I while ago I was invited by Kraft (those people who make Philadelphia among other things) to go on a baking Masterclass…where I would be in cupcake heaven with, Margaret Fulton and her daughter Suzanne Gibbs no less, you know, those Australian icons…. the ones with all the cooking skills…and not only would I get to meet them, the whole affair was to take place in Suzanne’s very own kitchen.
Hmm, I had to ponder this for a while, errrrm I would absolutely love to get to bake with Margaret, cupcakes or anything really, to share a cup of tea with her afterwards, to hear her tales and I would more than love to watch and learn and wonder as Suzanne did her thing…but ahem, had these people actually read my blog? If you have been with me for a while you will know that I am the ultimate non-baker…the girl who bakes with a handful of recipes and pretends she’s good…errrrm Masterclass…right.
I mean if you throw a chicken at me, a few basics and something to cook it on, I could, hand on heart, tell you that I could present you with a chicken that was pretty tasty…if I landed on a desert island with a couple of onions and some beef I could come up with something nice.
But bake, with the Masters…oh shiver me timbers
Anyway, there was no way I was letting this opportunity pass, because, not only was the baking/meeting side good, I was positively revelling in the idea of seeing the house …and the kitchen…and everything in it.
So, a few days before I started thinking. And panicking. A lot. I mean, to be honest I was more interested in my outfit than my baking…’cos they would all be looking at my Mavi’s
And then I made a huge old mistake, I surfed on into one of the other bloggers pages and saw, to my absolute horror, that they had been practising, ALL WEEKEND, oh and not just cupcakes, oh no…super recipes for the Blogger Bake part of the day…which was like a bake-off with a few secret ingredients.
I got really worried, yikes, I am attending this event, with the Cooking Elite, Gods from on high of the Home Economics world and I am supposed to…bake with them!!
I considered getting sick…it’s amazing how quickly a migraine can come on you know, I considered cheating and slipping in a Betty Crocker, I even considered baking all weekend…then I remembered I have 3 kiddos and no time.
So, really, there was nothing to it for me, other than to come clean and do what I do…to bake as I bake, with the tried and tested recipes that have got me through being a Baking Mummy and have made my kiddos know that cakes and dessert don’t equal opening a packet, even when really I am the Frank Spencer of the baking department.
So I did go. And I had a ball.
Here’s me and the other bloggers, plus Suzanne & Margaret Fulton….Sandra from 120 Food Challenge (you’ll love her blog for budget-friendly recipes), the lovely Sara, from Belly Rumbles, who shares her Sydney food journey on her blog and who made the most divine dessert ever with her secret ingredients (yes Sara feel free to invite me on one of your food reviews) and Julie from Gourmet Getaways, who lives in Coffs Harbour and loves food and travel
So, rather than spend all weekend practising, I spent most of it at sport and down the beach, I threw all caution to the wind, I did not worry about cupcakes and looked forward to what Suzanne and Margaret could teach this girl from the Old Country about baking the Australian way.
The first thing I learnt is that proper cooks have proper equipment…even for cupcake baking…I am working up to this and spend a lot of my time slowly gathering vintage cooking utensils, but in Suzanne’s kitchen, I think if you had asked her for a slice of the moon to taste or any kind or utensil or ingredient, she coulda produced it.
And with her first class skills she just whipped up this…with ease
But for Dump and Go Too Easy Butterfly Cupcakes, actually, you don’t need too many special ingredients for this easy cupcake recipe, actually you don’t need any.
Which is my recipe philosophy all over.
However there is absolutely one thing that is essential to making cakes and cupcakes now in my life…one of these…
Well not really, you can about bake this with your eyes shut and a bowl and spoon, but the story around here, just in case Mr Beach Cottage asks you, is that since using Suzanne’s, obtaining one of these in this old cottage’s kitchen is 100% crucial to my career as a baker, to my life as a blogger, indeed just to my life, that I get my hands on one of these little white babies…
If you have been with me for a while, you will know that a KitchenAid was on my Christmas List last year, you will also know that that guy in the big red suit did not deliver, you will also know that I have dreamt, coveted and actually nigh-on begged for a KitchenAid.
I am still waiting.
I blame it on those Beach Cottage Kiddos, their school fees and teeth.
But last Wednesday I got to stroke one. Oh my.
I’m sorry, Margaret Fulton, Suzanne Gibbs, the girls from Kraft, the other bloggers….you were good, like really good, but I also experienced my first baking adventure with this little baby…the soft purring when it turned on, the utility feel of the bowl, the clunkiness of the attachment, the white of the body and oh the knobs.
