Current Obsession - Cooking Shows

The only thing I've watched in the last week has been cooking shows.

I'm obsessed.

I love cooking shows.

I'm going to tell you about some of my favourite!

It's a perfect post to go with my Dream Kitchen post from yesterday!

This post contains spoilers. YES! Cooking shows sometimes have SPOILERS!

The Great British Bake-Off

The Australian version has been advertised on TV since before Easter and it's still not been on.

Mum was wondering when it was on and found out that there's an UK version (as well as a US, Norwegian, French, Italian etc.)

So she "acquired" it.

I watched the whole first season in one sitting

mind you, there was only 6 episodes.

And was so happy with who one.

Edd Kimber was my favourite from the beginning.

I ordered his first cookbook "The Boy Who Bakes" a week ago

and I'm Impatiently waiting for it to show up.

check out his blog and youtube.

Season 2 was good. I didn't find myself enjoying it as much.

I've watched it in the background while I was studying.

So I don't remember much.

But that's good, because I can re-watch it!

Then there's The Great Comic Relief Bake-Off.

4 Special episodes featuring UK Celebrities.

I didn't recognise!

But I did recognise a few, like....

mothertrucking

Warwick Davies

and not only that! He won!

He's a really good baker.

There's a third season

but I haven't been able to find it.

Lorraine Pascale

Lorraine is a former supermodel (isn't it obvious) who is now a chef.

I love her show.

She makes easy, quick, yummy food.

I haven't got any of her books yet.

I pretty much just have the TV on when I want to make something of hers.

She makes a Chocolate Oreo Brownie to die for!

Or die of.... I don't remember!

Nigella Lawson

She was my first inspiration to cook and bake for fun (other than my mother)

She's so beautiful and confident

and isn't afraid of butter :)

I love watching her show.

I have one of her books, but find the recipes very long.

Honourable (TV) Mentions

Heston's Feasts

less of a cooking show and more of a mindf&$%

watching Heston make food is amazing!

I would never be able to do anything like that

He truly is a magician!

YOUTUBE.

Youtube really is amazing!

You can pretty much find anything.

Including cooking shows.

My favourite, without question is

Sorted Food

Mike, Ben, Barry & Jamie

4 English Guys (actually everyone I've mentioned today is English!)

Who want to teach people who can't cook to cook!

And if they can do it. Anyone can.

Subscribe to there channel here.

Not only is there yummy food and hot guys,

they're also a laugh!

They have one cookbook out (which I have)

and are about to release a new ebook in parts starting July

more information HERE

Honourable (Youtube) Mentions.

Nerdy Nummies

Adorable geek girl makes geeky inspired treats!

Ochikeron

Japanese home cooked goodness

yummy food and pretty Bento

Hope you enjoyed this post.

I am going to try and compile a list of links

to my favourite cooks, chefs & bakers.

As well as my favourite cooking blogs.

Dream Kitchen.

This post is inspired by and dedicated to
my mum, who taught me how to cook
and
my auntie Jo, who loves interior design (read her blog)
they both inspire and influence my sense of style.


I'm obsessed with baking at the moment.

Thanks to The Great British Bake Off!

I've been thinking about having my own kitchen.

I'm jealous, because my little sister is so close to having her own house.

and her own kitchen..... not that her partner will let her in it!

So here is some inspiration for my DREAM KITCHEN.

First things first!

I need to have 2 things.

Even if I have a crappy kitchen, if I have these 2 items

my dream kitchen is complete.

they are....

A Kitchen Aid Mixer!

I just haven't decided what colour!

I'm thinking the turquoise one!

But I don't have $700 to spend on a mixer!

the second essential dream kitchen item is...

a Smeg fridge!

again!

I don't know what colour!

:)

I know there are cheaper alternatives :)

White rectangular tiles.
I believe they're called "Subway Tiles"
But I may be wrong :D

as well as exposed brick!!!

I ove the mix of modern white and stainless steel with organic brick and wood.

I also want heaps of room for all my cookbooks!

I love the green cabinets in this kitchen. But I would prefer white
and add heaps of colourful accessories!
Plus a HUGE wide Oven!!!!

and plants. Lots of plants.
Herbs growing to cans and recycled containers.

