Writing It Randomly

This wasn't my first tango with a cheesecake. First time around (a few months ago) it came out all cracked and spotty-looking, despite the fact that I had set my sights on the simplest recipe I could find. Before my second attempt I changed tactics. I did some online research before firing up the mixer and it totally paid off! No cracks, an even colour all around and a way creamier texture. I found this 3-Step Recipe on Pinterest  (of course!) I'm THE WORST at absolutely everything in the kitchen, so to all my fellow Kitchen Catastrophes out there - here's what I did differently for Baby Brother's 21st birthday lunch @ Mom's: Cream Cheese - looks like Philadelphia Cream Cheese disappeared from South African shelves, so I used 3 tubs of  LANCEWOOD® Full Fat Cream Cheese  instead. Cookie Crumbs - using my mortar, with a double-lining of cling wrap to keep the crumbs from sticking to it, I pestled a box of  BAKERS Nuttikrust ®  biscuits until reduce...

Mum started chemo today, so yesterday, Joné baked her a delectable blue velvet cake. Sure, the icing started sliding off the sides (probably because the cake was supposed to cool down more before being decorated), but it all gets mushed in your tummy in any case, right? Even after (and during) all the cake-eating, Mum was still very much in a tizzy over her first chemo session in the morning, because she had no idea what to expect. All chemo is not equal. Her doctor told her about possible side effects (eg. nausea), but it all differs from person to person as well as the amount and type of chemo treatment you receive. So far, the only update we've received from her today, is that it didn't hurt at all when they inserted the needle into the port . Excellent news, because she tends to faint whenever anyone (herself included) have their blood drawn.

Everyone who knows me well, knows that I am dangerous in any kitchen - even if only equipped with marshmallows. I have made chicken breast you could stone someone to death with, baked a chocolate cake of which the topping had to be cracked with moderate force using the handle of a bread knife (so we could break off the "slices") & I've also almost set fire to the entire office with an unfortunate 2-minute noodle incident earlier this year. Then my culinary courage was renewed after starting The Yuppiechef Online Cooking School's Art of Baking course; and hubby's birthday on May 4th created the perfect opportunity for me to try baking something all by myself. Without my mother's help (not even a phone call to her or my Mother-In-Law). For the first time EVER. I had no idea which recipe to take on, so just like we all turn to Google for answers these days, I turned to Pinterest for ideas. It had to be a regular sized cake according to Step 1 of the Cou...