My Homework

So much has happened in the last few months. I have decided to finally pursue my dream since I was little of going to culinary school. So I applied! AND I got in!!! I seriously cannot wait to start...can I just start now? Its going to be quite a journey, challenging but oh so fulfilling and exciting.

 I have loved my job at Bluebells Cakery and working in the front of house with the customers is a lot of fun because everyone is so happy (except those few people who are in such a hurry and order coffee without a response to "Good morning, how are you today?" Instead they just reply, "Regular flat white, one sugar." But other then those people, its so nice to see how happy everyone is.) Last weekend since everyone was sick/away in the back, I got to step up and decorate in the back! I decorated loaves, mini cupcakes, filling orders as they came my way. And on Sunday, I really stepped up and decorated almost all of the cupcakes for the shop! (Thanks Karla for your guidance :) ) Anyway, I can't wait to see what my future holds at Bluebells, but I love my little family. <3

I was told to do some practice at home of doing the famous Bluebells signature swirl on the cupcakes,  and its MUCH harder than it may seem. But regardless, Im thrilled with how they turned out.





So I also made homemade pork and cabbage dumplings!! I even made the dough and rolled each one out one by one! Took forever and a bit fiddly, but TOTALLY worth it! They were such a hit.

Cupcakes x2!

So last week I started work at Blubells Cakery in the front of house staff and was inspired by all of the beautiful pastries that we sell, so I decided to grab by copy of their cookbook and whip up a couple batches of their cupcakes, but put my twist on both of them.

The first cupcake I made was a Lemon Coconut Cupcake. It is a vanilla bean cake with with a lemon curd filling and vanilla cream cheese frosting, topped with coconut threads. 

The second cupcake I made was a chocolate cake with a dulce de leche filling and a dark chocolate ganache frosting.

Miscellaneous Baking

I have had a relaxing summer and spent some time baking several different things for friends and family.

One of the things I made was a triple chocolate chunk salted caramel brownie.

           

 

Another one was a vanilla bean cupcake filled with chocolate ganache and hazelnut praline shards.

       

       

Banana Dulce De Leche Cake

For Oscar's 17th Birthday, I made him a banana cake with alternating layers of dulce de leche and chocolate ganache filling topped with a vanilla bean buttercream and garnished with almond praline.  Everyone loved it and went down a treat!

Salted Caramel Brownie Cookie Bars

So its summer and since I have some free time, I decided to make these. After spending a few weeks in California over Christmas, I was inspired by everything being so decadent over there. 

And out came the idea inspired by a 'slutty brownie' which is a chocolate chip cookie base with oreo cookies in the middle and a layer of brownie on top. But since I didn't have any oreos or anything similar, I decided to fill it with salted caramel. And thus, I give you the salted caramel slutty brownie.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ah, so parts of Auckland have been without power for a few days now, driving everyone insane...me included. But after getting our power back we went round to my Aunt and Uncles house and I made some cupcakes for my cousins birthday. 

They are my infamous red velvet cupcakes--an American classic, but who doesn't love a good one. This recipe is tried and true, and has never let me down. Will always be a crowd favourite!

Red Velvet cupcakes with vanilla bean cream cheese frosting 

Banana Salted Caramel Cake

It is my grandparents birthdays this week and since I am down at Lake Rotoiti for the weekend, I decided to make a birthday cake for them. It is a banana cake with salted caramel and cream cheese frosting filling with a brown sugar swiss meringue buttercream.

So Happy Birthday Nana and Pop (Pasty and Buzz)!