The lamington itself is a Kiwi icon. It’s a sponge cake, traditionally covered in either chocolate or a raspberry jelly based icing and rolled in desiccated coconut (I used coconut threads). Kiwi versions typically contain jam and cream, while Aussie versions do not (a fact Tim and I could not get over on our recent visit to Melbourne). Trust me, you need the cream to keep them moist and extra moreish.

I used a sponge cake dry cake mix to make the sponge itself, adding green food colouring to bring the St. Patrick’s Day theme to life. After cooling, I cut the sponge into 9 “even” squares, cutting 2 of those further into 8 miniature pieces. I then had to dip each piece in lime jelly icing, and coat with coconut. This was a very sticky, messy process during which the coconut threads went everywhere (!). However, despite the mess I was very pleased with how they ended up looking – and they’re super yummy too!

4.0 from 1 reviews

St. Patrick’s Day Lamingtons

 

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Author: Joanne Faith

Recipe type: Baking

Serves: 9-12

Ingredients

• 500g sponge cake mix
• 4 eggs
• 300mL water
• 1 tablespoon green food colouring
• 15g unsalted butter
• 2 tbs lime jelly crystals
• 150g (1 cup) icing sugar, sifted
• Coconut threads (or desiccated coconut if preferred)
• Whipped cream
• Rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

1. Prepare your sponge cake mixture – I used Bakels packaged sponge mix which required the addition of eggs and water before beating for 8 minutes. Though, if you’re up to the challenge you can make this from scratch. When you’re in the last few minutes of mixing, add the green food colouring and mix through throughly. Fill square tin with mixture and pop in the oven for the required length of time.
2. Once sponge is out of the oven, leave to cool. This is very important!
3. While sponge is cooling, prepare your icing. Pace butter and jelly crystals in a bowl, pour over 125ml boiling water and stir to dissolve butter. Sift in icing sugar, whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
4. Cut sponge into 9-12 squares, taking care to also cut off the edges. If you want to make miniatures, simply cut into smaller squares.
5. Start dipping the sponge squares into the icing (I left the bottom dry), and then either coat or roll in coconut.
6. Place in the fridge for an hour or so to set.
7. Once set, slice the square diagonally through the middle. Do not cut all the way though – leave about 1cm joined toward the bottom. Fill with cream (freshly whipped is best), then top with rainbow sprinkles.

3.2.1226

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{Wine Tasting Party}

The highlights of my week would have to have been the Designer Garage Sale and my lovely friend Pearl’s Wine Tasting Party on Friday night! We tasted over 8 varieties of wine, nibbled on cheese and crackers, drank more wine, before turning to chocolate and other shenanigans. She’s planned a write up of the party {including instructions on throwing your own} so be sure to subscribe here.  hope you also had wonderful weekend – check out my most loved below.

1. Ankle Chains: Totally loving this DIY idea for chain ankle strap ballet flats – the perfect way to spruce up any pair of patent ballerinas!

2. Classic Camel: After seeing this, a camel coat is at the top of my winter wishlist.

3. Shoe Love: Can we please talk about my new shoes for a second? I LOVE THEM. They’re the Jeffrey Campbell Soiree Platform (in black), purchased from Nasty Gal though they’re currently sold out. You can still get the clear version from Andrea Biani.

4. Sweet Potato: Sweet potato is one of my most favourite foods in the world, so it’s no surprise I’ve been crushing on these recipes for sea salt & vinegar and cinnamon & honey sweet potato chips.

5. When In Doubt…: Pile cake and whipped cream into a shot class, add sprinkles and call it a cupcake shooter.

{Image: My own}

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Last night I was lucky enough to go along to the Designer Garage Sale VIP Preview Evening (thanks Dani!) and check out the sale stock along with 250 other people before the event opened to the public. In a nutshell, the Designer Garage Sale is an amazing one-stop sale, where you’re able to purchase past season/discontinued/sample stock from New Zealand designers – this year’s lineup included sees Ingrid Starnes, Lonely Hearts, Huffer, and plenty more! Though I’ve been to a few of the DGS’ in the past, I’d have to say this was the best yet – in part due to the wonderful Venue – Victoria Park Market!. Though I only bought a couple of things, there was plenty that caught my eye. See below for my favourites… My actual purchases are at the end!

