My Vintage Valentine

 Afternoon foodies!

I FINALLY got myself down to the Sheffield Clandestine Cake Club and it was fantastic! I baked a simple cake, in the February vintage valentine theme and really enjoyed sharing my ideas with loads of other baking fanatics. My pretty in pink cake was a rose, raspberry and pistachio layer cake, with rose piped buttercream, fresh raspberries and crushed pistachios to decorate.

 I was so pleased as it went down well, but still had plenty to share with house mates when I got home!

 Before I went I even took a few cheeky cake selfies! They get progressively worse, or more entertaining - I will let you decide!

All the cakes varied from vintage recipes, to styles and there we even some delicious bakes by little bakers! Upcoming talent right here! Check out the other masterpiece cakes :)

 Chocolate box cake...

 Honey for my honey cake...

 This cake had a secret red velvet love heart surprise!

 Bubbly bundt, made with champagne and apple juice.

 Traditional courting cake with orange and fresh strawberries.

Love heart shaped cake with a beautiful orange and strawberry drizzle.

Cake for my cake - vanilla sponge with jam and buttercream!

Crazy for this coconut cake, with a tasty texture. 

 Nanna's coconut and cherry pound cake.

 LOVE Heart sweetie cake, with crushed love hearts in the buttercream.

Last but not least would be this delicious sponge with fresh fruit and a cute love heart boarder.

The CCC Sheffield was held at newly opened Jamesons Cafe on Abbeydale road, which is well worth a visit. Check the cuties out online at Jamesons Tea Rooms.

 We shared our cakes by the slice with a little drink, I opted for traditional lemonade! There was plenty to take home, check out my box below!

 Luckily, we had a movie and cake night, back at the house and my house managed to devour the contents of the box, with ease. We also used these little beauties below, which I got from the Tea Room shop, attached to the cafe. Definitely worth a visit for some beautiful, vintage pieces for the home and even for your curves!

 I would honestly recommend to anyone who is a huge cake lover, like myself to dabble in the joys of the Clandestine Cake Club. It is a fun, friendly way to experiment in the kitchen and taste some delicious cakes, new flavours, new styles and what better way to get some new found cakespiration.

Keep calm and let's get cakey!

Love,

Jess

Chief Baker ;)

xxx

Manchester Cake & Bake Show :)

Evening munchkins!

Thought I would give you a quick tour of the Cake & Bake show that I went to in April, in Manchester. It was like being in heaven, for me anyway! Cake and cake utensils, equipment, paints, tasters, anything and everything you can imagine, along with a lot of cake fans and professionals.

I went down with my best friend, Beth,  and we scouted out our favourite stalls, planning our purchases (to save our hands from carrying.) On the way down, from Sheffield, we drove down snakes pass, with the beautiful, blue sky and beaming sun.

At the show, I took cakespiration photographs, take a peek below. There were a beautiful cakes of art, in all shapes and sizes. Makes my mouth water just thinking about them!

Wedding Cake Selection...

Gingerbread Garden...

 Cake Catwalk...

In the middle of the shopping madness, we took two break for seminars with some well known professionals. I attended a class in vintage decoration, with Juliet Sear.  It was rather refreshing, seeing in her action, making a mess! She created some beautiful little vintage buttons, dusted in pearlised lustre, cascading down a two tiered, iced sponge. See her in action below...

Also, I attended a masterclass on cake sculpting and airbrushing. With my birthday being this week, I have asked for a Dinkie Doodle, pink of course, airbrush. I am so excited and sat on the front row in the class, so I got the first go making swirls and testing the machine. With a little practice, to make perfect, I can imagine this to be one very exciting venture! Take a look at the amazing ice cream cake below...

I came home with a wealth of knowledge and online offers, contacts and a hell of a lot of free goodies. I bought a range of new sugarpaste colours, floral paste and modelling chocolate. Invested in some tylo powder to stiffen fondant, which is fantastic for home made petal paste, and a collection of new painting and sculpting utensils. 

Below is a picture of one of my favourite cakes on the day...

I thoroughly enjoyed the Cake & Bake show and would recommend it to any cake or food fanatic, whether at hobby/interest level or professional. There is always new stuff to buy and to learn. My aim is to have my cakes on their beautiful catwalk next time round, so watch this space. Onwards and upwards!

Keep calm and share your experiences...

Love, as always, 

RVB  

Nom nom nom...

2013 - A Cake Filled Start...

Morning Foodies :)

Hope you are all warm and tucked up under the covers - this snow really is limiting my activity! But, I am going to venture out today, snow boots at the ready!

It is really crazy to think we are over half way through January - like when did that happen! Time really does fly! Thinking back over the last 21 days, so much as happened. I don't even know how I fit things in, but they do say if you want something doing, ask a busy person - busy people always fit extra things in!

So...January so far has offered excitement, stress, worry, passion and most of all, hope and inspiration. In cake terms I kicked off my Cake calendar with a Vintage Fair, at Sheffield Revolucion de Cuba (amazing cocktails!), raising awareness and money for Amy's Retreat, my charity of choice. I did a selection of tea time cakes, including chocolate fudge cake, lemon drizzle and rhubarb and custard cupcakes! It went down a storm and I am hoping to continue my partnership as the year progresses!

Also, as it is January, it means exam period :(. I have had two exams this month, one being tomorrow! I have spent a little time revising (not one to revise for weeks) and I am feeling reasonably confident. My course mate, Liam, and I spent some time revising with cocktails and mexican food, which I must say is now my favourite way to revise. Rather relaxing and extremely productive, strangely enough.

In terms of further plans this January...I met Clare Shepherd from Your New Life Plan, which has recently launched in Sheffield, as a refreshing new approach to changing your life round, with health as the focus. We met at a beautiful little italian cafe on Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, called Bragazzis - well worth a visit for the beautiful coffee and delicious deli! Recently, I have been doing a little writing work for Clare and I am attending her nutrition course this Feb - watch this space foodies!!

Tuesday night I am going to an inspiring people talk, set up by Natwest bank to celebrate the success and independence of people in the local region. I will report back and let you know what is said and if you fancy coming down, it is free and on tomorrow at 6:15pm at Sheffield Hallam University - the details are online.

January has been so exciting so far, how has your January been? Get in touch you beautiful people!!!

Keep calm and make snow cakes ;)

Love & warmth this winter, 

RVB 

xox