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

I am Back!

I haven't dropped off the face of earth but am back with a new vengeance! This is one cake of many that I have done in my absence from the blogging world.

It was ordered by a lovely girl who has had many cakes from me before. This was for a good friend who is serving out in Iraq. he is only seventeen and his older (19) brother is also out in Iraq. The cake was to celebrate him winning his first ever boxing fight. The Buzz Lightyear model was because he has always wanted a Buzz Lightyear of his own - I found the head really hard to do but persevered!

She was delighted when she came to pick up the cake and even brought Kyle's Mum!


Helen x

www.aardvarkcakes.co.uk

A strange looking Mixed Berry Cobbler - TWD

Sorry everyone, I just could not fit in anything else this week apart from my orders. We are seriously eating microwave meals just to stay alive but hope to be back on form next week (or maybe the week after!)

In the meantime a photo of what has been keeping me so busy...

Next week Tuesday with Dorie recipe - Apple Cheese Scones (Not great for a cheese hater like me!)

Cream Puff Ring without the Peppermint - TWD

I have been naughty - I have strayed from the rules - Ok, well maybe not that far but I haven't exactly done exactly what I should have this week - This week's Tuesday with Dorie bakeree was chosen by fellow Uk blogger Caroline from Consuming Passion. I have to admit to not being that inspired by the recipe and being very tempted to give it a miss but no...that's not the spirit. I couldn't justify the Peppermint Cream part of the recipe as no-one in this house would eat it but the Puff Ring (Choux pastry) was something I thought I had better try. I have always thought making this would be really difficult BUT IT WAS FAB!!! I now think I will be taking homemade eclairs everywhere I go - I really feel this week that I have learned something that I would not have if it were not for TWD.

I made the ring but had loads left over for mini eclairs, which I served with Raspberry Ripple Ice-cream and Dulce de leche that needed using up - Wow, what a combo.

The verdict?
Dermot (husband) - Absolutely loved it although he thought I was mad for making it when there were nine other cakes in the house waiting to be decorated with more still to bake! I keep finding him nibbling the left-overs so take this as a good sign.

Millie (5 year old) said she liked it and could she have some with butter on in her packed lunch - but it came back home not eaten so who knows? Do kids count as testers when they are so fickle?

Moi? Yum - Will def do again!

Next week - Mixed Berry Cobbler - That sounds like a proper pud!