BAKING: Rum and Caramel Mini Layer Cakes

So I had the fabulous idea to bake cupcakes for a friends birthday this weekend, rather than fulfilling expectation and arriving with a box of Hummingbird's finest. As is usually the case, simplicity wasn't my foremost thought. The flavour combination of Rum and Caramel came to me as if by magic and I knew there had to be caramel and rum buttercream in the middle which meant they had to be layer cakes, mini victoria sponges if you will. Being the novice that I am I wasn't really sure how to go about this, short of baking cupcakes and cutting each one in half individually. So I called in the expert, Madre Rumblings, who suggested baking a sheet cake and cutting the layers out. Voila! Dilemma solved by someone in the know.

The cake mix was vanilla, with added rum syrup and then further rum syrup was poured over the cake once it came out of the oven. Alcoholic much.

A dollop of Caramel and a dollop of rum buttercream were added to the centre of each individual cake with a further buttercream dollop on top to hold the decoration.

Edible icing bags made by Madre Rumblings over at www.cakesbyjem.co.uk :-)

The cakes were a huge success, quite finicky for me and quite time consuming, but the suprise on the face of the birthday girl and the appreciation and of course praise from the guests made it all worthwhile. And to be honest I was quite proud of myself.

PR Xxx

BRGR.CO Soho

Was treated to a lovely brunch date by one of my favourite people today.

I haven't been to BRGR.CO before. It's quite a new addition to the streets of Soho, originating in Beirut and and joins the Burger Revolution that seems to be taking over and forcing us all into beef pattie comas.

I opted for the Full Monty Brunch Burger - minus the bacon (I don't like it) and minus the egg (I have egg issues, some days I like it and some days I don't. It's very random. Today was an anti-egg day).

The burger came stacked with a hash brown, mushrooms, and tomato all in a Brioche bun (best thing to happen to burgers in my honest opinion, those Ciabatta buns are awful). Even without the bacon and eggs it was definitely still the Full Monty. Is juicy an appropriate term to describe a burger? Well that's exactly what it was. Juicy, soft, tasty, mouth wateringly delicious. Hands down the best burger i've had this year.  

No more Byron, GBK or Honest Burger for me, although they are a bit more local then Soho. Hopefully BRGR.CO will be setting up shop South of the river in the near future.

Let's not forgot about my FIRST EVER Bloody Mary! Not really sure what I was expecting. I think I imagined it to be Gazpacho in a glass... Cold seasoned tomato soup... Sounds totally unappealing, but I was willing to give it a try.

It was divine! Totally forgot Tabasco was one of the ingredients, which took me by suprise initially, especially as i'm usually a Nando's Lemon and herb kinda girl. Chilli is not my friend. Spicy, but refreshing and weirdly moreish. Delish! Obviously accompanied by a jug of ice water ;-)

If you like burgers you need to try BRGR.CO!

PR Xxx

http://www.brgrco.co.uk/

Franco Manca, Northcote Rd

When all else fails to cheer me up, I turn to food. My buffalo mozzarella, bresaola, tomato and basil starter was the taste bud tingler I needed to get the endorphins flowing. By the time i'd completed my tomato, garlic, olive, oregano and mozzarella sourdough pizza I could've auditioned for Glee Club. I would've been exceptionally unsuccessful, but my joy had definitely been restored, if somewhat temporarily. The olives were yummy although slightly scary in size and I could've done without the seeds, but that's just me always looking for the easy option. 

I'd definitely recommend Franco Manca, sadly no gluten free option, so unfortunately I won't be able to eat here too regularly :-(

PR Xxx

BAKING: Lemon and Blueberry Layer Cake

*whispers* I've never made a layer cake before. I know.. I know... Absolutely ridiculous considering the extent of the Dessert Fetish. I've obviously eaten them, but I think i've been a little bit scared if i'm honest. Not really sure why... But there is something about a layer cake that has me a little bit dubious. 

Well I woke up this morning with layer cake on the brain after watching reruns of Great British Bake Off of course. Always spurs me into, first drooling and then the uncontrollable urge to bake.

So into the tiny kitchen (it really was made for Pixies) to create the kind of havoc that I hoped would emerge into a master piece. And that it did!!

So pleased with how this turned out. Lemon sponge and Blueberry Coulis marbled through whipped cream. Hello!! 

I really should have taken a pic of the disaster scene that is now the kitchen, but instead i'm off to find a spoon and take this bad boy to bed.

Calories... Schmalories!

PR Xxx