Vanilla slice and Australian icons

cornerVanilla slice is an Australian icon. I associate vanilla slices with Australianness so much that I’m currently trying to imagine how structurally stable a vanilla slice version of the Opera House would be.

My brothers and I were transfixed by the sweets section at the bakery when we accompanied mother to the bakery. Cream buns, doughnuts, lamingtons, meringues, and the vanilla slice was the king of them all. Whether the vanilla slice had vanilla icing or passionfruit, it was always the filling that was the best – that tall, cold, unusually firm layer of custard sandwiched between two teeny bits of pastry… bliss. Continue reading “Vanilla slice and Australian icons”

Chocolate blueberry friands and alliteration

sceneI’m taking a brief break from my Australian recipes. I’m still busily baking all things Australian, but I made these friands for a dinner party recently and I couldn’t wait to share the recipe with you. They’re super speedy to make, and they always look impressive.

They’re such humble little morsels, but they pack so much flavour! Deceptively delicious is how I would describe them.

And the mixture of blueberry and chocolate? Divine. Continue reading “Chocolate blueberry friands and alliteration”

Berry lemonade ice blocks and Australian Summer

In keeping with my Australia-loving session (inspired by my recent trip to Cairns), I wanted to showcase a food that reminds me of my childhood.

skyIce blocks. Iced lollies. Ice pops. Call them what you will, they’re a Summer favourite.

My mother used the same, primary-coloured ice block moulds for years. When it came to throwing them out (a move which was much protested by myself and my brothers), the stems of the moulds were so chewed and beaten up loved that they were no longer straight. Continue reading “Berry lemonade ice blocks and Australian Summer”

Anzac biscuits and patriotism

This past week reminded me of how much I love Australia. Not in a stupidly patriotic kind of way… I’m just completely gobsmacked by the beauty that is hidden away from major cities and highways.

I struggled with the lack of phone signal, and cursed Google maps when it couldn’t locate us on a map when we were hopelessly lost, but I loved that aspect of the trip as well. I know that I’m glued to my phone far too much, but this trip made me appreciate that there is value to be found in doing nothing and simply being, staying still and watching.

Don’t think I didn’t grab every opportunity to document my trip on Instagram though!

Qld roadtrip Continue reading “Anzac biscuits and patriotism”

Blackberry jam cake and being away

biteThis post was done in advance. I’m in Cairns and I will have been instagramming like mad (check here to see all of the photos), but I made sure I wrote up this cake recipe before I left. It is pretty divine. It’s full of spices and sweetness in just the right measures. It’s super moist too – it’s kind of like a really fragrant sticky date pudding.

I bought the blackberry jam when I was away in Mudgee recently. I still haven’t blogged about Mudgee yet, but I loved it.

Continue reading “Blackberry jam cake and being away”

Herb thins and easy food


IMG_7509Summer is a time for easy food. Chips and dips are de rigueur barbecues, pool parties, weekend getaways… basically any event you will attend this Summer! I split my New Year’s Eve between the 9pm fireworks with The Boy’s parents and a rental house with friends at Cottage Point, and we had chips and dips at both!

I did have a fabulous New Year’s – we had a great position at Lavender Bay for the fireworks, and Cottage Point is glorious. I could have instagrammed everything, but restricted myself to gorgeous Westhead Beach and the adorable wharf at the bottom of our house.   Continue reading “Herb thins and easy food”

GF almond choc chip biscuits and the new year

The new year is definitely here. Resolutions are being made and broken, my gym is heaving with well-intentioned women, and Facebook is full of inspirational quotes. I never really make resolutions because I have a memory like a sieve. I do, however, fully support those who make plans to eat healthier/be fitter/strive harder in the new year.

aboveAlso involved in this post are two small businesses that you should resolve to get behind this year. Continue reading “GF almond choc chip biscuits and the new year”

Chocolate basil crinkle biscuits and New Year’s Eve

I’m very excited about 2014 – it will be my first full year of blogging, and things are going to be very busy for Norman and I! 2013 has been fabulous; I started the blog, I tried a bunch of new recipes, and I even convinced my family and The Boy to try some new things too.

My final post for this year is nothing too spectacular, it’s understated, but impressive, which is how I like my New Year’s Eve. The chocolate element of the biscuits has a lovely fudginess to it, which contrasts beautifully with the hard shell that forms as a result of the white sugar.

basilIf you’re hesitant about the mix of chocolate and basil mixture, don’t be. You mix chocolate and mint all the time without thinking about it! I converted a few members of my family, although The Boy was somewhat reluctant to concede defeat. I think that the basil heightens the chocolate taste, he just disliked the green bits that he saw in the mixture. Continue reading “Chocolate basil crinkle biscuits and New Year’s Eve”

Winners and trees in coconut snow

threeThis week I picked the winners of my teapot giveaway. I asked entrants to pick one of the four teapots available (red, yellow, blue or pink) and tell me four things they associated with that colour.

