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Read MoreDeath star creme eggs and other eggy treats.
This Easter, I decided I really really NEEDED to make Creme Eggs. And if you are going to make a Creme Egg, why wouldn't you upgrade the design? I decided I had to make them in the shape of the Death Star, and couldn't rest until I'd managed it.
Death Star Creme Egg!
To make it, you just need a death star ice cube mold. You can find them on amazon for a few pounds. (They make excellent, enormous, ice cubes by the way!)
I dusted the inside with Rolkem silver lustre, but you could skip that bit if you want it to look chocolatey. Then you need to coat each half with melted chocolate. I found the easiest way was to fill both halves with chocolate, then leave it for 10 mins or so, and pour it out. You need quite a thick layer so that it doesn't crack when you de-mold. Leave it for a good while to set in the fridge till it's really tough and then ease it out of the mould.
Then I filled with delicious creme egg gloop. I used this recipe: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/18/how-we-made-creem-eggs-chocolate-easter
Just spoon the white gloop into both halves, then add a bit of yellow in the centers. Then calmly and probably messily, join the two halves together. I used royal icing as glue.
Boom!
I also made the traditional pimped eggs for the family - I tart up some basic easter eggs with modelling chocolate. This year we had: Roger Moore, a Porg, Frida Kahlo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and Hedwig.
Happy Easter!
Rotten Eggs: a villains themed buffet table
I present the third annual "New Years Eve buffet table quiz round"!
This year, our fancy dress party theme was "Heroes and Villains". We had a quiz, and the first round was to spot as many villains as possible hidden within the buffet table. See how you do.
NB I think it's completely acceptable to offer guests a buffet of Baby Bels, chewing gum and candy cigarettes. This is what passes for hors d'oeuvre around these parts. We are very sophisticated. And, I might add, someone did eat the orange/cheesestring combo. Furthermore I saw at least two children (aged between 9 and 13) "smoking" the cigarettes the wrong way round. Can't work out if this is excellent or terrible parenting.
One point if you name the character depicted. Half a point if you can't name them, but know what they're from. Answers below.
1. Chicken drumsticks in a "Los Pollos Hermanos" box = Gus Fring (Breaking Bad)
2. Sausages = Mr Punch
3. Dips = Daleks (Dr Who)
4. Crisps inside an angry looking TV set = Evil Edna (Willo The Wisp)
5. A tube of Pringles = Kim Jong Un
6. An orange, with cheese string hair = Donald J. Trump
7. Pineapple and cheese hedgehog hair = Side Show Bob (The Simpsons)
8. Baby Bels = Hal (2001 A Space Odyssey)
9. Cheeseboard = Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde...or as close to their names as you can manage! (the ghosts from Pacman).
10. A house full of popcorn that has squashed a witch = Wicked Witch of the East (not West! I want the squashed witch!) from the Wizard fo Oz
11. Scary red balloon cake pops = Pennywise, from It
12. A romantic meal of tuna bake, followed by apple pie and home-made custard ("of course") ends with blood on the kitchen tiles = Rob Titchener (The Archers). So shocked that none of my friends or family got this one.
13. Bubblegum = Balthazar Bratt (Despicable Me 3)
14. Chocolate coins = Scrooge McDuck (Duck Tails)
15. Chocolates with popping candy = Darth Vader
16. Candy Cigarettes = Nick O'Teen (1980s Superman baddie)
17. Mini Donuts (wedding rings?) in a hat = Papa Lazaru (League of Gentlemen). YOU'RE MY WIFE NOW, DAVE.
18. Lollipops! Lots of lovely lollipops! = Kiddy Catcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
19. Matchmakers = Slenderman (Creepy Pasta) ....one for the under 40s!
20. Jelly oozing through the doors of the Colonial Cinema = The Blob
21. Oreo fudge throne with cocktail stick swords = Joffrey (Game of Thrones)
22. Gingerbread hotel with maze = The Overlook Hotel (the Shining). The hotel is sentient, and evil, so it's the Overlook that I want not Jack Torrence!
23. Tube of smarties = Isombard King Kong Brunel (Dangermouse)
24. Glass of orange juice = O.J. Simpson
25. Napkins = Cal Hockley (Titanic)
26. Plates, disguised as a work by acclaimed 1980s Australian artist, Helen Daniels = Mrs Mangel (Neighbours)
Pimped Easter Eggs!
This post has nothing to do with wedding cakes - but everything to do with having fun with your food!
Every year I give my family's easter eggs an up-grade. I've blogged one instructions (very loose instructions....) before, click on the "Easter Eggs" link (at the bottom, or over there --->) to find it.
Here are this year's eggs!
Golden Snitch egg...with edible wings!!
Asterix Easter Egg!
Wilson from castaway easter egg!
Have a lovely Easter!
Food Standards Agency
I've had my routine food safety inspection and I'm delighted to say I got the full 5 stars!
I think it's important to brag about this becuase I work from home. Many, many cake makers work from home, but that doesn't stop people some times assuming that it's therefore a 'hobby'. This is a full-time business and my sole income. I am registered, insured, and all the rest of it. If you get your cake from a home-based business then it's completely acceptable to ask what their food hygiene rating is. If they haven't got one then run a mile! A good food hygiene rating means you have safe working practices and treat your catering business seriously.
The advantage of buying from a home-based business is, of course, that the price of your cake doesn't include shop overheads. Also, I don't take on too many orders so yours will always get the attention it deserves.
Hampton Court Palace
A quick post about Sunday! I don't need to tell you that Hampton Court Palace is beautiful, nor that it has a remarkable historical connection with the institution of marriage. Humm. Well, if we learned one thing from Henry VIII it would be that it's quality not quantity that counts when it comes to weddings!
I was lucky enough to be invited to the Hampton Court Palace approved suppliers wedding showcase. I took a few of the girls (Maya, Tootsie, Delilah and Greenery, to be precise) and a huuuuge pile of slices of chocolate and salted caramel cake.
I met LOTS of lovely couples - one couple who'd only been engaged for a week! - and lots of really incredible suppliers, including but not limited to: Gatsby-inspired girl group The WIld Tonics, Toastmaster Ian Low, Stationers Coral and Slate and Florists Lavender Green and Violets and Velvet.
If you are getting married at Hampton Court Palace then get in touch. I deliver and set-up there for free!