Delissimon

Moving On!

2012-01-31T11:02:00.001+13:00

WHAT a weekend!

Well first our exciting news which I've had to stay quiet about until it was confirmed. But the Williams family (and Delissimon along with them) are relocating!!

View of gorgeous clubhouse from greensstaff driveway - its still in construction.

My incredibly talented husband has been appointed as the Superintendent of Fairview Golf Club which sits under the Kaimai Ranges down in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, in Katikati to be exact. It's an area of beautiful coastline, stunning vistas and lovely people, neat towns with lots of history and lots of tourist which pass through. Best of all it's only 2 hours away from Auckland and mum and dad and our lovely friends.

Its an amazing new opportunity for us and the culmination of 4 years hard work from Owen and his awesome support crew (me). We are feeling like this is a GOOD move for us, a chance to start over and be our own little unit for a while and take on a fresh challenge.

View from pro shop towards the Kaimai ranges.

I think blog posting might be quite few and far between in the next month or so, while I organise 5 years of our stuff out of our current home up here in Auckland. Yikes, I'm not looking forward to that although I am looking forward to minimising our stuff!

Loving

2012-01-13T09:36:00.000+13:00

Linking in with PJ....

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is." Paisley Jade

What a month it has been. Spending time over Christmas with these three...WHAT a treat!

Alex (older brother), Monica (Alex's girlfriend) and Eddie (younger brother)

Loving our family golf tournament at a rural Northland club...

With Eddie keeping it classy...

Loving these guys!

Nice...typical Johnny-at-4yrs-old face.

Although the lounge is COVERED in toys, washing (thanks to wet weather), videos, games and books we are doing our best to keep busy during the holidays. When the sun comes out we've been making the most of it! Like walking from Takapuna to Milford with friends.

And family date nights getting sushi and going to the golf driving range...where Johnny cracked us up the whole time. He's turning out to be just like his uncles...

Loving indecent, steaming, beer-cooked BBQ chicken. Actually a beer can stuffed up a chickens insides and BBQ'd. It has to have a cover so the heat evenly cooks it. I was a skeptic, but Owen cooked 3 perfectly and they were DELICIOUS! Works best on a large chicken.
Try it...its fun and will shock the mother in law perfectly! Haha!

"Cluck!"

Have a great weekend y'all! Apparently the sun is meant to be out too all weekend, so here's hoping!

Christmas in Pictures

2012-01-10T18:58:00.003+13:00

I haven't posted these yet.
Yes they are a bit late.
They are the pictures from our Christmas away.

For the first time since Owen and I had been married (13 years this year!) we haven't been away from Auckland for the actual day. Usually we are all over the show, piling kids into the car while a massive brunch was still sitting heavy in our tummies and heading off to another family do to eat more food that we had no appetite for. Which is not a terrible thing, as we got to spend time with precious family and eat and enjoy each other's company. But this year? It was calling for a break in tradition. Something different. Not the same old, same old. My brothers were coming home. For the first time in 5 years we were having a Christmas together, so we decided to up sticks and take off up North.
We had an early Christmas with Owen's family and then off we went.

Big boys never really grow up...

My little brother Eddie and Mads

Well it was BLISS - sun was shining, kids were up early, full English breakfast, swimming in the ocean, playing in the sun, napping on the couch, eating more food, taking photos, moving the dining table to the garden to enjoy dinner alfresco. Lots of laughing and lots of fun. Geez I love my family...never a dull moment that's for sure!

Mads was genuinely terrified

Alex and his beautiful gal Monica

Thanks for the memories guys!

Orange Cake

2012-01-09T13:20:00.000+13:00

This one is a sweetie...a wee orange cake I made for a special morning tea with some friends I used to work with, back in the distant past before I had the kids. Thanks Ruth, Nat (and Olly!) and Lisa. It was so wonderful to catch up!

The orange is not as strong as this one I made back in 2010, it was rather more subtle than that. Although that recipe was full on orange flavour, the warm day called for something less bitter, more sweet.

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com ages ago as a beat and bake orange cake and I used my small 11cm ring tin.

