Florist, hairdresser, cook

Multitasking gone crazy! Today I have made a lovely table decoration for Christmas, cut my son's hair, and made pastry for the mince pies coming later. Off to the shops for the last minute Christmas bits and then home to bake.
New Silverman pie mould gone down well with my husband as an early Christmas pressie. Looking forward to all the pies!

You're never too old!

Never to old for a hedgehog cake ! For my lovely daughters 17th birthday tomorrow. A chocolate and almond sponge with Cherry jam and chocolate buttercream. Happy birthday sweetie. Not my most beautiful creation (the cake not you!)but put together after work and whilst doing the dinner. I hope you enjoy your day. Good luck with those driving lessons. X

Black forest gateaux Swiss roll

A few cracks but I'm pretty happy with the overall result. It just cracked at the last minute as I rerolled it with the filling. This is to take with us this evening to my brother's fireworks party. A chocolate fatless sponge with morello cherry jam with a drop of Kirsch, and a vanilla and Kirsch Chantilly cream. I trimmed the ends so I know it tastes good!

Swiss Roll

A new Swiss roll tin has inspired me. It's been a long time (far too long), but here is a lemon curd Swiss roll with raspberries and cream. Obviously I have been baking but not as before and not blogging. However today I made the kids favourite pork wellington for dinner and followed up with my swiss roll with a fatless sponge. The sponge was light and airy, evenly baked and rolled really well. I am a happy baker.

Inside my cake.

Battenberg. Almond sponge and buttercream.

A princess cake

For Holly. Happy birthday.x

Level 3 certificate arrived

Feeling mighty proud of myself! Distinctions for each category.

Right back to the beginning

Feeling nostalgic for my patisserie course. Gone back to basics and have made seeded white bread rolls. We are going to have these for tea tonight with spiced lentil soup.

Pistachio surprise

Made these this afternoon. Pistachio and raspberry buttercream. Only Rory knows the secret as to why they are a surprise and hopefully he won't tell!!

Plums

Thanks to Rory for the plums. I have got a cake in the oven, an upside down plum and almond cake. Smells nice at the moment, waiting to see what it will look like. Plums halved and laid in lined tin with a drizzle of golden syrup. Then
175g of butter and sugar (creamed), 3 eggs, almond extract, squeeze of lemon, 150g s/r flour and 40g ground almonds. 170°c -fan for 45 mins .Not the prettiest cake in the world tho!!

Birthday cake

Happy Birthday Cathy. Chocolate Almond cake. See you later. X

Battenberg cake

I have been experiencing a baking slump since the end of my course but today I made my first ever battenberg cake. D enjoyed eating all of the trimmings! Used a mix of s/r flour and ground almonds, quite delicious but would try and get the marzipan a tad thinner next time.

A quick little apricot lattice

Had a little piece of puff pastry left over from making my pithivier yesterday. Wasnt sure what to do with it so I opened a little tin of apricots and some custard and hey presto a cheats quick treat. Glazed with apricot jam .

Cherry and Almond pithivier

Fancied a treat for dessert today. I have made this pithivier and used a cherry jam and an almond cream ( with amaretto) . Home made puff has performed well. Looking forward to scoffing it down later.

Chelsea buns

Made these for the weekend. Went down a treat. Amaretto soaked fruit with chopped marzipan

Focaccia bread

Made this sundried tomato and red onion focaccia bread last night. I used rosemary thyme and basil herbs from the garden, it smells delicious. Havent tried it yet as Ive popped it in the freezer for Saturday when we have people over. I will warm it slightly and serve with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.Yummy.

Time for baking bread

Now I have less cakes to think of I thought I would bake a loaf for the weekend. This is wheat and rye bread. Smells nice...

Gold fishy

Last one. Distinction.Exhausted. But happy.

Last night at college

Mixed feelings as I go off to college for the last time. I have achieved so much and am so pleased with myself but I am so sad it's all over. The hard work has definately been worth it. Assessment night tonight so finger crossed... Update later.xx

Millefeuille

Lemon and raspberry millefeuille made with homemade puff pastry and lemon creme pat.