A Time for Change

It's been ages since i've written anything, but it's all about to change!!!

Having completed my masters and finding myself disillusioned by the profession i've decide to take some time off to explore and rediscover the things that bring me joy.

I have secured a full time position in fashion retail and am looking forward to pursue baking on the side. In addition i shall slowly work my way through my quarter life crisis list.



QUARTER LIFE CRISIS LIST OF THINGS TO DO

1. GO TO THE MOVIES ALONE
2. ICE SKATING
3. EAT SOMETHING YOU CAN'T PRONOUNCE
4. A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS
5. GO ON A BLIND DATE
6. GO SALSA DANCING
7. GO TO A BASEBALL GAME
8. MAKE A THREE COURSE VEGETERIAN MEAL
9. PARTY ALL NIGHT AND WATCH THE SUN COME UP
10. START A BLOG
11. LEARN TO PLAY ONE SONG ON THE VIOLIN
12. GO ON A ROAD TRIP
13. DO THE COLOUR RUN/ CITY TO SURF
14. VOLUNTEER AT A SOUP KITCHEN
15. PLANT A TREE
16. GO TO THE OBSERVATORY
17. KARAOKE 
18. .....
    
    
    this is the list today as it stand. I'm still looking to add more things.
    A little bit of history, this list came together over dinner with friends. After the painful realization that perhaps turning 25 meant a bit more than nothing to everyone around me. I slowly realised that i had yet to do so much i had already hoped to accomplish by now.  

My friends kindly put together a list of things they thought would be useful experiences. so armed with a napkin (list) i decide to go out in the world and make the most of the year ahead.

This blog though is late so lets reset the clock to the beginning of this year, 2015. I here by attempt to accomplish most of the things on this ever growing list by the first week of 2016. Let it be a means of inspiring me to learn some new each month.

Sunflower Cake

I've baked two other simple cakes for friends over the past year or so. As a result I've have been on the receiving end of the comments of a very unhappy friend. So when her birthday came around I had no choice but to bake her one (God forbid she wouldn't forgive me this time).

So I though if I'm going to do this I might as well do it right, and nothing smaller than two tiers would  do.
Given I didn't have much time I was quick to try and find as many short-cuts as possible, however I was adamant not to settle for cake mix because I can't stand the taste.

As you can see I picked yellow fondant icing since her favourite colour is yellow and then I decided to add sunflowers on it since I wanted a flower on the cake.
I made two batches of cake and used two colours to marble the inside so that you can differentiate the cherry, raspberry from the chocolate part. I continued to pour a small amount in the centre one after the other and made 4 rings then put the two tins in to bake.
After baking the cakes i proceeded to trim and using Betty Crocker icing I crumbed the cake then rolled out the fondant and covered the cake.
Next using piping bags and three batches of icing I made the centre of the sunflowers careful to position them such that any flaws were covered.
then using a leaf tip by cutting a small triangle in the bag I made the sunflower petals. finally I presented it with green dessicated coconut on the sides.

Orange and Passionfruit Cupcakes

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/19835/orange+passionfruit+and+yoghurt+cupcakes

MnM's Galore

 So while i was over seas my baby cousin turned one and my mum and i decided to do the cake. my mum baked it and made the fondant icing.
following that i painstakingly covered the cake in layers of MnM's and little yellow fondant flowers.

Apple Crumble

So I was thinking of the whole apple a day and i decided to do a little bit of baking. So i was inspired by master chef and decided to add a little bit of oats to the crumble to make it interesting.

The crumble is made of 2Tbs of flour, 1Tbs oats and oil and i added a bit of milk to it.

The 21st Birthday Cake

Being the foodie that I am oh and a baking enthusiast I have always wanted to bake a two tier cake so this weekend before my 21st I though this is it now or never. So here my attempt from making cake all from scratch (yes I'm anti cake mix) to rolling out royal icing and making a chocolate glaze and icing the cake and dipping fruit in ha-ha chocolate.
Anyway I managed to accomplish all this with out the proper equipment and only a day or so and not to mention an ancient oven. Enjoy.

My beautiful chocolate cake(and berry jam filling) with chocolate butter icing and royal almond icing all topped with fresh cherries and strawberries.
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