Like me, my sister is an avid baker. Unlike me, she’s also a brilliant cake designer. You can see her beautifully-crafted cakes for all occasions here. What she does is truly amazing since every single detail on her cakes is made, moulded and rolled by hand. More on this in a future post because right now I really need to tell you about these cinnamon rolls she made last week. They’re such a classic and to be honest, never have been my favourite but that has definitely changed.
Three nights ago, papa was away on a business trip, Georgie was fast asleep and I could have killed for a piece of chocolate. But as most parents will know, once the kids are in bed and you are on your own, you’re trapped. You ain’t going nowhere. Not even for chocolate. So I did what any woman in need of chocolate (or addicted to it) would do: I went through every single shelf, cupboard and hiding place in the kitchen. Lo and behold, a paper bag of premium dark Belgian chocolate. My frantic search could have ceased right there but this was cooking chocolate and my mind began churning out ideas. Whatever I would do with this opportunity, it had to be quick (no brownies, which was what the bag of chocolate was intended for in the first place) and as low-cal as possible (no hot chocolate drinks or marshmallows involved).
One of my resolutions for 2013 was to stop throwing out food. Buying too much and ultimately forgetting about it is an awful habit and one that most of us are guilty of. Since moving houses, having a semi-organised kitchen and becoming more involved in cooking, I am aware of what I purchase and use. There is still room for improvement though and that’s why I get excited when I stumble upon food-saving tips. Simple and easy to do, some of these tips will save you money and others will add a natural healthy touch to your dishes.
On one particularly chilly night in between episodes of The Walking Dead, papa requested custard. I searched through my pantry only to discover a tin of expired custard powder. Bother. A bowl of warm custard was not destined to be eaten that night, however, I thought it was the perfect excuse to finally make my own. From scratch. I turned to trusty old Jamie Oliver because custard is, after all, a traditional English dessert, referred to by the French as crème anglaise, and who better than Jamie to ease me into my first go.
Packing Georgie’s lunch box is, apparently, a thrilling task. I have so much fun with it (most times) and try to include exciting yet healthy options. Apart from the school’s ‘no nut policy’, which means peanut butter is out of the question (boohoo) I think the possibilities are endless. I set time aside in the evening to get as much as I can ready for the morning and always keep in mind that I am feeding a three-year old, so small portions and bite-sized pieces are key. I photographed some of the lunches and snacks I put together during Georgie’s first and second week. Let’s see how long this lasts! (ha!)