The Aston Martins of the cake world

1^st March marked the first day of autumn here in New Zealand. But at 31 degrees, with not a cloud in sight, it is clear that summer is showing no signs of relenting just yet. What a summer! It has become the sort of season where jumpers and jeans have gone into complete disuse, the sort where you get dressed in summery clothes before even looking outside, such is the certainty that the sun will be beating down. The last time it rained was about four weeks ago - for approximately 8 minutes. It hasn’t been so long since I’ve abandoned the gumboots of my childhood that I don’t feel for the dairy farmers facing a drought, though.

The 1^st March was significant. It was my second cousin Chelsea and her fiancé Craig’s wedding day. Beautiful day, beautiful bride, beautiful event. And, as this is a baking blog, beautiful cake.

Wedding cakes are the Aston Martins of the cake world. A chance for truly gifted bakers to really show off. Chelsea and Craig’s cake was exquisite – a tower of meringues.

It got me thinking back to our wedding cake (made by Sue Pedley – family friend and gifted cake maker): three gorgeous white tiers, each a different flavour, each separated by layers of strawberries and red roses. Again, exquisite.

It makes me wonder, if I keep it up, my pursuit of baking excellence, will I ever be capable of making something so amazing? I’m beginning to think the self-taught method (i.e. devouring cook books like novels) may have its limitations, and that perhaps there may be a reason why brilliant pastry chefs have usually undergone extensive training. Having said that, I have many friends who simply have a knack and a passion for baking and produce works of art.

I may be lacking in knack, but have plenty of passion! Check out my recent birthday cake attempts. Here is the cake I made for Neil’s 31^stbirthday. Somewhat lacking in theme (I had considered a bike cake in honour of his newfound cycling obsession but ruled it out on the grounds of difficulty and lack of time), but given his advancing years (31 - blimey!) I thought understated might be best. After all, is there any birthday more insignificant than the 31^st? It’s not a big round number, you’ve just had a big party last year, you’re launching out into the wilderness of those middle decades... 

 

Hmm, if my wedding cake was an Aston Martin, this was probably a Toyota Corolla. The observant among you will have spotted the embossed icing – yes, new cake decorating toy. I got to use it again a few weeks later when making my cousin Renée’s birthday cake. Renée turned 12 – a decidedly more exciting age! Pink and girly was the order of the day and I was thrilled to oblige. Here was the result...

 

Hmm, Volkswagen Golf? Birthday cakes aside, I’ll be honest: the sunshine and the busy humdrum of work and kids has kept me out of the kitchen lately and my baking output has been rather pitiful. However, I did whip up these lemony-coconutty-passionfruity little cakes for afternoon tea today. Fortunately my icing bowl lickers weren't far away...

 

Perhaps with the new season will come a surge of productivity.  We’ll see.

TTFN x