Dora the explora back pack

My 3 years old made this...LMAO

She said she can design her own birthday cake and I let her do it. I was super amazed it came out quite pretty lol. I laid the fondant on the cake for her though and she did the rest. Kudos to her! Lol

Pretty cake designs

Adding shine to your fondant Pt 2

The first part of this post is in my prebious post!

The list is endless but try these once out as well;

1. Kneed a little quantity of crisco shortening in the fondant before laying it.

2.corn syrup/alcohol mix (half and half) to glaze over. It takes a little time to dry, but is shiney!

3.Egg whites: brush lightly over the fondant.

4.Everclear: this is a brand of of alcohol, brush over fondant as well.

5. Pam: this is a non-stick cooking spray, spray over the fondant about 5meters away from the cake.

Adding shine to your fondant pt 1

I used to wonder how some fondant cakes look so glossy, after a research I tried these tips and I got awesome results. Let me share some of them with you:

1. Steaming: steaming a fondant-covered cake not only gives it a beautiful shine, but also get's rid off all the powdered sugar left on the fondant.

By being able to clean off the powdered sugar by steaming it, I don't have to worry so much about keeping the cake clean until it's finished. It always comes out looking beautiful.
I hope this helps.

2.Edible vanish:
1 t. gelatin
3 t. water
1 t. liquid glucose

Sprinkle gelatin in the water. Let stand until it becomes spongy. Dissolve until clear over hot, not boiling water, Add the liquid glucose and stir until ingredients are well combined. Pour this mixture into an airtight container. The mixture will get very stiff. To use it, heat the varnish in a container of hot, not boiling, water. Paint onto the item to be varnished while the mixture is still hot. The edible varnish should NOT be kept in the refrigerator.

Sorry dear readers

So sorry dear readers for been absent for awhile. It was due to network problems and I was also into a little bit of celebration last weekend.
Good new is, I am back!
Missed you all *kisses*

Cocoa and vanilla smoothie recipe

This is as well easy to prepare, have fun as you try it out.




How to make Cocoa and vanilla smoothie

Ingredients

2 whole wheat breakfast cereal biscuits e.g. Weetabix
200ml semi-skimmed milk
200g vanilla yogurt
1tsp cocoa

Method

Place all the ingredients in a liquidiser or food processor and blend until smooth.
Serve with a dusting of cocoa.

Readers can send in recipes too.
Happy cooking!

Banana and Strawberry Smoothie recipe

This is an easy one to try at home, why not try it and send me some images so I can share them?




Ingredients

banana, sliced
100g - strawberries, quartered
150ml (1/4pt) - orange juice
100ml - plain yoghurt
1 tsp - runny honey

Method
Put the bananas, strawberries, orange juice, yogurt and honey into a blender or food processer and blend until you have a nice smooth mixture. Pour into glasses and it's ready for drinking! Serve with an extra couple of strawberries, if you like.
Substitute 25g (1oz) of the strawberries for blueberries, if you like.

Feel free to make suggestions or ask questions.

Happy cooking :)

Almond cakes with rose-scented icing recipe

Hello dear readers I'd like to go bit out of cakes and baking once a while, a friend suggested I post recipes on beaverages, drinks and juices, her reason is, cakes are mostly taken alongside these. So, after this delicious recipe I'll drop a few posts on beaverages:d

How to make Almond cakes with rose-scented icing

Ingredients

175g (6oz) light butter
250g (8oz) caster sugar
4 eggs, beaten
125g (4oz) ground almonds
125g (4oz) plain flour
½tsp baking powder
½tsp almond essence
For the icing
150g icing sugar
1tsp natural essence of rosewater
a little pink food colouring
crystallised rose petals

Method

Preheat oven to Gas 4, 180°C, 350°F.
Line a 12-hole muffin tin with cake cases or use silicone fluted cake moulds
or muffin moulds.
Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, gradually beat in the eggs. Add the almonds, flour, baking powder and almond essence and lightly fold in using a large metal spoon.
Divide the mixture between cases or moulds and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden and firm to the touch. Allow to cool then turn out of the silicone moulds if using.
Mix icing sugar with rosewater and a teaspoon or two of water to make a thick icing. Add food colouring and drizzle over the cakes.
Decorate each cake to suit the occasion. These cakes will keep for up to 3-4 days in a cake tin.

Enquiries, suggestions are always welcome.

Happy cooking!

Cupcakes for a bad day recipe

Are you going through a bad day or had one of those bad days either at the office, the non-stop rains, long fuel queue's or just a plane bad day, not to worry this is an easy recipe that'll help you to relax :)

Ingredients
4oz flour, self-raising
4oz sugar
large, free range eggs
200g icing sugar
100g butter, softened

Method
Pre-heat oven to gas mark 4/180° C and fill a 12 hole cupcake tray with cupcake cases. (Depending on how big you want your cupcakes, this recipe may give you more or less than 12).
Crack open your eggs and pour the sugar into a bowl, place this bowl inside a larger bowl of boiling hot water. (Place inside, do not pour!) Then, using an electric whisker, take your anger out on whisking the eggs with the sugar until a pale yellow mixture starts to form.
Once the mixture starts to thicken, take the bowl out of the bowl filled with water, and keep whisking for another 20 seconds.
Sieve approximately ¼ of the flour over the sugar and egg mixture, and in a 'figure of 8' fold in until there is no sign of flour left. Repeat this with the rest of the flour.
Transfer mixture into cupcake cases, and place in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes, or until the tops of the cupcakes are going a golden colour, and are springy to the touch.
When done, remove cupcakes from oven and leave to cool in their tray.
Whilst waiting to cool, make your buttercream topping; Combine icing sugar and butter together, until thick and creamy. Spoon the mixture into a piping and once the cupcakes are fully cooled, decorate cupcakes with the buttercream mixture in preferred way. Top with any decorations and sprinkles as desired. Wait until buttercream has slightly hardened and serve!
So, you've had a bad day?
The first thing you want to do is reach for your biscuit tin and scoff your face with chocolate to make you feel better. Instead, try this fat free cupcake recipe. Satisfying, yet less calories.

Questions,suggestions and observations are welcome.

Happy cooking!

Credit-tesco