Monday, April 30, 2012

On my mind... April showers

Can you believe that it's the month of May already? This year is just passing me by. Hopefully this month we will see less rain and more sunshine. Although I shouldn't really complain since I love a good thunderstorm. There's nothing more lovely than snuggling with the one you love while the weather gods wreak havoc outside.  I'm loving the look of the yellow Hunter wellies below. You really could pair them with anything, but I especially love a good yellow and blue combo.

April showers

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Wardrobe Diaries: Khaki planes

A well fitting safari dress is another one of my summer wardrobe staples, they're super versatile and always in season. I especially love the full skirt on this dress, it gives it a 50's feel.


{ armani exchange safari dress . zara print scarf . foley+corinna letter satchel . steve madden shoes . belt by seed . amit singh beaded bracelet . tom ford aviators }

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Passionfruit Yoyos

Ahhh yoyos, you never cease to fail me. These are my go-to treats for when I need a little sugar hit. They are small enough so you don't feel guilty, and big enough to leave you feeling satisfied. Did I mention how delicious they were? The only thing better than having a yoyo with a nice cuppa, is having a passionfruit flavoured one. 

This recipe creates the perfect crumbly, melts-in-your-mouth biscuit texture while the addition of passionfruit gives the otherwise ordinary yoyo an unexpected twist.

xx Jenee C. 

Passionfruit yoyos perfect for morning tea. 
Ingredients
Make sure you sifting the sugar and flour to create an airy melt-in-mouth texture.
Biscuit dough ready to be rolled into balls
Roll dough into teaspoon size ball.
Flatten with a fork dipped in flour to 1cm thickness
Finished yoyos with passionfruit icing. Serve with icing sugar sprinkled over.
Enjoy! 

Ingredients
250g unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sifted icing sugar
2 cup sifted plain flour
1/3 cup sifted corn starch

Passionfruit filling
6og butter, softened
1tbsp passionfruit pulp
1 cup sifted icing sugar

Method
1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celcius and line cookie trays with parchment paper.
2. With a mixer on medium-high, cream butter, vanilla and sugar till light and fluffy.
3. Sift flour into mixture, beat on low speed till dough is formed. 
4. Roll a teaspoon of mixture into small ball. Place on tray. Using a clean fork dipped in flour, flatten each ball to 1cm thickness. 
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until firm. Cool completely before use. 
6. Prepare passionfruit icing: with a mixer, cream butter, sugar and passionfruit pulp till mixture is light and fluffy.
7. Spread one side of one biscuit with 1 teaspoon of filling. Top with another biscuit and repeat. Dust with icing sugar to serve. 

Recipe adapted from taste.com.au

Friday, April 27, 2012

Friday's fancies

Button envy. I bet these would look great on a blazer of mine. 


My family in a nutshell.


Homemade fried rice- shrimp, dried scallops, egg white and broccoli.


With sunshine comes road trips.


Welcoming spring to my garden.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wardrobe diaries: Storm's a brewin


 Injecting some colour to the horrid weather we're having this week. Could do with a blue sky day right about now.



{ burberry short trench coat . u by unagro dress . foley + corrina clutch . omega watch . boots from overseas . jennifer zuener heart necklace . gorjana three bead necklace . ariel gordon dual birthstone ring }

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Wardrobe diaries: Splash of yellow

{ jigsaw blazer . marcs stripe dress . dooney & burke mini satchel . wedges by guess . sunglasses by pucci . longines watch . bracelet gift . ariel gordon dual birthstone ring . jennifer zuener heart necklace . nail colours muchi muchi by essie and wear something spar-kylie by OPI . lip colour watermelon by clinique }

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Salted caramel banana jar cake

These delicious little treats were baked for our monthly bunco night. No kids, no husbands, just good old fashion girl time. This banana cake recipe is dense and moist and the salted caramel frosting perfectly balances out the sweetness.  I like to garnish with caramel drizzle to give the cake some crunch. Plus being baked into a jar makes it all the more fun to eat. Everything is better in a cute little mason jar right?

xx Jenee C.

Salted caramel frosted banana jar cake.
Ingredients for banana cake.

Cream butter, sugar and eggs together and add buttermilk. 
Add flour to cake mixture. 
Add mashed banana and lemon juice to mixture.

Beat until mixture is smooth. 

Fill jars 2/3 with mixture. Wipe off excess batter before baking.
Now your banana cakes are ready for icing and decorating.
Banana cake recipe 

Ingredients
12 pint sized canning jars. 
  • 1 1/2 cups bananas , mashed, ripe
  • teaspoons lemon juice
  • cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup butter , softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • large eggs
  • teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Method
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees and sanitise mason jars by boiling for 10 minutes.
2. Mash bananas with lemon juice, set aside.
3. In a different bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt.
4. In another bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Beat in eggs one at a time, stir in vanilla.
6. Beat in buttermilk, followed by flour and banana mixture.
7. Beat mixture on medium high till smooth.
8. Pour batter into jars, leaving 1/3 of jar space for cake to rise.
9. Bake in oven for one hour, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45 minutes.  This step will make the cake very moist. 
11. Remove from freezer, scoop out additional cake mixture to create a flat level surface to add frosting (see below). 






  • Recipe adapted from food.com

    Heat sugar and water in saucepan till mixture thickens and develops a dark amber colour.

    Frosting ready for use. Add additional salt to taste.

    Drizzle caramel onto icing to create a crunchy contrast

    Decorate and enjoy!




















































































  • Salted caramel frosting recipe
  • Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

  • Method
  • 1. Add 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tbsp water to small saucepan and bring to a boil. Continue cooking on medium-high heat without stirring till mixture turns dark amber in colour, about 6 to 7 minutes. 
  • 2. Remove from heat and slowly add cream and vanilla, stirring until completely smooth. Set aside until cool to the touch, about 25 minutes.
  • 3. Beat butter and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low, add powdered sugar and mix until completely incorporated.
  • 4. Add caramel to frosting mixture, beat on medium-high until caramel is thoroughly mixed. 
  • 5. Add frosting to pre-prepared banana jar cakes. Refrigerate overnight. 

  • Recipe adapted from chow.com




    Friday, April 20, 2012

    Friday's fancies


    Afternoons like this make me stop and appreciate all that I have in life.












    Is there anything better than waking up to coffee and sunshine?





































                                      



    Whenever I look at this ring I think of my two little monkeys. Pearl birthstone for the big monkey and sapphire for the little one.
      


    Starting the day off right... which I don't get to do very often.














































    This image makes me smile.

    Thursday, April 19, 2012

    Wardrobe diaries: Royal blue and dark

    I just love how versatile this Catherine Malandrino maxi skirt is.  It works just as easily with flip flops as it does with heels. Here I have it paired with a navy 3/4 length ribbed sweater from GAP and Burberry scarf. 





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