Eton Mess Cake

Earlier this month I joined in with Shimelle's 10 things on the 10th and I blog a list of things I would like to do over the 6 weeks school summer holidays.  One of those was to try a new cake receipe every week.  This week I made an Eton Mess Cake.

Here are some pictures I took whilst making the cake:

Eggs and sugar:

Eggs and sugar after beating together:

All the ingredients mixed together:

With the meringues on top ready to go in the oven:

Cooling:

Ready to eat:

This cake is truely amazing and totally scrummy!

The recipe can be found here.

Party Food Practice

In October we are having a wedding celebration for UK friends and family who didn't come to the wedding in Lithuania.  Well you just have to have a practice run of yummy party food don't you?

This is the white chocolate and strawberry cheesecake:

and the ever popular layer cake:

Really tasty but to be honest I think I need a little bit more practice before the party, especially the cheesecake ;0)

A Cup Of Tea & A Slice Of A Passion Cake

Yesterday before I started on the housework I had a cup of tea and slice of cake.  As you all know it is very lazy just to sit and drink tea and eat cake.  Not wanting to be lazy I did a bit of scrapping whilst having my tea and cake.  I just have to say the cake was delish!  I'd got the recipe off the internet for a carrot cake last year (sorry don't know where).  That word 'carrot' cannot be uttered in this house as for sure the kids would go running to the hills, so I renamed it passion cake and the fact there are carrots in are never ever mentioned!  Being a sharing sort of person, I thought I would share such yumminess with you all.

As it is a healthy cake - got fruit, veg, nuts and fibre - I can't possibly cook it with the kids in the house, so with much sadness I had to leave the ironing yesterday afternoon in order to bake some cakes.

(Healthy) Ingredients

8oz wholemeal self raising flour (fibre)

5oz soft brown sugar

1/4 pint sunflower oil 

2 eggs 

4oz walnuts (nuts)

4oz sultanas (fruit)

2 ripe bananas (fruit)

1 carrot (vegetable)

2 tea spoon baking powder

1/2 tea spoon ground cinnamon

If you don't like nuts or sultanas they can be left out.  As you can see I didn't add walnuts, as I didn't have any.

This recipe makes a 1lb loaf and 3 muffins or 2 x 7" round cakes or 12 muffins.

Method

Heat oven to 160

Grate carrot.

chop/mash bananas

Place everything in a bowl and mix.  

That simple!

Cook for 45 mins to 1 hour for loaf/cake.  

Muffins 25 to 30 mins

Leave to cool

Yummy Frosting

(the not so healthy bit)

6oz full fat soft cheese 

2oz softened butter

4oz icing sugar

couple of drops of vanilla essence

Place all of the ingredients in a bowl & mix.

Spread over the cooled cake

If you like it can be decorated with walnut halves or marzipan carrots (at this point I'd got some walnuts!)

Slice & enjoy with a lovely cup of tea (at this point you can think about doing some housework but it is really NOT recommended)

Is It Thursday Already?

Where has this week gone?  Had a busy day today, work earlier to be greeted by nearly 200 hundred e-mails and a pile of post 5" high! Not forgetting cases that need reviewing. Where oh where do I start?  Then to top it all, it has been the most glorious day and I've been sat in an office all day.

After reading lots of emails and then more emails followed by passing round some cakes I made yesterday I made read some more e-mails.......and to be honest that was what I did all day, read e-mails!

Got home to a quiet house (kids with their Dad until Saturday evening) and then went out for a cavery with my Dad. Oh can't forget I got goodies, nice craft goodies delivered.  Got home around eight, sorted through the delivery and decided on what I am going to work on next Thursday at my first ever crop.  Going to attend a local(ish) one in Fairfeild next week.  Also signed up a couple of days ago for the cyber Crop on UKS, I am a Car. Would be nice to hear from any other Cars out there.  Need to sort out this weekend what classes I am going to do and sort the required scrapping stash and photos out.

Spent the rest of the evening on catching up on facebook, twitter and looking at some blogs.  Come across a blog by Julia where on a Wednesday you post a picture on your blog of your workspace then place a link on Julia's blog.  its called WOYWW (Whats On Your Workspace Wednesday).  Spent at least 2 hours looking at various crafters work space!  Nice to see I am NOT the messiest crafter.  Oh my I need to find a life.....but next wednesday I am going to join in.

Regarding the ball of wool I went out for on Tuesday, finally brought it.  Lovely turquoise to complete the crochet blanket I am doing. 

Also had a little play in our local small park on the way back from the wool shop:

......and a ride on their bikes down the hill:

At work tomorrow so off to bed I go.  Night all x

Easter Cake Bake

Hello.

Had a busy week which is why there have been no updates over the past week.  First day of the Easter Hols today and with the rain I was already struggling to entertain two energy filled kids.  So we had an Easter Cake Bake:

After lots of cake eating we have started some Easter Crafts this afternoon.  Just at the point where we let glue dry.  Must go as kids to feed, bath & bed before I can have a little scrapping time!  Need to complete a layout today and tomorrow or I fail in my 'complete one LO per week' goal . 

Bye for now, will try & get some picks of today's Easter Crafting to post tomorrow, plus some picks of our 'alternative' Easter Egg hunt which we are going on tomorrow.  Full details of the little twist will be explained in my next blog!

Scrap & Bake Evening

Had a busy evening.  Completed one LO with Sarah's Cards March Kit for my Son's Album.  The title of this page describes these pair exactly!  Had fun with these papers.  Scraplift from Lou who designs for Sarah's Cards.

Also had a cake bake.  Recipe is Malteser Cakes and can be found on Debbie's blog at Country Heart and Home.  Taste really really nice.  Can honestly say, the cakes did't last long, certainly no leftovers for tomorrow.