Busy in the Garden

The sunflowers are finally blooming, scattered patches of yellow and orange cosmos are in abundance and every day I'm harvesting baskets of organic cherry tomatoes, fragrant herbs and crisp leafy greens! 

Happy days...

 Isn't this amazing?! Such a happy looking sunflower;)

 After much waiting...they're here!!!

 

Sunflower bud taken 4 days ago...

 2 days ago, nearly there...

 

 In full bloom, gorgeous!

 

marigold patch and a stray pechay

 

 

pechay, ready to be harvested for lunch!

green tomatoes

liliput zinnias

A mixed plot! 

Yellow and orange cosmos towering over pink santans and hydrangea...

Lots of ripe red cherry tomatoes on the right side, peeking though the greens...

Sugar Cookies

It happens once a year, why not go all out?!

Birthdays! 

My birthday to be exact!

My family used to get me a Banana Cream Pie for my birthday "cake" ever since I was old enough not to want pink and yellow flowers on my cake (nothing wrong with still wanting them now;). But sadly up until a few years ago, the bakeshop where we used to get them didn't produce the same quality pies anymore. We've been on the hunt for the perfect banana cream pie but haven't found it yet. 

Anyway, since I had extra time on my hands and a couple of recipes I wanted to try, I made my own "cake"! 

I think I got too excited and carried away...After a day and half of baking, I ended up with a 6-layered Tiramisu, a 2-layered Carrot Cake, 2 mini Carrot Cakes, a Strawberry Cream Pie, Butter Cookies with Orange Marmalade and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies!!! 

I guess I'm having a dessert bar for my birthday:) 

Mini Carrot Cake

 

Butter Cookies with Orange Marmalade

 

Strawberry Cream Pie

Tiramisu

Inspired by...

Hand painted desserts...they look too good to eat!

Image from Nevie Pie Cakes at One Fab Day

 

An abundance of flowers growing in the garden...

Image from We Heart It

Color, lots of it...

 Image from We Heart It

This quote...

Image from Swirls of Happy

Taisan Cupcakes

Light, fluffy and moist cupcakes with a sugary topping! 

Eating one just isn't enough!

 

Recipe adapted from here and here

Cheesecake Brownies

How can this not be awesome? It's got two desserts in one!

Recipe adapted from David Lebovitz here

Walnut and Coffee Biscotti

Perfect for tea or coffee break... ;)