Recipe is as follows:

250g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
120ml milk
120ml orange juice
120ml oil (I used rice bran)
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest

Preheat oven to 175deg C. Grease and line baking tin.
In a measuring cup combine milk, orange juice, oil, beaten eggs and zest. Stir and set aside.
Sift flour, salt and baking powder into mixing bowl. Mix in sugar. Make a well in the centre and pour in the liquid mixture. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Bake in oven for 35 mins (although mine took about 50mins as I used the one tin, I didn't divide the mixture) or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool.

When cool combine: 85g softened butter, 2 cups icing sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and beat together until light and fluffy. Ice and top with a wee bit of orange rind and some grated chocolate.
Serve and enjoy!

Happy NEW Year

2012-01-01T13:26:00.000+13:00

And 2011 is gone. Just like that. I'm sure I'm not alone in the thought that 2011 went remarkably fast?

2011 was full of new hopes for me. A new start. Fresh new me. My hair grew back, I finished Herceptin, started a new trial drug, started a photography diploma, didn't bake so much, focused on getting myself back to being as normal as possible, focused on family and keeping my darling littlies on a stable level that they missed in 2010. I took it easy on myself last year, putting it down to being a "recovery" year. Now its on...I want to be healthier, more fit, lose some weight, tone those arms. Be as physically fit as I can. Eat better.

I also have some BIG decisions to make - about our future and my surgeries. I've not updated about the surgeries since before I had my meeting with the plastic surgeon. I've attempted a post on it a few times and I've never seemed to get it right. I hate to always look like I'm moaning. And other reason is that I'm just so EXHAUSTED thinking about it. Its still an incredibly emotional topic.
It turns out that surgery won't be as straightforward as I first thought. I can't have an implant as radiation really took that option out for me. My skin and muscle tone won't support an implant and the chances of it rejecting and not working are as high as 60%. So that was really disappointing. The other options involve such a major surgery and recovery, and then the risks involved there are increased too. Basically the surgery involves taking my abdominal muscle and pulling it up to form the muscle for a breast, so you lose the abs (not that I have any visible ones right now!). It is a major 6-8 hour surgery, and recovery is months. And there is no guarantee it will all work out properly. So I'm down to looking at two options. Go for major surgery and risk complications and long recovery, and possibly losing my active lifestyle or just get the other breast removed and live the rest of my life completely flat chested. I'm trying to imagine how at 50 I'm going to be okay with that. Will I feel sexy then?
Like I said...its an incredibly emotional decision and I'm just trying to get through that at the moment. That's probably why I've been quiet on the blog front.

But on more positive vibes, its a new year and with that comes new opportunities. Owen is in the middle of looking to transition to a new golf club at some stage, we are hoping it will be soon. But we are looking at Australia as a very possible location. So lately life has been about downsizing and getting rid of surplus. It feels GOOD to get rid of so much stuff. I look at our spare room where I've piled up some of our things that I need to get rid of and I wonder how we have managed to accumulate so much JUNK! I love the excuse to downsize and start a new life. So aside from surgery decisions, the rest of the year is looking promising and exciting for our little unit of 5 here in Auckland.

Finally, I want to wish all my readers and occasional visitors a very happy 2012 and say a massive thank you for your comments, support and encouragement over the last few years. I've managed to vent, praise, show off, share and basically tell so much through here and hopefully that's been helpful for some people, but its been immensely meaningful for me. I've also met some wonderful people purely by being part of the blogging community and I am so grateful for those connections.

Happy 2012 to you all

In Memory of an Amazing Woman...

2011-12-19T17:22:00.001+13:00

This afternoon family of Natalie Murphy said their goodbyes to a beautiful woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.
Natalie was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer last March and has died truly so beautifully with such grace and peace. My heart and prayers are with her family, especially her husband Greg and wee son Jackson. I never met her, but I've followed her story with great interest since the beginning.

You can visit her website here to read her story and find out how strong and amazing she was. She always believed that nothing could stop her from living the life she wanted. Sadly, just weeks before she planned a New Years day renewal of vows and a celebration of her life she has gone. I feel so sad she never got that day after all the planning she's been doing for it.

