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Cake number 59 - Fruit Bonnag
Cake number 59 - Fruit Bonnag
18th June 2017 made for church coffee and cakes- given to me by Joyce Christian (the Meredith's grandmother). Coming from the Isle of Man (as do the Merediths) this traditional cake was an honour to do for them and they said it was good (phew).  Very easy to do and I would certainly do it again.
Cake Number 58 - Lemon & Orange Cheesecake
Cake Number 58 - Lemon & Orange Cheesecake
18th June 2017 - made for church coffee and cakes.  Given to me by Lyn Burge who I used to work with at Brookes (she retired before me but we have kept in touch).  I mentioned cheesecakes - the old fashioned type and she gave me this.  Much appreciated by all at church... something different - no photo
Cake number 57 Cathy's Grandad's Fruit Cake
Cake number 57 Cathy's Grandad's Fruit Cake
14th May 2017 - made for church coffee and cakes - this was given to me by Cathy who I worked with at Brookes - she worked in the UG office and saved my skin quite a few times (when I forgot to do something!). It was Cathy's granddad's recipe and very easy to make)... nice fruit cake.                                   
 
Cake number 56 Chocolate Orange Fudge Cake
Cake number 56 Chocolate Orange Fudge Cake
14th May 2017 - Made for church coffee & cakes - chosen by me from internet search.  
 
Cake number 55 - Nigella's Perfect Lemon Drizzle Cake
Cake number 55 - Nigella's Perfect Lemon Drizzle Cake
Made for Vinay and Coleen Samuel as one of the desserts for a fabulous dinner they provided on 17th May 2017 for the Committee of Trustees of Divya Shanthi - of which I am proud to be one. These two are THE most amazing people - they see a problem and immediately think of a solution and do it! Nearly 50 years ago (50 years in September 17) they set up Divya Shanthi in Bangalore, originally as a holiday club for poor children and now they have schools, clinics counselling, microfinance and much more....  They are amazing.  
I asked them what cake they would like and was told Lemon Drizzle as it is found in posh expensive Indian restaurants and they can never afford it...  
 
Cake number 54 Apple Cake
Cake number 54 Apple Cake
Made for coffee and cakes on 14th May 2017. This cake was given to me by Helen and Neil. Neil is our Choirmaster and Helen is with in the altos with me... leading each other astray, music-wise! It is a classic family recipe - no size of the cake tin, no heat (medium heat) etc... I love these recipes 
It went well apart from sticking to the tin - so it didn't cut that well - lots of crumbles.. - but tasted fabulous and none left!
 
Cake Number 53 Fruit cake (Alan's)
Cake Number 53 Fruit cake (Alan's)
Made on 7th May 2017 to put in freezer for Church Coffee and Cakes on 14th May.  
This cake was given to me by my cousin Paul and it is the recipe of his partner Alan.  Paul is my Dad's second sister's boy - my Dad and she were very close and great friends..  This friendship continues across the generation with my lovely cousin.
 
Cake number 52 Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
Cake number 52 Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
Made 3rd May  2017for 2 friends' leaving party - Steve and Sue from Brookes.  I took it to their leaving dinner.  It was given to me by my good friends The Hale family in Cambridge.  Catherine and Mark were friends of mine at Cambridge - all Economics students.  Their eldest, lovely daughter Anastasia is my god-daughter.  Max and Alex are their two sons and the whole family are really my extended family.

As I put the cake in the tin to take it there, it broke in half so I said it represented the fact we were broken hearted they were leaving.  The cake itself is very nice - very light and moist (with a slight greasy feel but not unpleasant).  It is gluten and dairy free.
 
Cake Number 51 - Apricot, Almond, Cardamom And Rose cake
Cake Number 51 - Apricot, Almond, Cardamom And Rose cake
Made 3rd May 2017 for friend of a friend's 70th  birthday.
This cake is really unusual and has a Moroccan feel. The rose is nice and light ... and all very nice.  Possibly a little dry
 
Cake number 50 - Romanian Honey Cake
Cake number 50 - Romanian Honey Cake
Made 29th April 2017 - from recipe given to me by Diana Phillips
Diana again I met at Brookes - she was an Associate Lecturer there and we worked together many times.  She often brought her lovely two boys to visit when Dad was alive and Dad did some painting with Alex who is a budding artist.  We also have the same taste in TV/films and a certain actor! (my secret - well not that much of a secret)
I started this cake and soon realised it was completely beyond me. Have to say that this was partly because there were some assumptions made about prior knowledge - which only Romanians would know, I would suggest! e.g. it wasn't till we were well into making it, I found out that it had to be left for 24 hours!  Anyway with Diana's help we managed - well nearly - I forgot the honey!  But it was still great and took it to Church coffee and cakes and all went very quickly.

 
Cake number 49 - Teizan Lap
Cake number 49 - Teizan Lap
Made for Book Club from recipe given by Judith and Geoff Thomas - 22nd April 2017
I met Judith at Brookes as a fellow lecturer and she and Geoff have become very good friends. She invited me to the book club for which I am very grateful. Geoff and Judith have also been incredibly kind in lending their holiday home in Swansea and lots of toys/push chairs/ high chairs etc when my great nieces and nephews come to stay. Great friends.
This was a lovely cake and very easy to make - it tastes incredibly like an egg custard to me (may be it is the nutmeg).  

 
Cake number 48 - Chocolate Brownies
Cake number 48 - Chocolate Brownies
Made for Coffee and Cakes for Easter Day 16th April 2017.
Given to me by Jan and James who I met at Church at 8 o'clock communion on Sundays and who are perhaps two of the most generous people I know - the lent me their house when mine was being knocked around!  
Jan is the brownie maker extraordinaire - so no pressure.  But  I need to get lessons from her.  Her recipe said "20 minutes cooking - no matter what you think!" but it was too raw for me.  I had to cut around the outsides - the rest was not cooked and could not serve.  Very tasty but need to talk this one through with the expert!

