Jam with a hole

We had a friend came over for dinner, his wife is away for a couple of weeks and is not so keen to cook for himself. I know he likes to eat a little baking, so I put together some cookies and cupcakes as I lunch box care package. (Also for Michael)

I used a sugar cookie, and spread one with plum jam, tops brushed with sugar syrup and dipped in castor (fine) sugar.

Final Rose

Here it is, i think it is pretty awesome myself. I'm I allowed to say that?

A couple of rough edges, but it is amazing only after 10 or 15 tries.

Same flower, just a slightly different angle.

More practice

Okay so many minutes watching you tube and I am getting better. 

I think they are starting to look pretty good myself. I just have to keep making them until they are. 

There always seems to one that is the one to keep out of so many made.

I will keep going until they are all keepers.

Rose Practice

Okay so I decided I can do anything, yes that is right anything. A friend asked me if I would do her wedding cake. Wedding cakes freak me out!  Because it is a big day, and everything needs to be perfect. A simple cake was requested so I said 'YES',  I can do simple. That is before I knew it was roses, okay I have been taught how to make them. That is the first part done, it looks so simple on you tube, But.. I did it

It is fantastic when you have a plan and it starts to work out, I intend to practice until the big day, or week. 

I brought two lots of cutters, as the first cutter I brought were the petal cutters as singles, as I couldn't find the 5 petal easy rose cutters. Which is okay as now I can make single rose petals to scatter in a few places around the cake.

 

My cones in all different sizes, that needs a little work.

I also tired to use the pasta roller for thin petals but it kept breaking so back to the old rolling pin, also it is pretty warm inside at the moment and they are getting hard fast.

Knitting baby Mila a christmas gift.

How a love a little persons clothes, and knitting them is fun too. One, they are quick to knit and two, they look so cute in them.

I decided on a Debbie Bliss pattern called matinee coat.

In a gorgeous pink of course. The wool is by Filatura Di Crosa baby and is called Principessa it is a extra-fine merino. Colour 375. (I think it is a 5 ply) 

I am half way thru the right front and then will be on to the sleeves. 

Not A Pie Maker

Here it is, my first pastry made from scratch.

I have tried pastry before, as I love to eat it. Never before have they worked out.

So I had some time off work a few weeks ago and thought I would give it another go.

Lucky I did too, it worked out. I did have faith in the recipe. Armed with apples, I sautéed them in a little butter until soft. At the time I was drinking a pomegranate and blueberry juice, so I added a little of that and reduced it down.

I added a little crumble mix on top.

I forgot to photograph it after I cooked it and before we ate it. The end result was I golden crunchy top and a crisp semi-sweet pastry topped with vanilla ice cream of course.  (you will have to take my word for it.

I had leftover pastry that I took to work and made mini chocolate ganache tarts. They were good, as I ate 2.