Lots of yummy herbs and succulents!

THE PANTRY!

I would love a huge walk in pantry! With shelves from floor to ceiling
stacked with glass containers holding all the ingredients!

This picture is my favourite. I looks like they have utilised hallway space.

It's an artwork in it's self.

Guest can look at the colours and pick up the jars.

I don't believe in hiding away things.

Especially if they can be displayed beautifully!

Why send time going through cabinets and cupboards looking for
pots and pans and utensils, when you can use them
as a feature.
After all... it's a kitchen, and that's what kitchens are for!

One day.
I will have my dream kitchen.
I don't exactly know what it will look like.
I probably won't get everything I want!

As long as I have a space to bake and cook.

FOLLOW MY Kitchen BOARD on PINTEREST!

Stay tuned for
Dream Bathroom.
Dream Bedroom.
Dream Garden.
Dream Study.
Dream Living Room.

xoxo

Baking Bucket List

Baking Bucket List

will be updated regularly :D

Cake Pops.

Angel Food Cake - even if it uses a WHOLE dozen of eggs! 12 freaking eggs! and not just the whole eggs, just the egg whites!! That's crazy! It will definitely be a celebration cake!

Souffle.

Profiteroles.

Eclairs.

Some sort of Pie with pastry made from scratch!

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cupcakes.

Adriano Zumbo box Macarons! (available at Woolworths) I currently have a Salted Caramel box.
first try was an epic failure. I followed the instruction (it said beat for 4 minutes) 15 minutes later the egg still hadn't stiffened. So I kept going. But I don't think I went long enough so they didn't rise probably. :)

Diet Coke Cupcakes (requested by @plainprincess)

Baked Cheese Cake

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 large egg

buttermilk (120ml)

1 tbsp of white wine vinegar

1 tsp of vanilla essence

2 tbsp of red food colouring (30ml)

sunflower oil (180ml)

self raising flour (200g)

caster sugar (225g)

1 heaped tsp of cocoa powder

pinch of salt

PREHEAT OVEN to 180C

Combine wet ingredients

Egg, Buttermilk, Vanilla and Vinegar (the Vinegar keeps the Red, super bright)

 Add the dry ingredients, and mix together

Add the red food colouring (you need quite a bit)

I found out that you can also use other colours and make "Green Velvet Cake" and Blue, or even Black.

Transfer the mix into cake tin.

Yes I realise its a little messy!

Cook for 25 minutes

Red Velvet CAKE!

Iced with Cream Cheese frosting.

which is really simple.

Cream cheese and icing sugar, mixed together until smooth and creamy.

YUM!!!

Another recipe from Sorted.

The Curiosity Complex Geeky Goodies Cook Off

The Curiosity Complex is back, and hopefully here to stay.

Today fellow curious peep Emma and I competed (well we didn't compete, we were just having fun and baking "Geeky Goodies") in the first ever The Curiosity Complex Geeky Goodies Cook Off (wow, that's a mouthful) by making Macaroons.

May I also add it was the first time either of us had ever made Macaroons.

I succeeded, Emma (according to herself) didn't. But as long as it tastes nice at the end and you had fun! That's all that matters.

See our efforts here. (Mine) (Emma)

Gift Ideas - Baking Princess

GIFTS FOR THE BAKING PRINCESS (or PRINCE)

Christmas Gift Ideas - Baking Princess by princessgeek86

Turquoise Alabaster Cake Stand
Tala Ceramic Pie Bird (my mum used to have one of these!)
Orly Cupcakes & Unicorn nail polish
Keep Calm And Have a Cupcake Planner
Hello Miss Beauty Cupcake and Vanilla Body Lotion
Vanilla Birthday Cake 3 in 1 (Shampoo, Body Wash & Bubble Bath)
Coloured Cupcake Liners (80)
Sprinkle Cupcake scented Candle
Munchstaches (Cookie Cutters)
Prep Bowl Set (no longer available)
Cake Pops cook book
Snowflake Cookie Baking Pan

OTHER AWESOME PLACES TO FIND BAKING GIFTS
Cupcake Social - baking supplies & decorations
Cookie Cutter Guy - cookie cutters... duh!

RAINBOW CAKE!

