Butterfly Cupcakes

One thing about being off work for Easter is that it gives me ample opportunity to practice my baking.

I had lots of fondant icing left over which was rapidly drying up so I rolled some out and cut circles with a cookie cutter.

I then squeezed all the left over coloured icing together and then re-rolled it and cut out the butterflies.  This gave them an interesting marbled look. I dusted them with shimmer and added icing dots round the edge.

Simple yet effective.

Comic Relief Baking Competition

Hello everyone.  I hope you are enjoying your weekend.  I have just spent the last hour and a half tidying our wardrobe and bedroom and have now climbed back in to bed to drink a well earned coffee and to write to all you lovely people.
The office where I work Monday to Thursday decided to hold a baking competition in aid of Comic Relief this Friday and as I am always up for a challenge I decided to enter.

The Awards

There were four categories.  Celebration cakes, cupcakes, buns and muffins, savoury and biscuits.  The champagne was the prize for the celebration cake section and after the judging had taken place there was a silent auction for these.  These cakes weren't tasted so they had to look good.

My entry was a simple Victoria sandwich with jam and cream, covered in fondant icing and decorated with daisies and pretty orange ribbon.

The winner of the Celebration Cake Category

Unfortunately I was pipped at the post by this absolutely amazing bunny cake.  I knew as soon as I walked in to the room that I was beaten by this beauty.  Never mind.











As you can see the competition was stiff.  We were all amazed at just how many people had made the effort and everything looked delicious.
Success did come my way however.

My Entry

I was absolutely delighted when I learnt that I had won the Cupcake category with my cute little flower blossom buns.  Everyone loved them and I was very proud.
I wasn't there to pick up my prize but I have a little trophy and the Paul Hollywood baking book waiting for me when I get back to work.

The Chocolate Raffle

There was also a chocolate themed raffle.  I didn't win anything in that. We also had a bake sale and a  sweep stake on the Cheltenham Gold Cup horse race which I don't think I won either.

I don't know how much we raised for Comic Relief yet but it was great to get involved and I'm sure everyone enjoyed the day. Roll on next year when I have to defend my title.

I'm No Mary Berry

I absolutely love to bake but when I get the urge I never have enough of the right ingredients.
After catching the last half hour of a new cake making series yesterday on ITV +1 I decided to have a baking session but to my horror only had 1 egg and about 2oz of icing sugar.
I suddenly remembered a recipe my Mum always used when I was little.  I expect in those days she wouldn't have always had the money to spend on luxeries so possibly this recipe was born out of necessity.

1,2,3,4, Cupcake Recipe (or bun recipe if you prefer)

1 egg
2oz margirine or butter (softened)
3oz sugar
4oz self raising flour with a pinch of baking powder

Cream the butter and sugar together for a couple of minutes then whisk in the beaten egg. Finally fold in the sieved flour and baking powder.  The mixture can be a bit dry so add a little milk to loosen it up.  Spoon into bun cases and cook in the oven on gas mark 4 for about 10 minutes.

I used shop bought fondant icing for the decorations.  The roses and leaves are handmade, the butterfly is a cutter I bought and never used and the flowers are made by using silicon moulds from Blossom Art.  The small one is hydranga and the larger is pertunia. I saw these demonstrated at the NEC Birmingham earlier this year.  You can sometimes pick them up at TK Max. I did a blog about them at the time if you care to look back.
Well that's all for now.  Happy baking.  Let me know how you got on with the recipe.  It is pretty basic but I didn't hear any complaints from the Cake Monster who was on hand to sample the finished product.

Craft Hobby & Stitch International

I've been off this week with hubby and Monday was the Craft Hobby & Stitch International trade show.  This time last year my wool stall was merely a twinkle in my eye and I attended the show as a special favour.  However this time round I was able to go as a bona fide retailer and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

These are a couple of handmade sweaters featured in the fashion show.  You would never have guessed that they had been hand knitted.  It's all down to the finishing off.
I also took a few snaps of a new product from Blossom Sugar Art.

Cupcakes decorated with marzipan flowers

Blossom Sugar Art Flowers

Wedding cake with flowers

This was an amazing little silicon press mould.  Firstly you roll and cut a flower shape with the cutter.  This is placed in the mould with a little circle for the centre on the other side.  The mould is then closed and when opened up there inside is a perfectly formed flower.  The demonstrator used marzipan but you can use ready made fondant icing.  There are six moulds to choose from including a butterfly.  I will definitely be ordering these.  I know they are a bit of a deviation from knitting but I think they might just be something a bit different for people who like crafting but not necessarily needlecraft.  You have to speculate to accumulate you know.  They retail at £9.99 for a bag with one mould, one cutter and the instructions or £14.95 for the mould, cutter, instructions and a pot of edible shimmer and a paint brush.  As you have guessed I love them.