Movember 2013

Movember is an annual month-long event involving men growing their moustaches during the month of November. One of the events aims are to raise awareness of men's health issues such as prostate cancer and other forms of males cancers.

Although Movember  is predominantly a 'male' event, I decided to show my support and used it as an excuse to get some baking squeezed in before the years end.

Over the years, there has been a growing number of Movember followers and celebrations at my office so my fundraiser was a Cancer Cupcake Sale,  I decided to go with  Red Velvet and some Blue velvet and decorated with various symbols to mark the event as opposed to the singling out the 'TACHE'

The Blue Ribbon raises awareness for Prostate Cancer

 

The Pink Ribbons raise awareness for Breast Cancer &

The Heart is a signifies compassion

The TACHE

My cake sale was a success and all money raised went towards the Company's chosen charity.

WBHO's Mo Bro's

Getting together after a long hard week at the office is always a well needed treat, but when it's for a good cause,  that treat can be much more enjoyable !

Thanks to everyone at WBHO for the support ! ! !

Remember to do all that you do with Love and success is sure to follow and even the smallest gesture can make the biggest difference to someone out there

Through the fun, laughter and cupcakes,  I am happy to have supported the cause and look forward to next year.

How To #1: Chocolate Cream Pie

In an attempt to make my blog more interactive and informative, I wish to announce the launch  of : How To

 

This is my attempt at showing you that desserts can be easily made with the aid of pictures  step by step guided methods. I would be using recipes from various blogs and baking sites and would obviously be dependant on what tasty treat I feel like...

 

To start the show, How To #1 is going to be an old time favourite, Romany Chocolate Cream Pie

What You Need:

150 g      marshmallows

250 ml    milk

200 g      milk chocolate slab

200 g      romany creams biscuits

75 g        butter

250 ml    fresh cream

1             flake

 

Step 1
-   Preparing the pie crust

Crush the biscuits finely. (It is much easier using a food processor, alternatively you could use a ziplock bag and a rolling pin)

 

Melt the butter.(I use the microwave, be sure to check at regular intervals).

 

Stir the melted butter into the biscuit crumbs.

 

Press into a greased pie-dish, or into a springform pan (with a loose bottom.).

 

 

Chill the crust for 20 minutes in the fridge.

** I used grease proof paper as a liner for the crust, you could subsitute for cling wrap or omit entirely


Step 2
-   Cream Pie Filling

Combine marshmallows and milk in a saucepan, over medium heat.

Stir until marshmallows have melted.

Dont be alarmed by the pink, the chocolate will darken the clour.

 



 

 

Add chocolate bar and stir until melted, and mixture is smooth.

 

 

 

Take off heat, and allow to cool.

 

The mixture needs to be completly cooled, so this may take a while.

 

 

Whip the cream until peaks form, and fold into cooled chocolate mixture.

 

 

 

Pour into the prepared crust.

 

 

 

Chill overnight in fridge.

 

Lastly, crumble/grate chocolate flake  on top, loosen the pie from the springform pan (if using), and chill again, until ready to serve.

 

This recipe was taken from:

http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/romany-chocolate-cream-pie-ru332237.html


See, tasty things dont have to be complex.

Enjoy !




 

Tumelo's Kaizer Chiefs Birthday Cake

Long before I even moved to Johannesburg Lebo was responsible for cutting my hair. Pren and I have become such good friends with her and she is much more than just our stylist.

Lebo's only son, Tumelo, turned 11 today.

The story is that Tumelo is a rugby player, but mum doesn't approve and opted for a Kaizer Chiefs soccer cake, because in her opinion, thats the sport he rather be playing...

Lebo asked  for a two layered vanilla cake, iced with buttercream and plastic icing motifs

The badge as well as the soccer balls are edible

 

Lebo was extremely happy with the cake this morning and said so would the birthday boy.

Happy 11th Birthday Tumelo, I hope you enjoyed the cake & have all your wishes on this special day come true.

 

Happiness !

Always remeber that happiness comes in diferent forms, it comes in the simplest of gestures and most basic acts during ones day.

Its my happiness to make those around me smile !

It's a Baby Girl

Mums are usually all too happy to admit how incredibly amazing bringing a child into the world is,  I decided that for my dear colleague and friend Zenobea, this happiness and joy needed to be properly celebrated with an equally special baby shower.

She is having a baby girl and  has told us that her colours for the little one will be soft and light shades, I used that for the theme for her party.


Her gifts included both edible and not so edible treats...

