Weekend

Another busy and fun weekend kicked off yesterday with our village Medieval Mayhem afternoon.

After walking the dogs yesterday morning I finished off the cake I had made on Friday and then headed down to the hall to help with the tea and cake stall.

We were so busy that by the time I remembered to take some photos most of the cakes had gone! 
Home made cake and a cup of tea is always popular. 
My contribution was my usual coffee mocha cake on the red plate. 

Elsewhere everyone was having a great time despite the miserable weather. 

It wasn't heavy rain and it was quite mild so there was a fairly good turn out.

Dancing round the Maypole

Guess where the treasure is

Smashing crockery is always popular

Racing Knights

Beautiful vintage cars.

Because of the weather many of the owners left early so I missed some real beauties.

Galleon wars was great fun.

They started in two rows opposite each other.

The idea was for the child at the back to guide the blindfolded one in the front

and tell them when to spray the water.

I'm not sure what the outcome was meant to be, there was another group over the other side,

 they just had a great time.

There was archery, an art exhibition, tug-of-war, a bouncy castle,

a plant stall, burgers, hot dogs and chilli, ice cream and a bar.

Back home these beautiful flowers were waiting for me, sent from my beautiful Aussie daughter.

Mother's day in Australia

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Today we have been to Colchester to watch my grandson play basketball. 

He was selected for the Essex team and today was the 

England Basketball under 15's Boys Inter Counties Tournament. 

Warming up. My grandson hanging on after making a basket.

Six counties competed 

Final score

and Essex won. 

Some of their games were close but they never let up, they played very well.

Each boy received a gold medal and the team shield will be kept by their Coach until next year.

I'm a very proud Nan

~Be warm and well ~

Polly x

Harry Potter Cakes

Staying with the subject of cake I think Harry Potter would be very happy with these "spellbinding"cupcakes, another of my daughter's fabulous creations.

A Little of What You Fancy

I needed cake, chocolate cake to be precise. I'm a chocoholic and I love baking, but having lost just over a stone in weight last year I haven't made a cake for a while and I limit my chocolate intake. However at the weekend I gave in to my cravings and made a cake! Now before you say, oooh that's a slippery slope down the road of excess calories let me explain why I won't be eating it all. My grandson takes a slice to school each day with his packed lunch and my son-in-law has some of it, and, whilst I eat sensibly and healthily I don't think it's good to deny myself treats completely, therefore A Little of What You Fancy Does You Good, with the emphasis on Little :-) 

So after perusing my favourite chocolate recipe books I found this one, Chocolate Fudge Cake. 

It's a truly delicious decadent cake, courtesy of Nigella Lawson’s book Nigella Bites.

If you like chocolate and baking I can recommend it, but Be Warned – it’s VERY addictive. 

For the cake:

400g plain flour                                                    175g unsalted butter, melted and cooled             

250g golden caster sugar                                    125ml corn oil (I used Flora cuisine)

100g light muscovado sugar                               300ml chilled water

50g best quality cocoa powder                           2 teaspoons baking powder      

                                           
For the fudge icing:

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda                          175g dark chocolate, min 70% cocoa

½ teaspoon salt                                                     250g unsalted butter, softened                               
3 eggs                                                                       275g seived icing sugar                                            
142ml tub sour cream                                           1 tablespoon vanilla extract                                     
1 tablespoon vanilla extract        

Pre-heat oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Butter and line two 20cm sandwich tins. Mix together the flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, bicarb and salt. In a pouring bowl or measuring jug whisk the eggs, sour cream and vanilla until blended. In a large bowl (use a KitchenAid or a mixer bowl) beat together the melted butter and corn oil until just blended, then beat in the water. Add the dry ingredients and mix together on a slow speed. Add the egg mixture and mix until everything is blended then pour into the prepared tins.

Bake for approx. 50 minutes or until cooked through and a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in their tins for 15 minutes then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely. To make the icing melt the chocolate in a microwave for 2-3 minutes or in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Beat the butter until it's soft and creamy, add the icing sugar (Nigella says "I know sieving is a pain but you have to do it or the icing will be unsoothingly lumpy") It is a pain and I don't do it and I'm not convinced it makes that much difference. Gently add the vanilla and chocolate and mix together until glossy and smooth. Sandwich the middle of the cake with about a quarter of the icing, then ice the top and sides, spreading and smoothing with a palette knife or spatula. 

I only put icing in the middle and on the top because it's very rich.
Eat & Enjoy!

Snowflakes

Another cake that is ideal for a winter occasion, red and

cream and sparkly gold snowflakes. Simple and effective.

The lady who requested this cake didn't want marzipan and 
royal icing, which makes the best base for decorating a cake, 
so this was done with butter cream, which isn't as easy.

Another of my daughters beautiful creations. 

Pretty Pastel Cake

This hand painted birthday cake is another one made by my daughter. 

I think it's absolutely beautiful, I love the soft pastel colours.

Winter Berries

My eldest daughter is a cake architect, she designs and creates fabulous celebration cakes, all manner of cakes – wedding, christening, birthday, anniversary. Any occasion and any theme or design.

She has made hundreds of cakes for all occasions. This is one of my favourites for a winter wedding. I think it's exquisite. Cream, gold and burgundy with sprays of pretty sparkly berries and gold gypsophilia. Amanda has captured the essence of a beautiful sparkly, luxuriant winter theme.

A few of my favourites are: Mickey Mouse, Blissful Bath, Pink & White Quilted Diamond Wedding Cake, Mad Hatter, Jimmy Choo Shoe & Tiffany boxes.