Poppyseed and Lemon Drizzle Loaf

DS and I made a cake for DH's birthday - one of our favourites, a Poppyseed and Lemon Drizzle Loaf.

The recipe?

Poppyseed and Lemon Drizzle Loaf

125g SR flour

30g poppy seeds

90g caster sugar

2 level tbsp honey

125g butter

2 medium eggs

Rind of 1 lemon

2 tbsp milk

Topping:

30g sugar

Juice of 1 lemon

Set the oven to Gas 4, 180degC

Place all the cake ingredients in a bowl and beat until the mixture is smooth.  Spoon it into a lined loaf tin (the recipe says 1lb, but I use a 2lb)

Bake for 30-40 minutes until the cake has risen and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.  Remove from the oven.

Immediately spread the sugar over the top of the loaf in an even layer and drizzle over the lemon juice.  Leave to cool completely in the tin.

Keeps for 2 days – if it lasts that long!

What inspires me?

People often ask where I get my inspiration.  And the answer?  Everywhere. Sometimes, I make a 'copy' of an object, the Clarice Cliff-style teapots are an example of that.

Sometimes, it's a technique from another medium, as with the millefiori or patterned paste techniques.

Often, I'm inspired by a pattern on a wallpaper, a greetings card or other everyday object. The monkeys came from my son's pyjamas!

And occasionally, the design develops itself, as with the funky floral wedding cake.

What's in my head at the minute?  Well, some patterned paste ideas for a Golden Jubilee cake for BSG International in May; a new teapot shape with a Clarice Cliff inspired design; a freezer (!); an Islamic-inspired pastillage scupture; and a modern wedding cake, also for BSG International.  Stay tuned to see the results.

BSG International - not long now

Two cake free, demonstration free weeks coming up before the Easter holiday.  Time to get on with my pieces for Telford I think.

I hope you've all booked your tickets, accommodation and transport.  I'll be on and around the Demonstrators' Stands for the two days so look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.

Time for Tea

I've had an idea for some Clarice Cliff inspired teapots for a while now; in fact, I made the prototype way back last summer - then did nothing with it.  The realisation that I had a demonstration booked with the title 'Modelling a Sugar Teapot' spurred me into action a couple of weeks ago with these results:

'House and Bridge'

'Summerhouse'

They're moulded round a 5" dummy to give you some idea of their size and I have to say the painting takes far longer than I anticipated.  I need to find a better way of protecting them as well; the PME Spray Varnish smudged some of the dark colours, particularly the black.

More samples can be found at Kathryns Cakes

The Spring Sparkle - and More Millefiori Ideas

Thanks to Chris for a great day at the Spring Sparkle yesterday.  I was on first so after giving my Millefiori/Patterned Paste Techniques Demonstration, I could sit back and enjoy Lou Wilson from The Cake Makery model a Doulton-style lady and Karen Caudwell from FPC Moulds show us how to get the most from your moulds.

A couple of new ideas from yesterday to share with you:-

Patterned Paste Buttons:  

  

And a baby in a striped babygro:   

Cake Jewellery Tutorials

Well, I can't believe it's two weeks since my last Blog post- where does the time go?

I'm busy with two new tutorials, this time focussing on Cake Jewellery, which I hope to have ready for the Spring Sparkle this coming Saturday.

The first, 'Garlands and Fountains', gives instructions to create a bejewelled wedding cake.

The second, 'Beaded Foliage', will show ideas for creating leaves, berries and foliage from wires and beads.

Both will be available 'free with purchase' and as people often ask 'what would you recommend buying?', I've put together two kits, one containing everything you need to make a fountain and garlands for a three tier wedding cake (priced at £20), the other a selection of goodies to get you started with 'Beaded Foliage' (priced at £12).  Both contain items to a higher value than the kit price.

One or other of the tutorials will also be included with any other purchase of beads and wires over £5 from the Online Shop or at a demonstration.

My next task will be to stock take and update the contents of the shop, so please email me before ordering so I can manually check if I have what you require.

I hope to meet more of you over the coming months.

Kathryn

Millefiori or Patterned Paste Ideas

Hopefully a few of you will have tried the techniques by now; please send me a link or post them on my FB page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathryns-Cakes/106747242683985 so I can share your work.

Once I'd mastered the basic lettering, I began to wonder what else I could do with the techniques.  So here are a couple of ideas for you:-

Tri-colour stripe, cut with Orchard Products Lace Leaf Cutter

Checkerboard using the same cutter

And 'Cake' surrounded by fantasy flowers.  Can you spot the new technique in this one?

Hope you're feeling inspired!