Every little girl needs a party dress, personally in my 'early days' a pretty dress (fully equiped with itchy bouffant petticoat, stockings and ofcourse jack and jill shoes was a necessity, so my frist presie was a  purple cupcake dress, with a darker ribbon around the 'waist'

I used a basic vanilla cupcake recipe with purple buttercream icing

Some treats dont need to be eaten to be enjoyed, these cakes were especially for the little one.
Nappy cakes are easy and fun to make / assemble. and best of all they dont need oven time




Step 1 
Assemble using various sized cake tins to get your shape and fasten with  string



Step 2
Decorate as desired using ribbons, wrapping paper, even fabric

In planning any event (however big or small), there is sure to be TEA, coffeee and things to eat

The cuppies are vanilla sponge and lime green
buttercream icing 

I had loads of fun planning this and had even loads more help from Pren and Cathy, so thanks you two !

More importantly, after all the fun and cake, I would like to wish Zenobea and her familyall the best in this new chapter and cherish all the happiness that her new bundle of joy  is sure to bring.

Love
Sam




 

Wedding Well Wishes

Bissy and Anzel celebrated their wedding a while back and I had the pleasure of baking their wedding cake. The bride requested chocolate and vanilla cakes, covered in fresh red rose petals.

Congratulations you both, I wish you both lots of laughter and happiness ! ! !

Jainesh Turns 21

Kishmira's brother had a 21st birthday party over the weekend.
She says he likes Chocolate Cake.

I opted for a square tin rather than the conventional 'circle' cake and was really glad with the results.
To balance out the sweetness from the chocolate icing I decorated with fresh berries.

Happy 21st Birthday Jainesh, May you enjoy many many more ! ! !

Chelsea FC Cuppies

Chelsea FC played Southampton on the weekend and I had an order to make some cuppies to mark the occasion

And even though The Blues didnt have such a good day at the office, I hope the cuppies were enjoyed nonetheless....

Another Family Affair

My favourite and Coolest aunt Cheryl had asked me to make my cousins wedding cake.

Naturally, I could not refuse but my only obstacle was Durban's terrible humidity. Thankfully, on the day we had beautiful weather and even more beautiful Red Velvet Cakes.

I can safely say, apart from my greedy cousins, everyone enjoyed the cake and that is what matters the most.

So congratulations to my cousin Donny and his wife Maniza, I wish you both a lifetime of joy and happiness ! ! !

Congratulations to Mike and Candice

My First Wedding Cake Order from Mike and Candice.

The bride requeted an eggless chocolate cake, sandwiched in chocolate icing and covered in vanilla buttercream icing.

I decorated with black edible lace, pearls and vintage brooches.

Congratulations you  two,I wish you both all the love and happiness for the future.

Love Sam

3 Mini Cakes that change EVERYTHING

So today I had to prepare some tasters for two couples planning their wedding.

One of the requirements were that the cakes needed to be egg free.

Altogether I prepared a Chocolate Cake topped with fresh berries, Vanilla sponge filled with vanilla mousse and covered in buttercream and the last was my famous Red Velvet ( Which was not egg less)

This is what they looked like:



Chocolate Cake covered in Fresh berries




Vanilla Sponge




Red Velvet topped with Cream Cheese

 This was such an exciting experience and both couples really enjoyed the tasting.

I cant say what they decided on, but I can tell you all to watch this space...

Special Birthday Wishes for an Extra Special Friend

There were few people that knew about my love for baking, one of them is my dear dear friend Senora.

Senora would literally nag me about starting this blog and I'm glad she did.

So on this special day, I would like to wish her a happy birthday and all the love and joy for many many more years to come.

Senora, thanks for being such a special friend to Pren and I and for always believing in me.

And yes she did place an order for some fun cupcakes...

Vanilla Cupcakes with Hot Pink and Purple Icing

Once again, Happy Birthday Friend !

Despicable Me, In more ways than One

One of my most special friends sent me a picture of the most wierdest looking cupcakes and wanted to place an order.

Now it must be said that I really dont enjoy animated movies and haven't the slightest idea of who any of these popular characters are, So naturally I was clueless that these little babies were called 'minions'

For those in the dark like I was, this is what they look like...

Ok so now with that out of the way, lets get down to my part in all of this.

I'm going to try something different and give a step by step method of how I put these together.

STEP 1
Preparing a moist chocolate cupcake

STEP 2
Preparing the little minions

You would need:

- Tinkies (which are sliced in half)
- Squigly Eyes
- Icing
- Piping Bag

Follow the link below on how to make your very own piping bag
http://cupcakesvscontracts.wordpress.com/how-to-make-a-mini-chocolate-piping-bag/

Then off you go, ice the detail onto the tinkie

Now everything needs to be assembled 

STEP 3

Icing the cuppie

STEP 4
Placing on those cute little minions

And thats it ! ! ! 

My little minions all set and ready to go

It is important to be open to new situations and even the small things you are unfamilar with for being ignorant doesn't get you very far

And even though I have NEVER heard of 'Despicable Me' I'm glad I tried and must admit that it was really fun.

So thanks Punk and I hope she enjoyed them...