Cakey yumminess

I've realised it's been a while since I last posted about one of my favourite topics: CAKE. This doesn't mean I haven't been eating making cakes, but the lack of cake related posts is really due to some of them being disasters and generally scoffing them before remembering to take any pics!

The most recent baking success was the batch of cupcakes I made for Mr PC in honour of our 3rd wedding anniversary last week. I made Fizzy Orange Cupcakes as per the Cake Days recipe and I must say they turned out rather nicely. You actually use soda stream syrup to get the flavour! I'm not a fan of fizzy orange drinks but Mr PC is and I knew he'd like them so I got baking while he was at work (like a proper housewife). I even had little jelly orange segments to put on the top!

The icing was a bit dodgy in parts as the lemon zest in it was clogging the nozzle, but who cares once you've taken a bite out of it?! (Yes, I used lemon zest in orange flavoured icing cos I didn't have any real oranges)

Other recent baking adventures include the Coconut Meringue Cake from The Humming Bird Bakery Cookbook (predecessor to Cake Days). What a disaster that was!! Right from the beginning it was going wrong. I found the recipe convoluted due to having to fiddle about with the fresh coconut, baking it in the oven and grating it etc. I always wanted to make this cake and was so disappointed in how it turned out that I'm not sure I could even face trying it again. It tasted ok but it wasn't amazing. The meringue frosting separated and then went runny when I mixed it again so that caused some real problems. But as it required 9 egg whites and nearly a whole bag of sugar, I wasn't prepared to throw it out and start again. Needless to say, the cake turned out to be just 2 layers with a bit of frosting on the top, which actually soaked into the sponge before we got a chance to eat it. And the worst part is, I was asked to make it for my father-in-law's birthday... (and I don't have any pics to show how awful it looked)

I've also made some amazing chocolate brownies and these cookies from A Thrifty Mrs but there are no pics as they all got eaten within an hour of them coming out the oven! I will leave you with one pic though, of a victoria sandwich I made for mum-in-law's birthday which looked rather splendid on my posh pink cake plate, even if I do say so myself!

Victoria sandwich with whipped cream and fresh strawberries

You can read more of my cakey stories here.

New Product: Handmade crochet hooks

Yesterday I briefly mentioned the giant crochet hooks that Mr PC has been making. Well, I thought they deserved a post of their own, particularly as they are set to become a new product line for Princess Crafts.

You might remember this post when I mentioned Mr PC made a giant crochet hook for me to make something using the Hoopla yarn I got. Since then, anyone who has seen this massive crochet hook has been quite intrigued to see one so large and generally asks where to get one and what you can do with it etc. Then Mr PC had a lightbulb moment and said 'Why don't I make some for you to sell in your Etsy shop and at craft fairs?' Cue a trip to the shop for some wood and a few hours in the shed...

18mm crochet hook - £10

I've taken these hooks to two events now and they have proved to be a real talking point with other crochet fans and even those who've never crocheted before. We sold one at the weekend and Mr PC was really rather chuffed with himself. I think now he knows why I do a little 'yipee' whenever I sell something. It feels good when someone actually wants to pay you money for something you made! He gets it now. We've even sold one on Etsy and it went to its new home in Dublin.

18mm next to 4mm hook

We are now offering crochet hooks made to order in a variety of sizes from 15mm to 27mm. These will be in the Princess Crafts Etsy shop as well as at all our upcoming events. So if you're a happy (crochet) hooker, why not try something new and  create a giant project with a giant hook!

Sell, sell, sell!

This weekend saw Princess Crafts set up shop (ok it was only a stall, but shop sounds better!) at the Havering Handmade Farmer and Crafts Market and it turned out to be a pretty good day!

The last few days have been HOT, and I'm talking 25-32 degrees - summer has finally arrived! In October. I didn't expect to sell very many of my handknitted woolly scarves at the weekend on account of the scorching weather, but the scarves turned out to be bestsellers! Hoorah! It looks like the ladies of Gidea Park are preparing ahead of time for the wintery weather (which no doubt will be upon us by next weekend).

We also had some great interest in the giant crochet hooks which Mr PC has been making, but more about them in tomorrow's post.