 
Cake number 47 Simnel Cake
Cake number 47 Simnel Cake
Made for Church Coffee and Cakes on Easter Day 16th April 2017
First time I have done a simnel cake - the cake itself was lovely and very moist.  I think the marzipan on top should have been a little thicker and didn't really get the fluting round the edge quite right.  But it went down well with the people at church on Easter Day
 
Cake number 46 - Savoury Cake - Goats cheese and apricot loaf
Cake number 46 - Savoury Cake - Goats cheese and apricot loaf
Made for students on a module Maths for Decision Making at Oxford Brookes University
My friend runs the module and wanted cakes for the students who were presenting their findings to each other.  So this savoury cake was chosen.  It was really nice - something which would go well with soup or cheese (instead of biscuits).  Students gave it the thumbs up!
 
Cake number 45 -Lady Grey Tea Cake with Rosewater Icing
Cake number 45 -Lady Grey Tea Cake with Rosewater Icing 
Made for Church Coffee and Cakes 19th March 2017 
Wanted to make a Tea Flavoured cake... it was a nice cake but even though I used strong tea, you couldn't taste it.  But the rosewater made up for it.  Would make the tea even more strong next time.
Forgot to take a photo
Cake number 44 - Mrs Beeton's Victorian Seed Cake
Cake number 44 - Mrs Beeton's Victorian Seed Cake 
Mad for Church coffee and cakes on 19th March 2017 - from Charles
I met Charles at a picnic on Battersea Park (the Battersea Boys annual picnic - Michael & Graeme - see cake 4).  
It is a real seed cake - it seems to be the cake version of marmite - some looked at seed cake and said "oh love it" and others avoided it like the plague. It has a strong caraway seed taste which you may or may not love.  It also took a long time to cook.
 
Cake Number 43 - Fridge Cake
Cake Number 43 - Fridge Cake
Made for Church coffee and Cakes on 19th March 2017 - from Annette and Peter Kennedy.
Peter is my cousin from my mum's side of the family - so known him all my life - and Annette is his lovely wife. She gave me this fail-safe, non cooked cake - and warned me it was seriously chocolatey 
and moorish.  She was right.  If you like chocolate - you will love
this!



 
Cake number 42 - Italian Almond Cake - Torta Caprese Bianca
Cake number 42 - Italian Almond Cake - Torta Caprese Bianca 
Made for Allison's birthday - 17th March 2017
Allison appears on cake 1 - this was for her birthday. She wanted a gluten free cake and this is fabulous. I was not at her dinner but she told me everyone loved the cake... I had a piece later and it is a very special cake - whether you need gluten free or not.
 
Cake number 41 - Sweet Potato Brownies
Cake number 41 - Sweet Potato Brownies
Made for Church coffee and cakes on Sunday 12th February - recipe given to me by Lesley Court
Lesley is a friend from church - originally one of the 8 o'clock crowd but since I have joined the choir I see her also at the other services. Also been on some good walks together with her rambling group.  A good friend.
These brownies worked well - perhaps they were slightly overcooked - could have been more gooey inside.  But very tasty.

 
Cake number 40 - Orange cake with orange curd icing
Cake number 40 - Orange cake with orange curd icing
Made for Church coffee & cakes on Sunday 12th February
This is a Mary Berry cake that I liked the look of.  The reviews all said that the filling was too sweet - it was butter icing and orange zest.  So I switched this to be cream cheese icing and orange curd...  good choice.
 
Cake number 39 - Chocolate Crunch Cake
Cake number 39 - Chocolate Crunch Cake 
Made for Sandra's birthday lunch on 10th February (birthday is 11th)
I made a cake for Sandra very early on - but it was not one of my best (no. 10), so I had another go for her birthday.  
This cake is really unusual and had different textures - cake, cream with malteesers and meringue.  A real treat of a cake - extremely luxurious and tasty....
 
Cake number 38 - Fresh Fruit Cake with Orange Curd icing (was meant to be lemon curd)
Cake number 38 - Fresh Fruit Cake with Orange Curd icing (was meant to be lemon curd)
Made for cake sale in aid of Diva Shanthi at St Nicholas Church on 29th January 2017 
This cake is made out of fresh fruit - so fresh banana, carrot, apple and mango and lemon zest. The icing was meant to be lemon curd icing but Waitress did not have any so, it had to be orange curd - but I think it worked.  Sadly it was not as tasty as I anticipated - really the mango and orange curd dominated.
 
Cake Number 37 - Chiffon Cake
Cake Number 37 - Chiffon Cake
Made for Hirono, on 20th January 2017
My wonderful niece Hirono spent 5 weeks over Christmas with me this year, together with her fabulous little boy, Len, and (for just over the Christmas week) her lovely husband Kazuya.  It was a magical 5 weeks.

I asked Hirono what cake she would like and she chose this one as she had never managed to make it successfully. It is very much like a scuffle and when it came out the oven it looked fabulous... but just like a souffle, when we came back a few minutes later, it has collapsed!  She said it tasted really nice just the same (I was less keen on it0
 
Cake number 36 - Hungarian 7 layer Dobos Torte
Cake number 36 - Hungarian 7 layer Dobos Torte
Made for my lovely friend and other non-biological son, Gabor's birthday (was earlier in the month) - 24th January 2017.  
Gabor has been a friend since he arrived to teach at Brookes around 7 years ago (I am sure he will correct this).  He and his family have been such amazing friends to me and I am very honoured to be godmother to his to lovely children, Marci and Flora.
When he gave me this recipe I blanched... it was two sides of instructions!  However, with the help of You-tube and using a simpler buttercream recipe (he didn't notice), it was really good and I would certainly make it again for a special occasion (very tasty and rather dramatic cake).  The hardest element was the caramel on top - you have to cut it before it hardens ... impossible!!  So not as clean cut as the one on You-tube!!

