Behind-The-Scenes @ S.P.T: A New Baby Is Born!

The text read “…had given birth to the baby on Wednesday, it’s a girl!...”.

This first time mother is a dear university friend of mine. Our friendship commenced when we both entered tertiary study, when she noticed that I was sitting alone in the library & had approached to say “Hello”.

It’s a friendship that has spanned for more than ten years. It's one of those friendships which we may only see or speak with each other once or twice a year, yet we never fail to remember to include one another in celebration of important milestones throughout the different stages of our individual lives.

So what sweet treats do I have in mind for this dear friend?

Well, for me the colour pink is a must for a new baby girl & I can’t go pass chocolate (yummmm...) for this very special occasion.

Something pink...how about Strawberry & Cream macarons!

Strawberry & Cream Macarons

Strawberry & Cream Macarons:
Strawberry Flavoured Macaron Shells filled with Strawberry Buttercream



Strawberry Flavoured Macaron Shells filled with Strawberry Buttercream
(A double dose of strawberry!)



For lovers of strawberry

…And accompanying these Strawberry & Cream macarons, how about some mini cupcakes!

Mud cake, also referred to as Mississippi mud cake or mud pie, is believed to have originated in the 1970s & 1980s in American South, & some say it is baked to resemble the mud along the banks of the Mississippi River. It is a type of chocolate cake made in virtually endless variations with no standard recipe, but typically of having a very moist, fairly dense & crumbly texture.

I like my cupcakes light & fluffy so with the addition of water & the replacement of plain flour with self-raising flour, I was able to create a light & fluffy chocolate mud cupcake.

The first time I baked this cake as a cupcake my feelings were mixed. Sure it was enjoyably light & fluffy, but already pre-programmed with what we're familiar with as a mud cake, could we then re-program ourselves to accept a mud cake which is nor typically fairly dense or crumbly?

I’ll let you be the judge (a different flavour of this light mud cupcake will be featured at our Strathfield Spring Fair 2010 stall!). 

I iced this light dark chocolate mud cupcake with strawberry buttercream frosting, topped with pink sprinkles, a white sugar paste flower & silver sugar pearls.

Pink Princess Mini Cupcakes:
Light Dark Chocolate Mud Cupcake topped with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

If only you can smell this photo!
 (whiffs of intense dark chocolate & sweet strawberry combined)  

…And accompanying these macarons & cupcakes was (of course) one of my baby clothing bouquets!

A baby clothing bouquet for girls

The photo says it all - "Too Cute!"



Dear Readers - meet little Naomi