Back in the kitchen with Toblerone Cupcakes

Before I talk about the baking I started yesterday and finished tonight, I wanted to go off course and mention the lovely walk I had on Saturday. I wish I had brought my camera with me because what was supposed to be a quick trip outside to do a few errands ended up being an almost four hour walk around my surrounding neighbourhoods, in particular Gastown. I won't go on too much as I plan on retracing my steps with camera in hand to really document the diverse and interesting parts of downtown Vancouver, but I just wanted to say how refreshing and exciting it was to just wander and see things for the first time in an area I have been living in for almost two years now. I challenge anyone to stop and think about the last time they really appreciated what is on their doorstep and if memory fails then go out and rediscover it as soon as possible.
Now onto my baking, of which I must say it was nice to get back into the kitchen and whip up something new. I did have a reason for the baking project, but maybe that is what I needed to reignite the passion I have had to put on hold of late. One of my co-workers is getting married next week so we are having a little surprise celebration for her; I guess you could call it a mini bridal shower or kitchen tea. I chose to make cupcakes because I had bought some snowflake cupcake cases from Michaels prior to Christmas, which I hadn't had the chance to use yet, and I knew snowflakes were a key part of her wedding theme. 

I was going to make vanilla cupcakes, but after a bit of a Google search nothing was really inspiring me so I tried to think of what random ingredients I had on hand. I still had some toblerone bars left from a Christmas present and so I looked for a toblerone cupcake recipe. 

The recipe that won me over can be found here. I was slightly dubious about the use of sour cream, but wanted to give it a go. I am really glad I did because the cupcakes turned out really well minus a bit of a hiccup, which I will tell you about shortly. 

The only changes I made to the recipe were to exclude the salt as the butter I bought was salted. Also I wasn't sure what size toblerone bar was required and as I had 50-gram bars on hand I used one and a half of them. I only baked the cupcakes for twenty minutes, which seemed long enough. However, as they began to cool the cupcakes started to come away from the cases, which was quite depressing. 

I tried to troubleshoot via Google and it seems there are a few reasons why this happens - the cupcakes are too moist, they haven't quite been baked long enough or the cases weren't as full as they should have been. Let's just say I wasn't too thrilled about this so I had no choice tonight when I went to frost them, but to remove all the cases. I think the saving grace was the delicious frosting. Again I did not use any salt as I was using salted butter and I must confess that my measuring wasn't exact, but the frosting tasted delicious all the same. I used a Wilton 1M decorating tip and topped each one off with a malteser cut in half and positioned in a somewhat butterflied manner.

I cannot wait to make these again so I can not only improve on my frosting technique, but also make sure the cupcakes don't come away from their cases. I hope everyone likes them tomorrow! 

Good things come in small packages

It is crazy to think that the first month of 2012 will be over in just a few short days. I really don't know where it has gone and am kind of sad I can't have a do-over, well at least with the latter half, so as to have spent more time with January 2012. Oh well what's done is done so I will focus on the things that have brought a smile to my face of late. Belated Christmas presents are always a wonderful surprise and eagerly opened to see what delightful item waits inside. As such I am now the proud owner of Downton Abbey season one and a rather intriguing cupcake recipe book entitled 'Who you callin' cupcake?', the clever creation of the owners of Bleeding Heart Bakery. I cannot wait to drink copious amounts of tea (as suggested by the present giver) and watch an English production that has had rave reviews. Obviously I must get onto whipping up some cupcakes from my new recipe book as soon as possible too. 