As well as feeling sad, I feel so blessed and strange all at once. She died, and I'm still here. Natalie was diagnosed at the same hospital and same time as I was, yet our treatment paths were different, our prognosis very different. My brain is still trying to process how that happens.

What I do know though is that her story has touched many hearts and a lot of people have been reminded that this life is precious. I was listening to an interview on the radio with her the other day and she said she was initially angry (and so understandable) but had to relook at how she was spending the rest of her life, when her husband told her he wasn't going to watch her die angry. So she changed to making sure she left this life doing the things that were important with such grace and beauty.

I for one am giving my kiddies one extra squeeze and kiss when I put them to bed tonight.

Again, I'll say what I've said many times. Cancer sucks.

I'll leave her words to finish this post.

"I wrote about my journey to raise awareness of Breast Cancer in young women and encourage them to check themselves from 20years old, not 40! I also want to encourage people to appreciate what they have and live their lives to the fullest. Life is not about our jobs or the things we own. It’s about relationships and appreciating those we love."

Rest in Peace Natalie.

Happy Birthday Baby

2011-12-13T14:10:00.000+13:00

Happy Birthday to my delicious new 7 year old today.

Love you baby girl!

Tea Party

2011-12-12T10:24:00.000+13:00

Oh my goodness...this is my 300th post on this blog. WOW!
I know I've been absent for a while but there is A LOT going on which in time will make it to the blog but not right now. There are changes afoot....exciting ones though.

Instead here are some photos from my daughters 7th birthday tea party on Saturday. It is SO much fun setting up a little girls birthday party. The last few weeks I've been collecting bottles, making paper decorations, stealing ideas via Pinterest and scouring for pretty girly things to add to the table. Then I got busy making mini cakes, cupcakes and layer cake, marble cake. We were caked out!!
I was really pleased with how it all came out, but when Katie came out to look at the table she teared up and said "I am SO happy!". So that made me pretty proud.
Five little girls dressed in their best dresses drinking "tea" (actually just raspberry fizzy drink and orange juice), eating cake and cucumber sandwiches and decorating cupcakes was actually a really relaxed, fun and easy birthday celebration. And so civilised...until Johnny came crashing through! Haha!

Cupcake decorating...

The finished cupcakes...aren't they fantastic?!

My sweet birthday girl...

Children on the Beach

2011-11-23T09:00:00.000+13:00

Doing children's portrait photography is not something I thought I'd get myself into. But it seems it's one coming my way recently and if I can fit it into my schedule I'm happy to push myself and get some more confidence. I've certainly had plenty of practice on my own kids!

Hence, this is the result of a happy Saturday afternoon on the beach with some gorgeous little girls. The littlest is the daughter of my friend Lisa, who I've known since we were 10 and 11 and the others are her nieces who are all sisters. It was a total delight working with them!

I'm Back!

2011-11-22T08:12:00.000+13:00

Wow what an amazing opportunity to get away for 5 WHOLE DAYS with my gorgeous man. A HUGE thanks to my parents for taking the reins with the kids and wrangling them to school and kindy. You both deserve a big holiday!!

I spent my time away reading, writing (yes, writing. I've started writing a book, hence the lack of posting. Eeek!) and taking the odd photo. In between I went with Owen on some trips of the golf courses. Strangely I didn't take an awful lot of photos, just some of the courses we visited. I couldn't not take any snaps at Cape Kidnappers. Seriously it is the most breathtaking view I've seen for a long time.

Clifton Beach

Owen and I at The Lodge at Cape Kidnappers overlooking the golf course and the entire Hawkes Bay.
Stunning!

Hawkes Bay is truly a beautiful jewel in our country.

Taupo was stunning too...

Kinloch Golf Course

When we got home I had my portfolios due in for the end of year for my photography diploma, so I got busy finalising them and then helped Owen pack for a week in Melbourne to watch the Presidents Cup and get around the sports turf sites as part of his prize for winning Graduate of the Year. What an amazing week he's had! We are happy to have him home now though. And for him its back to reality!