I love you KitchenAid knobs.
and with that baby I got to make cupcakes tried and tested by the Queen of Australian Cooking herself…Margaret Fulton…could a day get any better?
…here she is with my cupcakes
So, let’s get to it..
lovely easy Beach Cottage cupcakes
Beach Cottage Too Easy Dump & Go Chocolate Butterfly Cupcakes
These images are so lovely and inspiring. You make me think that even I, chef moron, could make these!
Thank you for hosting!
Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com
Well look at you – you are now a super star chef. I mean if this blog hasn’t highlighted your fantastic cooking enough (you make me drool every-time). But, wow – with the goddess of cooking her in Australia herself.
Now all you need is a Nigella visit, then you’ve covered the Uk and Australia
I hope there is a kitchen aid fairy coming your way very soon. Perhaps a giveaway x 2
1 for us and 1 for you
have a wonderful day sarah and thank you for hosting your wednesday party
Oh my ! I know you were sooooo excited. Your cupcakes look lovely. I love the little wings. Any flavor Philadelphia Cream cheese is the greatest. I use it in alot of recipes. My favorite is just the plain one slathered on some wheat thin crackers with a little cracked black pepper on the top. YUM !
OH WOW. How exciting. I’d have loved every minute of it. I have had a kitchenaid on my Christmas list for a few years now. Better start dropping some more hints.
Kylie
Another beautiful post. What a wonderful opportunity you have had. I have seen KitchenAids in a shops but not used one, sounds amazing. Thankfully my 26 year old Sunbeam Mixmaster is still working fine.
Sarah, what a fun adventure. I felt like I was standing in your shoes as you described your panic. I am so glad you had such a wonderful day. If you lived nearby you could come over & enjoy my KitchenAid any time. It is lovely, but so heavy to get out when I want to use it.
omg. you are nuts, sarah. and these photos are out of control. sooooooo engaging and gorgeous and making it tough to step away from the laptop. and can i just say I REALLY REALLY LOVE CREAM CHEESE AND ALL THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. i do. so as far as i am concerned, you can blog about it everyday with your fancy pics and cute stripey tees.
Wow, wow, wow!! How fun! Your cupcakes are too cute. And yes, I would LOVE a Kitchen Aid too. It’s my dream present. Maybe someday. *sigh* Thanks soo much for hosting, Sarah. Enjoy the rest of the week. Hope your kiddo is doing ok after the dog bite. Yikes!
Wow this looks like a very exciting day! Baking with the stars. And your recipe looks yummy and easy, just the way I like it. I grew up in Philadelphia, so I gotta try this one Sarah! I love that they are now making all kinds of cooking and baking sauces, instead of just cream cheese. I like to use the Philly cream cheese in my potatoes when I mash them and then throw them in the oven to bake a little. that’s yummy.
You certainly deserve the recognition, you always have great and simple cooking inspirations for us. I’m so glad to see you are getting your just desserts!
Eileen )
Sarah all that stress for nothing. It goes to show if oyu remain true to your self there it always somehow works out for the best and it did for you. Thanks for the recepie another one to ry. They really look good.
Yes I have been begging for a kitchen aid for the past year too and it looks like it will never come… Sigh I will keep dreaming though, then again I have finally got my Dyson (after 4 years) so perhaps it may still happen in the not too distant future – lol! The cup is always half full.
I am so glad you enjoyed yourself – Isn’t Margaret Fulton adorable? I just feel like giving her a big cuddle every time I see her picture. If only I had a drop of her talent in the kitchen….
I wonder if it’s the $700 price tag that actually stops us from buying our own Kitchen Aid. I just salivate looking at them too. Why don’t we start our own little KitchenAid savings fund? We could just put away a little each week and we could make our own kitchen dream come true. (Might take a while…lol) Btw, I would have been in absolute heaven experiencing such a wonderful day.
Is Australia on 240v electric? If so Kitchenaids from the UK are for 240v. You’d just need a plug adapter from US to Australian (Mine has a US/UK adapter). My shiny red Kitchenaid cost around £250 ($385).
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience. A day to always remember, how special. I put the word out last year to family about my dream of having a Kitchenaid and so combining Christmas, my birthday and Mother’s Day money i had been given i was able to purchase an Almond Cream Kitchenaid and even priced matched it to get a better deal. It has to be the best investment i have ever spent, even my husband says, if he knew that i would cook like i do using it, he would have bought me one years ago. I had never made pavlova before in my life and now i whip one up just cause i can. I am so proud of what i am making in the kitchen. Just having the Kitchenaid looking at me makes me want to create. I hope you can have one someday soon too.
