You've Got Mail!!!

As you may or may not already know.. My cupcake hero prizes arrived last week!!!
I was so excited to get home and see a parcel sitting at the front door - addressed to me!!

Here's what I got. Thanks again CB! (And of course the very talented people who amazingly made everything that I received!!)

The following is a re-enactment.... :)

A parcel? Who could that be from?

Why it's from CB of IHEARTCUPPYCAKES!! It must be my prizes!! EEEEEEEEEeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Quick make room on the bench!

Mmmmmmm smells like chocolate. ooohhh an oven mitt!!

ooohhhh TWO oven mitts!! SO cute. You can get one here.

How cute is this!! I always need note paper to jot down thoughts/measurments. You can find them here.

Whatever could be wrapped up in this tissue paper?

TEA TOWELS!!! Now I don't need to use mums. Or worry about brothers using them as mops. YAY! AND they're Christmas olours! Amazing!! Made by this very talented person.

How CUTE is this!! My Ipod definately needed a cover. I normally just throw it back into my bag.. But now my ipod is definately happier and a lot less scratched. Get them here.

Lipbalm. Chocolate and Buttercream. YUM!!
(This is what made the entire bag smell like chocolate) Amazing!!! Buy some here.

Don't these look good enough to eat. Too bad you can't eat them! They're MAGNETS!!!

I love the cute cupcake cases the one on the right is in! It has frogs and says "kiss me." Too Cute. 

Obama definately agrees that cupcakes are the way to go. Get some cuteness for your fridge here.

This box intrigued me. So I of course saved it for last!

Aren't they just the best!!! Check them out here. I love the rings they have!

I was all ready to pack up and throw out the tissue paper, when I saw this.. A note? For me?

A cute little note from CB, thanking ME for entering cupcake hero. CB you're the one who needs thanking.

And thankyou sponsors!!

Pancake Tuesday

Today is Pancake Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday). It's the day before lent starts.
People made pancakes on this day as a last feast before lent.
From Ash Wednesday (tomorrow) they were supposed to fast and refrain in eating things that gave them pleasure & enjoyment - such as pancakes! It's kind of like a last hurrah.
Eat all the good foods you can before you're not allowed to eat anymore..
My kind of day!!

My stepdad makes the best pancakes, but Mum and Simon are off jetsetting around Canada at the moment, so I had to make these on my own. Definately not the same... He must have some sort of special touch.

This is the book we've had forever. The one that he uses to make 'crepes suzette - the fancy pancakes'.

I'm pretty sure he doesn't need this book now - he knows the recipe off by heart, you can tell how much it has been used. (Only this page looks like this.. It's our favourite!)
I don't know if they're going to ever reprint this book, but if you see it, DEFINATELY buy it! It has more then just pancake recipes! It even tells you how to make scrambled eggs.

Here's how you can make them if you want to.
Maybe you already have your own favourite recipe!
You Will Need...

1 cup flour
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
Juice of half a smallish orange (the book says mandarin, but I didn't have any)
2 and a half tablespoons of oil

Sift the flour into a large bowl, and crack 2 eggs into the centre.
Mix them up until the eggs are combined with the flour.

Add the milk, a 1/4 of a cup at a time.

Continue to whisk the mixture until there are no lumps. (You can use your hand mixer/stand mixer if you want.)
Add the oil and the orange juice and continue whisking to make sure there is no lumps.

Pour into a jug/cup that is easier to pour the mixture out of. (This is what I call the 'pancake jug' - it's just always used for pancakes...) I have also never noticed that this jug has fluid ounces on it.. I have used so much time trying to figure out measurements! Now I don't have to!

Put some butter into your favourite frying pan.

Pour the pancake mixture into the middle of the pan. You don't want to pour too much, because you want these to be as thin as possible! Move the pan around in a circular motion to spread the mixture out thinner.

When the bottom is browned slightly, flip over and cook the other side. It doesn't take long, a minute or two.

Spread your favourite topping out on the pancake and roll it up.

Are you giving something up for lent this year? I'm thinking I will give up coffee.. I do drink an awful lot of it!

Dinner Party

My friend Jemma and I hosted a dinner party at my house on Friday night for Valentine's Day. It was just us and our close girl friends. It was FUN!

Decorations

Menu

Drinks

Entree

Pizza with tomato, basil and cheese

Main

Spaghetti with home made meatballs

Salad

Individual Garlic Breads

Dessert

Choc Mud Hearts

Chocolate covered Strawberries

Ice cream in chocolate cups with own choice of toppings.

You can find the recipe for the choc mud hearts here. They're good warm with ice cream and chocolate sauce. The recipe for which you can find here. Maybe one day, Jemma will reveal her spaghetti and meatball secrets to me, and I will then tell you! (Just don't tell Jemma)

Bee Mine

I made these for a friend to give to her husband. People call her 'B'..

Happy Love Day everyone!! I am off to a festival... :)

Recipe of The Week - Choc Mud Hearts

Make these choc mud hearts, and top with ice cream for the perfect dessert.

You Will Need..

Preheat oven to 150 degrees celsius and grease and line a pan with baking paper.

Place butter, chocolate, brown sugar and water into a pot.

Stir over low heat until melted. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Pour chocolate mixture into a large bowl and mix in the self raising flour, plain flour and egg.

Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes.

Allow cake to cool. Once cool, turn out and use a heart shapped cutter to cut out hearts.