 
Cake number 35 - Danish Dream Cake
Cake number 35 - Danish Dream Cake
Made for Birte in our Book Group - 23rd January 2017
I belong to a book group in Headington Quarry and Birte (from Denmark as the cake suggests) runs the group incredibly efficiently.  I mentioned doing the cakes, and she brought me this recipe.  It is very interesting to do (one of the few rubbed in cakes I have come across) and is gorgeous - Hirono took some to eat on the plane home, she loved it so much.  Definitely a dream cake
 

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Made on 21st June - the Divya Shanthi committee meeting - given to me by Jane Burd. Jane is a friend from choir and church - she and Harvey are the best! The cake tastes exactly like a mohito - a great party cake!

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18th June 2017 made for church coffee and cakes- given to me by Joyce Christian (the Meredith's grandmother). Coming from the Isle of Man (as do the Merediths) this traditional cake was an honour to do for them and they said it was good (phew). Very easy to do and I would certainly do it again.

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Cake Number 58 - Lemon & Orange Cheesecake

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Cake Number 58 - Lemon & Orange Cheesecake

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18th June 2017 - made for church coffee and cakes.  Given to me by Lyn Burge who I used to work with at Brookes (she retired before me but we have kept in touch).  I mentioned cheesecakes - the old fashioned type and she gave me this.  Much appreciated by all at church... something different - no photo

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Cake number 57 Cathy's Grandad's Fruit Cake

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Cake number 57 Cathy's Grandad's Fruit Cake

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14th May 2017 - made for church coffee and cakes - this was given to me by Cathy who I worked with at Brookes - she worked in the UG office and saved my skin quite a few times (when I forgot to do something!). It was Cathy's granddad's recipe and very easy to make)... nice fruit cake.

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Cake number 56 Chocolate Orange Fudge Cake

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Cake number 56 Chocolate Orange Fudge Cake

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14th May 2017 - Made for church coffee & cakes - chosen by me from internet search.

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Cake number 55 - Nigella's Perfect Lemon Drizzle Cake

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Cake number 55 - Nigella's Perfect Lemon Drizzle Cake

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Made for Vinay and Coleen Samuel as one of the desserts for a fabulous dinner they provided on 17th May 2017 for the Committee of Trustees of Divya Shanthi - of which I am proud to be one. These two are THE most amazing people - they see a problem and immediately think of a solution and do it! Nearly 50 years ago (50 years in September 17) they set up Divya Shanthi in Bangalore, originally as a holiday club for poor children and now they have schools, clinics counselling, microfinance and much more....  They are amazing.
I asked them what cake they would like and was told Lemon Drizzle as it is found in posh expensive Indian restaurants and they can never afford it...

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Made for coffee and cakes on 14th May 2017. This cake was given to me by Helen and Neil. Neil is our Choirmaster and Helen is with in the altos with me... leading each other astray, music-wise! It is a classic family recipe - no size of the cake tin, no heat (medium heat) etc... I love these recipes
It went well apart from sticking to the tin - so it didn't cut that well - lots of crumbles.. - but tasted fabulous and none left!

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Made on 7th May 2017 to put in freezer for Church Coffee and Cakes on 14th May.
This cake was given to me by my cousin Paul and it is the recipe of his partner Alan.  Paul is my Dad's second sister's boy - my Dad and she were very close and great friends..  This friendship continues across the generation with my lovely cousin.

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Made 3rd May 2017for 2 friends' leaving party - Steve and Sue from Brookes.  I took it to their leaving dinner.  It was given to me by my good friends The Hale family in Cambridge.  Catherine and Mark were friends of mine at Cambridge - all Economics students.  Their eldest, lovely daughter Anastasia is my god-daughter.  Max and Alex are their two sons and the whole family are really my extended family.

As I put the cake in the tin to take it there, it broke in half so I said it represented the fact we were broken hearted they were leaving.  The cake itself is very nice - very light and moist (with a slight greasy feel but not unpleasant).  It is gluten and dairy free.

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Cake Number 51 - Apricot, Almond, Cardamom And Rose cake

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Cake Number 51 - Apricot, Almond, Cardamom And Rose cake

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Made 3rd May 2017 for friend of a friend's 70th  birthday.
This cake is really unusual and has a Moroccan feel. The rose is nice and light ... and all very nice.  Possibly a little dry

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Made 29th April 2017 - from recipe given to me by Diana Phillips
Diana again I met at Brookes - she was an Associate Lecturer there and we worked together many times.  She often brought her lovely two boys to visit when Dad was alive and Dad did some painting with Alex who is a budding artist.  We also have the same taste in TV/films and a certain actor! (my secret - well not that much of a secret)
I started this cake and soon realised it was completely beyond me. Have to say that this was partly because there were some assumptions made about prior knowledge - which only Romanians would know, I would suggest! e.g. it wasn't till we were well into making it, I found out that it had to be left for 24 hours!  Anyway with Diana's help we managed - well nearly - I forgot the honey!  But it was still great and took it to Church coffee and cakes and all went very quickly.

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Made for Book Club from recipe given by Judith and Geoff Thomas - 22nd April 2017
I met Judith at Brookes as a fellow lecturer and she and Geoff have become very good friends. She invited me to the book club for which I am very grateful. Geoff and Judith have also been incredibly kind in lending their holiday home in Swansea and lots of toys/push chairs/ high chairs etc when my great nieces and nephews come to stay. Great friends.
This was a lovely cake and very easy to make - it tastes incredibly like an egg custard to me (may be it is the nutmeg).

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Made for Coffee and Cakes for Easter Day 16th April 2017.
Given to me by Jan and James who I met at Church at 8 o'clock communion on Sundays and who are perhaps two of the most generous people I know - the lent me their house when mine was being knocked around!
Jan is the brownie maker extraordinaire - so no pressure. But I need to get lessons from her. Her recipe said "20 minutes cooking - no matter what you think!" but it was too raw for me. I had to cut around the outsides - the rest was not cooked and could not serve. Very tasty but need to talk this one through with the expert!

