♥ a food, travel and lifestyle blog ♥
Using just 4 pantry staples, this Torta Di Cioccolato will delight everyone. You can serve it as is. Or if you are having people over for a dinner party, you can jeuje it up. Add some freeze dried fruit, fresh berries, or sparkles. Crème fraîche is the perfect accompaniment as it cuts through the richness. … Continue reading Torta Di Cioccolato
Using my recipe for French Pastry, and Chef Mimi's recipe for the tart filling, I made this chocolate pear tart. You do not need to poach your own pears as I did as canned pears will work just as well. Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Chocolate Pear Tart ♥ The flavour profile … Continue reading Chocolate Pear Tart
To me, these raspberry and white chocolate scones are the perfect flavour combination. Each bite of warm, oozing white chocolate is like a pop in your mouth. Adding raspberry jam to them just enhances the tartness that the raspberries bring to the table. Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Raspberry And White Chocolate … Continue reading Raspberry And White Chocolate Scones
Chocolate and ginger happens to be one of my favourite flavour combinations. The best example I have ever had of this was at a gelateria in Napoli. I decided to bake ginger cookie dough brownies to elevate a brownie recipe. The cookie dough adds texture as well as flavour. Skip ahead to the recipe for … Continue reading Ginger Cookie Dough Brownies
This chestnut chocolate ganache is perfect for piping, using as a cake frosting, or saving in the fridge for a day you need to add something extra special to a dessert. Skip ahead to the recipe for Chestnut Chocolate Ganache Chestnuts and memories I have distinct memories of standing on the burrs from a chestnut … Continue reading Chestnut Chocolate Ganache
These bitter chocolate brownies were made to take to a friend's house as dessert for after a braai. He loves vanilla ice cream with dessert, and so do the kids of course. Having a less sweet treat was perfectly paired with the sweet ice cream. Skip ahead to the recipe for Bitter Chocolate Brownies What … Continue reading Bitter Chocolate Brownies
I used a bain marie to temper my ruby chocolate. It is important to keep your water just simmering. And you need to make sure that neither water nor steam gets into the chocolate. This will cause your chocolate to seize, rendering it unusable. Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Ruby Chocolate ♥ … Continue reading Ruby Chocolate
I have decided to try three new methods of chocolate tempering for three different types of chocolate. This oil tempered chocolate uses 80% dark chocolate, and a neutral oil. Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Oil Tempered Chocolate ♥ Why temper with oil? For many a home cook, the exacting temperatures required to … Continue reading Oil Tempered Chocolate
This mint chocolate mug cake will come together in 4 minutes. I used Lindt chocolate for my recipe, but you can use your favourite variety. Skip ahead to the recipe for Mint Chocolate Mug Cake Are you a fan of mint chocolate? I absolutely love the combination of mint and chocolate, and for me it … Continue reading Mint Chocolate Mug Cake
I baked a lot of bread in December and had leftover sourdough starter a few times. This cannot be disposed of down the drain, and instead of throwing it into the bin I decided to make use of it. That is how this sourdough mug cake recipe came about. Make sure your starter is not … Continue reading Sourdough Mug Cake
I love the combination of cherries and chocolate and that really helped me decide to make my cherry chocolate clafoutis. This dessert can be made in advance as it will keep well if stored in an airtight container. Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Cherry Chocolate Clafoutis ♥ Inspired to bake Cherry Chocolate … Continue reading Cherry Chocolate Clafoutis
It has taken me years to get my recipe for a microwave cake to be perfect! I know there are plenty out there. And I am sure they are all similar. But I wanted mine to be not too sweet. This recipe makes a generous cake that could easily be shared between two not so … Continue reading Microwave Cake
I am a huge fan of ginger and have a slice of it in my morning smoothie every day. I also love the combination with chocolate in desserts. So, for my birthday this year, I made ginger chocolate mousse to end the meal. Everyone loved it, and I even sent some home with Bev for … Continue reading Ginger Chocolate Mousse
In hindsight, I should have used hazelnuts for this recipe. It would have had more of an Italian feel to it. I was very impatient to get the photographs done and so did not let the Chocnut Ice Cream soften enough before scooping. I made a right royal mess, which I ate. So it was … Continue reading Chocnut Ice Cream
When it comes to chocolate, the darker the better in my opinion. I have used 80% cocoa solids for my chocolate biscotti. These make them slightly bitter, which I love. Skip ahead to the recipe for Chocolate Biscotti My first smartphone was worlds away from what is currently the norm. But, at the time it … Continue reading Chocolate Biscotti
This recipe for chocolate muffins really needs a large muffin tin as I had batter left over. A baker's dozen would have been perfect had I thought about using my silicone moulds. But I was baking with Hannah who was very impatient to try these. She had one while still warm, and one was saved … Continue reading Chocolate Muffins
Sheree made these last October and as soon as I saw her recipe I knew I had to make them. I adapted the recipe slightly, and the result is a bitter chocolate fudge that is really good. Especially if you do not like your treats too sweet. If you prefer a sweeter fudge I would … Continue reading Bitter Chocolate Fudge
One thing is for sure and that is I will be making variations for these white chocolate biscuits. I have shaped them like biscotti but they didn't harden as I would expect them to. They were however delicious and you can elevate them by drizzling some white chocolate over the top once baked. Head straight … Continue reading White Chocolate Biscuits
With just three ingredients, all easy to find, you can make this Easter Egg Toffee treat. We are having a family brunch and small blocks of these will dot the table to be eaten whenever someone feels like they need something sweet. Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Easter Egg Toffee ♥ I … Continue reading Easter Egg Toffee
Dave does not like the texture of peanut butter despite liking peanuts. This means I could have enjoyed the entire batch of peanut butter fudge. But being a sharing and caring person I gifted half of what I made to a friend. Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Peanut Butter Fudge ♥ I … Continue reading Peanut Butter Fudge