Last Monday after dropping him off to the airport I drove to the Manakau SuperClinic for my appointment with the plastic surgeon. After waiting for an hour we finally got to sit down and discuss our options. Phew, there's plenty of them. Seems its not an option for me to have an implant afterall as my skin and muscle damage after radiation has made the odds of success very small - 40% in fact. Too small to risk it. So we are back to looking at some very intense surgery involving the use of muscles from my abdomen/back support area, usually known as a TRAM flap. I have a lot to think about before my next appointment and weigh up all the pros and cons. A long surgery of 10-12 hours, with a possibly 12 weeks of recovery is A LOT to deal with but the results in the long run would be worth it. Is it possible to do this with 3 kids and an uncertainty of where we will even be in 6 months time? So any prayers about this would be so appreciated.

So here are the photos I submitted for my final portfolio for this year. The theme I gave it was Yellow, Chocolate and Red. I still don't have the marks back so I've no idea what my tutor thinks. The suspense is killing me!!!

Some of these you might have seen before...some are new.

Bayswater Kids Duathlon

2011-11-06T16:12:00.000+13:00

This morning was the Bayswater Kids Duathlon, our school's annual fundraiser now in its 16th year. Its a fantastic way to raise money and have a great time. (Or an exhausting one!)
Well done to all the parents and teachers and kids who got involved. And getting All Black Jerome Kaino in to start the race was a great addition. What a super morning!

I'll leave you with the pics I've processed quickly (for you Lindsay ;) ).

Loving

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000+13:00

These two...such great mates. She really is our family's little carer bless her heart.

Face paint and dressing up...

Visiting Owen at work while the course is closed and watching the little man watch all the machines at work. And pick flowers. Heaven!

Loving that I'm away all of next week with my hubby travelling to Napier. I'm hoping I'll have some great pics from our travels. Many thanks to my awesome parents who are taking the reins with the kids during the week!!

Hope you enjoy your weekend and find plenty of loving!

Linking in with Paisley Jade

Boobies.

2011-10-31T10:52:00.000+13:00

Last week I got a phone call from the Manukau SuperClinic to confirm an appointment with my plastic surgeon to discuss my reconstruction surgery. Whoop whoop! Hi fives all around!

The plastic surgeon Owen and I met with last year was my first preference as he was such a lovely man, however because of that and the fact he is good he is booked out solid. So they have given me the Head of Department. We're pretty happy with that!

The Manukau SuperClinic deals with a lot of plastic surgery and is the "home base" for the breast cancer reconstruction team. The government gave them a heap more money last year to reduce waiting times for women such as me. I'm very grateful. In fact National have really had my back in the breast cancer department firstly with fully funding Herceptin and then last year finding $8 Million to reduce the horrible waiting lists. Keep in mind this isn't just any breast enhancement surgery, but an important step for women who have been ravaged by the loss of breast and much much more. Giving women - mothers, wives, sisters, daughters a chance to feel like women again if that is what is important to them. For me, well if I was older perhaps I wouldn't care, I don't know. But I'm only 31. Being 31 with one breast is horrible to be honest, it hampers what I wear and going swimming is a bit of nightmare so its easier not to. I feel old and unsexy and mutilated. And I'm much too young for that.

What struck me last week was that I announced on my facebook page my excitment at this development, and once again the reaction from friends and family was so lovely and encouraging. Every step along this journey I've never felt alone in support in that area. There was plenty of banter in upsizing, perky new boobs and modeling a new chest etc. Funny? Yes, but true? Probably not. Realistically I'll be lucky to get the cup size I've always been and will have to settle for whatever is left to scrounge together a boob.
Last year when I had my mastectomy I was originally going to have an immediate reconstruction, which involves removal of breast tissue by the breast surgeon, and then the plastic surgeon steps in and he would have given me a silicon implant (that's the easy version). Less scarring, immediate results. But then my cancer had to go and get more complicated - rapidly and dramatically increasing in size and giving us all a big fright and there was no chance of that happening. I was told it would take another 3-5 years to have a breast reconstruction done. At the time I wondered if my surgeon was cryptically trying to tell me he didn't think I would last that long so there was no point spending money on me. Then I realised he meant the waiting lists were horribly long. Phew. Everything was so scary back then I almost chuckle at the absurdity of my thinking.

