A lot can be learnt from the French when it comes to baking and cuisine. I’ve long been drawn to romantic ideas of luxurious pastries, bread and desserts, all made with butters, creams and flavours of faraway lands. Living in New Zealand and having a sweet tooth, my imagination can only but go wild thinking of these delicacies.…
Desserts
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. …
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.…
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!…
Orange Chocolate Tiramisu
You can feel it in the air as summer approaches, with promises of warm weather, end of year festivities and evenings outside eating until dusk. There’s nothing quite like spending this time of the year with friends and family around the barbecue, it screams out salads and cold desserts. I’m a huge fan of desserts to finish off a night, or even to get one started. So when I heard that Nespresso had joined the festive table, embracing the season of nostalgia and excitement, I was immediately inspired.…
Chocolate Mud Pie
While growing up the wheat biscuit has been a staple part of many households and has also become an amazing ingredient for baking and various other meals. So it’s clear wheat biscuits are not only enjoyed as a cereal, but can also add fibre and texture to a range of sweet and savoury recipes.…
Kānga Waru
Growing up, spending holidays on the East Coast has plenty of amazing memories for my family and I. Along with putting out crayfish pots, laying a hangi and spending hours exploring the streams near the marae, I remember the food. My gran was famous for making her fried bread, money pudding and one of my favourite Maori desserts, Kānga waru.…
Berry Crumble Cheesecake
There’s something quite kiwi about the thought of a hot fruit crumble with a side of cold vanilla ice cream or fresh cream. Growing up, fruit crumbles were a weekend staple. My mother’s go to crumble was always a hot apple, topped with lots of delicious spiced crumble. This later led to experimenting with different fruit such as feijoas or sneaking in the odd berries now and then.…
