I'm a mummy and i'm better for it - taking time to appreciate life

 

Clearly I have established that I'm incredibly passionate About food! But more than food, more than anything, I'm most passionate about my job, about being a Mum.

I'm a full time Mum, my son is 18 months old today. And I'm taking a moment to reflect, why? Because I think time goes too quickly I don't know about you, but I definitely don't appreciate my life enough and sometimes I find myself just existing. Just getting through the day. Not all the time, but I do get stuck in ruts.

No one and nothing can prepare you for the ups and downs of motherhood, and every single day is unlike the one before.

People will tell you it's hard ( and that is true!) i had some very dark days and struggled with depression, nothing came easily, my pregnancy was complicated, the natural birth i wanted resulted in an emergency cesarian, everything felt like it was against me, I felt as though i was never going to be enough and i was never going to be a good Mum.

One thing I didn't know or get told was, motherhood makes you a better person, a stronger person, less selfish and more determined. I didn't give up and I took each day as it came, some good, some bad, some absolutely terrible... Until the good days started to outweigh the bad, and then the bad days started to disappear and the haze cleared, I am a good mum, hell I'm a freakin great Mum!

My 18 month old boy who can say but a handful of words and thinks no means yes, no and maybe. This little boy that thinks everything can turn into a phone and expects nana to be talking back to him... He has truly made me a better person, and he has no clue!

I think back to my happiest days, you know the big life events like marrying my best friend, the love of my life Aidan, and the day that we got our first fury member of the family ( I had always dreamed of owning my very own dog).

They were amazing days that are locked in my memories forever, but the contentment of sitting with my son outside watching him run and laugh and play with his Daddy, my best friend... There are no words... Well maybe a few...I love my boys and I am so grateful for them.

 

 

 

 

 

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Super quick biscuits

 

Yesterday was a great day... So far today is the opposite... You know that song from Alanis Morrisett"isn't it ironic" ( if you don't know this song you need to, it's a bit of awesomeness) thats my background music in my head, every time I start feeling sorry for myself this music pops into my head and I imagine myself standing in the rain singing it. I know, dramatic right?! That's just me.

Today im the definition of ironic in a mummy/ housewife kinda way. From walking out the door forgetting to even look in the mirror, waiting in line at the post office to get to the end and realize I didn't Bring my I.D. After waiting in the line for the 2nd time my 17mth old pulls out my bra from the nappy bag ( note to self this toddler is capable of unzipping and zipping bags now). I must find a way to stop him from trying to wear my underwear as a hat... Perhaps I need to find a way to not be so amused by it, I suspect he does it to make me laugh, well I wasn't laughing this time!

It's funny how quickly/ dramatically my days can change being a Mum. No doubt my 17mth old can change even more dramatically ( yesterday he was all smiles & giggles, and today I only have to look at him sideways and he screams!)

Needless to say I haven't been feeling very "super mummyish" today, I was in desperate need of a cooking Sesh to lighten my spirits, minus the cleanup... Something to go with a nice strong coffee. These bickies are delicious, as I write this the smell of cinnamon is caught in the breeze and I'm instantly relaxed and ready to take on my afternoon chaos of dog walking, house cleaning, dinner cooking & bath time tantrums!

But for now, I might just have another bickie...

 

 

Quick mix biscuits recipe from Super food ideas via taste.com.au

80g butter, melted, cooled

1/2 cup caster sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup sultanas

1/2 cup plain flour

1/2 cup self-raising flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
   
2. Combine butter and sugars in a bowl. Mix in egg and sultanas. Sift flours, cinnamon and bicarbonate of soda over mixture. Stir until just combined. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes or until firm.
   
3. Place small spoonfuls of mixture onto trays, allowing room for spreading. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden. Cool on trays for 10 minutes, then place onto a cooling rack.

Note: You can virtually add whatever you like to this recipe, I often add dried cranberries, walnuts, golden syrup, depending on what I feel like! The recipe on the site also includes chocolate drizzled, I feel it defeats the purpose of being quick so I didn't include it.