Back to what's ahead now though. The surgery I'll have will involve putting a bag under my skin where the breast implant will go and then it will be gradually filled with saline over a period of weeks, perhaps months. When it is finally at a size we are all happy with or its the best I can get I have another surgery to put the implant in. But that's not all.
When I finally have my breast I'll always have a big long scar cutting through it which will go through to under my arm. I won't have a nipple. That's another surgery where they make me a new one out of my own skin and tissue and sew it on. Then the areola gets tattooed on if I'm still game to have them played with. Its an intense process.
And this isn't even mentioning the right boob, which is feeling incredibly left out right now. I'm still determined to have that one removed too, so if they can time it right and get them done on the same operation then that would be so great.

I wanted to write all the above information, not to make those who bantered with me feel bad, because I love banter and jokes and I feel secure in their support and love. But I also want the truth and the right information to be out there. Having breast reconstruction doesn't mean getting a new pair of awesome boobs, but just a step in the healing process, healing of the mind.

I know I linked to this site last week, but I'll leave you with a few beautiful images of women who have done or are to do what I've got ahead of me. Photographs by Jay David for The SCAR Project.

Short and Sweet

2011-10-29T18:15:00.002+13:00

Just had to share this...

This kid cracks me up!

Delissilinks

2011-10-26T07:29:00.002+13:00

I haven't done one of these in a while, but since Breast Cancer Action month is drawing to a close I thought I'd show a few choice links for that.

This first one here, from Cake Wrecks, shows the insanity that bakers can go to just for a sale. Thank god I haven't seen anything like this here in NZ!

The Save Seven project, a series of clips by seven NZ women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer at different stages and times of their life. Very powerful and worth watching.

Watch this video...its awesome!

And finally, the most powerful photography exhibition I've seen yet. The Scar Project by David Jay. Probably because it represents my reality and can't hide behind a cute pink ribbon. I cried buckets when I first saw it and it still brings tears to my eyes.

Oh...and go give yourself a check after you've looked at all of these. The men above should have helped give you some pointers ;) hehe.

Kiwi Valley Farm

2011-10-25T23:41:00.001+13:00

On the first proper sunny day of the holidays we headed out with friends to Kiwi Valley Farm in Henderson Valley.

In true kid style all the kids pretended they owned horsies and took rides on tractors every day. They fed lambs, goats, chickens, llamas, ostriches (rather gingerly...those beaks!), cows, donkeys. There's rabbits, rats, mice, possums, pigs, piglets, birds and a rather big bull. Yeah being a farmer is fun...until it gets a bit stinky or a bit noisy. And hot. Then they were quite happy to hop back in the car and head off again.

But this place is great for kids, there's plenty to do! Tractor rides, farm bike rides, mazes with secret fairy caves, noisy silly donkeys and most of all horse and pony rides. HEAVEN for little girls and boys (and big ones too). Spring is an ideal time to come as the weather is not too hot, and of course the lambs are all being born. We were allowed to pat a wee lamb that was only 4 days old!

When we first turned up we thought it was quite small, but its deceiving and after the kids have been on the tractor ride, taken a farm walk, run around the maze, had a drink, slurped an ice block and you've ordered a much needed (and very hot!) coffee from the very good cafe then time has raced by. It's a great place to take kids and give them a taste of country life. There's also a really cool shed to hire for parties.

Johnny's first horse ride!

I'm not sure about the characters in the maze though...this one even made me scream.

Johnny made a friend. While he still had food in his hand.

Kaitaia Fire Cupcakes and Giveaway

2011-10-12T16:03:00.002+13:00

Well hello there cupcake...you look delicious and chocolatey....I'll just have a little nibble. Oh okay why not the whole thing, can't let a cupcake go to waste.

Oooh why is there a party in my mouth...and someone brought matches?

