Chocolate Mud Cake

Chocolate Mud Cake topped with a marzipan rose

A classic chocolate mud cake recipe which is not too dense and sweet.  This recipe is easy to adapt to a gluten free mixture using a gluten free pre-mixed flour blend.  This has become my go to chocolate cake recipe and it can be used to make cute cupcakes or if the recipe is doubled it could become a large tray cake. Yum!

Happy Birthday to me

A shabby chic Happy Birthday to me

I made a disastrous attempt to make some chocolate mud cupcakes for my birthday.  Disastrous as in: they exploded in the oven kind of disaster.  Given that I’m nearly a fully graduated pastry chef I was shattered that I couldn’t seem to whip up a simple batch of cupcakes.  Having realised that I used the wrong recipe I breathed a sigh of relief, laughed at myself and decided to turn the novelty cake we were making in class into my birthday cake.

Chef Secrets - Interview with Rumble Chat

Rumble Chat is a great blog created by 2 foodies to help other foodies make the most of Social Media.  They understand Social Media, and they understand food.  I was delighted when they contacted me and asked to interview me for their blog. I have copied the interview below but they have heaps of recipes from some great chefs from around the world on their blog.

Interview with Rumble Chat 
Today we hear from Australia again (the first time was interview number 40, Bev Vahland). Julie is a trainee pastry chef who also blogs at Sweetgum Bakery (as you'll find out below, she's rather partial to chocolate!). Thanks for your time Julie, stay in touch, we'd like to know what you get up to once you graduate!

Aussie scrolls for ANZAC day (wheat free)

It's a cold and wintry day in the hills today.  Given the fact that its ANZAC day tomorrow I spent the afternoon making savoury Aussie scrolls.  Cheese and tomato scrolls are an Aussie staple so here is my version.

Tomato and cheese scroll

Vanilla anniversary biscuits

Paper is the gift given for a first wedding anniversary.  In keeping with tradition I bought my husband a writing set but I couldn't resist baking these cookies...they are supposed to be for a wedding but why not relive the happy memories on your anniversary day

vanilla biscuits pre-bake