Cupcakes and some ....

Wahoo ... we survived the mountain of cupcakes.  I can't believe Kerryn & I managed to pull this job off ... 1200 cupcakes baked and iced within 24 hours!!

And the fun begins ...

+ a few more ingredients ... and a lot of piping ...

created this ...

all for the HILLSONG SISTERHOOD night in Brisbane...

It was a sensational night with Bobbie Houston ... she never lacks vision, enthusiasm and cause!   The girls were treated with gifts and lots of cupcakes ... made all the hard work worth it!

Not too sure about the clean up though ...

Coming up for a breath ....

Good morning,

Just letting you know that I haven't been burried alive under 1200 cupcakes ... I'm still here.   Life has just been a bit crazy this week.    I've gone from cupcakes to dinner for 100 people tonight to supper for 120 people later tonight.   Plus our home is on the market and we have an open house Saturday afternoon ... will go from cooking angel to cleaning angel sometime in the next 24 hours!    

Promise to post cupcakes photos tomorrow.

Jill xo

My Latest Find

Last Saturday Katie and I went shopping to find an engagement present.   While browsing Robins Kitchen we came across the cutest/funkiest egg cups ...

They come in a range of colours and are on sale for $1 each ... BARGAIN!!   Red being my favourite colour ... how could I resist!   I expect we are having boiled eggs for brekkie real soon ;)

Double Chocolate Muffins

I can't convince my son Jethro to eat gluten free muffins, so to avoid any dramas he gets Double Choc Muffins.  

Sorry ... no recipe for this one ... its a trade secret ;)

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

With my daughter Katie being recently diagnosed with Celiac's disease I am constantly on the look out for great gluten free recipes.   A friend recommended White Wings Self Raising Flour as a great starter for baking ... you have no idea how many different gluten free substitutes there are for simple flour!   

With flour and a few other ingredients on hand my first attempt begins ...

Ingredients:
2 cups gluten free self raising flour
2 teaspoons gluten free baking powder
1/3 cup soft brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries.

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180 deg C. (160deg C. fan forced).  Prepare muffin tray with muffin cases.
2. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl (don't skip the sifting ... gluten free recipes tend to go lump very easily); stir in sugar.
3. Whisk eggs in a small bowl, stir in milk and oil.  Add to dry ingredients with blueberries.  Stir with metal spoon until just combined.

4. Spoon mixture into prepared cases.  Bke 15 to 20 minutes.  Leave in tins for 5 minutes before cooling on a wire rack.

And the result ... YUMMO!!!

Katie's been cooking again ...

I haven't had a chance to be in the kitchen much this weekend.   Friday night Katie cooked up her amazing Spaghetti Bolognaise ...

... and then Saturday morning she made Bacon and Eggs.  It looked so good I forgot o take a photo before eating it.   She did Andrew's eggs in a heart shaped cutter ... very cute! She is a great cook and I don't mind her taking over the kitchen at all!

I have been baking ... Double Choc, White Choc & Raspberry & Blueberry Muffins.   I bake them every Sunday morning for Hillsong Brisbane.   My family love waking to the smell of muffins baking!

Thinking of baking more Double Choc muffins this afternoon for Jethro and Gluten Free Mudcake for Katie ... will see how I go after my coffee.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

How to Make a Fruit Platter

Ok, so I really am laughing after typing that title ... how hard can it be to put fruit on a platter?  Well, its funny how many times people ask how we do it.   And it is even funnier that I use to avoid doing them because I was way too much of a perfectionist when it came to how fruit was placed.  

The only thing you need to know is to use the freshest in season fruit as possible ... the ways in which to plate the fruit are endless.   Here are some ideas ...

I would love to hear some of your ideas and tips.   I have a friend who puts a seriously yummy dipping cream out with her fruit ... its a mixture of whipped cream and passionfruit pulp.

Don't be shy ... I would love to hear from you!

Heavenly Cheesecake

There is no doubt in my mind that Cheesecake comes direct from heaven! And there is no doubt that my mum makes the best Lemon Cheesecake and the best Chocolate Cheesecake.  However I do think that my Passionfruit and Lime Cheesecake ranks up there with the best.   It is the most amazing combination of flavours ... tangy lime and sweet passionfruit!

Ingredients:
• 1 cup biscuit crumbs

• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut

• 80g butter, melted

• 500g block Cream Cheese, cubed and softened

• 1 cup caster sugar

• 1/2 cup passionfruit pulp

• Grated rind and juice of 2 limes

• 3 teaspoons gelatine dissolved in 1/4 cup boiling water

• 300ml cream, whipped

• 2 egg whites, beaten to soft peaks

• Whipped cream, extra, to serve

• Icing sugar, to serve

Method:

1. Combine crumbs, coconut and butter, then press into the base of a greased and lined 22cm springform pan. Chill.

2. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the passionfruit pulp, rind, juice and gelatine mixture and mix until combined. Fold in the whipped cream and egg whites.

3. Pour mixture into prepared base and chill until set.

4. Decorate with whipped cream and dust heavily with icing sugar.

Enjoy!

Cupcakes Cupcakes and More Cupcakes

I think my love affair with cupcakes began as a child helping mum make Patty Cakes.   They were always a favourite around our home.   Mum would always end up making two batches ... dad liked them with sultanas and my sisters and preferred them fruitless.

Since then Patty Cakes have become Cupcakes ... from humble beginings to absolute masterpieces.   But you can't beat the humble buttercake with vanilla icing ... yummo!

I have just finalised the arrangements for the baking and icing 800 cupcakes for an event next week.   So simple, yet so dainty ...

These are my christmas cupcakes ...

And one of my wedding cupcakes ...

I would love to know what your favourite cupcake is?   What memories do you have of cupcakes?

Welcome To My New Blog

I am convinced that I was born a foodie.   I don't remember a time that I wasn't interested in cooking.  I love nothing more than gathering family and friends to spend time together around good food and great conversation.   I love the moments and the memories it creates. This blog will attempt to capture my passion for all things food and all things creative.

Please feel free to leave comments ... I would love to hear from you.

So grab a coffee and ENJOY!