The lego brick cake

My eldest son Lucas turned 8 two fridays ago and as he is a massive fan of the Lego Wii games I thought I would make him a gold Lego brick cake.



It was some mean feat! I had to make 3 square cakes and four muffins (for the studs). As I only had one square cake tin this took some time.



14 eggs, 775g flour, 775g butter, 775 g sugar, the grated rind of 3 lemons and two lots of butter cream later. Ta da -



I added some fondant icing.....



.......and found this amazing gold spray.





He was well chuffed so think it was worth all the effort. this is a beast of a cake and think I may have put on a few pounds eating it!




He had three friends for a sleepover on his birthday and think they were impressed by the cake, look -



Lucas is the one coughing all over the cake!



Hotdogs for tea in home made rolls -



I am so glad I don't have to do all that again until September for Isaac. Phew!

B xxx

Monday Manger

Ok so here is the second foodie post. This week I am sharing the food growing in the garden, everything seems to have exploded over the last few days!!

The Radishes

The potatoes

The tomatoes

The lettuce......

more lettuce.......

yet more lettuce filling spaces in the border.......

.....and even more lettuce!

Not only is it delious it looks great too! Thanks She and Al xx

Chili or pepper not sure which this is now!

We are running out of room its only a small garden!!!!! Luckily me and Deb are subletting half an allotment will share that next week. Hoping to see some baby courgettes when I go later in the week.

Oh and the recipe this week is Feta and sun dried tomato bread -

300ml water

450g strong white bread flour

2 tbsp olive oil

4 sun dried toms (50g ish), finely chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp fast-acting yeast

100g feta cheese, broken in to small pieces

Put everything in the bucket, set on basic white, medium loaf size and medium crust. Easy peasy and tastes gorgeous.

Sorry if you don't have a bread maker but if you know a little about bread making I'm sure you can make it with out.

This mornings doodles of jars, not sure why! Think they will end up on cards as I have decided to start making them again. Not to sell just to give.

Off to pick some lettuce for lunch. Ciao for now!

B xxx

Oh what a lucky girl I am!

Ok so this week i'm gonna share some of the fantastic presents I received for my bday. I was so lucky to get so many lovely things.

Its very hard to choose but I think this is my fav, a giant button pincushion. Belinda said she'd been looking for that perfect gift and then she saw this.

My older brother Leon (the artist also known as LAKart) gave me this canvas plus another. I am commissioning him to do a pop arty family portrait. You know like one big square, split in to four, a drawing of each of us, one in each corner painted in four different colours..... I will share that with you when its finished. Just need to decide on colours. Am thinking Teal and Olive green to go with my plans for the dining room.

I also received 3 bags! Which is fab as you can never have to many. I'm sure when I told Dan he saw secretly rolling his eyes and thinking "more bags!" This ones from Lozzie my sister in law. (technically shes my other halves sister). I love it!

These oh so cute measuring spoons are from Pippa and Linds. Think some one may have been reading my blog. I have stacking measuring cup in the same design. They clubbed together and got me lots of lovely bits and bobs. Thanks girls, love them all x

Oh and the dress! I have been eyeing this up for months for my mums wedding. I just kept thinking i can't or rather I shouldn't. In the end I didn't have to as Dan and the boys got me it. Now all I need are some shoes.

My Inlaws (or outlaws as my friend likes to call hers) got me two books that have been on my wishlist for a while. The first is called Hand Job which isn't as rude as it sounds. its a book on hand type. Which is basically hand drawn lettering/font Remember bubble writng and doodling on school books?

The other is Print and Pattern by Bowie Style(check out the blog) which is a must have for any one who likes pattern. I could sit and look at it for hours! I know they will give me so much inspiration over the coming months and years.

Last week I made this for Emma and Chris's beautiful new baby daughter Florence. They are moving soon and Emma said they are thinking of basing her room decoration on my embroidery. Matching bunting may be?

This week I have been making a few gifts for a friend, wont say who in case she is reading. Well they are in the post so will have to share what I made her next week as don't want to spoil the surprise. Shhhh! "

I don't think I have mentioned that I got a bread maker for Christmas. It is fabulous, I don't buy bread any more and I know whats in it. This book was another bday pressie, yesterday I made blueberry cake. Today as I type I have some onion and garlic bread on the go. Thinking I might start a recipe sharing post every Monday. Might call it Monday Manger or Monday Munchies. What d'ya think?

Lastly this was breakfast!! Yes I had the cheddar's (two packets) too!!

See ya next week,

B xxx

Love - is it real?

Over heard some ladies about 10 years older than me (I'm 32) at the work tonight talking about love. They were saying it doesn't really exist and that you think you are in love for the first 18 months and then you are just friends! I know they are all still with their partners and all have kids. I like to think I am still in love with my man (even though he may irriate me like hell some days and I'm sure I do him) and if they really think this why are they all still with their men. How would they feel if they left tomorrow? Is love real?

I remember being upset when Dan said he loved the kids more than me but kind of know what he means.

On a lighter note heres a lovely treasury from mmacdougall8 -

"A Little something for those who you love"

1 mojospastyle

2 DrikaB

3 elefint

4 sydneyhale

5 bottlecrop

6 Homako

7 HoneyPieDesign

8 Earmark

9 Ohjustjess

10 eringotz

11 Irenesuchocki

12 Beaky

13 oiseaux

14 pleasantleyplumpknits

15 sewlola

16 beanforest

What doesn't say love like a heart shaped jam tart for Valentines day? Made with love and homemade blackberry jam just for Dan!

I have to admit the idea came from Isaac my 4 year old. wheni said we were making jam tarts he thought I said "jam hearts!"

B x