Follow the yellow brick road ...

... and my latest cake creation will appear!  That'll be my Wizard of Oz cake, made by special request for a 30th birthday party.  I had a lot of fun creating this, I have to admit.  It was a great excuse to spend much time online looking at Wizard of Oz websites for inspiration and then returning to my childhood as I modelled figures from sugarpaste - beats playdough!.  Was very pleased with how this cake turned out - and the birthday girl seemed happy, which is the name of the game. Next project is a vinyl single for a 50th birthday!  Photos will follow of that too.  In the meantime, here are the Wizard of Oz cake pics - Let me know what you think!

My Wizard of Oz cake

Detail of Dorothy, Toto and the rainbow

Shame the cake squished the Wicked Witch of the West!

Rainbow coloured cake!

Your testimonials please!

I've spent the last couple of days on Business Gateway courses - on finance and selling skills.  Check out their website if anyone is interested in learning more about the Gateway.  They are a treasure trove of useful business information, covering every angle you can possibly think of.  Though persevere, there is so much information on the site, it is easy to get sidetracked and sometimes frustrated with it:   http://www.business.scotland.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?site=202 

My brain is over loaded, my to do list has reached new lengths but I'm inspired to have a good year and make The Bakehouse bigger and better (with outstanding, organised financial paperwork to boot. Hmm...!).  More courses to come in the next few weeks on marketing, social media and other such fun things they don't tell you about when you set up a business!

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone can help.  Customers, past and present, do you have any words of wisdom about my cakes, the business, the service you have received and such like that you'd like to share?  I'm looking for testimonials I can use on the blog, on Facebook and on any marketing material I produce, from a cake portfolio to flyers.  I'm assuming if you send me any comments, that you will be OK with this.  If you would like to help, you can post comments on here, on my Bakehouse Facebook page or you can email me thebakehouse2@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you very much for being supportive and helping a new business owner stay sane in moments of chaos and keep her faith!

The not so humble pasty

I've been experimenting with one of my latest cook book purchases, River Cottage Veg Everyday by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.  It is a real change for him as no meat features at all.  A good thing for me!  I haven't purchased a cook book of late where I'm inspired to cook something from virtually every page.  Although, the book may be simple at times, and indeed perfect if you are a new veggie, it has inspired me to make use of ingredients I forget how much I love.  And, I want to cook rather than bake.  Unusual!

The first recipe I ventured into the kitchen to try was his swede and potato pasties.  Let's face it, who doesn't love a pasty!!  And, as a bonus, I had both veggies in the kitchen that needed a good dish so was a perfect recipe!  It was also a first for me as I made the rough puff pastry he offered as the crispy, flaky packaging for the simple yet tasty filling.  The Great British Bake Off (oh, how I miss that programme!) had planted the seed for trying to make my own rough puff - and can I say, it was simpler than I thought and so worth the effort.  So yummy I'm going to make it more often.

Anyway, a subtle almost Cornish pasty-type filling -without the meat - was the central focus of the pasty.  Cubed potato, swede (or turnip if you hail from Scotland!), onion and carrot - and that was it with just a wee bit o' seasoning to enhance the flavour.  Doesn't have to be complicated to make a fantastic supper.   Served with a green salad, it was lovely.  Going to make it a regular occurance on the dinner table - and, those who know me well will not be surprised by this, but I'm going to fiddle with it!  I'm thinking a wee bit of curry powder would be grand or maybe a change of veg to include leek, sweet potato and maybe a mushroom or too would be tasty.

Here are the pics to get the taste buds working (hopefully!):

the filling!  Lovely swede, potato, onion and carrot.  It's all about the veggies!

all egg washed and read to bake

lovely!

I survived December....

It was an insane end to the first year of trading for The Bakehouse.  A busy, chaotic December!  It was all about cupcakes, Christmas fairs and festive cheer.  Feels like a lifetime ago now!

Dairsie Does Different @ Christmas was the event to start the festive period.  As marketed, it was full of Christmassy cheer, unique present ideas and new stall holders.  As always, the locals amongst others turned out in force to support us and we all had a really great day.  Couldn't do it without you guys! The range of items for sale exceeded expectations.  We had paintings and prints, knitted bunnies and photographs, aliens and bunting, jewellery to die for and origami amongst other things.  The cakes went well as did the jams, marmalade, shortbread, mince pies ...... the list goes on!  Roll on the next one in Spring of this year!  Watch this space!

My wee corner.... right at the beginning of the day!

Next was the Musa Cupcake Masterclass.  Musa is the Museum of the University of St Andrews - http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa/ -  a fab wee museum which looks at the history, development and culture of the university with lots of lovely things to look at and a very friendly staff who are always happy to chat!  I did a Masterclass demonstrating how to decorate cupcakes and make them all festive.  I love meeting new people at events like this - and always love working with the Musa gang.  Any excuse to talk cake and share tips!  

 Cupcake perfection at Musa!

Keen students, one and all!

In between all of this galavanting, was the day to day co-ordinating of orders.  Cakes, mince pies, brownies, cupcakes, shortbread ... the list goes on... don't make themselves you know!  And, to make my year complete, all of my Christmas Cakes found homes.  Hope they were suitably enjoyed!

