Jaiden turns 3

I can't believe this time of the year has already come! It just creeps up without even realising it!
My little Jaiden is now 3 years old. When did this even happen?

We celebrated with close family and friends at the park. The night before was pouring down rain, but thank the lord the day actually turned out hotter than we expected it to be.

The usual/traditional BBQ, garden salad & Filipino noodles together with fruit salad, leche, fairy bread were served. And topped with amazing cupcakes & cake made by my girlfriend Megan - she did an amazing job with the cake! Just like the photo I gave as a guide.

Jaiden enjoyed his day, being surrounded with people he knew and loved. Playing with kids and his uncles he hadn't seen in a while. And most of all, getting so many presents he didn't know what to play with first.

Bron's Baby Shower

On Sunday we had my friend Bronwyn's Baby Shower, that I took part in with the organising together with our friends Lorreine and Sarah. My role was to get lolly jars and get some games - since games are hard to get off the shelf, I managed to find a 4 in 1 packet at Spotlight and Kaecee drew out 'Pin the dummy on the baby' game.

It was a pretty windy day and because of this, a lot of people left before we could start the games. But we still had the 'younger' people to play along with and we all still had fun. Sarah organised games and on the day we played - draw a baby on the paper plate on top of your head, create a diaper on someone using toilet paper and the guys had to tie their shoe laces without popping the balloon in their shirts.

It's such a great day and feeling knowing someone close to you is expecting a little human that will change everyone's lives, really soon. I can't be happier for Bron and I can't wait to meet our little man Tristan.

As our present, I DIY'd a Diaper Cake. No one believed that I made it until I actually told them haha.

Chocolate Mousse Cake with Oreo Icing

For Jeremy's birthday, he requested that I make a 'moist' and 'gooey' type of cake and in the the flavour of chocolate. I chose the icing of Oreo flavour as it was different and I knew it would go really well with the cake.  

Jeremy's Birthday post found here.

Ingredients:

Cake:

• 500g dark chocolate
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 125g unsalted butter
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
• 1 tablespoon plain flour, sifted

Icing:

• 226g Cream cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 3-4 cups of icing sugar 
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla essence
• 3-4 cup of Oreo (finely crushed) *

* It's best to use a food processor. If not available to you, you can use a blender, which is what I did.

Method:

Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 220°C. Line the base of a round cake pan with baking paper.
2. Place chocolate, golden syrup and butter together in a saucepan on medium heat. Stir together until well combined and melted.
3. Place eggs and sugar in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on high for 10 minutes until very thick and pale. Gently fold in flour and the chocolate mixture until well combined.
4. Pour into cake pan and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 15 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and run a knife around the edge of the cake. (this makes it easier to remove later).
6. Transfer cake pan into the fridge and let it set for 1-2 hours. (I left mine for a good 2 hours).

Icing:

1. Whip cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy.
2. Mix in icing sugar, one cup at a time.
3. Add vanilla essence.
4. gently stir in crushed oreos.
5. Add on top of cake once cake has set.

Nutella Mug Cake

I found this recipe on my Tumblr dashboard (originally posted here) and since I had been craving for something chocolate to eat and also because it looked so simple to make.. I attempted to make it straight away. 

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons self rising flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons Nutella
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug.
2. Whisk well with a fork until smooth.
3. Microwave on high for 1.5 – 3 minutes. (Time depends on microwave wattage. Mine took 1.5 mins)
4. Top with whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce if desired. (though mine was just with thickened cream since we didn't have any whipped cream).

My version:

Original: