Auckland has been having one of the hottest summers I can ever remember. What better way to spend such a day than by taking a ferry across to Waiheke Island and exploring the vineyards followed by a swim in the sea? My Mum & I enjoyed a Friday doing just that and we couldn’t have chosen a more friendly vineyard to visit. Casita Miro is situated in Onetangi, on the top of a hill, and specialises in Spanish cuisine, as well as that of the wider Mediterranean Rim. The menu includes tapas (snack plates) and raciones (shared plates), as well as a ‘Fiesta’ set menu for groups of 10 or more.
summer
S’mores Cake
Today is National S’mores Day, so what better day than to share with you the S’mores cake I made last weekend for a friend’s birthday. This girl loves anything chocolate, so when i asked her what kind of cake she would like this year, she first replied ‘something chocolate’. Then a few minutes later she sent a text saying ‘Actually, can you make a s’mores cake???’ The funny thing is, I had planned to make a s’mores cake back in June for my boyfriend’s birthday, but I didn’t have some of the necessary equipment (you will need a blow torch!) and I was short on time. I ended up making a chocolate cookie dough bundt cake, which didn’t require any decorating time.
Strawberry Float from Wild Wheat
You know Summer is on its way when the strawberries start making an appearance, and I couldn’t be happier! Strawberries have always been a favourite fruit of mine and strawberry shortcake is one of my favourite desserts. Wild Wheat is now offering the ‘Strawberry Float’ ($4), which consists of a handmade pastry case topped with chocolate,…
Gelato from Takapuna Beach Cafe & Store
The gelato at Takapuna Beach Cafe & Store is multi award-winning, and I can now see why. If you’re a coconut fan, you can’t go past the Coconut Vanilla gelato. This stuff is seriously some of the best gelato I have ever tried, and that is saying something considering I’ve lived in New York City…
Blueberry & Lemon Muffins
I’m now back home in New Zealand for a bit after living the past 3 years in New York City. I absolutely adore NYC and its craziness and how there’s always something going on, be it a concert in the park, a food festival or a parade. But as anyone who has lived there will…
Strawberry Cake
If you’re as crazy about strawberries as I am, then you must make this cake. Strawberries have long been at the top of my list of favorite fruits, and eating them in desserts is one of my favorite things. I recently spied this recipe for a strawberry layer cake with whipped strawberry frosting on Sweetapolita and…
Four Berry Danish Cheesecake
I got invited to a picnic a few weeks back and was in charge of bringing the dessert. I wanted something that wasn’t going to be too messy to eat and that would travel well for the hour-long commute on the train. After a search on the web I came across this recipe from Piece…
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars
I have always loved rhubarb (well as an adult! My mum reminded me I hated it as a kid), but I had never baked anything with it, until now. I saw it at the farmers market so I got some, along with some strawberries and came across this recipe on The Iron You. These bars…
Washington D.C.
Last month my friend was here from Spain and every time she visits we like to take a day-trip to somewhere out of the city. This time we decided on Washington D.C. It takes 5 hours on the bus from New York City, so it is a rather ambitious day-trip, but it worked. We had…