Fancy a Slice?

Sometimes I get these ideas that rattle around in my head, and I hope for the opportunity to try them. Believe it or not, I don't sit around making cake pops, truffle cakes and big cakes in case someone needs them (otherwise if they didn't, I'd have to eat them, and I'd weigh about 300 lbs right now). When I don't get the chance to make them for an order I subject guests or hosts to try my experiments... poor things.

My most recent guinea pigs are my Aunt and Uncle whom I'm visiting this week. It's a yearly pilgrimage to work (or potter, really) on my old canoe. An inheritance of sorts, but it's definitely a labour of love, and I especially enjoy spending the time with my family.

A very small way I show my appreciation for both having me stay in their house for a week and becoming part of their furniture, but also for babysitting my dilapidated canoe the rest of the time I'm not there, is to bring up some sweet treats. This year, they're testing out my latest crazy idea...

Ever since I made the myriad cakes to test out recipes, I've often thought of what I could do with the fruit cakes (vanilla cakes with fruit filling, not the yummy Christmas cake). The idea somewhat dawned on me when I was looking at the tin of cherry pie filling to make Myra's birthday cake. I thought, wouldn't it be fun to have mini-pies with cake filling that had the fruit flavours, and to make them look pie-like too. For the first go, I made blueberry pie truffles, but the sky's the limit and already I've thought of other flavours that would be fun.

Let's see how these ones go down!

 I loved the indigo colour, so different from what I'm used to!

 A bit of Graham cracker crumbs around the truffle for texture.

 Typical lattice-work that tops most pies... mine needs a bit of practice, but not bad for the first go.  

 Nom.

A Cake Dedicated to Ethan

Sometimes simple is best, and if an elegant cake with few words on the top and minimal decorations will do the job, then go for it! The occasion should shine, and especially when it is a religious ceremony you don't want a topsy turvy, brightly coloured cake. You want something solid, just like your occasion.

Hopefully this cake will be just a little enrichment for Ethan's dedication ceremony!

POST PRODUCTION NOTE

Those who know me personally will know that I have the tiniest amount of OCD. To the point where I will wake up first thing in the morning, scrape off icing that I don't deem to be "perfect" and re-do it... several times. This cake was no different, and I wanted to get the spacing more even. I thought the ridiculousness was worth sharing ;P

Feel free to continually scroll between the two cakes and spot the difference. Some may say "I don't see a difference", and to be fair most would say this, except I know that what ever goes out there with my name on it has to be as perfect as possible. (Plus I don't want to end up on cakewrecks.com!! Here's an example of what I mean :D)

Two Teas for Two

Yet again, Mum threw her famous English Tea Party at her house as part of the Church's talent auction. This year, Mum spread the Tea over two teas, both as equally lavish as the other.

Plates laden with goodies at the ready. Sandwiches, loaves, cookies and cupcakes...

A gorgeous tiered display of cakes and cookies, with the classic Victoria Sponge in the background.

Our table awaits our guests!

Our guests have arrived!

We served Pimm's No. 1 as a starter for our guests. A little taste of England and Wimbledon especially, complete with strawberry, mint, lemon, and cucumber.

Mum and I tried something new this year. We got out a bit of retro fabulousness, and relived my Mother's memories of when her Mother would prepare for her Bridge evenings. 

A savoury cake!

From bottom to top: coronation chicken filling, egg salad, smoked salmon and salmon and avocado. All lovely enrobed in cream cheese. 

A yummy cup of tea in Mum's beautiful tea service.

Such a delicious looking table!!

My little contribution to all this gorgeous food was my teapots. All edible, and this year flavoured. These ones have my Earl Gray flavoured-cake.

and these are made using my green tea-flavoured cake. 

Both were inspired by two of my Mother's tea pots. A bit of gilding for our lilies! 

Happy Birthday Myra!

After all the excitement of June has sufficiently died down we move on to the next occasion. This year, Patrick's Mother celebrated a special birthday which absolutely deserved a special dinner with all her favourites. Steak, roast peppers, brochettes, and pina colada, all finished off with my variation of a Black Forest Gateau, in all its retro-glory.

Instead of the traditional Devil's food cake, I used my crowd pleasing Guinness Chocolate cake. I love its richness, so I knew it would work wonderfully well with the whipped cream and the cherry pie-filling. Plus, a few 70% dark chocolate shavings on the top never go a miss!

Happy Birthday Myra!