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Made for Church Coffee and Cakes on Easter Day 16th April 2017
First time I have done a simnel cake - the cake itself was lovely and very moist. I think the marzipan on top should have been a little thicker and didn't really get the fluting round the edge quite right. But it went down well with the people at church on Easter Day

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Cake number 46 - Savoury Cake - Goats cheese and apricot loaf

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Cake number 46 - Savoury Cake - Goats cheese and apricot loaf

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Made for students on a module Maths for Decision Making at Oxford Brookes University
My friend runs the module and wanted cakes for the students who were presenting their findings to each other. So this savoury cake was chosen. It was really nice - something which would go well with soup or cheese (instead of biscuits). Students gave it the thumbs up!

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Cake number 45 -Lady Grey Tea Cake with Rosewater Icing 

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Cake number 45 -Lady Grey Tea Cake with Rosewater Icing 

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Made for Church Coffee and Cakes 19th March 2017
Wanted to make a Tea Flavoured cake... it was a nice cake but even though I used strong tea, you couldn't taste it.  But the rosewater made up for it.  Would make the tea even more strong next time.
Forgot to take a photo

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Cake number 44 - Mrs Beeton's Victorian Seed Cake 

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Cake number 44 - Mrs Beeton's Victorian Seed Cake 

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Mad for Church coffee and cakes on 19th March 2017 - from Charles
I met Charles at a picnic on Battersea Park (the Battersea Boys annual picnic - Michael & Graeme - see cake 4).
It is a real seed cake - it seems to be the cake version of marmite - some looked at seed cake and said "oh love it" and others avoided it like the plague. It has a strong caraway seed taste which you may or may not love. It also took a long time to cook.

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Made for Church coffee and Cakes on 19th March 2017 - from Annette and Peter Kennedy.
Peter is my cousin from my mum's side of the family - so known him all my life - and Annette is his lovely wife. She gave me this fail-safe, non cooked cake - and warned me it was seriously chocolatey
and moorish.  She was right.  If you like chocolate - you will love
this!

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Cake number 42 - Italian Almond Cake - Torta Caprese Bianca 

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Cake number 42 - Italian Almond Cake - Torta Caprese Bianca 

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Made for Allison's birthday - 17th March 2017
Allison appears on cake 1 - this was for her birthday. She wanted a gluten free cake and this is fabulous. I was not at her dinner but she told me everyone loved the cake... I had a piece later and it is a very special cake - whether you need gluten free or not.

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Made for Church coffee and cakes on Sunday 12th February - recipe given to me by Lesley Court
Lesley is a friend from church - originally one of the 8 o'clock crowd but since I have joined the choir I see her also at the other services. Also been on some good walks together with her rambling group.  A good friend.
These brownies worked well - perhaps they were slightly overcooked - could have been more gooey inside.  But very tasty.

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Cake number 40 - Orange cake with orange curd icing

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Cake number 40 - Orange cake with orange curd icing

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Made for Church coffee & cakes on Sunday 12th February
This is a Mary Berry cake that I liked the look of.  The reviews all said that the filling was too sweet - it was butter icing and orange zest.  So I switched this to be cream cheese icing and orange curd...  good choice.

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Made for Sandra's birthday lunch on 10th February (birthday is 11th)
I made a cake for Sandra very early on - but it was not one of my best (no. 10), so I had another go for her birthday.
This cake is really unusual and had different textures - cake, cream with malteesers and meringue. A real treat of a cake - extremely luxurious and tasty....

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Cake number 38 - Fresh Fruit Cake with Orange Curd icing (was meant to be lemon curd)

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Cake number 38 - Fresh Fruit Cake with Orange Curd icing (was meant to be lemon curd)

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Made for cake sale in aid of Diva Shanthi at St Nicholas Church on 29th January 2017
This cake is made out of fresh fruit - so fresh banana, carrot, apple and mango and lemon zest. The icing was meant to be lemon curd icing but Waitress did not have any so, it had to be orange curd - but I think it worked. Sadly it was not as tasty as I anticipated - really the mango and orange curd dominated.

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Made for Hirono, on 20th January 2017
My wonderful niece Hirono spent 5 weeks over Christmas with me this year, together with her fabulous little boy, Len, and (for just over the Christmas week) her lovely husband Kazuya. It was a magical 5 weeks.

I asked Hirono what cake she would like and she chose this one as she had never managed to make it successfully. It is very much like a scuffle and when it came out the oven it looked fabulous... but just like a souffle, when we came back a few minutes later, it has collapsed!  She said it tasted really nice just the same (I was less keen on it0

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Cake number 36 - Hungarian 7 layer Dobos Torte

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Cake number 36 - Hungarian 7 layer Dobos Torte

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Made for my lovely friend and other non-biological son, Gabor's birthday (was earlier in the month) - 24th January 2017.
Gabor has been a friend since he arrived to teach at Brookes around 7 years ago (I am sure he will correct this).  He and his family have been such amazing friends to me and I am very honoured to be godmother to his to lovely children, Marci and Flora.
When he gave me this recipe I blanched... it was two sides of instructions!  However, with the help of You-tube and using a simpler buttercream recipe (he didn't notice), it was really good and I would certainly make it again for a special occasion (very tasty and rather dramatic cake).  The hardest element was the caramel on top - you have to cut it before it hardens ... impossible!!  So not as clean cut as the one on You-tube!!

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Made for Birte in our Book Group - 23rd January 2017
I belong to a book group in Headington Quarry and Birte (from Denmark as the cake suggests) runs the group incredibly efficiently.  I mentioned doing the cakes, and she brought me this recipe.  It is very interesting to do (one of the few rubbed in cakes I have come across) and is gorgeous - Hirono took some to eat on the plane home, she loved it so much. Definitely a dream cake

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Made for lunch when my cousin Peter and his wife Felicity (who is Welsh) came all the way from Carmarthen for lunch with Hirono, Len and me on 22nd January 2017.
Peter and Felicity visited us specially to see Len (and Hirono and me of course).  Peter is my cousin and, strangely, someone I have only really got to know well in the last few years... there were 10 years between us and that is quite a gap when you are kids... so he was always my brother's friend rather than mine.  However, now I am very happy to call him, and Felicity, friends and love to see them... always so much to talk about...
This recipe was on a calendar of Wales sent to me by my friend Eva (see cake number 3). Lovely cake and as you can see was immediately demolished by us!! - before I could get a decent picture!

