Silent Sunday

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Ella's Bakehouse - Covent Garden

Well I headed off to London Town this past weekend to pay a little visit to my baby brother and as usual he knew it would be a sin not to find me at least 1 cupcake to try.

He has in the past taken me to Hummingbird and Buttercup, so the mission was on as we couldn't travel too far as we had Grayson (my little cupcake) with us.

We headed to Covent Garden to show my Mom around the Sunday market and to show my sweet tooth to Ella's Bakehouse.

Website Bio for Ella's Bakehouse....

"These are not just cupcakes, these are Ella’s bakehouse cupcakes made in London town by Lorraine Pascale and her merry band of highly skilled Cakers.

But what makes these cakes so darn special I hear your cry? Using mainly British ingredients the sponge is brushed with a light vanilla sugar syrup to make the cupcakes extra tasty and super-duper moist for added sensory pleasure."

The queue was out the door and the little tables and chairs out front were full to the brim, it was already well into the afternoon so I was a little worried about choice but how wrong was I to worry, they had ample choice and well stocked which for me was the first big tick.

The lady behind the counter was super sweet and polite and very efficient, tick 2.

The store was decorated very cutely and had a little kitsch vibe which we all know I am super fond of, so tick 3.

I chose to only indulge in 1 cupcake for myself and one for my hubby ( don't ask me why, great regret) obviously I always usually go for a Red Velvet, being I can never bake them right but I was in total surprise when I saw their couture flavour of Malteaser. !Yummy!

One of my favourite sweets/chocolate ever, so I am afraid Mr.Red Velvet as beautiful as he looked was pushed aside.

The cakes were decorated beautifully, not too much decoration as a cupcakery cupcake shouldn't have in my opinion, very tasteful with a sparkle of glitter for that great girly-ness.

I bought the hubby a Banoffee Cupcake, which when telling him outside the store I got a large glare for as he hadn't also wanted a Malteaser - oops. But I can honestly say he was not disappointed, he loved it, we both agreed our cakes were super moist a real tick for us and there was lashings of buttercream (a little too much for me but that's cause I am fussy).

I would have liked a little more crushed Malteaser in mine but by no means is this a criticism more of me being a greedy sweet tooth for Malteasers.

My mom also bought the Raspberry and Lemon ( I am sure that was the flavour) and said it was incredibly good, she equally agreed one of the moistest cupcakes she had eaten.

The other thing I loved about the Ella's bakehouse experience which shall make me return is the fact they box your cakes (no order to small) which for a person travelling back to Kent is a HUGE tick.

So all in all, I was over the moon, I just wish they were around the corner from me, I shall be going back for sure and more than 2 little cupcakes shall be leaving the shelves next time.

If you are ever in Covent Garden to pop by to Ella's Bakehouse and maybe check out the www as they do deliver.

Baked and Delicious Giveaway

Yep a giveaway guys and girls, how lucky are we. You may remember from my last post that Britain has a new Baking Publication - Baked and Delicious and they have kindly offered one of my lucky readers advanced issues 2-5 plus all the silicone bake ware for free, awesome huh ?

Just pop by my other blog to enter the competition and please do spread the word.

Thanks
Kara
xx

Baked and Delicious - Magazine Review

You may remember my last post showed a new anticipated Baking magazine Baked and Delicious, which was just about to hit British shelves, well I was fortunate enough to be sent a copy of the Magazine by its publishers so I could review it for all my readers.

The Magazine promised to offer "Sweet and Savoury, traditional and modern recipes gorgeously illustrated and full if tips for better baking." and I must say I was not disappointed. It came with 7-9 recipes for so many different baked goods, including Focaccia, Dundee Cake, Choux Pastry and my all time fave Vanilla Cupcakes.

At first I was unsure if this was enough recipes but then I thought about the fact that its a fortnightly not monthly publication and decided its probably just the right amount. It provides a variety of recipes most of which you could try most nights of the week and to be honest just enough for a fortnight of free time. (which most of us don't have now a days).

I found the step by step instructions (which come in photo and written description) very helpful and easy to follow, they were clear and if a novice baker you would be able to follow them easily. At this point my only real complaint (and its not much of one) is I wish they did the step by step for every recipe not just a selected few.

I felt it only fair that to review the magazine I should defiantly have tried making something. As time was short for me this week I picked the Vanilla Cupcakes a true favourite and thought lets see how this recipe measures up to the many I have used. I chose to only make 1/2 a dozen and was pleased when I got to use the free silicon cupcake cases that come with the magazine.

I must say I was very pleased with the result, as I stated before the instructions where beautifully easy to follow and the cakes themselves came out delicious ( my hubby added some of the best I have made) the butter cream icing for my personal taste was a little runny but all in all a very tasty recipe.

So shall I be subscribing to the magazine ?

I think I honestly shall, I know I shouldn't as I have very little space to store it but it does come with a free gift binder in one of the issues along with a whole host of silicone bake ware and cake tins etc and who can say no to such great gifts.

So go check out the magazine and I would love to hear your views.

Kara

x

Finished Cupcake

A New Baking Magazine for Home Cooks

I had a great email the other day informing me of a new Baking Magazine due to be released in the UK, so I thought I best share the love so all you fellow cake lovers out there can run out to the shops on Wed 9th March 2011 and buy, buy, buy.

I have been kindly sent a copy of the press release and some first look photo's to share to give us all a taster.

A New Baking Magazine for Home Cooks

Baked & Delicious is a new fortnightly magazine packed with recipes, from international classics to traditional favourites. Featuring easy to follow steps, it brings together the very best of today’s cooking, that you can bake at home.

Along with these wonderful recipes, you can also collect the latest in silicone bakeware. Fast becoming the bakeware of choice by all home bakers, it is hardwearing, versatile and easy-to-clean. Collecting week by week, the range will enable you to bake all the delicious recipes with ease.

Subscribe now to receive four additional free gifts worth over £35! These include a beautiful designed binder to keep all your magazines pristine, a cake slice, matching cake tin set and a set of electronic scales. The magazine is not available in-stores until 9th March 2011 however you can find out more information and subscribe here.


I am really interested to read the article on silicone bakeware, I have used cupcake cases but that's it and have heard they are quite easy to use, also the pavlova in issue 2 looks scrummy.

As soon as I have read the first issue I shall be back with my feelings on the mag, so watch this space as I try to return to the world of cupcake blogging.