End of the day

Today was lovely...but by the end of it my heart was tired. Still working on all the wreckage of the last few months. I spoke to my first love, and we did the 6 monthly catch up. We talked a lot about love, and how it is one of the main reasons why we do what we do. He had just come through a really rough time, and admitted to me that the only reason he was in such a bad state was because.....he loved a girl. We must, we must, we must soldier on though. Everything in life is telling me this (specifically the fact that I keep having dreams I get back together with my ex and everything goes wrong. I end up having to cross bridges over huge valleys and the bridge is breaking. Another time I had to swim under water for ages without coming up for a breath....no idea what it means, but it cant be good.)

All this to say, I was quite happy to see my housemate when she got home. I needed a bit of company. We ate salmon soup with the fresh home made bread I made today and drank red wine. For desert we had apple spice tea (its amazing) and chocolate hot cross buns. After this (and with some very good chats) the world felt better.

Just thought I'd say goodnight to you all. I'm off to lunch with a friend tomorrow to check out a gourmet fish and chip shop in brunswick st. Its been reviewed by a few really good food magazines so I'm quite excited!! I'll let you know how it goes. Goodnight lovely readers. Thanks for reading and letting people know about my blog...it means a lot to me. Night.

Hot cross buns.

My blog got a bit of a revamp today. My lovely sister went over it all and fixed everything up. So now its all shiny and new. I on the other hand spent a lot of my day baking. I made hot cross buns and some fresh bread.

I had the whole day purely to myself today. It was really lovely. I had plenty of time to think, and feel. I have such a lovely lifestyle here Melbourne, it sometimes makes me a bit sad that I have no one to share it with. I go to pastry school, live in a beautiful area, work selling cupcakes, have some lovely friends and spend my free time in cafes, cooking and writing. Its such a beautiful life. I feel like I really know how to live. I'm never the last person to leave the party, or out till the sun comes up...but I understand beauty in life. I know how to enjoy all the things that are important and that means a lot to me. Making friends has always been easy for me (because I will talk to anyone) so I'm never really alone. And although some of my dates have been disasters lately, when I meet someone I really care for, I know how to love with all my heart and show it.

I'm looking forward to meeting someone that I can share all this with. I'm learning very very very slowly how to be alone. I don't always enjoy the process. Mostly I'm much to busy to notice...but at times, gosh I hate it.

Today I did a bit of an explore of my new town. I looked in lots of boutiques at things I cant afford. It was nice just to wander around town. For the rest of the week I'll probably catch up with some friends and maybe even go out a night or two. I feel much more rested after today. I still have a bit to get done before term starts back again.

There is a bread maker in my new house so I decided to give it a bit of a go today. It was so wonderful! I couldn't believe how easy it was. I'm so used to making bread from scratch with all the proving, and rising, and knocking back and then again probing and rising. All I had to do was add all the ingredients and press start. The bread came out perfectly, with so little effort. I loved it. I'll probably give it a go making it in the oven too....because I think that sort of thing is fun (weird I know.)

Anyway I made some lovely chocolate chip hot cross buns today, as its Easter and all. Here is the recipe for you. They take a bit of time, but are quite easy, and its just so festive.

Hot cross buns

You will need:

• 4 cups of plain flour
• 14g of dried yeast
• 1/4 cup of caster sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 and a half cups of dark chocolate chips
• 40g butter
• 300ml milk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten

For the crosses:

• Half a cup of plain flour
• 5 tablespoons of water

What to do:

1. Sift the flour and sugar in together.
2. Add yeast, eggs, and cinnamon.
3. In a pot melt butter. Add milk and warm.
4. Add milk and butter to the flour mix
5. Add chocolate chips. Stir till mixed
6. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for five minutes till soft and elastic.
7. Place in a bowl, cover with a tea towel and put in warm place for an hour and a half or until it had doubled in size.
8. Knock back the dough (punch it right in the middle) and then roll into 12 little balls. Cover with cling wrap and place aside to double again.
9. Mix together the flour and water into a paste until smooth.
10. Use a piping bag (or just cut a corner off a zip lock bag) to make make crosses on top of your buns with the flour mix
11. Bake in a preheated oven at 190 for 20 to 25 minutes.
12. Then bit into them while they are still hot and burn all the insides of your mouth...well thats what I did anyway.

