Happy Betwixtmas....

Having finally emerged (I'm not sure whether quite triumphant or not), from the cake mixture, oh and the snow of the last few weeks, I realise I am guilty as charged of abandoning my online duties. Facebook, Twitter, my blog.......sadly they all fell by the wayside, having to play second fiddle to my Christmas Cupcake baking / selling and my other supposedly, but not-so-part-time job!

So after all the madness and mayhem of the Festive season (I only managed to post 2 Christmas cards, tho' I did trot round with a card and cupcake offering to my nearby neighbours), I always find this time in between Boxing Day and New Year's Eve, a bit strange. It's like a much longed for calm following the frenetic food and present shopping, tree decorating and partying, then just as you're getting into that relaxed groove, you're supposed to rev yourself up again, ready to welcome in the New Year. Frankly, I could quite happily retire to bed before the stroke of midnight and sleep blissfully through into the New Year's morning. Clearly my days of revving myself up, getting into the party mood, slipping into a party frock and consuming copious glasses of celebratory champagne have passed - I simply can't be doing with hangovers anymore!

So rather than wish everyone a Happy New Year (which of course it goes without saying, I do), I'm going to wish you a HAPPY BETWIXTMAS instead and pledge to try to be a much more conscientious blogger in 2011.


Xxxx

All baked out....

Just finished baking cupcakes for tomorrow's Christmas sale at Mary Ann Rogers' studio in West Woodburn - Seriously Rich Chocolate flavour with Baileys swirl and another batch of Mince Pie Cupcakes with Brandy Buttercream. Yum!

Snow & the Christmas cupcake....

Christmas cupcakes a casualty of the snow............

Sadly, the people couldn't come! They wanted to come and some bravehearts did come, but not enough to save the Christmas cupcake from ending up in the bin!

Last weekend's snow had a devastating effect on the normally high numbers of people that would beat a path to Mary Ann Rogers' studio for her annual Christmas event.

That said, one very intrepid family came one day and bought cakes, and enjoyed them so much they ventured out a second day to buy more.....


A huge 'thank you' to all those who did make the trip out in beautiful but almost arctic weather conditions - I hope the cake was worth it!

Snow, the romance of it all....

And the snow kept coming....

First days of snow....

Christmas mince pies in a cupcake....

Coming this weekend...... Christmas Mince Pies in a cupcake! 3 delicious variations to choose from:

1) Traditional Mince Pie flavour cupcake with a Brandy buttercream swirl and a festive decoration to complete the look!

2) Cranberry & Port Mincemeat topped with an Orange infused buttercream, finished off with a Christmas bell decoration

3) A Chocolate Mincemeat cupcake beneath a Brandy buttercream swirl and a chocolate truffle on top

Plus a Cranberry & Orange cupcake that boasts a decadent sponge containing fresh cranberries, beneath an orange infused cream cheese frosting and decorated with fresh cranberries...

For any Northumberland followers, you'll find these festive cupcakes on sale at The Corbridge Larder this weekend (20, 21 November) and then at Mary Ann Rogers Christmas Open Days at her lovely West Woodburn studio 26, 27, 28 November and 4, 5 December. You can of course contact me directly if you can't make it along to either of these events.

Beyond cupcakes.....

I'd like to share with you, if I may, a note I received following a Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration at which I supplied the cupcakes and my better half supplied the technical support when the slideshow that had been prepared wasn't exactly going to plan.

Dear Fiona,

I cannot thank you enough for the beautful cupcakes and display for Saturday. Everyone was completely in awe of them and said how gorgeous they looked and what a spectacular display it was. My dad phoned last night and said he was tucking into his little take-home cake and said again how delicious it was!

I was also really touched by both your support on the day with my technical issues and your readiness to help out. I hope you got some good photos, I took some lovely ones too. I've passed on your details to my friend Claire, who was so amazed and may want to commission you herself.

Thank you so very much again for everything. It was perfect!
With very best wishes,
Jude x

A little box of loveliness....

Cupcake glamour....

Go on, join the cupcake revolution and add a touch of cupcake glamour to your weekend....

Cupcake anyone?

What better way to start the weekend, than with a fun and frivolous cupcake (or two!) Shown here - chocolate mocca, zesty lemon, almond, double chocolate and coffee lover's dream made from real espresso - just the caffeine fix you've been looking for!

A lucky find....

I'd been looking for an enamel bread bin for some time and then a chance visit to the local swimming pool of all places, turned into a lucky find! Unwittingly, I stumbled across an arts, crafts and antique fair, and more importantly, the lovely Julie, owner of The Cloth Shed - home of decorative accessories and vintage finds. I don't know what you think? But I think the vintage green enamel bread bin looks rather at home in my kitchen!

Could there be a scent so sweet....

as that of the wonderful aroma of a Caramelised Apple Cake in the baking? The warm sweetness of the light brown sugar, combined with the freshness of the apples - a real scent of home! The finished result, a moist creation, that's not quite a sponge and not quite an apple pie, but delectably delicious, especially served warm with a generous dollop of the finest vanilla ice-cream.

Not so much Blueberry Hill, but Blueberry cake....

I found my thrill.... With Blueberry cake,
Oh, Blueberry cake, When I found you.

In all it's glory....

There aren't too many people who fail to succumb to the morish moistness of a Carrot cake. This one vanished in no time at all! Containing juicy organic carrots, raisins and chopped walnuts, then finished off with a light and fluffy cream cheese frosting, a very light dusting of cinammon and a generous sprinkling of more chopped walnuts. Whole walnuts were then added all around the outside for that final  'wow' factor.

Spot the little bird....

I came across this display in Acanthus in Corbridge. I love the wonderfully decorated watering can which takes centre stage, the little wooden boxes featuring old postage stamps containing pictures of birds on them, oh and the white ornamental bird. Have you spotted it yet?

Hummingbird cake...

If you like the taste of bananas, you'll love this Hummingbird cake. Similar to Carrot cake, but made with bananas, pineapple and pecans. Moist and delicious.

Our signature cupcakes.....

Sticky toffee pudding cupcakes. My all time favourite! Absoutely delicious and can double as a pud as well as a teatime treat. Perfect with a cup of coffee....

Saying farewell to summer....

....and hello to autumn. So, whilst we have to say a sad farewell to our Summer Treats range of cupcakes, long, sunny days, and fresh summer fruits, Autumn brings it's own treats in the form of Blackberry & Apple cupcakes and Pumpkin cupcakes all in time for Halloween. So cosy up, light the candles, throw a log onto the fire and look forward to a warming cuppa, accompanied by one of these new cupcake flavours.  More on these, including pics, will follow in the coming days and weeks.

An acquired taste...

Always on the look-out for different and interesting cake recipes, I happened across one for a White Chocolate, Cardomom & Rosewater Sponge. An unusual combination of flavours, I think you'll agree. But somehow the delicately flavoured rosewater and white chocolate cream filling complements the exotic cardomom sponge perfectly! Anyone fancy a slice?