Hooray the snow has gone!

Well it's the first of February and you may think that I have been lazy - not posting for ages - but we have had Christmas, snow, more snow and then a rather tragic computer malfunction!!! Happily I can see the first signs of spring and school has been open every day for two weeks in a row, so life is returning to normal.
In the cake world I have been experimenting with different flavours - sticky chocolate orange and cranberry & orange cupcakes to name just two. I have also been busy making hearts and roses to adorn the vanilla cupcakes in their beautiful new cases - all in an attempt to persuade the gentlemen folk of Inkpen and Woolton Hill that they would be an ideal gift for Valentines day. The problem is that I don't believe men think that far ahead - it's usually a last minute dash to the supermarket (if you're lucky) which results in a box of Ferrero Rocher and some carnations! At the Woolton Hill village market last Saturday, I even watched a lady expressly telling her rather bemused husband what he should be buying, but short of actually ordering them herself what more could she do??
I'm off now for a walk in the glorious sunshine and to retrieve Euan from the mud in the garden before we have to do the school run. When I can find a way of hooking my camera up to this borrowed laptop I will post some pics of my cakes. In the meantime any requests for recipe experiments please let me know - I've just found a recipe for petit pois cupcakes - random!!

A day in the big city........

Well it's official I am a rubbish blogger - or maybe that's a bit harsh and I should say that I'm an uncommited one.
Crocus Cakes was finally launched to the sound of my Kenwood Chef on 1 September and since then I have been busy making cupcakes and other delights to inflict on the customers of the Inkpen and Woolton Hill Village Markets. Euan (who is nearly two) is mummy's favourite helper as every time I make something new he greets it with the words "wow - cake", if that's the only feedback I ever get then I will be a happy woman.
Today I had the joys of travelling up to the big smoke for a day learning how to make sugar orchids at Cakes 4 Fun in Putney. It meant a very early start, which as anyone who sees me running to the school gates in the morning will know, is not my forte. The day was a resounding success, with our lovely tutor Celia being very patient and encouraging and the girls in the class were all great. I managed to make a very cool cupcake topper and a spray of orchids - photo's to follow. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get any time for shopping (Brian breathes a sigh of relief) but I did get a whole day of mummy time and tea was cooked for me when I got home!!!!
Anyway a rather boring post from me - but I do promise to put up some pictures (cakes & puppy), recipes and write something more often than every 2 months. I'm off for some cake and a cuppa.
"How long does getting thin take?" asked Pooh anxiously. "About a week I should think"......