Cream Cheese Swirl Blondies

Christina writes: Last year, at the inaugral Cookteasers meeting I made a batch of luscious Marbled Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies. When Nadia hosted an all American theme, I thought I would try their cousin, the Blondie. Yummy butterscotch melded with cream cheese was a delight! I feared that these Blondies may be too sweet, and considered dropping the sugar, but they were great just as they were. You may notice in the photo that the Blondies are irregular in size, that is because I had to cut around the sunken, soggy centre. If you decide to make these, follow the recipe and don't pull them out of the oven ten minutes early like I did.

(It is interesting to note that the centre, soggy as it was, was spectacular eaten with a spoon the following day)

For the recipe, click here

Date and Walnut Rolls

Carol writes:

For the recipe, click here

Classic Victoria Sponge

Nadia writes:

For the recipe, click here

Apple and Cinnamon Cake

Juanita baked this cake in a beautiful, ornate bundt tin. This cake has a crisp crust and a lovely moist texture with a dense crumb and luscious apple filling. Not overly sweet, this cake was perfect for afternoon tea, especially with a dollop of cream.

For the recipe click here.

Blow me a kiss...or three

Sherrise writes:



For the recipe, click here

Sweet & Petite: Sheridan concocts a floral delight.

Let them eat brioche...which is apparently what poor old Marie Antoinette really said...

Nadia writes:
Here is my recipe for brioche. I am breaking a Cook Teaser rule here by making something I've already made before. Does it count that I haven't made brioches for a few years? I really wanted to attempt a souffle but after the week I've had... but to put my life in perspective, the author of the book I got this from, Rick Curry (who is actually a Jesuit monk - what a surprise, given the title) was appointed by his abbot to apprentice to the monastery baker in order to eventually take over when this other guy retired. So I'm reading the book and there is this off-hand (the use of that word will become very 'punny' in a minute - brace yourselves) comment about how some of the recipes are a little difficult as he only has one arm... Are those Jesuits blessed with the sickest sense of humour out, or what?! I mean - really. It's all very Zen when you think about it.

So... an oldie but a goodie...


For the recipe, click here

Million Dollar Muffin, Baby!

What a sad job it is to be the Cook Teaser photographer. Having to take goodies home with me because I forget to take the camera with me...wonder how long it will be before the others realise my devious plan...wait... did I type that out loud??

Christina's Prize Winning Raspberry and White Chocolate Mufffins. Warm from the oven, oozing the tart red berries, mixing with the ooey-gooey white chocolate...this recipe is actually banned in some states.

She da bomb!

Christina was recently awarded First Place for two (count 'em - TWO!) of her entries in the Royal Show. The judges in a fit of sugar-induced madness, failed to recognise the sheer genius of the Lime Bars she entered and although giving good feedback, neglected to give her a prize - what is WRONG with these people!

However, she won, and deservedly so, for her ultra-delicious Date Slice - pictured above - and devoured in a gluttinous frenzy by the photographer (hmm-mmm, wonder who that was?). The other First Place went to her entry in the Fruit Muffin section for her Raspberry/White Chocolate Muffins, which said photographer is hoping she will hurry up and bake so that photographer can have another Cookie-Monster-moment - but with muffins instead of cookies.

The opiate of the masses: Les bakes Orange Poppyseed Roll

Slices of heaven: Christina's Brownie and Bars

Christina writes:
Well, I just had to make two slices! One is an old favourite, the other a new recipe I saw in Cook's Illustrated that I just had to try! The old favourite is a Chocolate Cheesecake brownie that is very easy and very delicious. The second, Key Lime Bars, turned out to be a lush combination of limes, cream cheese and a crunchy biscuit base. So why did I need to make two different slices? Well does anyone need a reason to bake? My excuse is that I wanted some feedback from my fellow Cookteasers as to which slice I should enter in the Royal Show. It was unanimous, Key Lime Bars was the favourite! Let's see what the Judges say this weekend.

Key Lime Bars - for the recipe, click here
Marbled Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies - for the recipe, click here