“I think I have a teratoma” I said to Mr NQN. We were on a plane and I was feeling the top of my head.
“A what?” he said inspecting the top of my head like we were two monkeys at the zoo. “Hmm your head is kind of squishy…”
“A finger growing inside my head. I have a headache” I explained. So of course the natural response is either that it is a tumour or a teratoma which is a strange growth inside the head and can take the shape of an extra finger (must stop watching tv…).
“You just need to relax” he told me and reminded me of how the headaches disappeared when I did manage to do nothing. We were fortunately enough to be on our way to visit an incredible island in Queensland. When we arrived I alighted the small plane and picked up my welcome drink and asked them for the internet password for our room.
“There is no internet access in your room, only in the lounge” the woman said smiling, gingerly, as I may have had an alarmed expression. Picture Munch’s The Scream both inside and outside. After my initial scare I sat down to lunch and it took all of an hour before I was converted to time before technology. We watched with amusement as another guest repeatedly tried to get cellphone access by pointing his phone at the sky in all different directions.
I was interviewed recently and asked about how technology has helped me and there is no doubt that it has. After all I wouldn’t be doing this blog if it weren’t for technology and the internet. And I am so used to defending technology, in this career and the career before as an internet advertising strategist that I never really stopped to think of when it doesn’t quite benefit. And because I am an all or nothing personality and I throw myself headfirst into everything that takes my interest, I realised that I sometimes take it too far and need time away from a barrage of information.
Sometimes having an iPad, phone, laptop and television is overkill. The last thing I see at night is the laptop or the iPad and they are the first things I see in the morning. Sometimes I just need to take an hour out of a day and do nothing and be without pawing range of some sort of electronic device. I am also completely unable to meditate no matter how many times Mr NQN’s mum Tuulikki tells me that it’s possible (she has even given me books on mediating for Christmas).
So lately every day I have sat down to a cup of tea and something sweet like these petit fours. I don’t go near an electronic device and instead I potter about cleaning up after Mr NQN’s tornado and reading a paper book. Petits four are of course meant to be served after dinner and are small, sweet little treats given the name Petit Four which means small oven. And serendipitously their size gives it an innate calorie control which helps too.
These petits four are very simple. I made them using a cake I had made for a trifle and I had just saved a section of it and sliced it up. You can also use a bought cake and if you do, a denser cake like a Madeira suits it well and simply cut it up or use a cookie cutter to create shapes. The icing recipe is adapted from Martha Stewart and is pretty much the go-to petit four icing recipe on the internet. It is easy to make and drips appealingly and blankets the cake well. They’re sweet of course but eating just one won’t send the diet awry surely? So I call this meditating by proxy…with a snack 
So tell me Dear Reader, do you think that you use too much technology at times? And do you feel anxiety if you don’t have internet access?
Petits Four
- 1 medium sized dense bought cake like madeira cake or you can bake one
- 60g /2 ozs white chocolate
- 9 cups sifted confectioners’ or icing sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup light corn or glucose syrup
- 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- Gel food colouring, in desired colors (I used pink, violet and sky blue)
- Sugar flowers to decorate and paper cupcake liners to serve
1. Cut the cake into squares or use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Brush off any excess crumbs.
2. Make a double boiler by placing a saucepan of water onto boil and fit a heatproof bowl on top so that it sits snugly making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. When the water is boiling, turn down the heat to a simmer and add the chocolate and melt this and then add the icing sugar, water, glucose syrup and vanilla and almond extracts and stir until combined and smooth. It will take about 7-10 minutes to get it totally smooth (especially if you’re lazy like me and don’t sift the icing sugar ).
3. Place the cake pieces on a cooling rack placed over another tray to catch the drips (or I’ve seen chefs cut a big sheet of cling film and put it under the cooling rack and then just scrunch it up when they’ve finished). Working quickly as it sets very quickly spoon some into a bowl and using a tablespoon pour it over the squares and affix a flower while it is still “wet”. Then repeat this but this time add some colouring in a new bowl and mix a colour. I kept the large bowl of white icing on the stove to keep it liquid and warm and just made new colours one at a time.
I’d love to give you an action shot of pouring it over the cake squares but I had to work fast! It sets very quickly!
