June 28th 2015 - Butterfly cakes

June 28th 2015 - Butterfly cakes

A couple of days ago lil man saw that we had cake icing in the cupboard and asked if we could make some cakes, sadly it wasn't long before he was going to bed so I said would have to be at the weekend.  Saturday when he asked my knee was hurting too much to stand and do them so I said we would make them Sunday after we had our roast dinner.

We made the mix up and added purple colouring to it as thats what lil man wanted.  We put them in the oven and I told him  IF we could get them to rise enough we would make butterfly cakes.  He didn't know what I meant so I had to explain.  Well some of the cakes formed a peak (like mountains as he said) but not all of them.  I said we would give it a try anyway.

So I set about cutting out the top and cutting it in half to make the wings.  Lil man then helped to fill the holes with buttercream and stuck the wings in.  We then added a glitter sparkle icing to them all.  They looked really good, and tasted good as well.

April 3rd 2015 - Making Army/camo cupcakes

April 3rd 2015 - Making Army/camo cupcakes

As part of his homework over the holidays my eldest son had to make some cupcakes and take photos of him doing it, well having 3 boys they "all have to do the same" or I end up with a big argument, so we all made cupcakes.

We made Army/camo cupcakes, we have made them before and they work really well.  Sadly I didnt have fresh ingredients but packet mixes.  My youngest son made the green mix, middle son made the chocolate mix and eldest made the white mix.

As you can see all 3 colours are made in seperate bowls.   From here you add a spoonful of each colour to the cake cases and then give them abit of a swirl with a cocktail stick - you dont have to mix them - if you don't you end up with 3 blocks of colour instead of them mixed more like camo effect.

 

They then go in the oven for 15-20mins or until cooked.  When they come out they look like this:

We have just got to ice them with 3 colour icing as well.  Will add a pic once they done.


 The inside of the cakes are sort of marbled and 3 tone - each cake is different, this is the 1 I had:

 The icing on them is green, white and brown but not as I had hoped - I wanted the colours mixed but didn't know how to do it so I did them each in own pipeing bag in a row.

March 7th 2015 - swirl cakes

March 7th 2015 - swirl cakes

Today's pin is 1 I have done before and that is make swirl cakes.  They are very easy to do, using normal cake mix (home made or shop bought) add nothing but what you need for the mix so it is still the creamy/white/lemon colour.  Then add the mixture to cupcake cases as you would normally but before you put them in the oven add a couple of drops of food colouring to ech cake and using a cocktail stick swirl the food colouring into the mixture so you get a pattern.  Then bake as normal.  Once they are cooked you may not see the swirls on the top of the cakes but you will when you bite into them.  I added a couple of drops of the same colours into the icing and added that to the cakes so the red ahve red swirl icing and the blue has blue. (see pics).

There is a reason for my baking and its not a birthday or party (well it is my friends 18th today but thats not the reason.)  Tomorrow we are going for dinner with our neighbours at their house, they are cooking pheasant (which none of us has tried) and a chicken encase we don't like the pheasant.  I was always told you never turn up to a dinner or party empty handed and as I know they are on medication I decided not to go for a bottle of wine but some cakes.  I will take 1 each round there for after dinner.

Heres my pics:

February 19th 2015 - Spong cakes

February 19th 2015 - Sponge cakes

My little man loves cooking and baking, to the extent for the past 2 and bit years he has said he wants to be a chef and has already made a business plan - he's the chef, hubby is serving drinks, his brothers are waiters and cleaners and I can sit around in apretty dress and drink wine. lol!

Anyway, he asked if we could make some cakes, which I agreed, he then said like J (his brother) made at school with no packet mix.  Errrrrrr I can't make cakes without a packet mix, they don't rise etc.  But I agreed.  Hubby bought the ingredients on tuesday when he did the shopping and today is the 1st day we have had a chance to make them.

The receipe my eldest used at school was 100g SR flour, 100g caster sugar, 100g margerine and 2 eggs, and it made 12, I also found teh same receipe on pinterest.   We doubled it all up so we could make 24 cakes and ended up with 30, however I forgot teh last 6 were in the oven and they are slightly burnt on top.

But i'm impressed they did work and they did rise (slightly).  (see pics below).  We still have to ice them, of which 12 are having thomas tank rice paper on (can't remember how we ended up with spare rice papers from a pack).

Pirate party the event

Well after a mad couple of months of preperation for the pirate party the day of it arrived, and no it didnt go to plan!  This was NOT my doing but the weathers - 2days before the wind got up really strong and our heavy weight gazebo buckled and took flight.  1day before it rained all day and all night so was too wet on the grass to do most of the games so panic set in as to HOW I could do it all indoors.  The answer to this was move table from lounge-diner into small kitchen and move small sofa into dining area, which gave more room in lounge.

