I've been bitten. I never used to be much of a baker, as I don't really have a sweet tooth, but this is now the second weekend in a row I've baked a cake. I suspect it's largely to do with the pretty Kitchenaid mixer bestowed upon me. It is otherwise known as The Beast. I had to get rid of the toaster and the kettle to accomodate it.
The above cake is a blueberry and soured cream cake with a cream cheese frosting. It's a BBC Good Food recipe, and one I had ear-marked a long time ago to make but never quite got round to doing it. I made it to take along to a barbeque a friend was hosting. Except it was in North London. So, very carefully, I packed it up in a huge see-through tupperware container and made the journey north. People stopped in their tracks, everyone stared at me. I felt nervous. On the tube, three people sitting opposite me remarked that they could mug me for my cake. I was glad I was with a friend. On exiting the tube, I glanced behind me; they were right on my tail. The told me they were following the cake.Thankfully, the cake made it to the party. It drew impressed gasps, but after a filling barbeque we ate most of it for breakfast the next day. It's the perfect balance of sour to sweet, with the added texture contrast of blueberries popping in your mouth. One I will definitely make again.
Spurred on by success, I decided to make another cake to take to another barbeque. This time, a lemon meringue cake from Nigella. It seemed straight-forward enough, though when I tried to beat the egg whites to make the meringue, the egg whites turned to a creamy liquid. I was baffled - was it supposed to be like that? I've never made meringue before so I have no idea what it should look like. After much umming and ahhing, I just switched the mixer on high and whisked the shit out of it. It seemed to do the trick; it turned into a thick white mixture which I could spoon onto the cake and peak to make the lid. After baking it - hurrah! It seems to have worked.I packed the cake up and set off on my 15 min walking journey to the friend's house.
When I got there, the top had slid off the bottom. The cream and the lemon curd had flopped out the side of the cake. It looked a bit sad. I patched it back up again, and it went down a storm. Not a bite left.
20 comments:
Mmm, they look good. I've got the bug also but mostly make cupcakes. I once made a blueberry cake, I think that was a Good Food recipe too, there was lots of lime in it cutting through the sweetness. It's always tough transporting them, I quite enjoy getting envious looks on the tube!
Brilliant! Congratulations on your new adventure. I can't wait to meet The Beast. Remember to keep putting putting in a good word for me every now and again. These results are most encouraging for our bake-a-thon :)
Blueberry and soured cheesecake sounds divine. Also super jealous of your Kitchenaid.
Those cakes both look absolutely delicious. I too have been having issues transporting cakes of late, so if you find a foolproof method, do tell! Although no one's threatened to mug me yet, so maybe I should count myself lucky!
I want the Beast!
Oh, I do covet your Kitchenaid! Lemon meringue pie was one of my faves to make as a kid, I love it! The blueberry cake looks good too. Hurrah for new baking adventures!
Nice one! These look utterly divine. Your hardcore baking session clearly paid off, must try that blueberry cheesecake.
Your cake looks delicious. There's something very satisfying about offering a slice of home made cake with a cup of tea. I hope you have many happy hours baking :)
I'm not much of a baker either but these are my go-to recipes when the bug strikes. They both look great.
oh my, that lemon meringue cake looks devine! and I like your method - when all else fails, whisk the shit out of it LOL.. i'm sure it works for many things! :)
Boo - If you find a fail-safe method of transporting them, let me know!
Helen - yes, I am feeling a little less nervous about the bake-a-thon now...
GC - it's not actually a cheesecake, but has a cream cheese frosting. Yum.
Nora - I sure will. I think maybe a cadburys roses tin might work? Does mean waiting till christmas though.
Eatmynels - Back off, yeah. The Beast is mine!
Niamh - Thanks! It's very covetable, it it's candy apple red splendour...
Gastrogeek - yes, do - it was really easy to make.
The Ample Cook - Thanks! Although granted each time the cakes were eaten alongside booze...
Ginger & Catty - Thanks!
You just had to mention The Beast didn't you.
Bake me a cake and I'll forget about it (the lemon meringue please).
Wow, you're certainly putting in some practice before the big cake bake day! I'm scared of cake baking as I'd be tempted to overeat. I do like the look of the blueberry one though!
Food Urchin - Next up on WMPC... you'll have to eat it ALL though!
Helen YLP - I know what you mean. I've only baked cakes when there have been plenty of people around to eat it!
I just want to dig into that blueberry cake!
I would definitely exchange a toaster and kettle for a Kitchenaid. No question. Great looking cake
Nice looking cake, I love blueberries. A kitchenaid is definitely better than a kettle and toaster!
It's wierd, do you feel that people are either cooks or bakers? I for example am learning to cook (VERY early days) but I always for some reason make yummy baked goods despite having NO expertise. :P Your cake looks yummy. Naimah xx
blueberrie are true nutishious, so I don't feel so bad to try and make this cake!
what does Nicisme mean by kettle and toaster?
What done - Nicisme was talking about the fact that I had to get rid of the toaster and the kettle to accomodate the KitchenAid.
Post a Comment