Market this Saturday 26th March

Hi all,

Well it seems like ages since the last market so I'm really looking forward to this weekend and catching up with all the regulars.

Treats available at this market:

Macarons - lots of flavours including some new ones!
Lemon Moments
Passionfruit Moments
Individual Hazelnut, Raspberry & Marscapone Cakes - these are my favourite dessert cake.... yum!
Double Chocolate and Raspberry Brownie
Jonty's Honey Joys for the kids

I'll also have on display Macaron Easter Gift Boxes which you can order to pick up the week of Easter.  Something a little different from easter eggs.

Soon I will have some exciting news about new stockists of Macarons which I can't wait to share.

Hope to see you all there

Enjoy!
Bridie

Folkie & Long Weekend Macarons

Hi all,

Just a quick note to let you all know where to get your Macarons over the long weekend.

For all of you who are lucky enough to have a ticket for the folk festival Tim & Carmel Brady who own Piccolo Coffee Roasters in Warrnambool will be selling Macarons at their coffee vans.  These are the great coffee moments vans.  They will be located in the arena and at the St Patricks primary school venue.  They will have Lemon, Pistachio & Orange Blossom and Raspberry Macarons.

Pronto have just been stocked with more Macarons so get in quick because they sell out pretty fast.  We are also doing mixed boxes of Macarons, they look beautiful (I'll post some pictures tomorrow).  These make a great gift or something special to take to somebody's house.  Pronto also now stock the Brownie with White Chocolate and Raspberry that continues to be a favourite.

I hope everyone has a great long weekend whether at folkie, going away or just relaxing around home.  Michael is taking the kids to Lorne so I'm footloose and fancy free!  Not quite because I will be working flat out but I am hoping to get in a sleep in or two!

Thanks to all on your lovely feedback about the sponge recipe If you made it I hope it was a success!


Enjoy!
Bridie

Nan's Sponge with Lemon Curd & Cream

Hi all,

Thought I'd share one of my favourite recipes with you, my Nan, Eileen Sheehan's, famous sponge recipe.

Back in the day these sponges were known all around the district and as far as I am concerned, better than CWA - big call I know!  Mum continued the tradition and I'm now taking the batton.  The sponge is such a classic, often overlooked for more complicated, fancier 'cafe cakes' but I don't think you can go past the light and fluffy sponge, freshly whipped cream and a sweet filling like homemade jam, add a nice cup of tea and what a perfect afternoon treat.

Mum and I serving up one of mum's many sponge variations.

For all the things that I am confident cooking the idea of cooking Mum/Nan's sponge always daunted me.  I'd tried some sponge recipes a couple of times when I was younger but always ended up with something that sunk when it came out of the oven, but for some reason I had never tried Nan's recipe.

So on my first Mother's day without my mum (she passed away Nov 2008) I was determined to make this sponge, I suppose as a tribute to my mum.  Why, I don't know, lots of pressure and emotion and god help anybody who might be around if it flopped!  But to my surprise it didn't, it was huge, light as air and tasted magnificent.  I was proud as punch and for the next month I went a little sponge crazy, morning tea, a birthday - I'll bring a sponge.  You bought a new fridge? lets celebrate, I'll bring a sponge!  Anyway I slowed down on the sponge making eventually.  So I now feel that I have earned the right to join the club of great sponge makers and get requests for this yummy treat often.

Eileen Sheehan's Famous Sponge Recipe

4 Eggs
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Cornflour (make sure it's not wheaten cornflour then the sponge will be gluten free)
1/2 tsp bi-carb soda
1 tsp cream of tartar

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celcius a little less if you have a hot fan forced oven.
Grease two 20cm round sponge tins and place a square of baking paper on the bottom of each.

Separate Eggs.  Beat egg whites until light and fluffy, add sugar gradually then beat in the yolks.  Sift cornflour, soda and cream of tartar and fold into the mixture.  A good trick is to use a palette knife or butter knife to do this, keeping as much air in the mixture as possible.  Divide mixture evenly between the tins.  Bake in the centre of the oven trays and have good clearance above because these babies really rise!  Bake for 20 mins or until golden on top.  Don't let them sit too long before turning out.  Sometimes they can be a little sticky to the sides, simply run a thin sharp knife around the edge.