I started hanging the bunting around my room, really pleased with how it looked -

1 of the mums even said she wouldn't have had the patience to sit and make them.  We hung a 3ftx4ft skull flag between 2 of the upstairs windows -

 

 and added a cross to the door and a wooden sign on the garden bench -

I also had a mini treasure chest (picked up from sealife centre) filled with gems and coins and necklaces (bought and won in 2p machines on holiday) and we sat a halloween skull beside it -

Luckily the rain held off (even though ground was wet) and we were able to dig for treasue in the sandpit and walk the plank outside -

 

As it was bit windy we couldn't leave the sail/mast in the ship but took them out for a photo - I cant addon here as it contains all the children who were at party not just my own.  We played pass the parcel that had pirate themed forfits in and "canon ball bop" - where they had to keep their canon (black balloon) afloat and if it hit the floor they were out, and pin the patch on the pirate, they really enjoyed the "canon ball busrt" - black balloons which had confetti and sweets in and they had bounce on them to busrt them (so glad I have laminate flooring and it was easy to sweep up) -

All of the food we had was given a "piratey name".  We had:

• captain's cakes (birthday boy was captain)
• dead mans fingers - cocktail sausages
• pirate gems on a stick - fruit chunks of plastic swords
• rat poo clusters - chocolate rice crispie cakes
• golden nuggets - chicken nuggets
• golden rocks - cheese & pineapple
• desert islands - cheese pizzas
• hawaiian islands - ham & pineapple pizzas
• vegetable island - mixed salad bits in a plate with a "carrot n lettuce palm tree"
• canon balls - malteasers
• golden rings - hula hoop crisps
• sea scrolls - wafer tubes with liquorice laces tied round them
• pirates teeth - popcon

The cake stand WAS a circus themed one and had animals all over it - that was until i attacked it with black paint and glued cut out skulls on it.  I think it looked really good.

Everyone seemed to have fun and enjoy themselves, which is the main thing.  My lil man said he loved his birthday party.



OH AND AS A LAST THING - I have already stated the planning and decoration making for my eldest birthday in November which is neon/UV/glow in dark - watch this space!!!

Pirate party revisited

2years ago my eldest son had a pirate and princess party, it went well considering it was at very short notice.  I got some banners printed on plastic of both pirate images and princess,

 

as well as a "pin the patch on the pirate game" and a "pin the crown on the princess game".  I made a pirate ship in about 2hours from cardboard boxes, brown paper, tape, glue and lego.

A friend printed out edible cake toppers for the main cake and small fairy cakes.

And as we already had disco lights we had a disco, and did normal party games.


WELL......My 4year old came home from school last week and told me that he had invited his teacher and TA and some of his friends round to our house for his pirate birthday party!  Luckily I still have all the plastic banners I had printed, I still have the template for the invite and the cake toppers, sadly the ship got broken when we moved house, but I can make a new one. 

However, as I have until August for lil mans birthday I plan to do things better this time round.  I wont be hiring a hall but having it at home, I have gazebos and plan to get another 1 (or 2) before his birthday.  I started hunting the net for pirate things and ideas and made a board on pinterest so that I could keep them all in one place.  I found a lovely banner but it was £15 for a 3ft length which will work out very expensive, so I decided to buy some long dresses and skirts off ebay in red/white/black stripes/spots/stars/patterns/skulls and plan to make my own once they all arrive by cutting strips of material and tying or stitching to rope.

some of the materials I have bought

My son then asked IF I could turn his wooden army fort into a pirate ship!!!  I know i'm good at crafts etc BUT this could prove hard.  But after a few hours thought I came up with a plan.  1.We pull the army netting back over the roof.  2.We use the spare wooden bits from where it was raised to make a triangle and place it against the side of the fort to look like the front of the ship.  3.We make an anchor and chain (see below) and lean against the front of the point.  4.We add a wheel to the inside (somehow) and 5.Maybe add a sheet as a flag, (again somehow).

The anchor and chain, now i'm really pleased with this as I wasnt sure HOW to do it, or even if it could be done as I don't want anything heavy that could hurt children or pets.  So I drew an anchor shape on cardboard, I cut it out and then scrunched up paper and masking taped it to the anchor on one side only so that it had a 3D image.  From here I added paper marche to it over 3 layers, letting each layer dry for 24hrs before doing the next one.  I then painted it with a mix of silver, orange and black acrylic paint (it still needs another coat of paint in pic).

 

 For the chain I used small paper plates.  I cut the ribbed outer edge off the plate, leaving a solid circle, I then cut the middle from this which is what I made the larger links from, and again cut a smaller ring from the solid center small circle, this made the small links.  They were linked together by cutting a slit in 1 ring and then masking tape it closed once the other rings were linked.  I then did the same on the chains as I did for the anchor by screwing up balls of paper and masking tape them onto one side and then paper marching it.  I will be painting the chains and adding to the anchor (will add photo at a later date.


I have also sat and trawled the net for food and games.