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Cake 33 - Parsnip and maple syrup and pecan cake 

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Cake 33 - Parsnip and maple syrup and pecan cake 

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Made for lunch with Michael Pagnotta and Graeme Bootsma on 14th January 2017 at home.  They came for two reasons: to see Hirono and Little Len and to celebrate Graeme's 40th birthday (which is in February but I am missing his actual party).  Michael is Canadian and they plan to settle in Canada, so the maple and pecan seemed appropriate.
It was a lovely cake - same sort of texture as carrot and very tasty.
Graeme is Michael's husband and I went to their wedding in Canada in September - a lovely guy and very happy to have him as my non-biological son-in-law!

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Cake number 32 - Parsnip and coconut cake with cashew nut butter icing

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Cake number 32 - Parsnip and coconut cake with cashew nut butter icing

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Made for Church Coffee and Cakes at St Nicholas Church, Old Marston on 15th January 2017. The parsnip really comes through on this one. I was not sure about this at first and I did forget to put the cashew nuts actually in the cake, as the recipe suggested, but in fact it worked better this way. I put a note on the cake saying it was an experiment and I had so many people tell me it was really good (far more than usual).

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Cake number 31 - Chocolate Cake with Fudge Icing

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Cake number 31 - Chocolate Cake with Fudge Icing

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Made for coffee and cakes at St Nicholas Church, Old Marston on 15th January 2017
This recipe was given to me by Jennie who is the newest alto in the choir.  Jennie has recently moved to the area and joined us altos - she spends a lot of time feeling lost (she is not as lost as she thinks) and I don't really help (as often lost myself).  Luckily she has Helen to sit next to - we are all lucky in that respect!
This is a nice chocolate cake and easy to make - a good stand by (which is why she gave it to me I think!)

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Made for lunch at cousin Kay's - Sue Pfunder's recipe - 28th December 2016
This cake was made for the pudding - with ice cream (goes very well). We were meeting up at my cousin Kay's in Wimbledon... we being Hirono, Little Len and me... and Kay, Roger, Roger's Mum and later joined by their son Josh and Tom with his wife Harriet and little Alice.  Was fascinating to watch a 1 year old meet a 9 month year old!
The cake was excellent - a gluton free cake - similar to the Nigela Clementine cake but this one is with apples.  Good as a pudding as well as a cake.
Sue gave me this recipe - I met Sue at Brookes (she is now retired) and we were colleagues for quite a few years and became good friends. Have been on a number of walking holidays with her and she has been there for me in some dark times... helping me through. Thanks Sue.
...

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From Linda - 18th December 2016
This cake was made for coffee & cakes at church on Sunday 18th.  I left it there after 8 am communion for the coffee after 10 am - I planned to be there but was taken ill and never got the feedback on this one.  I did have a piece however and it was very nice!
Linda is a soprano in the church choir - very much a key member of the choir - and a good friend.  We share stories of our pets (although Linda has sadly lost her two cats recently) and also share friendly banter about whether the sopranos or altos are best! (I am the latter of course)..

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Cake number 28 - Mary Berry's Perfect Victoria Sponge

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Cake number 28 - Mary Berry's Perfect Victoria Sponge

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or Cari's Birthday 26th November (birthday 15th but later as away)
Cari is one of the dog walking Margaret Road Park pack - her dog Dexter loves my two dogs (he is at least 4x bigger but that doesn't matter). She (and her partner Jason) and I also enjoy playing board games - had a great evening learning to play Settlers of Catan...
When I asked Cari what cake she wanted she just said "nothing can beat a Victoria Sponge" ... she here it is, with the addition of Swiss Meringue icing... as it was her birthday.

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Loraine - Book Club 21 November 2016
I joined the book club (linked to the local library) about 18months ago and really enjoy reading books I probably wouldn't normally and then talking it through with some really interesting people.  I knew two from the group already - Judith Thomas and Maggie Jarman - but have really enjoyed getting to know others who lie nearby.  Loraine is one (who actually works at Brookes but we had not met).
This banana bread was really tasty and obviously went to the November book club!

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Recipe of Ian Allison - for interviews for new vicar on 15th November 2016
This was an excellent cheesecake (so we allow it to be a cake).  Like the Towcester cheese cake, it is a curd cake but with a short crust base and this one had chocolate chips instead of raisins (should have the latter but the former was an option).  Very tasty and eaten up at the bring and share dinner the day before the new Vicar interviews!
Ian (the recipe giver), I met many years ago when I live next door to his wife Christine at University (who became my best friend). I will always remember him in our flat kitchen cooking (especially american cheesecake - not this one - for which he was famous) and I seem to remember him spending a lot of time as the barman of the college bar!

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Sunday Church Coffee -16th October 2016
Made for church coffee and cakes after the 10 am service. This recipe is an amalgam of a number of recipes - so probably the first recipe I have made up myself. I wanted to do something with rosewater - so make a traybake of a sponge with rosewater flavouring. Then I made some swiss meringue icing and flavoured with rosewater... but it needed something different and fresh to bring out the taste - hence the raspberries! Lovely (even though I say it myself)...It went down well for the brave who overcame the fear of rosewater cake!

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Sunday Church Coffee 16th October 2016 - this was made for church coffee and cakes and an alternative for cake number 25 for this of a more traditional bent (who don't like more scented cake).  It was a good recipe and classic apple cake recipe..

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Cake number 23 - Coconut cake with Swiss Meringue Coconut butter icing

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Cake number 23 - Coconut cake with Swiss Meringue Coconut butter icing

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Michelle's Coconut Cake with Swiss Meringue Coconut Butter Icing -
October 2016
This was for Michelle's birthday (hence the M on the cake). Michelle is part of the Margaret Road Pack of dog walkers. I felt very brave doing this as Michelle is an expert baker and produces amazing cakes (with fabulous decorations!). When she gave me the original recipe, I had to give it back as it was like getting a Paul Hollywood Bake off test - half the instructions were missing e.g. the method and the time to cook... but Michelle just assumed I would know!  It was a fabulous cake and my first attempt at Swiss Meringue Butter Icing..

