Got ya new shoes on?

This was a cake I did for two of my girlfriends combined birthday that was on the weekend ! Took a lot of fondant ( 3kg in fact ) but I got there in the end and even had time to make an outfit for the party! Its a chocolate cake base, and i used an actual shoe box lid for the top and covered it in fondant. The high heel is entirely made out of fondant icing and complete with edible sparkles !

Lets go to Welly!

Whilst on a weekend getaway with some friends, I was able to do a bit of foody research and indulge myself with fine dining , summer lunches and glorious high tea's. Our first stop was Logan Brown on Cuba street. We had a superb three course dinner and fab wine to match. The interior of the building created a great atmosphere, with its high roof and old pillars and apparently it use to be an old bank.Overall it was a great experience , now its time for Depot in Auckland.

 We also stopped by Caffe L'affare for a spot of lunch and some good coffee. Really cool atmosphere there too , in a location you never think a cafe would be , but nestled next to the food market lies this busy little or should I say large cafe. If you get a chance to get to Wellington , its a funky little place that should definately be checked out ! 

Probably my favourite foody experience however would have to be Marthas pantry pictured above. A quaint little place with plenty of history, this had all the trimmings of a typical old style high tea. We selected three teas from their menu which were complimented by their little treats such as mini scones with cream and jam, mini club sandwiches, mini truffles and cupcakes and much much more.

Even the toilet was all vintage themed it was rather sweet.

All in all it was a good weekend , now its time to plan our high tea menu! 

Mango Cupcakes!

Iv been meaning for a while to try a vanilla cake recipe I created, as I haven't really come across any particular ones that Iv found appealing. They all seem to be dry and quite dense. So finally i got the chance on Friday and the result was quite pleasing. I then also decided to be a little more adventurous and make them into mango cupcakes. Combined with a moist vanilla base with a slight hint of mango and my classic cream cheese frosting infused with mango I was rather satisfied baker! Only adjustment for next time ... MORE mango !

Chocolate Whoopie Pies

It was some fellow baker friends of mine that introduced me to the Whoopie Pie , at first the only thing that came to mind when asked if i had heard about whoopie pies , was the good old fashioned practical joke the  whoopie cushion. However after attempting my first batch yesterday with great success I realised these indulgent little things are far from the practical joke. I made them using an American recipe , therefore wasn't expecting much as I have had trouble with recipes from the USA in the past. However after having my first ever whoopie pie , I am now officially a Whoopie Pie fan . Whoopie Pies are a mixture between cakes and cookies , sandwiched together with your favourite icing . For mine I used a simple buttercream .

Cheese Wheel Wedding Cake

A Friend of mine is getting married and instead of having a traditional wedding cake she has opted for a Cheese Wheel Wedding cake . At first I thought it was a rather strange idea and thought it would look a bit odd , but once I started looking at some pictures they actually look really quite amazing ! This cheese wheel cake picture I found, from a far would look just like a normal elegant wedding cake . I love the white roses in between the tiers and have grown very fond of the rustic look the Cheese Wheel Wedding cake has. Now all I need is a good glass of champagne and Im away!

Salted Caramel and Vanilla Cheesecake

This Cheesecake I made for a girly dinner the other night, it is the Donna Hay recipe and should be tryed by all cheesecake lovers. With light caramel notes it is rich in flavour and satisfies the taste buds. If you want to try it you can find the recipe in the lastest Donna Hay magazine. Definately a crowd pleaser. Bon appetite!!

Pink Ruffle Cake

Found this Pink Ruffle cake from http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/2011/08/pink-ombre-swirl-cake.html and thought it was so cute and looks delish ! Definitely going to try this one!

Double Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes

These are a more extreme version of the chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. They have a chocolate fudge centre which has an intense chocolate hit !

Chunky Chocolate Cookies

These cookies have always been a hit with all my friends , every bite you get a chocolate hit from the big chocolate pieces throughout the cookie! These are available to order so email through to get yours !

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

These Lemon Meringue cupcakes literally give you a burst of lemon when you bite into them. They have a yummy gooey lemon centre and are nicely complimented by a vanilla bean and lemon sponge with a Italian meringue topping ! If your a lover of the lemon then these are a must have for you!! These are a prototype I think I can tweak them a little to give an even greater result ! So watch this space

Fairy Toadstool Cake

 This is a cake I just finished yesterday for a little 7year old girl. I was asked to do something girly with fairies and I loved the toadstool idea with the cupcakes surrounding. It is a chocolate mud cake along with the cupcake which are iced with vanilla cream cheese frosting .

Caramel Mud Cake

This is a caramel cake I baked yesterday , it turned out lovely and moist and fluffy. As it is a mud cake the day after it has become more dense but still yummy with its smooth caramel notes. Dressed with a caramel cream cheese frosting this cake is the ultimate indulgence whether its for a special occasion or just an after treat, this cake will be loved by all.

Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes

These are my latest creation, using Valrhona chocolate , the texture of these cupcakes is so smooth and fluffy. The richness of the chocolate nicely compliments the not so sweet Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting.

To Begin ....

My sister and I have a love for all things food and over the years both our passion and skill have grown so much that we have now developed thepinkpantry. Its very exciting to finally have a foot in the door and just be able to show you all what we do and also take you along for the journey .

We will be creating a new treat to add to the books every so often , these you will be able to order (Auckland, NZ only) and we will also be at various markets around Auckland where you can come meet and greet .

Both of us started our professional careers in the health sector , Rochelle a Physiotherapist and myself a Nurse ....We still aren't quite sure why we didn't choose the food industry ...but here we are and we shall see where this all takes us .....

To be continued ...