National Baking Week Starts Here!

I love baking goodies anyway, but this week I have a great excuse -

It's National Baking Week!

The theme for 2009 is 'Bake & Share' so i'll be busy in the kitchen all this week and sharing my photos and favourite recipes with all my readers at the end of the week. Watch this space :)

Igloo Cake

Some days I fancy baking something, I just can't help myself.

Today is one of those days. And here it is...Igloo Cake!

All that's missing are the eskimos :)

It's vanilla sponge filled and iced with vanilla buttercream and covered in mini marshmallows. Best served with vanilla ice cream.

No "Bake Day" Today :(

J.R isn't feeling too good.

It sounds like she's getting a tickly cough.

Last night she just couldn't get comfy in bed and moved about so much she ended up at the wrong end! Then at 10-ish she woke up whimpering. I could tell there was something genuinely wrong 'cos she seemed quite dazed and felt warm too. She asked for a drink of water and to sleep in my bed. An hour and 3 cups of water later she was asleep again. Just stirring once in a while to cough.

Poor mite :(

But I didn't want her coughing all over something we were gonna bake together today so I decided to give it a miss...

"Bake Day" Sunday

And today it's: Fairy Cakes

Aargh! The mess! It's ok... (takes deep breaths)

As long as you're prepared for it and EXPECT mess, it isn't as bad. That and J.R's decided she's gonna eat the chocolate sprinkles off the table one by one, so that saves me cleaning that up then doesn't it!

"Bake Day" Sunday

And today it's: Really tiny White Choc Chip cakes!

(Most of which were actually eaten whilst still warm)

"Bake Day" Sunday

And today it's: Apricot Mini Muffins

Who would've thought that childrens baking was this easy?

It's all in the preparation I say.

Every time I have ingredients measured out beforehand it all goes a whole lot smoother. Then you only have to worry about keeping the mixture in the bowl!

Well except for today when J.R decided to make a fuss of the eggs before attempting to crack them open (even though I told her Mummy had to do it) which left a nice egg yolky mess all over the chair and kitchen floor.

Have you ever tried picking the entire contents of an egg off the floor with only kitchen roll? Hmm...

"Bake Day" Sunday

And today it's: Apple and Raspberry Muffins

Miss J.R is having a bit of trouble concentrating today, most of our baking session consisted of me calling her name 2-3 times in a row, to be acknowledged with a "What?" only for her to lose interest in me again while I explain what she needs to do. Oh well, Baby E.M had a good stab at it and the cakes were made in the end regardless...even if most of the batter was eaten out the mixing bowl.

I haven't done any baking or decorating for a good few weeks now (lacking time and funds) so I came up with these this afternoon.

Daisy Trellis Cupcakes. Aren't they pwetty...

"Bake Day" Sunday Rolls Around Again

And this time it's Coconut Cakes! This uses up the open packets in my ingredients cupboard. Now i've had a peek in there i've found I need some more equipment too. I have a mental shopping list.

Anyway, this recipe is from a wonderful selection of Cooking With Kids recipes in the food section of Netmums, which can be found below: http://www.netmums.com/food//westsussex/

As you can see from the picture, it became apparent that J.R could actually do most of this herself, (which she was very pleased about, loves independence) so I just stood aside with the camera, snapping and supervising.

As the cakes needed a while to set, I used them as incentive for her to eat all her lunch - and it worked!