Caitlin won the yellow teapot, she said “Yellow is my favourite colour, it reminds me of flowers (yellow roses are mum’s favourite), sunshine, primary school sports carnivals (I was in gold, obviously, cause I’m the best), and the yellow bike that I really really really want but can’t afford.”

Charlotte says the colour of the blue teapot reminds her of reminds her of “discarded bird eggs, stormy skies, baby blankets and… blu-tack!”

Amanda said that the pink teapot was the same colour as “kitten’s paws, rosy cheeks, pink marshmallows and fairy floss! Four things that make my life just that little bit more sweet.”

The winner of the red teapot is yet to check her emails to accept. Once she’s accepted, I’ll announce the final winner. Otherwise I’ll have to pick a new winner.

Thank you to everyone that entered, I loved reading all the funny, sweet and quirky things that everyone had to say. I can’t wait to run another competition like this, it’s so lovely to see everyone’s creativity!

Unrelated to tea pots, here is my final Christmas post. These little treats only require four ingredients, and three of these are different kinds of chocolate! They can be thrown together in 20 minutes and they’re perfect for kids and adults alike.
paper caseThe only thing I should warn you about is that if you’re serving these babies in a hot climate (ie Australia), don’t take them out of the fridge until you intend to serve them, as the Christmas trees wilt a little if they get too warm.

Trees in snow:

Chocolate trees:

  • 100g dark chocolate
  • M&Ms to decorate

Chocolate coconut snow:

  • 280g white chocolate*
  • 1 ½ cups shredded coconut
  • ½ cup desiccated coconut

coconutLine a large baking tray with baking paper and pour a small amount of M&Ms into a bowl. Set them both to one side. Melt your dark chocolate in the microwave and stir to achieve a smooth, even consistency.

Scoop chocolate into a snap lock bag and snip off a small section of one bottom corner. Working quickly, pipe zigzags of chocolate onto the baking paper – each zigzag will need to be slightly larger than the last to make it look like a Christmas tree. Repeat.trees

Don’t worry if your trees are different sizes or styles, this just adds to their cuteness!

Once you’ve piped each of your Christmas trees, place a few M&Ms onto each tree to look like Christmas decorations. Try to work quickly so that the chocolate doesn’t set too much before you’ve placed them. Once they’re all decorated, pop them in the freezer.

Line 16 cupcake tin cups with paper cases while the trees are in the freezer.

Melt your chocolate in the microwave, checking at regular intervals that it doesn’t burn. Combine both types of coconut in a bowl and pour the melted chocolate over the top. Using a spatula, mix the chocolate and coconut together until all coconut is coated in chocolate.

unwrappedScoop a heaped tablespoon of mixture into each paper case and flatten slightly with the back of the spoon. Using a butter knife, cut a shallow line across the length of each serving of chocolate coconut snow. When your trees have set, whip them out of the freezer and gently nestle one tree in each of the cuts that you made, ensuring that they are nice and stable.

Refrigerate for 15 minutes and serve. You can serve them with or without the paper cases.

*the white chocolate can easily be replaced with dark or milk chocolate, if you so desire.

Sharing recipes and mint chocolate crackles

chocolate crackles cardRegular readers will know that I recently held a teapot giveaway. I loved reading all of the fun, crazy, beautiful entries that people came up with. What most people don’t know is that the teapot giveaway started an ongoing relationship between Baking with Gab and the lovely people at house.com.au

When I went into the House store, I got chatting to Cat, who worked behind the counter. I explained that I wasn’t buying four teapots for myself, I was going to give them away on my blog. She was enthusiastic and supportive of my blog and we’ve been chatting ever since. It makes me super happy that a chance meeting could result in one of my recipes being printed on a snazzy looking recipe card and shared with an even wider audience.

I wanted to share the recipe on the blog as well, so that nobody missed out on this delectable and speedy treat. Enjoy!

Mini chocolate mint crackles

patternMakes 36

  • 380g chocolate
  • 50g copha
  • 41/2 cups Rice Bubbles
  • ¾ cup crispy mint M&Ms
  • Sprinkles to decorate

pourLine two 24 cup mini muffin with mini cupcake cases.

Melt the copha and chocolate in your microwave, stirring at regular intervals to avoid burning the chocolate.

singlePut the Rice Bubbles into a mixing bowl and pour the melted ingredients over them. Mix thoroughly, ensuring each rice bubble is completely coated. Toss your M&Ms into the mix and distribute them evenly.

Scoop a tablespoon of mixture into each cupcake pan and press down lightly with the spoon. Top with sprinkles, if desired.

Pop in the fridge for half an hour and resist the urge to eat them until they’ve set!

stars

My gorgeous Christmas bon-bon napkins were provided by Aqua Door Designs, a wonderful Brisbane-based design studio who print all of their linen by hand. You can find the bonbon napkins for sale on their Etsy page, here.