Top of The Pops

For those of you that have not yet entered into the world of Cake Pops you don’t know what you’re missing.  If you have children and are not ofey with the Cake Pop, wake up and smell the sugar it is the new kid on the block and I’m loving it!

Yet again another craze adopted from the States the Cake pop is a big hit and its popularity is growing by the day.  Little mini cakes of heaven consisting of sponge and butter cream covered in chocolate on a stick, what’s not to like?

The best thing about Pop world is the diversity of design.  It is the perfect sweet thing to include in party packages.  They are visually impressive, perfect for favours, kids’ parties and celebrations.  They can be themed to suit almost any occasion.

For those parents out there who have bought a cupcake for their child to allow you 10 minutes of peace whilst out and about and spent the next 10 minutes removing icing from their face and clothes, the cake pop is most definitely the way to go….far less mess.

I recently made a mix of blue and pink cake pops for a 5^th Birthday and they are a thing of beauty when they are individually wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon.

I decided to personlise the cake pops as a centre piece for the display



Gone are the days of unravelling a squashed piece of birthday cake from the bottom of a party bag and picking off pieces of party napkin!  It makes far more sense to serve the birthday cake as dessert and send them home with magic on a stick!     

 YUM!

In The Name of Market Research

Unfortunately my passion for baking comes at a price.  A very expensive price of regular training sessions with my personal trainer to alleviate the damage that extensive cupcake tasting has on my calorie intake.  I wouldn’t want it any other way! Who doesn’t love a cupcake?

My passion for cupcakes or ‘little buns’ as they were always known when I was growing up, goes way back.  My Mum would always get us involved in baking and every birthday as well as the home baked birthday cake, the little buns would always put in an appearance.

The American influence on good old British baking has transformed the small but perfectly formed little bun or fairy cake into a large muffin sized sponge and butter cream thing of beauty and I am first in the queue at any passing cupcake shop!

Speaking of cupcake shops I have to mention my favourite of all time ‘sweet tooth cupcakery’ in Chorlton Cum Hardy. http://www.sweettoothcupcakery.co.uk/ Tucked away on the corner of a residential street this cheeky find (thanks Norma) has kept me going back for more and more.  Their cupcakes are simply divine.  The secret to their cupcake is the frosting, I still don’t know how they manage it but it is just the right sweetness. When you cut into a cupcake thinking I could only possibly eat half, yea right, why bother cutting it there is no way you are going to share the other half with anyone! Keep up the good work.

On a recent visit to Celebrate Grandma Dee's Birthday:

Waiting in anticipation!

Why not sample some of my cupcakes they come a close second!

 

  

 

Celebration Carrot Cake

I believe that the ‘oh so loved by many’ carrot cake that has been around for years is one of life's little pleasures.  Incorporating one of your five a day (or even two if you count the dried apricots in the decoration!) my carrot cake has become so popular that even my friend's 5 year old when ask what cake he wanted for his 5^th Birthday chose my carrot cake! Thank you Noah I’m honoured.

My carrot cake (actually my Mums carrot cake) has become my signature cake.  So much so that when I get an invite to a dinner party the carrot cake gets the invite first! Not to boast too much (oh go on then I will!) Even the Head chef of Malmaison puts his regular order in!

I have in the past shared this recipe with close friends who have had equal success. However, I now find myself playing my cards very close to my chest when it comes to sharing the recipe (sorry bloggers) it would seem I owe it to the cake (and my Mum) to keep it a closely guarded family secret.

But don’t despair I am always on hand to make it for any celebration or even just for that dinner party where this classic favourite is sure to impress.

New Beginnings

Feeling inspired sitting here on a beautiful terrace overlooking Chester race course, what better way to write my first Blog! Don’t get me wrong it is a rare (but well received) opportunity that my husband whisks me away for a night whilst we leave a pining 3 year old and a soon to be 5 year old at home with Grandma and Grandpa.

So far so good we have checked into the Abode Hotel and are enjoying what the ‘fabulous suite’ has to offer that’s a “Fabulous Suite” not a suite that’s fabulous not that it isn’t! You know what I mean!

Well it has been a very busy few weeks what with school holidays and my in-laws visiting from Australia for 12 weeks.  Now that our soon to be 5 year old (Tamsin) has started Reception and our 3 year old (Jude) started school nursery there is finally a glimmer of light for me to concentrate on my new beginnings.

I have taken my hobby, my passion for baking to the next level.  After lots of encouragement from friends and family or more like lots of kicking me in to touch and after tedious name bouncing ‘Make Mine a Cake’ was born. Weeks and weeks of sourcing supplies, visiting cake decorating shops (thank you Top Tier in Sale Moor you’re brilliant) my kitchen now looks like a child’s sprinkle heaven with rows and rows of sprinkles of all shapes and sizes just ready to don cupcakes, cake pops and celebration cakes. Although I am convinced that my children think it is a shop window display only open for them to pick their choice of sprinkles to add to their bowl of ice cream!

As Tamsin’s Birthday approaches next week I will be busy making everything pink to fit around her chosen Angelina Ballerina Theme, look out for the blog.

Exciting times as the orders flood in well trickle in! It is great to be able to make my mark on the home baking map.