Bagelicious

Today was one of my first proper days off in a very long time. So I decided to give myself a 'me day', where I could do whatever I wanted (mainly nothing... though with me being some sort of crazy over-achiever, I'd probably spend the day cooking, walking and researching).

I decided to start the day by treating myself and going out to breakfast. A friend of mine recommended a place in town called Bagelicious so I set out to have a look.

As you probably have noticed by now, bagels are the new 'food trend' sweeping the industry. Every single little cafe has now added bagels to their menu's and a few bagel cafes (they just sell bagels) have popped up all over the city. I've read a couple of articles (in the foodie section of the newspaper) about people hating this new trend as they are only "boiled bread and nothing that special".

But this, I say, is not true! I'm totally on board and have whole-heartedly embraced the bagel with its many flavours and toppings. I understand that it may be very American but its also very yummy.

So I was quite excited when I walked into Bagelicious to find such a huge variety of well... bagels. The process is a little confusing the first time, as you order your coffee at one counter, then head to another counter to pick your bagel flavour (and there are so many), next you have to decided on your toppings, and then you are sent back to the counter where you ordered the coffee with a ticket and pay there. Its really hard to decided what to have as there are over ten different flavoured bagels to pick from, both sweet and savoury, and so many different topping options. You can just pick one from the menu or invent one yourself. The toppings include pestos, different flavoured cream cheeses, meats, salads, eggs, and roasted vegetables. I had a sundered tomato bagel filled with pesto, chicken, bacon, cheese and roasted capsicum.

My meal was quite yummy but incredibly greasy! I feel I would have appreciated it a lot more if I was hung over, and wanting to soak up some oily goodness. I think it may have been my own fault though for ordering something with both chicken and bacon on it (I was flustered by all the choices and the ridiculously good looking boys that work there. What do you order that says, "Hi, I'm new in town! I'm single and lovely!".... Uh, not bacon and chicken! But we live and learn). They gave me a little plate of pickles to cut through all the oil, and I must admit I found this quite exciting and ate them all. They do have the novelty thing down that's for sure.

The coffee used is 'Five Seed', which I must admit isn't my favourite. It wasn't incredibly well made either (some people really struggle with making a good soy latte.) But it was drinkable.

I enjoyed the experience, mainly for the novelty. I think I'll defiantly go back to try out a few different flavours before I form a set opinion on the place. There are a few other bagel cafes in the city I'd like to try out as well. So I might do that and then compare. I'll keep you updated on my search for the perfect bagel.

Vons

Just recently when my parents came to stay, my mum and I decided to have a little girls night out. We went down Hardware Lane in search of a place to eat and everywhere was packed. It can be quite hectic there at night with all the waiters swooping on you and trying to get you inside for a meal. There were so many old sleazy Italian men hitting on my mum in an attempt to convince us to eat there. I was not at all impressed with this!

Vons was the first place along the street that didn't harass us or plead with us to come in. (It makes me wonder about the quality of the food when the waiter is so desperate to get you inside... shouldn't it just speak for itself?). The setting was quite nice as we were outside and next to one of the bands. (Live music and food go together so nicely!)

The staff were quite disorganised and tried to take our order several times after we had ordered, but they were also friendly and fun. I watched one of the girls give the waitress across the road ballroom dancing lessons while there was a lull. It was very cute.

We ordered the paella to share and it was huge! It was probably enough for three people instead of two. I was a little sceptical of ordering this dish because it is something that either can be done really well or really badly. It was quite good though and I really enjoyed it. All the vegetables were cooked just right and the seafood was lovely. I'm not going to say it was the best meal I ever had, or it was amazingly good, but I did really enjoy it. All the food on the menu looked tasty and honest. (I hope you know what I mean by honest food... Food that is hearty and good.)

