Apple and raisin oaty crumble with vanilla custard

This is a little something I whipped up over the weekend and an absolute classic as I am sure you will agree! There is something very comforting and homely about preparing and eating this particular dessert and I love the heavenly combination of spiced apple, crunchy oat crumble and creamy vanilla custard.

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Orange drizzle cake

Orange drizzle bundt cake on a white cake stand

 

Oranges can be found in abundance at the moment and I love including citrus flavours in my baking. Particularly at the moment as I have been craving all things citrus for the past few months. Sneak a peak in my fruit drawer and you will find it packed with oranges, grapefruit and naartjies, I must have them! The inspiration for this recipe came a few weeks ago when I was at a family celebration. They served a delicious orange cake for dessert and, given my current citrus obsession, I have been looking forward to making one ever since.

 

Mielie bread with sun dried tomatoes (with video)

 

Today’s recipe is going against the current trend somewhat. It seems that every other restaurant I visit has a new banting section on their menu, or is advertising dishes that would make Tim Noakes proud. While I applaud anyone making an effort to eat less sugar and more cauliflower (if you can get your hands on one that is!) I for one will not be cutting out my grains anytime soon. And I am sure that there are many readers out there who feel the same.

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Cookie Swap 4 and chocolate orange sugar hearts

Cookie Swap 4 took place on the 2nd of August, and once again it was a national event that saw cookie lovers from around the country gathering together to exchange treats, socialise and most importantly raise money for Learn to Earn and specifically their Bake For Profit students who are in dire need of more kitchen equipment to assist with their training. Do have a look at the website to see how this fantastic organisation gives people “a hand up, not a hand out”!

Chocolate, walnut and cranberry brownies

Last Sunday the 18th of May was World Baking Day, and I was invited by Stork to pledge to bake for someone special. About a week later two friendly chefs arrived at my door bearing a hamper filled with all the ingredients I would need to make a batch of delicious chocolate brownies to mark the day. I thought this was a fantastic idea and was more than happy to get involved (although it doesn’t take much to convince me to bake!).

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Mini Easter simnel cakes

Individual Easter Simnel cakes with marzipan and chocolate

 

Today we are talking fruit cake, spices and chocolate. Music to my ears… and my stomach. I am not sure how I got this far in my baking career without trying this recipe! I suppose that while traditional fruit cakes are found in abundance around Christmas time, the Simnel cake is less common down here at the tip of Africa. This fruity cake adorned with marzipan is traditional around Mothering Sunday and/or Easter particularly in the U.K, and I thought I would channel my British ancestors and give it a bash this week.

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Everyday double chocolate chip cookies

These days I think that most of us feel as though we are running around like headless chickens much of the time, just trying to keep our heads above water and get everything done. I try not to use words like “exhausted” or “stressed” too much as I think they only compound the situation, but if I’m truthful they very aptly describe how I have been feeling for most of this month! I knew it would be a busy time, but goodness me – I feel as though I haven’t had 5 minutes to myself at all!

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A birthday celebration and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting

I started this blog a year ago, with the intention of sharing my favourite recipes and kitchen adventures. I had been mulling over the idea of having a food blog for quite some time before this, but kept putting it off thinking that no-one would read it, or that I would run out of things to write out. I am pleased, and relieved, to say that neither of those things has happened…in fact, little did I anticipate the adventure that lay ahead when I published my first recipe one year ago.

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