Nicest biscuits in the world..ever!!

I have delevoped a strange craving lately of things that are both sweet and salty at the same time. Think honey roasted peanuts and sea salt flavored chocolate, hmmm! I think it's probably down to the fact that I'm getting older and sadly I can't eat as many sweet things as I used to.
I discovered these amazing rosemary shortread biscuits after a friend kindly made me up a batch. I think they're delicious and they make great presents when displayed in a vintage glass cookie jar.

Gordon Ramsey's Rosemary Shortbread

Usually associated with savoury dishes, rosemary is a great, robust winter herb that can give shortbread a different dimension. I find that it makes the biscuits taste a little less sweet.

340g plain flour, plus extra for rolling
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
225g unsalted butter, softened
140g caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle
2 tbsp chopped rosemary leaves

1 Sift the flour with the salt. Put the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.

2 Turn the mixer to its lowest setting and add the rosemary then the flour, a little at a time. Stop mixing as soon as the dough comes together. Shape the dough into a flattened ball, wrap in clingfilm and chill for at least 20 minutes.

3 Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. For bars, gently pack the dough into a lightly buttered Swiss roll tin. Score the surface to mark out bars and prick all over with a fork. For biscuits, roll out the dough on a lightly floured board to 5-7mm thick. Stamp out the biscuits using a cookie cutter, then transfer to two lightly buttered baking sheets, leaving a little space between each biscuit. Prick each biscuit with a fork.

4 Bake for 15-20 minutes until pale golden. Let the shortbread cool on the tray for 10 minutes until firm, then transfer to a wire rack for them to cool completely.

5 Sprinkle with caster sugar, if you like. Keep in an airtight container.

Bicycle cupcakes

I'm so impressed with my friend Lauren, she wanted to make her bike-mad boyfriend some two-wheel themed cakes and cleverly created these! After asking my advice (for some reason) I suggested she get some ready rolled white icing to place on the top of her cupcakes and then use icing pens to draw on the bicycles . When she text me this picture I was so proud of her and think these are ace. Well done Miss Kelly xx

I love POP

If you haven't already heard of POP bakery, I'm sure you soon will. The independent bakery set up by 22 year-old Clare O'Connell and her mum is rapidly becoming the new Hummingbird. This is just an example of the many beautiful cakes they offer. This 'Darling' cake is only £35, which is a real bargain, for such a pretty personalised cake. Clare's bakery has been receiving a lot of press lately mainly because of her totally unique cake toppers. These Russian Dolls and bride and groom toppers are an example of some of the quirky designs she produces. The toppers are made out of sponge dipped in icing, and then hand painted with edible paint.


Not only can these be purchased for a mere £2 but the best news is that Clare has just published a book showing you exactly how to make them yourself. I can't wait to my hands on a copy!

I will of course keep you posted as to when the book is out but in the meantime check out the bakery yourself here x

Time to play with your food

I love these jigsaw cookie cutters from Cox & Cox. Think of the fun you could have playing with them. Once baked the cookies can be fitted together like a real jigsaw. you could get really creative and make your own picture with icing so that when they're served all mixed up the fun will be putting the picture back together. At just £4 they will make a lovely stocking filler.

Christening cupcakes

When it comes to christenings, I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to know what present to get. The child being christened is normally far too young to care or even know what you've given it and it usually ends up with numerous gold crosses and bibles. So when it came to the christening of Ava I thought some personalised cupcakes would be a nice, unique gift. I used, what I have found to be the best cupcake recipe by top cake chef Eric Lanlard, and then using flower paste and a sugar craft alphabet mould I cut out her name. I know what you're thinking, what if the baby is named Bartholomew or Gwendoline? I'll never fit that on a cupcake! Well, you could either use their initials or place just one letter of their name on each cake, then display them so they spell it out. These can also be made for birthdays, hen dos, wedding etc. Trust me if you bring a try of these to any party, they will be greatly received.