Two chocolate cakes

Some people might have already noticed that there are considerably small amounts of chocolate things on my blog... It's because neither of us eat it (unfortunately it gives us a great headache..;(...)

However, that doesn't stop me from using it for cakes and breads. In fact, I quite like working with it! I think chocolate gives cakes and breads just a touch of special indulgent feeling to them. :)

So so so..., at the weekend I made two different chocolate cakes.

One was an ultimate chocolate birthday cake for Brian, who as far as I know loves chocolate. The cake had cocoa powder and melted dark chocolate in it and drizzle of white chocolate, bits of milk chocolate and chocolate cake, and 'Happy Birthday' written with raspberry flavoured white chocolate (which kind of got pressed when I wrapped it...). Hope the cake filled the birthday boy's chocolate hole. ;)

The other one was white chocolate bundt cakelets for Andy to take to the office. Oh see, these mini bundt cake tins are so cute! When I saw it, I had to get it. ;D I added bits of chocolate cake from the cut of Brian's cake in the batter and filled the middle with chocolate sauce.

That was fun doing chocolate cakes, and these are the times that I wish I ate chocolate...

Happy Birthday to Steve!

Happy Birthday to Steve!
It was my brother-in-law's birthday yesterday so I baked this cheese and herb bread ring.

It has grated Parmesan cheese in the dough and some herbs and black pepper, and cream cheese inside. I thought the savoury taste of this ring would go well with the beers and nuts we gave him. ;)

Hope you had a great day, Steve!

Happy Birthday to my mum

Haaapy birthday to you, Haaappy birthday to you, Haaapy birthday dear おかぁ〜さ〜ん, Haaaaapy birthday to you〜♬

Today is my mum's birthday:) お母さん、お誕生日おめでとう。

I sent my mum this bread dough wall ornament. It's similar to the one I sent to my sister and her new baby. Hope it has been delivered to Japan safely.

お母さん、飾りやから食べたあかんで〜。

Happy birthday to Pete

Happy birthday to Pete, Happy birthday to Pete, Happy birthday to Pete, Haaapy Biiirthday toooo Pete♪...

Today is my dad-in-law's birthday. Happy birthday, Pete ;)

I made a selection of breads and funny face biscuits for him. They were... "seedless raspberry jam bread", "chocolate bread", "purple grape bread" (have you seen how to make it?), apple and cinnamon roll, and birthday special... "Jumbo cinnamon roll"!

I hope he is enjoying those sweet buns and rolls with the birthday tea. ;D

30th birthday cake for a neighbour's son

It's been a little while since I made this kind of cake...
(if I remembered correctly, the last time was that 5 tire wedding cake!)

So, I had a birthday cake order from our neighbour. It was their son's 30th birthday yesterday. I made a classic sponge cake with jam and butter cream in the middle and iced the cake.

It was nice to make something a bit more "formal" than my usual style. However I have to admit that it's not the most fun thing to do when you have a very demanding little person always needing you for one thing and another. It just so hard to focus!!

Anyway, I managed to deliver the cake on time and we were even given a few pieces of the cake and a glass of champagne. ;)

Happy 30th birthday, Mr G.

Happy Birthday gift

This post is specially for my mum-in-law, Chris. Happy Birthday!

 We couldn't get a chance to see her and bring a big birthday cake today. So instead, I sent her my love with The World of Sweets cookie selection gift, which she told me arrived in time. (Thanks to Royal Mail!)

There are three different types in the box. Almond cookie, digestive biscuit, and strawberry flavoured baked doughnut. Let's hope those little treats will make the birthday girl happy:D

Happy Birthday again, xxx from The WOS kitchen.