Dotty About...Musical instruments

Well, what can I say other than, I believe this might be my best masterpiece yet!

A 70th Birthday all chocolate cake.

The recipient of the cake, a keen pianist, was, I am pleased to boast, very happy with this surprise.

Dotty About...Winnie the Pooh

Well, not me personally, but my 2 year old niece is, so for her birthday I made her a Honey Pot Winnie the Pooh cake. She LOVED it! Phew, because 2 year old children are quite hard to please, and they have learned the word "No!"

Yes! The cake was a surprise Rainbow Cake!!

(oh, and it was the Twins 33rd Birthday, so they also enjoyed sharing the Winnie-the-Pooh cake with Beth!)

Dotty About...Doughnuts

Firstly, let me say, I have been having a bit of a "rankle" with myself about whether it's a Doughnut or a Donut (any ideas??) I think Donut must be the American way, but I can't be sure.

Doughnuts happen to be one of my favourite treat and comfort foods, and I was flicking through this fantastic book: Gifts from the Kitchen; 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion by Annie Rig, bought by my lovely Mum for me last Christmas and I just happened to come across an extremely simple recipe for plain old doughnuts!

Interestingly I didn't realise that doughnuts are a Hanukkah treat; when it is custom to eat fried foods baked in olive oil to commemorate the miracle of the flask of oil found in the temple in Jerusalem, that kept burning for eight days.

Well, I was so excited, and seeing as it was also National Baking Week last week, I thought it was about time I did something fantastic in my little kitchen, and here are the results!

Perfect Christmas Hamper Idea - if made fresh maybe

Great dinner party offering - definitely! 

I used a little cinnamon in my sugar coating, and then filled the little round doughnuts with some slow-cooker homemade apple butter. Amazing!

Best eaten fresh according to Annie, so ... see you later ;-)