I harbour mahoosive kitchen aid envy, but i’m so distractable, if i had one, i think i’d switch it on and wander off…i’m telling myself that at least with a hand-held i’m not going to over-mix. It’s only slightly helping!
OMG Sarah,how exciting. What a wonderful thing to happen to you!, so jealous. The kitchen aid is worth every cent. I posted about mine recently saying how much I Love it. Worth every cent! As well as making cakes I also make bread, pasta, and pizza dough regularly (at least weekly) and also use it to make ice-cream and gelato!
Cheers Fiona (lilyfieldlife)
I haven’t done a side by side comparison yet but we just purchased Wolfgang Puck’s version of the KitchenAid. Why did we go that route instead of the KitchenAid? Because of the 700 watt motor in Wolfgang’s model. It’s a commercial grade mixer. So far? That baby can mix and it purrs and it’s a white beauty, too. It’s about the same price as a KitchenAid…might be worth looking at. My husband has the many more reasons we went this route (he’s the researcher in our family) and if you’re interested, let me know. I’ll see what I can find out for you. In the meantime? I might have to try your cupcakes pretty soon… and what an awesome way to spend a weekend!!!!!
I hope the guy in the red suit brings your a Kitchen Aid this Christmas. I keep telling myself that I want one, but when dear Mr R. tells me he will get me one (he works for a company that offers them at a substantial discount), I always tell him there are other things we could be spending the money on…
More than the pictures of the cakes, I just love your photographs in general – the effort you take in staging etc. is glorious!
Wow, wow, wow! What a way to spend the day and in such high esteemed company
I love your dump and bake recipes…they certainly do it for me and my kiddos. Also had to chuckle at your reference to Frank Spencer….I adored him as a youngster!
How lucky were you! I have a similar recipe for plain cupcakes and just add stuff to it to make different, I recently learnt how to pipe icing so my cupcakes look really fancy now!
Oh Sarah the post is so beautiful, I bet you were thanking your lucky stars what a day! As usual your post came at just the right time my nearly 9 year old was busy baking her birthday cupcakes to take to school when our hand held mixer died. And although I too would love love love a kitchen aid it is not to be… but as I read through your post and found that we only needed a whisk! Yes! Well we doubled the quanity and whisked away and the cakes turned out beautifully – yet again you have saved the day. What a quick, beautiful recipe thankyou so very much!
I do know what you are talking about with the Kitchen Aid Mixer. I received a seasoned on from my Mother-in-Law, She never used it and I cooked all of the holiday meals for the family so she asked if I would like to have it….are you kidding me, I dreamed of one of these, as I did alot of baking for my 4 Children and now 6 Grandchildren. Making cookies with a 6 year old is a breeze…dough is done in half the time. So worth getting, you will use it the rest of your life and pass it down….Tell Mr. Beach Cottage That tidbit….lol I look forward to trying the cupcake, maybe with my Lovely one and only so far Granddaughter….Have a Peach of a day!
XO
B. Meredith – From the middle of the USA
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
These images are so lovely and inspiring. You make me think that even I, chef moron, could make these!
Thank you for hosting!
Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com
Hello Sarah
Well look at you – you are now a super star chef. I mean if this blog hasn’t highlighted your fantastic cooking enough (you make me drool every-time). But, wow – with the goddess of cooking her in Australia herself.
Now all you need is a Nigella visit, then you’ve covered the Uk and Australia
I hope there is a kitchen aid fairy coming your way very soon. Perhaps a giveaway x 2
1 for us and 1 for you
have a wonderful day sarah and thank you for hosting your wednesday party
loulou, from hereiamloulou blog
x
Stunning shots and amazing post! Thanks for hosting again, Sarah!
G’day
Oh my ! I know you were sooooo excited. Your cupcakes look lovely. I love the little wings. Any flavor Philadelphia Cream cheese is the greatest. I use it in alot of recipes. My favorite is just the plain one slathered on some wheat thin crackers with a little cracked black pepper on the top. YUM !
Looks like a lovely experience, Sarah! I haven’t tried the cream for deserts, I’ll have to get it if it’s avail here in the States!
So awesome, glad to see you having fun and I’ll this on my to make list
OH WOW. How exciting. I’d have loved every minute of it. I have had a kitchenaid on my Christmas list for a few years now. Better start dropping some more hints.
