Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Too Weak to Bake!

I'm housebound, and practically bedridden thanks to a bout of a flu-like illness.. Yes, my GP thinks it's swine flu, lucky me, getting such a fashionable illness! It's totally scuppered my plans for finishing work this week, I'd intended on ending in a blaze of baking glory. Even if I had the strength to make something I don't think I could find willing recipients for potentially infected baked goods! I'm still supposed to be moving to Cork this weekend, and just in case I thought I could push that date out a little further, I confirmed today that I start classes on Monday...

Friday, September 11, 2009

End of an Era



I watched the most amazing sunset tonight, I tried taking panoramic photos on my phone but it wasn't capable of capturing the breath-taking red and amber hues that filled the sky, you'll just have to take my word for it. It rocked. A beautiful end to a beautiful day.

Speaking of endings, I'm not fond of farewells even at the best of times, so I'm really not enjoying all the goodbyes I've had to do lately. I'd rather just move to Cork quietly, and let it all sink in after I've gone, but people seem to be insisting on letting me know how much I'll be missed. Damn them and their tear-jerking gestures.

And so, now that I've clarified that my not being a fan of farewells, it's a bit ironic (or is it hypocritical?) that I'm finishing with this blog... Yeah... I'm starting yet another one.. Or for those of who who've only seen this one, I'm starting a second one! :D I figure that it's time to let this one go, seeing as I'm not a New Market girl any more, nor will I be living in Newmarket on Fergus any more, so yeah, it's just inaccurate really. I haven't thought of a new blog title for documenting my adventures as a mature student/immature baker in Cork city, so suggestions are welcome... I could make a competition out of it.. winning suggestion gets a cupcake or something... Terms and conditions would apply of course*


*The winner must live in Ireland... near my house... and have their own transport.. and put the sprinkles on it themselves...

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Last Market: Ending on a High




How typically me that I only figure out the best method for transporting, decorating and displaying my cupcakes on the LAST day of the Market! :) In a fit of inspiration and laziness I decided to bring the cupcakes to market without icing them, I simply packed up a piping bag full of pink & white buttercream icing and finished them off at my little stand. Ingenious. Why didn't I think of it earlier?! This was MUCH easier and much more fun too, I brought a big selection of toppings and let a few people decide what they wanted on their personalised cupcake. Fun times! :)


Also I had bought my little miniamo cupcake stand last weekend as a little birthday present for myself, and it worked perfectly for showcasing my cupcakes, both plain and iced. I was so proud of myself, I just can't believe it only occurred to me after 3 months of carefully transporting iced cupcakes in the back of my car every Saturday morning!


The Market itself went really well, we sold most of our produce and shared out any leftovers, that's how I ended up with a Chilli Plant in my car for the weekend... :) Mum will mind it for me I hope! But we really finished off the summer in style that night with a BBQ in a local pub. I'll have to publish some photos of that, Market people all dressed up! You wouldn't recognise us out of our jeans and mucky clothes!! :) We had a great night, lovely food, a few drinks and great company, finishing off with a house party back at my place! I would have apologised to the neighbours but they showed up too!
There was an ulterior motive behind the house party though, as well as my Birthday the previous week, it was also my chance to have a Last Night with a lot of my friends who live in this area, because.... I'm moving to Cork in 2 weeks time! :) I'm going back to UCC to study a Masters in eLaw. Yes it has absolutely nothing to do with baking. But I've wanted to do it for years and I'm finally taking the plunge. I'm hoping to find somewhere to live that has a baking-friendly kitchen so I can keep up my addiction down there! Fingers crossed... :)