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Deluxe Triple Vanilla Chocolate Cupcakes…
“The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE!” Terry Moore I had these little beauties tucked away in my drafts folder for a bit. They are a variation on the regular vanilla cupcakes I often make, but this time I decided to give them a vanilla overdose! Three types of vanilla in there, and they sang the vanilla anthem! Always fun to try a twist on a recipe which is a keeper and works well with variations. A short post today as the kitchen is under renovation and not much baking is happening. When we built our house almost 12 years ago, modular kitchens were…
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{Baking} COFFEE & VANILLA BEAN MACARONS … Mac Summers Night Dream
“We mac-a-holics are like cats, we will ALWAYS land on our feet, especially when we have each other 4 support!” Julia @ Always Room For Dessert on twitter My childhood whizzed by in careless abandon. All her time went in telling me to read more books, read something, and not while my time away. I offered her my deaf ear! I was far too busy climbing trees, jumping off 7 feet walls, {landing on my feet}, catching tadpoles, noisily eating mangoes and tamarind from the trees in our yard, painting for hours together. That was when I was younger. As I grew and the years continued to whiz by, she…
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In the jar with … Strawberry Vanilla Bean Conserve
“Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did” William Allen Butler I don’t think there ever was or can be a more luscious, a more colourful and a more passionate berry than the strawberry. It’s beautifully shaped… c’mon, how many more berries would give us perfect hearts on being cross sectioned? Each time I see them, my heart skips a beat. I’ve done loads of strawberry stuff this season, and would have happily done loads more had I not felt guilty of dessert overdose. I think strawberries are the perfect dessert ingredient, and compliment most cheeses and tropical fruit. Strawberries in pastry, in cake, in…
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Orange Patisserie Tartlets with Candied Tangerines … A Hand For Haiti
“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.” Native American Proverb My days of orange seem neverending! Orange seems to be colouring my world with its refreshing colour and fragrance! I made these delectable little pastry tartlets a while ago when the tangerine season began. I had left over tangerines from making this fantastic Bitter Orange Marmalade, and the idea for the tartlets and candied tangerines was inspired by a post I saw at Helen’s @ Tartlette. The picture remained in my mind for long. Fortunately with left over tangerines on one particular day, I also had left-over egg yolks! From where? Where else? No prizes for guessing…
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Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: NO MEAN BEAN – A VANILLA BEAN
Ah, you flavor everything; you are the vanilla of society” Sydney Smith When Foodbuzz invited proposals for September’s 24 24 24 I knew it was time to explore my favourite bean, and I’m thrilled they picked me. No, I’m not talking about the French bean, neither the kidney, not the haricot, unfortunately not the java bean…and NO, not even Rowan Atkinson. It was time to get to the heart of the VANILLA BEAN! My exposure to this intriguing bean, in essence, actually knowledge of it’s very existence came via 2 of my favourite blogs – Canelle et Vanille & Tartlette. Both blogs beautifully inspirational, nurtured by ‘Pastry Chef’ bloggers who…
