Low Allergen Easter Treat - a twist on an old favourite

My eldest daughter has a myriad of food allergies so when it comes to Easter treats our options are very limited.

Last year I gave up on searching throughout the city, and online for suitable options and took matters into my own hands.  I decided to play around with an idea I had  for low allergen chocolate crackle eggs.

They turned out so well I will definitely be making these again this week!


These are just too cute, and yummy, to keep to myself  ladies....so here is the recipe and how to make your own beautiful homemade Easter crackle eggs.....And with no cooking involved the kids will love assisting you on this holiday project

CHOCOLATE EASTER CRACKLES

(I have listed the low allergen ingredients I use, but of course the regular Chocolate crackles recipe will be just as delightful if you don't have allergies to worry about)

What you will need:

Equipment:

Chocolate Easter egg moulds
Saucepan
wooden spoon
measuring cups
bowl
cake rake

Ingredients:

4 cups Freedom Foods Gluten free Rice Bubbles
1 cup Gluten Free icing sugar
1 cup Organic, preservative free desiccated coconut
250g copha®*, chopped
3 tbsp cocoa

Topping:

Sweet Williams Gluten Free/Dairy Free Chocolate block
Gluten free/natural coloured sprinkles


Method:

In a large bowl, mix the rice bubbles, icing sugar, cocoa & coconut.

In a saucepan slowly melt the copha over a low heat.  Then allow to cool slightly.

Add melted copha to rice bubbles mixture, stirring until well combined.

Spoon mixture into chocolate Easter egg moulds and press in firmly

Refrigerate until firm
Once firmly set....

Slowly melt the chocolate block in a bowl over a pot of boiling water

Once melted remove crackles from fridge, turn out of moulds and rest gently on cake rake

Dip the smaller end of each each crackle egg into the melted chocolate and replace on cake rack...it may be a good idea to have some grease proof paper of a plate under the rack to catch any chocolate drips

Sprinkle chocolate coated end and get back into the fridge

Suggestions:

Remember Chocolate crackles do melt in hot weather so keep them refrigerated as long as possible before serving.

I tied different ribbons around the middle of each egg for a finishing touch.

I'd love to hear how you go if you make the eggs and see pics of your creations!!

Easter Celebrations

Easter is a very special time for our family. It is a time of reflection and thankfulness, a time to be humbled by love and reflect on our Faith.
The story of Jesus’ death, is one of hope and truth. And as we reflect on his death and resurrection we can be excited about the freedom his love has given us.

It can be so easy to get caught up in the consumerism of the occasion with so many beautifully wrapped and decorated Easter themed goodies around when you have children. A couple of years ago, I spent alot of time considering how I could ensure my children embraced the meaning of Easter while still being able to share in the magical delight of the Easter bunny and his gifts.

And from that grew what has become our Easter tradition of a Resurrection Sunday Breakfast Party. Easter is, like any occasion in our home, a time of fun in the kitchen, of styling pretty things and enjoying fun and laughter with family and friends.  This breakfast allows us to do all of that, to laugh, to grow and to honor God.

This though is a party with a difference.  While the table is adorned with pretty things and sweet treats...the meal itself is simple and humble, reminding us of the sacrifice that was made at the cross.  Our menu consists of foods which represent to us the act of Easter.  A plate of warm Hot Cross Buns are a reminder of His death, of His flesh broken on the Cross; while Gleaming White boiled eggs symbolise New Life clean and unblemished; and finally some yummy treats remind us that Our Heavenly Father is a God of joy and delights in us coming to him with the heart of a child. 

We have found this a simple and beautiful way to take some time on Easter Sunday morning to reflect on Gods love.

From our family to yours, we pray you too have a blessed and joyful Easter however you celebrate it.

Whimsy Petite Styling Launch

Next year see's a bit of a milestone in our household...an emptying nest of sorts.  My eldest child, Mike will have turned 18 and be venturing off into the world on his own life journey, whether he remains at home or heads off an an adventure is yet to be seen....While my youngest daughter, Syrahna, will also begin a new journey of her own...starting school. 

Earlier in the year, I began to wonder...what would I do with all my new found freedom in 2012? I needed a new purpose, now that this chapter of fulltime motherhood was coming to a close. Let me say here that I have adored been a stay at home mum and having the honor and privillage to spend each day with my children, guiding them and preparing them for the next phase of their lives, I appreciate the blessing it has been to have the opportuntiy to be here for them and am so very grateful that it was something our family could expereince!  However, what on earth would I do without someone tugging at me all day, or wanting to read books, play games, or play barbie....I'll be able to clean up in the morning and at 3pm it will still be untouched; there won't be a constant stream of snack and meal orders for service in the kitchen and I imagine with school uniforms the weekday washing load should reduce considerably....Yes, I needed a new hobby or something to give me a sense of purpose in my changing role as mum. 

But what to do?  Well to decide that i needed to reflect on who I am, what I love doing, what I am passionate about..... 

I've been told on many an occassion I am totally anal about detail, that I am somewhat Arty Farty & and frankly, perhaps a little OCD....I'll admit I can be somewhat of a perfectionist!  and to that I say.....why not be, imagine a world with no order or beautiful detail....boring chaos! 

I embrace the simple joys in life; family, friends, the beach, picnics, a good book, lying under a tree, home cooking.... but I also like to surrounding myself with beautiful things, turning an everyday event into a styled celebration and making the people in my life feel special!... getting crafty, interior design,  gardening and cooking are just some of my passions.

I am enchanted simple, pretty, whimsical things and enjoy having time to spoil the people I love the most! I appreciate the small things that may go unnoticed by others, I love scouring junk yards for items needing love, for recycling and beautifying.....You get my drift...I love bringing the asthetic beauty out of anything almost anything.

Several special people inmy life had been encouraging me to start a party styling business for a few years....after reflecting on who I was and what I enjoy most....I started to realise they were probably onto something long before I was ready to see it for myself!  And so with their love and support, I have decided to take my passions and love of celebrations to another level, to share my love of beautifully styled soirees and create a fun and exciting small business. 

It is with great pride and excitment that I present to you.....Whimsy Petite Styling.   The delightful Menu of Services we look forward to providing our valued clients will include

{Inspiration/mood boards} 
{High Teas} 
{Custom styled party packages}
{Complete event styling and hostessing}
{Themed childrens parties}
{Prop and crockery hire}
and eventually,  we look forward to launching an online store showcasing beautiful products to add style and whimsy to any celebration. 

Helping you to capturing all the details that bring uniqueness and character to your special event is what Whimsy will do with love and passion.

I am already having the pleasure of networking with some wonderfully talented people in design, photogprahy and catering and look forward to profiling them and their handywork for you as business begins to roll!

Our website is in design process at the moment, so stay tuned. Until then, I have set up a Facebook page, Whimsy Petite Styling, and will keep you updated with inspirational ideas and sneak peeks of styled events there. 

I am also really excited to share with you that a percentage of all income from Whimsy Petite will be given to Friends of Pango ministry to fund Education and Community Aid projects in Vanuatu. Another of my great passions is for the people of this beautiful island nation where our family regularly volunteer our services and establish aid projects to assist the locals in overcoming situations of poverty.

A huge thank you to the wonderfully talented Jordan of Polkadot Prints for creating our gorgeous logo...you can see more of Jordans fabulous designs and follow her blog here.

I look forward to sharing some of  lifes special moments with you!