We stepped outside of ordinary...

It was early evening on a Friday and we hadn't seen each other in a while... so we decided to bake cupcakes. This alone isn't unusual for us, but then we got around to discussing flavours- and what happened next left us with 8 styles of INCREDIBLE cakes that taste as good as they look....

A vanilla cupcake that while rather convincingly appears to be a scone, is actually a Victoria Sponge thanks to the delicious strawberry jam and butter icing centre. We marked them out of ten, and this was definitly an 8/10.

 

 

A soft and gooey banna and chocoloate chip extravaganza! To top this one off we glazed bannana slices in honey, butter, sugar and cinamon- and there they lie, beneah a showering of icing sugar. It is indeed brilliant. And deserved a 9-10/10.

 

 

A centre errupting with icing and sprinkles, this was a clever mix of cool chocolate and flaming chilli, (otherwise known as- the Volcano) and is garunteed to leave you breathless! For better or for worse... we awarded this one a lowly 6/10.

 

Introducing: Clem. A dark-chocolate and orange cupcake, that is enthused with clementine zest and melted bournville. We cut out the middle, filled the gap with chocolate icing, and then placed the remaining cake back on top for a squeezed, butterfly effect. The chocolate drop finished it off perfectly.  8/10

 

 

 

 

There once was a lemony from snicket

(a town on the edge of mt rickett)

who loved to bake

and made one hell of cake,

so enjoy the tang as you lick it! 8/10

This is our most politically correct cake. It was Kate's handiwork especially, as she artfully entwinted vanilla mixture with chocolate, using nothing but a broken candle. Don't let that put you off, it tasted sweet and was full of variety- but it crumbled under the competition. 7/10

Immagine, if you will, Maggie Smith. Warm hearted, fluffy haired and with  spicy attitude. Seeing as this combination worked so well in Downton Abbey, we resurrected it as a Cake, exchanging personality for ingredients. To finish, we drizzled honey on top, which completely INTENTIONALLY came out in the shape of a rose. As such, this was one of our best on all accounts (despite Gina being extra generous with the mixed herbs): 9/10

 

Walnut and Coffee proved to be a wonderful combination. With a 'mocca' esque base, and grounded nuts, it tasted deep and strong when it emerged out of the oven, and was topped with coffee icing and a walnut crown. Again, a darn cood cake. 9/10
 

This twisted, malformed, misunderstood and patched up cake was engineered to bring the joys of all our cakes together! In short: it's half one flavour, half another, so you can have a mouthful of both without creating crumbs. It has to be: 10/10
 

Which is your favorite of the bunch? Please have your say because the winning cakes will be sold at our church, to raise money for our Tanzania trip in January (yes, we are actually going! And are very physced about it.)

Have you made any great cakes recently? Any new ideas, extravanganzas and yummy recipes to share? Please do add to the flavour of this blog! :)

 

Lots of Love,
 

Milla, Kate, Gina and Abbie.

Penultimate exams and Lovely sisters

You have probably guessed from the last few posts that we are in the midst of big exams at the moment. Yesterday, I had my Spanish exam, which was my penultimate one (yahoo!) When I came home, I absent-mindedly told my family how the exam was - it was fine - and went off and read for a while to relax. My sister popped her head round the door, and said, "nearly cheesecake time, come in the kitchen when Dad does." She'd been telling me for months how she wanted to make this amazing cheesecake she'd heard about and today was the day she'd done it! So I carried on reading, completely unsuspicious.

Then when Dad came through, I heard my sister's voice calling out in an unusually urgent tone ... "Sarah......Come......NOW!!!" So I came through and there she was, trying to stop the candles from blowing out on top of the most incredible and beautiful cheesecake I have ever seen! 

Oh, I love surprises. This one caught me totally unaware. She'd made the cheesecake for me to celebrate nearly having exams over with! What a kind, kind, kind sister I have. 

Here are some photographs that I managed to capture. It was white chocolate and strawberry flavour, thoroughly unhealthy but totally scrumptious! I hope I don't make you too hungry..... :-)

YUM!

If any of you are going through exams, keep pulling through!

What are your favourite ways to celebrate?

Sarah

The ultimate fish-pie

So, any of you who know me, know that one of my few hobbies (I don't have many hobbies!) is cooking!! I love love love cooking! I love the satisfaction in getting the raw ingredients and making a meal that tastes reeeally good and brings people joy! It's just brilliant!!! So - on Easter Sunday (yesss HE IS RISEN!!!) I cooked lunch - and I thought why not make a fish pie - Jamie Oliver style (legend - best cook EVER!) I love this recipie - it's quite layered - but not difficult - its also not pressured so you can take your time. Thought I'd blog about it so you can all cook it too and discover how delicious it is!! It's also great if you don't like fish - I hated fish - and still don't like it - but always always loved this recipe!

Step 1 - put the oven on - 230'C/480'F/gas 8

Step 2 - peel and cut up 5 large potatoes - so there in 2.5cm squares - put them in salted water to boil


Step 3 - 2 mins later - add 2 large free range eggs


Step 4 - put a packet of spinach in a steamer above your potatoes and eggs







Step 5 - 8 minutes later take our eggs and drain potatoes/spinach







Step 6 - cool the eggs under cold water de-shell the eggs and cut into quaters

Step 7 - in a frying pan fry a finely chopped onion and carrot (for about 5 minutes on a medium heat)













Step 8 - add 1/2 a pint of double cream (bring to the boil)








Step 9 - grate 2 handfuls of cheddar cheese









Step 10 - squeeze the juice out of one lemon










Step 11 - measure out a teaspoon of English mustard powder (or mustard) - don't worry if your not a fan of mustard - it doesn't give off a strong flavour - just balances well with the cheese and lemon :)

Step 12 - finely chop a handful of flat-leaf parsley











Step 13 - add the cheese, lemon juice, mustard and parsley to the creamy carrot/onions.





Step 14 - cut up your fish (I use salmon - but you could use a white fish - around 500g) and put it in the bottom of an oven-proof dish with your spinach - ontop layer the eggs






Step 16 - then pour over the cheesy, creamy veg mix











Step 17 - mash up your potatoes and season














Step 18 - layer the potato ontop of the veg mix











Step 19 - wack it in the oven for around 30 minutes - until potatoes are all golden

Step 20 - I like to serve mine with baked beans and tomato ketchup (and shloer!!)

YUM (I want some right now!)

Mayonaise.

I thank God for Mayonaise.

Just thought I'd share it's brilliance.

:)