marzipan chunk cupcakes

I have been very lucky recently to have a friend working at my local library! You can't believe how handy it is to have an 'in' when it comes to public book sharing! My favourite part of this set up is the fact that my 'Library Fairy' as I call him, requests books on my behalf that he see's and think's i'll like, every now and then I get a message from the library telling me Heston Blumenthal's season 2 is ready for pick up and there they are on the reserved shelf waiting to for me... It's brilliant! 

So on receipt of my newly suggested book I discover a recipe for Marzipan Chunk Cupcakes. Now to the Library Fairy, the modern lack of interest in marzipan products is one of the great tragedy's of the 21st century, he absolutely loves the stuff and firmly believes that more attention should be paid to it's sweet almondy goodness in modern gastronomy! So something is beginning to tell me that this book suggestion may have a more sinister intent than simply food based literary altruism, but it's raining outside, the perfect day for baking and cups of tea so i've whipped up a cheeky thank you dozen. 

the 'just leave me alone with this cake and a spoon for a few hours' flourless chocolate cake

The lovely Catherine and Suresh were married this Saturday in gorgeous fairytale style, a special occasion I was so blessed to be a part of.

The first special part of the day was our lovely friends at Bar 9 www.bar9.com.au opening specially for us at a bleary eyed 6.30 in the morning so we ladies could kick start our day with amazing coffee before our hair and makeup marathon. It certainly made dragging myself out of bed at 5.30 in the AM a lot easier! So a thank you cake is in order! The inspiration; The cake we were treated with at Catherine's high tea at Coriole Vineyard which had me (sightly tipsyingly) professing marriage intentions towards the waiter's mother who had made this incredibly seductive creation! (or at least a joint baking focussed spinsterhood growing old and baking together - what bliss!)

a Christmas catch up!

Christmas Christmas Christmas! The season has been so busy, cooking and eating it's taken me this long to sit down and write about it! With Mum down visiting it felt quite full in my little house and my kitchen is not really a kitchen for two but we did Christmas preparations in style, after heading up to the hills and indulging in a Chocovino (chocolate and wine tasting) experience at Hahndorf Hill Winery (the staff of which now know me by name - I think i need to avoid the place for a while, it's getting embarrassing!) we headed home with a bottle of Veuve Champagne, plenty of homemade truffles and Adelaide Hills cherries to nibble, while I cooked my little heart out I'm surprised we ate that night!