I am really missing my blog. It seems that this year is almost over and I have hardly been here. So much has been happening, and understandably, my dear little blog comes pretty low on the family priority list! I am really just a busy mother who loves to bake and create. I want to thank all of you who still pop in to have a look at what I have done, and those who stay connected with me on my Facebook page and Instagram. (Links on the sidebar). I would love to see my blog grow and do have some wonderful things to share with you all in the coming weeks….not in the least our amazing Vintage wedding! So please stay connected. Drop me a line to say hello.
Category Archives: Popular
A sweet Spring cake
I decided to try something a little bit different with my cake last weekend, working on my ganache skills at the same time. These types of cakes are very popular at the moment and I see myself exploring all sorts of possibilities with them in the near future. The pink topping is white chocolate coloured with pink candy oil colour. The pro’s use all sorts of huge, quirky chocolate and toffee shards, macarons, meringues, caramel popcorn and lollies to adorn the tops of their masterpieces.
I think I am a little bit inspired! Stay tuned….
Pastel baby shower inspiration
Crazy, nutty caramel cake.
I don’t really know what I was thinking when I made this cake last weekend. A lovely member of our church was turning 60 and I volunteered to make his cake. Any excuse to create! What started out as a caramel cake evolved into this messy, slightly over dramatic peanut buttered Tim tam popped nutty toffee sharded badly drizzled ganached Twixy twiggy bombboozle you see before you.
No explanation. No apologies. It is what it is.
And it was deeeeelicious. Even if I say so myself. x
Strawberry & White chocolate Muffin recipe
Hello long lost blogging friends! It has been an age since I have posted a recipe and I am very excited about sharing this delicious muffin recipe with you all. We tend to have quite a number of visitors through our home on a regular basis and I always bake fresh muffins for our guests, ensuring that they are hot out of the oven as our visitors arrive. This has been my habit for nearly twenty years of home hospitality. Muffins are super quick and easy, and appeal to those who prefer something a little less sweet than a cupcake. I have no hesitation in serving sweet muffins for an early morning tea, or tweaking my recipe to make savoury ones for a late breakfast or brunch. I have been baking muffins long before I fell under the grip of decorative cupcakes! This recipe can be adapted to suit any flavour. I created this strawberry and white chocolate combo purely because strawberries are so cheap at the moment. I whipped them up a few weeks ago and got such positive feedback that I have fed them to all of my guests in the last month…all of whom have loved them.
I hope you do too. x
50th Birthday celebration cake
It seems to be a long time between drinks, or blog posts these days. I feel neglectful and wish I was able to spend more time sharing my baking adventures and doing some overdue housekeeping here in Mama Bear’s Kitchen. But alas, real life beckons and I must answer her call. As you all know, our son’s wedding is drawing ever nearer. As life would have it, there also seems to be a lot of our young friends planning weddings in the next six months and (bless this Mama Bear’s heart), I have the privilege of helping most of them out with their cakes, dessert tables and styling. To say I am super excited would be an understatement!! I am loving the opportunity to do my thing and bless these young brides by helping them create the wedding of their dreams!! OH what joy.
A sweet engagement
As you are aware, our oldest son is getting married this year. I was delighted to be a part of their gorgeous vintage engagement shoot a few months ago. The happy couple didn’t really want a large engagement party, but rather a small gathering of some of their friends. I happened to have my lovely vintage doors still set up from my Ladies tea party so I just changed the colour scheme and added a few vintage bits and pieces to create this simple dessert display. I found a cheap 70’s dresser at the op shop, which I will give to my son after the wedding. As soon as I saw it I knew it would be the perfect drink station. A simple buttercream cake adorned with flowers and some sweet daisy cupcakes on vintage props made up the desserts. This was a very easy display to set up. You don’t need a lot of food to make a dessert table look fabulous. Sometimes less is more if you have an intimate gathering of friends. Just put your effort into creating a simple backdrop, a splash of colour and hunt around your home for some matching vintage pieces.
Vintage baby naming cakes
I made these cakes for a vintage baby naming celebration. Nothing fancy, but oh so sweet. The semi naked cake is lime and pistachio, with vanilla bean cupcakes. The simple cake and cupcake toppers were handmade using lace, gingham ribbon and hessian scraps tied to toothpicks and skewers. An easy way to add a touch of colour to a neutral palette.
Tea time with the ladies
This was such a special afternoon. I gathered together a group of ladies, many of them mothers with young children, with the aim of creating a relaxing and indulgent tea party where they would sit and enjoy being served. As women, we are so often the ones who tirelessly meet the needs of others, so I wanted to give these special ladies an afternoon off, where they could finish their conversations, have fresh tea poured for them, leave their diets at the door and indulge in decadent sweets and treats.
Rustic lace baby shower
As most of you are aware, designing and styling baby showers is one of my all time favourite creative pursuits. New life just grabs me every time. There is such diverse styling potential for each shower, and opportunity to reflect the personality of each precious mama to be.