The popularity of shows like the Great British Bake Off is a double-edged sword for parents of 12 year olds. Just as a pillow case and a piece of tinsel are no longer an acceptable basis for an outfit for… Read More ›
Victoria sponge
A Cake of Two Halves: Half Chocolate, Half Vanilla Birthday Cake
My friend Karyn’s husband and father have their birthdays on the same day but she didn’t really need two cakes in the house. One cake was plenty but one of them prefers chocolate, the other vanilla. A problem easily solved… Read More ›
Chocolate Birthday Cake for Kids and Chocolate Lovers
My son Linus turned 9 on New Year’s Day and when I asked him what type of cake he wanted, he asked for a chocolate cake without any icing, as he doesn’t really like it. I thought he might be… Read More ›
Snowflake Birthday Cake
Last year my friend Leslie’s daughter Antonia had a swimming party for her birthday and I made her a dolphin cake. This year Antonia had an ice skating party so Leslie wanted a cake that was white and sparkly, like… Read More ›
Black Forest Gateau – and a half marathon
Black Forest Gateau has always been one of my favourite cakes but I’m not sure that I have made one since I was a teenager in the ’80s… This week I made one for my friend Magda’s twin daughters, Carmen… Read More ›
Mini Victoria Sponge cakes with Redcurrant Curd
Unfortunately I can’t claim the credit for the inspiration or for the recipe for redcurrant curd – that honour goes to The Monday Baker: check out her site for some great inspiration! Last year I picked redcurrants and then didn’t… Read More ›
Chocolate Sponge with Strawberries and Cream Cheese Icing
This is a slightly unusual combination – you might expect vanilla sponge with strawberries and cream, or chocolate sponge with chocolate icing and strawberries. My brother had his birthday a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to make him… Read More ›
Birthday Cakes for Twins that are just like twins: the same but different
Twins have a lot in common while being individuals in their own right. So it’s great if they can have birthday cakes that have something in common but are not completely the same. And chocolate is great because it comes… Read More ›
Victoria Sponge – how to make it the traditional way (and with a goose egg!)
I had never used a goose egg before my friend Vana brought me three, having just visited her parents’ farm… I’m not sure that I had ever actually even seen one before. You don’t find many recipes requiring goose eggs…. Read More ›
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