Kylie
Another beautiful post. What a wonderful opportunity you have had. I have seen KitchenAids in a shops but not used one, sounds amazing. Thankfully my 26 year old Sunbeam Mixmaster is still working fine.
oooh I’d love one of those too! I look in Vinnies all the time for an old Sunbeam…one day, trouble is they never break down!
Yes, a pleasant trouble to have….mine’s purring away right now as one of my daughters bakes.
My mum got an amazing mix master at our local op shop this year…I used it the other day to make chocolate cheesecake…amazing!
Sarah, what a fun adventure. I felt like I was standing in your shoes as you described your panic. I am so glad you had such a wonderful day. If you lived nearby you could come over & enjoy my KitchenAid any time. It is lovely, but so heavy to get out when I want to use it.
These images are so lovely. Beautiful!
Thank you for hosting!
looks like a fun day! lovely clear photos.
x
Wow, now that’s an experience worth writing home about! Thanks for the images and the recipe – amazing.
x
This recipe sounds easy and delicious. I’ll be giving it a go. Leahx
What an amazing day that turned out to be! Was fantastic meeting you and the others. Loved your fairy cakes, they were delicious.
omg. you are nuts, sarah. and these photos are out of control. sooooooo engaging and gorgeous and making it tough to step away from the laptop. and can i just say I REALLY REALLY LOVE CREAM CHEESE AND ALL THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. i do. so as far as i am concerned, you can blog about it everyday with your fancy pics and cute stripey tees.
michele
These look delicious! You are so lucky!
Wow, wow, wow!! How fun! Your cupcakes are too cute. And yes, I would LOVE a Kitchen Aid too. It’s my dream present. Maybe someday. *sigh* Thanks soo much for hosting, Sarah. Enjoy the rest of the week. Hope your kiddo is doing ok after the dog bite. Yikes!
~ Catie
Wow this looks like a very exciting day! Baking with the stars. And your recipe looks yummy and easy, just the way I like it. I grew up in Philadelphia, so I gotta try this one Sarah! I love that they are now making all kinds of cooking and baking sauces, instead of just cream cheese. I like to use the Philly cream cheese in my potatoes when I mash them and then throw them in the oven to bake a little. that’s yummy.
)
You certainly deserve the recognition, you always have great and simple cooking inspirations for us. I’m so glad to see you are getting your just desserts!
Eileen
Sarah all that stress for nothing. It goes to show if oyu remain true to your self there it always somehow works out for the best and it did for you. Thanks for the recepie another one to ry. They really look good.
Yes I have been begging for a kitchen aid for the past year too and it looks like it will never come… Sigh I will keep dreaming though, then again I have finally got my Dyson (after 4 years) so perhaps it may still happen in the not too distant future – lol! The cup is always half full.
I am so glad you enjoyed yourself – Isn’t Margaret Fulton adorable? I just feel like giving her a big cuddle every time I see her picture. If only I had a drop of her talent in the kitchen….
I wonder if it’s the $700 price tag that actually stops us from buying our own Kitchen Aid. I just salivate looking at them too. Why don’t we start our own little KitchenAid savings fund? We could just put away a little each week and we could make our own kitchen dream come true. (Might take a while…lol) Btw, I would have been in absolute heaven experiencing such a wonderful day.
hmmm yeah or actually why don’t Australians pay the same price as everywhere else in the world…under $200 in the States!!!
imagine how many sales in Australia they would get if only the price were even half realistic????
The Beach Cottage Campaign For Australian KitchenAid Lovers
x
No kidding…we are being ripped off. Hmm what are the options? Buying one from the States and getting the plug changed?? I wonder.
Forget it…lol. Too much hassle.
yeah already looked into that…apparently you need a transformer…
Is Australia on 240v electric? If so Kitchenaids from the UK are for 240v. You’d just need a plug adapter from US to Australian (Mine has a US/UK adapter). My shiny red Kitchenaid cost around £250 ($385).
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience. A day to always remember, how special. I put the word out last year to family about my dream of having a Kitchenaid and so combining Christmas, my birthday and Mother’s Day money i had been given i was able to purchase an Almond Cream Kitchenaid and even priced matched it to get a better deal. It has to be the best investment i have ever spent, even my husband says, if he knew that i would cook like i do using it, he would have bought me one years ago. I had never made pavlova before in my life and now i whip one up just cause i can. I am so proud of what i am making in the kitchen. Just having the Kitchenaid looking at me makes me want to create. I hope you can have one someday soon too.