GAMES/IDEAS TO DO -

Buried treasure - each child can dig in the sand pit for: 2x necklaces, 1x ring, 2x gems, 10x coins,, 5 gold rocks (plastic jewellery & gems bought, rocks from beach painted gold and varnished)

Walk the plank - raised piece of wood over either a small paddling pool with water in or blue sheet on grass, toy crocodiles in it.

Pin the patch on the pirate game - picture of pirate and some sort of patch to stick on it, closet to where his eye is wins.

Hoop toss over a sword or hook - who can throw the most hoops onto a sword or hook wins.  Alternatively you could have a few fixed onto a board and points for each one and whoever gets the highest points wins

Decorate your own sword - pre cut out cardboard swords and have glue, gems, pens etc for the children to decorate their own swords (do this at the beginning of the party and they will be dry to take home.)  Make sure you write childrens names on back.

Pirate tattoos (and face paint) - do these at the beginning as all pirates have tattoos, check that children are ok with face paint before parents leave.

Pirate photo booth - Draw a picture of a pirate on cardboard and paint it, cut out the face, cut a slit in the middle at the bottom.  Take a small piece of cardboard and place a slit in the middle of top edge, this will be fixed into the slit on the pirate so it can stand up.  Child stands behind it and puts their face through the hole to have a photo taken as pirate.

Knock the pirates over - skittles with pirate pictures stuck on and bean bags/balls to knock them over, peson who gets most wins.

Pass the parcel with pirate forfits - Wrap the parcel and add a forfit to each layer, do 1 per person plus a couple of extra layers.  Forfits - *stand up and shout "ahoy me mateys", *squark like a parrot, *talk like a parrot and say "polly wants a cracker", *hop round the circle like peg leg jake, *dance a pirate jig, *name a pirate film, *sing a song like a drunken sailor, *go walk the plank, *stand up and say "yo ho ho and away we go", *Talk like a parrot and say "pieces of eight, pieces of eight", *stand up and say "shiver me timbers", *Stand up and say "this is me ship mateys", *stand up and say "where be me treasure", *pretend to swab the deck (sweep), *tell the joke - "what do you call a pirate who went to school?"......"smaaaaart",* tell the joke - "where do pirates go shopping?"......"at the maaaaaarket", *tell the joke - "what does a pirate put on his toast?"......."maaaaarmalade"

Pirate pinata - Make or buy a pinat and add sweets, home made badges, catcha-bubbles, confetti, etc

Pirate colouring pages and pens - leave some of these on a table incase they want to colour

Cannon ball bop - give each child a black balloon and on go they have to keep it in the air, any that hit the floor are out, winner is one who lasts longest.

Cannon ball fire - loads of black balloons, put sweets in some, confetti in others,  and leave some empty on go the kids have to "fire" (burst) all the cannon balls by bouncing on them with their bums.

Flap the fish - 2 fish shapes cut from tissue paper, 2 paper plates, split into 2 teams, place the fish on the floor infront of first person, using only the plate they need flap the fish down the room to set place and then back again, hand to next person who does the same, 1st team to have all players do it wins.

Musical pirates - like musical statues EXCEPT when the music stops they need dance like a pirate, last one to do it is out.

Feed the shark - draw a sharks head and open mouth onto cardboard, cut out the mouth.  using ping pong balls (12 pack for £1 in £1shop) they can each throw the balls through the mouth - most through wins (make older children stand further back than younger children.)

Treasure hunt - clues to find the hidden treasure or coins hidden around the place,

Musical islands - paper islands - each child has an island to start with placed on floor, when music stops they must stand on 1.  remove 1 island and go again, child without island is out.  last 1 wins.

Wheres the treasure hidden - piece of paper with treasure island/map in squares on it, get each child to put their name in 1 square when they arrive.  (pre-choose the treasure square and make a note of it) at the end of the party award a prize to whoever guessed correct or was the nearest.  (try and make the map the exact amount of squares for guests).

 FOOD -

canon balls - malteasers or blueberries or black olives

planks- twix bars or pretzel sticks or bread sticks

pollys crackers - mini cheddars

pirate ships - hot dogs with cocktail stick flag

pirate gems - chunks of fruit on kebab sticks

golden nuggets - chicken nuggets

swords - bread sticks and half grape near end

golden rings - hula hoop crisps

ocotopus legs - gummy worms

fresh fish bread - tuna sandwiches

pirate punch - water, blue food colouring and raspberry flavour 

sharks blood - red drink

pirate teeth - popcorn

pirates peg leg - sausage rolls

sea scrolls - "coffee" wafer biscuits (tubes) tied with a liquorice lace

veggie island - platter of sliced vegetables

golden rocks - cheese & pineapple

dead mans fingers - cocktail sausages

hawain islands - ham & pineapple pizzas

pirate islands - biscuits iced with treasure map lines and a x

I WILL ADD MORE ONCE I GET SORTED AND DEFINATELY ADD MORE AFTER THE PARTY.