Wednesday 15th February 2012 – Making a Croquembouche!

 The Croquembouche or Piece Montee is by definition a cone shaped mountain of cream filled profiteroles, draped in caramel which sets hard, and is often finished with spun sugar decoration.  It is often served at Weddings inFrance, and with the trend inEnglandleading to more elaborate wedding cakes, its popularity over here is growing!

 My brother in law is set to marry his part French fiancée next year and they had already expressed a desire for a Croquembouche and when I received another enquiry for one a couple of weeks ago I realised I needed to test my capabilities.  I knew I could make the choux pastry, I was yet to make Crème Patisserie from Scratch, and the thought of working with red hot caramel filled me with dread!  I just kept picturing the poor Masterchef contestants with fingers bandaged looking thoroughly warn down by the end of their Croquembouche challenge!

 Another thing troubling me was the traditional way of building one, inside a large metal cone always looked a tad unstable, and left many with a lean.  I wasn’t sure this would then survive a 50 mile drive to a venue, so I set about looking for an alternative.  It was then that I discovered the polystyrene cone.  This was to be my support.

 I set about making my Choux Pastry, this part I found quite easy although I soon discovered that the profiteroles needed to be baked a tray at a time, which made it quite a lengthy process. In two and half hours though I had near filled my dining room table with them.  For those keen bakers out there, I actually used the choux pastry recipe from the original Be-Ro recipe book.  I doubled the quantity and then used three batches to make to desired amount. I found the best process was to bake each tray for 15 minutes at a high temperature and then remove from the oven, turning the temperature down, then quickly put a slit into each with a sharp knife to let the steam escape before placing back in the oven for a further five minutes to properly crisp up.

 For the Crème Patisserie I used the fabulous Laduree Recipe.  Following it to the letter I actually did a little dance around my kitchen when it worked!  I then set about whisking double cream ready to fold into the mixture to make smooth custard perfect for piping.  Warning, when beating double cream in an electric mixer do not leave it unattended.  I briefly left the kitchen to plug my phone into its charger, and returned to find clotted cream in my bowl!  Thankfully the second attempt worked like a dream as I never took my eyes off it!

 Once I had made my custard I then piped this carefully into every profiterole.

 The Caramel was my biggest challenge. It took three pans to get it spot on but is essence you simmer one cup of sugar to half a cup of water until it turns golden brown and then you remove from the heat.  Be careful where you place the saucepan down…always put it on a heatproof surface and then use pretty much immediately as it just continues to harden. Dipping each profiterole into the caramel I worked my way around the cone stacking one on top of each other until I made the top.  I then made another pan of caramel and dipped the back of two forks into it which when pulled apart makes the sugar strands to be shaped around the tower.

 I then used the bakers’ best friend bicarbonate of soda to remove the struck caramel from the pan.  (Simply cover the bottom in a layer of bicarb then cover with boiling water and then heat until the caramel comes away from the pan.)

 And finally after six hours I had my finished article!  As you can see from the pictures, the sugar crafter in me couldn’t resist adding some handmade icing roses! Oh….and it tasted…delicious!!

Wednesday 1^st February 2012 – If at first you don’t succeed……….!

 This is very much a blog for my fellow bakers, and for those who refuse to give up!

 I am always trying to make something new for the stall.  If you visit and there is nothing you fancy, hopefully I will be able to temp you next week, or the week after!  Ever since I rediscovered the joy of a Krispie Crème Doughnut I was determined to make a cake version. 

 The pans arrived and within hours I set about making a standard vanilla cake mix and filling the holes.  Into the oven they went and 15 minutes later they looked golden and well risen.  Perfect I thought.  Alas…not to be.  As is so often the case, I do a lot of my baking well into the night either after arriving home from work or once the stall has closed for the day. On this occasion it was fast approaching midnight so I left them to cool in the tins and then placed them in a plastic storage tub.  The next morning my excitement disappeared when after 10 minutes of trying to release the little cakes they were still stuck fast to the sides of the tins.  Careful movement with a spoon and pallet knife still wouldn’t help.  I gave in.  Batch 1 into the bin!

 Batch 2.  This time I though I would try greasing my non-stick tin, and dusting with a little flour.  (Being too small to line with parchment paper). I also planned to remove the doughnuts within five minutes of their leaving the oven.  Again they looked great, but still, they wouldn’t come out of the tins.  Batch 2 into the bin!

 At this point I was beginning to think the fault lay with the tin, but I figured I would try for 3^rd time lucky.  This time after some lengthy googling I came across a recipe that looked a little more dough like and contained shortening as opposed to butter.  I also took the advice of the author and went out a bought some over priced cake release spray.  (Something I had previously vowed never to waste my money on, but desperate times…)   Batch 3….a success!  Light fluffy and popped straight out the tins!  Wonderful!

 I am now working out the best glaze for them.  If you are nearby reading this, why not stop by later this week and sample one for yourself! 