Might have to start saving after reading this
Mmmmm, Almond Cream…sounds delightful. I think it would be my choice too.
You are gorgeous and those cupcakes were sensational. Hold your head up Lovely. It was a highlight meeting and working with you. Much love, Sandra xx
Wow, such a wonderful experience! Your cupcakes look delicious and your photography is beautiful as always. Thanks so much for sharing your day!
That is my kind of recipe!
I harbour mahoosive kitchen aid envy, but i’m so distractable, if i had one, i think i’d switch it on and wander off…i’m telling myself that at least with a hand-held i’m not going to over-mix. It’s only slightly helping!
Gorgeous pics as ever.
What a great day and a great story! I loved your images, goodluck getting a kitchen aid
Awesome as always Sarah!
Iloved the smiles and the beautifull faces.I loved the recipy and the cup cakes and I love the wonderfull photos of yours!!
OMG Sarah,how exciting. What a wonderful thing to happen to you!, so jealous. The kitchen aid is worth every cent. I posted about mine recently saying how much I Love it. Worth every cent! As well as making cakes I also make bread, pasta, and pizza dough regularly (at least weekly) and also use it to make ice-cream and gelato!
Cheers Fiona (lilyfieldlife)
Oh my goodness, I must eat some of those cupcakes! Looks like you had fun!
I haven’t done a side by side comparison yet but we just purchased Wolfgang Puck’s version of the KitchenAid. Why did we go that route instead of the KitchenAid? Because of the 700 watt motor in Wolfgang’s model. It’s a commercial grade mixer. So far? That baby can mix and it purrs and it’s a white beauty, too. It’s about the same price as a KitchenAid…might be worth looking at. My husband has the many more reasons we went this route (he’s the researcher in our family) and if you’re interested, let me know. I’ll see what I can find out for you. In the meantime? I might have to try your cupcakes pretty soon… and what an awesome way to spend a weekend!!!!!
I hope the guy in the red suit brings your a Kitchen Aid this Christmas. I keep telling myself that I want one, but when dear Mr R. tells me he will get me one (he works for a company that offers them at a substantial discount), I always tell him there are other things we could be spending the money on…
More than the pictures of the cakes, I just love your photographs in general – the effort you take in staging etc. is glorious!
Sarah, David Jones interst free over $500.00!! Works well!! Very afforable repayments!!NO INTEREST!!
thanks Suzanne, I just don’t want to pay that much for a mixer, when the rest of the world doesn’t lol!
xx
Like someone said above..these are some inspiring photos! And I’m so hungry right now too! Oh and thanks for hosting as always.
Sarah, you lucky duck! What a great experience to cook with Susan and Margaret. I love the photos …… yummo.
I know, it was a great day Deb
x
Very cool! You always seem to do the most awesome adventures!
Jeanni
Wow, wow, wow! What a way to spend the day and in such high esteemed company
I love your dump and bake recipes…they certainly do it for me and my kiddos. Also had to chuckle at your reference to Frank Spencer….I adored him as a youngster!
x
How lucky were you! I have a similar recipe for plain cupcakes and just add stuff to it to make different, I recently learnt how to pipe icing so my cupcakes look really fancy now!
oh I was a lucky duck that day Deane! x
Sarah
This day must have been truly special and a little surreal. These kind of events make life simply great.
alison
Oh Sarah the post is so beautiful, I bet you were thanking your lucky stars what a day! As usual your post came at just the right time my nearly 9 year old was busy baking her birthday cupcakes to take to school when our hand held mixer died. And although I too would love love love a kitchen aid it is not to be… but as I read through your post and found that we only needed a whisk! Yes! Well we doubled the quanity and whisked away and the cakes turned out beautifully – yet again you have saved the day. What a quick, beautiful recipe thankyou so very much!
lovely pictures! looks delicious!
I’ll be trying these out!
My Mum used to make those little wings..I forgot about it till I read your post.
x Marnie
I do know what you are talking about with the Kitchen Aid Mixer. I received a seasoned on from my Mother-in-Law, She never used it and I cooked all of the holiday meals for the family so she asked if I would like to have it….are you kidding me, I dreamed of one of these, as I did alot of baking for my 4 Children and now 6 Grandchildren. Making cookies with a 6 year old is a breeze…dough is done in half the time. So worth getting, you will use it the rest of your life and pass it down….Tell Mr. Beach Cottage That tidbit….lol I look forward to trying the cupcake, maybe with my Lovely one and only so far Granddaughter….Have a Peach of a day!
XO
B. Meredith – From the middle of the USA