These beauties come with an extra little kick. If you are from New Zealand you probably know what Kaitaia Fire is...if you are not then Tabasco Sauce is probably its closest cousin. In fact you can use Tabasco Sauce instead. But Kaitaia Fire is closer to my heart. It's made in the town of Mangonui where me and Owen honeymooned 13 years ago.

These are also gluten and dairy free! Whoopee!!

Kaitaia Fire and Chocolate Cupcakes (also known as Chilli Chocolate)

1 cup gluten free baking mix (I use Healtheries brand, its never failed on me)
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup dessicated coconut
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 eggs
3 tablespoons melted dairy free spread
2 tablespoons soy milk
A good dose of ground chilli flakes - I used roughly a teaspoon.
2 teaspoons baking powder.

Mix all the ingredients on high in your mixer for about 3 minutes. Stop and add the baking powder. Test the mixture to see if it suits your level of spicy. Add more to taste if you wish!
Spoon into cupcake papers and bake for 15 mins on 180deg C.

I added the Kaitaia fire to the buttercream mix - and used dairy free spread and soy milk instead of regular milk and butter. It turns out so delicious and creamy.
2 tablespoons dairy free spread
a good few dashes of Kaitaia fire to taste
2 tablespoons soy milk
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups icing sugar.
Beat the spread, Kaitaia fire and milk together with the cocoa, then add the icing sugar. If the mixture is too stiff add small increments of liquid to bring it to the consistency you want. Add more spice if you like!! Its up to you!

Eat and enjoy!!

But WAIT!! There's more!!

Update: Congrats to Miriam from MakeItGiveIt for winning the prize. Your bottle will be on its way shortly!

I have one bottle of Kaitaia Fire Chilli Pepper Sauce to giveaway to a lucky reader. Leave a comment and tell me how spicy you like your food (or if you don't at all) to go into the draw!! Entries close on Tuesday 18th October at midday. This is for NZ residents only though (sorry!!). Don't forget to include your email address!

Your Help Please!

2011-10-12T07:37:00.000+13:00

Atypical Hemolitic Uremic Syndrome.

Have you heard of it? Probably not because its extremely rare and incurable. And a sweet little 21 month old Auckland boy called Jethro Morrow has it. This is how his facebook page explains it:

Source: NZHerald

There is no cure, and no treatment guaranteed to help him survive. It is just trial and error to keep him stable as this condition is so unpredictable and spontaneous. 60% of children die within the first year of diagnosis. The complications associated with this illness are
• Kidney failure
• Seizures/Neurological problems
• No response to supportive treatments
• Return of HUS even after kidney transplant occurs
• Severe Hypertension (high blood pressure)

For Jethro to have a chance at a long life they need to get him onto a drug Soliris, one of the world's most expensive drugs which is not guaranteed to work but will give him a shot and a chance to live a life that's more stable. The biggest hurdle however is that it costs $500,000 yearly, and he would need to be on it for the rest of his life. So far any application for funding has been rejected based on the fact its an ongoing expense.

Considering this is a rare rare disease and this beautiful boy is one of the youngest in the world to get this it is sad they cannot get funding for this. So Jethro's family need our, the great kiwi public's, help.

Here's an article from the Herald this week, and here's his facebook support page. Please read the article to find out more and anything you can do to help or give then please do.

The account to donate to is:

Kiwibank
The Jethro Morrow Health Trust
38 9012 0102064 00

A post about more lemons...this time with lime and coconut

2011-10-06T14:00:00.000+13:00

Lemon. Lime. Coconut. In my head the combination summons up images of summer, long cool drinks on the deck in the balmy evening with that slight tinge of sunburn on the cheeks. A sunny feel-good trio of flavours.

This cupcake is moist, tangy, sweet and so satisfying.

Lemon, Lime and Coconut Cupcakes

1 1/4 cup plain flour

3 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

Rind and juice of 1 lemon

3 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup dessicated coconut

2 teaspoons baking powder

Combine all ingredients except baking powder in bowl and mix on high for 3 minutes. Add baking powder when light and creamy and mix to combine. Pour into 15 cupcake cases and bake for 15 mins on 160deg C or until springs back when you touch. Set aside to cool.

