This is officially the last day of my Christmas Bake-off – The Grand Finale. It’s very exciting and a bit saddening at the same time. However, today I am not going to go into those details. I will find a better moment to make proper summary. Today, it’s time for the grand celebration! Most of all, I would like to use the opportunity and wish … Continue reading Day 24 ‘Very Special Christmas Chocolate Cake’
Eagerly jumping knives on the chopping board, food processor buzzing in the background whipping some eggs for another Christmas delicacy, water nervously bubbling in a pan as if it couldn’t wait until all the veges finally jump out of the hot bath. All these and lot more create the sound of Christmas in my house. For some it could be just a racket, for us … Continue reading Day 23 ‘Christmas Cookies’
What’s your definition of a perfect Christmas morning? Mine would start not earlier than at 10 a.m. We would all wake up because we are fully rested and ready for the day, not because the alarm clock went off or my little Elf’s new teeth didn’t let us sleep any longer. We would lounge for as long as we feel like and make a slow … Continue reading Day 22 ‘Eclairs’
This recipe has been in my family for decades. My mum got it from her mum, and grandma must have learnt all the details from her mother. It’s a real tradition that runs in my family to bake it twice a year, once around Easter and then for Christmas. I remember quite vividly that as a child I would sneak to the kitchen well after … Continue reading Day 21 ‘Pound Cake’
To aim high, that was my goal when I started Christmas bake-off. I really wanted to push myself and bake as many new recipes as possible. Stepping out of my comfort zone and doing new things was the only way I could learn. I feel I have learnt a lot, but you know how it works. The more knowledge you gain, the more you realise … Continue reading Day 20 ‘Oreo Cake’
You know what was missing in my collection of festive bakes? Roll cake! I wouldn’t have figured it out without a little help… In the meantime my little Elf and I changed the location and headed to grandma’s, leaving Nico and four-legged meowing fluff in charge of the house until they are ready to join us. We’d packed all the necessities, as well as some … Continue reading Day 19 ‘Gingerbread Cake Roll’
If you asked me month ago if seventeen days is enough to learn new skill or at least get to grips with something that you have not practised extensively or done on daily basis, I would say yes. With no hesitation. Obviously assuming that we were not talking about learning new language or working out guiding principles of theory of general relativity. Seventeen days, that’s … Continue reading Day 18 ‘Macaroons in disguise’
Gifts for the family and friends- tick, decorating Christmas tree- tick, clean up the house- I am glad we are spending Christmas at my parents’ this year, send cards- for some mysterious reason this is always the very last thing on my ‘to do’ list, sorry for the delay guys! It’s because… Rudolph got lost in English fog and couldn’t deliver all the parcels on … Continue reading Day 17 ‘White Poppy-seed & Marzipan Croissants’
The second week of my baking challenge is about to be over… I’m going though all the recipes looking at what I have already baked, trying to decide what still could be added and what’s missing in my rather fast growing collection of bakes. What I can see is indefinite sea of chocolate; chocolate truffles, chocolate brownies, chocolate decorations everywhere. At this point it’s quite … Continue reading Day 16 ‘White Christmas Truffle Cake’
It is common knowledge that pregnant women have cravings. Some, more than others, but we all heard stories about a girl waking up in a middle on the night craving ice-cream and cheeseburger right after. I have never experienced such a strong urge as to devour pickles dipped in a melted chocolate but I remember having real appetite for certain things. One of them was … Continue reading Day 15 ‘Orange Donuts’
Cat in a Fish Tank 