble ,chocolate sprinkles and a dusting of cinnamon."