Oh Melbourne, glorious sun one day and thrashing winds the next. You never know what weather to expect in this lovely city I reside in, however whatever the temperature I can be sure of one thing: it is never EVER too cold for ice cream. Hence my latest creation made with a fresh peppermint twist. Last July in Santa Monica my brother and I stumbled across an amazing food truck…
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Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies
OK, I need these in my life every single day. These crunchy chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies are exquisitely AMAZING. I never imagined to see a day that a healthy cookie recipe would live up to my Mother’s, but the time has miraculously arrived and I am not complaining! The dark chocolate chips generously distributed throughout the peanut butter biscuit leaves an indulgent surprise – especially when munching on…
Read More...Apple and Hazelnut Muffins
I must give credit where credit is due…. My lovely mother helped me create these scrumptious muffins following my first disastrous muffin attempt (think oat porridge with raspberry mush). My mum is a FANTASTIC cook and has been learning about combining healthy ingredients (through me of course hehe) to develop delicious creations. Sometimes, mothers know best – especially when it comes to cooking! These muffins are so close to perfection…
Read More...Mini Chocolate Easter Eggs
Since I was a child, my memories of Easter have always involved devouring one main sweet that is placed inside the small triangle at the tip of the food pyramid and labelled as ‘Eat Sparingly.’ If you haven’t guessed what that is yet, I am talking about CHOCOLATE! Yes, that smooth, succulent, sensual sweet you would find on Easter egg hunts as a child, and the junk food you turn…
Read More...Guilt-free Banana Bread
As the cool Melbourne breeze sweeps the city, the desserts are becoming warmer and warmer… Ahh the joyous feeling when you curl up on the couch watching bad TV (Kardashians anyone?) with a cosy blanket, a cup of tea and a small sweet. It was 25 degrees in Melbourne today so I may be getting ahead of myself, but I’m sure the chilly nights will be occurring soon enough! And…
Read More...Nutella Tarts
For anyone who read my ‘about’ section you would be familiar with my unhealthy obsession with Nutella. The hazelnuts combined in chocolate tastes like tiny clouds of heaven swiftly melting at the tip of your tongue while you grip your spoon and dig for more. I once read that 3 teaspoons of Nutella is equivalent to 1 WHOLE slice of lasagna…possibly dripping in fresh béchamel sauce over warm home made…
Read More...Chocolate Peppermint Slice
Mmmm peppermint. I love it in biscuits, cakes, ice cream, mousse and anything else it may be included in. The fresh taste always leaves me delightfully satisfied and I can never get enough, resulting in the disappearances of my entire slice in a record 3 hours… woopsie! My chocolate peppermint slice is a light and fluffy option if you’re feeling like something minty. And who doesn’t love chocolate and peppermint…
Read More...Caramel Popcorn Clusters
Today at work my lovely friend introduced me to sweet and salty popcorn (which is ah-mazing of course), and I had this wonderful thought of creating popcorn clusters mixed with caramel… because why not?! They are definitely not the prettiest of desserts; but they taste divine. Just a warning – these are extremely addictive! But a lot better for you than store-bought sugar coated popcorn! INGREDIENTS 1/3 cup kernels 5-6 dates…
Read More...Hot Chocolate Pudding
OK, this is my new favourite recipe! I say that a lot… but really this one tastes so so bad for you (making it so so good) it baffles me how rich and delicious it is! I made these for my Italian grandmother yesterday and they were a big hit! Melbourne is quickly becoming chilly this autumn and if there’s one dessert I LOVE eating while curled up in a blanket…
Read More...Chocolate Mousse Cake
Years and years ago, I worked at a pie and cake shop with my uncle. Every day I would put glorious chocolate mousse cakes on display that were freshly made with plump strawberries placed neatly on the chocolaty surface. Those sugar-filled cakes were the inspiration behind this recipe. My clean chocolate mousse cake may not have a spongy texture, but it is just as satisfying and great for your heart and…
Read More...Tiramisu Squares
This is probably one of my favourite recipes. I literally cannot keep my hands off them. Between my mother and I, they are usually gone in less than 24 hours… eek. Seriously though, it is amazing what you can do with a couple of cups of cashews; once blended, the creamy texture that magically occurs makes you feel like you should be EXTREMELY guilty for eating. Especially when fresh coffee…
Read More...Banana and Walnut Pancakes with Chocolate Date Sauce
Mmmm breakfast, the most important meal of the day… It can be difficult to include nutrients into your daily morning fix when you are bustling around town with things to get done! Melbournians are known for their on-the-go lifestyles (similarly to New Yorkers) and a simple sugary option always seems attractive in a rush, however energy levels will stay down and your stomach will be yearning for more. Banana and…
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