Once cool fill with lime curd and top with buttercream from this recipe here - instead of peanut butter I used a pina colada flavouring. Sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Your friends will love you for this one!!

A post about Lemons and Meringue

2011-10-05T18:15:00.000+13:00

I was going to follow up those photos from the previous post with the recipes but I didn't in the end as I thought I'd save that for another post. So here's the first of three.

The lemon meringue tarts were the most popular and went down a treat with everyone. Except for the part where I was a little uncoordinated (or perhaps a little tiddly) and ended up throwing one, quite accidentally, at Owen's head. He didn't want it after that. I thought it was pretty funny though.

Lemon Meringue Tart.
Recipe adapted from the outstanding Hummingbird Bakery.

Here's the 3 components:

1. Pastry - a basic shortcrust pastry here. I used the one from the Edmonds cookbook as it makes a perfect amount for either 17 small tarts or one large tart. Or you can use bought frozen sheets.
2. Filling - the easiest and most delicious I've tasted. It just means you have to separate 8 eggs!!
3. Meringue topping - in the recipe book there's an option for an Italian meringue method or the simple method of whipping up egg whites and baking the pie for a further 20 mins. I used neither. I went for the Swiss method of heating the egg whites and sugar together over a simmering pot of water in the kitchenaid bowl then whipping it up. MUCH easier for me. But you can decide which works best for you. In any case if you use the Swiss or Italian method you can guarantee the egg whites are completely cooked through which is safer for the old or very young, immune compromised or pregnant people in your life.

Filling:
8 egg yolks
2x 395g sweetened condensed milk cans
Freshly squeezed juice and rind of 8 unwaxed lemons

1 basic pie crust, partially blind baked (170deg C for 10 mins, the bottom of the pastry should still be slightly raw)

Mix all the above ingredients together - it will thicken naturally and pour into partially baked pie crust. Bake in 150deg C oven for 20-30 mins. The filling should be firm to the touch but still slightly soft in the centre, not wobbly. Leave to cool. Can be left overnight also.

For the meringue topping:
7 egg whites
400g caster sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used paste).

Combine the egg whites and caster sugar in metal bowl and heat over pot of simmering water, being careful not to have the bowl touch the water. Keep whisking until mixture heats to a smooth liquid (there should be no sugar granules if you rub a small bit between your fingers). This takes roughly 8 mins.
Using the whipping attachment whip the mixture on high until it is just like meringue - fluffy and light, then add the vanilla. I keep whipping on a low to med speed until the mixture has cooled a bit. You are now ready to spoon or pipe it on to your filled tart(s).
I used the blowtorch to brown the edges but you can just put it in a 150deg C oven for 20 mins to get a nice golden brown crust.

That's about it folks. It really is the most delicious tart!

Dad's 60th

2011-10-03T10:26:00.003+13:00

What a full on weekend!!

We had a party for my dad on Saturday night for his 60th birthday, which was lovely and tons of fun. I made a dessert table and was in charge of taking photos. Until I had one too many drinks and the camera went forgotten...oops!! Sometimes the camera just needs to be put down for the sake of a good time hey?

So here's the photos I managed to get from that night. Complete with the baking done for it.

Getting the baking ready...

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Mini Lemon Meringue Tarts

Our entertainment

Lemon Lime and Coconut Cupcakes

Eddie, with Lisa and mum in the back.

Birthday Boy. My lovely dad.

Cherry Choc Marshmallow Cookies

2011-09-26T10:40:00.001+13:00

Hello all,

What a weekend!! Not only did the All Blacks win a match we absolutely had to win, for our egos sake, against France but more importantly (we are a league household after all) the Warriors won their game to get into the Grand Final next Sunday. So much happy screaming went down in this house on Saturday night!

Anyway here's something to start your week off with. A bit of cookie, marshmallow and chocolate makes anything, including the rather too cold for Spring weather alright again.

These are so much fun to make and the kids would enjoy it too. Its does involve three different processes - making the cookies, making the marshmallow and then melting the chocolate for dipping so its not a quick one. But there's plenty of leftover marshmallow and chocolate to create some yummy treats with.

