TWD Blueberry Crumb Cake The Sequel

There's not much to say about these really - They dont look pretty, They taste quite nice and I've eaten 2 pieces. I can't say they blew me away - I put too much lemon zest in so this might be why but again they were ok!

We even tried them for breakfast and it was exactly like I expected..I felt like I was eating cake for breakfast - sadly, this isnt the first time I've done this!

Next week will be Coconut Butter Thins chosen by The Barefoot Kitchen Witch.

TWD - Blueberry Crumb Cake

After a break of about 6 months from the baking group, Tuesdays with Dorie, I am back with spatula in hand and kitchen aid at the ready. This group bake every week from the book Baking From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan. If you haven't come across this book yet, rush out and buy it - its fantastic. The aim of this group is to get us baking something that we might not normally try and most of the recipes I have done so far have been a great success (We don't really mention the homemade marshmallows very often in our house!) This weeks recipe was chosen by Sihan from Befuddlement The recipe can be found on Sihan's site (or in the book obviously!)I don't think I am officially due to start back yet but decided to go with the recipe anyway!

The good news is that the recipe was easy to follow and smells delicious - The bad news is that it is still in the oven - Not sure how you would be able to get this recipe done, cooked and eaten for breakfast but so far I'd say it would be worth it - I can't wait for it to come out!

In the meantime, I will leave you with a picture of a recent wedding cake which consisted of a 7" fruit tier with 50 cupcakes all with sparkly hearts.

A new one for me! I know nothing about Star Wars but will give anything a go! This is supposed to be R2D2 (?) with Star Wars type writing. For a little boy who is gorgeous and sooo chirpy!

Cupcake Gift Boxes

I have wanted to offer gift boxes of special cupcakes for ages and haven't been able to get the right boxes - well, now I have got them! AND I LOVE THEM!

I can't believe how popular they have become already which is lovely!

This picture shows a ladie's box of pink vanilla birthday cupcakes but any combination and any decoration is possible! I can't wait to get on with all the ones I have in mind!

Valentine's Trade Fair

What a busy week that was! Instead of doing one trade fair, Aardvark Cakes tried 2 in a week! Thanks to Shop Direct in Speke where we have been going since October 2008, Aardvark Cakes had the opportunity to visit the Aintree location of the Littlewoods Group. Another bunch of really friendly people who make our job so enjoyable!

Just a small selection of the cupcakes that we had on offer are here: Chocolate Fudge, Valentine Vanilla and Cupid's Carrot!

A Cake for the great Outdoors - Not to be confused with a Great Cake for Outdoors!

Quite a brief accompanied this cake order...An 18 year old that loves trecking and all things outdoors. He was getting a North Face Black Jacket for his birthday which had to be featured aswell as his IPod (A must for all 18th cakes it seems!) Gareth's Mum requested a few of his past interests and present hobbies be included on the cake...the lettering is in the style of Warhammer covering gareth's love of military history, Lego Pieces, Life Saving float and rubber ring and books. Gareth is also a lover of Wheetos and carries them on every exhibition often eating them out of the box -That took ages to paint!! His face is not supposed to look dirty - its stubble!

I have to admit this is not of one my favourite designs but I do love that it is so individual to its recipient.

Happy New Year - A new organised me!

I am starting 2009 as I mean to go on - with lots of projects on the go and lots of news years resolutions that will NOT be broken! One of them being to be Mrs Organised and to update thishere blog a LOT more regularly!

I am showing today a cake that I did at the end of November. I have done a number of cakes for this family and love that they encourage something a bit funky but give me pretty much free reign on the design. That is another resolution for this year - to produce more funky cakes and offer something a little bit daring or different. Not sure how the rest of St Helens will take this on board but time will tell!

Every bit on this cake was edible - I had to think a bit in advance to make sure the 'ribbons' on the top were dry enough to hold their shape - I made these out of 50/50% flower paste and fondant. It was only when I had finished that I remembered I have some really cool black and sparkly ribbon that would have looked brill around the edges of the cake but never mind!

I would love to know what people think of the design and what resolutions are out there for 2009!

Helen x
www.aardvarkcakes.co.uk