{At the Blak stall}

{Saben bracelets – only $39, reduced from $60!}

{I very much wanted what will forever be known as the ‘Crazy Bird Dress’ found on the Blak stall –  unfortunately the size just wasn’t quite right}

{Ingrid Starnes}

{Plenty of patterns at the Huffer stall}

{Chaos & Harmony had some gorgeous shoes at ridiculous prices}

{Wonderful Eyewear by Linda Farrow – regret not picking a pair of these up}

{Jewellery by Esteem}

{Saving the best til last – so much Lonely Hearts goodness!}

{Plus Lonely Lingerie…}

{Instax were there with discounted cameras and film!}

{My purchases}

I purchased the above Lonely Hearts dress, two packets of Instax film including a 10 pack of their new (?) Candy Pop which features a polka dot border, and a silver chain bracelet from Esteem. Funny story about the dress. I initially could only find it in a size 10, which I was considering purchasing and getting taken in. However, I noticed a few smaller sizes floating around. I spent the next 10 minutes or so loitering to see if the girls purchasing them would go through with it. At least one of them didn’t, so I snapped it up. Totally worth waiting around and looking awkward for!

Thanks Lonely Hearts for an epic selection of sale stock, and a huge thank you to Paul Blomfield PR for organising the event!

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Tim & I have been looking for a new place for awhile now.. and let me tell you, it’s not easy. Though its pictures of beautiful homes that keep me motivated in the hopes of finding a place I can turn into the space I want. Lotta Agaton’s home in Stockholm, recently featured in Residence magazine, is one of my favourites. It is, in my view, the perfect balance between clean, modern white and black softened by earthy accents (wood, greenery) with stylish bottles, framess, and other knick knacks around the home keeping the mood fresh and adding plenty of character.

{Styling: Lotta Agaton, Photos: Pia Ulin}

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I’ve had one of those whirlwind of a weekends where everything happens far too fast and any time you’d put aside for yourself {read: blog} goes very much amiss. A weekend where the whirlwind was very much worth it! Tim & I ventured up to the coast for a friend of mine’s beautiful wedding in a backyard overlooking the ocean. Breathtakingly beautiful. We spent the night out there with family – a well-needed miniature getaway {note to self: getaway more often}. I hope you also had wonderful weekend – check out last week’s most loved below.

1. Bloggers & Cocktails: This week Dani, Sarah & I held the launch of the NZ Blog Collective at Fukuko in Auckland. We were excited to meet such an awesome bunch of people {read: bloggers!) & can’t wait for the next one. Check out the photos on our Facebook page here.

2. Drink Up: These San Pellegrino Blood Orange Mojitos’s look like they’d actually be super easy to make. Tasty, too!

3. White Out: It’s not entirely appropriate given we’re heading into autumn, however this week I’ve been obsessing over the colour white. Case in point – this bag and this skirt.

4. Cookie Craving: I’ve been ogling cookie recipes lately. In particular these white chocolate & macadamia and Nutella lava cookie cups. Omfg.

5. Burberry Hearts: I  am freaking out about Burberry’s heart print from the Burberry Prorsum Fall 2013 collection shown at LFW. While the entire collection is beautiful, sometimes it is the simplest things that have the most impact.

{Image: NZ Blog Collective}

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Country Road blouse, Moochi shorts, ROC sunglasses, boutique bag, COOP necklace, ASOS watch, Overland wedges

I own an inappropriate amount of polka-dotted pieces, but this top felt different enough to add to my collection. I love how it is just the right amount of loose so not to drown you in it. The silk fabric is a bonus… and somewhat a necessity in this summer heat. I love the combination of black and brown – simple yet unexpected at the same time. On a more technical note, this is Tim & I’s new favourite spot for photos! It’s a quiet & secluded spot near one of our regular jaunts in Albany. This weekend we tried out some new settings with the camera and I love the result. Care and patience really are everything in… well, everything.

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I’m not sure how summer is almost over, as I’m definitely not ready to welcome back the cooler months! Though I am hoping March & April are like they were last year, it still seems far to soon for Autumn to be arriving. That said, I am enjoying the first of winter 2013 trickling into stores, and there are a few coats and boots I have my eye on. Though too soon to buy without worrying about jinxing winter into coming early. Have a wonderful weekend!

