Let it go, let it go!

In case you have been living in a cave for last 6 months Frozen the Disney film has taken the world and countless small children by storm. Pup2 is no exception. My lovely sweet girl is going to be 6 on Friday and I rather stupidly promised to make her a cake for her birthday. She chose Frozen and she wanted Anna, Elsa and Olaf on the cake (really child just how big a cake do you think this will actually be?!).
Being the sort of person who pretends to be organised but generally flies by the seat of her pants I decided to get started early on making the figures so they will harden nicely by the time it comes to the actual cake making. However a serious clash of 4 birthday parties on the same day (out of a class of 30 - you can see how catastrophic that would be) I brought Pup2's birthday party forward a week. Whilst this gave some breathing space to the other party girls it mean my attempts at being the early bird catching the worm came to nil.


I wont lie. I have HATED making this cake. Well some of it. Elsa was a chore to make in a size appropriate for the 8" cake. For some reason I can do enormous sized figures but weeny ones not so much. Olaf was a breeze to make, he's so simple it's untrue. I attempted Anna but quite frankly I made her torso/tits so enormous she would have given Dolly Parton a run for her money and she (sitting down) towered over her sister. So Olaf and Elsa it was because by this point I had given up the will to live.

Yes Elsa has a slight black eye. She channeling the spirit of Amy Winehouse and her eyeliner choices. Dont judge OK? ;)

Olaf sans body. Not freaky at all.....

I was originally going to be lazy time efficient and buy a ready iced cake. But they were all TINY. So I decided to bake one (in previous cake make escapades my mum had always been in charge of that department). So I Googled and found this recipe and it cooked fine (albeit a bit longer than the timing said but my oven is naff). 

Can you wait while I just drool over the perfect flatness of this cake. 

I invested in a cake saw (purchased from Sainsburys of all places) and it allowed me to evenly cut the cake to jam and cream the middle and to level it off to perfection :)

Some "ice" was needed to add a touch of realism. Glacier mints. 

The aroma of hot mints made my eyes water a bit!

Elsa has been at those frozen fractals again.

Olaf just wants to give a nice warm hug.

Be careful you don't cut yourself ;)

The (nearly) finished article. Pup2's name needs to be added.

Lessons I have learned from this experience.

1. I am not sure I have the patience any more to make 3D models. Flat pictures it is from now on.

2. Don't leave your figures to harden off on the window or you might find the likes of Elsa have added highlights to their hair.

3. Fake ice looks better against a coloured background. As you can see I had to artistically drape a sheet so I could get a half decent photograph.

4. Four packets of Glacier mints is WAAAAAAAAAAY too many for making fake ice!

Pup2 is thrilled with her cake. Which I will need to remember when I wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about the stress of making it.

Oh what a perfect pear

Those people that know me well know that I don't eat much fruit. Apples, bananas and at a push red seedless grapes. I know I should eat more fruit and I adore the taste of oranges for example but its the flesh that makes me gag. But cooking fruit in a cake must be surely a better way of getting my 5 a day no?
Four rapidly over ripening conference pears needed using or throwing in the bin. So a quick Google and found a recipe for pear and chocolate cake. I was sold.

Recipe called for blanched hazelnuts which were then ground. No way could I be bothered with that faff so ground almonds had to do. And very acceptable they were too.

Heaven on a plate.



Now not sure I am ever going to embrace proper fruit cake or even carrot cake (sorry I just can't get behind that concept LOL) but is a decidedly good way for me to use up the pears I bought to be virtuous and then promptly ignored ;)

Oh crumbs...

So the Christmas holidays have officially begun in earnest. Am I the only one it fills with dread? No? Just me then? Ho hum.....
OK dread is a bit of strong word but oh my word it's only day two and I am already shattered. You will of course sit and assume I've been dashing here, there and everywhere entertaining the kids. Nope. I haven't set foot outside of this house for 2 whole days. Cabin fever? Moi?
I've been on my feet all day doing various activities with the pups. Painting and glitter, colouring in Christmas pictures (sadly not one of them has chosen the picture of Mary and Jesus) and generally creating a mess that needs regular tidying in order to preserve my sanity (although I confess it was at breaking point after the state of the lounge again tonight).

There is one activity which is routinely begged for and is a holiday time staple in this house.

Baking.
Special requests were make for Christmas cookies. How I wish I'd never bought those Christmas themed cutters.
Since Pup1 has the memory of an elephant this promise was one I couldn't wriggle out of. So I originally planned biscuits with the pups and that was it. However for some reason I was struck by the urge. To do more baking. Next time I have this irrational desire someone please slap me round the face and bring me to my senses. Don't get me wrong I love baking. Just not 3 different items in one afternoon while practising being a UN peace negotiator.

Now bear in mind I am not a tidy cook, I tend to bake and create in a state of chaos. Add pups to the mix and it's increased tenfold as they jockey for positions to see best at the work top, demand to sniff, poke and stir the ingredients. I put things down and then I can't find them, several tea towels are used and please Father Christmas bring me a dishwasher. I've lost count the number of times today I've had to wash up.

