Had my second market day this past Saturday. I wasn't going to do it as the weather was supposed to be terrible, but I thought to myself I can't give up at the first sign of bad weather! So I decided to do it. Things seemed to be against me though as it seemed my oven had broken down! It took me 7 hours to bake two sponges!! My husband took a look at it and we found out there are 20 degrees difference between each shelf! So there is 40 degrees difference between the bottom and top shelf. I have used the top shelf to bake everything on which goes against everything I have ever done as I always use the middle shelf.
I was soooo organised this week. Last week I started to bake at 8am and finished at 1.45am! This week I had a birthday cake to finish for Friday and then deliver it to Cambridge for 1pm. Therefore, I didn't start baking until around 2.30 and I finished everything by 10.45pm!! I'm hoping for the same this week!
I sold everything on my stall this week! I was very pleased if not a little surprised! There were not many people in town due to the weather, but still managed to shift the lot! I even had a few repeat customers.... How good is that!!
I have a couple of new things to bake this week, cakes that have been requested by customers. One is bread pudding, something I have never made, another is a gluten free cake, and also going to try diabetic cupcakes! I will update my blog on how I got on with these.
I am going to try Red Velvet cake again this week! It was a disaster last time I made it and I'm not one to give in!
The warm weather has played havoc with the cakes etc on the stall.... By around 2 ish, the chocolate for example starts melting big time. But the cold weather will soon be upon us so shouldn't moan.
Sorry if I'm boring everyone with these blogs....
Well I'm off to try out some Almond cookies for my son!
See you all soon x
Monday 21 July 2014
Sunday 13 July 2014
First Market Day
First day on the market.... My poor body is put through so many emotions I'm surprised I'm still able to function lol. I have been psyching my self up for market day all week. Well for weeks actually but more so this week! Kept thinking 'what if no one buys anything'. I needn't have worried.
I started baking cup cakes on Thursday. Didn't want to start too early as I wanted them to be as fresh as possible on the Saturday. Have I ever told any of you...... I HATE making and decorating cupcakes!! My passion lies with the bigger cakes. But, cupcakes sell, so there we are, I had to make em. I must have baked around 60ish, all different flavours; Vanilla, Coffe and Walnut, Almond and Chocolate. My Daughters helped to decorate them.....boooorrriinngggg.....
I also made two chocolate cakes, a large coffee and walnut cake, choc chip cookies, muffins and cake pops. I also made for the first time ever cake pops! I make red velvet ones to begin with. I must admit, I only made these from error. I attempted to make Red Velvet cup cakes but they went terribly wrong! Sunk in the middle they did! So, rather than just them away, I broke up the pieces of sponge and placed them in my food mixer, zapped them for a bit until they resembled bread crumbs, albeit very red bread crumbs! I added the frosting then took a small amount and rounded it I to a ball. I weighed each and every ball to ensure they were all the same size.
I decorated these using Candy melts. Another first for me. I added some white fat to the candy melts as recommended in many cake pop recipes. This enabled me to cover each ball without the chocolate mixture being too thick. It instead, was a lovely smooth runny mixture. I was unable to put the cake balls on sticks as the stick were to flimsy for the cake balls, so I placed them into mini cake slices instead. Once they were decorated with sprinkles etc, they looked pretty good!
Definateley will make these again..
I was up until 1.45 am baking as I also had a cake for a customer to make. One of the Pig in Poop cakes. I love making these cakes! As the customer was picking the cake up on Saturday, I had to have it completed for the Friday night. Why leave it so late to make it you say...... Well because the cake was not ordered until Thursday afternoon!! I do love a challenge!! Although, my body will disagree lol.
I was up at 6.00 am Saturday morning as I still had muffins to make, had to load the cakes and equipment into the car, shower, get dressed then head for town. I had to be there at 8.00 am. I was taking out my muffins from the oven at 7.50 am!!
My hubbie and I set up the stall. It didn't talk long to do at all. My hubbie kept giving me hints and ideas of where to put stuff, think the look told him I didn't need his help with this lol!
I didn't have my first costumer for about 90 minutes. But after that, I had a nice stream of customers. The other stall holders were very kind and welcoming. This helped put my mind at rest as I was a mess inside!! I didn't stop shaking until around 1pm. I love talking to people though so it was quite a good experience. Since leaving my full time job, I haven't had much contact with people other than my friends and family. I must admit, I thought I'd see more people I knew but there were so many unfamilular faces in town! I'm getting old lol!
