TumTum & Nutmeg

Don't you just love children's books? I have just bought a proper (with chapters) night time book for my eldest (who is nearly 5) called TumTum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn and it looks so adorable. The website carries recipes from the book, including cinnamon toast, which is something my sister and I used to make, although once or twice we nearly set fire to the kitchen, as the sugar melts and then burns v v quickly!! If you've never made it you should try, all you do is mix a few tablespoons or sugar with a tablespoon of cinnamon. (you can adjust the taste to your preference). Toast some bread, butter it, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar onto it and reheat under the grill, until it's melted (but not burnt!!!) Yummy!

Yesterday our car went in for its MOT, and failed, so after the garage said to fix upto £1000 (!) I had to get a bus back into Brighton, with my 2 children at 5:30pm, we stopped at Carluccios and treated ourselves to yummy chocolate cake squares. It certainly helped take the blow off their money grabbing charges. Today they have costed the job at £375, which is better, but still not great. So they have the car, till they can fix it, and I needed it to get the eldest to a party tomorrow, and its fancy dress!!! Hassle! I'm about to look up the buses to get there!

Cake Class Is Back On

I finally got to go to my cake decorating class last night (after cancellations & work keeping me away). We are making roses, and they are very similar to the ones described in Peggy Porschen's Romantic Books and, for once, using the identical cutters and everything!!! I will post pictures when I make a few more and show you what I'm achieving.

I do plan on making a nice Valentine's Cake for my husband, to get a bit more cake decorating practice in (and to express my love!!!!)

Amarylis

This is the red amarylis that I have been growing over the last 2 months. I bought the bulb in a supermarket, and think it looks stunning. Next year I think I'll plant 3 in a rechatngular pot, which I think will look gorgeous together.

I'm also thinking of what to do on our 2 balconies, to give them year round interest and colour as well. All suggestions welcome.

I'll probably be growing tomatoes and courgettes over the summer.

What's In a Name?

I haven't been able to blog or do much lately, as I've been run off my feet with work and children and house things.

Still, looking back at my past few posts, I seem to have switched to baking and cake decorating. Which made me consider the following:

Should I split the blog into 2: One called Bake&Do and one still Make&Do??

As I don't have enough time (alas) for 2 blogs, and struggling to post weekly on 1 I won't, for now. But who knows, life may oneday settle and there'll be a bit more time for the fun and great things in life!!!

Cool New Books

Just so you know, I received for Xmas, Confetti Cakes Cookbook by Elisa Strauss and Romantic Cakes by Peggy Porschen. I've yet to create anything, but when I do I'll give my appraisal of the instructions. Peggy's book may be useful for my class, as she does a lot of flowers, while Elisa's book has more fun styled cakes without being tacky.

If you have used these books, please let me know!

New Year Baking

To kick start NYE I decided to bake some chocolate cupcakes, iced with just a small amount of chocolate buttercream, and then I made some regallice stars, painted with gold edible colouring! Very yummy and partyish!