Cake Angels

Before I start with this review, I need to give a mammoth apology.  This post has been bubbling under forever.  Seriously, I mean like ages.  And just when I didn't think I could feel any more guilty, I used some more of their lovely stuff and realised I still hadn't written a post.  So I am officially a Bad Blogger today, slap my wrist and send me to bed without supper.

Right. Now that's out of they way, let me introduce you to my newest lovely friends, Cake Angels.  They are responsible for a percentage of my ever-increasing waistline, as well as some gorgeous treats, which I'd love to share with you in person - except for the fact that we ate them - so pictures will have to do instead! Many pictures. You know me.

Goodies!

 Well, first off, way back in the mists of time, I received a parcel from the angels, with a load of cake decorating items,  Perfect timing, as it was just before PirateGirl's birthday, and she was having a tea party at home, including decorating their own cakes.

As you can see, this was a major hit - small girls, cake and sprinkles.  All we needed was a unicorn or a special guest appearance from Sophia The First, and they would have actually exploded.  There were marshmallows, many many chocolate sprinkles, a load of royal icing designs, all piled on top of the most delicious vanilla frosting I've ever eaten straight from the tub.  Ooops.  It was leftovers, that doesn't count.

I'm not sure I'd've paid for one of their cupcakes, but they were pretty pleased with themselves.  (please ignore the look on my face, I am not the most photogenic of cooks)

Then came summer. And I still hadn't written this post, when through my door came some more goodies, including the most inspired Ice Cream Cone cupcakes I've ever seen.  I used to work for a bakery, a long long time ago, and they sold ice cream cone cakes, but they were nowhere near as impressive as these.

We took to the garden, see, that's how you can tell it was summer.  And Squeaky got on with the important task of cleaning out the bowl, while keeping a close eye on the kitchen timer.  They really were so easy to make, I was demoted to reading instructions and dealing with hot ovens, while Chef Squeaky took over.

But even having lost my place in the cake-making pecking order of our house couldn't stop me trying to be arty with the finished product.  The packet made six, but we'd slightly already eaten two when I realised it would be a good idea to take some photos.  It was a hot day, ok?

I am a real blogger, see!

And finally, if that wasn't enough cake for you already.  Just to prove it's not all for children, and grown-ups can get the benefit of the Cake Angels' wisdom and sprinkles too, here's the cake I made for our office's Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning.

Cake Angels Chocolate Fudge frosting, and milk and white chocolate hearts, sprinkled on top of a very chocolatey cake, held together with choc fingers.  The purple glitter was edible too, but came from the back of my cupboard and had lost its label.

Cake Angels have a huge range of kits and decorating products to make your baking a little bit of heaven.  Their website also has a load of recipes, so if you need more inspiration, or want to torment yourself if you're on a diet, there's something for everyone.

You can buy Cake Angels online, and I've also seen them in most supermarkets.

Disclosure: I was provided with the above items free of charge for the purposes of writing a review. I was not told what to write and all opinions are my own.  Links are provided for convenience only, I am not a member of any affiliate scheme and will not receive reward for their use.

Kryptonite

Willpower is a wonderful thing.  I can be faced with a mountain of Brussels Sprouts, and I can easily resist taking even the tiniest mouthful.  Similarly rhubarb crumble, pistachio ice cream, wasabi peanuts and hoisin duck pizza.  Then there's times where I actually get all determined to do something about my ever expanding backside, and actually make an effort to resist things that I really enjoy.  And for a while I can do it.  I can cut out the muffins, I can ignore the office biscuit pile, and even say no when someone says they're going to the chippy for Friday lunchtime, and do I want a noodle special.  I even took homemade soup in to work today for my lunch, rather than a trip to the corner shop.

Powerless to resist

But then it happened.  I had to get oil for my car, which decided to be a particularly temperamental beast at 8 o'clock in the morning, when I needed to drop La Squeak at breakfast club at get in to work as early as I could to try & work the hours they pay me for.  So, there was no chance of a car-parts shop being open, and I took my chances with the supermarket.  What a mistake.  Right in front of me, on a huge pallet, just as I walked through the entrance barriers (it's getting more & more like Terminal 2 at Heathrow, my local Tesco, I'm sure).

