Superhero's super birthday cake

It was Darling boy's 4th birthday this weekend and, being nuts about Spiderman, Superman and all things 'super', he had chosen a superhero theme.  We went all-out for the fancy dress, and, as last time when the theme was pirates,  the kids and grown-ups all dressed up.  We had prizes in various categories, from best superhero accessory, to best mini-skirt in a superhero capacity.

Huge amounts of fun were had by all, lots of chasing around and dashing about- all brilliant stuff.

The cake I made for Darling boy was chocolate- to Darling boys request- was the same recipe as I used for Handsome husbands Granny's 90th birthday.  It was iced in blue buttercream icing, with the customised logo made from royal icing and cut out with an art knife.

The accompanying superhero cupcakes are lemon, with matching stars and home-made superhero comic book style cupcake flags.

Chocolate and orange cupcakes- approach with speed

Here are my most recent batch of cupcakes, baked for a grown up birthday.  Who can resist the combination of chocolate and orange zest.  Positively yummy.  I took them along to a tea party Darling boy and Little brother were having with some local friends, and the cakes nearly all got snaffled before the  grown-up birthday boy arrived, the cupcake version of 'you snooze, you lose' I guess.  Luckily we dived in and rescued the last cupcake from sticky fingers.  Speed is of the essence where chocolate is concerned.

Chocolate birthday cupcakes

I know I have my most recent wedding cupcakes to show you, but I'm still sorting through the squillions of photos.  In the meantime, take a look at one of my recent birthday orders.  Girly chocolate cupcakes.  Something pinky was requested, and I happily baked and designed something fitting.

I've got such a lovely collection of edible glitters now that I can't help going to town and using a blend of different colours.  These cupcakes had about 5 different variations of pink through to violet purple and a gorgeous iridescent white one, so pretty.  If only everything we ate could be covered in glitter.

 

Little brother turns 1 year old!

 We can hardly believe it, but Little brother is 1 year old already. To celebrate we had a lovely party, full of family, friends, kids, sugar, sunshine, musical bumps and more sugar.  It was perfect.  I have made a promise to myself that every kids party I host will always have cake and fizz. I think its a good promise.

The cupcakes were chocolate and lemon.  The lemon ones had a secret centre of homemade lemon curd which went down very well.  I even managed to bag one myself before they all went, and I can vouch for its tastiness too. Just the right balance of sweet and zesty. Yum.

The cake is a two tiered vanilla sponge.  It is about 10 inches across, and shaped like ducks as this is one of Little Brothers most favourite things and I think the 3rd word he said (after dadda and mamma)  We talk about 'ducks' a lot, me and Little Brother (and 'doors' too, as he can also say 'door')   So when it came to deciding what to do for Little Brother's cake, what else could it be?  I must confess this sort of cake it not normally my thing, but for my bambinos, anything goes.  And iced in buttercream and covered in glitter, its just a hop, skip and jump away from my more usual style.

The embroidered tablecloth you can see under the cake was handed down to me by my mother in law.  I think it was either made by her mother in law, or great mother in law.  Anyway, it is beautiful and so perfect it is incredible.  I know childrens parties aren't normally an occasion for getting out your 'best' but I have decided this lovely handmade craft work should see the light of day.  And what better occasion, that celebrating Little brothers first birthday.

Marmalade cupcakes

I made these for Darling boys 3rd birthday party, and whilst I didn't get to try any myself as they all disappeared really quickly, I was told they were delicious...I knew they would be!

These cheeky chappies have an orange flavoured sponge, with a special secret zing of homemade marmalade in the centre, then topped with orange buttercream icing, and of course, burnished toffee coloured stars and matching edible glitter.

The Surprise cupcakes

It was Handsome husband's uncle's Surprise 50th birthday party (the party was a surprise, not that he was going to be 50, I'm pretty sure he knew his age alright)

We were invited and secret birthday cupcakes had been requested.  I was happy to oblige, but nervous of having to travel with them first the 150 miles to my marvellous parents, and then on into and across London via train and tube and shanks' pony.

Anyway, logistics aside, I went for a flavour combination of vanilla on vanilla, mixed with a few cheeky chocolate buttercream iced ones as well.  For the colour scheme, shades of blue in big and mini stars and initials, with matching glitters (of course) kept it about as masculine as you can get with cupcakes (though I'm always on the look out for tiny cutters in the shapes of spanners, etc)

The cupcakes were a big success.  The party was an even bigger success, with Uncle J winning a clear award for 'Surprise birthday party candidate who was the most surprised ever'  We drank champagne and laughed and cried at his lovely speech.  Then toddled back to our hotel for a relax, before heading out for more eating and plenty of cocktails. yum.

And a final word on the cupcakes too, I don't normally go for such bright colours as the blue here on the butter icing, but I think it turned out rather handsome in the end.

The towering inferno

It was Handsome husbands birthday recently.  Of all the cakes in the world, his most favourite is the classic chocolate and vanilla marble cake.  A pleasure to make, and a delight to eat.  Its so simple, it just begs to be eaten with cream, or custard, if you are feeling in the need of a winter warmer.  As it was, we were quite toasty enough with the thousands of candles on top.

