Monday Giveaway - Cookshop Plus!

Following last week's mega giveaway I am pleased to report that I can brighten your Monday morning with an equally fabulous prize!

From the very fine people at Cookshop Plus in Bowral particularly one of their most brilliant staff and one of my dearest friends- Caroline, we have for you a fabulous box of goodies.

From Zero Teapots, Japan's leading teapot manufacturer we have the ultimate in solo tea-lover's gadgets. Forget those fugly bulky things you add to the top of your clunky mug. This single person teapot is stunning. If you are like me and you love your tea but nobody else at home does then this flawless porcelain teapot is ideal. Sometimes the Japanese do create some really wacky things but come on, this teapot is clever and cute. It has a removable stainless mesh strainer that covers the opening on the inside of the pot where the spout joins the body. Allowing your tea maximum contact with the water so the leaves are strained as you pour. Genius! Go on, stop buying your daggy teabags and go back to leaves! You know you want to. RRP $54.95

As well as your beautiful shiny red teapot you get this adorable red trimmed natural fibre oven mitt. This isn't just any old oven mitt. This is fit for a queen. THE Queen. Seriously. You know you've got yourself a fancypants oven mitt when the label is stamped with this, the Royal Warrant:

This is clearly the only oven mitt a true devotee of Stepford Dreams would be seen wearing. Plus, it matches your teapot. What more could you want? RRP $14.95It doesn't stop here. From the Barefoot Contessa's kitchen we have her famous Outrageous Brownie Mix. This isn't any old packet mix. If you are not familiar with Ina Garten you must google her, she is an amazing cook. Of her brownie recipe she says “I tested this recipe so many times that I am positive it is the best brownie recipe you will find.” These brownies are rich, dark, chewy and with just the subtlest hint of coffee…these brownies are incredible! And this box mix makes them easy to bake. Great to have on hand to make a fabulous dessert for guests or when you’re craving a sweet treat. RRP $17.95

Cookshop Plus is one of Australia's premier kitchenware boutiques. They stock all the major kitchenware brands, plus a new range of exclusive imported products from America, including an extensive range of Stonewall Kitchen. After a move and a major renovation, the shop has undergone a transformation into homeware heaven, with everything from Conran towels to Mauviel Copperware, and (just arrived) one of Australia's most extensive ranges of Nordic Bakeware. Located in the gorgeous Southern Highlands of NSW, Cookshop Plus is a fabulous shopping experience for the home chef (and Stepford Dreamer).

To enter all you need to do is visit their online store HERE or if you are local, pop in and have a look around in person. Leave me a comment below telling me what your kitchen needs from Cookshop Plus. I don't think you will have any trouble, I am lusting over everything from the Lintex napery to the Zyliss Salad Spinner and the Soulfood Liquid Smoke. I love this store!

As with all my giveaways, the Tinker will draw the winner on Friday and everyone can enter. It doesn't matter where you live or if you are a follower or not. You know I hate blogs that make you jump through hoops for giveaways, so go on enter this week!

That cooking mojo

So those of you who follow me on Twitter will know that a few weeks ago I lost my cooking mojo after a few failed dishes. Well I think I found it again. Either that or the strong painkillers I'm on have sent me loopy and I dreamt up these dishes...

The little Tinker has taken more of an interest in cooking lately so I let her stand on a chair and help me make a batch of fairy cakes.

I thought fairy cakes would be more fun than regular iced cupcakes because they are just a touch more fiddly and I think for toddlers that makes it a little more fun, plus the Tinker really likes anything with wings at the moment so when I explained that the bits on the top were wings she was fascinated.

Ok so you start with your basic cupcake recipe. I always use the Nigella food processor recipe and I use lots of vanilla bean scrapings. Ditch the icing and all you need instead is some cream and some jam or lemon curd and a teaspoon of icing sugar.

Tinker loved these little cakes and they were so easy and fun to make. Only problem with making them in the afternoon is that I had so many hours til my husband came home, it was hard not to eat them all. I managed to save him one so he should feel honoured really.