Place one sponge on the serving platter and spread filling of your choice on top of the sponge.  I love a homemade jam or lemon curd especially, bought or homemade.  Whip some cream with a little sugar and vanilla and spread over the filling.  Place the second sponge on top.  Dust with a little icing sugar and ta daa!!  Yummo.

Let me know how you go....

Hope you enjoy!
Bridie

Treats by Bridie @ Market this Saturday

Hi all,

My apologies for not posting for awhile.  I've been really busy, which is a great thing!  Oh yes, and buying a new car!!!

I've also been working hard on perfecting the Macarons at macaron school, the results have been fantastic.



I catered a wedding a couple of weeks ago, it was really beautiful.  They had platters on each table with a selection of petit fours which included:

• Lemon Tartlets with Mascarpone and Lemon Curd Cream
• Mousse au Chocolat in bittersweet chocolate cups with Portland Strawberries
• Tiramisu Verrines
• 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate & Orange Tartlets
• Individual Baked Raspberry Cheesecakes topped with a Mixed Berry Compote

Taste testing was done by my sister and husband before the big day and it was a big YUM from them.  They also had a selection of treats and macarons on platters and tiered plates for supper with coffee (or champagne).  Photos, Photos???  I forgot in the final moments, hopefully a guest has something I can post in the future.  The wedding went well, the bride was stunning and desserts and treats were a big hit which is great.  Congratulations to Jay and Kate!

The big news for Treats by Bridie is that our French Macarons are now available at Pronto Fine Food Merchants at Norfolk Plaza (Safeway Complex) in Warrnambool.  This week they have Salted Caramel and Raspberry Macarons so pop in and grab some before they all go.  Be sure to grab a coffee while you're there, perfect to have with a Macaron.

It's very exciting to be stocking the Macarons at Pronto, having them lined up with all the other goodies Sally & Ted have on offer.  Pronto will be moving to a new purpose built store around Easter hopefully we will be stocking more treats then, but keep an eye out if you're in there because there might be a couple of other treats availble in the coming weeks.


What's available at Market this week?  Saturday 8am - 1pm Port Fairy Village Green

Macarons:
Salted Caramel
Raspberry
Pistachio & Orange Blossom
Lemon
Blueberry

Brownies:
Double Choc & Raspberry Brownie
White Choc & Blueberry Blondie

Melting Moments:
Lemon
Passionfruit
Choc Raspberry
Choc Hazelnut

Others:
Florentines
Individual Caramel Mud Cakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

Hope to see you all at the Market.

Enjoy!

Bridie

Market Sat 22nd & Dramas

Hi All,

Market is on this Saturday but at the moment it is tentative.  I will do my best to be there but it will definitely be with very limited stock.

Well what a day!?!?
I came up to Melbourne today to do a little shopping, have dinner with a girlfriend and get ready for my Macaron class tomorrow.  I left a little late - nothing new I'm always late, got diverted by the floods - fair enough, had to have a power nap - too many late nights, then the clutch started playing up....

Was able to do a little shopping, headed out to Ikea and the car got worse.  Navigated the minefield that is Ikea, loaded up my trolley and can you believe it - somebody stole my trolley - what is that??  I had to start all over again!  Running really late for dinner, finally getting through the registers, loaded up my goodies, got the car and in the middle of the Ikea loading bay the clutch goes and the car won't move!!

What a disaster for any of you have been to Ikea you understand how busy that place is with a lot of cranky people tooting horns and yelling, luckily a kind man helped push the car over to the side, called the RACV and an hour later the car was being towed to my girlfriend's house and by then we really needed a glass of wine.

So the long and short of it is that I'm not sure when I will get home so that's why the market is tentative if the car isn't fixed.

I look forward to writing about my class tomorrow and hope to post some pictures.

I hope your day has been better than mine and fingers crossed we're there on Saturday.

Enjoy!
Bridie
p.s I'm drinking that wine as I type.