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Cake number 22 - The Meredith's Chocolate Cake Special 

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Cake number 22 - The Meredith's Chocolate Cake Special 

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15 October 2016 - these were made for church coffee and cakes after the 10 am service. They are the same basic chocolate cake recipe but one has white chocolate on top and one milk.  A great chocolate cake (with surprising basic ingredient of Mayonnaise instead of eggs... logical really).
The Merediths, I met through Church... specifically initially at 8am communion which Dad and I (and also Mum) regularly went to and where we met Helen. Dad also knew Emily and Sophie from St Nicholas' School (where they read to him and of course gained Pokemon cards). However it is really through the choir that we have become good friends. As stalwarts of the alto section Helen and I battle through many harmonies together (Helen leading and me following as much as possible) and all the altos fight to sit next to Helen in order to stay in tune! But mustn't forget the role of the dogs - Emily loves them... and also must mention Adam, David and Joyce... thank you The Merediths/Christians for your friendship.

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Cake number 21- Nigella's Old Fashioned Chocolate cake 

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Cake number 21- Nigella's Old Fashioned Chocolate cake 

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Marci's Birthday Chocolate Cake
Marci is my very precious godson (my only godson!) and son of my good friends Gabor and Kriszta. He was 11 years old and I asked him what he wanted for a birthday cake and was told chocolate... that is what he got. A Nigella recipe and as you can see I added a special element! It was very choclately and he loved it! We had a lovely birthday tea with this as desert.

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Nigella's Mother-in-Law's Madeira cake - made for Neil K's birthday - made on 7th October 2016 (his birthday was 27th September but he was overwhelmed with cake, so I delayed).
I talked about Neil in cake no.1 - it is hard to talk about Allison and Neil separately - they just come as a pair!  Love them both!
I think this is one of my best bakes to-date - not over nor underbaked and I think pretty perfect!

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Cake number 19 - Pineapple Upsidedown cake

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Cake number 19 - Pineapple Upsidedown cake

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June and Steve's Pineapple Upside down cake - made 2nd October 2016 for June's birthday on 3rd October 2016.

June and Steve are part of the Margaret Road dog pack ... the human chapter of the pack...  They have a lovely dog called Jess who is just fabulous.... as is her owners.  They live very close to me and are always there for me - just ready to help whatever... Given Steve is a plumber and also a brilliant handyman and June is great baker and can turn her hand to most things, it is pretty good for me.  Although, I did do my good neighbour bit when they went on holiday and not only forgot to lock their door, but left it wide open (sorry not "they"...Steve)..  I locked up for them!

It was June's birthday on 3rd and as is the custom, the "pack" met for cake on the park on that morning.  There was near disaster when Chico (a chocolate labrador) nearly consumed the cake..

As you can see from the picture I miscalculated on the pineapple rings and instead of finding I had a tin with 6 rings, I only had 4, so had to improvise... so first hint - check you have enough pineapple!!  But it still tasted great and reminded me of my school days as we used to get this as a pudding with custard

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Classic coffee and walnut traybake - made 1st October 2016 for Harvest Festival Tea Party at Church on 2nd - at request of Elizabeth (head of the Flower Fairies)
The Flower Fairies at St Nicholas Church as the ladies who do the flowers at the big festivals... Christmas, Easter and Harvest Festival.  Elizabeth is Head Flower Fairy and this year decided to provide a tea party on the Sunday afternoon for anyone who wanted to visit the church to look at the flowers... and they are worth a visit... Some very talented ladies in this set.  I do sometimes join them as a "learner" and did provide the flowers for the Choir Window, which was also decked with a lego choir and lego farm provided by Junior Choir.
The coffee and walnut traybake is a favourite at church - rarely is any left and so it seemed an appropriate cake to produce for the tea party. It is a Mary Berry classic recipe.

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Andy's Carrot Cake - made on 24th September 2016 for Andy's birthday party on 25th September
I have known Andy for nearly 28 years - we were in the Economics Department at Brookes together for much of that time, before I opted for the Business & Management Dept... We have been through some hilarious times (Malcolm Bee providing many of these!) and some very sad ones. But Andy is always there... he is one of my very best friends and never lets me down..but Andy never lets anyone down...He is pure
gold!  (If he reads this he will hate me saying that)
We spent a very happy week at Siena University - doing very little work... and also went together to Canada and the US in 2001 (visiting our friend and colleague Maureen - see cake number 14)..which was fun.
Andy's carrot cake is legend - a couple of times it managed to create a harmonious Economics Dept meeting - almost unknown - but that cake was special.  I am not sure I did it justice... wasn't as good as he makes... but it was nice and went to his End of Summer Party (his birthday party) which he has every year

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iven to me by 3 people - Alan & Maggie Jarman, Peter & Felicity Townsend, and Judith & Geoff Thomas supplied (the Welsh contingent ...) - the latter supplied an alternative cake ... to appear later in the year.  Made 18th September 2016 - for the Book Club's first meeting of the new academic year (Maggie & Judith T are members with me)
Alan is another Brookes person (another Economist) and Welshman and I know Maggie originally because of Alan (and their famous summer parties), but now we are both in the same book group.  Alan always calls me "boss" party because was was Head of Dept for a while and partly because he was a contributor to the book I edited with Mark Cook, and I had to "boss" Alan in order to get the chapters (he took to hiding from me when I walked down the corridor and thought I didn't notice)!
Peter is my cousin and so I have known him all my life (he is 10 years older than me but annoyingly doesn't look it....someone guessed we were the same age the other day!)... There are few northerners in my family but Peter is from Newcastle who has now adopted Wales as his county I think... Strangely, possibly because of the age difference, we have only really got to know each other quite recently and I have had a lovely couple of visits to them in Wales recently.
Bara brith is a welsh tea loaf (sorry if that offends by simplicity)... but it is incredibly moist loaf and extremely tasty (especially with butter)... was really great and much appreciated by the book group..

