Pretty Spring Cupcakes

Hello beauties :) 

I received my first proper cupcake order this week and have just delivered the batch so I hope the birthday girl loves them. It was for an 18th birthday but due to the rush and bad timing I didn't have time to get any number cutters, never mind I still think they look uber pretty! 

Have a lovely weekend! 

Signed, Kathryn x

Happy 21st to Me! Day at Champneys Spa Henlow

21?! How on earth did that happen ha. Feels like only yesterday that I finished primary school and was moving up to the big scary old secondary school yet now I have 3 A-levels under my name along with a 2:1 honors degree in Environmental Science! Couldn't be more proud of myself!

Beautiful flowers from my mum & dad!

Anyway, yesterday was the big day and I was lucky enough to be treated to a spa day with my mum. We arrived at Champneys in Henlow at 9 am and received some fruit and herbal tea mmm! After getting into our robes we headed down to the pool for a swim then went for a boy treatment in the Thalassotherapy pool. This was a mineral rich pool with jets that stimulate and tone tired aching muscles, a bit like a jacuzzi only nicer! 

Following from this we stayed in the pool for some aqua-aerobics which was enjoyable and painful at the same time, lunch was booked in for 12 so we headed straight there after the class.

If only I could of taken some photos! The food was lovely, my ideal lunch with cold meats, salad, beans, humus without any of that fattening dressing. And now for the spa treatments. We chose a body radiance treatment followed by a facial. 

The body radiance treatment was an hour long body scrub and oil massage which was so relaxing. I wouldn't call it a massage but after a body scrub they massage back the oils into your skin rather than targetting specific back muscles that you would usually imagine. My skin felt so soft and smooth for the rest of the day (and today) and was a lovely treatment overall. 

Heading back into the waiting room I was called in for my facial. My skin has seen better days so I was a bit unsure as I didn't want them to scrub at it too much however it was perfect and also had a hand massage whilst the face mask was drying. 

After our treatments we switched into our gym gear and we headed for a walk around the grounds, it did unfortunately rain so we went to the gym instead ha. To finish with the spa we had a stretch and relax class!

An absolutely perfect 21st in my opinion with a lovely dinner and free prosecco at Pizza Express with the family to end the day. 

Then to make the day even more perfect, there were some beautiful flowers from my boyfriend waiting at the door step <3 

Back to Uni Cupcakes

Oops, sorry for the double post today! 

I decided to do some last minute baking for the final time before University to make the most of my mum's camera as well as all of my cupcake goodies which I doubt I'll have room to take tomorrow :( . Pretty standard cupcakes to be honest but with some dark chocolate chips inside! Hope you like, now to watch The X Factor! 

 Sorry for the rubbish lighting!

Kathryn xx

First Paid Batch!

Ekkk!! Soo as the title suggests I have been baking my first ever batch of cupcakes that someone ordered... well I say that, its actually my friend who I baked the giant cupcake for, but still! It's actually quite exciting having someone asking you to bake some cupcakes for them and with the added bonus of being paid to do so! Now with that excitement out of the way here are some photos... 

They are just my standard vanilla recipe but I ran out of vanilla essence so the icing is lemon butter cream! I actually love them, I'm not sure what I did different but the butter cream was so smooth when icing and am extremely happy with the outcome! 

I will dedicate this post to my lovely girl Zara and hope she had a wonderful birthday and loves all the cake! I'am also going to include a few photos of the night out and hope the girls loved the makeup I done for them (if I am not a weather girl or own a cupcake shop when I am older, a nail salon and makeup parlor will have to do!) 

Love you all x

Shhh... Zara's Birthday Cake

Evening! 

Today was spent baking my friend's surprise birthday cake for her 20th on Saturday!

She is obsessed with the colour turquoise so I have tried to take this on board. I previously, maybe around 3 years ago now, created a giant cupcake for her birthday in this colour and if I can I'll try and find a photo to compare! 

I find these cakes such a hassle to make however I am happier with this cake then my birthday cake I baked a few weeks back. The candy buttons worked in my favour as did the cake. I know it could be neater but nothings perfect in life :) 

It is filled with a Victoria sponge with vanilla buttercream and apricot jam.

Hope you like! 

Elderflower & Lemon

A month ago or so I started a new job at Hadley Wood Golf Club as a bar girl and absolutely love it. However like my previous job we can not drink coke/lemonade/ginger beer etc from the tap and have to drink boring cordials but thankfully this has brought me to discover my new favourite drink, elderflower & soda. So that is my influence for todays cupcakes!

For the cupcakes you will need:

• 3 eggs (together mine weighed around 208 grams)
• 208 g Margarine 
• 208 g Caster Sugar
• 208 g Self raising flower
• 1 1/2 tbsp Elderflower cordial
• 1 lemon zest finely grated

Beat together the sugar and margarine, then add an egg one by one

Mix in the flavourings

Slowly, without activating the gluten sieve in the self raising and fold 

Fill the cupcake cases

& place in a pre heated 180 degrees over for around 20-25 minutes :)

Lemon Syrup

When they are nearly cooled, measure 25 grams of caster sugar and squeeze around 1 1/2 lemons to get 75 ml juice. Boil together for a few minutes, then with a skewer pierce several holes and pour a small spoonful over each cake!

Butter cream! 

Mix icing sugar and butter with some elderflower cordial and squeeze the lemon out to get some drop of juice. Add some yellow colouring and pip.Voila! 

Sorry I apologize for the lack of description for the butter cream! Just taste and add whatever you like :) 

Race for Life

Race for Life time tomorrow and for some silly reason that I know I'll regret in the morning I have not trained at all! Luckily its only a 5K run but I'll probably still feel like death afterwards! 

I baked some cute girly cupcakes for the event that have a pink sponge with some handmade flowers and vanilla butter cream :) 

Wish me luck xxx