4. Allow to set for about 10-15 minutes. Take an offset spatula or paring knife and slice the petit four along the bottom so that you cut off the drips. The icing itself at this stage is slightly pliable so you can slightly mold it. Place in cupcake liners to serve.
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
101 Comments | Add your own
These are so sweet, Lorraine.
Such pretty little delights. I take every weekend off from my blog and try to do a lot of tactile things – dishes, drawing, going for walks, listening to books on cd and clean like mad. It feels so good and gives me a fresh start each Monday. 
They are almost too cute to eat and I’m sure I couldn’t stop at just one. xoxo Mum
So dainty and elegant!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love the way you have shown these petit fours, very clever and appealing colours. Hope you’re having a nice time away
yes i do. That’s why I’m planning to do research on internet addiction! I myself is an ex internet addict!
Hmmm. Make cake? Or meditate? Or make cake? Haaaard decision..
These look gorgeous and the perfect thing for when you need an hour off with a cup of tea and a book. Oh, and I’m glad you don’t have a teratoma (stop watching those scary tv shows – a little reality tv is what you need, girl.
).
It’s so embarrassing but yes I do – I need to cut back on the internet and iphone. Seriously!! Not healthy. Love these tea cup sets, they look just beautiful! As do these gorgeous little bites.
Heidi xo
They look so sweet! Petit fours and I have a *ahem* checkered history. Shall have to try again
I can’t wait for this summer when I can relax and enjoy a PAPER book!
They are gorgeous, Lorraine!
Don’t know if I’m good enough with icing to attempt them myself. Meditation for me would be to go to cafe somewhere to buy them and a cup of coffee. I would still comply with the no technology thing by reading hard copy magazines and newspapers at the time.
I agree though, we are all so wired up these days.
SSG xxx
Awww, you know how much I love pretty cakes – these are my favourite posts. These are lovely – I feel all lady-like now. I do feel like technology sometimes does my head in, but I suffer withdrawal if I can’t access it.
Cake meditation… brilliant! They look stunning, I’m inspired to work on my pretty-ing up skills now!
I go through phases with technology! Sometimes I feel as though I couldnt live without it – then other times I dont mind being ‘disconnected’ at all!
These are so gorgeous! I couldn’t possibly stop at 1 though
I admit I have a technology addiction. My iPhone is the last thing I see at the night and the first thing in the morning. I know it’s terrible, but I can’t stop!
soooo cute! i hardly touched technology all weekend and must admit i missed it….
Yes yes yes I am addicted to Facebook and my phone – it’s horrible!! Panic sets in if I can’t find my phone. Those Petit Fours are gorgeous, I have a selection of cups like the ones you used but WHERE did you get the little flowers please? I am alwaays looking for similar.
we went down to melbourne on business and stayed overnight, we usually take our laptop, but didnt this time. To say we felt naked was true! how scary ! as soon as we got home, it was straight to the emails and facebook to catch up with everything!
Hi just came across this website through my search for cupcake decorating courses, and I have to say what a fantastic website!! I’ll have to take a daily peek : )
What a lovely way to present such gorgeous ‘lil cakes
Susie Q
Very elegant.
I never really worried if I didn’t touch the internet for days, except when I needed it for banking, but now that I have started a blog, I do get a bit stressed if I can’t access the internet to blog.
These Petits Four look gorgeous!!!
Lorraine, could you, please, tell me brand of the knife pictured with the cake?
Thanks
Natalia
You didn’t have to sift the icing sugar – OMG – what a fabulous icing recipe! Such sweet looking cakes! I must admit – your Shun knife looks much sharper than my poor one. Since blogging more regularly I start getting palpitations when I can’t check in online. The other week Blogger went down in the Australasia region and no one could post for 2 days – I was a basket case!!!
Lorraine, you’re a hoot. I so felt for you about the lack of Internet!! As for your teratoma… what WERE you watching?!! Mind you, I would have never come across the terms “tension hematoma” if it weren’t for TV…The petit fours are gorgeous. I would want them just as decoration!