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James' Fruit Cake - made on 17th September 2016 for coffee and cakes on 18th
James was the Choirmaster of St Nicholas Church when I saw a note in the pew sheet asking for altos for the choir, so I emailed saying I didn't know if I was an alto but I always sing lower than everyone in church so was an alto or couldn't sing... He invited me along to rehearsal and they never got rid of me... loved it. I learned so much from James - he was so knowledgeable and such a good teacher and sang some fabulous anthems and wonderful services with James conducting... I have much to thank him for... and must not forget Holly, his lovely wife... fabulous lady and so kind and patient (and great singer!!)
James' fruit cake often appeared when we had a big event and long rehearsal beforehand - it was great to have with a cup of tea before we went off to sing... loved it. And it turned out pretty well this time - took it to church coffee and cakes after the 10 am service this week

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Maureen's Flourless Almond Cake - I call Sticky lemon and orange cake - made 17 September
Maureen interviewed me for my job at Brookes in October 1988 - I started on 1st Jan 1989... she was my Subject Lead for many years and we have been colleagues in all that time, until she retired this summer.  I visited her in US when she was teaching there in Upper New York State (went with Andy - see cake 18) and also spent a week with her and her mother at her flat in Alicante (was there on 11 September 2001).  A good friend who I hope to visit in her new home overlooking the Mountains of Mourne in N Ireland
This cake is gluten free and dairy free and very sticky!  Made it for the coffee and cakes after 10 am service at church and it vanished incredibly quickly with lots saying how much they like it.

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Supplied by Janet
Janet was a teacher at my Dad's school and was always a good friend to him.  When he retired, they kept in touch and also we visited Janet and Peter many times for a lovely meal when my nieces were little (they loved their numerous cats as well!).  She and Peter have become good friends to me too.
For me a cheesecake is this!  I remember when I was a teenager buying a cheesecake in M&S ... being horrified... that wasn't a cheesecake as I knew it..  For me a cheesecake had to be cooked, in puff pastry and bought from Oliver Adams' bakery in Northampton or Lawrence's coffee shop.  Whenever Dad went to Northampton he would buy a cheesecake for me from there.
So when I visited Eva (cake 3) and she had a Northampton cookery book from the 1930s, I saw cheesecake and tried it (see cake?)... but it wasn't right.. So Janet got me the recipe from Towcester Historical Society.  It is a curd cake and there are lots of variations across the country (the famous one being Yorkshire Cheesecake)... but this is better!

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Berry's cake made on 21st August 2016
Berry is another Brookes person - this time in Business and Management and one of the 4 remaining PLSEs (we know who we are!).   Such a good friend and always such a laugh - never a dull moment when Berry is around!
This cake was one the Berry's mother used to make at Christmas so it was a real honour to do this for her and remind her of her family Christmases (she said it didn't look like it but tasted exactly right!!)

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Made for Graham and Sue on 20th August 2016
Graham is an Accounting Lecturer at Brookes but he definitely does not fit the profile of the typical accountant!  I have known Sue and Graham probably about 20 years and I climbed Snowden with them both and Scafell Pike with Graham (but neither did Ben Nevis - some excuse!) and we have numerous quizzes together.  Always  fun to be with and always there for me!
This was an unusual cake - a savoury cake - very interesting and tasty.. sort of challenge as you always think cake is sweet...but this definitely was savoury and lovely and tasty.

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Cake number 10 - Apple and Blackberry Cake

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Cake number 10 - Apple and Blackberry Cake

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For Sandra - made on 16th August 2016
I met Sandra through work - she is in charge of the Administrators in the Business School (may be not officially but certainly unofficially).  We became friends when we discovered we both loved going to the theatre and that we liked the same sort of shows.  I think we will agree the worst was Resurrection Blues at the Old Vic (although it had the major plus of Kevin Spacey sitting directly behind us)... the best... for me probably The Crucible (also at Old Vic).
Pete her husband, is a valuable source of advice - especially when buying a new car!)
Just lLovely friends.
Sandra is the reason I am doing these 60 cakes - she is doing 60 different cocktails and invited me to join her... but I know my limitations and so went for an alternative... cake!
This actual cake didn't go well - it said that you should wait till the skewer came out clean - it never did! So I kept cooking.. and it finished up definitely overbooked.
So will remake in February for Sandra's birthday - and do better

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Cake(s) number 9 - Northampton Bakewell Cheese Cake

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Cake(s) number 9 - Northampton Bakewell Cheese Cake

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Northampton's cake - Bakewell cheesecakes - made on 13th August 2016

When I was in Mid Wales with Eva (see cake no.3) she showed me a book called Northampton Cookbook of 1930. I looked online and found one (as had to have such a book from my home town). When it arrived it was an earlier edition - 1908! This recipe came from here and I did it because I thought it looked like something my Mother used to do which was always delicious. It was not the recipe though - but quite nice (bit too much pastry though).
I love the fact that they put as cooking instructions "bake in a moderate oven".  OK... what does that mean and for how long?  Obviously women in those days didn't need to be told such things!

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Cake number 8  - Clementine Cake (Nigella's)

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Cake number 8  - Clementine Cake (Nigella's)

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George and Charlie's cake - Clementine Cake - made on 13th August 2016

George is the builder who built the extension to my house, did my kitchen last year and has pretty well replastered most of this house! Great worker and so glad I found him... actually first met him in a very unlikely place... a fashion show! In fact the Fashion Show which my niece was taking part in as part of her college work and she invited George and his wife Kayoko.  Kayoko worked with Hirono at Edamame...  And this is how I got my builder...Charlie helps him and takes responsibility for the fence!
I asked them what cake they would like me make them this weekend - they said... The cake you made us last year - so this is Nigella's Clementine Cake which is gluten free and dairy free and extremely tasty!  Needs to be watched carefully against burning slightly though

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Lyn's (and Harriet's) cake - made 11th August 2016
Lyn is a good friend who I have known now for over 20 years. She is happily retired from Brookes now and we met at her fabulous new home in Fulbrook, near Burford, to make this cake. Our friendship however grew when my Dad helped her son Jack get some confidence with his schoolwork when Jack was at Primary School (and Jack has gone on to great things since). Also my 3 nieces used to go and play with Lyn's children, Harriet, Jack and Lucy, when they came over from Japan. Such a lovely family.

