Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

So 2012 is here…finally. This year will be a change for me. I’m going to pursue my dreams, believe more in myself and make a few changes, or that’s what I’d like to believe. To start off this year’s blog, lets bring in the old from last year.

I showed everyone the preview to the boxes and here they are. Beautifully done up with pretty ribbons and delicious cookies inside. I must say I hope everyone enjoyed the cookies, and yes I learned a few things and maybe would of done a few things differently, but hey that’s what new years are for. Everything is a learning curve. The recipes will follow shortly…so you can enjoy the deliciousness of chocolate all sort cookies.

Cookies are no joke people, it’s a lot of hard work, but if done with a little love (anything made with a little love is always good) it is worth the while. 

The boxes!

 recipes are included...

The delicious chocolate delights!

mmm...

Too cute!

Isn't this just tooooooo cute! I think in the far future when it's my time for a little baby, just is a must have for them in winter. A cute pink one for a girl and a pretty blue one for a boy! Then even the children can share in cupcake cuteness.

Motivational posters...

Sneak Preview

So this year I attempted a lot of chocolate inspired cookies. Some filled with strawberries, some decorated, some just plain delicious. I then packed them nicely into a pretty box, put the decorations on (seen below) and ended with pretty ribbons. I give these away as Christmas presents to my family every year. Even sold a few this year.

But let me just tell you baking is a lot of work. I thought when the clock struck 1 in the morning, and a layer of butter, sugar and flour was caked onto my skin, that I would not come out alive the other side. I was poofed. Baking almost 1600 cookies is no joke. Just wish my family were a bit smaller… Anyway, I enjoyed every minute of it, actually. The list of cookies were Chocolate Gingerbread, Nutella Dream cookies, Chocolate strawberry Wafers, Chocolate and Strawberry Spiral cookies and Chocolate shortbread (mmmm my favourite) I baked up a storm, packed and decorated, drank some wine in between, slept, ate (a few cookies to), but most of all I felt the Christmas spirit coming alive. The spirit of giving, sharing and loving. I will post the complete boxes, cookie recipes and pictures later this month. Keep a look out.

Front labels

Tags

Stickers

WEDDING BOOKED

I am proud to announce...I am doing a wedding cake. Thank you for everyone that supported me and helped me along the way. Now the hard work starts. I know the bride will be so happy and her breath will be taken away when see tastes and sees these wedding cupcakes on her special day...hehehe!!! Whoohoo dreams can come true!

Wedding Cupcakes

So here they are. The wedding cupcakes. I experimented a bit with the icing. I think it still needs some work, but the chocolate cupcake is divine! Making those damn little flowers were really hard, but worth it. I learned a new skill, and had the pleasure of working with fondant for the first time. Wonderful! I just want do more and make more...but alas time is little. I will get there and make 100 of beautiful fondant decorations. I take my hat off to people who do this full time, it really is an art form. 

Teaser

I made test wedding cupcakes. These are the fragapani flowers (my very first attempt at fondant i must say). At attempt number 4 I was reasdy to give up. And then magically i figured out the trick and i was good to go! Will post pics of the cupcakse later this week.