Summer holiday dreaming

So here they are, the summer holidays are upon us! I can't believe it's already the end of another school year and as my eldest starts Junior school in September, I'm feeling particularly nostalgic this week.

What are everyone's plans for this holiday season? I wish I could say our time was full of anticipation for our family holiday to *insert suitable location here* but alas one of the downsides of being self employed is the lack of savings for such fun holiday jaunts in the sun.

Making cake pops - a photographic guide!

I've been swamped with work over the last few weeks so my blog posts have been few and far between but I did manage to 'pap' a few photos when I was making some vanilla bean cake pops last week. I thought you might like to see them at their humble beginnings before they become the cake pops that we all know and love...

Buttercream piped rose cupcake

Buttercream piped rose - I will NEVER tire of making these! 

(Made using a Wilton 104 nozzle and lots of creamy buttercream)

Zero baking sprinkled fudge

Sprinkles make me happy

EDIT: I wrote this blog post a few weeks ago and then saw that Maison Cupcake was running a zero baking event so am republishing with the recipe listed below.

Before and after - chocolate chip cookies

Before: ultra dark chocolate chip cookie batter straight from the fridge

After: 7" giant cookie straight from the oven.

It were reet nice. You can make it too using the recipe here.

Working girl

The 'wall of ribbon' at Sweet Success. A true sight to behold.

Happy Friday readers! How are we all today? I can't believe July is just around the corner, when did THAT happen?? You know what this means don't you? My baby boy will be 2 this month, I literally have no idea where the time has gone...

So these past few months have been full of change and seen the start of lots of new adventures for me. I've started my new bakery venture - Swirls Bakery - which is going from strength to strength and we're busy booking into wedding fairs as we speak so that's very exciting!

Strawberries, pastry and whipped cream. YES.

Yummy dessert! So quick and easy to make.

Whilst walking through Nottingham the other day I spotted some fabulous looking strawberries on a stall in Nottingham city centre. Now, I have a real soft spot for a yummy strawberry and as my plants aren't quite bearing fruit yet I couldn't help but indulge and buy a big punnet to snack on. Luckily my boys are also strawberry lovers so we shared them all whilst continuing our jaunt around town.

Robot cupcakes - yummy fun!

A few months ago I entered a competition over at 'Love, life and living with boys' and ended up winning some rather cool little robot themed 'Yumbot' cupcake moulds.