Well hello there!
Yes, I am still alive - I have not fallen into a large vat of cake mix and died trying to eat my way out (more's the pity!) nor have I been locked in an enormous catering oven and baked at 180 degrees for 25-30 minutes, emerging golden brown and springing lightly to the touch ;)
I have, instead, been caught up in the craziness that is buying, redecorating, and moving into a new house!
Yup, I'm officially all grown up n stuff... eek!
Statistics tell me I still have a few readers out there *waves* so rest assured that as of next week I shall be back posting again, hooray!!
Housewarming party this weekend, with much cake to bake, so keep checking back for some new yummy treats to feast upon!
Much love,
Becka xxx
Tuesday 31 May 2011
Friday 10 December 2010
Just a quickie...
... I haven't forgotten you, honest!
Things have been a little hectic for me of late, so I haven't had much chance to blog or bake. Which makes me sad.
That and my current oven is rubbish... hohum!
But I do have a couple of things to blog (I had a birthday last month, so did my mum - someone had to make the cakes!) so there'll be a couple of goodies up soon.
I'm baking tomorrow as well, so that makes 3! :)
Stay tuned!
xxxx
Things have been a little hectic for me of late, so I haven't had much chance to blog or bake. Which makes me sad.
That and my current oven is rubbish... hohum!
But I do have a couple of things to blog (I had a birthday last month, so did my mum - someone had to make the cakes!) so there'll be a couple of goodies up soon.
I'm baking tomorrow as well, so that makes 3! :)
Stay tuned!
xxxx
Friday 5 November 2010
Pumpkin Muffins, with Cream Cheese Filling & Pecan Streusel Topping
As I'm sure you're aware, this time of year is pumpkin season.
And what better way to enjoy a good pumpkin than in some sort of baked product?
Just like these muffins - don't they look lovely?
Now, the problem I have had in the past with pumpkin cakes and their ilk is that most of them hail from across this pond. Our dear American cousins seem to have an obsession with pumpkins that we simply do not share here.
This of course makes obtaining one of the main ingredients required for pumpkin bakes rather difficult... "canned pumpkin puree"?! Really??! Hmm. Not happening.
I've had limited success in the past with liquidising pumpkin, but it isn't perfect & often results in a stringy, watery mess.
And then, whilst browsing t'interwebs as I am wont to do, I came across instructions for making proper pumpkin puree. Genius!
Of course, it needed to be tested. I mean, I have to know if these things work, right? And as such a suitable recipe was required as a test subject. Cue Brown Eyed Baker, and a well-timed post of pumpkin muffins, filled with sweetened cream cheese (yay!), and topped with a pecan streusel.
Oh yeah... ;)
And what better way to enjoy a good pumpkin than in some sort of baked product?
Just like these muffins - don't they look lovely?
Now, the problem I have had in the past with pumpkin cakes and their ilk is that most of them hail from across this pond. Our dear American cousins seem to have an obsession with pumpkins that we simply do not share here.
This of course makes obtaining one of the main ingredients required for pumpkin bakes rather difficult... "canned pumpkin puree"?! Really??! Hmm. Not happening.
I've had limited success in the past with liquidising pumpkin, but it isn't perfect & often results in a stringy, watery mess.
And then, whilst browsing t'interwebs as I am wont to do, I came across instructions for making proper pumpkin puree. Genius!
Of course, it needed to be tested. I mean, I have to know if these things work, right? And as such a suitable recipe was required as a test subject. Cue Brown Eyed Baker, and a well-timed post of pumpkin muffins, filled with sweetened cream cheese (yay!), and topped with a pecan streusel.
Oh yeah... ;)
Thursday 4 November 2010
Gingerbread Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream
I never used to like ginger.
For years I avoided it - left it out of recipes, checked ingredient lists to make sure ginger isn't too highly featured, and chosen very carefully at the Chinese to keep out of it's way.
Then I grew up, and along with peanut butter, ginger has found a firm and welcome place in my kitchen cupboard.
As such, when I had a mild cake craving the other day and fancied something different, ginger came to mind. More specifically, ginger bread. In a cupcake. Well why not?!
A quick google offered me a few possibly-viable recipes, but in the end I decided to use one as a generic base, and pretty much create my own.
The results?
Fantastic!
The cakes were light and airy, very slightly sticky from the black treacle, and deliciously spiced.
