catching up with friends over cake - yummy............

My friend Jenny who I haven't seen in ages was coming over for a catch up yesterday so I decided to make us a scrummy afternoon tea. (I need very little persuasion to bake a cake; if you follow my blog you will have guessed this by now) I decided to make a cake that I hadn't made in ages, a Russian sandwich cake, it's just a basic sponge cake but it is filled with vanilla crème patisserie - which is a bit tricky to make but just so lovely. The top is iced and then you sprinkle the edge of the cake with chopped nuts or desiccated coconut, I'm not sure which is the authentic topping, I didn't have any coconut so nuts it was. 

I also made some heart shaped jammie dodgers which I have fancied making ever since I got my heart shaped cutters. They were quite a lot of work but good fun to make. 

 

Daisy had fun playing with the cutters and we baked the tiny hearts that were cut out of the biscuit tops, she called them her baby heart biccies and managed to eat them all in about two minutes!

Of course I couldn't bake and not make a few cupcakes - which all went home with Daisy.

It's no wonder I battle with my weight but baking is such fun and I will just have to try harder not to eat it...........

talk soon x

 

Cupcakes .............

I have been busy baking cupcakes for someones special birthday treat?

My best friend Barbara and her family have headed off to the Lakes for the weekend, to celebrate her sisters birthday. A big family house has been rented for two nights which will be bursting at the seams with 16 adults and of course a number of little ones will be joining in the festivities. It all sounds perfect, lots of fun things have been planned and of course a few surprises for the birthday girl!

 Happy Birthday Pat I hope you like the cakes .............

talk soon x

baby shower ..............

Friday was another busy day but I managed to finish the baby shower cupcakes, fit in my trip to the beautician prior to my holiday and then deliver the cakes in the evening.

pink for a girl blue for a boy ......

all boxed up ............

ready for the car .............

 All delivered safely  - I hope they taste nice!

Catch up soon about the hen party crafternoon tea x

playing on the green

On Tuesday it was a lovely sunny day so I decided to pack a mini picnic, grab a rug, a few toys then Jake and I set off for a morning on the Green.

                            We arrived at the green, picked a shady spot and set out our rug.

                         

We had a great time playing with a couple of soft balls and reading peppa pig stories. Jake was so funny he crawled round and round the rug but wouldn't crawl on the grass he didn't like the feel of it on his knees. When he felt a bit more adventuress he started to pull himself up and walk around his pram.

After a few hours we packed up and went to do some grocery shopping, then it was home for Jake's nap and I managed to do a little bit of cooking. We had quite a few left overs so I added a few other bits and pieces and made a tapas type evening meal with lots of different things to try, we also had a few potatoes in so I cut them into wedges and coated them with oil, black pepper and paprika and baked in the oven. 

                                           I had another go at collages  - this one is sharper

Then onto pudding I whipped up a sponge mix and made some large and small cupcakes. 

                         

                            tiny cupcakes with mini marshmallows and chocolate flake

                                    strawberry and cream cupcakes

                                         another fancy collage ...........


Just after Jake's teatime his other grandma came to collect him, she is going to look after him for a few days as I am returning home until next Tuesday. It was sad seeing Jake go but I knew that Kate would be sadder still when she got home from work. Kate's found it hard returning to work and misses Jake so much. But it's only three weeks before she breaks up for the summer, then she will be with him every day.
The plan for the evening was that when Kate and Seb got home from work we would have dinner watching the football. It was a crucial match for England against the Ukraine and England needed to win or draw. The football was a bit disappointing but at least England won. I decided to go to bed early as I needed to pack and get every thing sorted for going home. Although I got a little distracted when I got into bed as Kate had left me her iPad  - I would love one but unfortunately it can only be added to the bottom of a very long wish list. 
The next big decision was should I leave early and go to Liberty before I catch my train home - decided not to bother as the thought of a rush hour tube journey with my suitcase quickly outweighed the benefit of a shopping trip, maybe next week. 


                        
The train journey home was good and I managed to crochet some flowers which helped pass the time away and is a great way to practice stitches. 


I'm back home - talk soon
Sue