 

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Tangelo and vanilla cupcakes with tangelo buttercream

 

It's oh so quiet shhh shhh! That's what it's like in our house when my 17 month old is sleeping. I know, i know, all the books say "make noise". Well I invite all of those " experts" to come into my home and experience what happens when my boy doesn't get enough sleep, he is the "child from hell" ( I love my son, I promise) this boy, as gorgeous and funny, and sweet as he is has had a serious problem with sleep since he was born, and after many many sleep deprived nights our family enjoys 12 blissful hours most nights and 21/2hr naps through the day and I have worked my butt off to get it that way, not to mention we have a much happier family for it. As far as I'm concerned, go with what works, and being quiet works.

So yes that means when Isaac's sleeping between 11 and 2 during the day it's quiet time for mummy in more ways than one, even the poor dogs get roused on when they play too loud, it's quite funny how they can "mute" themselves mid play, the "shenanigans" continue minus the growling. I have good dogs. Oh and God forbid anyone flush a toilet!! or sneeze for that matter, (My poor dad!) I have become quite the bossy Mummy, of which I make no apologies for!

During Isaac's sleep today I dreamed up these cupcakes to make good use of the tangelos I bought at the fruit market when we were at Bribie Island yesterday i was trying to replicate the orange rock candy flavor and I think they turned out fab!

 

 

 

Tangelo and vanilla cupcakes with tangelo buttercream

Cupcakes

125g plain flour

125g caster sugar

125g soft unsalted butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Approximately 2 tablespoons milk

Zest of 1 tangelo

1. Preheat oven to 180°c ( 170°c fan forced)
   
2. Cream butter and sugar until light in color
   
3. Add dry ingredients, eggs, vanilla and tangelo zest; beat until combined
   
4. Add milk and beat for 2 minutes
   
5. Divide the mixture amongst a 12 pattycake lined tin.
   
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until tops spring back to touch.

 

Tangelo buttercream




100 grams Softened Butter

Zest of 1 Tangelo

225 grams Icing Sugar sifted

1 tablespoon tangelo juice

1. Beat butter, zest and sifted icing sugar with the balloon whisk of an electric stand mixer until light and fluffy.
2. Gradually add the tangelo juice until desired piping consistency is achieved ( I find I use all the juice but I prefer a softer icing).

 

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Chocolate cupcakes with Lindt chocolate buttercream

Hello my names Tiffany and I'm a chocoholic... My ultimate weakness is Lindt...anything Lindt. It's my answer to anything, bad day? Lindt. Toddler tantrum in the supermarket? Lindt. ( for him and me - works like a charm). period pain? Lindt. When it's on sale I buy in bulk ( oh god! I'm getting a real reality check as I write this - think I have a problem here! ) You get the idea. I love chocolate.

To continue my chocolatey indulgence this week I whipped up some of these gorgeous little numbers

 

They are amazing, the balance of flavor is perfect, between the delicate fluffy cake and the silky Lindt chocolate buttercream. It's an indulgence you desserve, go on, give it a go!

Chocolate cupcakes with lindt chocolate buttercream

Cupcakes

125g caster sugar

125g plain flour

125g butter softened

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 eggs
2tablespoons coa coa
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 tablespoons milk

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°c ( 170°c fan forced)
   
2. Cream butter and sugar until light in color
3. Add dry ingredients, eggs and vanilla; beat until combined
4. Add milk and beat for 2 minutes
5. Divide the mixture amongst a 12 pattycake lined tin.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until tops spring back to touch.

 

 

Lindt chocolate buttercream

1 cup unsalted butter softened

2 1/2 cups pure icing sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

100g lindt dark chocolate - melted and slightly cooled

 

Method:

1. Using the wire whisk attachment on your stand mixer, whip the butter for 5 minutes on medium high setting, stopping to scrape the bowl occasionally.
2. Reduce speed to low, gradually add the icing mixture, once all the icing sugar has been incorporated increase speed to medium high and add the vanilla. Gradually add the melted chocolate and whip at high speed until light and fluffy, scraping the bowl as needed to incorporate all the chocolate.