1. Polaroids of Shoes: My favourite online shoe store, Solestruck shot a look book entitled ‘Polaroids of Shoes.’ It is what it is and it’s amazing.

2. Mad Men porn: Orla Kiely AW13 is one of the best executions of Mad Men inspired styles I’ve seen, and Carrie from Wish Wish Wish’s photos of the presentation are amazing. Model’s played secretary - answering phones and tapping away on typewriters in-between posing for photos. So, so good.

3. NZ Blog Collective: My friends and I recently launched the NZ Blog Collective – a platform for NZ bloggers to meet & greet, connect, and collaborate. We’re hosting our first event on Wednesday in the Auckland CBD area next week. If you’re interested, you can RSVP on Facebook!

4. Mmm… pie: I made Sophie’s recipe for Bacon & Egg Pie as featured on Kiwi Faves this week. While many people feel very strongly again adding anything other than bacon & eggs to said pie.. I think the more the better. This recipe includes pesto, cherry tomatoes, and parsley for a delicious, herby twist! Check out the result below.

5. Tasty photography: I stumbled onto this eBook on food photography by Lindsay of Pinch of Yum last weekend, and after ‘umming’ about it for a few hours I went and bought it. It’s called Tasty Food Photography and was totally worth the US$19 I spent on it. Plus I’ve found the tips useful not only for food photography but outfit photos t0o. Check if out!

(Images: DSquared2, My own)

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I made these cupcakes for my friend’s son’s 1st birthday – I figured they’d be perfect as his name is right out of Sesame Street. I used Chocolate Cupcake and Buttercream Icing recipes out of Marian Keyes – Saved by Cake, and improvised with it came to the decorating after browsing through a good 10 or so different ways of putting them together.

I heaped the icing on using a spoon, and then using a fine-tipped nozzle, dotted little ‘threads’ all over the cupcakes. This is a time consuming process, and it’s up to you how much effort you put into it (though as always with these sorts of things, the more effort the better the result). For the eyes I used white chocolate buttons, and drew the eyes on using Chocolate Writing Fudge. For the cookies I broke Cookie Time cookies into thirds before sticking them in my monster’s mouths.

All in all – a fairly easy method for achieving a ‘wow’ result! Mr 1 certainly thought so, with the icing all over his face at the end of the day giving the game away.

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A spring shoot inspired by 60′s mod and shot against a lush, suburban background – I want to be there right now. All nonchalant & unapologetically neat & well groomed. And how cute are those handbags? I’m drawing a lot of style inspiration from this shoot – space-age glasses with lady-like dresses, sharp white blouses, short mod skirts, and pointed flats. I just need the Balenciaga, Prada, and Louis Vuitton to pull it all together.

(Images: Fashion Gone Rogue)

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Weekend! Where did you go? Tim & I hosted our engagement party on Saturday night, so naturally we spent most of Saturday getting ready and sorting out the details. The evening was amazing! We held it at Everybody’s in downtown Auckland, on their lovely mezzanine which was the perfect setting for plenty of drinks, little nibbles, and fun with Fijifilm Instax. I guess now it’s time to start planning a wedding? I hope you’ve had a fab weekend yourself! Check out my most love things this week after the jump.

1. Tripping Daisies: Nasty Gal’s newest spring look book is bursting with daises, denim, dots, and lace. My picks are the Daisy Days Bustier (though already sold out, boo) and Straight Laced Dress.

2. Fortune telling: This DIY for fruit roll-up fortune cookies is far too cute to not to share… And it has so been noted for my next party!

3. Sweet treat: This recipe for DIY 15-minute after dinner mints looks like it’s sure to impress. All you need are Oreos, dark chocolate, and mint extract. Yum.

4. Summer prints: Oracle Fox shot an amazing set of photographs in a gorgeous Josh Goot printed dress. Warning – these photos are stunning and may leave you wanting to get yourself to a beach with a can of Coke in hand pronto.

5. Make me for dinner now: I was literally salivating as I scrolled through the images from this pasta recipe – Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Herb. Omfg.

Find pins from this week’s ‘Most Loved’ on my Pinterest page here.

(Image: My own)

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