The latest addition to my DVD collection (image courtesy of PBS)

Cupcakes with a difference (image courtesy of Chapters)

One of the other things I love at the moment is the arm wrestle currently going on between Valentine's Day and Easter merchandise in all of the stores. It always amuses me how quickly it appears on the shelves once Christmas is over, but now it is even more interesting because of the attention Valentine's Day is afforded, thus allowing for only glimpses of Easter at the moment. I probably should mention that I was eating hot cross buns in Australia at the beginning of the month, guilty as charged, but how could I miss the opportunity to when they look so inviting as shown below (image courtesy of Bakers Delight):

A few minutes in the toaster and a lathering of butter...yum! I think I might attempt to make them this coming Easter. Last, but not least, in this day and age a lot of stores either charge for plastic bags or don't provide any at all, which is definitely a positive initiative where the environment is concerned. A byproduct of this are all the super cute reusable bags you can now buy to tote around your purchases. Two of my current favourites are a new Cath Kidston one I got for Christmas and the other one I rescued from my dormant possessions while I was back in Australia. It was also a present, from my last Christmas in London, courtesy of an amazing stationery store called Paperchase.

Enjoy the rest of January 2012 and don't forget to appreciate the small things because good things do come in small packages!

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!

I don't mean to sound like a broken record with all my recent talks of Australia, but this time tomorrow I will be in Moose's Down Under celebrating Australia Day. For those wanting to know exactly what Australia Day is all about and what it represents, check out the information here. Patriotism is a big thing when you are abroad, well for me I feel that this is definitely the case, especially in celebrating days of historical significance or during big sporting events. I am a proud Australian, although my messed up accent might suggest otherwise and, as such, on January 26th 2012 I am looking forward to tucking into a chicken parmigiana and a much deserved Aussie brew, hopefully Triple J's Hottest 100 will be playing too. Now the finishing touch I need to really show that I am Australian is the all-important clothing item. On Sunday I was shopping at Metrotown and stumbled across the perfect top for Australia Day in Zara of all places surprisingly enough. Fingers crossed that I will be wearing the following funky top tomorrow night when I am celebrating one of the most important days in Australian history: 

I say fingers crossed as I did not purchase the top on Sunday and therefore am hoping that the downtown location has it in stock. If not then my Plan B is to wear yellow and green, Australia's national colours, and at least that way I won't have to spend any money. Regardless, it should be a good, but not too rowdy, night because unfortunately it is a work night. Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!  

Musical musings for January

Music and I keep each other company pretty much every day. Whether it be while I am getting ready for work or as a musical backdrop for whatever housekeeping or computer-related project I might be working on at the time. I especially gravitate to music as I edge closer to an upcoming concert. Although March 19th is several weeks away, I have been listening to the two most recent Lady Antebellum albums, Need You Now and Own the Night, on repeat for some time now as there is nothing I love more at a concert than being able to sing along to each song. However to avoid overkill and keep the listening somewhat fresh each time I open my iTunes library, I like to purchase a few songs every now and again that I have heard either on TV shows or movies, or that hold some sort of personal significance. Occasionally I even stumble across a song by accident whilst looking for another one and for this I am most grateful especially when I end up really liking the song.
So far for the month of January, the songs that have popped up on my radar and made it into my iTunes library are:

1. Without You - Keith Urban
2. I Can't Go For That / You Make My Dreams - Glee Cast (gotta love a Glee mash-up)
3. Marry Me - Train
4. We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) - Rihanna
5. Galaxy (feat. Stan Walker) - Jessica Mauboy
6. Neon Lights - Natasha Bedingfield
7. Little Too Much - Natasha Bedingfield
8. Mr Know It All - Kelly Clarkson
9. What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) - Kelly Clarkson

January isn't over just yet and I am sure before the month is out I will have been inspired to add a few more tunes to this list.

January's music can be found on these albums (images courtesy of iTunes)

Looking for inspiration

As the rain steadily falls outside, having replaced the winter wonderland created by the snow earlier this week, I find myself procrastinating about what to write. It has been an eventful week and as a result I look forward to spending tomorrow in my pyjamas unless for some reason I need to venture out in what I fear will be another rain-filled day. Some may say that it seems I am slightly lost as my first week back in Vancouver draws to a close. As such I think setting a few goals for the rest of the month will help me get back on track seeing as I am inching closer and closer to the last year of my twenties with each passing day. The remaining eleven days of January will include:

• A better daily routine
• At least two baking projects
• Catching up on all the TV show watching I have neglected
• Deciding what to do to usher in my 29th year of life
• Cleaning and organising my bedroom
• A night out at the movies

I am just going to interrupt myself and the list writing because the more I read it the more I realise that yes these tasks are all doable and some will be fun, especially the birthday celebrations brainstorming and the baking, but I feel like I need to be truly inspired by something. Maybe it is the gloomy weather or the residual homesickness casting a dark shadow over me at the moment. So before the weekend is over I want to have added at least one more thing to my January list that embodies the excitement of life and it's endless possibilities. Inspiration if you are out there you know where to find me...

