PINK and GOLD Baby Shower

Now this was a first. I had never heard of pink and Gold going together as theme colours for a baby shower. But hey , each to his own ( as my bestie would say it)

So this was my first paid job and I was peeing in my pants (not literally). I had 46 cupcakes to make which was the easy bit it was the decorating that freaked me out. I had never done it before apart from just making cupcakes for friends. And the added pressure of knowing someone was going to pay for it and I could make a mistake.

So the whole week I researched on how to make gold icing but I came across this fabulous spray.

This helped cut my job in half because all I had to do is make the buttercream icing and then spray.

For the pink cupcakes I used a basic vanilla sponge recipe 

and for the gold cupcakes I used a cappuccino cake recipe and each cupcake had a ‘Rolo’ in the middle.

I learnt some valuable lessons. Don’t bake the cupcakes for too long because they become dry . the same for the cappuccino cupcakes because of the prolonged heat the caramel in the cupcake turns into toffee.

Lessons learnt and I am yet to try the cupcakes again but I haven’t had the opportunity.

After making 46 I was exhausted and I was happy to see them go.

The client was happy and realized that at times I am my own worst critic. After that I have had  7 cake requests from the same client.

BEAT that Mary Berry!!!!!!

So the GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF was another TV program that just fuelled my love for baking.  Who other than Mary Berry to teach you!!! Before this program I had no idea who Mary Berry was, only to find out that she is the Queen of baking. Most of the British celebrity bakers have been inspired by her baking. So the hardest challenge that the Great British Bake Off contestants had to face was making the chocolate roulade. Mary Berry did a demonstration and the bakers had to repeat the recipe. Although I am not a chocolate cake lover I knew it was a challenge that I had to conquer. The technique alone had me intrigued. 

This was the result of my attempt.

Beat that Mary Berry and all the British Bake Off contestants.

I was so proud of myself and although I only had a taste of the ends that I cut off I knew that I had nailed it. My dinner guests were impressed the next day and since then word has spread amongst my friends and church family that ‘Taffie makes great cake’. All thanks to Mary Berry!!!

Has anyone tried any of Mary Berry’s recipes?

Please do share!!!!