Buyagift discount code-£21 off

Hi

Just seen this great deal from Buyagift..... Spend min £80 and get £21 off. Just use code PARTY at checkout. Offer ends Sunday 25th April at midnight 

Grab yourself some great vouchers for afternoon tea now things will start opening up soon. 

I am so looking forward to going to my first afternoon tea since beginning of November 

Semi naked style cake - Lemon sponge recipe

 Hi 

As you may already know that since having weekends free as unable to go to Afternoon teas at present i have been doing a lot of baking instead . I tend to make something sweet most weekends either from scratch or using one of the Bakedin kits I receive each month. 

This weekend i decided to try my hand at a Semi Naked style cake using up left over buttercream i had in the fridge from my Easter cake. When I posted a photo on my  Instagram my friend made me laugh  with her comment of ' You should really bake with your clothes on ' !!!!!!!

I am pleased with the results however I think the layer of buttercream covering the cake could of been a bit thinner so more of the cake showed through . Its not bad for my first attemp 

I piped all the flowers and used one of my Russian piping tips and leaf piping tip for the first time. 

The cake was a 4 layer lemon sponge sandwiched together with the buttercream and lemon curd. This is the second time i have used this sponge recipe below and it is easy and is a very moist and delicious cake. I baked the cake in two deep 6inc tins so used 6 eggs and pro rotared the recipe and increased cooking time 

Lemon sponge cake recipe 

225g self raising flour

2tsp baking powder 

4 medium eggs

225g soft marg or butter (i used Stork) 

225g caster sugar

zest of 3 lemons 

juice of 2 lemons 

Heat Oven to 160/140 fan 

Line and grease 2 x 20cm round  baking tins 

Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy 

Add the eggs one at time , mixing after each one 

Add the lemon zest along with the flour and baking powder . Mix gently until combined 

Add the lemon juice and mix again 

Pour equally into the tins and bake for approx 30 to 35 mins . Test by inserting skewer into middle of cake and if comes out clean cake should be cooked . 

Leave in tins to cool for 10 mins then turn out gently onto wire rack to cool before decorating 

Easter treats

 Easter to me is 2 extra days off work and chocolate and hot x buns.........both of which are not good when you are trying to loose weight! I am dreading my weekly weigh in tomorrow 😬

I have been busy baking  again and  made this lovely chocolate 5 layer sponge speckled cake.  I also made matching cupcakes.  

Yesterday I had a lovely Easter day that started with a lovely cooked breakfast of toasted bagel topped with bacon, mushrooms and scrambled egg. Had this whilst having a lazy morning watching Sunday brunch on TV.

My son skipped the cooked breakie and opted for a whole chocolate Easter egg for breakfast which has been a tradition in our house since he was small.... He us now 15!!

For dinner i cooked a lamb roast which was a meal deal from M&S especially for Easter. It was realy nice and my daugter said it was the best dinner she had had for a while !!!!

M&S Easter meal deal £20 and feeds 4

M&S Hot x buns .....My favourite was the savoury chilli and cheese ones delicious toasted with butter