KRYPTONITE

Kryptonite in cake form.  Mr Kiplings Frosty Fancies, to be specific.

I tried.  I really did.  I turned my head, walked away & found the really exciting motor oil that I went in for.  I browsed the trashy magazine selection, and considered whether I had enough diet coke to get me through the day.  And then I had to walk past them again to get to the checkout.

Big Fat FAIL.  And getting progressively bigger and fatter, as these are going to be hanging around the supermarket for the next two months.  Honestly, I can resist most cakes, but I only need to think about these to start drooling like one of Pavlov's dogs.  They barely even touch the sides.  And if you think I'm going to share them with anyone, you're sadly mistaken.  My Kryptonite!  MINE!!

Frosty Fancies are my kryptonite.  What's yours?

A Peace of Cake

Earlier this year, I spotted a competition on the side of This Water to win, amongst other prizes, signed copies of a dvd called The Day After Peace.  I texted in, and was lucky enough to win on my very first attempt.  That DVD, a documentary by British filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, is all about what happens when one person starts a movement, a movement for a global day of Peace.  That day, Peace Day is September 21^st, adopted by the United Nations in 2001 as an annual day of global ceasefire & non-violence.

  

Ocado, has joined forces with the non-profit organisation behind the documentary, Peace One Day and Great British Chefs’ Alfred Prasad, Executive Chef at the world famous Tamarind in Mayfair, to inspire mini masterchefs to participate in Peace Day 21 September. Working together to create the simple, yet delicious Sri Lankan Love Cake' recipe, Ocado is encouraging families across the UK to unite for peace in the kitchen. The tasty initiative calls for mums and dads and their little sous chefs to bake and share their cake with family and friends.

Made with delicious ingredients, including honey, fragrant ginger and rose water, the online grocer has pledged to donate all sales profits from the recipe ingredients of this tasty traditional Sri Lankan delicacy to Peace One Day.

If you want to get involved & make your own Love Cake, you can use the link above to order the ingredients directly from Ocado, and follow the recipe and video instructions below. I'll be honest here, I haven't had chance to try it out yet, but I'm planning to over the weekend... Watch out for a future blog post to find out how I got on!  It looks a fairly simple process, and I love the idea of jelly babies in a cake!

Alfred Prasad’s Sri Lankan ‘Love Cake’ Recipe

This wonderfully simple cake is a Sri Lankan delicacy made with love at birthdays or special occasions.  A legacy from the Portuguese rule in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), the cake is a great combination of dried fruit, nuts and spices. 

Ingredients:
o   150g unsalted butter

o   350g caster sugar

o   6 medium eggs

o   3 tablespoons honey

o   2 tablespoons rose water

o   Grated zest of 1 orange

o   Grated zest 1 lemon

o   1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

o   1 teaspoon ground cardamom

o   1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

o   200g unsalted cashew nuts, chopped coarsely [optional]

o   250g coarse semolina

o   50g glacé cherries [can be replaced with wine gums or jelly babies]

o   25g  mixed peel

o   25g crystallized stem ginger

o   Icing sugar to dust 

Method:

1.      Preheat the oven to 150˚C/300˚F and line a 25 x 30 cm (10 x 12 in) cake tin with baking paper. 

2.      Dice 150g of unsalted butter and leave in a warm place to soften.

3.      Once soft, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. 

4.      Add the eggs, one at a time and beat well. 

5.      Add honey, rose water, zest, nutmeg, cardamom and cinnamon. Use a spatula to gently fold through

6.      Next fold through the cashew nuts, semolina, glacé cherries, mixed peel and crystallized ginger until combined. Do not over mix.

7.      Turn into prepared tin and bake in the oven for 1 hour or until pale golden on top. The cake comes out best in a slow-cook process and should ideally feel chewy on top and moist in the middle. 

8.      Allow the cake to cool in the tin for about 20 minutes.

9.      Turn out of the tin, and when completely cool dust with icing sugar.

Alfred Prasad Love Cake Great British Chefs from Great British Chefs on Vimeo.