December 24, 2013

It is Christmas Eve here in Australia as I write this post – time to wind down and get those final presents wrapped!

 As we come to the close of an other year I would like to thank everyone for their continued support in 2013.  I am going to take a little blogging break for a few weeks to recharge and enjoy the summer here in Australia.

The kids are excited to be on school holidays and even more excited that Santa will be visiting soon!

Wishing Everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2014!
See you all in a few weeks!

Image: One Love Photography

December 19, 2013

As we make that slide into Christmas I always love looking back at all that I have done over the past year!  Thankfully I have my blog to help keep me on top of all that has happened and it is exciting to see how it all looked in pictures.

Over the past year there have been plenty of dessert tables, lots of photography, hundred of cakes, numerous giveaways, fabulous gluten free recipes shared, some holidays, tutorials, exciting magazine features, loads of pinning and plenty of sharing, a few fun courses, pictures of my girls and even a holiday!   So to recap I guess the best way is a selection of some of my favourite shots!

I am excited to see where it all heads in 2014 and as is always the case over the Christmas/January holidays I take time to reassess and see where I will head.  I hope you enjoy my look back at 2013!

 Photography: Leanne Ambrogio for Sweet Style

December 16, 2013

Hello Everyone!

Well the year is almost done and this will be my final Monday Favourite post for the year and I certainly have some beautiful cakes to show you to finish off!

Today we meet Nic from Sweet Love Cakes who has told me she could talk all day about her business and cakes as she is so passionate about it.  So here is what Nic told me about her business which she operates out of Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast.

How long ago did you find your passion for creating beautiful cakes?
As a child, I loved to wow family and friends with the presentation of food (not just cake). It set the mood for what was to come; built the excitement and tantalised all the senses. This was taken to another level around ten years ago when my love affair with baking and flair for creativity collided quite by accident. After purchasing a cake disaster for my eldest daughter’s first birthday, I went in search of the Women’s Weekly Kids’ Birthday Cakes book and the obsession began. It wasn’t until I attended professional training however, that I realised just how much I loved the creative process of cake decorating. For the first time in my life, I felt a spark like never before and I knew I had to pursue this new-found passion.

 Tell us about your business – how long have you had it and what types of cakes do you love to make?
What started out as humble beginnings creating buttercream birthday cakes for my girls has developed into a boutique cake studio servicing the beautiful Coffs Coast and surrounds. Sweet Love Cake Couture was launched in May 2011 and has become synonymous with outstanding craftsmanship and intricate attention to detail. I have been fortunate enough to train with world leaders in the industry and am forever grateful to be part of such a strong, supportive and talented cake decorating community here in Australia.

 Without a doubt, being bestowed with the honour of designing and creating a cake for a couple as they begin their life journey together is the ultimate for me. I’m a hopeless romantic so I’m captivated by the beauty and romance of wedding cakes but I also love getting to know couples and designing a cake that reflects their personalities. I also have an intense passion for sugar flower artistry which stems from a love of nature and colour. Very few wedding cakes leave our studio without a handcrafted sugar flower.

 What is the most popular flavour of cake with your customers?
Few people can resist the temptation of a decadent chocolate mud cake but our signature creamy coconut cake is sinfully delicious and a favourite with our coastal clientele. Based on coconut cream, this cake has an incredibly fine crumb and is as light and fluffy as a cloud. With lashings of Malibu syrup and layered with Italian meringue buttercream flavoured with fresh lemon, passionfruit or mango, it’s perfect for a sultry summer celebration.

To to see more of Nic’s stunning work please visit her website here or her Facebook page here.

 

December 13, 2013

So it is my turn today to show off my current Christmas wish list!  With so many lovely things in the shops it is always so hard to decide!  Some of these heavenly items I would love to see under the tree but some are just to make my presents look pretty – I hope you enjoy!

1 TOP :: 2 THONGS :: 3 SECRET TABLET :: 4 CAMERA BAG :: 5 STRING OF LIGHTS :: 6 TEA TOWEL :: 7 GLITTER TAPE :: 8 POUFFE :: 9 GOLD WASHI TAPE

December 12, 2013

It is time for our December instalment of Gluten Free Baking!  Gillian has put together another fantastic biscuit recipe for us – prefect for your Christmas celebrations or gift giving.

 

Christmas Eve spiced biscuits

The perfect biscuit to have on hand at Christmas for guests.  They are a little crunchy, a little chewy and a lot Yummy!   Our family pack these up each Christmas to give to all our our lovely neighbours.

500g icing sugar
500g almond meal
150g desiccated coconut
5 egg whites lightly beaten
Zest of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 orange
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves

Preheat oven to 150 fan forced

Sift icing sugar and spices into large bowl. Stir in almond meal, coconut and zest until mixed thoroughly.  Add egg whites and stir with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are combined.

Roll tablespoon size balls and dip in desiccated coconut and press down on baking tray.  Place approx 2 cm apart and bake for about 10 mins or until lightly golden.

 Gillian Brown is the owner of Crumbs of Comfort Cake Design in Brisbane, Australia.  Gillian has spent many years working hard developing allergen aware baked goods after she was diagnosed with celiac disease and her daughter was diagnosed with anaphylaxis to peanuts.  Please visit Gillian’s facebook page to learn more about her wonderful business.