Muffin Lamingtons

Some kitchen accidents result in surprisingly delicious creations, as it was the case yesterday. I wanted to use the Orange Cake with a Heart of Chocolate recipe to make muffins with chocolate cream, only that I added too much milk to the cream, and so I got the idea of cutting the muffins in half and use them to make lamingtons instead. Lamingtons are Australia's signature dessert: heavenly pieces of vanilla sponge cake dipped in chocolate icing and rolled in desiccated coconut. I'm actually quite proud of this little "accident", as I haven't found a similar dessert on the internet:)

Monkey Bread

Sweet, bite-size yeast dough morsels coated with sugar, cinnamon and butter, and baked until golden brown and the coating turns into a beautiful ooey gooey caramel - that's what monkey bread is. A funny name for a funny-looking bread:) It is also called sticky bread, pinch-me cake, bubble loaf and even monkey brains.

Creamy Lentil Soup

I miss Dubai! Today especially I miss the amazing food I used to eat there. Most of all I miss Ramadan and the lavish buffet at some of the best Arab restaurants. I'd always start Iftar with a bowl of hot lentil soup served with pita croutons and lemon wedges.

Last time I was there I dined at my favourite Lebanese restaurant, Kan Zaman, in the Heritage Village by Dubai Creek and enjoyed their amazing creamy lentil soup in an authentic Middle Eastern ambiance. At night the restaurant offers breathtaking views of the city and, when weather allows, dining outside in the sweet smell of apple-scented shisha while watching the dhows and abras cross the creek is an extraordinary experience.

Orange Cake with a Heart of Chocolate

This simple vegan orange cake filled with chocolate cream and topped with chocolate ganache gets my vote for "the best cake" every time I make it. I love the irresistible orange-chocolate combination and use it in many desserts. I think the success of this cake is also due to the whole wheat flour. The type I use has bits of bran in it and creates a fantastic texture while adding a nutty flavour to it.

The orange cake is very light and fluffy, moist and wonderfully orange-scented. The chocolate cream is light and mildly sweet. The textures and flavours come together perfectly in this cake that needs nothing else to be a big hit. Last time I made it I was so anxious to taste it, because I hadn't made it in a long time, that I ended up assembling it and devouring a slice while the cream and cake were slightly warm. Words fail me to describe the absolute pleasure of eating it. It would simply melt in the mouth, leaving me craving for another bite...and another. The perfect bite! - that's what it is.