Slices for 80

I was asked by a friend whether I would be able to make some slices for a party - 4 different types, and enough for at least 80 people!

I decided on what I call 'Apple cake slice' - Mum often made this when we were younger and I loved it, Weetbix slice - nice simple tasty slice, Passionfruit Slice - a huge thanks to Brazen for sharing the recipe on her BLOG, and Twin choc cherry slice - from Better Homes and Gardens.



I was stressing out a bit as some of the slices were crumbling! I wasn't impressed by the biscuit base of the choc cherry slice - it just didn't hold together!

I hope they like them!

Valentines Day

Yesterday I decided to do some baking for Valentines Day! I made a double chocolate 'mud cake' with dark chocolate ganache, some mini pavlovas, and a lasagne.

I made this recipe - Double Chocolate Cupcakes - but instead of cupcakes, I put the batter into a small round tin. This cake was more about the cake than the decorations - it was heavenly! It is up there with the cafe mudcakes you get with coffee! Just make sure you put lots of ganache on hehehe. Oh and serve at room temperature - not straight out of the fridge.





Then onto the mini pavs. I use the Commonsense Cookery Book recipe:

Pavlova

4 egg whites (60g eggs)
1 cup caster sugar
1/2 tablespoon cornflour
1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice

1. Have eggs at room temperature.
2. Beat egg whites until stiff and shiny.
3. Gradually add sugar and cornflour and beat until thick.
4. Fold in vinegar or lemon juice.
5. Spread with spoon or pipe onto the prepared paper the size and shape of pavlova.
6. Bake in slow oven, 120-150c, for 2 hours.
7. When cold, decorate with fruit and cream.

My notes: I always use vinegar. My Mum has always told me to add 1 tablespoon of boiling water to the mix at the end - why, I have no idea, but always do it! Mum also says to sprinkle baking paper with water before putting mix on - again I don't know why - but I do it! I also try and loosen the pavlova from the paper as soon as it comes out of the oven.

I pipe the mix into little cases:



Then fill with cream and fruit - I usually use strawberries, passionfruit, kiwifruit and bananas (forgot the kiwifruit!) - little tip - put the banana on at the last minute if you can, otherwise they will go brown!



Lasagne

4 large Pasta Sheets
½ cup extra grated Cheese

Mince

500g Mince
1/2 large Onion
1/2 can Tomato Soup
2 tablespoons Tomato Sauce
1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
1 teaspoon Sugar
Salt & Pepper

1. Brown onion and mince, then add all other ingredients.

White Sauce

3 tablespoons Butter
3 tablespoons Plain Flour
1 1/4 cups Milk
1 cup grated Cheese
Salt & Pepper

1. Melt butter – do not boil. Remove from heat and add flour, salt, pepper and milk. Put back on the stove and whisk until thick and starting to boil. Add cheese and whisk till smooth.

Putting lasagne together

• Par boil pasta sheets. (not necessary)
• Put half of the mince into a casserole dish.
• Then cover the mince with pasta sheets.
• Spread half of the white sauce over pasta sheets.
• Then repeat the above 3 steps.
• Sprinkle extra half cup grated cheese on top.
• Place in oven uncovered for 35-40mins at 180°c.

My notes: 1. When we were being good and healthy, I would make this will all low fat ingredients - low fat marg, low fat milk, low fat cheese, lean meat. It was still very yummy like this - only the cheese wouldn't really melt - it was very plasic-y! Now I use full fat milk and full fat cheese - and you do notice the difference LOL.

2. With the mince, I just make it to taste - put in the approx. amount of sauce etc, but then taste to get it 'just right'. I follow the white sauce recipe exactly.

3. I have a very hot fan forced oven - so put it in at around 150 degrees - just watch that.

4. My Mum likes to pre-cook the pasta sheets, to make sure the pasta isn't chewy IYKWIM - but I just buy the 'no need to pre cook' ones and have no problems.

This recipe is enough for 2 adults over 2 nights.

(in the photos, I had made double quantity so I could freeze some - it freezes really well)

Test teddy cake

Just a small test cake. This sort of design would be good for a few different occasions.



I think the teddy bears are far to dark, this is bothering me, but otherwise I think it's a cute cake!

'Cherry blossom' Cake

I decided to make a surprise Birthday cake for a lovely girl I met online, Marina - we get together to have a chat and let our girls play - her daughter is 1 month older than Charlotte. I don't know her well enough yet to know what she likes - what sort of flower? what colour? what flavour etc - so decided on a simple cake with some cherry blossoms.





The fondant isn't perfect, and I don't think the flowers are actually cherry blossoms, but I still love it. I hope she enjoys it :)

Dreamy

Italian Meringue Buttercream



I have been searching for a good icing recipe for months! One recipe was a bit buttery, one was a bit sugary, and one was a bit of both - but ok. Then some don't seem to pipe too well. Finally tried Swiss meringue buttercream and Italian meringue buttercream - they are basically both the same. So silky and smooth - pipes well, not too sweet - I haven't tried colouring it yet though!

Cupcakes for Susan

I made these cupcakes for a gorgeous girl and her 7 sons - I asked what each boy was interested in, then made it up as I went along. They aren't perfect, but still pretty cute - I had fun making them!