This cake is called Iced Banana Bread - but we didn't want to do the icing - and we added chopped apricots instead of candied peel - so it is a Banana and Apricot Bread - incredibly tasty.

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Cake number 6 - Apple, walnut and caramel cream cheese icing

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Cake number 6 - Apple, walnut and caramel cream cheese icing

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Michael and Graeme's cake - made 23rd July 2016
Michael is my non-biological son - we met at the Old Vic Theatre about 12 years ago - both involved in a project called Soapbox and we have been great friends since then and as the name suggests, he feels like a son, to me.   I went to Graeme and Michael's wedding in Montreal September 2015 (and I love my son-in-law too). They are the best.

The cake appeared at the Battersea Boys' Picnic on 23 July 2015.  Was great cake - really good for a birthday cake in the future.  Brilliant caramel icing!

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Cake number 10 - Apple and Blackberry Cake
Cake number 10 - Apple and Blackberry Cake
For Sandra - made on 16th August 2016
I met Sandra through work - she is in charge of the Administrators in the Business School (may be not officially but certainly unofficially).  We became friends when we discovered we both loved going to the theatre and that we liked the same sort of shows.  I think we will agree the worst was Resurrection Blues at the Old Vic (although it had the major plus of Kevin Spacey sitting directly behind us)... the best... for me probably The Crucible (also at Old Vic).
Pete her husband, is a valuable source of advice - especially when buying a new car!)
Just lLovely friends.
Sandra is the reason I am doing these 60 cakes - she is doing 60 different 

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Tony's cake - made on 17th July 2016
Tony was the Vicar of St Nicholas Church Old Marston until July this year and as such I have known him for around 25 years. He has been with me through some of the worst times of my life and also some good times.  We actually did Tai Chi together for a while.  Best vicar ever

This made an appearance at Tony's retirement event on 17th July 2016 - was a Waitrose Victoria Sponge with buttercream piped on top and raspberries - was consumed almost immediately, especially by the children.  I think this will be my easiest cake.

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Cake number 4 - Aunty Cathie's Gingerbread

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Cake number 4 - Aunty Cathie's Gingerbread

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Alison's cake - Gingerbread - made on 16th for 17th July 2016 at Allison and Tony's retirement party
Alison and I met at Wheatley Campus at Brookes when she worked in the Education Dept before it moved.  We also met through the church and more recently we became good friends through singing alto in the choir - she got me started and kept me on track (well nearly).  One of The Altos (rather than Sopranos)
This is a classic, very moist gingerbread which was Alison's Aunty Cathie's recipe.  Aunty (or should be Grt Grt Cathie) was the housekeeper from the Crawford (biscuit fame)... hint do not open the door of the oven - it will sink (as shown)...  Lovely deep taste.  A classic.

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Cake number 8a - Rainbow cake - layered clementine cake (the same cake as number? but layered with butter icing)

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Cake number 8a - Rainbow cake - layered clementine cake (the same cake as number? but layered with butter icing)

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Made for my goddaughter's birthday - lovely Flora (9 years old).
Flora wanted a rainbow cake but shortly before her birthday she had to go gluten free - so we made the clementine cake (no. 8) but split it into 6 separate cake tins and we had great fun mixing the colours (rather livid and accidentally made two greens - it looked like dark blue before it was cooked!). Then we made a dairy free butter icing (less sweet), for the layers and the outer icing. Was fun!

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Eva's cake -- 13th July 2016
Eva and I met when we were 17 and 16 respectively - at Northampton Tech where we were both on the same secretarial course.  We have been friends ever since... I was there when she met her husband Alan and went to her wedding..  Never lost touch .. sometimes we don't talk or see each other for a while, but makes no difference - we just immediately fall straight back into our friendship.
This was made on 13th July 2016 at Eva's house in Mid Wales - this is her kitchen!  The loaf was really easy to make and tasted fabulous - a really good thing to make if you need a cake in a hurry.  Great with butter spread on it.

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Marie-Anne's cake - made on 9th July 2016
Marie-Anne and I met on an HF walking holiday in Whitby about 7 years ago (or may be more).  We went on a few more walking holidays (with Francine who I met at the same time), but recently just visit each other's homes or go to The Mumbles (Judith T's house).  Always great conversations.. learn a lot..  Merci Marie-Anne!

The was made on 9th July 2016 - Marie-Anne had just arrived from Paris. This is her mother's cake recipe. It is a special cake made for special occasions - like Christmas - and does take a long time to make. You can see, the recipe makes more than 1 cake (although I think we should have stuck at 2 as the cakes were not as high as they should have been). Tastes beautifully spice and deep taste

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Cake number 1 - Avocado and Raw Cocoa cake

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Cake number 1 - Avocado and Raw Cocoa cake

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Allison's cake - made on 29th June 2016
I met Allison at Brookes - she was an Associate Lecturer at the time and had photos of her rabbits on her screensaver - I mentioned I had a rabbit and we have been friends ever since.  She and Neil are Daisy and Rufus' dog sitters when I am away - and do this brilliantly.  Rufus especially loves them (but we all know Daisy loves only me - and whoever has food with them).
Allison and Neil have been amazing friends and got me through some tough times and been with me through some good ones too, especially in Moya over a cocktail or two!!

A very different cake - 3 avocados in it - very moist and very rich (a bit bitter).  You can only eat a small amount but with ice cream it is absolutely delicious (good pudding for a dinner party with ice cream - but only a square of about 3cm required!).