Some good things must come to an end

Holidays never last forever or maybe they do for some, but for me the former is the unfortunate truth. On the plus side, memories and photos can last a lifetime. I spent some of the remainder of my trip, until the 11th of January, in Adelaide with family and friends, of whom I wish I had had more time with. If you are a seasoned traveler like myself, who can't always control her emotions, then you can imagine what the airport goodbye scene was like and yes there were tears. I felt that no sooner had I rediscovered and gotten settled with the familiar and comfortable then time was yanking it harshly back away from me. This brings me to Melbourne, the last stop on my home tour. It was so good to be reunited with this city because I love Melbourne and truly feel like it is where I am destined to live again one day. Although many of my friends have moved away from here to different parts of the globe, I did have two awesome ones still there. There used to be four of us, two blondes and two brunettes, but then I had to go and break up the band so to speak. The fourth member of the gang is currently volunteering in Cambodia so couldn't grace us with her presence. Thankfully they hadn't found a suitable replacement in my absence so I was welcomed back into the fold for a few days of fun. One of the highlights of this time, besides the hilarious Skype chat with our absent friend, was playing tourist for a bit in Melbourne. It was just nice to wander around, stopping for a coffee then for a cheeky drink down by the Yarra. 

The day was capped off quite nicely with a lovely dinner of yum cha at the Oriental Teahouse. We managed to avoid the post workday crowd so the restaurant was fairly empty. The added bonus was that there was a teashop at the front as you walked in so if you liked any of the teas on offer then you could make a purchase or two on your way out the door. I must admit the iced tea we had was a bit too sweet for my liking, but still quite delicious and some of our food choices were interesting, but overall I really enjoyed the dinner and would definitely recommend the Oriental Teahouse to anyone living in or visiting Melbourne.

It may not be some of my better photography, but that night another Australian native stopped by to say hello and wish me all the best for my return to Vancouver (how thoughtful):

And so here I am in Vancouver, where snow and minus temperature have greeted me. The weather still surprises me, which is made worse by my ill-equipped wardrobe although this is my third winter in Vancouver. Please bring back summer asap!

Three cities in three weeks

All too quickly I have been reunited with my old friend routine now that I am back in a snow-covered Vancouver. Just to backtrack a bit as before I get to the present I want to fill you in on my last week and a bit in Australia. Alas I don't think one post will do it justice so I might stretch it to two because that is the least I can do for a trip that stirred up so much emotion and created more memories to add to the ones that my life's adventures have created for me thus far. Let's resume with me about to head off to Sydney for my cousin's wedding. Sydney as a city never disappoints from a tourist point of view as there is always a lot to see and do there, but for me this is also probably one of the reasons I could never live there as the city itself gives off a too touristy vibe if that makes any sense. Nonetheless I love the opportunity to go there and this time around it was made even more exciting and special by my cousin's nuptials and my desire to see family members whom had not made an appearance in my life in a few years. We arrived into Sydney late Friday morning and the key events of this day were family time and a wander around the city. Australian icons such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House never fail to leave me in awe of their impressiveness against the harbour backdrop.

Saturday was all about my cousin's wedding and Mother Nature didn't disappoint with the weather, which was glorious. It was a Greek Orthodox ceremony in a lovely church followed by just the right amount of elegance with the reception being held at a function centre called Curzon Hall. You really couldn't have asked for too much more across the whole occasion. It was all put together nicely and if I was the bride or groom I would have been quite happy with it all. The table settings, menu items and the addition of a photo booth were all excellent. In an effort to not overexpose this personal family event, the below photos only capture part of the essence of this special day.

