My New Website

I've got a new website!

Come and visit me..........

  http://www.teatimecakelady.co.uk/

 Afternoon tea party dates listed, Cakes to order and gifts to buy.

Hope to see you there soon!

A Slice of Something Nice

Lots of baking has been going on, just not much blogging. We've all been a bit under the weather recently too, I blame the germs that circulate on planes. I was very lucky and OH took me on a surprise break to Prague. We had a lovely time and of course I ate cake, we went to the famous Cafe Imperial and I had a slice of Imperial Cake (well it would have been wrong not to!) OH had a slice of Raspberry Cake and I tried that too!!
Today I baked a Bakewell Slice not very Eastery but tasty all the same. Don't forget to book up for the next Afternoon Tea.

Oldie but a Goodie

Not a new recipe but a really old one this week. An old fashioned cake called Bread Pudding from a book that I've had forever - Delia Smiths Complete Cookery Course. This is like my cookery bible - I'm sure most people have a book like this that you always look things up in; temperatures, timings, measurements for pancakes etc.... You can always rely on Delia!

Bread Pudding is wonderful for using up old bread. You can eat it hot with custard or cold with a cuppa. It is deliciously moist, spicy and fruity. If you've never tried it give it a go - easy and yummy!

Cooking the Books

I know this is late but there wasn't a lot of cooking going on. I haven't felt that great and then it was half term and I find things have to be very flexible, even more so as the children get older. Back to baking now .... I have had a few new cook books over Christmas so thought I'd do a spot of baking from them. First one was from the River Cottage Everyday - Lemon Curd Marbled Muffins, made with homemade Lemon Curd which is really easy and so much nicer than shop bought.
Not sure about the texture of these muffins though (they are not supposed to be mixed very much but girl thought she was helping by giving them a good mix when I wasn't looking!), but I will give them another go, maybe doing Jam marbling this time.

Don't forget to book up for Afternoon Tea soon.

What have I been up to!

I know, I haven't posted for a while but the run up to Christmas was manic. There have been Afternoon Teas going on and lots of baking though. I will try really hard to update every Friday from now on.... Promise!

As you will see, I have put new dates on for this year, starting with Mother's Day, also a new page about Afternoon Teas at Home.

Here are a few pictures of what I've been up to baking wise.

Look what I've got!

Not the best picture I admit but apparently the best Victoria Sponge!!!
Yes it's true... I won the Victoria Sponge baking competition in the Village Show. The family were not as suprised as I was as its is their favorite bake. To celebrate this acheivement I shall be baking one for my next Afternoon Tea on 15th October at 2pm. Spaces still available.

A GBBO Challange

In case you don’t know, GBBO stands for ‘The Great British Bake Off’ of which I am an avid watcher. I did apply this year but didn’t even get a reply back, the family recon I need more of a back story so I’m not in the highest demographic, which leads to some amusing dinner conversations when they come up with various bizarre stories! Anyway, something they had on there recently was a Battenburg Cake which I hadn’t made before – so I gave it a go. I was quite pleased with the result and it didn’t last long so I guess everyone else liked it too.
You may notice from the picture the deliberate mistake……. The outside of the Battenburg is white – I used fondant icing instead of marzipan as marzipan is not very popular in my house. Why use something that no one likes just because its traditional!
I think a Battenburg may make an appearance at the next Afternoon Tea which is on 15th October.
Contact me to book your place.