The Smartie Project: Introduction

Over the next few weeks I'm going to have a series of posts following my progress of a new project I've taken on. I'm going to be raising money for a little boy that has been abandoned by his parents and left with his grandparents. Kyle was born and raised in Zambia and has hopes and dreams like many other children. My aim is to try raise as much money as I can to help him achieve those dreams. I'm going to start by selling my cakes and baked goodies at schools and try to work my way up, getting help from others to reach the goal of my project.

I call this project "The Smarties Project" and the progress of my project will be in my posts. I hope to succeed with my project and ultimately make the little boy happy.

Chocolate filled Profiteroles

I know I haven't posted a blog in a while now, but I'm pleased to say I'm back in my home country visiting my wonderful family! My parents always love it when I surprise them with yummy desserts, so I decided to make them some profiteroles. Now, I've seen tons of cooking programmes which make it seem like these little critters are difficult to make! But I thought I'd take up the challenge anyway! They didn't quite look as professional as the ones on T.V. nor the ones in the pictures, but they were still delicious and everyone enjoyed them!

Ingredients

1 cup plain flour

125g butter

1 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

4 eggs

2 packets instant chocolate mousse, or whipped cream

Method

Preheat the oven to 220 degrees celcius.

Prepare the mousse as instructed on the packet and leave in the refridgerator.

Heat the water and butter in a saucepan and allow to boil. When the butter is melted and the water is at boiling point remove from heat and add the flour and sugar. Mix until smooth thenretutn to heat and mix until the dough forms a ball. Remove from heat once again and add the eggs one at a time and mixing well in between. You can use an electric beater at this point, but I find it makes the mixture too creamy. The mixture should be smooth, but realativelythick. Spoon or pipe the mixture onto prepared baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 180 and bake for a further 15-20 minutes. Remove the profiteroles from the oven and put a slit in the side then turn the oven off and return them to the oven for 5 minutes. Then take them out and allow to cool before piping the chocolate mousse into them. If they are too hot the mousse will end up melting. You can decorate them with a bit of melted chocolate if you desire. Serve and enjoy!

 

Happy Mami's Day!

To all the mums out there, this is your day! Time to take it easy, relax and be spoilt! Happy Mother's Day! You deserve it :)

If you want to show some love to your mama why not make a very yummy strawberry tart :)

Enjoy your very special day if you're a mummy! :)

Chocolate Surprise Cupcakes

If you like chocolate you're probably going to enjoy these. They're cupcakes that have an ooey gooey chocolatey centre and topped with melted chocolate. Mmmm... Chocolate heaven!

Ingredients
1 egg white
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
50g flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon milk
3 teaspoons chocolate spread
Melted chocolate

Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Beat the egg white and sugar until it forms soft peaks. Then add the sour cream and vanilla and mix

well. Slowly add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix until nice and smooth. Then add the milk, make sure the mixture ins t too runny, if it is add a bit more flour, if you feel it is too thick add a bit more milk. Fill 3 muffin cups half way then add a blob of chocolate spread and put the rest of the batter of and bake for 10-12 minutes.

When the cupcakes are done top with melted chocolate and enjoy :)

Mexican Night

Ever since the first time we had Mexican we decided every Friday is going to be Mexican night. So we have anything from enchiladas to fajitas or tacos. As long as it's Mexican and we wanna try it! Along with our Mexican meal we have a tequila sunrise and it's perfect! :) I thought I'd share one of our Mexican themed nights to inspire you guys to try it too!



Ingredients
Chicken strips
Bread crumbs
Wraps
Jalapeños
Guacamole
Crème fraiche
Salsa
Chopped tomatoes
Spicy oil (optional)
Lettuce

Method
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

Coat the chicken strips in the spicy oil and bread crumbs and put it in the oven until the chicken is cooked through. Warm up the wraps by putting them in aluminium foil and putting them in the oven for 2-3 minutes.
Prepare the wraps by putting any of the other ingredients you desire in your wrap and roll it to make a crispy chicken fajita :)

For the tequila sunrise you will need:
A shot of tequila
Orange juice
Grenadine
Ice

Method
Mix the tequila with the orange juice then add a bit of grenadine slowly so it sinks to the bottom to create the amazing colour combo then add the ice and stirrer

Mini Chocolate Cakes

We recently decided we're going to try be healthy. That meant no junk food or sweet things for 10 days. I thought we could really do this one since it's only 10 days. The first day was great, second not so great and by the third we gave in and decided we need something chocolatey. So I made these wonderful little chocolate cakes.








Ingredients
50 gram(s) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
50 gram(s) dark chocolate (containing at least 50% cocoa solids), broken into small pieces
30 mls golden caster sugar
1 large egg
15 mls plain flour, siftedp
Icing sugar and crème fraîche or double cream, to serve

Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a water bath. While the melted chocolate cools mix the egg and sugar in a bowl until it becomes light and fluffy. Add the cooled chocolate mix into the egg mixture and beat well. Then casually fold the flour into the mixture and once combined well and smooth. Divide the mixture between small cups or ramekins and bake for 10-12 minutes or until just the edges are smooth. The centre of the cakes should still be slightly runny. Serve with a dollop of cream.

Bunny Bread Rolls

I once got a recipe for cute little bunny bread rolls from a friend of mine. Upon seeing the picture of the bread I knew I had to try this recipe. My bread rolls didn't quire come out as good as the one in the picture, but I sure did try. And to have nice warm bread rolls that almost looked like little bunnies was so nice :)


Ingredients
2-1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg

Method
Preheat oven to 180°C
Put the butter, the sour cream and water in a small saucepan and heat, but do not cook. Cool to tepid then

add the remaining ingredients. Put in a kneader. If thick add some more water.
Let it rise double and cut into 16 equal parts.Take each part and round to a bunny body shape. Put in a baking tray lined with baking paper and cut the ears with scissors. Add the eyes you can use pepper grains or any type of grain you like.
Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.



Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the baked bunny rolls, but they came out beautifully, just not as pretty as the original recipe pictures.