Baking Day!

With the return to work on the horizon, I thought I would make the most of today by having a go at a couple of new recipes. I have always wanted to have a go at making a Victoria Sponge cake and braved it today! Who better to get a traditional recipe from than Mary Berry herself. I bought one of her recipe books a couple of weeks ago and have been looking forward to having a go at a few cakes in there. Victoria Sponge is one of my favourites and I was really nervous about having a go, but for my first attempt I was pleased! One of my cakes sunk a little in the middle (so that one went on the bottom layer!) and I think I put a bit too much buttercream in the middle but apart from that I thought it went well. I have popped a photo below for you to have a look at. I have had a taste and it tasted lovely, very rich though so you only need a slither!I then made a few chocolate chip cookies....ashamedly out of a packet! Lol! I have to say that in the past I have enjoyed making cakes/biscuits out of packets but now I have found my baking mojo again I found it less than fulfilling! I wish I had made a mixture myself as it wouldn't have taken very long! Nevertheless, they taste very nice and they were a quick addition for tea tonight! I then had a go at another recipe out of Mary Berry's book which was for a chocolate and vanilla marble loaf cake. I have never made a loaf cake before but thought I'd have a go! It was easy to make-same mixture as a victoria sponge cake but half of the mixture was to be mixed with some cocoa powder to make the chocolate side. I bought a silicone mould but think I need to invest in an actual loaf tin as I overdid the mixture a little and therefore it stretched the mould! Lol! Came out a bit bigger than I wanted so I cut it down to size and then 'tested' the bits I'd trimmed down...was yummy! The decoration was chocolate icing with some white chocolate to decorate but I didn't have any white chocolate so I just did without. I think the cake would be fine without any icing really. It has a lovely colour to it. Haven't had a proper slice of this yet so will let you know what it tasted like with the icing on later.

Finally, I made some good old crispy cakes! You can never go wrong with these and I always make some at Easter with mini eggs like little Easter nests! I need to invite some people over I think so I don't end up eating all this myself! Will definitely need to get back on my diet when I'm back at work next week! Lol!

Hope you've enjoyed looking at my cakes. I am starting to feel more confident with my baking again and am thinking of getting into sugar craft....would love to be able to make decorations for cakes. I will keep practicing with my cakes to get them perfect and then move onto the next challenge!

Happy Easter and thanks for dropping by.

Hugs
Arline

xx