The addition of lemon rind to a simple buttercream frosting then took them to a new level, sublime!
For years I avoided it - left it out of recipes, checked ingredient lists to make sure ginger isn't too highly featured, and chosen very carefully at the Chinese to keep out of it's way.
Then I grew up, and along with peanut butter, ginger has found a firm and welcome place in my kitchen cupboard.
As such, when I had a mild cake craving the other day and fancied something different, ginger came to mind. More specifically, ginger bread. In a cupcake. Well why not?!
A quick google offered me a few possibly-viable recipes, but in the end I decided to use one as a generic base, and pretty much create my own.
The results?
Fantastic!
The addition of lemon rind to a simple buttercream frosting then took them to a new level, sublime!
Halloween Cupcakes!
I must apologise once more for my absence. I am without internetz at home - apparently moving house is something of a problem for certain telecommunications companies, and as such I have spent the last fortnight unable to do little more than s-l-o-w-l-y check Facebook via my phone.
On the plus side, however, lots of baking time! And as such I have a number of delicious things to post.
I'd like to begin with (slightly late, I'm aware!) the traditional Halloween Cupcake. I say traditional... What I mean is, "I made some last year, and this year, and will probably do so next year as well". I'm trying to create a tradition, OK?
Anyway, here they are in their Halloweeny glory!
In more detail, the cake parts are a simple chocolate cupcake, the frosting is orange cream cheese, and they're filled with orange curd. All topped off with some adorable pumpkin & bat sugar sprinkles, and a Haribo spider!
On the plus side, however, lots of baking time! And as such I have a number of delicious things to post.
I'd like to begin with (slightly late, I'm aware!) the traditional Halloween Cupcake. I say traditional... What I mean is, "I made some last year, and this year, and will probably do so next year as well". I'm trying to create a tradition, OK?
Anyway, here they are in their Halloweeny glory!
In more detail, the cake parts are a simple chocolate cupcake, the frosting is orange cream cheese, and they're filled with orange curd. All topped off with some adorable pumpkin & bat sugar sprinkles, and a Haribo spider!
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Get involved on Facebook!
A quick apology for the lack of posts recently; I've been very busy moving house & as such baking has been somewhat abandoned.
However, I now have a different oven to test-drive, and a rather... interesting new recipe to try out, so rest assured there will be cake in the very near future!
In the meantime, why not pop on over to Facebook and join our group, Ultimate Cake Forum? Just search for it and you'll find us easy enough. You should recognise the Dragon Cake photo ;)
There are a number of members' cake photos to peruse, and a monthly baking event to join in with! This month's theme is pumpkin, so if you have, or are going to bake any pumpkin-related treats before the 15th of November, do stop by and share recipes and photos!
See you soon!
Becka xx
However, I now have a different oven to test-drive, and a rather... interesting new recipe to try out, so rest assured there will be cake in the very near future!
In the meantime, why not pop on over to Facebook and join our group, Ultimate Cake Forum? Just search for it and you'll find us easy enough. You should recognise the Dragon Cake photo ;)
There are a number of members' cake photos to peruse, and a monthly baking event to join in with! This month's theme is pumpkin, so if you have, or are going to bake any pumpkin-related treats before the 15th of November, do stop by and share recipes and photos!
See you soon!
Becka xx
Wednesday 6 October 2010
Faerie Cakes
Bolstered by the success of the Dragon Cakes (see previous post) my little mind began wandering around ideas for my next creation.
Quite taken with wings and glitter, and having successfully experimented with colouring the white chocolate cake covering a lovely dusky pink, I naturally made the leap from dragons to fairies (who wouldn't?). FYI food colouring gels work really well for colouring the chocolate without changing the consistency, texture, or taste. Just don't expect strong colours, you won't get them.
Once again I happened to have the perfect excuse to trial these - another birthday, this time of someone who liked pink. So the challenge was set...
Quite taken with wings and glitter, and having successfully experimented with colouring the white chocolate cake covering a lovely dusky pink, I naturally made the leap from dragons to fairies (who wouldn't?). FYI food colouring gels work really well for colouring the chocolate without changing the consistency, texture, or taste. Just don't expect strong colours, you won't get them.
Once again I happened to have the perfect excuse to trial these - another birthday, this time of someone who liked pink. So the challenge was set...
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