Yummy, yummy, yummy I've got love (for chocolate) in my tummy

I've had a a personal challenge for several years now and been semi inspired by Masterchef to find the perfect chocolate fondant recipe.

I've tried many recipes and all manner of pots to cook them and this week I think I hit the nail on the head. The preparation was pretty easy, but a little time consuming. Gordon Ramsey was my recipe provider and I purchased my aluminium fondant molds from Wheel and Barrow.

They were mighty fine but way too time consuming.  

Further research had revealed the Nigella Lawson provided the perfect solution with Molten Babycakes from her book How To Be A Domestic Godess. Although as a friend had a gluten free request I substituted in gluten free flour and added an extra egg to make up for the dryness of the gluten free flour.

An apple a day...

Back in April I planted a little apple tree. 

It's an experiment ... I want to see if I can grow apples in my  backyard in Maroubra, I have done a bit of research and know that apples need cold temperatures in Winter to help them develop fruit. The local garden centre was selling them so I guessed it might work. When I got home I read the label properly and realised that I need a cross-pollinator. Its taken me a few months to stumble on some more apple trees for sale in the local area, but eventually I saw them at  another garden centre. Here's my thinking. If two different garden centres are selling apples in this area, surely they have to be viable. So I have Red Delicious and a Jonathan.

I am also trying my first espalier. Our back yard is really small and espaliers don't take up much room so I should  be able to net it easily if I need to stop the birds getting at it. I like to cram as much in as possible, so I have underplanted with strawberries, which I can move out as the apple trees become more established. There is also a dogs-bane in the left corner to hopefully deter my inquisitive dogs...oh and some extra dog defence to stop them walking all over the plants.

Its flowering really well and developing new shoots so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung at our place and the wisteria is finally blooming. It really enjoys the morning sun....

....as does my pampered pooch Peanut. She and Murphy my other beagle spend their mornings sitting out like old people warming their bones in some retirement village.

They also spend the rest of the day lazing in the sun. It really is a dogs life. 

Unless you look like this fabulous cake that Andrew bought to celebrate my birthday....

..... then you just get eaten