My Version of a Fredoccino

Photography by Alan Benson

I guess this drink could also just be called a Mocha Frappe or something similar because that's essentially what it is, a chocolate coffee drink blended with ice. However, my main intention with this drink was to recreate the fredoccino's you get in Greece which are THE BEST ever.... I'm totally biased, but that's the way I roll....

Any who... this drink is perfect for hot weather like this heat wave we are having in Sydney & I usually make double the amount because I know how yummy it is!

Ingredients:

2 cups ice cubes
80ml (1/3 cup) Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur (I use the creme caramel version)
1 tsp instant coffee - increase the amount if your a coffee lover like my partner!
1 1/2 cups milk

1/4 tsp caster/white sugar

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
Chocolate topping, to serve

Method:

1. Place ice cubes, Baileys, instant coffee, milk, sugar and ice cream in the jug of your blender and blend until almost smooth.

2. Grab your glasses (preferably chilled) and swirl some chocolate topping around the glass artistically (no artistic ability needed).

3. Pour drink into the glass & serve immediately.

This recipe makes enough for two in tall glasses.

Alternatives:

~For kids, leave out the Baileys & add a dash of vanilla essence.

~For a more decadent cocktail, top with whipped cream & shaved chocolate or some more ice cream & chocolate sauce.

~Experiment with different toppings to swirl on the glass like caramel or choc mint flavours.

Georgie's Nanna's 80th

I did these cupcakes last year for Georgie's Nanna's 80th.

The theme she gave me to work with was an antique/old world look with a light pink/brown/pearl theme. She also ordered a mini cake so her Nanna would have something to cut. I did a mix of chocolate & vanilla cupcakes & a chocolate mini-cake.

Thanks to Georgie for taking some pictures for me as i forgot to take some myself before sending them to her! These cupcakes were decorated with buttercream & fondant.

Thanks again Georgie & I hope your Nanna had an awesome birthday! xx

Pancake Thursday!

Picture provided by taste.

I just adore pancakes on a sunday morning! Pancakes are so budget friendly and take only a couple minutes to whip up. I used to make mounds of them on a saturday morning after a big night when I would wake up to 5 - 8 men asleep on my loungeroom floor & really really hungry! So here is my fool proof recipe...

Ingredients

2 cups Plain flour (if you like thin pancakes) or Self raising flour (if you like fluffly pancakes)
1 ½ cups Milk
1 Egg
2 tbs White sugar
1 tsp Vanilla essence
30g Butter melted

Method

~Sift flour into a mixing bowl. Add milk, egg, suga, vanilla essence & melted butter and mix for a couple of minutes. Dont worry if there are still a few lumps here and there.
~Heat a non stick frypan on medium & melt a little more butter in it. Cook pancakes one at a time for a minute or two each side (depending on how big you are making them).
~Eat.

Its so simple, and I really dont know what people still buy the packet mix where you just add water when it only takes you a minute or two extra and costs you a fraction of the price!

My favourite Variations

~ Put some choclate chips into the batter and serve with ice cream for dessert.
~ Sandwich pancakes with a vanilla cheese cake mixture by mixing cream cheese with a few tbs sugar and a tbs vanilla extract.
~ Serve with mixed berries, whipped cream & maple syrup.
~ Serve with a bit of lemon juice on top & a sprinkle of caster sugar.

Now go forth and eat pancakes!

Love & kisses on both cheeks,
Sunny xxx

The Easiest Chocolate Mousse

I just adore this chocolate mousse and it usually takes me about 10 – 15 minutes to make and an hour in the fridge which is a dream come true when your already buzzing around cooking a million things for a dinner party!

Ingredients (serves 6)

125g good-quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
125g good-quality milk chocolate, roughly chopped
3 eggs
1 ½ tbs caster sugar
1 tbs good-quality cocoa powder, sifted
300ml thickened cream, plus extra whipped cream to serve

Method

1. Place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl & cook in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If chocolate isn't fully melted yet, put it back in for another minute. Set aside to cool slightly.

2. Place eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat with electric beaters for 5 minutes, or until mixture is pale, thick and doubled in volume. Fold in cooled chocolate and cocoa powder until combined.

3. In a separate bowl, whip cream until thickened (be careful not to over-beat but make sure if forms stiff peaks). Use a large metal spoon to carefully fold the cream into the chocolate mixture, trying to keep the mixture as light as possible. Spoon into 6 serving glasses and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour. When ready to serve remove from fridge and top with extra whipped cream and grated chocolate or some extra cocoa.

4. Eat it like its going out of fashion.... trust me, you'll love it.

Variations

~For a yummy nightcap add your favourite spirit. To keep it French, go for Cognac (or another quality brandy) or Grand Marnier, adding 1 tablespoon to the melting chocolate.

~For a flavour twist, add a tablespoon of vanilla extract to the chocolate as it melts.

~Chocolate and coffee make a great pairing, so if your feeling like a pick me up try adding two tablespoons of prepared strong black coffee to the chocolate when melting.

~For a cool treat, serve the mousse as a semifreddo - freeze for about 3 hours (but don't freeze solid). Its great for summer!

Enjoy my fellow chocolate lovers!

Love & kisses on both cheeks,

Sunny xxx

RSPCA Cupcake Day

This year was the first RSPCA Cupcake day. After my friends at work alerted me to that fact we got to planning! above is the top layer of our 'tea lady' trolley that we wheeled around most of the morning. We managed to raise almost $400.00!

Here is the trolley in all its glory. My boss made some vegetarian curry pizzas to sell (on cupcake day?) and they went suprisingly fast!!

Here are some of the chocolate crackles we made. We all went over to Suzie's house on the sunday before and had a massive bake off. It was soooo much fun!

Here are Suzie and Georie filling the chocolate moulds and to the left you can see the chocolate dipped butter biscuit half bones.... complicated i know.


And the cupcakes pre-icing. It was at this point we all got on our sugar high and didnt manage to take anymore photos :)

Tash's Baby Shower!

For Tash's Baby Shower I made her some vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream. It was a great shower and the food was incredible! A big welcome to baby Georgia who is the smallest and cutest thing i've seen in a while!

Pam's Birthday Cake #2

Here is cake number two. Its a Chocolate Mud Cake (my specialty) and its covered in vanilla buttercream.



For this cake Pam said she wanted the icing Lilac and i was free to use my imagination for the rest! It has white chocolate writing and decoration.



I used the extra baileys cream for the white swirls and covered them in silver cachous.
Pam was very happy with both her cakes and i hope she had a wonderful birthday!!!