My festive cutters. I hid the angel as quite frankly it's a total PITA to get the biscuit dough out of without severely deforming her wings. Likewise the Snowman one and his silly little brim on his hat. We need simple shapes and these ones fit the bill. Biscuits are now cooked and will be decorated tomorrow with glace icing and sprinkles because why would I want to give myself a break from cleaning up ;)

I've not used this tin for........mumble mumble well far too long anyway and for some reason I decided to bake some doughnuts. Or is it donuts? Really who cares....

Mix the batter according to the instructions. Be sure to dribble lots of excess batter over the tin because it will have been 40 seconds since you last had to tidy up. By the way do you like Pup1's Iron Man picture lurking at the side. Told you I work in chaos, it was dicing with death sitting there.

The finished goods, liberally rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Only it would only really stick to the one side of the doughnut. Oh well who cares. Note to self oiling the pan is totally insufficient to allow the doughnuts to be removed whole. It is necessary to butter the entire pan. Another note to self......even partially broken they still slip down a treat.

Biscotti. Chocolate with mixed nuts. Don't ask me what nuts as I haven't got a clue.
Supposed to also go down very nicely with a coffee or some booze. If I ever get the peace and quiet for 5 mins I'll try it and be sure to let you know.

Will this stuff last til Christmas. I doubt it.
Will I be making it all again in time for Christmas? Get knotted.
I shall be doing as nature intended and serving up Cadbury's Chocolate Yule Log and sitting on my butt watching The Santa Clause. Because for some strange reason I have thing for Tim Allen.

2190

A week today Pup1 will be 2190 days old (give or take one due to the leap year). Or 42 in dog years. A big 6 in human years. Either way it's that time again. Yep you guessed it......it's cake time.
Of late Pup1 has been slightly obsessed with the Toy Story trilogy so I had a look for some inspiration and the workers co-operative of myself and my mum set to work.

Can you guess what it is yet? <said in the style of Rolf Harris>

That was my very first attempt at piping. And I had to do it free hand!! Quite nerve wracking and has a slight upward slant due to my left handedness. The pics aren't quite as good due to being taken in artificial light but you get the gist.
Pup1 is having a party on Sunday at an indoor play centre (thank goodness no major home party prep this time) so the cake is for then. I am afraid I will probably resort to a supermarket cake on his actual birthday. Not even I have enough time to make two cakes in a week.

Me and mum did have a good giggle whilst making it today. At one point I was convinced that Buzz looked a bit like this

Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein. OK I think you needed to be there at the time to see it ;)

New Year?

According to one online article I read the other day the start of September is turning into the new New Year for some. I assume only those with kids in reality. A new class, a new school, a new uniform....a new beginning. I confess I am probably one of those people as I am planning how to spend my time once the pups are at school. Pup1 moves into Year 1 tomorrow and Pup2 starts Nursery 5 afternoons a week in a couple of weeks. Was feeling rather melancholy about it this morning, going to miss Pup1 (despite all the bickering that's gone on) and I am sure I shall have a few tears in my eye when ushering Pup2 on her way. As surely as night becomes day the seasons change and the months roll by.
Since it is officially Pup1's last day of Summer holidays I asked him if he would like a baking day. He LOVES to help bake (and of course lick the spoon clean) and I need some lunch box fodder for tomorrow. The sight of my two wee pups, stood on little chairs at the workstop helping me to weigh, measure, mix and pour is something I shall treasure.

The pups love their cheese straws and Pup1 always asks for them in the shape of gingerbread men.
Nice and easy recipe too:

6oz plain flour

3oz butter

cheese

cold water to bind

1/4 tsp of English Mustard powder

I just blitz the dry ingredients in my food processor til they are like breadcrumbs, add water little by little until there is a dough. Roll out and cut to desired shape. They are delish. Sadly a bit too moreish too and the pups were pestering for more than the couple they were given. I can see me making another batch before the week is out.

Chocolate Brownies. The best thing is these don't actually use any chocolate, it's all from cocoa powder. They are lush, especially warmed and served with ice cream ;)
I got the recipe from Sue at The Quince Tree although since these are for children I opted to leave out the nuts.

Pup1 is currently enjoying a break in the weather and making mud pies whilst pup2 is watching some Disney Princess film. I will be quite sad when this day draws to a close, it's been a happy day at home. You betcha it feels like a New Year to me, the end of one period and the start of another.



Party Prep Part Deux.

So I was told when I got married it was all about THE dress. Well it would appear that when you are 3 years old it is all about THE birthday cake. A workers co-operative between myself and my mum (I seriously can't take all the credit) and voila we have one cake ready for party on Saturday. Pup2 can't keep looking at it so I guess it's a winner with her. The only downside is we're actually going to have to cut into it eek! Not sure I want to now. Anyway enough chatter I'll let the pictures do all the talking :)

Sorry it's a bit image heavy but I wanted to show as many stages as possible. The white bits on the end of the cake have now been painted brown.

So Sleeping Beauty is now complete and after the busy few days I've had making her I ought to sleep well tonight too!