Victoria Sponge Cake - Nigella Lawson

I was blessed with some wonderful cookbooks at my bridal shower 5 years ago. I have savored them. I've run to them when I'm in a bind. I've even been known to stay up in bed reading them cover to cover. Well, really only one of them. Nigella Lawson's "How to be a Domestic Goddess", to be precise. She has a wonderful way with words so that you come away feeling like you have actually met her and had a conversation with her, and now you're best friends. Or maybe that's just me!

I haven't tried many of her recipes yet, but her Victoria Sponge has become a go-to for me for afternoon teas. The kind where you might lay the table with your mother-in-law's china and some cloth napkins, and serve smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches.

You know, your typical everyday afternoon tea. Ha, I wish! How about for a bridal shower?

That's more like it.

Victoria Sponge (from Nigella Lawson's "How to Be a Domestic Goddess")

1 cup unsalted butter (very soft)
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
4 large eggs
1 1/3 cups self-raising cake flour
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Cream butter and sugar, add vanilla, and then add eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of flour in between each one. Fold in the rest of the flour and cornstarch and enough of the milk to create a mixture that is a soft, dropping consistency.
3. Pour and scrape the batter into 2 - 8" round cake pans that have been buttered and lined with parchment or wax paper. Bake for about 25 minutes, until cakes are beginning to come away from the edges, are springy to the touch on top, and a cake tester comes out clean. Leave the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for about 10 min before turning out and leaving to cool completely.
4. When ready to eat the cake, put one layer on a plate, right way up, spread with jam and scatter fruit on top. Spread a layer of whipped cream on top. Sit the other cake on top of the fruit and sift icing sugar on top.

Note: I actually did not use jam when I made this cake, although I'm sure that would be delicious. I just used a pound of chopped up strawberries that I mixed with some powdered sugar to sweeten. Using so many strawberries makes the cake a bit tricky to cut, but I think it's still worth it to have fresh strawberries and cream.

mermaid rag doll

My first attempt at a stuffed toy.
Why a mermaid, you ask? It's hard to resist a little 3 year old girl who loves mermaids, and I couldn't resist a new sewing challenge. Unable to find a mermaid doll pattern online, I found a rag doll pattern and modified it to have a tail instead of legs.

She turned out pretty good I think!
Now to think of something to make for my little friend's 5 year old sister.

sew cute

I am so enjoying having some time to get into some sewing projects. With a few friends expecting little ones this year I decided to invest in two baby bootie patterns from Ashley at Make It Love It. Above are the Abigail Booties I made for little Olive.

The Bradley Booties above were for little Lucas, (or Wucas as I can't resist calling the little guy!)

Up until now I have hesitated to buy sewing patterns because they always look so daunting with lines going in every direction. But Ashley has done a really nice job of making her patterns easy to use which is great for beginners like me.

These patterns get the thumbs up from me, and I recommend Ashley's blog for anyone looking to sew up some cuteness!

Peach Crumble

This has become one of my trusty go-to desserts this summer. It's the easiest thing in the world to whip up and is just so good. There's something comforting about a crumble. Especially when it's served with a good dollop of freshly whipped cream.

The recipe is a tweak of Pioneer Woman's Rhubarb Crumble, using peaches instead of rhubarb. I also chose to use cream and butter in the crumble rather than Crisco.

Peach Cobbler

4 large ripe yellow peaches
1 cup sugar, scant
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
2 Tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup cream
1 egg

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. In a bowl, combine chopped peaches, cup of sugar, 1/4 tsp salt. Stir and set aside.
3. In another bowl combine flour, 2 Tbsp sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, baking powder. Stir. Add butter, then cut together with a pastry cutter.
4. Beat egg, milk and cream together. Pour into flour mixture. Stir with a fork until just combined.
5. Pour peaches into buttered pie dish. Tear off pieces of dough and drop onto the fruit.
6. Bake 30 - 35 min. Serve warm with freshly whipped cream.

set for summer

I was inspired this week by Cait over at Cait + Create to go thrift shopping and see what treasures I could find.

To find out how I went from this:
to this:
...read below.

freedom :)

Since my graduation two weeks ago I've been making the most of my freedom. By staying at home. Yep, I'm happy as a clam to just be home! Here are some of the fruits of my labor this week. Phew, I am on a roll!

I sewed a purse!  This was my first time sewing with a zip and so I was chuffed with how it turned out. I got the pattern from Ashley at Make It and Love It.  It made the perfect gift for a dear friend who is sadly leaving Berkeley (we're going to miss you Arijaan!) 

A loaf of bread I baked. I'd been waiting for the chance to try this No-Knead Recipe from a blog friend (thanks Cassie!). I have to say, it was the easiest thing I've ever made and it was super delicious!  It made me think of my Great-Gran Phipson, who would always share a loaf of her homemade bread with us. We'll be having it with our dinner tonight. Yum!


What a fun week! I think I can get used to this unemployed thing ;)

Watch this space :)

bridal shower tea party cookies

Ever since I saw these cute little Easter bonnets on Bakerella a while back I've been waiting for an excuse to try them. They're the perfect addition to a tea party. Dainty, girly, and just so pretty.

Flowers for the front.

Ribbons for the back.

So when my friend Nancy told me she was organizing a bridal shower tea I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

White for the bride, of course.

And lilac for her entourage.

These cookies make me smile :)