Cherry Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

For the cookies:

125g butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla paste
1 egg
1 2/3 cups flour
Combine butter and sugar and beat till creamy, add egg and beat till combined. Add vanilla. Add flour in two batches and mix until a nice cookie dough consistency. Take out of bowl place in between two sheets of baking paper. Roll till approx 5cm thick and place on baking tray and refridgerate for 30 minutes.
Take out of fridge and take off top layer of baking paper and using round cookie cutter cut as many shapes as you can. Bake in 180deg C oven for 10mins. Leave to cool.
While the cookies are baking you can start on the marshmallow.

Marshmallow:
2 tablespoons gelatin
1/2 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
Cherry flavouring
Pink or red food colouring

The first measure of water and gelatin need to be combined in a microwave proof bowl. Leave to swell for roughly 10 mins. Place second measure of water in a saucepan and add the sugar. Heat gently over a low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Put the gelatin mix in the microwave for 30 seconds or until its a clear liquid and add to the sugar mix. Bring to boil, then leave to boil for a further 15 mins (make sure its not on too high a heat or it will bubble over the top). Leave to cool till lukewarm.
Once cool put it in an electric mixer and using the whipping attachment mix until thick, glossy and white. Add the colouring and flavour and mix a little more until incorporated. You can now spoon into a piping bag and pipe onto the cooled biscuits.
Leave to set for 30 mins.

Chocolate Dipping
I used a whole 250g block of Whittakers 62% Dark Cacao and melted it gently and dipped the tops of the marshmallows into. I sprinkled a couple with a small amount of sea salt, and some had the cocoa nibs with chilli flakes ground on top. The rest I left plain. You can add whatever you like to the top of these!

With the leftover marshmallow I poured into a wet baking tray (just run it under the cold tap first) and let it set in the fridge. The leftover chocolate I just spread on top...makes a fun treat for the kids.

Have fun!

Cupcakes For Florence

2011-09-15T14:06:00.002+12:00

On Tuesday I helped out a couple of Year 5 boys from Bayswater School who decided they wanted to run a cupcake stall at school to raise money for the schools World Vision sponsored child Florence. But they wanted to bake some themselves so I gave them a few pointers and the use of my KitchenAid. The two Jacks made "Super Strawberry" and "Ultimate Apple". And they looked great!! Young pastry chefs in the making maybe?

But what a great idea, and what a great turn out! The kids were fed sugar and sprinkles and I think the school raised the money it needed...I don't know the final tally yet but there was plenty in the money jar!

Here's some pics.

Ultimate Apple by Jack S

Super Strawberry by Jack A

Phew!...does this make you hungry now?

RWC Party!!!

2011-09-15T13:25:00.000+12:00

I know I'm late to the party with these pics as its nearly a week since I took them. But we had a fantastic night celebrating Auckland and the All Blacks on the roof of Grandmas house up at Stanley Point last Friday.

We will never see this again. Well not from this angle anyway as the house is sadly going on the market very soon. I would say without a doubt, and with uninterrupted views of the entire harbour...we had the best view in the entire city.

This time last year...

2011-09-08T16:43:00.001+12:00

I had this recipe posted last September. I've been slack these last few weeks - although I have been baking I've not been photographing, so I'm being lazy and repeating last years post for spring baking. Excuse me if you've seen this before.

So Chocolate and Pear Self Saucing Pudding anyone?

Recipe:
Pudding
2 pears - peeled and sliced
100g butter
3/4 brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 1/2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Sauce
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tablespoon cornflour

Preheat oven to 180deg C. Grease ovenproof dish and line with sliced pear.

Cream butter, add sugar, egg and vanilla.
Fold in mixed flour, baking powder and cocoa. When mixed place in dish over the pear - spread evenly.

Mix the second amount of sugar with the cocoa and cornflour and sprinkle evenly over the top. Using the underside of a large spoon, pour the boiling water over the top.

Place in oven and bake for 35mins.

When baked, dust with icing sugar and serve. Eat while hot!

The good news is that I have plenty of recipes up my sleeve that I've been working on, so I'm really excited to share them over the next month or so.