Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting | Recipe

Today I baked carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and they were so delicious that I had to share the recipe with you guys on my blog. In actual fact, the cupcakes are 100% vegan because we ran out of eggs and so I used mashed banana as a substitute (I literally googled egg substitute and mashed banana came up....it's an oddly brilliant idea) but the cream cheese frosting is definitely not vegan. 

I found the recipe on a baking blog which I will link below and I'll include the changes I made down there also. I will admit, my cupcakes don't look half as good as the pictures I was going off, especially the cream cheese frosting which was a bit of a flop but hey, I tried! 

CUPCAKE RECIPE HERE

Changes made:

- Rather than using two eggs, I mashed up one large banana and used this instead.
- I added 3/4 cup of sultanas

Tip: The cupcakes are a lot nicer when left in the fridge for a few hours

Let me know if you end up baking this recipe and any suggestions on what to bake next! :) 

xx

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Like Minded Projects

Hey guys! 

So the other day I was out at a cafe called 'Like Minded Projects' and I had the most delicious AND healthy ice-cream cookie sandwich (at least I think it was a semi-healthy dessert). So good in fact that I've had to blog about it :) 

I've never really posted about food or places that I eat out at in Melbourne and I think it's about time I did, considering I eat out far more than I really should! So here's my first foodie post and what a scrumptious one to start on. 

Vegan, berry ice-cream between a PB&J cookie and an apple crumble cookie

'Like Minded Projects' is located on Smith St, Fiztroy and is a healthy cafe that is completely gluten-free and for the majority, vegan. They not only do coffee and other beverages but they also do breakfast, lunch and other yummy snacks that I desperately want to try. I saw a picture of this cookie sandwich on instagram and so obviously that's what I had to try first (not wanting to be left out and all) and will definitely buy it again!

I ordered the peanut butter and jelly cookie and apple crumble cookie with berry ice-cream in the middle. The berry ice-cream was so delicious and would definitely recommend this option, however next time I'll probably just get two apple crumble cookies as I'm not a huge nut fan and I didn't enjoy the heavy peanut taste in the peanut butter and jelly cookie (I like peanut butter, just not plain nuts which is what this cookie tasted like).

If you happen to be around the area or are looking for a new cafe to eat at, give this one a shot! I for sure am going back to try out more of the menu :)

Check out their website HERE.

xx 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Mid-year Resolutions

It's gotten to that time of year where all the resolutions you've made on New Year's Eve have gone down the drain, at least in my case anyway, and it's time to reevaluate life goals. Kind of like a half way point check in. Who said resolutions can't be made any time of the year?

I feel a bit like I've lost my motivation which was absolutely firing at the beginning of the year, and rather than dropping off until 2015 I want to pick myself back up again and finish off 2014 with a bang! If you can relate, try having a go at this too :)

Number one is a little cliche and typical but it's all to do with health and fitness. Since living on campus at University I've really lost my knack for cooking meals each night and going outside for fresh air and exercise. I spend far too much time on the interwebz and far too much time indoors. Not only that but my sleeping patterns aren't all that flash either and all of these things combined have left me tired, lethargic and just generally feeling grubby.

Number two is YouTube; something I've been hanging out to start for such a long time and I can't fathom why I haven't started it yet. I have tried filming a couple videos so far but each one I just haven't been happy with. I'm not a massive perfectionist but when it's something that really means a lot to me I sometimes hold back with the fear of failing. The quote, 'don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game' very much applies to me at the moment.

Keep you're eyes peeled for my first video to come out :)

Number three is purely to start becoming more involved. Involved at college, involved in conversations and just generally coming across as a more confident person. I'm not necessarily shy but my lack of self confidence and self esteem is sinking rather low as of late and it's not something I enjoy. I just want to live in the moment a little more and dwell less on the little things in life that honestly aren't that important.

So these are my mid-year resolutions and they're not starting tomorrow or the day after that, they're starting this very minute.

If you feel you could to with a little pick me up mid way through the year, comment below you're resolutions and we can encourage each other in a positive environment :) 

xx

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Chewy & Delicious Anzac Biscuit Recipe

Lest We Forget 

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, 

We shall remember them"

Today is ANZAC day in Australia and so I decided to bake some Anzac biscuits; biscuits that have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I. 

These biscuits use very basic ingredients and are super simple to make. Even the most amateur of cooks could create these...not to mention they're delicious! 

I've provided step by step instructions below but please note that I had to take all the photographs myself whist baking the biscuits and so there were a few steps I couldn't capture on my camera...apologies!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of rolled oats 
• 1 cup of sifted, plain flower
• 2/3 cup of desiccated coconut 
• 2/3 cup of brown sugar 
• 125g of butter 
• 2 tablespoons of golden syrup 
• 2 tablespoons of cold water 
• 1/2 a teaspoon of baking powder/bi-carb soda 

Step 1:

• Set the oven to 160 degrees/140 degrees fan forced.
• Line a large oven tray or a few small oven trays with baking paper. 
• Mix the oats, flour, coconut and brown sugar together in a mixing bowl.

Step 2:

• Place the butter, golden syrup and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until butter is melted.

Step 3:

• Stir in baking powder/bi-carb soda and keep stirring for another minute or so until the mixture rises a few centimetres and becomes bubbly.

Step 4:

• Pour the butter mixture over the dry mixture and stir until combined. Now is where you can get a little messy by kneading the mixture with your fingers. Make sure to wash your hands beforehand! 

Step 5:

• Roll the mixture into teaspoon sized balls and place them on a lined baking tray. Don't worry too much about how far apart they are from each other on the tray as these biscuits don't tend to spread as they're baking.
• Press each biscuit down slightly with a fork (I did this as they were in the oven but I'd recommend you do this beforehand). 

Step 6:

• Place the biscuits in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until very slightly golden brown.
• NOTE: If you want them to be chewy then you must NOT let them bake over this stage! 

Step 7:

• Once you've taken your Anzac biscuits out of the oven, leave them to cool for 5 minutes before transferring them onto a cooling rack and then serving.

Step 8:

• ENJOY! 

Have you tried baking these before? If you try this recipe, I'd love to know how they went so please do leave a comment below. Much love. 

xx

Follow my blog with Bloglovin