 

Note: You can store cupcakes in airtight container for up to 3 days. Store buttercream in refrigerator and bring to room temperature and re-whip before icing. 

 




 

 

 




 

 

 

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Chocolate mousse cake with coffee anglaise

It's raining... again. I can think of 3 amazing things that I love to do when it rains... 1. Sleep in. 2. Watch movies. 3. Eat LOTS of chocolate!

 

This cake is the definition of Indulgence, it has a fluffy light chocolate sponge base and the creamiest rich chocolate mousse filling, when eaten you will feel like you have died and gone to chocolate heaven, seriously!

 

It's not the easiest (or quickest) of cakes to make, but I promise you that its worth every bit of effort and time.

 

I find it a huge challenge to create a desert that hubby will go back for seconds for, he's not a sweets person and this normally suits me just fine ( more for me!) but I feel so chuffed when he does, it means he really likes it... It's the ultimate compliment.

Chocolate mousse cake with coffee anglaise

 

6 egg yolks

1/2 cup icing sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 tablespoons water

1 litre (4cups) thickened cream

 

Coffee Anglaise:

3 cups milk

11/2 cups coffee beans

8 egg yolks

3/4 cup caster sugar

 

Make coffee anglaise first: combine milk and beans in large saucepan, bring to boil; remove from heat, cover, stand 1 hour. Whisk egg yolks and sugar in large bowl whisk in milk mixture. Return to same saucepan and stir over heat, without boiling, until slightly thickened, strain; cool to room temp. Cover and refrigerate until cold.

Mousse cake:

1 Set oven to 180°c/160°c fan forced.

2 Grease 25cm x30cm Swiss roll pan; cover base and short sides with baking paper allowing paper 5 cm above edges.

3 Beat egg yolks and icing sugar with electric mixer until light and creamy. Fold in sifted cocoa powder and cornflour, then chocolate; stir in water.

4 Beat egg whites with electric mixer until soft peaks form; fold into chocolate mixture in two batches. Spread mixture into pan ; bake about 15 mins. Turn cake out. Cool to room temperature.

5 Cut out circle of cake large enough to fit 26cm springform tin, using smaller pieces to fit if necessary, ensure there are no gaps. Beat cream in large bowl with electric mixer until slightly thickened. Fold in slightly cooled extra melted chocolate in four batches. Pour mixture over cake base, refrigerate until set.

6 Remove cake tin, dust with a little extra sifted cocoa, enjoy with coffee anglaise and double cream.

This recipe is from The Australian Women's Weekly Food We Love Cookbook.

 

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"Toolbox" 30th Birthday Cake

This was a my "toolbox" 30th birthday cake I created for a good friend. My 3rd attempt at creating and decorating a cake.

What a challenge I had set myself!  There were definitely a few tantrums over this one, not just from my 16 month old bub either! Hi my name is Tiffany and welcome to my world, I've decided to share with anyone and everyone (and quite possibly no one!) my love of creating beautiful food.

I thought it would be cute to have a simple birthday message.

 Although I set out to blog just about food , recipes and locally sourced produce, I gave it a bit of thought and after struggling to write anything that didn't mention my family and our busy, chaotic lives I decided, this should not be a struggle and I was doing something wrong.  This is when I realized that the love I have for creating food isn't exclusive to food, it's also about my family and the people I love, it's all one big package for me, so naturally I have to share that love and the stories that come with it.

The nails were a last minute decision, I think that it brought it all together.

Food is something that has always been a big part of my life, I find it strange and uncomfortable when I find myself talking to someone that doesn't have the same appreciation, though, I can quickly find something else to chatter away about with anybody and still enjoy the conversation thoroughly, the connection isn't the same as when I find another foodie to talk to, that's when sparks really fly, if you're reading this then you are a fellow foodie also and I'm sure you know what I'm rambling about!

A special moment I captured.  My boys. My life.

On that note, I'm going to sum up my first post by saying thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy reading about my life, the challenges that first time motherhood sets upon me and the adoring love I have for my growing family and the food I create for them.


Tiff x