White Chocolate Cheesecake (No Bake)

I am a huge fan of chocolate (no surprise to my regular readers!) and if it's possible I am an even bigger fan of cheesecake! What better than a delicious slice of creamy and indulgent cheesecake after a sumptuous meal. This recipe is not cloying nor is it too heavy, just the right combination of rich, fragrant and a subtle hint of white chocolate sweetness. In fact I made this cheesecake twice before I got a chance to photograph it, the first time it was eaten in it's entirety  before you could say Cheese :)

Rose Swirl Cake Tutorial

I thought it would be really nice to do something special for Valentine's day. It occurred to me that the best gift anyone could receive is an edible one, especially if that gift was made by the one you love. 

My daughter and I thought that it would be extra special if we made a cake that we could share with our friends and family. This is the most romantic cake out there at the moment and what better than an edible roses! 

Over the past week it has become very apparent to me that family and friends are the most important people in our lives and we should celebrate that every day and more so on Valentines day! 

Chocolate Beetroot Cake

I have been working on my photography recently, trying to improve my composition and the overall feel of the title shots. Tricky work and like any food blogger I wanted a certain look for my blog and most importantly do the food justice.  

Last last year I joined my local camera club with the sole intention of getting a better understanding of how my camera worked. It had that nasty habit of doing exactly as it pleased - I wanted to have more control of the finished image. I had these great ideas in my head about how the finished shot should look, but I couldn't translate them into workable photos- very frustrating.  

Chocolate and Vanilla Tart

As chocolate plays an intricate part of romance and being wooed in general I thought that this was the perfect dessert for a romantic meal for two. Last year I posted this recipe and a vegetarian meal of Butternut Squash and Feta Filo Parcels as the main course. I thought that I should spruce up the photography for this decilate and fingerlicking of dessert in order to it justice. I think that no romantic meal is complete without chocolate and this is my pièce de résistance for any meal..... a dark chocolate and vanilla pie served with soft whipped cream and a dusting of icing sugar....perfect!

Butternut Squash & Feta Filo Parcels

Ahh....the season of love is almost upon us....sweet nothings exchanged over candle lit dinners and the clinking of glasses filled with something sparkling. It is all very special and can be made even more so if you do the cooking yourself. The roast butternut squash is mouth watering sweet and the slightly salty feta binds the whole thing together. Who could argue with the presentation!! To be perfectly honest it is so tasty that even non vegetarians will love this recipe (which by the way can be made in advance). If you want to impress this Valentines day then start right here!!!

Valentine Heart Cake

The inspiration for this cake came from Mich Turner's Cake Masterclass, that my husband bought for me last Christmas. I learnt how to make the roses, which is fairly simple once you've practised a few times, this skill alone opens up a whole new sphere for me because I can now, with some level of confidence decorate cakes at home for my family and friends that look semi-professional.

The method I detail below is not directly from Mich's book but my own effort! I like this cake because you can prepare most of the elements in advance and then assemble when it is needed, for instance the rose and petals will keep for up to 3 months and the cake a day or two before also, so the surprise can be kept under wraps until needed. I used the same sponge that I used in my Black Forest Gateau and half the quantity Buttercream from my cupcake recipe. Thank you Mich for such a fantastic book.