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Seeing as it's the season for sowing sunflower seeds (say that fast, lol), I thought it would be a good idea to make the edible kind for you to have a go at. These bright, jolly flowers are something that have eluded me when making the plant kind, so I thought it best to make some edible ones instead. As you can see, you only need three colours, that's even if you want to include the background and leaves. You will also need a couple of tools and cutters too. They are a fun project to...

This month's BSG branch meeting was all about the mini dems' whoop whoop. As I've said before, this is one of my favourite meetings, as we learn many different skills and techniques in one go. The great thing is all the demonstrators have individual skill sets, so there's always something to learn or discover. Each topper is a shape, so once you've got that down, the rest of the piece is down to personal touches. Nicola made this fabulous Kawaii-themed Bacon on Toast with tomato ketchup...

Alas, another chocolate-filled treat! So why not indulge in these delectable chocolate chip brownies brimming with an irresistible blend of half-and-half goodness? The brownies not only taste fudgy but are filled with sumptuous chocolate and can be devoured hot, cold or à la mode! However you choose to eat them, just know that there is a healthier sprinkling of goodness in each one. These chocolate chip brownies exude lightness, moisture, and an abundance of chocolatey goodness...

Here is a tutorial showing you how to make these delicious Nutella Nests. Great for Easter, they're made from Nutella, Puff Pastry, and Mini Eggs. They're quick and easy to make and great fun to have with the kids. To make the Nutella Nests, you will need to do the following: Preheat the oven to: Conventional Oven 220°C Fan Assisted - 200°C - Middle Shelf/ Shelf 3 Gas Mark 7 425F Note: Depending on size, these take approximately 10-12 Minutes to bake and make about 12-13 nests...

Sticking with the healthier bakes again, I have opted to use Marriage's Golden Wholegrain Flour this time to see how it fared against the Allinson's Wholemeal Flour I have been experimenting with. Upon opening the golden flour, I noticed it had a crumblier texture to that of the whole grain. So, with that in mind, I decided to make a Madeira cake, which is my go-to when making celebration birthday cakes. (I was hoping I could create a healthier version). Again, using my half-and-half...

Introducing another addition to my half-and-half cake series - Lemon Square Bars. These delightful citrus-infused square/bars ooze lemon flavours and are complemented by the generous incorporation of milk in the recipe. The result? They have a wonderfully airy texture similar to that of a très leches cake, although not as wet. Infused with vibrant lemon notes in every bite, the bars remained fresh days after slicing. This citrus creation not only delights the taste buds but also makes...

Over the years, I have accumulated quite a collection of cake, cupcake, and loaf tins in an array of shapes, sizes, and colours. So, it's worth mentioning that the colour/hue of your tins can have a predominant effect on your overall bake. Understanding how these tins interact with the batter during the baking process is essential for achieving the desired results, as the colour of your tin can significantly impact your final bake. If you think about it, it's much the same as you on a...

This chocolate cake is probably one of the nicest I've ever made. It's super moist, has an irresistible lightness and fluffiness to it, and has so much fibre-y goodness that it even persuaded my husband to indulge in a second slice! In keeping with my half-and-half technique, I've again combined wholemeal and white flour in this recipe. This blend not only offers a delightful indulgence but also infuses a touch of wholesome goodness into every bite. It doesn't take long to make either...

It was demo time at this month's BSG meeting, and I was thrilled to discover that this time, Judith had landed on making Mr Potato Head. Not only is he made from delectable chocolatey goodness, but he's immensely cute, too, so much so I couldn't even begin to devour him after we made him. This was Judith's version of Mr Potato Head, and after a step-by-step demo, we were tasked to make our own. It was a very fun meeting, catching up with the ladies and learning a few new skills...

I'm back on the healthier half-and-half baking again, and this time, I've made a yummy citrus Orange Wholemeal half-and-half loaf for you to have a go at. This cake was a bit of a mixed bag. Initially, I'd use the creaming method and mix the ingredients in stages. However, I only creamed the butter and sugar together, whisked the eggs in a jug and then carried on with the all-in-one method. Needless to say, it all worked out in the end, and I ended up with a beautifully light, slightly...

This football cake was a quick and easy design, perfect for celebrating my father-in-law's 80th birthday. Knowing his passion for football and the time constraints, I opted for a convenient solution – a football topper kit purchased from Amazon. To make the pitch, I dusted the surface with sugarflair dusts fusion green and moss, then used my PME hexagonal cutters for the border shapes. Ideally, I should have extended the hexagons to the edge of the board, as this would have enhanced the...

At my husband's request, I've recently created this delectable half-and-half wholemeal Victoria sponge cake. Not only does it infuse your diet with fabulous fibre, but it's also light and fluffy too! Dubbed the "half and half" cake due to the blend of Half Wholemeal Self-Raising Flour and Half White Self-Raising Flour, it achieves a consistently airy and moist texture whilst still remaining true flavour-wise to the classic Victoria Sponge Cake. It's a fantastic, healthy addition to my...

Happy Valentine's Day! Well not quite yet but... Love is in the air once again; our creative juices are flowing, and we want to impart love and affection on our nearest and dearest. So, to kickstart the celebrations, here are a few delightful ideas to help add a sprinkle of love on this upcoming Valentine's Day! Teddy Bear Toppers Who can resist the warm embrace of a teddy bear? These adorable toppers can be placed on biscuits, cupcakes, or even a cake, bringing a cuddly charm to your...

As a lovely start to the New Year, we were given a demonstration on how to make this Hanky Fairy by Mo. Mo's inspiration was taken from the Handkerchief Fairy cards that are currently on the market, and she tweaked them into edible 2D & 3D creations, as shown on the above cake. The skirt of the topper is a play on the hanky design on the below cards. We watched as she demonstrated how to make the fairy step by step and gave us alternatives of how to make patterns and how to adapt the...

Keeping up with the festivities but having a different take this year, I thought I would make some Christmas Pigs in Blankets toppers for you. I made them using the following items: Walnut Whip Pink, Green & Red Icing Black Pearls Blanket Mould Ball Tool Smile Tool Edible Glue These festive additions offer a wonderful twist on the traditional Christmas topper, steering away from the usual Santa or Reindeer designs and with a whopping 128 million people incorporating them into their...

It was great to be back at the BSG meeting, seeing as we've had to miss a few lately. Christmas is one of my favourites, as we have a buffet, a Christmas demo and an abundance of creativity! During the workshop, Mo taught us how to make these irresistibly charming gonks; although she refers to them as gnomes, we still like to call them "gonks." What makes them so delightful is their timeless appeal and the fact that they can be adapted to any season, event or theme. Even a simple addition...

I've recently been informed about an exciting upcoming workshop taking place on Sunday, 19 November 2023, by Robert Whitten. Robert is a highly talented and captivating member from the North East and will be demonstrating how to create a stunning witch (similar to the attached photos below). Luckily for you, there are still places on the event, so hurry before they all go. Everyone is welcome so if you fancy an afternoon of creativity, please find full details below. Date...