White vanilla cake with cinnamon buttercream icing

Dreamy White Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

This Dreamy white cake with cinnamon buttercream frosting is a basic 1-2-3-4 cake.  Getting it’s name from the proportions of its basic ingredients, it is so easy you will always remember it without even having to reference a recipe.  I have added my favourite cinnamon buttercream frosting to give it a subtle spicy flavour. Continue Reading

Coconut Lentil Curry

Coconut Green Lentil Curry

A little savoury to tantalise your tastebuds today.   This is my take on a traditional Indian Dhal, with Cape Malay and  Thai influences. The Coconut cream gives a subtle hint of sweetness to this dish, while the chilli and spices gives it a kick. Serve this delicious lentil curry with steaming fragrant Jasmine rice, and add Paneer for an added protein boost to a vegetarian diet. Continue Reading

Dark chocolate mousse

3 Ingredient Rich Chocolate Mousse

Once again Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us and if you do not have time to make something exoctic why not whip up this quick and easy Rich Chocolate Mousse. There are plenty of mousse recipes out there which call for heavy cream, loads of butter and  dreaded gelatine. These are usually  time consuming to make, and the results can be so unpredictable.  Here is a quick 3 ingredient Chocolate Mousse which is straight forward,  yet still has the rich, intense chocolate flavour needed for a beautiful mousse.  If you are into dark chocolate this recipe is for you, as it has only a hint of sugar.

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Decadent chocolate cake

Decadent Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache

It’s February so lets celebrate the month of Love with chocolate and roses. This Decadent Chocolate Cake is a simple Devil Food Cake, dense, moist, dark,  and utterly delicious.   No need for any fancy decorations, just add a few roses and you are good to go.

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Coffee cake with lemon curd

Lemon Coffee Cake

There is nothing sweeter than a New Year, filled with hope and wonderful new ideas. After a month away from blogging, baking and food shoots, I am excited at the prospect of sharing some amazing new food ideas that I have picked up during my travels to London and the USA.  This year I am planning on travelling as little as possible after spending four months away from home last year.  There are no fancy new year’s resolutions for me this year, its going to be all about month long goals, which I think I can realistically achieve. Continue Reading

Happy Holidays

 As the year draws to an end I always reflect on what I have done and what the new year brings.  Once again I feel so blessed that I have been healthy and had the opportunity to really make the most of this amazing year.

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Chocolate and Vanilla Layer Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream

 There are so many ways to decorate a cake for Christmas without having to spend hours on making fancy icing decorations.  Here are two that I made using Christmas decorations that I had in my cupboard.  Play around with colour schemes and fun themes to adorn your Christmas cake this year.    Continue Reading

Christmas Cake tray bake shades of cinnamon

Christmas Cake Tray Bake

Fruity, light and and spicy – this year’s delicious light Christmas Cake.  Made in a tray, it is perfect for a “quick night before, forgot to make a Christmas Cake”, kind of cake.  Heavy fruit mince Christmas Cakes are a thing of the past, and this one has a small amount of fruit mince with some candied ginger, citrus peel and banana to lighten it.  Its the type of cake you could make all year around without hesitation. Continue Reading

Mini chocolate bundt cakes

Mini Chocolate Bundt Cakes with Cherry Preserve

Whilst tidying my baking cupboard where I keep my stash of  baking pans, I came across my  beloved Bundt tins and trays.  And when I mean stash, I am not exaggerating.  One of my crazy obsessions is collecting baking trays, pans and vintage cutlery, along with every possible baking appliance on the planet.  Both old and new, each one has a special meaning to me.  So here is a little recipe to make in small bundt pans or as  cupcakes if you prefer. Continue Reading

BAKING 101 BY SHADES OF CINNAMON

Essential Guide to Baking 101

You’ve found your recipe,  donned your apron, and are ready to indulge in a morning of baking.  The beautifully photographed recipe in your new magazine or cookbook makes you confident that in mere moments your creation will be coming out of the oven, smelling and looking like the gourmet image in your book. But in reality we all know that is probably not going to happen. Before you rush into it, there are steps that have to be considered and followed to make your recipe a success and a keeper. Success in baking depends on precise measurements and proper handling of both ingredients and the tools required for each recipe.

Baking is not guess work it is a science, which needs to be followed closely for perfect  results. Continue Reading