My hubbie says this is the ideal job for me as I love chatting. I have no idea what he means ;0)
We started to pack up around 3 pm. I couldn't wait to get in. Unfortunately, baking for two days straight then standing on my feet for most of the day, my foot that I broke last year was swollen to double it's size! Ouchy! Will need to keep an eye on that!!
I didn't come back with a lot of stock thankfully. There's only such much cake one person can eat!!
I'm so thankful for all the support I received on Saturday. It confirms that I have done the right move!
Now, gotta get on with planning for next Saturday. Hope to see you there!!
I started baking cup cakes on Thursday. Didn't want to start too early as I wanted them to be as fresh as possible on the Saturday. Have I ever told any of you...... I HATE making and decorating cupcakes!! My passion lies with the bigger cakes. But, cupcakes sell, so there we are, I had to make em. I must have baked around 60ish, all different flavours; Vanilla, Coffe and Walnut, Almond and Chocolate. My Daughters helped to decorate them.....boooorrriinngggg.....
I also made two chocolate cakes, a large coffee and walnut cake, choc chip cookies, muffins and cake pops. I also made for the first time ever cake pops! I make red velvet ones to begin with. I must admit, I only made these from error. I attempted to make Red Velvet cup cakes but they went terribly wrong! Sunk in the middle they did! So, rather than just them away, I broke up the pieces of sponge and placed them in my food mixer, zapped them for a bit until they resembled bread crumbs, albeit very red bread crumbs! I added the frosting then took a small amount and rounded it I to a ball. I weighed each and every ball to ensure they were all the same size.
I decorated these using Candy melts. Another first for me. I added some white fat to the candy melts as recommended in many cake pop recipes. This enabled me to cover each ball without the chocolate mixture being too thick. It instead, was a lovely smooth runny mixture. I was unable to put the cake balls on sticks as the stick were to flimsy for the cake balls, so I placed them into mini cake slices instead. Once they were decorated with sprinkles etc, they looked pretty good!
Definateley will make these again..
I was up until 1.45 am baking as I also had a cake for a customer to make. One of the Pig in Poop cakes. I love making these cakes! As the customer was picking the cake up on Saturday, I had to have it completed for the Friday night. Why leave it so late to make it you say...... Well because the cake was not ordered until Thursday afternoon!! I do love a challenge!! Although, my body will disagree lol.
I was up at 6.00 am Saturday morning as I still had muffins to make, had to load the cakes and equipment into the car, shower, get dressed then head for town. I had to be there at 8.00 am. I was taking out my muffins from the oven at 7.50 am!!
My hubbie and I set up the stall. It didn't talk long to do at all. My hubbie kept giving me hints and ideas of where to put stuff, think the look told him I didn't need his help with this lol!
I didn't have my first costumer for about 90 minutes. But after that, I had a nice stream of customers. The other stall holders were very kind and welcoming. This helped put my mind at rest as I was a mess inside!! I didn't stop shaking until around 1pm. I love talking to people though so it was quite a good experience. Since leaving my full time job, I haven't had much contact with people other than my friends and family. I must admit, I thought I'd see more people I knew but there were so many unfamilular faces in town! I'm getting old lol!
My hubbie says this is the ideal job for me as I love chatting. I have no idea what he means ;0)
We started to pack up around 3 pm. I couldn't wait to get in. Unfortunately, baking for two days straight then standing on my feet for most of the day, my foot that I broke last year was swollen to double it's size! Ouchy! Will need to keep an eye on that!!
I didn't come back with a lot of stock thankfully. There's only such much cake one person can eat!!
I'm so thankful for all the support I received on Saturday. It confirms that I have done the right move!
Now, gotta get on with planning for next Saturday. Hope to see you there!!
Thursday 3 July 2014
So! lots has happened since my last blog and to be honest i sometimes forget i have a blog to write!
I have had a few cakes to be getting on with recently but not advertising too much as i have not wanted too many with mum being how she was. I'm sad to say we lost our lovely mum on the 7 June. I stayed with my dad for three weeks during and after the funeral, so although my business, i did the cakes i had ordered and that is it.
