Now where to start...

2012 starts with a good selection of baking books and they are pretty much dedicated to cakes so I have no excuse and no reason to say I have no idea what to bake.

It will probably take the whole year to get through all of these..... now where to start??

Happy Baking xxx

The baking history of Fav...

I really love baking and seem to be OK at doing it whenever I manage to have some time to attempt something. So my cakes come out a little bit lopsided and I'm not the best at decorating them but on the whole they are tasty. My baking skills have only expanded to cupcakes and the odd Victoria Sponge but fingers crossed 2012 is going to be my year of baking.

2011 saw the attempts of...

Chocolate Sponge cake with added sprinkles. 

Attempt at making a giant cupcake from one of those silicone cases...not so great.

Victoria Sponge with added summer berries...looked OK until the juices started to run :(

Chocolate Fudge Cake.

White chocolate and raspberry brownie.

A really bad attempt of macaroons...and a rubbish picture.

Rocky Road Muffins.

Just an example of the things that I made throughout the year, I did try Bakewell Tarts and some different variations of cupcakes. Just not enough photographic evidence.

Hopefully throughout this year I am going to widen my skills and try baking lots more that I haven't done before...have a massive pile of books next to my bed with labels sticking out with all the recipes I would like to try.

Also have a great book on how to decorate cupcakes as well so would like to give that ago, get the proper tools and maybe even go on an icing course. Who knows what the baking year of 2012 may bring...

So mid-week update and so far it has just been work; work, work, with not a lot else happening.

Woke up Monday morning just in time for Jeremy Kyle Show at 9.25, perfect, first job of the day had to fed the boys. Turned their day light and UV light on and straight away the big boy Tom and Dickie com swimming straight up to the surface, noses poking out waiting for breakfast. I don't actually no what it is we fed them, some sort of dried worms called Pro-Baby but all the label is in German which isn't exactly helpful.

Anywho...we still don't know how much to fed them so they get roughly a pinch each of food. Everything seems to go so I'm guessing we're on the right tracks, we were told as well that if the tank smells that is a sign of over feeding. The tank doesn't smell at all so again all good signs. Only thing when feeding them is I like to see here baby Harry is first just to make sure he gets some food, the other two don't knock him out of the way on purpose but where he is smaller he gets pushed to the side. Tom and Dickie are still looking up at me but I can't see the baby anywhere....

Now was a new Mother to turtles I get very panicked if I can't see all three of them so I'm down on my knees searching all corners of the tank to try and find the baby. I literally cannot see him anywhere and I know (deep down) he can't escape from the tank but I seriously have no sodding clue where he is. Tom and Dickie are still waiting to be fed. I'm getting desperate now so open the top of the tank to get my hands in there to start moving all the plants around. Quickly the live plants were a complete waste of money, two of them have gone completely now, nothing left and they were three for £5 from Pets at Home, not happy. So as I reach in to the tank to start pulling everything apart...I SPOT HIM!!! Sat on top of the fake pink lotus plant (again from Pets at Home) is my baby Harry, sat there happy as Larry looking up at me waiting for his breakfast.

He launched himself of the Lotus in to the water and happily ate his breakfast, funny little thing. After all three boys were fed I continued to get on with my morning.

Well the rest of my morning was me getting back in to bed and watching the rest of Jezza, then got up showered and got to work for about 12.15 just in time for the dreaded late shift. To be fair the day went pretty quickly for a late shift and I hit credit target and more which is just what I needed as I was really behind at the end of last week. Didn't really get to see Dann at work much which is rubbish, we are on opposite shifts all week this week which doesn't help things. Got out of work at about 9.20pm as customer kept me on the phone asking for discounts and add-ons for free, he finally gave in and realised he wasn't getting any freebies so gave in and boom last sale for the day.

Got home and was starving Marvin so needed some food asap, rang Dann to see what he wanted as he was coming round after pool, couldn't get a straight answer out of him so gave up and treated myself to Maccy D's again. Seriously need to sort out my eating habits, its a little bit gross how much junk food I eat.

Dann got to mine practically two minutes after I got back from the drive through he didn't look best pleased with no dinner but kept that to himself. Because I felt mean I let him finish off my McFlurry.  Large meal and a McFlurry is enough of me, I always have a bad case of eyes bigger than my belly.

Due to us getting old we both fell asleep in front of the TV, Dann had the laptop on still dressed lol.

Tuesday arrives and PANCAKES for breakfast :) We had one pancake batter mix left so that worked out just perfect. We had our pancakes with maple syrup, sugar and whipped cream...YUMMY. Dann likes a bit of lemon on his pancakes instead of cream though.

Dann and I were both on a late shift, the only shift the same this week. We went to Morrisons at lunch and ordered the biggest amount of chicken you have ever seen. Made a friend at the deli who spoke to me as well today, friend for life there. Hit target again at work so pretty happy about that, keeps the manager happy. 9pm comes and Dann is stuck on the phone, it is always the way.

Today has been pretty good. Had a marketing masterclass at work for about two hours and it has only highlighted more the fact that ideally I would like to start a career in marketing. It was really good, was a basic presentation on what marketing is and how it has changed due to all the different types of medias out there. The whole thing was good and honestly helped me gain a clearer understanding.

It was ruined a bit my idiots asking stupid questions but isn't it always.



Looking forward to the weekend as off to Cardiff for Beasts birthday, cannot believe she is going to be 20!! Crazy times.  I get to see Mum; Nan and Jessles as well so big smiles all round. Will be nice to see the Uni house that Beast is staying in, she what she has done with the place.

Until next time bloggers.....

xxx