Seeing as we forgot to take the camera with us to take the customary pics of the event, I had to resort to using my iPhone which is not ideal but enought to give you the gist of what the stall was like. So here it is, in all its glory!

 

PS. Click here to see the list of events I'll be attending between now and Christmas (perfect opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done!). 

PPS. My next event is next Saturday in Colchester!

The Cook List

Last week I posted my Bake List which is my top 12 'must bakes' which I will attempt to achieve during the next year or so. Today is the turn of my Cook List. these are my top 12 'must cook' recipes which I have never made before. So, in no particular order, here is my Cook List:

The Cook List

1. Lamb shank pie
2. Boeuf bourguignon (as per the Julia Child cookbook from the Julie/Julia Project)
3. Ragú and polenta (as per the Two Greedy Italians)
4. Cloutie dumpling (as per our secret family recipe)
5. Steak and Guinness pie
6. Onion bhajis and samosas
7. Mini beef wellingtons
8. Salmon en croute
9. Chicken breast stuffed with haggis and served with a Drambuie sauce
10. Beetroot chips (like the Tyrells ones you get that look like pot pourri)
11. Sausage rolls, from scratch inc pastry
12. 40 garlic clove chicken (as per Nigella Lawson)

So there it is! Have you noticed how not a single one of these dishes is particularly healthy? I think I shall have to do one a month so not to end up the size of a double decker!

What would be on your Cook List?

Weekend pics

Last weekend saw me holding my third stall at the Vintage and Handmade Market in Chelmsford and so I thought I'd share a few pics of the stall.

Next Saturday, I'll be in Gidea Park at the Havering Handmade Autumn Fair, so pop in and say hi if you're in the area.

Market preparations

This Saturday I will be at the Vintage and Handmade Market in Chelmford's Shire Hall so I'm busy getting my stock organised and ready to go. It's always a juggling act trying to get new and existing stock ready while continuing to do paid work and run a household etc. This week has been no different and there is still an element of last minute organising but there are some great new ideas in the pipeline so watch this space, people!

If you're in the Chelmsford area, it would be great to see you on Saturday. The market is full of vintage and handmade stalls so theres's something for everyone. It's free entry and the best part is the vintage tearoom run by the lovely Plum Fairy who serves tea and homemade cakes on beautiful vintage china. So if you're out shopping and fancy a bit of cake and mooch round, come along to the Shire Hall at the top of the High Street, 10-4.

Hope to see you there! 

PS. If you do come to the Vintage and Handmade Market then you can get 10% off when you spend £20 with Princess Crafts just quote 'blog'.

Feeding the fabric addiction

Any crafter/sewer must, at one time or another, admit to a wee bit of an addiction to fabric and prints. Well, today's the day! My name is Kerry and I'm a fabric addict.

I try not to feed this addiction too much but yesterday I visited my local fabric shop of choice, the aladdin's cave of material. *swoon* I had  to go to the shop as I've been asked to make another of my royal wedding tea cosies and required the fabric. I was very good though and before I went I did a quick inventory of my stash and earmarked the 'good bits' to become various things which I want to make. So while I was in the shop I made myself stick to the shopping list of royal wedding fabric, wadding, calico, wooden buttons and ribbons for my projects. I was most impressed with myself when  I got to the til and realised I only bought one thing that wasn't on my list!! (this is probably beacause I didn't let myself even look at anything else in the shop!) This is it:

Medium sized cupcake print - perfect for a new product idea I've had!

These are my selections from my current stash for some new projects and new product ideas for the Princess Crafts shop:
The photos are a bit rubbish on account of it being so bloomin' dark today!

Shoes and handbags on blue background

Kitchen equipment - retro and modern at the same time

Musical notes

Lime green birides on grey background - scrummy!

Teeny tiny ballet shoes in vibrant pink

Ballerina fairies - I wish this was wallpaper for my office!

I did feed my addiction but managed to do it in a controlled manner, so go me!

PS. Come to see me at the Vintage and Handmade Market this Saturday in Chelmsford and get 10% off when you spend £20 just quote 'blog'.