Baby cakes

We went away for the weekend - up to Darling for the Voorkamerfest 2009, which was fantastic as always!

What that meant though, is that I missed out on a baby shower for a very special friend. I was gutted. So, because I couldn't be there, I made sure I had a presence there - in fact it was also my present!
Am I confusing you?
Sorry.

I made some mini cakes, and sent them to the shower with a friend.

Take a look ...


I couldn't resist the little booties after seeing them in a cupcake book.
Yes - I made them myself!
So simple as well, I couldn't believe it.

All I had to do was roll out a little sausage of pre made fondant icing (which I have in my pantry of course), fold it in half (I used a toothpick to guide me here) and then hollow out the top half with a ball tool (I happen to have one of these too, as they are mentioned over and over on cake decorators sites, so couldn't resist), but I imagine you could quite easily use the back of a pen or pencil too.


Aren't they cute?



The cakes were vanilla sponge marbled with red berry juice, topped with pink butter cream icing, with fresh berry juice for added flavour.


Then for the second cake, I have a selection of Winnie the Pooh icing decorations (again sent out from London!!!), which were just perfect!


Aren't they great?




Here's Pooh.


Look at Piglet!!!


Ooh - Piglet again!



I just love Eeyore - he's my favourite.



Unfortunately it looks like Tigger lost an arm, and I didn't even notice!
I still love him.



Just great - and so simple.
Lovely!

Going it alone

When I started this blog, I promised myself I would publish at an absolute minimum once a week … and here we are – two weeks later, no publishing.
So it’s time for excuses.
Well, not really, but I think you will forgive me when I tell you that since I last published, I have left my job and gone it alone!

Yup - I’ve made the leap in a time where almost everyone else is holding onto their jobs with all they’ve got … and I couldn't be more thrilled!

At 35 years old, I’ve left my corporate career, for a desk in my spare room and a spot in my beautiful kitchen fitted with brand new thermostat oven. Here I will focus on the beloved SA Baker’s Dozen, as well as Lime Scales - my designer cake and cupcake enterprise. I’ll be taking over the world – one cupcake at a time!

My first week on my own was busy, exciting and exhilarating all in one. The week was so promising - full of meetings with like minded, creative, exciting people, partners and potential clients. It’s all looking good!

Then of course there was my first “all on my own” order of two large birthday cakes (using a double batch for each cake, of the recipe we used in “Let them eat cake”) – images below – Lemon & Poppy Seed and Dark Chocolate cakes for 40 people, which were a huge hit. Yay!




I’ve also spent a lot of time working on content and images for the Lime Scales website which I am pleased to say went live just yesterday.

And of course, with all new enterprises comes all the experimenting you get to do!

Take a look at some of the items I prepared this week for client presentations.


The bright sprinkles in the bottom left of this photo are chocolate covered sunflower seeds - great hey?

I just love these little hearts!


And couldn't resist this little Daisy at my nearby baking supplier - I must learn to make my own!

Simple, but so pretty.


I also bought some pre made icing, the kind you can roll out and use as required, so I experimented a little with that on this mini cake.
And I used a great little mould that I bought from Karen Davies Cake Decorating in the UK - actually meant as a cupcake topper, but I cut the roses out to use here instead - lazy girl!

Old faithful butter icing - so easy and so effective.


Here I boxed both mini cakes and some of my famous chocolate chip cookies as a thank you to my fabulous mother who designed and built the new website!


So, thanks for your understanding over my little lapse ... I promise, as of next week, we’ll be back to normal on the blog with lots more recipes, tips and beautiful, inspirational photos! Keep reading!!!
Nicky