As promised, chocolate cake.

This is a fabulous recipe for many reasons not the least of which is that it makes a damn fine cake. It is also incredibly easy to make and you do not need a mixer for it. In addition it's a great flexible recipe that you can use as a base for lots of other things. In this case, I have made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting.



Basic Chocolate Cake

410g plain flour
500g caster sugar
130g cocoa
1 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 whole eggs and 1 egg yolk
300ml milk
150ml vegetable oil
300ml hot water
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the dry ingredients; flour, sugar, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and salt.
Set aside.

In another mixing bowl, add the eggs and yolk, milk, oil, water and vanilla. Whisk to combine.

For cup cakes-line 2, 12 cup pans with paper liners. Fill each cup a little more that half full. Bake at 180 for approx 20 minutes, until well risen and firm to the touch.

You will have enough mix left over for 5-6 more cupcakes so just bake those once the initial batch are out of the pans.

You can also bake this as a single layer 11-12 inch cake in a greased, lined pan for approx 45 minutes, until a skewer in the centre of the cake comes out clean. A double layer 9" cake will bake for 30-45 minutes.

OK, here we go! Uh, let's also bear in mind that I am a baker, a baker people not a photographer. Now that that is off my chest, here we go.

The dry mix


Add the wet to the dry.


All mixed


Fill the cups, just a little more than half. It rises well.


Baked and waiting for frosting.


To make the icing it helps to have a food processor but it certainly can be done by hand in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.

Vanilla Frosting (basic buttercream)

1 kilo icing sugar
250g butter (I use salted. If using unsalted add 1tsp salt as well)
2 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP+ milk

Place the butter and sugar into the bowl of a food processor.
Let the processor run until the butter and sugar are well combined but stil floury looking.
Add the vanilla and 2 TBSP of milk and mix. Continue adding milk a little at a time until the frosting is soft and smooth enough to spread but still holds it's shape.
Now you can ice your cake either by spreading the frosting or piping it through a piping bag.
I use a star tip for my cupcakes and finish with sprinkles.

TIP-be sure to let the processor run long enough to get all of the milk mixed in before adding more or you will end up with too much.

ENJOY!

Check it out!

Be sure to check out the blog on Coriandr this week. There's a great new featured seller!
http://blog.coriandr.com/

Where does time go?

Well what do you know, I haven't blogged since Valentines day that's February 14th to be exact. It's not because I've been all loved up or anything either. Though I am still working my way through a big box of much appreciated chocolates, thanks dear.

I have actually been being productive! Sales have been going pretty well and I have had to restock and start thinking ahead to upcoming craft shows. I have also added something completely different to my shops which is inspired by the fact that the peanut is losing her first tooth! So for Valentines, she got a personalized tooth pillow. I felt more emotional about that than I have almost any other milestone for some reason. I figured that if she liked it, other kids might too. Even kids need stuff that is well designed so this one is in a gorgeous Amy Butler fabric.



I am starting to think about spring mainly because the craft group (I am convnor of the craft group at the peanuts school) is starting to work on spring themed stuff so that we get it done by then! At least the weather seems to be co-operating at the moment and our garden is starting to peep out from it's winter sleep. The best being the Japanese apricots little pink blossoms appearing.

So, it's bunnies, bunnies everywhere right now, they do multiply don't they? These are a traditional Waldorf pattern that I have made a lot bigger and in funky colours. I hope that they go well for spring or maybe as Easter gifts. I originally did them sans eyes as is traditional but they looked a bit spooky. For some reason no eyes works really well for the small ones but not so well for these guys. I did a little survey on Folksy and it looks like most people think they do need eyes. So, that's my project for tonight. Keep an eye out (no pun intended) for these in my shops soon.



I am on the look out for any felt animal patterns so if anyone has a source of that kind of thing, please let me know!

Next week I'll be posting a recipe for the best chocolate cake ever, no really it is.

Happy Valentines day!

Finally as promised, my interview with Alison Da Silva of Tesouro. Which is quite perfect really as she has these lovely heart earrings in her Folksy shop and we can never have too many hearts on Valentines day.



I always find it interesting to talk to other crafters who make things that are really foreign to me and jewelery definitely falls into that category, I wouldn't know where to start. So Alison shares a little insight here.

