Our research trip to London

Myself and Mr Patisserie headed to Borough Market yesterday. It didn't start out as a research trip, we were actually meeting my mum for lunch and a family day in London with the children and lots of food.

Needless to say that having witnessed more food than I have ever seen in one place, I have returned home with a head full of ideas that I would like to try out in the kitchen.

Mr Patisserie particularly enjoyed a rather huge meringue sprinkled with pieces of cookie. Given his enthusiasm about it, and the fact it looked so indulgent because it was so massive, this is going to be the first thing that I plan to recreate later today.

There is plenty more to follow later this week including bakewell slices and citrus meringue pies.

Not for the faint hearted

Peanut Butter Sensation

If peanut butter and/or all things sweet is your thing, then you're sure to love today's reveal.

The star of the show is definitely the icing. It is our brand new recipe and the first time it has ever featured. We have created a finely tuned combination of peanut butter and buttercream to give a smooth, nutty icing that melts in the mouth. In an absolute assault on the tastebuds, we have teamed it with a chocolate, caramel and nougat muffin. Think Snickers meets Mars!

The muffin itself is also a new recipe. We're planning to use it as our "go to" muffin mix, substituting the feature ingredient to create ever more delicious flavours. Watch out in the near future for our Banoffee Muffin. 

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The Chocolate Indulgence

The Chocolate Indulgence

Today's product reveal involves the very delicious Chocolate Indulgence. Consisting of our moist chocolate cupcake topped with copious amounts of our smooth and creamy chocolate icing, it is sure to satisfy any chocolate craving!

There is another storm whipping up in the kitchen this afternoon in preparation for tomorrow's reveal. We'll be re-introducing you to our ever faithful carrot cake, except with a twist; this time it will not only be gluten free but dairy free as well - and we defy anybody to tell the difference. We've also got peanut butter on the menu for the adventurous amongst you.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see what we've created for you!

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An homage to Eton Mess

The Eton Mess cupcake

Just a quick one today, as there's not a lot to say. You've all heard of Eton Mess, so we'd like to present our take on this old classic.

Our version is as follows: a vanilla cupcake topped with fresh strawberries, mini meringues and buttercream.

It is heavenly!

Check back in with us tomorrow for another great cupcake from our menu.

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Craft fairs for exposure?

The idea is that The Cinque Ports Patisserie is here to deliver yummy baked treats to your door, however I am seriously considering booking a table at some local craft fairs over the summer in order to gain some exposure.

I wouldn't mind baking up a storm and creating a lovely selling space for a day. It would be a lot of fun. I really enjoy chatting to new people and what better way to advertise than with actual products that you can eat - pictures just don't taste as good!

Perhaps I should start to plan a list of recipes to showcase. It does seem like an opportunity that I shouldn't let pass me by.


It looks like I have come to a decision, here and now, while writing this post.

Watch out craft fair peeps, here I come!

Oh, and today's pictures of yumminess is no other than... The Lemon Meringue Cupcake.

My much loved chocolate fudge brownies

They worked, they actually worked!! I have conquered my new oven. I am one very happy baking bunny right now. 

Ok, so not quite how I meant it but this picture was just so cute that I had to include it.

The brownies finally came out cooked! Up until now we have been eating them with a spoon as they have refused to firm up on the inside before they started to burn on the crusty outside. A number of factors had been causing this problem but since eliminating the silicon tray liner, and adjusting the oven temperature up slightly, it seems I am on to a winner.

In an ideal world they could have perhaps done with 3 or 4 more minutes in the oven. Unfortunately I was caught off guard when the oven timer started beeping while I was midway through another important task, which left me having to judge their "readiness" on a quick glance, and a shake of the pan by my husband to make sure they weren't still fluid underneath the crust.

They are the perfect combination of a light crust on the outside and a moist, gooey centre.

I had to stay out all morning today just to be able to resist them. I warned my husband that if I went home then there wouldn't be any left for him when he came home from work!

Tonight I shall be baking an old classic - strawberry yoghurt cake. It is much loved amongst my family and friends. My sister is coming over for the morning tomorrow so we need something yummy to have with a nice cup of tea.

The products of yesterday's hard work

I knocked out a double batch of carrot cake muffins with cream cheese frosting, as well as a batch of toffee crumble cupcakes. 

The toffee crumble ones were a bit of an experiment. It's not an ingredient I have used in baking before but they turned out really well and they went down well with family and friends. I think I might cut five minutes off the baking time next time, but other than that they were brilliant.

I have chocolate fudge brownies on the agenda for later! It's a recipe my husband loves but one that hasn't tranferred well to our new gas oven. I guess it's a bit of an ongoing trial and improvement process. I'm getting closer to the original brownie every time to try again.

Let the fun begin...

This is the beginning, the start of making a dream into reality. 

At the beginning of the year I promised myself that I would have my own baking business by the time the year was out.

Yesterday I sent off the relevant paperwork to Environmental Health to register as a home food business.

Today I have been setting up my name and presence on Facebook and Twitter. I have bought my website domain name (and pointed it here for now).

I have recipes flowing out of my ears!

Tonight I shall be test baking two of my recipes. Due to E.H. rules I can't actually give these out to people yet (a minimum 28 days have to lapse between them receiving my registration form and me starting to cook up yummy goodies for people). I'm not even allowed to give them away!

Welcome!

We're not up and running yet, but we will be on 1st June 2013, so be sure to come back then!!