Birthday Cake Extravaganza!!!

I always refer to October as being the best month of the year, normally because it's my Birthday month and so it's generally a happy time. But this October has been super special!!! Why, you ask?! Because the cake choices were beyond what I had anticipated...I enjoyed so much cake / desserts (see picture above), I can't wait for my birthday to roll around again, so I have another excuse to consume so much, and pass it off as being my birthday month! 

(Okay imagine me whispering to you now!) I even had evenings out where I ate 2 desserts at one meal seating - naughty me!!! But it was so worth it...first I went to the Manor House in Wanstead where I literally couldn't decide which dessert to have, and since my friends were having coffee with their desserts, and I'm not a coffee drinker I thought why not have what I really want - more cake! So treacle tart and chocolate brownies it was :-)

There was also a night of bowling...where although the food wasn't amazing at the Volti Noti restaurant, having 2 desserts (a mistake on their part!) And birthday cake more than made it alright. I can't even mention all the other "extra" cakes I have eaten this month, although I must say that my Hubby did satisfy my new "Red Velvet" obsession with a cupcake from the Buttercup Cake Shop too. I had a great month of catching up with my "lady friends" and eating my age (sorry I'm not relieving!) in cake/dessert/chocolate/pastries.....

Cake-tastic Time At The Cake & Bake Show!!

I cannot describe to you the excitement I felt at arriving at the annual Cake & Bake Show! It was like all my cake dreams had come true...the displays and range were incredible, and had me oooing and ahhing!

The vast array of stalls, made choosing all the the more harder and we couldn't help stopping to take in the beautiful layouts. It would have also been rude not to sample the goods on offer! The exhibits that really drew our attention were places like; The Little Round Cake Company  who had so much choice, I physically struggled to decide on the flavours, but opted for the White Chocolate & Raspberry, Apple Crumble, Sticky Toffee and Blackforest. Another stall I couldn't resist was Eat N Mess Cakes, their danity cupcakes and pie slices looked too cute! We also bumped into the odd celebrity or two at the show's cooking classes (namely Eric Lanlard!) 

I didn't want to leave Hubby and Baby Boy out of my cake adventure, and I didn't have to look for long...as we came upon a local Jamaican-inspired bakery who had Mango and Chilli cupcakes - right up Hubby's street! Then there was the stall called Sponge who had adorable 7" cakes, a chocolate cake for Baby Boy was in order (he loves chocolate already!!)  

That wasn't all on offer - there were non-cake stalls (yes at a cake show!) But they were serving some great treats, especially Supreme Sausages and The Flour Station. My friend fell in love with the delights of both of these stalls, and carried home many indulgences from both! So all in all we have a fabulous time - roll on next year!!!

Happy National Cupcake Week!

I was profoundly glad to hear that this week is "National Cupcake Week". Who wouldn't want to pay homage to the dainty pleasure of a cupcake...! Sometimes they can make the world seem like a better place - yes I said it, I have that reassurance in the frosted delight!

On a more sensible note, cupcakes have become a huge trend and business in many countries, with everyone trying to out-do each other in flavours, colours and sizes. As my previous post demonstrated there's not many ingredients or prices that won't be spent when coming up with the ultimate cupcake. 

I think of the cupcake as being a staple requirement to any worthy dessert buffet, as was the case when I got married a few years ago. I even went to the lengths of having our monogram put onto cupcake toppers for the occasion (see below).

I know that there's many people who do not care for or eat cakes or cupcakes (what is wrong with you?!) But cupcakes cannot go unnoticed when laid out...

In salutation of the humble cupcake, I will strive to consume a cupcake delight this week, because how can you not love a cupcake - see 33 reasons why you should here - haha! I will leave you with this wow of a cupcake....have a burger (cupcake) on me! :-)

World's Most Expensive Cupcake!

Okay so there are not many cakes that make me go "Wow", but when a friend sent this little beauty to me...I was beyond "Wowsers!!" Not because I thought it was exceptionally beautiful (although it is striking), but because of the eye-watering price attached to it...£540! Yes you read right, this birthday cake masterpiece cost more than many people's monthly shopping bill.

As you know I adore cake like no other, but even I would struggle to part with hundreds for something that could be consumed in less than 10 mouthfuls!

Read the full ingredients breakdown and cake motive here.   

Not Cake Related: Brownies Leader of The Pack!

So this is in no way cake related!! But I couldn't help myself - I have had the privilege this week of having an article written about little ol' me in the weekly Voice newspaper. The article focuses on the diversity of Girlguiding Leaders and Brownies turning 100 years old this year!

It was such a flattering and positive article, that I couldn't NOT mention it and the lovely journalist - Dionne Grant that wrote it. So although it isn't directly linked to cake - it's definitely worth celebrating with cake!!! :-)

Hummingbird Of A Birthday!

As it was Hubby's birthday recently, it was only right that he had a special cake for the occasion. Yes I should have probably dusted off my (retired) baking skills for my lovely Hubby, but instead we decided a treat was in order, in the form of the Hummingbird Bakery! And what a treat it was...I would have quite enjoyed a sleepover with the cakes!!!

With so much choice, it was difficult to decide on just a couple of cakes, but I must say the choices were very right. I opted to try the Red Velvet Cupcake for starters, I have literally fallen in love with a cupcake!!! I have eaten other red velvet cupcakes before, but none of them have tasted as delectable as this...I wanted more! Hubby had the Frosted Brownie to begin with, but it was the Chocolate Malt Cake that he ooohhh and ahhhhh over.

We also sampled the Brownie Cheesecake and Rainbow Cake (yes we went all out for his birthday!!!) But our minds kept drifting back to the Red Velvet and Chocolate Malt....Even though it wasn't my birthday, it definitely felt like I was indulging like it was my birthday! ;-)

I think another visit is definitely a must....!

For The Love Of Cake!

I had the pleasure of enjoying the ultimate in cakes this weekend... A slice of strawberry gateau (see above), from the highly favoured Patisserie Valerie. A quick stop at a service station whilst on a road trip, brought me into contact with this beautiful delight of a cake (what a lovely surprise!) In all honesty I don't think the photo does it justice, but I wanted to tuck into it so much, I couldn't be bothered to improve the lighting etc..!

I find it very rare these days to find a place that make / provide cakes that honestly take my breath away, but I was definitely all smiles when I laid my eyes on their selection! :-)