Birthday brownies

It was Sensible K's birthday recently, which happily coincided with something of a mini school reunion for me and my girlfriends.  It was like the past 15 years hadn't happened.  We spent the whole afternoon sat around my folks kitchen table chatting, laughing and boozing, to moderation of course, as we did have bambinos to look after, some running around the house like loons, and other still as a bump, as with the lovely looking Sensible K, whose mini-me is due in just a few days time.

After a long lunch, I piled up dark gooey chocolate brownies into a tower and lit a candle on top.  After a badly sung chorus of Happy Birthday we tucked in to the coeliac friendly goodies, covered in double cream with a side helping of raspberries.  Darling boy and his chum, dressed as Buzz Lightyear, rushed in and managed to find a few moments in their busy schedule of whatever it is 2 year olds do, to cram in as many chocolate brownies as they could get away with, before zooming outside for more conker collecting and running about screaming, now powered by chocolate.

The Entrepeneur's cupcakes

Sister in law came down last weekend with the Entrepeneur for his birthday.  We headed to North Devon's loveliest beach for the boys to jump in the waves and have a surfing lesson.  Darling boy and Little brother and I joined them for a picnic on the beach.  We were lucky with the sun and spent a lovely morning lying on the beach staring at the sky, whilst Darling happily soaked his entire outfit from the socks up playing in the rock pools.

Later that afternoon, we headed back to the farm with the Entrepeneurs birthday present, 2 dozen cupcakes; 12 gingerbread cupcakes, and 12 a new flavour, mint choc chip cupcakes.  They went down a storm and were eagerly guzzled up by the menfolk, hungry after a day of surfing the waves.

chocolate and salt caramel tart

There seems to be a weird collective spirit amongst the family I married into to cluster birthdays all into the same small patch of weeks in the spring time.  Its a busy old time for cards, presents and of course, birthday cake making.

Little brother is finally here (joining the spring gang it must be noted) creating all the joy and pandemonium that a new baby brings.  However birthday cakes must still be made, and what sort of girl would I be if I didn't bake lovely Sister in law a birthday cake of her favourite chocolate flavour when she was down for her birthday weekend when Little brother was 2 weeks old.  I had pulled this recipe from a magazine some time ago and had been eagerly awaiting Sister in law's birthday so that I could make it for her- she being devoted, nay, evangelical about salt caramel.

It turned out very well, the dark chocolate being almost ganache like with a good slug of double cream and butter melted into it.  The caramel was pleasingly oozy, with a good sea salt tang to it and the crumbly base a good contrast to the richness above.

If you haven't had salt caramel before, I urge you to rush out and try it...you might like it.

Handsome husband and the big three oh

It's Handsome husbands birthday tomorrow.  The big 30.  He is famously grumpy about birthdays, but I've got some surprises tucked up my sleeve (and stashed in the wardrobe) and I hope they will bring a smile to his lovely face.

Some surprises are for tomorrow, and one is for next Spring time (that's the present from Darling boy) and he also has some great presents to open tomorrow too which I hope he will like.

For his birthday cake (which we will have on Saturday) I am planning to make a chocolate brownie cheesecake (as per his request) and as a surprise I am going to make a chocolate truffle cow to go on the top.

Much debate was had today with Marvellous mum who was down for the day and with Mr Cruwys Morchard chum at playgroup (the naturally home of all gossip) as to what to make the cow from, either dyed fondant icing (easy to mold, not so tasty) or marzipan dipped in chocolate (this is the yummy, but volatile method, would the chocolate stick? would the cow fall apart once dipped in the warm chocolate goo?) ...Then Marvellous mum had the genius suggestion to make the moo from chocolate truffles.  I tell you, she really is a marvel!

So, in-between here and this weekend, I have to make the squillions of cupcakes and mini cupcakes, the snaps and cookies for the market, the cupcake order for this weekend, and a birthday cake, and a chocolate truffle cow.  Easypeasy.  Especially since we are out for most of tomorrow, and I'm working on Friday.

First job is to make a time-machine.  Actually, that's the second job, the first job is much more fun- and that's to make sure Handsome husband has a very happy birthday.

One night as a princess

For my 30th, Handsome husband excelled himself and I was showered with lovely presents and a treat so special and wonderful, I’m looking forward to what he might have planned for my 40th!

I had a lovely lie in and enjoyed opening all my prezzies from friends that had arrived in the post and the weekend before, hand delivered by my dear friends.

Handsome husband gave me my presents from him and our Darling boy, included in which was an original canvass, created by our budding artist, although he is only 14 months, he knows his way around with a pastel crayon. The application of a hint of his favourite breakfast cereal in one corner certainly adds texture.

Written inside my (home-made) card was a surprise I really wasn’t expecting- a dinner for two that night at Gidleigh Park- a 2 michieln star restaurant. Such a treat- I was so excited.