I'm in the middle of creating this awesome cake of awesome!


I should be documenting it, but I'm not! I'm just using White Wings Angelic Vanilla Cake and adding food colouring. It's 2 cakes per box. I'm not sure what I'm going to use and filling and icing, but I have a secret ingredient! Popping Candy!!! It's going to be awesome!

This is all because it's my 26th Birthday on Tuesday and I have to take a cake into work, so I'm making the most epic cake ever!

In other news. Leonids Meteor Shower is upon as again. My sister Alex and I went out on Saturday morning (read: 1am) to see if we could get a good look, but it was a complete fail, we didn't see anything :( I got home at 4am, it was a good adventure but it would of been nice to see some meteors.

I finally have my iMac back. I took it into the local Apple retailer to get the hard drive replaced, because Apple had identified that the hard drive was faulty. I took my iMac in on October 26th! 2 weeks in I rang them and they hadn't even ordered the part yet. I was so angry. I let another week and a half pass, and luckily for them they didn't get to 4 weeks or I would of gone in very angry. But the tech did ring me and apologise for how long it took, which I appreciate, but it wouldn't of taken so long if they had ordered the part earlier. Now that my iMac is back I can play Sims 3 again. Sims 3 Seasons is out and it's awesome! I love the snow storms and the rain storms and the lightning! It is awesome.

Now I'm back to making cake! Bye-ee

240810

So how is everyone today? I got up late and spent the whole day doing nothing, but now I feel bad that I wasted the day. I did clean the kitchen a little and make Chocolate Fudge Brownies, but I have a whole to do list of things to do. I only have one full day off left.
My little sister is getting her costume for book week together. She's going as Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim and it looks freaking sweet. I can't post photos until after the day, because she wants it to be a surprise to her friends (and some of them follow this blog).

Finished watching Joan of Arc last night. It was the PG version with Leelee Sobieski as Joan, and Neil Patrick Harris as King Charles. Neil looked so bad with that stupid crap haircut. Now I want to watch the MA version with Mila Jovavich as Joan, but I don't know where to find it.

SHARLTO COPLEY being crazy. (watch.... only 10 seconds long)


I'm off now. Might be back.... might not be.

Princess Geek  
xoxo

Baking Is Fun

I made STAR TREK cookies.

My mum thinks I'm a geek.

Things I Love Thursday

Going to the cinema to see Avatar & Where The Wild Things Are. Yep this week I went to the cinema twice =D and I'm decided, I'm going to try and get to the cinema at least once a week in Twenty10.

DecoPetit. They're like pens, that have strips of decorated sticky (Sorry the package are in Chinese) They're super cute. They were originally $4.95ea, but I got them for $1 each. YAY!

I get to make Cheesecake and Potato Salad this afternoon for our Christmas Lunch tomorrow. I'm really excited. We're having breakfast with some of dad's friend, then the tradition family lunch. Then I have to go to work (that's not very exciting, but it's only for 2 hours, and it's double pay)

On Monday, I can officially start using my new 2010 Moleskine Diary (even though I've kinda already have) Mum got me some Straedler pens for Christmas, which are currently wrapped up under the tree. So I can't wait to use them.

That's pretty much it for now. I have some more posts to post today, but that's it for Things I Love Thursday, the second last Thursday of 2009 =D

Lights. Cake. Bad Drivers.

I'll start with the anger... than end on a high note!

I really hate drivers that can't read road signs.
TWICE... in the last 20 minutes I was almost involved in a car accident. TWICE.
One was someone who didn't turn left on a turn left only lane, and almost took me out. I beeped and yelled profanities out the window, the second was driving down a one way road... the wrong way. and he got angry at me!!! Since I'd almost crashed about 5 minutes before that I wasn't putting up with it and yelled at him. "it's a fucking one way street... fucking learn how to read!" and he promptly apologized and reversed down the street!!! GRRRR!

But I'm home... safe now. With photos to show you!

First... we have the very chocolaty very rich BLACK FOREST CAKE.
Then, some Christmas lights.

And finally, some naughty Christmas lights... Rooting Reindeers! (funniest light display EVER!)

Life, Cake & Christmas

Had an awesome day today.
When KT finally came home @ 3pm we went to look for shells on the beach. The weather is crappy but it was okay.

