Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Mascarpone Tarts

Don’t be fooled. This is not a healthy recipe. Although it has no added sugar, it is very rich and indulgent, thanks to the butter, creamy cheese and refined flour! However, I find that because they aren’t overly ‘sweet’, one is enough to satisfy. My husband disagrees.

I had planned to share this recipe a few weeks ago – to the point where I had made my ‘final’ batch one Sunday afternoon, after a series of test-batches over many weeks, in order to take some photos before we ate them for afternoon tea, pop them on here and publish the post that evening. Unfortunately I had a DREADFUL photo-shoot. Just as I was putting the final touches on the tarts, a dark, dismal storm suddenly appeared over my house, and took all the nice daylight with it. I tried to take some photos anyway, but they were blurry and hideous. It could not be done. I also had three hungry males impatiently waiting for their afternoon tea, so I gave up, feeling pretty sorry for myself (first world problems, hey!?). I shouldn’t complain really – eating strawberry tarts while having a cup of tea on a stormy Sunday afternoon at home is a pretty good situation to be in!

Naturally, the sun came out again as I took my last bite.

But no matter, here we are! Just in time for the end of season strawberries – though feel free to use your favourite fruit – peaches, nectarines, raspberries and sliced banana would be delicious too. Continue reading →

Easy Apple and Hazelnut Frangipane Tarts

I’m very happy to share this recipe, which I have made several times over the last few months. These apple and hazelnut frangipane tarts are quick to make and tasty. I find it hard to stop at one, so it’s best to make them while other people are around too. 🙂 I think a nectarine variation will be nice in summer!

Although these use only a small amount of rice malt syrup instead of refined sugar, I should clarify: they are definitely still a treat! I’m pretty sure that puff pastry doesn’t really qualify as a ‘whole food’. Feel free to change up the frangipane mixture – use all almond meal or all hazelnut meal if that’s what you have. Sometimes I make a double batch of frangipane and keep the leftovers in the fridge to make another round later in the week! Continue reading →

A Cherry Berry Ripe Smoothie

Market research in 2013 found that Cadbury’s Cherry Ripe, Australia’s oldest chocolate bar, was also the country’s most popular choice, even ahead of the classic dairy-milk bar. Although my chocolate bars of choice tended towards Snickers and Twix, I’d always been a bit partial to Cherry Ripe too, as a fan of dark chocolate. But it tastes too sweet for me now. And the sugar content? More than six teaspoons of sugar in one bar.

This smoothie takes the core flavours of the popular treat – berries, coconut and chocolate – and smoothifies it to be much more fructose-friendly. It is also dairy-free. Continue reading →