Anyone who knows me, knows I am not the greatest in cooking…  ( I can hear you Christie yelling “thats so true!  She failed the No fail Banana cake!”).  Yep  I did!!

When Tiana asked if we could make some little Christmas cakes and some Christmas chocolates, I immediately said yes!  (though after 2 seconds… thought gee… what did I say!!!)

I had a recent Donna Hay magazine so I got some inspiration from her and decided to look in the pantry.  Now I know I should have got a recipe from my countless number of cook books, but I really didnt want to throw another batch of failed cooking out.   When I spied a no name labelled fruit cake, I got inspired.  Yep, above is a combination of no name labelled fruit cake, and the end result actually suprised Tiana… let alone myself.   With a little decoration, they dont look half bad!

Step 1

Yep… this is a great project the kids can help with in the kitchen ready for Christmas!  I can almost hear their sqeals of delight and see the look of satisfaction on their faces!   Doesnt this look FANTASTIC!!

so… after you have gone shopping online at La Toriana for all your baby clothing, designer kids outfits and baby gifts for Christmas, print out this recipe and start maing your own wonderful truffle cake for when guests arrive. 

They will be so impressed.  Its something the kids and you can do together… make sure you take a photo too…. and soon you will well known in your circle of family and friends for wonderful recipes!!

I cannot take the credit for making this, though my 7 yr old and I made one and was so easy!  here is the place to get gorgeous recipes like this from.

1 large sheet of firm white cardboard
375g packet white chocolate Melts, melted
150-170 white chocolate Lindt Lindor balls, paper removed
flowers to decorate  (or any decoration you choose)

  METHOD

diameter on the cardboard and cut a large wedge out of the cardboard slightly less than 1/3 of the size of the circle. Make a cone from the cardboard. (The cone should be about 35cm high.)

Staple ends together and tape over the staples. The wider the wedge of cardboard the wider the finished cone will be. Cut a smaller wedge for a thinner cone.

Brush the cone all over with some of the melted chocolate. Secure to a board or serving plate with a little more chocolate. Dip each ball in a little of the chocolate and place around the base of the cardboard, ensuring a little of the chocolate is between each ball so they will stick together when dry.

Continue ‘glueing’ the balls to the cone in layers until you reach the top. There will be some gaps in each layer so you will need to trim the sides of some balls to fit.

Decorate with flowers. If using fresh flowers, decorate close to serving.

Great recipes like this can be found here

mmm yummy… ENJOY!

warmly

elizabeth xx

 La Toriana’s FACEBOOK  Profile       

Ever looking for an easy, but impressive looking “something” to take to parties at this time of year?  Well you cannot go past this recipe for the “wow” factor on looks and on taste!

Beat egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form, gradually add sugar, beat until dissolved between additions.
When sugar is dissolved, gently fold in sifted cocoa, vinegar and chopped chocolate.

Spoon mixture onto prepared tray inside circle, smooth the sides and top of pavlova.

Place pavlova in oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 120°C/100°C fan-forced. Bake for about 1¼ to 1½ hours or until dry to touch. Turn oven off and cool pavlova in the oven with the door ajar.

Just before serving, place pavlova onto serving plate. Place mascarpone in a bowl, gently whisk in enough milk to form a soft consistency. (Mascarpone varies in texture so add gradually and only if needed.) Spoon mascarpone mixture on top of pavlova and sprinkle with berries. Decorate with extra chocolate, if desired.
Not suitable to freeze or microwave.

At La Toriana we are proud to be showing off our party section… and here you are able to get lots of bits and pieces to help make your next party, or, to take along to parties… a huge success!

and whilst you are there… why not dress your kids in designer baby clothing and kids wear for the festive and party season. Choose from Tea Princess, Princess Ratbag, YmamaY? and so many more.

ENJOY!

warmly Elizabeth xx

La Toriana’s Profile

At La Toriana we have a passion for kids fashion.

Our labels include, Alimrose, annieB, Lambykins, Princess Allure, FairyFloss Creations, Eternal Creation, Vanchi, TikiBoo Kids, Little Pearls for Little Girls, Tea Princess, Three Little trees, Tummbear, Dolly Up, babyjo bamboo baby wear, nest organics, early birds premature baby clothes, teeny weeny premmie baby wear, Oopsidaisi, boxy design, anamalz, Briit design, Bump buddy, cheeky little soles, Sounds for silence, Deshabille, eco peko, fINNIGAN fINN, gertie and me, Hey baby, huggalugs, i candy, lazybones, Knuffle Kid, Ogilvies Designs, Bethany Child,  locolili, miniwhisk, mon tresor, nana huchy, nanny pickle, OOBI baby, penny scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tippie Toes, Robert Gordon Australia, Sweetie Pie, Princess Ratbag, Alannah Rose stationary, Mulberry Muse, Vintage Kid, Wild Things of Noosa, YmamaY, Xanna,  and so many more!

We have one of the largest and most stylish, affordable collection of premmie baby clothing, premature baby gifts and newborn baby keepsakes available to buy online. If you have a baby born early, or are a friend/family looking to give a premmie baby gift… contact me and I can help you to choose the right baby gift for them.