Treats by Bridie Market Sat 15th Jan

Hi All,

After having last week off I'm back to market this week.  The market will be on Saturday 15th Jan 8am - 1pm (don't come at 8am, I'm never that organised!) down at King George Square, the wharf in Port Fairy.

It's quite a big market, lots of stalls and some beautiful things for sale.  Come down for a browse, grab some treats, a coffee from the Piccolo (W'bool) Coffee Van, sit down along the wharf and enjoy.  The market there on New Years Day was great, we were flat out and things sold very quickly, once the word was out that there was Macarons things got a bit crazy. It was great to see people enjoying the food and coming back for more!  My tip for this weekend is to get in early if you want Macarons or email me by Thursday morn with an order to pick up at the market.

Whats on sale at Market....

Macarons* $2 each
(get in quick at this price because of the work involved the price will rise a little soon)
Raspberry & Pomegranate
Coconut, Honey & Fig - this is my new favourite!!
Lemon Curd & White Choc
Pistachio & Orange Blossom
Salted Caramel

Petite Dessert Cakes $4 each
Hummingbird Cakes
White Chocolate Mud Cakes
Lemon & Lime Tarts*

Treat Boxes $10 each
Mixed Lemon & Passionfruit Moments
Mixed Choc Raspberry & Choc Hazelnut Moments
Dark Choc Brownie with Raspberries & White Choc
Mixed Mini Macarons*
White & Dark Chocolate Florentines
Pistachio, Cranberry & White Choc Rocky Road*

*Gluten Free options (I will only do a couple of the tarts unless ordered prior)

I hope to see you there!

Enjoy!
Bridie

Hi & Welcome!

Hi all,

Welcome to my blog!

I'm Bridie West and Treats by Bridie is my new business.  The concept of 'boutique baking' is using the highest quality of ingredients and combining stunning flavours to make exquisite treats that are all handmade and beautifully presented.  My philosophy is that the food should taste even better than it looks and that word of mouth is the best advertisement.  My treats can be purchased to take home to share and are also beautifully gift wrapped.  They make a lovely gift and many lucky people received them over christmas time. 

I currently sell my treats at the Port Fairy markets and by personal order.  The Community Market is on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month at the Village Green 8am - 1pm.  I'll be using this blog to tell you all what I am up to and what treats to expect at the upcoming market.  I hope to share pictures with you and recipes that have taken my eye.  I'll also post product lists for you all to have a look at.  Please feel free to post comments, ask questions or seek help with your own creations (I'll try to help).

A little about me:
I'm 32 years old and live in Port Fairy, Australia with my husband Michael, 4yo son Jonty and 2yo twins Greta and Eamon.  We are lucky to be surrounded by close family and friends and live in a beautiful town.  We are near the end of the renovation of my mum's home, an old weatherboard commission.  Never again!  At least not while you're living in it.  But we do now have a beautiful house, a kitchen that I have always wanted to cook in and some great stories to tell.

I have always loved to cook, particularly sweet things, cakes, desserts, biscuits, pastries, nibbles anything yummy to satisfy a sweet tooth.  I have fond childhood memories of helping my mum in the kitchen making one of her famous sponges or pavlovas and staying up to 3 in the morning with her waiting for the xmas pudding to be boiled.  Most of the recipes were her mums which have since been passed down to my sister and I.

All my life I have been torn between study and cooking.  My afterschool job whilst growing up was at Portofino Restaurant in Port Fairy in its early days, starting with dishes and working my way up to food prep, sides, salads and desserts. People still ask me to make the bread and butter pudding from Portofino 16 years on.  I loved weekends, the restaurant was always full, people enjoying themselves, John, the chef and owner, sweating over the stoves, barking orders at me, Amanda, his wife trying to keep things under control.  We worked really hard but still had time for a laugh.  Amanda and John were a big influence, mentors really, they opened up my eyes to the world of food, the way food can bring people together and the enjoyment you get from making other people happy with your creations.

When I finished year 12 the big decision came - university or cooking?  I chose university - a bachelor of arts (criminal justice).

This could go on forever so each blog I'll add more to the story of how I came to start Treats by Bridie.

Enjoy!
Bridie