Baby Bottom Cake

So I've slowed down in the cake world but over the weekend just gone, I made this really cute cake for the baby shower of a good friend to my super cool cousin.

It was a pretty simple and easy to go about.

All the best to the Mummy to be and hopefully your little princess brings you as much joy as mine have me.

Chic & cheap buys - happy Friday!

With a clashing time schedule, Friday evenings are usually our only time to dash out and pick up anything we need or to finally enjoy our kids before a busy weekend. But today, we needed to pickup some outfits for the kids for Saturday. And we managed it all in one stop, yay! Miracle!

Cotton On Pop Store at the Manukau Supacentre had it for us today ---- home to a few outlet chain stores in South Auckland. An awesome stop if you're looking for a quick bargain.

In under half an hour (record time), we walked out with 2 outfits for the kids.... And a floral grudge top for myself! Rang the teller in at an exceptional $38.50 --- SCORE! You'll soon learn that I am not hard on spending if I can save a buck.. Whatever the cause, payday or not - I won't leave the store, more or anywhere until I have expressed all options and deciphered it all out to maximum savings haha.....I'm sure as a Mum you can relate so I hope to blog 101 on that later lol.

I did however drop one necklace after the checkout, woops. But no-one found out, I quickly hid the one that made it home to avoid the stern look and fighting kids.... Done & dusted!

Those slashed price stickers are always enticing!

All about the navy's, whites and brights!

White kaftan dress $10

Navy blue thong jellies $3.50

Navy tunic dress w/ pockets $10 & necklace $3

Yellow & denim polka dot flats $7

Our white kaftan did turn to chocolate but this is them in em' in em'. There is nothing wrong with my photography, I like to think these two are too happy for any camera >>> 

The Fairest Mud Cake of Them All

Although I get asked all the time, this here is not much of a secret (I actually found this recipe online a few years ago 'hehe), but I've sensitively altered a few things. This cake recipe is perfect for birthday cakes, wedding cakes, smash cakes or just to take to dinner. Buttercream or covered in fondant, it sets really well. If you're planning on covering it with fondant, here's a tip I actually got off a good friend; bake it 2-4 days earlier, it keeps really well in an airtight container and even days later is a few times more moist, I can guarantee that!

The original recipe suggests one cup of hot boiling espresso (very strong black coffee), however most of the time children will demolish majority of the cake, from experience....so I opted to minus the coffee/caffeine and keep it strictly water only. Another awesome thing about this cake is that it can be made egg-less. Yup. Besides the finish of the cake being not as glossy as one with eggs, just a little more crumbly - otherwise, perf!! We've eaten this cake on numerous occasions, hot and cold and so far so good, no upset tummy's. Thank goodness.

The recipe for this mysterious Chocolate Mud Cake

Now following, I will take you through a simple tutorial on how to put these golden ingredients to a method... But before anything, preheat your oven to 180 degrees celsius. 

Flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda

Dark chocolate chips, hot boiling water, oil

In a large bowl, sift in the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda. Once all dry ingredients are sifted, set aside. In a separate bowl, not as big, add the dark chocolate chips (you can also use buttons, a block, as long as it is specifically for cooking and is dark), the boiling water and oil. Mix this mixture using a fork (best), until smooth and silky. Set this also aside to cool a little.

Whole milk and lemon juice

Take the lemon and add it to the whole milk. Try not to add the seeds...you wouldn't want to surprise anyone with lemon seed mud cake. A small strainer is ideal, but if you've done it as many times as I have you could eventually be doing it with your eyes closed. Let this mixture sit for at least 5 minutes. This then actualy becomes something called buttermilk. My local supermarket doesn't stock buttermilk, so this is it for me.

Right!

And so the real mixing begins!

After both the milk and chocolate mixtures have sat to set, combine all mixes into the bowl of dry ingredients.

Last step before whisking it away

Before any whisking occurs though, crack your eggs in, both at the same time. And whisk away. You want to whisk until the mixture is as smooth as you can get it but be sure not to over mix. 

This is what it should look like, or close to...

Now just pour and bake!

This recipe is awesome for an 8" cake pan, a 10" too if a low cake is fine. The flexibility of this recipe is also perfect for cupcakes, follow the same method except spoon into cupcake papers, bake at the same temp' for 7-12 minutes.

This is  necessarily what you'll be left with, hmmm. Otherwise you also have a yum yum yum cake to look forward to. So do those dishes!

A new venture..

So here goes, my first blog post for the year!!

I kicked this off on the terms that I'm a firm believer of my life being surrounded by an abundant amount of dilemma, chaos (beautiful chaos), never ending humour and a passion for growth. Worthy cause enough.

You will probably review countless vivid accounts into the lives of our children...I deem to be two of the most interesting puzzles to have graced my presence - extremely headstrong, witty and downright inventive - which has it's ups and downs. So forgive me if I ramble on and on and on about them. I'll always be a mother first.

Then comes my significant other half. Like all men, very difficult to manage but very determined and able. Life with him is a rollercoaster, life without him would be unthinkable. So I will definitely try to balance venting and dedicated love posts hahahaha'.

A bit more of a run down on me....

1. I have this crazy family that I love to love, so they will feature quite frequently, I'm all about it!!

2. A social media hound - guilty as charged. At the moment I'm only rolling with the likes of Facebook, Instagram & indeed, Pinterest. So to some of you, yeah still a dinosaur.
3. A Blogger as of today!
4. Quite the specialist in washing one load of washing 3 times. How can I ever remember to hang them out?
5. I find enjoyment in baking, cakes and cupcakes, cakes and cupcakes!!
6. My taste for DIY and op shopping paints a picture of how cheap I am & that I'm ok with lol.

7. I never give myself enough credit, and I know it...
8. Food, where to start. We share a love hate situation, buuuuut  I'm sure that's half of us on the planet. I love to eat, I hate to gain. Never mind me if one minute I'm blogging fitlife, the next I'm recommending a burger joint.....anyway.
9. I have this dream of shrinking back to a size 12, but refer back to number 8.
10. I'll let you in later cause we'll be here all night....

In terms of a career I have done everything you can think of...waitressing, cinema work, pick packing, bartending, a receptionist, outbound cold calling, office administration, quality assurance analyst, and just recently stuck out a degree in early childhood for a year and a half... So, I am now on a road to finding my aptitude....

I'm at a point where I really need to distinguish which strengths I am ardent about - in fact it's why I turned to blogging. Getting creative and making thoughts visual is me in my zone, but I've since learnt that it's more a hobby than a passion. It's been a pattern I've just grasped that I follow current interests blindly. Having a blog will definitely free my mind of creativity to make room for the intellect I would love to reignite.

Otherwise, I do love to write so.... Whether it's five... Two hundred and five, or no followers.... I will write. Mainly for my own benefit. And if anyone does like it, guess it's a bonus.

This is me!!