The Family BAKE OFF 2012

Sorry I have not posted anything so far in May but I am still trying to get my head around the fact that when we took books out of the local library yesterday, it will only be 4 weeks until they are due back in JUNE!

In typical Bank Holiday fashion, it has been raining.  Our annual family "Bake Off" which took place this weekend was a muffin competition and the standard of entry was high.  Banter levels are high and the stakes high....i.e - the LOSER has all year to be reminded about it.

The man of the house (who won the "Toffee" competition last year) decided to make White Chocolate and Lemon curd muffins.  He totally geeked out and used a syringe to squirt the curd into the cooling muffins.

#1 decided he wanted to be on the action and made Milk Choc Chip muffins (all I did was put the muffins in the oven and remove them after 20 mins) which was an outstanding effort given he is not yet 7! 

#2 was given the chance to enter but had about as much interest in the process as a lion in a vegan shop.

I decided to try some Marmalade and Poppy seed ones......I must be honest and say that they looked rank and  did not smell much better but I did make some orange butter cream and decorate them with icing sugar ready for the 5pm deadline.  I have posted the pic below but am rather embarrassed about the fact that :

1. They looked like speckled boobs with protruding nipples
2. They looked more like a cupcake than a muffin

The final judging took place by an independent panel of 3 (who had travelled from London for a weekend of sunshine in Wales) and the Muffin results were (in order of preference) as follows:

1. Blueberry/Raspberry - they were stunning.......have no picture as they were all eaten
2. Walnut and Banana
3. Marmalade & Orange (I could not believe I made the top 3!!)
4. White Chocolate and Lemon Curd
5. Beetroot & Ginger (Personally my favourite and like mini gingerbreads.....will be making soon!)
6. Peanut and Banana
7. Milk Choc Chip
8. Winberry (Blueberry)  (Made by the professional no less)  Better luck next year Mum!

Herman The German Friendship Cake

I don't know if anyone else has ever done this recipe but it was given to me by my neighbour and we all became rather attached to Herman the cake who patiently bubbled away on our kitchen worktop for 10 days!


Here is the final picture of our "Herman" 

The children really enjoyed helping to feed Herman and the delight of watching the bubble mix grow and expand would have made even Peppa Pig jealous.


As you can see - we did not manage to kill him during the 10 days process but confess that he tasted so good, that he has now passed into the "tummy" life of our household.


I did not know much about this mixture but a quick Google search has shown that Herman is hitting the headlines and even made an appearance on Woman's Hour!.


Here is the recipe and Herman's own webpage for those who want to get involved.

http://www.hermanthegermanfriendshipcake.com/

Three Little Piggies

When its piggling down with rain on a weekend, what better than to get the cookie cutters out and create some shapes to decorate.

Whilst I find the actual baking bit relaxing, I must admit that the time spent decorating the creations fluctuates between enjoyment and semi-mental breakdown which is usually brought about by #1 & #2 persistently arguing over who is going to get the most licks of the icing bowl once finished.  

This weekend was a first attempt at using the flooding method to ice onto biscuits and overall quite happy with the results!  They might not be the most professional but taste good and cost a fraction of what you pay in the shops.

With butterflies attempted too, lunchbox treats are well and truly sorted for the week ahead.

Carrot Cake

To start the beginning of my Easter weekend holiday, I felt compelled to do a little baking and tried a new carrot cake recipe.   I'm not sure that I will use this recipe again as it was such a faff to create...separating the eggs, then whisking the egg whites was a little over the top I felt.  Also, the cake baked rather a "deep caramel" colour which I do not think really looks that appetising although in fairness, the cake was very moist and tasty.

I did have fun making the marzipan carrots though.

This recipe came from the My Cake Decorating magazine which is available off the shelf and does seem to provide good ideas to spruce up the odd afternoon bake session.

Strawberry Cake Time

Yes - I know what you are thinking....this whole sponge cake thing is going a bit far but I was in a desperate rush to whip up a quick cake for friends who came to visit on the weekend and when one only has 30mins before #1's piano lesson, what better way to listen the the practice notes of "Jelly on a Plate" (played ultra carefully by a right hand) whilst quickly beating the cake mixture to creamy loveliness in the kitchen......a great stress reliever too!!

Lemon Cake Time

Ahhh - the joys of a real cream cake.

I would like to say that I actually made the Lemon Curd as well but I would be lying and instead used a Waitrose special.

The versatility of a classic Victorian Sponge cake should not be underestimated when it comes to easy peasy desserts.

The Apricot and Almond Loaf

A very quick posting of the above delight which did not last 5 mins.....must taste good then.  Also from The Great British Bake Off: How to Bake book.

My biggest tip would be to make sure that you use generous chunks of chopped marzipan in the mix along with  tidy chompings of moist (I just love this word and had to get it in - PWAR) apricot.

Baking Day

As it has been cold enough for a glass eye today, I took the sensible option of spending the afternoon in the kitchen and trying out some new recipes from the latest Great British Bake Off: How to Bake: The Perfect Victoria Sponge and Other Baking Secrets.

After a quick jaunt into town to christen my snow boots, collect some necessary ingredients and accompany #2 who was armed with two sandcastle buckets for "collecting things" - we managed to get back in amongst the squally snow showers with the items to create some Chocolate Fudge Cakes and an Apricot and Marzipan Fruit cake.

The Chocolate Fudge Cakes were easy peasy to make and all I really had to do was bung it all into the food processor.  They went down a treat for "pudding" after dinner and here is what they look like.

Very much like a brownie to be honest but with a little more sponge like texture towards the bottom of the slice.  A good recipe for children to do as the measuring out of all the ingredients beforehand is key to the speed and ease of getting this one into the oven!

Christmas Countdown!

Ahhh - the start of Christmas!

For us it was the usual excitement of opening advent calendars (after breakfast however as they are chocolate ones) and then regular reminders that Father Christmas only delivers presents to children who listen and behave.

I have this morning baked some lovely Stem Ginger cookies which will form part of home-made present deliveries and I needed to do some baking anyway, as following a call from my estate agent, it looks as if we are not likely to be officially exchanging a contract on our house until January 2012 and I feel a bit flat.

On the positive side however, we can now at least put some decorations up in the house with the children over the next few weeks and Christmas will not feel so rushed with packing up a house and moving before the BIG DAY!

One thing I must share before heading off today, is my recent horror of seeing One Direction Dolls in a large supermarket, which were on display for Christmas shoppers.  I have never seen items that are so wrong and disturbing, not to mention plain ugly!   They are like Barbie "Kens" but worse as there are a pack of them.....I think I could create a better job from sculpting my own creation from a burnt candle!

I could see some benefits of owning one though....it could be the toy that "when you don't behave", comes to life at night and.......AARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Methinks I need a large coffee and one of those cookies......