These are gorgeous and will absolutely be appearing at a cherub shindig… and yes, definitely technology is far too ingrained in this house. A couple of weeks ago I was without pc and thus internet for 3 days (I have an i-phone but no time, head space nor inclination to work out how to use internet on it) and after the initial holy-mother-of-god-how-will-I-survive-ness I was fine… liberated actually. Loved it…
These are so pretty, would be perfect for a girly tea party. And not too fiddly either, which is great!
I too tend to freak out without Internet access and my iPhone or iPad. But often try to remind myself that we did just fine 10 years ago without it all. I think we should all have technology free days, but it’s just SO hard!
Thx for the post they look so cute and I know I wouldn’t he able to stop at just one!
My husband sells technology, used to work for Apple, so we are unnaturally attached to our lap tops. I refuse to connect my iPhone to face book or mail though because my head could explode.I need those moments of my hands in food to get me back to earth.
Beautiful meditative morsels, Lorraine. Of course, stopping at just one will be something of an issue.
These petit fours are so dainty and beautiful! One of these with a cup of tea could definitely be considered meditation. (But I might have trouble stopping at one.) Unfortunately, I also get antsy when I find I’m not “connected,” which happens quite frequently due to the area where I live. No high speed cable available here. I think it’s good to “unplug” every so often.
They are so pretty!
Yes i’m absolutely reliant on technology & find it makes me procrastinate too much from doing the things I want. It is good to stop & step away occasionally
Isn’t it funny that we self-diagnose ourselves and always come up with the worst possible ailment? These petit fours are bound to make anyone feel better
I have decided that technology causes me anxiety since I have seen these scrumptious things and can’t eat them through my computer screen….
First, the petit fours are beautiful to look at, especially in the dainty cups! Technology: mixed feelings in my home. Am too unfinancial to have i-Pads, mobiles and the like – and keep my landline oft on answering service and return the calls I want. Sure keeps the cold callers at bay!
! TV is OK – unless the world seems coming to an end, have a rule never to turn on before 6pm at the earliest. Too busy ere that anyway! I guess Internet/Facebook are the villains – in one year I have managed to increase my daily volume to 150-200 – you try deleting that every day! – and, if you miss a couple of days the volume flowing into your box is kind’a frightening! Not able to go away for long periods at the moment – but, amusedly, wonder when the computer would go on strike! Shall work it out in time! 
!
These are beyond gorgeous! And the presentation in the tea cup is breathtaking!
Hey there.. Just dropping in to let u know I added you on twitter (karahz) and am from the VF! They are so cute! But doubt I could ever make them as lovely as that. Have a great day HP!
-KK
Oh dear – technology has taken over our lives. How I wish for a simpler, calmer life before computers, mobiles or the internet. Like you – the computer is the first thing that gets switched on in the morning and the last thing off at night!Having said that, how would I have found you and your wonderful blog? Just keep reminding us to take it easy and enjoy the lovely treasures you bring us each day xo
So pretty… I’ve always adored the look of Petit Fours. Now I have to make them. Love how you displayed in tea cups, Lorraine. Lovely
HOW adorable these petit fours are, TRUE!
Another food item you inspire me to do!
ALWAYS good from technology to take a break,
If nothing else, for my mental sanity sake! WHOO HOO
It’s good to be unplugged sometimes, even if I often have to be dragged kicking and screaming to do so. Whenever we drive to Los Angeles for a long weekend, my husband has refused to let me take my camera. The first couple of times I truly felt “naked,” so to speak. Like something was missing that was vital. But after awhile, I have to say it was nice not to have to lug it around and to be constantly snapping pics of the food in front of me. To just be able to enjoy it from the moment the dishes came to the table, without having to jot down notes or anything, was kind of liberating.
Well…I’m typing this on my iphone as I lie in bed, I’ve just checked my emails, replied too some, looked at photos from the weekend on facebook…and this is all before I start my day!
But I’m nothing compared to my IT hubby, I’m actually happy when we go on holidays and he has no Internet! I get to spend some time with him!
I love your little spoons. They’re so cute and unique!
They are just gorgeous Lorraine! Love the glossiness
I don’t use a mobile phone and use my computer mostly to write my blog. I don’t text or tweet, don’t use facebook, so no, I don’t think I am addicted to technology. I could become addicted to those petit fours without too much trouble.
One word; Gorgeous! (Well maybe two…)
Patience as well!
