Fun-Filled February!

Evening All!

Many thanks to those of you who read my first blog entry of 2018 - I really appreciate you popping by!  Fingers crossed I didn't put you off with my ramblings, and you're back with me again!

So, how have you all been?  What have you been up to?  I was going to start by saying "it's been a bit of a quiet February", but when I look back at my diary, it's actually been a bit busy!  Baking wise, there was a double batch of cupcakes for an awesome birthday boy, who just happened to be one of my old pre-schoolers (I'm still in denial that they continue to grow up and get older when they leave us :D ).  And then there was 'that' cake - the Peter Rabbit one.  The one that I completely fell in love with and nearly didn't want to let go!  I still look back at the photos, think "Ooooooo, look what I made!" and want to do a happy dance!  When was the last time you had that feeling?  Please comment below and share the joy!

The rest of the month was busy family-wise, including a trip to Snowdonia and North Wales in our VW Camper (called Herman!) where we had a brilliant few days.  One of the highlights was having 'Welsh Tea' on a dis-used train carriage in Betws-y-Coed.  A pot of tea, welsh cake, and bara brith.  Simplicity, but scrummy!  And I knew that those were the 2 things we were going to want when we got home!

We are lucky enough to have at home a very, very, old welsh iron baking stone, which belonged to his lordships' grampy's grandfather ...... and was made in the local blacksmith in Bargoed.  It's black, and shiny, and hellishly heavy, but it's beautiful, and Mr C makes the best Welsh Cakes on it.  So it was only right that 2 days after we got back, he made a batch (thank goodness it still works on the induction hob!).  I'd love to say they lasted, but, well, they were warm and yummy, and the kids got hold of them, so ......!

See - they look delish don't they!  Raise your hand if you want some next time? :D

The other thing that has been on my 'To Do' list in my Maker's Yearbook ever since we got back, was to find out how to make, and to actually make, Bara Brith.  Done.  And Yum.  It smelt amazing coming out of the oven tonight, and Mr C couldn't even wait for it to cool down before he was hovering in the kitchen armed with a knife and some butter!  Hurrah!  Let's see if the kids like it tomorrow now .... if he's left them any .....

 

Enough ramblings from me for tonight ....... except to say ..... did I mention I'd pulled my big girl pants up and entered into the cupcake division of 'Cake International' in November ???  But we'll talk about that another time :)

Much Love
Kristy xx

It's been a long time coming ......

Well.  Blimey.  It's now 2018.  Where has the time gone?  I have to confess that this poor little blog fell by the way side along the way over the last few years.  We now have a teenager in the house, and  Master Stardust who is nearly 3 and they take up most of our time.  We've moved to the outskirts of Farnborough, but that hasn't put of my lovely customers, and my cakes are still going down well (I hope!) :)

So.  Why the resurrection of this blog?

This.  This is the reason.

Before Christmas, I was gifted an amazing planner (thanks Sis!) called 'The Maker's Yearbook 2018'.  My sis has this belief in me and my cakes, and decided I needed to do something a bit more solid about it.  It was the push I needed to refocus and regroup and make some decisions.

I first started baking for fun back in 2011.  Wow.  7 years ago.  And I am sad to admit that I don't think I've progressed my skills as much as I could have done in that time.  Ok, so having just scrolled clllllllll the way back through my Facebook page to find my first 'celebration cake' back in 2012, I can see that maybe I've progressed a little bit ..... :D

But, I haven't got the skills I think I should have by now.  Partly through a lack of confidence, a lack of time (the poorest of excuses really), prioritising cash flow (cake courses are always bottom of the list unfortunately), blah, blah, blah......... I decided I needed to stop making excuses, decide what I wanted to do, and do something about it!  This planner has been brilliant in helping me make a start in figuring out what I want and how I want to get there.  I make small daily goals, and long term plans.  I focus a week at a time, which is much more manageable.  I'm learning to value my time more.  And my brain is constantly buzzing with 'I really want to have a go at ....' ideas!  It's wicked!  Are there any other 'Makers' out there?  What do you think of the planner?

So, apologies in advance.  One of my goals is to brain dump once a month about what I've been up to!  I'm not going to post lots of pictures of the cakes I've been making.  Go follow my Facebook page and you'll see them on there.  This is more about me.  My personal 'cakes' development.  Warts and all.   And I don't doubt that there'll be some failures along the way too, so of course I'll post them too for you all to laugh at!  Macaron's, I'm coming to get you this year!!

Much love
Kristy x