Tell me how you got into jewelery making.
I have always dabbled in a bit of jewellery making and other crafts but I really got into jewellery making when I was getting married and I wanted to do as much of the planning and prepartions myself. I started by making some hair pins from pearls and crystals and I just kept going!

How did you learn your craft?
I have learned mostly through trial and error, a few good jewellery techniques books and teaching myself form magazines and online tutorials

What inspires your designs?
I am inspired by bright colours, gorgeous beads and all things girly! When I see something I love (maybe a bead, maybe a top, maybe even just a really cool poster or advertisement) I start thinking of how I can make that into a peice of jewellery.

How do you promote your business?
Most of my pormotion is word of mouth. Almost all of my friends and family have received my jewellery as gifts and they always promote me when they are asked about a piece thay are wearing. I also post links to my shop on my blogs and facebook - anywhere I can!

Where do you see your craft taking you in the next few years?
Over the next few years I'd like to see my shop become somewhere i can make regular sales, I'd also like to learn new skills and techniques, like silver smithing or working with precious metal clay.

Lastly, what's your most favorite thing in your shop?
My most favourite theimg in my shop is the Hearts and Flowers Charm bracelet. I have made a few charm bracelets for friends and family and I love how unique they are. Every individual charm is a little bit different from the others, I use up lots of one of a kind beads and I personalise each bracelet for the person I'm making it for. they are so much fun to make and I love to see my friends wearing them!



Be sure to check out her shop the next time you are looking for something girly and pretty!

It's been an interesting week around here. Firstly it's been snowing which for the Peanut is almost as exciting as Christmas, I suppose it does LOOK like Christmas. For me it's not so exciting. Though coming from Canada it is interesting to see people freaking out and closing hundreds of schools for a little bit of snow. I guess it's a case of the unexpected.

Secondly my shops have been really busy and the owls are flying out the door (pun intended). I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I am part of an article in The List magazine!
Now, I know that's about my cupcakes, and notice please that that's my photo as well, but the link to this blog is listed so who knows. Regardless, the sales have really helped fuel my creativity and I have a stack of stuff that I am working on including some fabulous felt pencil/make up bags with retro embroidery and funky fabric linings.



This week I have also taken a series of photos that are to go along with a cupcake recipe that I'll be posting. So, look out for that soon.
Also, this week I'll finally be posting an interview will Alison DaSilva who won the owl giveaway. She's got lovely jewelery.

It must be in the genes!

The Peanut, who is five, has surprised me once again by demonstrating a skill I didn't know she possessed!

They have had sewing at school a couple of times and I assumed it was all very teacher led and that they hadn't actually learned much as she's never talked too much about it. So today, she asks if she can sew something when we get home from school and I say "of course", thinking I am in for an afternoon of sitting with her and helping her sew which is what we've done in the past.

We get home and she says she's going to make a pin cushion "for you Mummy!" well, of course at that point I am putty in her hands, awww my girl wants to make me something! She then tells me I don't need to help, all I need to do is thread the needle and tie the knot. She asks for a piece of felt, some stuffing and a threaded needle.

Then sits for a full three hours and sews, without any help at all, a big pin cushion! Then she spends a further 30 minutes sewing on the decorations for it. All the while she is smiling like it's Christmas, giggling and repeatedly saying "sewing is fun!".
She was so proud of herself and asked several times if it looked like a grown up made it and did I think that Daddy would think that I had made it instead of her.

I am so proud that my girl not only was able to sit and create something but that she was also so proud of herself.

Here's her handiwork. It's got a seam down the centre so there is one side for pins, one for needles.

And the Winner is...

Alison da Silva from Tesouro!

Congrats on winning the plush owl and a blog post all about you and your fabulous Folksy shop.

I have let Alison know that she was the winner and I will soon be posting an interview from her all about her jewellery making. So, while you are waiting for that, why not check out her shop.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered, I really appreciate your even coming by and looking! I am going to try and do something special each month be it giveaways, recipes or craft instructions. So keep you eyes peeled.

Off to bed for tonight as I have the awful lurgy but I am hoping to be back on form tomorrow. If nothing else but because I have a stack of stuff to sew up which I have really been neglecting.