Dearly Dee: SWEET EATS

Showing posts with label SWEET EATS. Show all posts

Sweet Eats :: Two Minute Mayo

It sounds too good to be true, being able to make anything in under two minutes. But this may be the most simple mayonnaise recipe, ever. You can find the recipe here. As suggested in one of the comments, I added a clove of crushed garlic and it was the perfect addition. Yum.

My recipe book addiction

I have a serious problem. I am addicted to recipe books.

A very small selection of favourites from my collection.

Which is somewhat ironic because I find it virtually impossible to actually FOLLOW a recipe. I guess you could say I use them more as inspiration than directions. There is something about the design and photography of recipe books that I just adore, and could happily spend hours flipping through the pages, imagining myself whipping up delicious and gourmet meals.

Anyway, in case you yourself have the same affliction, here is a list of my very favourites:

Little and Friday. Decadent and delicious sweet treats for a yummy afternoon tea (or anytime really).
Nadia's Kitchen. Healthy and nutrious meal ideas organised by season (very handy).
Jamie's 15 Minute Meals. Perfect for getting yummy meals on the table after work.
The Instant Cook. Simple, delicious and beautifully styled.
Little Paris Kitchen. The most amazing Caramel Chocolate Molten Cakes. Do I need to say more?
Anything by Annabel Langbein. Simple, honest food made easy.
Nigella Bites. I do love me some Nigella and this earlier book is full of decadent treats.

Not that I really need any help fuelling this addiction, but please, let me know your favourites too. Just so I can look, ok?

Macaron morning tea

So from the disasters of the other weekend I managed to salvage a few tasty ittle treats for morning tea at work. Finicky little things but they are mighty pretty. Meyer Lemon Cheesecake, Milk Chocolate and Orange, Salted Butter Caramel, they were all delicious!

The sweet smell of success?

I love nothing more than mastering a new skill and I decided to test this new found mastery today by making not one, not two, but three different batches of macarons. Salted Caramel, Jaffa and Meyer Lemon Cheesecake.

My first batch was perfect, smooth little shells with pretty, lacy feet. I was so full of myself at having conquered these little beasts. I was taking photos and texting my friends, almost jumping for joy, bursting with pride.

And then I baked the next batch. Major fail. Inedible epic fail.

The next batch went in with a little more trepidation. And these were no prize winners either. You can guess where the rest of this story is heading.

So today I haven't learnt how to make fail-proof-macarons. I have learnt not to get too full of myself. One success does not mean I've mastered a new skill. It just means I have to keep practising.

Getting organised

For many years I've been collecting recipes I love, usually on various scraps of paper, most often without titles, or a full set of instructions.

So last weekend, I put a stop to this madness and bought a recipe journal so I have all my treasured recipes in one place. It took quite a while to start writing them all down and I've got a long way to go before I've got them all in there.

Can't wait to start adding some new favourites!

Macaron success!

Finally, I conquered my fears, prepared for the heartbreak, then jumped up and down for joy when I managed to make perfect little Vanilla and White Chocolate Macarons! I used this recipe from Two Spoons and I have finally found a use for my good-for-nothing-except-making-macarons oven.

Yum!

One of the things I really wanted to do these holidays was make some Soft Pretzels. I was inspired by Kyla's post and Emma and Elsie's version too. They didn't seem too difficult so I gave it a go.

And OMG, they were delicious. I'm so glad I only made a half sized batch! These are definitely going in my 'make all the time' roster.

Sweet (christmassy) treats

One thing I find about this time of year, is an increase in my compulsion to make things. Usually I'm busy making books and cards and presents but this year its the kitchen that has been calling my name.
I've made a delicious (and super easy) capsicum jam that looks gloriously christmassy and taste divine.

And a plate full of swirly red marshmallows, which again were super easy and pretty impressive (if I do say so myself!)

I've also made a batch of Rocky Road and have plans for another flavour of marshmallows (orange and pistachio) and some little nut pies.

I've also begun the dreamy task of planning the Christmas Day Menu. I haven't narrowed down the choices so far, I'm having far too much fun dreaming of all the choices.

What's on your menu this year?

(very) New Potatoes

When I first planted my garden, I had high hopes of eating my very own potatoes for Christmas dinner. Which might have been a little optimistic, considering we were only 60 days away from Christmas at the time. Now with 14 days to go I am hopeful that we will be ready in time, as evidenced below (I couldn't help having a wee peek)

However, I think the size will have to increase considerably in the next couple of weeks for us to have enough for an actual meal!

Bottoms up...

Sometimes there is nothing better for a rainy Saturday night than making making yourself some pretty pink drinks and watching a funny movie.

I paid for it on Sunday though...

Macaron madness

I have been struck down, stricken, infected with Macaron Madness! For a few weeks now I have been rangling with these fussy little buggers. Getting successful, semi successful and absolute failure batches. These are the best success I've had so far...

I swear one batch tasted like roast meat! But images like these keep me questing for the perfect recipe, the perfect technique.

So yes, I am refusing to give up. Tomorrow is another day and another batch.

(image credits: 1, 2, 3)

My new addiction... bread-making

Lately I've decided that nothing is more relaxing than the simple art of bread-making. And of course there is the eating afterwards. That doesn't hurt either.

Yum, I love pizza!

Following on from my success with Andrea's bread recipe, I used the same dough to make a yummy pizza! Kumara, onion marmalade, baby peppers and cheese. Delicious.

A new cooking blog and a loaf of bread

My lovely friend Andrea has started a blog (after just the tiniest bit of encouragement). Tonight I used her bread recipe (and the super yeast she so kindly donated me) and it is delicious!

Next up on my agenda is her Chocolate Chip Biscuits. So head on over and leave her some love!

Kiwifruit cake

I was feeling a bit hard-done-by since I never got to have a birthday cake. But last night I realised, hey I'm 30 now, I can have a cake whenever I want!

So I whipped up this kiwifruit sponge cake. And I couldn't help colouring it green to match my new cake plate. YUM!