If you stick a blob of buttercream on the top before you ice the cakes, they become a ‘fancy’ (a British cake). Very pretty on an afternoon tea table.
Love the idea of changing the colour as you go along, blue drifting towards lilac and increasingly shocking shades of pink!
OO these are sooo cute! Love the teacups.
Wow, so pretty! Love the details.
I’ve never worked with glucose syrup before, but I just may have to search it out as an ingredient as these are just sooooooo pretty! And the presentation is wonderful and imaginative!
These look so perfect!
I remember back in the day when my parents use to tell me to stop looking at the tv because my eyes will go square. Does that apply to pc’s, laptops, phones, etc too? We’re all doomed! lol
~~I imagine the Queen must serve these little pastel gems at her tea parties
So darling.
About Technology: It has literally changed my Universe…but I’ve been thinking about taking 1 day a week off….Oh, this is very difficult. How about you, Lorraine? Could you take a day off form the internet, texting, etc..? xx
I heard someone say that we have lost the ability to be bored. Just think about that next time we’re in a que at Medicare or something and are checking our emails and playing on our iphones. Sometimes you really do just need to do ‘nothing’ for a while, great idea to have cake to help!
PS while the petit fours are pretty, I have serious Shun envy, all my knives are Shun but I don’t have any of the Premier full dimpled style yet!
The only time I fret if I can’t access the internet is knowing that emails are piling up and I can’t clear them. It’s more about the clutter you see,lol.
Love your cute Petit Fours and one would go nicely with a cuppa, right about now.
Those petit fours look so adorable. Your post got me thinking if I am indeed a tech-addict? Time to cut down and retreat to a technology-less place every now and then
Siri
These are such pretty & professional petits fours. I would hate to live without all of my technological distractions
I can’t study without technology (e.g. laptop, internet, etc) so I went all out over the weekend.
Love these little cakes, keen to make them and maybe stick a paddle pop in the middle so you can eat it like a lollipop =)
Lorraine, These petits fours are soooo pretty, and I love the spoons!
We are going camping the next four days so we’ll see how I survive without blogging:)
So very pretty! I love petit fours. ANd yes they wouldnt ruin anyone’s diet. esp mine!
Wow how very very cute! I absolutely adore them! I also love your tea set
These look too lovely to eat…!! And I love your Vintage tea sets, very pretty…:D)!!
Very pretty indeed. We do get too caught up in technology these days,although I admit I can still survive pretty well without it if I have to, but only if I am on vacation ;o)
I absolutely love your petit fours and those gorgeous teacups! I do love have access to the net but sometimes I just need to get away from it then I really relax (or actually get something done!) A few days are ok but after Cyclone Yasi we had no phone or internet for weeks then I really did feel cut off!
Those little treats are simply tea-party perfect!
They are just darling Lorraine, love the colours
And they can never be too sweet for me, some people have a sweet tooth I have a set of sweet teeth!
I hope you feel better!
Anxiety without internet access? Oh yes. I can’t imagine what it must be for you, though, whose job involves the internet! (Actually, when the internet goes down at work we all freak out too
)
I can totally relate to your technology obsession. I suffer from the same fate. I’m not sure what I’m most obsessed with – my iphone, my laptop or just the internet, in general! Maybe I should start eating petit fours too!
Ah, so pretty! plus they don’t sound to complicated to attempt….
They are too cute to eat!
I keep thinking I need to do an internet detox…but I just can’t bring myself to!
Oh my god….. what a knife
I’m addicted to my iPad and iPhone too. There’s something about mini things like petit fours that make them irresistible.
Hi Natalia-the knife is a Shun knife. It’s wonderfully sharp!
Adorable served in the teacups, Lorraine!
These china teacups are adorable to present these in, yum!!
To pretty to eat? That’s just a daft notion, they look too tasty not indulge in a second. Fantastic photos Lorraine. And yes technology can be all consuming in a slightly addictive way. Skynet?
I get headaches all the time, but I blame it on the hot weather…not my obsession with technology, oh no. These are the most adorable petit fours, and those little teacup spoons (forks?) fit with the whole theme wonderfully!