Christmas Cupcakes - candy cane & vanilla simplicity Christmas trees

Christmas Cake

Final event of the month was The Big Pink Christmas Fair in Arbroath.  It was organised as a charity fundraiser for SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and was a lot of fun!  Yet more fantastically talented people showcasing their amazing wares.  I have a new felted Christmas tree decoration in the shape of a wee bird and a lovely cupcake fridge magnet to show for my attendance!  Oh, and I met lots of great people, supported a worthy charity and can't wait to do another event!

My willing helper for the day!  Couldn't have done it without her! 

So, now it is calmer and all about catching up on paperwork and admin not to mention starting planning for a new year of Bakehouse activity!  A wee bit of experimenting is being thrown in for good measure too.  Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry are all helping with that!  (Or their books are!).  Watch this space for the results!!  Bubble and squeak courtesy of Hugh tonight for tea.  Yum!

Finally, all I have to do is say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has supported this insanely mad venture of mine this year.  From customers to friends and family and everyone inbetween ..... thank you, thank you, thank you.  I wouldn't be here without you!  

Christmas Cake Bargain!

The Christmas Cake - it is a bargain at £20!

I have a few lonely Christmas cakes left that are desperately looking for a new home.  Anyone interested?  They are a traditional, dark, rich fruit cake covered with scrummy marzipan and fondant icing.  Very classy so they are!  A bargain at £20.  Yep, you read that right, £20!!!!  Can be delivered (for a small charge dependent on location) in Fife or Angus or you can come to me and collect it.   Like I say, a bargain at £20.  Email or call me if you are interested.

Christmas cake detail

Cakecraft School again....

Had an amazing week last week at Paul Bradford's Sugarcraft School.  See his website for details - http://www.designer-cakes.com/  He is an inspiration with massive talent and bucket loads of patience! I spent the week in sugar coated, cakey heaven learning the ins and outs of cake decorating, sugar modelling and sugar flowers not to mention how to run a successful cake decorating business.  Lots of top tips have been absorbed and I'm planning next year's activities in-between the Christmas chaos.  All very exciting and inspiring!   Rather than wax lyrical, I thought I'd show you some cake pics.  Still can't quite believe I made these but have every intention of maintaining the standards and carrying on with the creativity.  Think I may have found my calling (can you hear my Dad sigh with relief!).

My chocolate wrap cake - a chocolate Bailey's sponge
 wrapped in chocolate and decorated to make it look all festive.
I even made the green glittery chocolate roses!  

We were a clever bunch!!  My classmates cakes .
Spot mine - hint, it's front left!

From this ......

..... To this!! Rooooaaaarrrrr!!

Lion cake detail

Loved the sugar modelling, although think I need to work on my scale.  Hmm!

My Jimmy Choo shoe

Front angle of the Jimmy Choo.

Sugar flowers are really not my thing!  My naked Stargazer Lily....

..... Amazing what a bit of colour can do!!

Dairsie Does Different @ Christmas

It's on its way!  Not long to go until Dairsie Does Different @ Christmas arrives.  Saturday 3rd December. Hope it's in everyone's diaries 'cause we'd love to see you there!

Madness may have descended when Lindsay and myself decided to re-visit Dairsie Does Different, this time at Christmas time!  Nah, not really!  We had such a great day back in April, that it seemed right to keep going with it.  We were so delighted at how well the whole event was received, by both customers and stall holders, that we are already excited about Dairsie Does Different @ Christmas. Saturday 3rd December is the day in question - did I mention that already?!

We are following pretty much the same format as the April fair - you'll find details and pics from that on the blog if you look back - but we do have changes in the stall holders this time.  I can confirm that Lindsay Mathers Equestrian Art, Blair McCafferty, creator of weird & wonderful creatures, the wonderful world of WHimSicAL LusH, Eleanor Mather's fantastic papercrafting, the Middleton Miscellany, Adrian Murray's beautiful jewellery and creations and Joanne Clifford of Reflexology fame will all be re-appearing.  And, of course, so will The Bakehouse!  How could I forget that!! No storytelling sadly as Sheila @ Hamespun Tales has other commitments but we do have Doodlestuff's splendid Doodlepins, Kerfuffle's inspiring contemporary jewellery and trinkets, June with her fairies and things and the fabulous photography of Scott Hay - all confirmed and itching to go!  Watch this space ... there may be more!

It's going to be an amazing day!  I can feel it.  Think sparkle, festive cheer and Christmas inspiration.  What more can you ask for in the run up to Christmas?!

Oh, and this time round, we have a Facebook page so you can keep up to date with happenings, check out the stall holders and let us know what you think about it all:  Check it out - and, make sure you "Like" us!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dairsie-Does-Different-at-Christmas/164901936937302?ref=tn_tinyman

Just to tempt you!

Eleanor Mathers - papercrafting genius!

Lindsay Mathers Equestrian artist extraordinaire.  This is one of her
50  Days of Christmas series -
 see her blog for details:  its' worth it -http://mathersart.blogspot.com

Blair McCafferty's captivating creature creations

A kerfuffle materpiece - see http://www.fitakerfuffle.co.uk for more creations

Yep, it is a Doddlepin of Splendidness.  See Jill's website for more - http://www.doodlestuff.co.uk

Boris is happy about DDD@Christmas so Suzanne at WHimSicAL LusH tells me!
See her website for more wonderful things -  http://www.whimsicallush.co.uk/