First up was a picnic on Charmouth beach, we stopped by at Hugh Fernley Whittingstalls for our fare. He has a canteen and store in nearby Axminster. We have been there quite a few times and were regulars for quite a while. Bread, cheese and two Chunk pork pies were the order.

We then hoped across the road to the bakery for lardy cake and then headed to the beach.
Handsome husband hunted for dinosaurs and Darling boy and I inspected the stones on the beach for taste and aerodynamics. Although it had been a bleak morning, the sun was shining as we were on the beach and it was a blissful afternoon.

Back at home Daring boy went to grannies and we headed back to shower and change for our posh dinner. Suitably dressed for the occasion in silk dress and golden heels with a tiny turquoise evening bag for me, and a dashing charcoal suit for Handsome husband, we stepped out and were soon whizzing along the Devon countryside in the dusk towards Gidleigh Park, a beautiful old house set near the moors. Aperitifs on arrival heralded an evening of pure indulgence. We opted for the tasting menu and were treated to 10 courses of exceptional food, each more amazing than the last. The staff were excellent, knowledgable and friendly, and had the sort of skill and discretion that when they left the table, they didn’t just walk away, they simply melted into the beautiful decor.

We were there for nearly 5 hours and just when we thought we couldn’t eat another thing, a third desert arrived, accompanied by handmade chocolates and a chocolate plaque iced to say Happy Birthday- it certainly was.

The countdown begins

In a few days, 12 to be precise, I shall no longer be 21years old, I shall in fact be 30...imagine! To mark this momentous occasion, I am planning a series of celebration events.

I have long believed in the ‘birthday weekend’ not just a day of fun for me, but a whole weekend. However, since I am leaving my twenties behind even more than a weekend is require. First off,Birthday celebrations round 1 is a weekend that I have been looking forward to ever since we moved to Devon. All of my university girlfriends will be coming to visit- with their assorted families, babies, children, husbands etc. It should be a brilliant weekend. 11 adults and 5 children. Yikes!

After that is Birthday Celebrations round 2 is a family do, marvellous mum and dad, Brainy bro and his delightful other half, will be down, as will sister in law and the Entrepreneur staying at the in-laws. There are tentative plans afoot for what to do, but just having my nearest and dearest is an excellent start.

Lets get the party started

The sunshine was out, guests arrived and pimms was poured. New friends from Devon and oldest pals from London were in attendance as well as our lovely relatives from both sides who had so kindly travelled from afar to join us.

Later in the afternoon, we gathered together around the old battered wooden table in the kitchen for singing happy birthday and cutting the cake. By this time, we had already gobbled all of the sandwiches and cupcakes, but somehow the revellers managed to find room for a slice of chocolate cake and a bowl of trifle. At the perfect moment, Brainy bro remembered the big blousy chocolate meringues I had stashed in the bottom oven of the aga for the beast to work it's magic on them. We stacked them, warm, sticky and chocolatey on a plate on the tea table. Tea was served and the whole cake disappeared!

Darling boy discovered a love of trifle (as suspected he might) he also had some chocolate cake and also squeezed in a few scones during the party too. Good to see he is taking after his mum!

Next up it was present time, Darling boy was very lucky as all of the prezzies were fabulous and very exciting to a little boy who is almost one. He was also very keen on the boxes that some of them came in.

After the party guests had gone home, Darling boy had a play on his new toys and then was up to bath and bed after a fun filled day. Some of the men folk went off to gather firewood ('me man, me make fire'- how wonderful!) and the remaining enjoyed a glass of pink chapmage and a well earned sit down.

Later that night, we gathered back around the kitchen table for chilli and jacket potatos cooked in the fire, and for talking long into the night.

What a lovely day, good company and good food. We have established what we thought all along, that our new home is a great place for parties. And, what a brilliant first birthday party too, here's to many, many more!

Dedication is what you need...

...If you wanna be a party planner! Actually, what you really need is to rope in family and friends and to dish out pinnys to all.

Blessed with an army of supporters, we rallied early on Sunday morning and after a round of bacon sandwiches and hot tea we got busy in the kitchen.

Three platters of egg, tuna and cheese sandwiches were buttered, sliced and artfully arranged. Balloons were blown up, chairs and blankets arranged outside and we got baking. The chocolate birthday cake was the first to go in. I decided to bake the two sandwiches of the cake separately so the heat would be even to both. They came out a success (phew!) and next to go in was the cupcakes. A near disaster was averted when I realised I didn’t have enough icing sugar for the double batch of chocolate icing, and the butter icing for the cupcakes. My wonderful Brainy brother volunteered to go on an expedition to the nearest shop for icing sugar and washing up liquid and the baking continued.

We iced the cupcakes in green, pink and lemon flavoured butter icing and decorated with dolly mixtures (thank you Nigella!) The trifle was cooling in the fridge and the jugs of Pimms was ready to go. I iced the birthday cake, placed it on a glass cake stand and decorated it with a star picked out in cocoa and one blue candle.

My wonderful dad kept Darling boy entertained whilst we whizzed and whirred about the house and garden getting everything ready. Just in time, Darling boy disappeared off for a snooze and the troops broke for lunch, and boy did we need it.