Backing up a little
I just made the Mother’s Day Rhubarb cake for my Spinnin Guild Mtg. and WOW…..first of all the cake, while lovely is quite dense and I may steal 2 egg whites from the topping (which is HUGE) and use them whipped to lighten the cake. And 22 cms comes out to 8.8 inches and I used 9 inch springform pans. Think I will use the 8 inch pans the next time and the cake will be higher. Great fun all in all.
Thanks again for a fun blog. And how would I have had all this fun without the internet?!!
susan
Wow! This is what I like your posts. Pictures that can really help me nail it. Those images are also lovely to look at it.
It’s always great to visit your blog. You never fail to amaze me with your posts.
Oops..
*Those images are also lovely to look at.
Thanks for sharing the recipe and the pictures
Such pretty little cakes and I love your styling in the cups. I have a bit of a thing for it at the moment. Always adore all your props, the spoons are too cute.
Sometimes I get the anxiety associated with not having seen my emails or Facebook for a while and have started being quite alarmed by feeling that way! So Husband and I have decided in our next holidays to have a week long media blackout and see how we travel. xx S
These are so super cute! I do admit I feel anxious if I don’t have internet access for a while and I definitely use too much technology! I cant imagine life without all my gadgets
I’m afraid I couldn’t stop at one! And yes, I am totally dependent on my technology, although mine’s a Galaxy Tab rather than an ipad. I worry for the day that electricity becomes a luxury (I think it already is for some) because most of my pasttimes, including DVDs, books, games, etc. are all dependent on it. Perhaps I will finally develop my green thumb!
Love love LOVE the first photo of this post! The teacups and petit fours are absolutely gorgeous! Love the pastel colours
Way too cute – I want them now…
So glad to see you got good use of those teaspoons darling!
So, so pretteeeee =)
Simply gorgeous and not too hard to make. Thanks for sharing this one, will keep it up my sleeve.
Love the petite fours! I had no idea that it meant little oven, which is an interesting bit of trivia. I particularly like that they can be another use for excess cake (although I think that excess cake may be a contradiction in terms…)
Such lovely little treats, very pretty, and perfect to go with tea!
I’m in love with your petit fours, Lorraine! They are absolutely darling…how perfect for a little afternoon treat!
They’re so cute!
Hubby yells out,”No Tumor TV!” But at this point, I would be lost without my laptop. It’s not only the internet. And the TV is usually on for background hum. I just can’t sit back and do nothing while “watching” TV, so I end up involved in the project at hand and forgetting about what’s on TV.
This Petits Four post is wonderful. Eye candy! Gotta try ‘em. (Meditation by proxy-LMAO).
i can’t help but feel like these are way more trouble to make than they’re worth in the satisfaction one gets from eating them, but they’re lovely just the same!
If there is a way to email you, I can send a video attachment to you that shows how to do this.
charlie
These are the prettiest ‘lil cakes I have to say!
Woo Lorraine. I’ve always wanted to make Petit fours, those look absolutely perfect!
these are so cute – but too much icing for me – though lovely to look at and quite fascinating to read about the icing that sets so quickly you don’t have time to take photos!!!
As for technology – I love having mine about but had an interstate work trip overnight and decided it wasn’t worth having my computer with me – probably a good thing – but I did spend some time thinking about my blog design and wishing I had a computer to try out a few things
Thank you for this icing recipe, it is so glossy and I have been looking for something similar.
Oh Lorraine, these are just the most darling little petit fours – I can’t believe how easy they are! And so cute in the little tea cups.
And again I burst out laughing at how similar we are – whenever I go anywhere without internet access – or even when I’m at work and don’t have time to check my social media – I get so twitchy! Isn’t it terrible that it’s the very first and last things we do each day? But you’re right, I wouldn’t give it up for anything, and wouldn’t have met all these wonderful people (yourself included) through my blog otherwise.
Hope you’re well honey!
Briony xx
Hi Sally and anyone who is curious about the flowers
I bought the flowers from a few places-one at Adelaide Central markets when I was visiting SA and the rest at Bakery Sugarkraft at Wetherill Park! 
When the icing is done setting, will it be soft to touch or will it holds it smooth shape when picked up by hands? I’d like to try this out for a party and thought to wrap it up, how good or how long will it stay nice and pretty out in the sun?
One Trackback/Pingback
[...] From NQN [...]
Post a Comment