Time for a little Pink

 



It's October and everyone is busily raising money for Breast Cancer. Dear hubby happily volunteered my cupcake making services for works Big Pink Bake Off,  not that I mind really as it's something to keep me busier than usual and a chance to attempt some icing ideas I've not done before.( really I'm just happy to avoid doing the housework for a day or two)

I'm teaching myself cake decorating, and so am not at all equipped with any real decorating tools.  Fearful that this will end in disaster as I attempt to make ribbons, I set the lovely Louise of Cakes from the Heart some questions which she was more than happy to answer. Armed with some new knowledge  and expert tips, I head out to buy supplies (pink icing and some edible shimmer dust)

Trusty wooden rolling pin in hand, I roll out both white and pink "ready to roll icing", using my standard cookie cutters a few toothpicks and and a knife, I set about constructing cupcake toppers and Breast cancer pink ribbons.

Monkey-moo didn't want to miss out on all this fun I was having, so I set him up with Playdoh and his own rolling pin and shape cutters. Once he was occupied, I continued to roll, cut and mould the icing shapes. Pleased with the selection I had, I laid them out over night to set.





Making the cakes was a crazy day, not only were teachers on strike, meaning TWO Monkey-moos at home, but I'd also managed to offer my services to take 3 other little monkeys to football that afternoon. Up against it, time wise I thought it best not to deviate from my "ole faithful" cupcake recipe. And besides, it has never let me down!

Sticking with the Pink theme, I whipped up two batches of batter, and coloured the one batch pink.(not making it easy for myself when the clock is ticking am I?)

Mini pink and white marbled pink cupcakes produced by spooning first white mix into each case and then some pink and swirling lightly with a fork. (I hope they come out as envisioned)
In the oven they go!

Once cooled, I rush round mixing up strawberry butter cream icing and piping it onto the cupcakes. (the clocks ticking, nearly time to collect boys and get them to football, one eye on the clock, one on the cakes, tick tock)

Completing with sliding the cupcake toppers into place, and feeling rather proud that I've got it all done before running three boisterous boys to football!

 

All boxed up and ready for the Big Pink Bake off!

 

Birthday 3 for Monkey-Moo

Little Moo is about to turn THREE, three....can that be true? Where on earth does the time go?
 



Recent weeks have been spent trying to work out what cake the little Moo would like for his special day...we've been round in circles, from pirates, to trains, buses and ducks, cars, camper vans and Minions...but finally settled on the Hungry Caterpillar.
                                              

Thanks to Pinterest, I've found a fairly simple and effective Hungry Caterpillar cake to attempt. Take a look at the original, I hope mine does it proud!

   To construct the caterpillar, I baked two batches of my trusted cupcake recipe, and for the cake, decided to go with the fabulous Betty Crocker Devils Food cake mix, it never fails to please! With two Monkey-Moos Chocolate cake is always the requested favourite, and I find that Betty never makes a dry cake at all! Go Betty, you rock! 

Using butter cream icing, I made up two batches of a lighter green and a very dark green for the body.
Fortunately I thought to grab a couple spoonfuls of butter cream icing before adding the green, and coloured some dark yellow and left just enough to sandwich the two cakes together and do a crumb coat for the face.



Piping bags in hand I set about dropping spoonfuls of dark and green icing into the icing bag ( I should have used two bags inside a third to get the swirled two toned effect I was after) and iced all the cupcakes, even the ones I knew I wouldn't use (just in case there was any emergencies-Eek)

I used Poppy Red ready to roll icing/fondant to do the face, rolled it out and popped over the crumb coat. I've not yet mastered that skill, and so was left with a few folds that I tried to hide. More practise needed using fondant I think!

I had some lilac icing/fondant left over from a cake a month before so moulded it to shape and rolled it for the feelers.

During the deciding phase I had purchased some black icing/fondant for the wheels of either bus or camper van, so this came in handy when I remembered the caterpillar needed some feet! Simply moulded and flattened them by hand, simple!

I arranged the all the cupcakes, continually referring to Pinterest for guidance and placed the head,feelers and feet as needed.
I'm proud of my cake.
Birthday Monkey-Moo LOVED it!

The go-to cupcake recipe

Whenever I need to whip up a batch of cupcakes for school fairs, church bake sales or simply because Monkey and Moo need keeping busy on a rainy Saturday morning. This is my "go-to" recipe. It's adapted from this little gem The BIG book of Baking.

The recipe I use is a standard fairy cake recipe, I make a few subtle changes to get it just the way we like it, particularly I like to add flavouring, occasionally colour, and changing the method slightly. 

You will need 

115g unsalted butter or baking margerine

115g caster sugar

2 large eggs

115g self raising flour

5ml vanilla extract or other flavouring(I favour Caramel essence, but use whatever you like)

Here's what to do. 

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. (I'm getting lazy since having Monkey-Moos so use the electric mixer instead of elbow grease)

Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each addition. Add the flavouring with the last egg addition.

Fold in the flour until just mixed. Don't over mix. 

Spoon the mixture into cupcake cases. Filling to about three quarters full. 

Place in pre heated oven 180' C for 15-20 minutes or until the cake tester comes out clean. 

And the finished result awaiting the decorative icing skills of two little MonkeyMoos. 

Enjoy!

 

Whoo hoo I'm blogging.

After months of thinking "Yes, I'm going to write a blog", I've finally put that butt in gear and got started. So here we go! I hope you'll enjoy what I have to share and come back from time to time to see what me, Monkey and Moo are up to.

For my first entry I thought I'd take you back in time and share our Father's day project;

We started off with a morning of art fun, cutting cereal boxes (yes, that was my department) drawing shapes (here I had some help) and colouring them in (all the work of two little Monkey-Moos).

Monkey and Moo were very enthusiastic! A few spats over whose turn it was with the red crayon, but all in all a fun filled and very busy morning.
With props completed we took a long walk down to the common, Mom with camera in hand and Monkey-Moos with enthusiasm in abundance!

Monkey and Moo were super happy about posing and holding up their props, Mom pleasantly surprised by the amount of cooperation!

 

We experiment choosing locations and poses and acting very silly in between. I was very happy with the results (as all moms know, getting two little Monkey-Moos to keep still and smile on cue while staying posed as you've asked is NEVER easy)

 

Lastly to complete our Father's Day gift, we picked our winner, printed and framed it for daddy's desk. (I believe it's on proud display!)