Food


September is Low Sugar Month


September 1, 2014

With the arrival of Spring I am really excited to launch a month of fun new projects on the blog.  This September I have decided to focus my recipe posts a little differently – more in line with how I live my own life.  I have been living sugar free for some months now after a number of Universe speaking to me moments and a good kick in the butt to get my eating back on track.  I am also working on my kids and slowly getting their eating right – I know there are still parties that we go to (and parties we hold in our house) but for the most part we are now a sugar free household!   

With all these changes in my life I thought it would be great to have a month here on the blog where I showed great low-sugar or no sugar recipes – a number of them are perfect for parties and celebrations as well as being great for lunch boxes.    I have been investigating all the options for replacements to refined sugar and there are so many great things you can do.  We definitely still need to eat sweet food in moderation but how good it is that there are options for low or no sugar party food.  

So let me now introduce to you a product that I had the pleasure of find out about a few weeks ago called Natvia.  The Nativia team invited me along to a Masterclass at The Classic Cupcake Co in Mosman where the lovely owner and baker extrodinaire Anna showed us how to bake a sugar free cupcakes using the Nativa products.  

Natvia is a 100% natural product that uses the stevia plant, combined with the naturally occurring nectar known as Erythritol. An all natural sweetener that you can add to your baking or drinks.

There were 6 of us there to learn Anna’s secrets and let me tell you she bakes a mean cupcake!  The flavour we made was Berry Choc Mud Cupcakes – visit the Natvia website here to join their Sweetlife Club and find hundreds of these great recipes.  Anna also runs wonderful classes to help you bake these very sugar free cupcakes – her next two masterclasses are being held in September and if you enter the code natvia at checkout you can receive a $20 discount.  Find The Class Cupcake Co here.

Here are the photos from our evening at The Classic Cupcake Co trying the Natvia Products!

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Images :: Leanne Ambrogio | Sweet Style 


Lunch with Heston for Coles


May 21, 2014

It is always fun when you get invited to test out something new, especially when it involves food and a celebrity chef!  Yesterday just happened to be one of those days and I got to go along to meet Heston Blumenthal at the launch of his new range of foods for Coles.

With the amazing autumn weather we are having here in Sydney at the moment Coles could not have picked a better location for the shindig with the city sparkling from the view in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

We were served delicious samples from Hestons new products which range from delicious sauches to burgers, sausages, meats and pies.

I got to sample the slow cooked asian pork sandwiches and I can tell you without doubt it was the best pork I have ever tasted.  Heston has used lots of interesting Aussie flavours in the food which was wonderful to see and taste.

One important question for me was when is the sweet range arriving!  Luckily for those of us in the dessert business and with a sweet tooth it is not long away with plans to further increase the range throughout the year.

You can find Heston’s new range of 15 different products in Coles stores nationally or visit the website hestonforcoles.com.au for more info!


Monday Favourite – Jack + Hunter


December 2, 2013

I am excited to show you today’s Monday Favourite as these gorgeous cakes are by a lovely customer of mine who I have gotten to know over the years when she comes to pick up her Sweet Style goodies.  Liv fell in love with the party industry and has decided to take the leap into the cake industry!

After showing me some of her beautiful creations I am sure you will all agree she is a natural so today I introduce to you jack + hunter by Olivia Munn.

Here is what Liv has to tell me about her new business.

I have only started decorating cakes in the last 12 months. My interest started after I had my two boys and a desire to be able to make them ‘cool’ cakes for their birthdays and other occasions. Friends and relatives started asking me to make cakes for them, and it has literally snow-balled from there.

My business, jack+hunter, is still technically only a ‘hobby’. I initially created a Facebook page to display my handmade (sewn) baby/kids goods, but now use it to also promote my cakes. I don’t really have a preference for the type of cakes I prefer to make, although I do like a good challenge. My favourite cake to date would have to be the one I created for my brother and sister-in-laws wedding – just love how the cake turned out and the navy/orange colour combination.

By far the most popular flavour of cake is white chocolate mud cake!

  

To see more of Liv’s great work visit her Facebook page here.

The Tomkat Studio Gift Guide


November 27, 2013

The 4th Annual Tomkat Studio Gift Guide is here once again this year.

Kim always puts together such a beautiful and stylish publication that is filled with wonderful gift ideas, delicious Christmas recipes and a wonderful selection of free printable gift tags.

I was once again fortunate to be included in the line up sharing a yummy french macaron recipe – you can see it on page 49.  These delicious treats when given a touch of bling make the perfect addition to either your Christmas table or wrapped up in a cute box and given as a sweet gift!  Dewi from Sweet Bloom Cakes make the lovely Macs and the gift tag by Paiges of Style is also available for free download in the magazine.

CLICK HERE to view the 2013 Tomkat Studio Gift Guide

Macarons :: Sweet Bloom Cakes
Photograhy :: Leanne Ambrogio for Sweet Style


Harry’s Ice Cream Giveaway Winner


November 22, 2013

Hello Friends – it is Friday once again and another busy week has passed.  We are headed into a big few weeks of end of year concerts for all manner of activities and this weekend we plan to put up our Christmas tree – I know it is a little early but I like to get it out and go through what we have and see what extra bits and pieces we need!

We have also been really busy here on the blog with lots of fun posts you may want to check out from Christmas Gift ideas, Gillian’s latest gluten free recipe plus some very cool drinks inspiration.

So now it is time to announce the winner of the Harry’s Ice Cream Giveaway.  Thank you to everyone who entered and from reading the answers it looks like the Pavlova flavour may have been the most popular of the three flavours although the Raspberry Cheesecake flavour has had a last minute surge in votes!

And so without further ado the winner of the Harry’s Ice Cream pack is

Please email me Nicole and we will organise to have your gift sent your way.

Images:  Leanne Ambrogio for Sweet Style
Visit Harry’s Ice Cream on Facebook