How To.....make your own piping bag

This is a neat little trick I learnt recently from my college tutor which has proved so useful I wanted to share it with you all.  There are loads of different types of piping bags out there, different sizes, re-usable, disposable etc.  Up until now I used the re-usable ones but they're an absolute nightmare to get clean and if you're piping lots of different colous of icing it can be a right faff cleaning them between each colour.

But with this handy trick you can make your own piping bags, whatever size you like and all you need is a square of greaseproof paper and some scissors.

We Bake Christmas Cake Part 1

Yes I said the 'C' word.................CHRISTMAS!  There's only 45 days left until the big day and aside from all the present buying, card writing, food shopping and house decorating there's also the very important matter of the cake!

Christmas cake has always been a big deal in our house.  Ever since I was little I've always helped my Mum bake the cake, feed it with alcohol and then decorate with snow scene royal icing and the same Christmas cake decorations (usually a plastic christmas tree and father christmas) that every year we'd lose and spend hours trying to find.  The Christmas cake to me will always hold fond memories and is a very important part of the Christmas celebrations and even though I'm the only person in my house that actually likes fruit cake I still make one every year.

If Cupcakes Are As Addictive As Cocaine Then I'm In Big Trouble!!!!

Gotta love the Daily Mail.......apparently cupcakes are now as addictive as cocaine:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2057849/Why-trendy-cupcakes-addictive-cocaine.html

I love how there is a picture of some cupcakes next to a picture of some cocaine just to reinforce the point.  Now I can't say I've ever sampled cocaine but I have eaten A LOT of cupcakes and I'm pretty sure its not the same thing.  But if it in fact is then I have a serious problem, get me to rehab!

Cake Circles

I was at work yesterday opening one of the many e-newsletters I receive daily and came across one relating to cake!!!  This was most exciting not just as cake had somehow infiltrated my day job but also as the subject matter was very curious indeed.  The newsletter contained a story about Bill Drummond's Cake Circle which is taking place around the Static Gallery in Liverpool from 4-6 November.

Cake Circles are a completely new concept to me but I'm liking their style.  Basically what you do is take a map of your local area and draw a circle on the map with your home as the centre point.  Then you bake a cake, anything you like, then travel to a point on the circumference of the circle taking the cake with you, knock on the door of the chosen venue and give the recipient the cake.  Then bake and repeat for as long as you like. Sounds a bit mad but spreading the love with cake can never be a bad thing.

There's more information about Bill Drummond and the Liverpool Cake Circle here.

All I can think is those living in Bill's circumference of the Static Gallery in Liverpool are very lucky indeed.

Cake Decorating Class Week One

A few weeks ago I decided to enrol on an Introduction to Sugarcraft course at The Adult College in Lancaster.  I've taught myself a bit of sugarcraft via online tutorials and a whole lot of trial and error (!!) but when I found out this course was running I jumped at the chance to get some expert tuition.  My first session was this Monday just gone and even though it was only session one I've already learnt sooooooo much!

I was a bit unsure what to expect so I nervously made my way to the college (and getting caught in a massive rain storm on the way there didn't help matters either!) but once I got there everyone was lovely.  There's ten of us in the class and the tutor is called Dan from Emily Jane Moore Cake Designers based in Preston.  He was full of useful information and tips and very patient with us all!

Cake Gadget of the Week

This is my cake gadget of the week for only one reason...........because its so freaking cheap!!

I was wandering round my local Sainsbury's last week picking up a few cake supplies and came across this fab hand whisk for the bargain price of £4.18!  It's from the Sainsbury's Basics range and yes it is a bit basic (no extra fancy attachments etc) but if you're just looking for a cheap hand mixer you can't go far wrong with this.  I've used it several times in the past week or so and its not let me down.

I can't find it on their website so best bet is to hotfoot it down to your local store and snap one up before they sell out!

Dogs Heart Cake Too!

Meet Frank.

Frank is my dog/child.   A furry, black, stinky child but a child nevertheless.  So when it came around to his first birthday naturally I wanted to make him a cake to celebrate.