Sunday was fleeting as we left early that afternoon so time was spent between the Miranda Westfield and saying a fond farewell to family. Although a special mention must be made of the flighty guests, cockatoos, which appeared on our hotel balcony that morning for a treat and so naturally my nephew delighted in feeding them cookies. Their numbers grew to a pretty impressive ten and they were joined by a rather colourful rainbow lorikeet at one point.

Sydney was a whirlwind weekend and only a fraction of my three weeks in Australia and who knows when I will return there again. However, when it comes to the final location of my time back home, Melbourne, I know I will be back there before it can forget my name. Stay tuned for my Melbourne musings and the sad farewell I didn't quite see coming when I started this little adventure!

An afternoon in the Adelaide Hills

I really should be heading to bed now as I have an early morning flight to spend the weekend in Sydney for my cousin's wedding, but I wanted to add another post before the week was over. My time in Adelaide has been filled with nostalgia, which is only natural considering how long I have been away from here for. I feel this has only been magnified by the fact it is the beginning of a new year. Throw in the not so guilty pleasure of watching a whole heap of children's movies that reigned supreme during my own childhood and also all the time I am spending playing with my nephew and niece and you will understand just how I feel. I have pretty much been kept busy every day so far except for today as I was trying to nip a potential cold in the bud, which is ironic considering it is the middle of summer here. So on Tuesday I went with my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece for a drive to the Adelaide Hills. We stopped off for lunch and a bit of a stroll in a place called Hahndorf, which is actually the oldest German town in Australia. The German influence is very strong with the likes of German-style souvenirs to purchase and foods to sample, both of which I did not partake in this time around. 

The second and last stop on our trip to the Adelaide Hills was Melba's Chocolate Factory, a childhood favourite of my sister, brother and I, especially for the free samples and getting to watch the sweet treats being made on site. I still managed to lose my ability to count to one when it came to the free samples, particularly the red traffic light lollies, and if it wasn't for some strong self-control, I might have spent way more than what I did. It was great to see that the place was still open and that I got to share it with my nephew and niece in the same manner we used to visit it with my grandma and parents. The vintage signage, which I snapped a couple of photos of, was pretty cool to look at as well. You just can't beat visiting an attraction that has stood the test of time, where it is clear that a lot of care and dedication still goes into the finished product. Now let's just hope that my purchased sweet treats last longer than a few days!

Ushering in a new year

2011 came to a close for me in rather a low-key manner in one of the first countries to bid a fond farewell to it. As a result I welcomed 2012 the same way, but I definitely plan on making this year a memorable one. Life is full of possibilities and for me, like so many others I imagine, the end/beginning of a year is always a time for some quiet reflection. While I don't really want to dwell on the what if or could have been, I realise I don't always reach my full potential in life, love and work. So although I haven't gone out of my way to make some obligatory or typical New Year's resolutions, I really hope I can go out of my comfort zone and make decisions that lead to happiness and exciting opportunities. For the majority of 2012, well once I hit February 9th, I will be in the last year of my twenties, which may seem a bit depressing at times as no one likes to get old, I will try to only think of the positives and the fun adventures to be had. I am already lucky enough to spend the first two weeks of 2012 with my family and friends in Australia, granted the weather is definitely too hot, but it is a nice feeling nonetheless. On top of this I have Canucks and Lady Antebellum tickets for March so I am clearly off to a good start. Once I get sorted in two key areas of my life that need change, work and a new place to live, then I think the only thing stopping me will be myself. I just need to remind myself I am capable of anything I set my mind to and life has dealt me some pretty great cards, I mean I get to live in lovely Vancouver and I plan on capitalising on this in 2012 once I get back there. Until then I have less than two weeks to be reminded of why I am lucky to be an Aussie with family and friends whom I love a whole bunch whilst keeping out of the sun, starting with Waterworld tomorrow.

2012...