Now the work begins. I have a market stall on the Haverhill market now. Staring this on the 12 June so next week will be cooking like crazy to get together enough baked goods to sell. I will be selling cupcakes, biscuits, muffins, slices of cake, (chocolate and the likes), cake pops, cookies....phew, id better start baking now i think! Although i am very excited about the Market Stall, i am also a little nervous. Anyone who knows me will know that i am my worst critic!, and sometimes lack confidence in myself and my ability. My lovely friend Heather has always told me off for this lol. Anyway, this week i have set up my stall that my hubbie bought for me, a lovely bright pink and green one, (NOT going to be missed in this!!!) It took us both a couple of hours to put up. Ten minutes setting up the stall then another hour and 50 minutes trying to set up the front bench. We were determined that we were not going to let it beat us! although we almost did. The thing came with no instructions! So, we managed to get it all up and noticed that the previous owner had put it away wet. Mould!!! I cant have mould covering the sides of the stall when selling food! So, i have spent most of this week cleaning and treating it. It now looks wonderful. (can you tell i'm excited!!! lol)
My daughters are going to be helping me with the stall. Not the making of the produce, just the selling. I am looking forward to spending some time with them both. Just us girlies!
I did my first sculpted cake last week. It was an easy one to start with. It was a van. I made the sponge, then had to leave it over night to rest in the fridge. I did not sleep a wink i'll tell you. All i kept thinking was how i was going to cut it into shape. When it came to the point of cutting, i stood there, knife in hand, and just stared. I put the knife to the sponge, then pulled away, put the knife to sponge, then pulled away. I then decided i should maybe have a cup of tea before starting, after all, everyone knows a nice brew calms the nerves. I sat there, tea in hand and thought 'blow this, just do it'! so i did!! How easy!!! What the heck was i worried for? Deary me! Cant wait for the next one..... I may even try my hand at a dog sculpture!!!! Too soon? Hmmmmmm
Have i mentioned how much i am loving being at home, working in my kitchen, radio on etc.... I always thought i loved my job in a school in admin. I miss my friends dont get me wrong, and the banter between the staff members, and the pupils, but not the pressure, the deadlines, the crap that comes with working for other people, not be thanked.........and breath!!! Nope, none of that!!!!!!!
This is where I am going. I am going to have a look at the accountancy programme..... yeah ive looked before, then closed it up again, but this time i'm going to stick with it. (Maybe ;0p )
As always....a pleasure
Sam
I have had a few cakes to be getting on with recently but not advertising too much as i have not wanted too many with mum being how she was. I'm sad to say we lost our lovely mum on the 7 June. I stayed with my dad for three weeks during and after the funeral, so although my business, i did the cakes i had ordered and that is it.
Now the work begins. I have a market stall on the Haverhill market now. Staring this on the 12 June so next week will be cooking like crazy to get together enough baked goods to sell. I will be selling cupcakes, biscuits, muffins, slices of cake, (chocolate and the likes), cake pops, cookies....phew, id better start baking now i think! Although i am very excited about the Market Stall, i am also a little nervous. Anyone who knows me will know that i am my worst critic!, and sometimes lack confidence in myself and my ability. My lovely friend Heather has always told me off for this lol. Anyway, this week i have set up my stall that my hubbie bought for me, a lovely bright pink and green one, (NOT going to be missed in this!!!) It took us both a couple of hours to put up. Ten minutes setting up the stall then another hour and 50 minutes trying to set up the front bench. We were determined that we were not going to let it beat us! although we almost did. The thing came with no instructions! So, we managed to get it all up and noticed that the previous owner had put it away wet. Mould!!! I cant have mould covering the sides of the stall when selling food! So, i have spent most of this week cleaning and treating it. It now looks wonderful. (can you tell i'm excited!!! lol)
My daughters are going to be helping me with the stall. Not the making of the produce, just the selling. I am looking forward to spending some time with them both. Just us girlies!
I did my first sculpted cake last week. It was an easy one to start with. It was a van. I made the sponge, then had to leave it over night to rest in the fridge. I did not sleep a wink i'll tell you. All i kept thinking was how i was going to cut it into shape. When it came to the point of cutting, i stood there, knife in hand, and just stared. I put the knife to the sponge, then pulled away, put the knife to sponge, then pulled away. I then decided i should maybe have a cup of tea before starting, after all, everyone knows a nice brew calms the nerves. I sat there, tea in hand and thought 'blow this, just do it'! so i did!! How easy!!! What the heck was i worried for? Deary me! Cant wait for the next one..... I may even try my hand at a dog sculpture!!!! Too soon? Hmmmmmm
Have i mentioned how much i am loving being at home, working in my kitchen, radio on etc.... I always thought i loved my job in a school in admin. I miss my friends dont get me wrong, and the banter between the staff members, and the pupils, but not the pressure, the deadlines, the crap that comes with working for other people, not be thanked.........and breath!!! Nope, none of that!!!!!!!
This is where I am going. I am going to have a look at the accountancy programme..... yeah ive looked before, then closed it up again, but this time i'm going to stick with it. (Maybe ;0p )
As always....a pleasure
Sam
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