For desert we had the creme brulee, which was also quite nice. It was served with a strawberry cumquat which complimented it very nicely. I love having this desert (and making it, for that matter) because its just so pretty. The contrast between the smooth and the crunchy is lovely and if done well it just melts in your mouth.

It was a really nice night out. The sort of place to go with a few girls, or on a little date, when you want to eat something nice but can't be bothered with all that fine dining fiasco. I wouldn't make it my favourite place, but would probably go back again.

A wee bit of time off

I finally have a few days off to enjoy my holidays. I really cant wait because I'm very much in need of a rest. I just want to bake for days and days. I would like to say I'm powering along with so much energy at the moment, but the truth is I'm so very exhausted. I was watching a trailer to a movie this week where this really chic-looking spy looked at her enemy and said, "If you're trying to push me to my breaking point, you will find I don't have one." Gosh I envied her! Imagine that!

So tonight I bought myself a bottle of wine, and I'm just going to wind down and research recipes to try out tomorrow. I have a huge list of things I have been meaning to cook all term, but just haven't had time. I keep buying cooking magazines in the hope I will get a chance to make something out of them, but the stack is growing and I've still been too busy! So I'm very excited for tomorrow!! (and you can look forward to some new recipes too).

My housemate (bless her heart) is cooking me dinner again tonight! I have been so spoilt in this new home. I'm really, really loving it.

So I'm off to enjoy my wine and cook books. Have a lovely night.

Raspberry, Pear and Almond Cake

I have been meaning to make this cake for weeks. I was sitting in Starbucks with a friend and found this recipe. I had to change it a little bit to get it to work just right for me... so here is my version of it. I hope you enjoy. Its super moist and yummy.

Raspberry, Pear and Almond Cake

You will need:

• Two ripe pears
• 180g butter
• 180g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 200g self raising flour
• 100g almond meal
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 200g raspberries (I just used frozen because they are cheaper!)

What to do:

1. Beat your butter (the butter must be soft to start with) and sugar until light and fluffy, and its no longer grainy.
2. Whisk your eggs, and then slowly add to your sugar mix
3. Sift flour and almond meal
4. In 4 batches slowly add flour and almond meal, stirring between each addition.
5. Add Milk
6. Dice pears and add
7. Add raspberries
8. Grease and line a circle tin with non stick paper
9. Put in a preheated oven at 180 and bake for an hour and a quarter.
10. Let cool and then sprinkle with icing sugar

Its such a pretty little cake. It has a really good 'homey' feel to it. Its the sort of thing you want to serve when friends 'pop over', or if your having a picnic. Hope you enjoy making it as much as I did.

Uninspired by cup cakes

"Wow they are so beautiful!" "Gosh they are so lovely!" I have been hearing this all day. I knew food envy existed (thats what you get when someone orders a better meal than you at a restaurant, and you spend the whole time wishing you got the same thing) but being envious of the attention the food is getting.....thats plane silly! But I'm telling you its hard when your treated like a wall flower all day and hardly talked to while people gush and rave about cakes (specially when the customers are beautiful melbourne boys.)

Today I was the crankiest cup cake seller in the world. I came up with every excuse on why I was moody today.....I was tired, hungry, felt sick, the customers were annoying me, but when it got down to it.....my heart is bruised and I just feel a little sad.

On my way home I was feeling awfully sorry for myself. Alas! Poor, poor me! When I got in the door, however, I was greeted by all my housemates who had cooked dinner and bought wine. It was so nice. We all sat around the table and talked and ate. It cheered me up so very much. I love the way food can bring people together and make the world seem so much more friendly.

At the moment I have a raspberry and pear cake baking in the oven. I'll put the recipe up when I get the cake out of the oven and check the consistency. I wasn't sure if maybe it needed more milk in the batter and I'd like to get it perfect for you. So in half an hour, I will be happily sitting in bed munching on some cake and sipping tea. I would have forgotten that the world was mean to me today, and I wont have 'cake envy' anymore.

Have a lovely night.