Kissing a lot of frogs

I thought the prince was going to be my answer in salvation to having to use the beast for all my baking, but sadly it was a match not made in heaven.  A faulty thermostat has meant that actually it is almost as unreliable as the beast- it just can't achieve an even, or accurate temperature- and so it has to go.

A nice man from Comet- who had a striking resemblance to a young John Travolata, was unable to fix it and suggested a replacement.  So my new Prince is due today

Preparations for the party

I have now cooked a couple of dinners on the aga, and its going ok. Though I really need to tackle the main roasting oven and get baking.

I’m going to brave it today and either try a Madeira cake, so delicious, lemony and soft with its sugary crust, and something I have baked a million times. The other option is to go for cookies- less risky than a sponge I think, but equally tasty and a fine partner to a cuppa.

The aga has landed

We have oil, we have a fixed aga and I am ready to rock...Only one tiny confession, is it wimpy to be scared by an aga?

With a serious deadline looming- our house warming and Darling boys 1st birthday party we have the world and his wife arriving this weekend. I need to get to grips with the beast and coax it into baking the cakes, pudding and biscuits I have been planning for this most important of life events...The 1st birthday party!

However, if it all goes wrong, never fear, I have an ingenious back-up plan. The popularisation of the birthday trifle!