At La Toriana we showcase great Australian and New Zealand designers as well as neonatal and NICU appropriate baby clothing as well as organic premmie clothes and accessories.  Checkout our vast range of premmie wear and newborn baby items in our secure online baby boutique. If you are looking for a  premmie baby keepsake doll, or organic baby wear for a bub that has been born prematurely, then you have come to the right online store.  La Toriana specialise in providing great quality, stylish and affordable designer label products for low weight babies and babies born early.

Halloween in Australia….   is it starting to become a big thing?  do you “trick or treat”?

When i was growing up, I had never heard of it, except on the TV shows, that of course were American!  These days though, in Australia, there seems to be more and more Halloween commercialism of this American tradition.  Our daughter was invited to a Halloween birthday party recently, she went as a witch.  All the stores have Halloween merchandise for sale and even a local area where we live have started a trick or treat in their street! 

So… no, I wasnt suprised whilst grocery shopping Tiana saw a pumpkin and asked if we could make a jack o lantern!  I have never even attempted to make one before, but thought would be a good opptunity to make pumpkin soup at the same time.

Tiana and I gathered in the kitchen and I decided  I best sharpen the knife…  yep sharpened the knife alright… and cut wide open my hand!!  fleshy, deep cut…. “oh no surely not stitches”  anyway… thank goodness Tiana’s big brother Bryce was up for the weekend… so they took over and I took a few snaps!

Here’s what to do when making a jack o lantern for Halloween…. a tutorial of sorts… whilst I tried to stop the bleeding on my hand!

STEP 1   RESEARCH

Bryce got out his laptop and he and Tiana searched on the type of faces they could make.  Bryce had just cut out the top and scooped all the seeds out (which Tiana and I will try and grow) and the rest to make some pumpkin soup.  Together the 2 looked at lots of different Halloween faces… my word some are so intricate!!

STEP 2  CUTTING OUT

Yep… marked out a face from seeing a few different ones online… keeping it simple is the key.  Tiana had a job of trying to see if the eyes were “scary”.  Note: the chocolate mouth… we also made chocolate cupcakes.  A real baking day we had!

STEP 3  FINAL TOUCHES

Must say Tiana thought it was the “COOLEST” thing she had ever seen and helped with, Bryce was pretty chuffed at himself too! I loved the mouth… a “happy” scary thing!

STEP 4  AHHH ALL DONE

and of course must give the jack o lantern some atmosphere,  pop in a tea light candle, dim the lights and he comes alive!!

 was certainly a fun day…  despite my poor hand!   Tiana got an old sheet and at dinner dressed as a ghost and took a bag around the table “trick or treating”.  Of course I had pre planned this and had a small treat for everyone to pop into her bag!  lol…  was such fun for everyone… though I think Bryce had the most fun at all!

Here is the dress Tiana wore to her first Halloween party recently!  Of course this childs witches costume is available to buy online at La Toriana!

 What ever you do, however you spend today… we hope you and your family have a wonderful one. 

Warmly

Elizabeth xx

 La Toriana’s Profile

At La Toriana we have a passion for kids fashion.

Our labels include, Alimrose, annieB, Lambykins, Princess Allure, FairyFloss Creations, Eternal Creation, Vanchi, TikiBoo Kids, Little Pearls for Little Girls, Tea Princess, Three Little trees, Tummbear, Dolly Up, babyjo bamboo baby wear, nest organics, early birds premature baby clothes, teeny weeny premmie baby wear, Oopsidaisi, boxy design, anamalz, Briit design, Bump buddy, cheeky little soles, Sounds for silence, Deshabille, eco peko, fINNIGAN fINN, gertie and me, Hey baby, huggalugs, i candy, lazybones, locolili, miniwhisk, mon tresor, nana huchy, nanny pickle, OOBI baby, penny scallan, Tabitha Emma, Tippie Toes, Princess Ratbag, Alannah Rose stationary, Mulberry Muse, Vintage Kid, Wild Things of Noosa, YmamaY, Xanna,  and so many more!

We have one of the largest and most stylish, affordable collection of premmie baby clothing, premature baby gifts and keepsakes available to buy online. If you have a baby born early, or are a friend/family looking to give a premmie baby gift… contact me and I can help

We showcase great Australian and New Zealand designers as well as neonatal and NICU appropriate baby clothing as well as organic premmie clothes and accessories.  Checkout our vast range of premmie wear and newborn baby items in our secure online baby boutique.  If you are looking for a  premmie baby keepsake doll, or organic baby wear for a bub that has been born prematurely, then you have come to the right online store.  La Toriana specialise in providing great quality, stylish and affordable designer label products for low weight babies and babies born early.

Banana and Raspberry mini muffins

2 cups (300g) self-raising flour
¾ cup (150g) firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten lightly
¾cup (180ml) buttermilk
½ cup mashed banana
1/3 cup (80ml) macadamia or grapeseed oil
1 cup (150g) fresh or frozen raspberries

  METHOD

Sift flour and brown sugar into a large bowl, stir to combine. Stir in combined egg, buttermilk, banana and oil until just combined.

Divide the mixture among paper cases, top each with 1 raspberry. Bake in a moderately hot oven for about 15 minutes.

Makes 36 mini-muffins or 12 regular muffins.

Suitable to freeze.