At this point in time, right now, I'm in the middle of making BLACK FORREST CAKE! Hell Yesh! Can't freaking wait until Christmas. And going to Sarah & Justin and finally (maybe) getting to meet Arun =D I'm slightly pissed that I have to work. but DOUBLE PAY! woohoo!

I HAVE ANOTHER PRESENT UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE!
Animal Crossing for Wii! I'm so excited. I will be able to play with Kawaii-Chan and Harlee-Quinn. I'm so excited! Since I can't play Wii Animal Crossing. I've been playing it on DS. I know have every fruit growing in my town! And thanks to a pre-owned copy of Animal Crossing, I can visit Alex's town and steal her fruit!! HAHA!

Anyway life is good! YAY! More interesting posts coming later tonight! (and pics of Cake!!!!)

One Of Those Days

It was defiantly "one of those days" I didn't do any cleaning... the only productive thing I've done all day is make a cake, which is in the oven as I type (it's 9.15pm)

I seriously hate being lazy. But I still am. I had planned to get up earlyish, and clean and redecorate my room... but I got up at 11.45am and then had to take my little sister into town. I'm also slightly annoyed that I'm getting less and less shifts at work. I don't think I've done anything wrong (i hope I haven't) hopefully next roster will be better, or I may have to look for a second job.

I've realized that my blogs aren't very exciting... =( but i hope you like my new layout!

Untitled

The last episode of Doctor Who series 4 is on ABC on Sunday night. But I have to work so I'm going to miss it. It isn't a big deal because I have that episode on my iPod (but haven't watched it yet) but I would prefer to watch in on a big screen and in better quality. I may have to get mum to record it, or wait a couple of months until it's released on DVD.

Torchwood Season 2 is released next week. It's $99 but I will probably still buy it. I've already seen them all (on my iPod) but want to watch them in better quality.

Other than my dad (whose in the shed working) I'm the only one at home. Everyone else is at work. But I have today off. which is good, because I'm not in the mood to work!

Anyhoo, going to make cupcakes! =P

shopping, sites & sims

i did some more shopping yesterday, i'm afraid to look at my bank account! because i know there is going to be no money in there at all =(

i bought 3 geek tees (starwars, transformers & marvel heros), a denim vest, and a very floral floaty (slightly hippie) top to wear under the vest. (yes i know i'm turning into a hippie (^0^)) as well as the huge amount of clothing on it's way from america! 3 pairs of pants, a belt, and numerous tops & tees, and obviously, my awesome geek hoodie!

in other news... sims 2 apartment life is awesome!!! i love apartment life, and i've finally figure out the cheat to make my own apartments... I haven't tried yet, because i've been too busy playing with the sims! YAY! (^_^)... also we made fairy cakes (just thought i'd mention that)

My plans for tonight & tomorrow [UPDATED]

• download more item for sims 2
• watch The Dudesons Season 2
• watch Chapter 27
• Play Sims 2
• make cupcakes
• sleep in
• try not to die in my sleep (because i have a blocked nose and can't breathe)
• go pick up my little sister PSP memory card from Nigel
• try and clean my room... which probably won't happen
• rock out to LOVEX
• maybe drive past stanley =D (if I have the car)

can't think of anything else... i think i can make the next 24 hours fit all that (or less) hahaha!

bye-ee

Random Awesomeness

LOOK WHAT JENNA FOUND!

Only the coolest & geekiest & yummiest thing ever!

Click Here

Thanks Jenna xoxo

Cupcakes

Cupcakes, originally uploaded by Princess Geek.

I have decided that I'm going to learn how to cook. Like really cook... real food. It started on Christmas, my auntie bought me a Pavlova tray that has the recipe on it. (My Auntie is big into cooking) since then all I wanted to do is cook. And yesterday while I was reading Gala Darlings' blog, she was talking about buying some cookbooks, and I decided I want cookbooks too. I've also watched Nigella on ABC. She's strange, but I love what she cooks... fast simple yummy food. What more can you ask for?

I want to make pretty cupcakes, with colourful royal icing (I love icing) with pretty candy flowers =D I kinda want to move out of home now so I can have my own kitchen, so I can buy all kitcheny stuff.