Vanessa's First Birthday

My visit back to Melbourne has really been productive and fun-filled, despite the MC experience being short lived as expected. I probably did not have the je na sais quoi or the X factor to be on the show. That's okay, because I don't think I could have handled the time pressure in the kitchen. This experience has not deterred me from my love of all things food related. I am also very happy to be reunited with my KitchenAid which has been put to good use this last few days.

Anyway, I just had a fabulous day helping out close friends with their daugther's birthday party. Vanessa turned one and she is soooo adorable! Aunty Jo Jo made a whole heap of cupcakes and also her birthday cake to help her celebrate this wonderful day.  Her cake (pictured above) is a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting topped with a sugared deco ( I bought that from a cake deco shop in the city). The cupcakes below the cake were also red velvet with the same frosting topped with caocaus and princess-themed flags.

Her mum and I also made a trio of starters. Smoked salmon, dill and cream cheese on crackers followed by tuna and mayo on cucumber. The last was chorizo and egg in vol au vent cases, but I must have missed taking a photo of these.

Tuna and cucumber starters

These are the 3 batches of cupcakes- pink ones were strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Yellow ones were lemon cupcakes, and the white ones were red velvet. Definitely a hit with little people.

I will post the recipes up when I have a bit more time...

Happy birthday Vanessa!

Back In Town

Guess what? It feels good to be back home. Yup, I am in Melbourne at the moment trying to get over the jet lag and exhaustion of a 24 hr long travel from London. Why am I home, you wonder? Well, I am wondering the same thing. The truth is, I am home because I somehow managed to get an audition for Season 3 of Masterchef Australia. Crazy right? Eek! The reality of it all sunk in only when I was frantically packing my bags a few days ago. The chances are so slim to get on the show, but I'm going to give it my best shot and hopefully it will be an experience I will never forget, whether I get on or not. Hopefully, my current delirius state from lacking sleep will somehow aide me during the audition. Haha! This has really turned into a journey of an obsession hasn't it?

Anyway, it is sooo good to be home. When the plane landed at Tullamarine airport, there was a feeling of deep content within me. I am glad to be home, even if it is only for a few weeks. Everytihng is so calmly familiar. I am even enjoying the non-stop rain, hail storms and chill. Good ol' Melbourne.

Anyway, I am hoping to catch up wih family and friends during this time. If I haven't been in touch with you, and if you happen to read this, please call me. Would love to catch up, especially over a cup of chai latte.
Also, will be keeping you posted on the audition (could be a very short-lived experience!).

Bern, loving and missing you. Wish you were here!

xx  Jo Jo