One step closer

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I have some very exciting news to share! This week we got one (huge) step closer to me having a brand new kitchen, just as I want it, with a freestanding range cooker in bright red. We got the keys to our first owned flat! Soon I will be able to bake 8 cakes, or 8 trays of cupcakes or cookies, no biggie. You want rainbow cake? Yours in 2 hours. You want 95 cupcakes? Be ready in an hour.

This may not sound like a big deal to most people, however I have spent the last 4 years in a rental flat which is admittedly decent, but the oven is way older than me by the looks of it. It cannot retain it’s temperature throughout the bake, it’s so stained that I cannot see through the glass (despite my best cleaning efforts) and it doesn’t seem to work at all on lower temperatures. Plus, it isn’t fan so I can only bake one thing at a time. We’re talking a lot of burned cheesecake here or cakes taking forever to bake. SO CAN YOU TELL I’M SUPER EXCITED?

This may well mean less baking and consecutively less blogging but I will let you admire my future oven for a bit. Then you will know yourself it’s totally worth it in the long run.

oven

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It’s not simply edible lace, it’s magic! [+DISCOUNT CODE]

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Remember I moaned a while ago that I may have to convert to beauty blogging to get nice freebies? Well, it turns out I was wrong.

As luck would have it, the lovely people at Squires Kitchen Shop not only did read my blog, they also sent me an amazing package in the post (which was a nice change to the uninterrupted flow of various bills). You simply cannot imagine my excitement! I almost burst – not only does my favorite online shop for baking supplies read my blog, but they also want to collaborate with me!!! There is something in it for you too – keep reading.

So I received the following products to add to my ever growing collection:

The received goodies

The received goodies

Bridal Rose Sugarpaste
Baroque Pink Cupcake Cases
Silikomart Wondercakes Daisy Mat
Flexi-Ice Instant Mix

This meant I could now make edible lace! I was slightly skeptic at first – flexible icing? Which you can eat? But you bake it first? It sounded fishy. But behold: IT IS PURE MAGIC! Like unicorn magic, I’m telling you! Don’t be afraid to follow the instructions on the flexible icing. I was worried as the ratio icing to water is 1 to 1.5 – this didn’t sound right. But it is. These people really know what they’re doing – so trust them and simply follow what it says on the back of the package, and there’s no way you won’t succeed. I baked it for 25 minutes rather than 20 but this all depends on the oven. If you are operating a pre-war beast like mine, it is temperamental so times are always relative. And the lace doilies came out of the mold like a charm!

The silicone mould ready to go on the oven to dry

The silicone mould ready to go on the oven to dry

I put a thin layer of icing on the cakes, then rolled out the sugarpaste to cover them in it . For the cupcakes, I used CupcakeJemma’s vanilla cupcakes recipe, which I then topped with the Hummingbird bakery’s Kahlua mascarpone frosting. I recommend letting the frosting set in the fridge for 30 minutes or so before putting the sugar paste on. Especially if your kitchen, like mine, turns into a sauna in summer.

IMG_4569 IMG_4567Once this was done, I brushed a little edible glue so the lace sticks to the sugarpaste, and that was it. Et voila! I think I’m in love.

finished finished 2
I haven’t tried coloring the lace yet – this would be the next project, and I have some beautiful colors I had previously ordered from Squires. But I can definitely recommend the set to everyone. So simple yet chic, and super easy to make!

But the best part is yet to come. Squires Kitchen Shop is offering all my readers 10% OFF orders until 01.10.2014 if you also want to create lace magic or want to buy everything else they have in stock too (I know I would). Simply enter the code UNICORNS2015 at checkout to enjoy your 10% discount. Come on, off you go – the next order has your name on it. And they do classes as well – if you are based in the UK, get your butt over to Surrey! I promise I will only be jealous a little bit.

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Beauty blogging vs. baking blogging?

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I am sure you have read at least one post starting with something along those lines: ‘I was totally thrilled when [insert name of company] sent me their amazing [insert product name] to try out and review on the blog. Thank you [company name].’ It’s a win-win really – you get freebies and something to write about in case of a writer’s block, they get advertising. Which has recently made me think: Does this happen to baking blogs too? Would Kenwood, Squires Kitchen Shop or Lakeland ever read my blog (and send me goodies)?

I totally wouldn’t mind if someone is to send me a Kenwood Chef or this pink Kitchenaid. Or at least a small selection of baking tools, food colouring, decorations, etc. I will use it all and review diligently – promise!!!

And if it doesn’t work, prepare for a blog makeover and a lot of MAC make-up reviews!

 

P.S. Dearest Andy,
you will forever have a place in my heart. You are, after all, my first (stand mixer) love. But just look at this pink awesomeness:
Additional_1175X1290_P150116_9I hope you can forgive my betrayal. But isn’t she gorgeous?
Yours,
Nadia

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HAPPY DAYS!

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Carrying cupcakes around is a messy and complicated affair, let me tell you this. I have been dreading this coming weekend when the Scout Group I am a leader for is hosting a fundraising cake stall, as well as a fundraising wine night for which I am baking cupcakes with chocolate wine (yum!).

But today I nipped into a local pound shop to check out if they had any boxes I can use to carry the cupcakes in, and found The Solution to my problem. Just look at this beauty:
pink cupcake caddy
For a few weeks now I had been eyeing this cupcake caddy on Amazon. But while we are considered UK for anything else, delivery to Gib is not the easiest things of all. It takes ages, costs a fortune or is not possible at all for bulky/heavy objects. I decided not to go through the stand mixer drama again and gave up. So imagine how I felt today when I saw it!!! Insta-buy, obviously.

Cannot wait for Saturday morning to stack all the funfetti cupcakes in it!

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HE’S HERE! HE’S HERE!

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I have some BIG news to share. Are you ready?

Andy has arrived. What a blessing after weeks of delivery (or refusal of delivery) drama. I’m so happy to finally have him home. Here he is, isn’t he just beautiful?

standing mixer

He’s only lived with us for a few days (after having an adventure and travelling to Malaga from Vienna in my suitcase) but I can see how we will be best friends. Not only is he good-looking, but he is a huge help in the kitchen. Welcome home, Andy.

And this is what we did together yesterday over a cup of coffee (quite literally). These Hummingbird Bakery Tiramisu cupcakes:

tiramisu cupcakes

Happy times!

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WELCOME, CUPCAKE LOVERS!

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Welcome to Cupcakes & Unicorns!

If you don’t like either of the above, please close the page now to avoid disappointment.
If you like at least one of them, you should be fine!

In my personal online space you will be able to read about my adventures as a wanna-be baker, find recipes and pictures of cakes, cupcakes and cookies I have made and hopefully have fun doing so.

Enjoy!

P.S. Meet The Giant! One of my favourite cakes so far: chocolate and almond giant cupcake, filled with whipped cream and blackberry jam, topped with chocolate fudge frosting.

giant cupcake cake

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