Macarons for Mother's Day

May 13th was Mother's Day this year (well, for Australia that is). I made my mum something in the kitchen this time too - not hippo cookies again ~ she asked me this year to "Please refrain from getting me more hippos; I'm starting to feel like the Crazy Hippo Lady". So, not to worry Mum... I won't give you anything to do with hippos. I did, however, make her some strawberry macarons with pomegranate chocolate filling. 

They are quite delicious!

 Anyway, my housemate, Kass, was asked by her folks if she would mind the two cats for them while they moved house and found another place etc. She asked permission from myself and Ben if we'd be comfortable with the living situation - not a problem, we rather like them and had "cat-sat" the youngest for 6-8weeks last year. They arrived VERY SHORTLY (all were given barely 24hrs notice) on Saturday afternoon from QLD. 

In the meantime, I've made at least 4 batches of macarons; displeased with all of them. Ben needed me to help him pick out a gift for his mum, and then grab some lunch. I came back, prepared the 5th batch - hoping against all odds that I get this to my standard! Piped the mixture onto baking paper in 2 trays and set them aside on the kitchen counted to rest for 30mins (macaron thing). Decided to relax before getting ready for Ben's mum's dinner that night, so I stepped out of the kitchen and plonked myself on the couch.

Sadly, the three of us were too complacent about the behaviour of the cats. Scamp, the older, chunky grey-and-white feline behemoth, had jumped on the kitchen counter to sniff the window - which had been left a crack open to air-our the kitchen. We just heard the bell... turned towards the kitchen and I saw ~with horror~ Scamp straddling the tray; not quite touching the macaron shells, completely oblivious to his own predicament. I called for Ben to hurry up and quickly grab him. Bad move. The sudden movements freaked the cat out and he panicked and promptly squelched a big cat paw right in the middle of what was once a perfectly rounded macaron shell.

Thanks for the help, Scamp. Much appreciated.

I baked them anyway. He had only ruined one. It didn't matter. Besides, it was extremely hilarious seeing a large cat try a short burst of speed with a bright pink, strawberry scented right paw.

Scamp with his macaron

Jelly is AMAZING!

I have discovered jelly art! It's always been there but I haven't paid it much attention until now! This is one of the coolest desserts you could make -ever-. I want to make these so bad, but leaving me in the kitchen with a rather large needle with coloured gelatin is the worst thing anyone can do (not that I'd consider injecting jello; but more because I'm exceedingly uncoordinated and I do want to keep my eyes puncture-free). I've found HEAPS of footage on YouTube under "Gelatina Encapsulada" and "Gelatina Artistica"; some pretty awesome DIY clips too.

image from Jellyciuos Creations

If anyone manages to make these (and it's their first attempt) I'd love to see photos! Post a link in the comments or IM me (or FB me if you're on my friend's list - if you're not, then !!YAY!! You're the <5% of people who read this and weren't forced to as a "friend's obligation").

Sunshine, cuppycakes and RAINBOWS

I forgot what brought this on, but I had a hankering for the happiness only a child can experience with colours and food... so I brainstormed and concluded "anything that looks like its packed with sparkles, unicorns, rainbows, sugar and tartrazine is generally what children want their happiness made from". Combining cupcakes and rainbows had the desired effect. So... another recipe to try out that's fun and tasty and has the tooth-rotting equivalence of a sugary Chernobyl!

Rainbow vanilla cupcakes

Ingredients (~ 24 cupcakes OR 12 muffin-sized cupcakes ;P)

150g softened butter
300g caster sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
400g self raising flour
250ml milk
4 eggs
food colouring... however many you like (I limit it to 5 at the most: red, yellow, green, blue and purple)

1) Lay out a cupcake/muffin tin and line 12 or 24 of the moulds with paper cupcake cups and set aside. Combine sugar and butter in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add vanilla extract and eggs. Mix well.
2) Add the flour and gently mix, adding the milk gradually to the mixture. Make sure that there are no flour or butter lumps... (those are gross in any cake/baked good).

3) Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.

4) Separate batter evenly into 5 (or however many) bowls for each individual colour you wish to make your rainbows with. In each batter bowl add a few drops of the colour you desire and stir it in with a teaspoon (each bowl will need its own teaspoon). Divide each coloured batter bowl amongst the cupcake cups, approx. 2 teaspoons of each colour -layered- per cupcake cup.
5) Place the tray in the oven for 25mins or until cupcakes are cooked through - poking a wooden skewer or toothpick in the centre of the cupcake should come out clean when the cupcake is cooked. Place on a cooling rack for 5 minutes before removing from the tin.

Enjoy eating Sunshine and Happiness!!