Buck up, LFCC!

It really is time I bucked my ideas up and instead of writing half a blog and leaving it as I don't have the relevant images, just get on with it!

So today, hopefully (no, don't say hopefully, DEFINATELY) is the first of many blog posts that I think you'll enjoy.  Feel free to get in touch if you know about something you'd like me to share, or if you're interested in something you see here, ok?

So today I wanted to talk about my new love of Pinterest and how amazing it is that one photo can stimulate the hearts and minds of a worldwide audience, and it spreads like a positive virus! I think happiness is infectious and this is a great way of getting to the people you don't see in the "real" world.

I've started a board just for my passion for Vintage Shabby Tattered and Distressed Christmas gorgeousness - you can see it here:

http://pinterest.com/lfcc/vintage-christmas/

It's full of a mixture of things from decorations and trees, to textile goodies!

I so want to take a Christmas tree out in the car like this, lights and all!

 

 

Look out for more "how to" projects here, gift wrap ideas for the holiday season, photos of my upcoming Christmas Market (Sunday 2nd December, Wicken, Cambridgeshire - midday to 5.30pm) and a whole heap of vintage love!

 

PS Don't forget, Friday = Cake Day here at LFCC!

 



I miss my buns!

For many years I was known as the one who made the cakes... I carried on baking after I got sick and even got into doing cake commissions for special occassions which was something I loved so much even though I found it incredibly nerve wracking.  To be entrusted with the focal point of someone's celebration is a really big deal and like with any commission, you can never be one hundred percent sure that the image in your head that you're looking to create is really anything like the one in the head of the person paying the bill!
These days as it's too risky for me to commit to doing a special occassion cake in case I end up in hospital and ruin the party so I just take the time to look back at the buns from history, and the few I still get to make for family celebrations.  What really makes me laugh is that of all the beauties I've created over the years, the cake that gets looked at from all over the internerd is a kiddie one based on Mr Tumble. I wasn't happy with the finished result as the head wouldn't go on the figure right, but I was told by the lovely lady who ordered it (my friend, and once-upon-a-time boss!) that her little man absolutely loved it and THAT'S what counts, no matter what I think!  Anyways, thought I'd share some of my buns while I dream... enjoy! XXX

First ever fondant roses!

Garden themed cornet cuppies for 5th birthday!

Pirate Cat King birthday cake topper!

The march of the penguins, made with a broken wrist!

Our friend,Gus, and his Harley for the bike club party

Vintage floral cuppies for Mamma LFCC

The infamous Mr Tumble cake (don't look at his neck!)

Golden wedding anniversary for garden/book fans!

Welcome onboard cake for the teenager!

This also had piped shag pile carpet when it was done!

Simple but effective!

Just so pretty - love the florals!

Lemon drizzle - my fave flavour!

Another "mum" cake - but not mine!

A real chocolate chocolate brown labradoodle!

VDub rules!

BIG bike club birthday - painted free hand!

Mamma LFCC's vintage tea party cake

18th birthday buns - ladybirds were a MUST!

National pudding day so the cake's NOT my fault!

I was reliably informed that it's national pudding day so I felt morally obliged to provide something nice for Mr LFCC - it would have been for the teenager too but she went out so missed out and I baked something she wouldn't like! How mean?! She'll sulk about that later!!

So I set to work in the kitchen... want the low down on my gorgeous fruity cake?

Ingrediants:

• 150g unsalted butter
• 3 free range eggs
• 100g caster sugar
• 50g soft brown sugar
• 150g sifted self raising flour
• 1 level teaspoon baking powder
• 400g sultanas (you can soak these in booze first if you want!)
• 50g glace cherries (the natural coloured ones, not the nasty articifical ones!)
• half a teaspoon gravy browning (yes, really!)
• half a teaspoon mixed spice (if you fancy it!)

Method:

1. Grease and line a round 6" deep baking tin and preheat the oven to gas mark 5.
2. Cream the butter and sugars together well in a large bow. Beat them until they get paler in colour and are really soft and smooth. Add the gravey browning and mix in.
3. Add the eggs (crack from the shells into a separate bowl in case there's an iffy one!) and beat them really well until everything is all light and gorgeous and if you trail the beaters over the liquid you can see a ribbon of mix slowly melting into the surface.
4. Gently sieve the flour and baking powder into the bowl having dusted your dried fruit in it first.
5. Fold the flour and fruit in gently.
6. Turn out into the tin and place in the oven for approximately one hour but keep an eye on it for the last fifteen minutes or so... Prod with a piece of dry spaghetti and if it comes out clean your cakes good to be omnommed!

Enjoy national pudding day! xxx