14 years and not a day wiser!

Check out the size of my bun!

Dorie's French Apple Cake

Here’s a perfect cake for the season.Minimal ingredients needed, low fat, and super easy to make. Just the cake you need when you’ve over committed yourself to bring a plate for the dinner party.




 
French Apple Cake
Adapted from Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan
Dorie doesn’t specify any type of apple but instead advises that you should use a mix of them. I used  Grannie Smith,Gala,Braeburn, and Pacific Rose. Rum is a key ingredient to the taste. But if you’re avoiding alcohol, I recommend doubling up on the vanilla to compensate.

3/4 cup (110g) flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
4 large apples
2 large eggs
3/4 cup (150g) sugar
3 tablespoons dark rum **I substitute 1 1/2 tablespoon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla instead

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
115g butter, salted or unsalted, melted and cooled to room temperature

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and adjust the oven rack to the center of the oven.

2. Heavily butter the springform pan and place it on a baking sheet.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. Peel and core the apples, then dice them into 1-inch (3cm) pieces.

5. In a large bowl, beat the eggs until foamy then whisk in the sugar, then rum and vanilla. Whisk in half of the flour mixture, then gently stir in half of the melted butter

6. Stir in the remaining flour mixture, then the rest of the butter.

7. Fold in the apple cubes until they’re well-coated with the cake batter,scrape them into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top a little with a spatula.

8. Bake the cake for 50 minute to 1 hour, or until a knife inserted into the center comesout clean. Let the cake cool for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edge to loosen the cake from the pan and carefully remove the sides of the cake pan, making sure no apples are stuck to it.
Serving: Serve wedges of the cake just by itself with creme fraiche or vanilla Ice cream ** I opted for vanilla choc chip. The cake was devoured in a flash

My happy place!

My heart jiggles with excitement every time I'm on the plane to Sydney. On average a 24/hr day in Kangaroo land, I spend a good 16hrs dreaming about this place.



Crispy fried chicken with bones so soft you can eat it whole. I call it Chicken Biscuit!



If you haven't tried ATL Marantha, it's time now!! !

Sydney - Eats 1

I cannot say this enough. When in Sydney you must visit Mother Chu's Kitchen.



One of my favourite breakfast spots when in town. Dumplings and buns are made fresh on day, non of that frozen prepackaged nonsense.Besides a Chinese breakfast is hard to come by. Don't think I've ever had anything quite like this until I was introduced.



Centre Front -egg pancake Mid-Left to Right -warm soy milk,pork congee(Chinese rice porridge), glutinous rice roll with yu-tiao Back Right -yu-tiao



Yu-Tiao, literally translated "Oil Stick" is also known as Chinese Doughnut or Fried Bread Stick. This is commonly dipped in congee, soy milk or eaten as is.



I highly recommend their fried pork bun!

 

Viola! Breakfast for two :)

What better excuse :)

Baking for a good cause. All proceeds go towards Cure Kids research !! Come and grab your Red Nose Day treat today from Qubic Store. What better excuse do you need :)

Cake Day!

It's no secret how much I like cake. I've been planning to bake my birthday cake for months, finally decided on a Devils Food Raspberry Bombe

Nothing like a good combination of berries,chocolate and a splash or two of dark rum
Taa-Daa!!

Going!

Going!

Gone!

Oh wait! I was surprised with an additional cake during end of day. Oh I love the Qubic whanau. Couldn't ask for more, loving the two cake combo *big thanks

Pre Marathon Eats!

I've been waiting to carbo load since the beginning of year. I tried to cramp in as much food possible during the last 24hrs before the marathon. I'm just glad i managed to wake up in time for the run in the morning after the food induced coma.



Baked a Strawberry Chantilly







Ordered two 18" Pizzas. Notice the size of the Pizza sitting on the stove top!



here's an indication of how big a slice is placed on a plate



Pasta



Chips,chips and more chips



a little Afghan to break the routine



fried rice, on top of it all there was Pad Thai, two bowls of rice, and a massive bowl of cereal :)

Loves friends who gift pies!

Had Sean pop in with a surprise Pie drop. All the way from Timaru to Wellington now Auckland. I was told May's Original is one of the best pies in the hood of Timaru.

Thank you so much.. It clearly made my day :)

One Green Flamingo this weekend

Strawberry Cream Cheese



Pandan Coconut Hi-Hat



Banana Cream Cheese



Chocolate Mallow



Grab one now!

Japanese food festival

I had to take a second a look at this before noticing the characters. Pity I no more room for art at the time being.











There's nothing like the real thing. Don't let the packaged frozen Dorayaki fool you.







Tama-sen literally translated into egg sandwich :)



Been inspired to make Japanese food. Must get a lesson or two from  a few Japanese friends :)