Hap-bee Birthday!

Hap-bee Birthday!

 

I just thought I'd share with you the most recent cake I've made.
Being in my last year of uni I don't get as much time to bake as I'd like to but as it was my mum's birthday this weekend I thought I'd make her something special. It took me a while to do all the flowers and bees but I'm pretty pleased with the result!

I baked the sponge using my new halogen cooker... I was a bit wary at first because I'd only ever used it for cupcakes but it baked really well and was so moist so I'll definitely be using it again!

Dino Dig Cake

This is a simple chocolate dinosaur themed cake I made for a friends birthday. It was easy and quick to make and great for a last minute cake.

I quickly made a chocolate sponge mixture, put it in a lined rectangular tin and whacked it in the oven.

Whilst the cake was cooking I found some left over white icing and moulded a dinosaur skeleton.

Once the cake had cooled, I turned it out onto a cake board and covered completely with chocolate buttercream. I then placed the skeleton carefully on top and made a few "rocks" by painting brown/black food colouring onto some pebble shaped icing. 

I finally sprinkled with cocoa powder to add effect and the cake was complete!

If dinos are not your thing you could also try making a insect themed cake. Instead of the dinosaur bones you could buy a packet of jelly worms and place them all over the cake so it looks like mud and worms!

Turtle Cake

I made this cake based on one I'd seen that won gold in the Cake Show 2009. 

My version is a lot simpler...

 I made a vanilla sponge using a recipe from the bbc good food website. I baked the sponge in a rectangular tin and once cooled I cut out the turtle shape, filled with jam and covered it completely in buttercream. To make the shell and scales I melted a bar of good quality dark chocolate and with a knife thinly spread it over greaseproof paper. Once set I then cut out the plates and stuck on to the buttercream.

For added effect I used brown sugar as sand around the base of the cake. (Crushed biscuit or golden caster sugar would give the same effect).

Pretzel Paradise

If you have ever been to the Bullring in Birmingham you may have come across the amazing pretzel stall (Mr Pretzels) on the bottom floor by Debenhams underneath the escalators.  After visiting this stall time after time I was inspired to have a go at making my own version of these scrummy pretzels. I’ve included the recipe I used in case you want to give them a go yourself!

Ingredients

Pretzel dough

400ml warm water

1 1/8 Tsp of dried yeast

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tsp salt

5oz strong bread flour

15oz plain flour

Soda bath

500ml warm water

2 Tbsp baking soda

For the topping

4 oz butter (melted)

2 ½ oz caster sugar

2 Tsp cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 230ºC (or 210 for fan oven).
2. Put the water into a mixing bowl mix in the yeast until dissolved.
3. Add the brown sugar and salt and stir.
4. Mix in the flours and knead until smooth and elastic, and leave for 30 mins in a warm place.
5. Whilst the dough is proving prepare the soda bath by mixing the water with the baking soda. (I also used this time to grease a baking tray).
6. Divide the dough into roughly 8 pieces. Roll into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Dip the pretzel into the soda bath then place onto the baking tray.
7. Leave to prove again in a warm place for about 10 minutes.
8. Place into the centre of the oven and cook for 8 minutes until golden brown.
9. In a large bowl mix the sugar and the cinnamon until well combined. Brush each pretzel with the melted butter and then dip into the bowl of cinnamon sugar until fully covered.
   
   Enjoy!

Dorset

I've just been to Dorset for a Uni field trip and on one of the days we visited Durdle Door. Unlike every other day of the week the sun came out to say hello and I took this gorgeous photo. Hopefully one day I'll get to live by the seaside!

Love it or Hate it?

I have to say I'm not a huge fan of Marmite... but whether you love or hate it these are irresistible! I made a batch with my sister in mind (she loves Marmite... and now her new earrings!) and I am very pleased with the results :)



And something different for you Marmite lovers...

Red Glitter & Halloween!

This is the nail polish I wore to a fancy dress at the weekend. I love how eye catching it is and got it lots of comments!



And because it's almost Halloween...