CHOCOLATE COCONUT DOUGHNUTS

There are a few things in this world that make everything okay. One of them is my Bunny, I've had him since I was 5 and he's my safety through everything. He has tons of war wounds, his ears have been repaired a million times and they still fall off, but I love him that way. The other is doughnuts.
When I was little, my parents almost bought a doughnut shop, so I'm kind of a fan. I like all kinds of doughnuts.
Cinnamon and sugar; glazed; chocolate; chocolate chocolate chip; funfetti; fresh cream and those caramel doughnuts with the really thick icing and chopped peanuts. But this recipe I'm bringing you today is possibly my favourite doughnut recipe of all. It's the chocolate and coconut doughnut and it's just boss.

Things I Love Thursday #001

I've tried to do posts like this before, really I have and it hasn't gone so well. That means that this may or may not stay, we'll just play it by ear shall we?
This week, I've found some amazing things from all over the web and I wanted to share them with you ASAP. Of course, I probably would never have found some of these links if it weren't for StumbleUpon so if you're interested in finding your own links, make sure you sign up to StumbleUpon and get Stumbling.

 If you need some inspiration for breakfast, why not be inspired by the colour of the foods on your plate?

Masterclass and Dinner at Vinnie's Auckland

Did you hear I won the NZ National Honey Week 2013?
Well I did and it was awesome and part of my prize was to go to Auckland for a masterclass with Geoff Scott in his award winning restaurant. And I don't want to give away too much so early on, but it was mind blowing.

It's a real privilge to be invited into a chef's kitchen and it was an extreme honour for my father and I to be there. We got to work with Geoff's staff and Geoff himself. It was amazing to see how an award winning professional kitchen works. I was really surprised to find that for a fine dining restaurant, there are only three chefs in the kitchen and two front of house staff.

DATE AND CINNAMON SCONES

A lot of people claim they don't like dates...they're wrong. Seriously, get them to try these amazing date and cinnamon scones and they'll soon change their minds!
Date and cinnamon is a classic combination and these scones are perfect for a lazy Saturday picnic or a warm Sunday breakfast. In South Africa we always serve scones with whipped cream and strawberry jam but in the UK it's all about the clotted cream. Either way, these will be a great treat.
I normally serve these warm so the butter melts into the scone and then you can layer on the jam and cream. Of course, you can always reheat them or even toast them.

Alison's Pantry Raw Power Review

I don't eat Greek Yoghurt for breakfast, I eat it in the middle of the afternoon, or late at night or just before I have to go on a long car trip. I add honey, sugar, maple syrup and sometimes even some cocoa powder.
But when I was sent a sample pack of Alison's Pantry's new nut and seed mix called Raw Power and it was suggested that I add it to my Greek Yoghurt, I had a "DOH!" moment.
Of course I should add it to my Greek Yoghurt. That's just common sense.

The Great Grilled Cheese Challenge

If you've been living under a rock then you probably won't know about FOTB which stands for Fellowship of the Bloggers. It's a new project that I've just embarked on with a few of my friends and we're doing some amazing things so if you want to get involved I suggest you do so by heading over to the blog and finding out a bit more!
One of those new friends is Sunae.
She's Australian and she's pretty cool. But considering I am South African and I live in New Zealand, there's quite a bit of rivalry with Aussie. What better way to honour that rivalry than a grilled cheese off?!
There is no better way. That's just how it is.

Brekkie on the Go! Review

I own a business. It's super stressful, it's long and early hours and sometimes it's just plain frustrating. I always forget breakfast, apparently half of Kiwis are with me there, and I always end up having something sweet to pick me up during the day. Yes, I know that's like the cardinal sin and we're not allowed to admit it in January because it's the month for resolutions and being healthy but it's true and that's the way it is.
About a week ago I was contacted and asked to review the new Mother Earth Brekkie on the Go! products. I obviously said yes because I do actually eat the Mother Earth cereal bars. The Brekkie on the Go! packs are pouches of muesli bites with little bits and pieces in it. So I said yes and sighed with relief when I realised I did not have to panic about breakfast anymore.

The Cheat's Guide to Banoffee Tart

I've felt a little lost lately.
I mean that in the literal and figurative sense and every sense inbetween. I feel like everyone else is moving forward in leaps and bounds and I am...well I am not. Does that make sense?
Maybe it's because loads of my friends got married this past year? Or maybe because my cousin recently announced she's pregnant? Or that my youngest cousin is about to graduate high school? Things seem to be moving so fast!

And as a grown up, responsible, nearly 25-year-old, I decided that the best way to deal with all the feels is to get my baking on and make something that could clog up arteries all over the world.