The king of rock’n’roll not only permanently changed the American pop culture back in the 50’s, but he hip swiveled his way to make blue suede shoes cool and introduced his favourite sandwich combo – Banana, Peanut Butter and Bacon!…
Red Velvet Cookie
There’s something luxurious and romantic about Red Velvet. Perhaps it’s the deep red colour or the smooth connotation we get from the word velvet. Either way, the Red Velvet is always a very popular crowd pleaser.…
Orange Chocolate Almond Cake
Orange and chocolate is such a popular flavour combination, especially here in New Zealand. So when these flavours are used in a cake, it’s hard to turn down a slice. However, if you have reservations about a slice of cake being a little bit on the ‘naughty’ side, you’ll be pleased to know I’ve approached this recipe with a slightly healthier goal in mind.…
Gingerbread Cheesecake
Gingerbread is definitely a fan favourite when it comes to the biscuit world. They’re easy to make, versatile all year round, go perfectly with a hot cup of tea or coffee and when cut into little people, there’s even a childhood song and fable. So when it comes to Gingerbread it’s hard to go passed the ‘Gingerbread Man’, which then makes me think of Christmas time with intricately decorated gingerbread houses. However Christmas in New Zealand is hot and summer evenings cry out for cool desserts, especially if it’s cheesecake. If it’s not Christmas, winter is also a great time to enjoy the warming flavour of ginger too.…
Lemon Meringue Bread and Butter Pudding
There’s something quite nostalgic and humble about the bread and butter pudding. However, if you’re after a decadent dessert to finish off your evening, I have the perfect fusion to pair with a beautiful glass of wine. With International Sauvignon Blanc Day on the 4th of May, it seemed only natural to share an elegant new recipe to celebrate, along with a glass of sauv, my pick being the Peter Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. …
Banoffee Square
It’s International Banana Day on April 18th and I’m kicking off the celebrations with a new inspired recipe dedicated to New Zealand’s favourite fruit. In fact we Kiwis love bananas so much that, according to Statistics NZ, we get through 18kg per person per year! That’s more bananas per capita than anywhere else in the world. So for this new recipe I really wanted to celebrate the beloved banana while adding a twist to another popular kiwi slice, the custard square.…
Anzac Golden Syrup Tart
Throughout the years the Anzac biscuit has been a family favourite all over New Zealand. Perhaps it’s the comforting flavours that remind us of home, or what Anzac personally means to you. The flavours of a good Anzac Biscuit are also staple ingredients that everyone should have in the pantry, this is probably another good reason why it’s so popular.…
SKYCITY Dessert Tour
I’ve always had a sweet tooth, so the opportunity to experience 11 different desserts over 4 restaurants in two days, was not something to turn down. Being placed amongst the bustling food precinct that is SKYCITY Auckland, you find yourself quite overwhelmed by the variety, sounds and smells. While staying the night in SKYCITY Grand Hotel, I had stunning views of the city, Auckland Harbour Bridge and of course the iconic Sky Tower. I called this my base as I prepared myself to get a taste of some of the best desserts SKYCITY has to offer.
The Sugar Club
Left: Niuean Honey Parfait. Top Right: Mandarin Sorbet. Bottom Right: Baked Pineapple.
The Sugar Club saw us making our way up to level 53 of the Sky Tower, a restaurant founded by Peter Gordon overlooking the city of Auckland. With its fusion styled cuisine and 1930s Italian Art Deco decor of brass and stone, I could feel I was about to experience something special. …
Pavlova Cheesecake
Christmas is better spent enjoying the warm weather and time with family. But if you’re anything like me, everything is left until the last minute and then becomes a mad panic. To be honest I’d actually really enjoy being super prepared for once, so this year is all about maximum impact with minimal effort. There are plenty of great products at the supermarket which have already done the work for you and only need dressing up on Christmas Day. Countdown have a great selection of Christmas staples that I believe are necessities, such as their in-house traditional fruit mince pies, self-saucing puddings and brandy snaps. I’m also a sucker for shortbread, Corinthian wafers and fresh fruit, so it’s easy to put together a platter of finger treats to cater to everyone’s cravings. If you’re actually after some more Christmas recipe inspiration or want to use some of these Countdown items as a base, jump on over to their recipe section ‘here’.…
Mojito Cheesecake
Warmer weather calls for cool drinks and cool desserts. So when I think cool desserts, I can’t go past the classic cheesecake. And if you asked me what one of my favourite cocktails for the summer season were, I’d always say mojito! There’s something so fresh about lime and mint that gets me every time. Also don’t forget the splash of rum too!…