cupcakes

 

 

 Cupcakes

 

 

fabulous cupcakes made by Foodies, Kim, Frances and Chere

                      
The Shoalhaven Foodies enjoyed a delightful afternoon recently. It was cupcake day and we were lucky enough to be able to enjoy not only cupcakes, but the beautiful ambience of Willow Wood in Broughton Vale, just outside of Berry, which has been built as a writers retreat.

Willow Wood is the brain child of poet and artist Jennifer Mors and her husband David Badger. Willow Wood is actually a place for writers to concentrate on what they love most – writing. However, it was also a perfect location for the Foodies, with it's spacious kitchen, large dining area and wonderful views.




one of the delightful views from Willow Wood

Willow Wood, a place for writers and Foodies! photo by Chris Jallard, Red Berry Photography





Kim's gorgeous rose and pistachio cupcakes  photo by Chris Jallard, Red Berry Photography

Kim's Rose and Pistachio cupcakes.  makes 10

Ingredients:

100gms soft unsalted butter

3/4 cup caster sugar

2 tps rosewater

2 eggs

1  1/4 cups gluten free SR flour

1/2  cup milk

1/8 cup crushed pistachios

Butter Icing:

50 gms unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups icing sugar

2 drops rose pink colouring

1tsp rose water

A little milk if needed.

 

Method:

Preheat oven 180 c Line patty tin with cases.

Cream butter, sugar and rose water with electric beater.

Add eggs one at a time.

Stir in Flour, pistachios and milk alternately.

Bake for around 18-20 minutes.

When cool, Ice and decorate.  I put the icing in an icing bag and piped it onto the cake, and made a darker pink piped on as roses, sprinkled with ground pistachios.

 



Chere's  little "Continental Babes" cupcakes

 



Chere's "Continental Babes" 

 



I made a vanilla cupcake recipe using gluten free flour.   Because I used gluten free flour, I found the cakes were a bit flat and uninteresting, so I improvised!  I decided I wasn't going to use traditional cup cake holders, but little cups.  I found two sets of little cups at a Vinnies shop - some lovely, others a bit twee, so I hand painted some decorations on the twee ones using a permanent glass paint.

 

I cut the cupcakes into discs and arranged them on a large plate.... then I mixed up strong espresso coffee, a little dessert chocolate topping and a dash of lemon, lime & bitters cordial - that sounds weird, but it worked!   I drizzled it over the cupcake discs and left them on the plate to absorb the flavor.

 

I made a filling:

3 egg yolks, (fresh from my gorgeous chickens, Bamboo and Bangles)

1/4 cup brown sugar,

1 vanilla pod,

250g mascarpone.

 

Method: 

Remove the seeds from the vanilla pod, then beat the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla seeds together in a bowl over simmering water until pale and thick.   Take off the heat and beat until cool.   Then beat in the mascarpone.

 

I layered the drizzled discs (as above) alternately with the mascarpone mix in the little cups and chilled them overnight.

 

Before serving I topped them with a mix of freshly whipped cream and little chopped squares of cherry Turkish Delight.  

 

I made some spun sugar the day before and put that on top, creating different shapes for each "continental babe".

 



Frances' delicious cupcakes

 


Jen Mors enjoying the afternoon




David Badger obviously enjoying one of Kim's a cupcakes!

 Willow Wood is set on 5 acres in rural Broughton Vale. Due to officially open later in 2014, it will host four writers for one week of every month of the year. The writers will have their own guest room with queen=size bed, a desk for writing, ensuite and an external doorway to the verandah, so the guest will have easy access to the surrounding gardens and woodland. The house has open plan communal spaces – library, television area and comfy lounges to relax, read or enjoy some delicious morning or afternoon tea. Breakfast and lunch are self-serve to give each writer the opportunity to structure their day as best suits individual needs. The evening meal is a time for the guest-writers to join hosts Jennifer and David for a delicious evening meal and hearty chatter.

 

Over the past year or so, Willow Wood has hosted a number of events, including Peter Bakowski's Book Launches in 2013 and 2014 and a Peter Bakowski Poetry Workshop, a Brook Emery Poetry Workshop and most recently, our Shoalhaven foodies Cupcake afternoon.

For more information about Willow Wood, contact jenmors@bigpond.com