 Oh…and just to keep regular readers updated, the croquembouche cone has arrived and a date has been set for attempt one, next Thursday.  I will let you know how it goes!  I do love to try something new!

Well it has taken me far too long to blog again.  Sorry everyone!   I managed to take a few days off in January and have a lovely mid-week break in Brighton.  Like most of my holidays great food was a priority and while there we visited some lovely restaurants.  My husband and I began the trip by breaking up the long drive down there with a stop at a services somewhere on the M40 and decided to start the day well with a Krispie Cream!  (I figure it is never worth starting a resolution until January 7^th at least!) Well it must have been years since I tasted one and it was delicious which gave me the idea of making cake doughnuts.  (Yes they are a real thing!)  So the pan is on order and I will let you know how I get on! Anyway I digress…

 Christmas was fantastic for Lady Jayne’s Cakes!  Plenty of pre-orders of cakes, mini fruit cakes and lots of other treats, giving us one of the busiest weeks since opening.  Christmas Eve was a sell out…I only wished I had baked more!

 I also had the pleasure of setting up a beautiful 3 Tier Wedding Cheesecake.  It was great fun to do something a bit different and for the couple it meant a distinctive wedding cake that could double as dessert.  Interested in your own wedding cheesecake?  Give us a call or drop us an e-mail and I will tell you how you can get your own showstopper!

 So this year it would seem the resolutions are firmly in place and sales have begun slowly, but with tempting healthy treats and delicious flapjacks LJC is winning a few people over.

 It is also never too early to think about Valentines Day.  Why not place an order and collect on the day a box of freshly baked cupcakes, cookies or a large iced heart shaped cake if you really want to make a statement.  Why not take it one step further and have you cake iced with a personalised message…or a proposal?! 

 Our recommendation for a treat for the one you love would be our ‘Last Rolo’ cupcake.  A rich chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate icing and a Rolo.  Totally delicious (and not too girly)!

 Over Christmas I was given the Laduree Sweet Cookbook.  (Thanks Louise!)  For those who have never heard of it, Laduree is pretty much the inventor of the French Macaroon and at their restaurants they bake the most exquisite little cakes.  So for my next challenge…perfect Macaroons!  They also feature a cake which has 6 different layers and takes 7 hours to make…think I may leave that for another time!

Wednesday 7^th December 2011 – Tis the season to be Greedy!

 ….or so says the front cover of the Guardian food special in last Saturday’s paper!  I don’t really think that’s true though.  I find I am just allowing myself a few more of the things I normally say no to.  Maybe infact, tis the season to indulge.  And why not?!  Most people I know work so hard throughout the year that is starting the day with a mice pie really so bad??

 Of course I run a cake stall, I am sure to say that!  But I don’t think everything in moderation is a bad way to live.

 The last week or so has been great fun. After a particularly slow Saturday (pre payday) I did adopt a flash sale tactic to clear some of the remaining cake pops and cupcakes which worked well and everyone seemed delighted with their weekend treats….So if you want to risk a visit at 3.50 on a Saturday to see what’s left…you never know what may be on offer!  However, the delightful snowmen cupcakes pictured were all gone within an hour last Saturday!

 What’s the best thing about running a cake stall? The opportunity to have fun with flavours and designs.  The mince pie cupcakes are still selling well and this week we have an amazing mint choc cupcake on sale topped with crushed candy canes. (Thanks Hannah for the suggestion!)

 If you are in the Burton Area this Saturday the World Market will be on in the market place with food from different countries along with a Santa’s grotto.  With Christmas music now being played into the market hall it’s feeling very festive indeed!

All our cupcakes remain £1.60 each or 4 for £5 (which I think is a pretty fair price!) Although one little old lady did comment this week “£1.60, oh no, are the made of gold dear?”  Only mildly insulted I did inform her we had been doing a roaring trade that day and then smiled sweetly.  My husband suggested in future I use the phrase suggested by another customer, ‘Good cake is not cheap and cheap cake is not good!’

 One final thing….if you have been eying up the Igloo Christmas Cake, it now has £5 off. (Now just £25)….when it’s gone, it’s gone!

 What an eventful week it has been!  Plenty of cupcakes baked and sold along with two large birthday cakes!  Mixed in to the last week was a Sunday opening, oh and several hospital visits to my poorly husband!  Thankfully just a couple of hours after an op to remove his appendix he was awake hungry and enjoying a large chunk of homemade maple and pecan flapjack with a cup of tea to build him back up again.  Who knew cake could heal!

 The Sunday opening was for the Christmas light switch on in the market place and a huge crowd turned out to see Chesney Hawkes do the honour!  I got up at 5.30am to get some lovely fresh cakes baked including an experimental mince pie cupcake topped with Brandy Butter Icing…. Which of course needed a taste test!  And oh wow!  I am never eating a mince pie again!  Don’t believe me?  Come and try one for yourself! During the day the market hall was filled with lots of people coming in for a warm.  Most it appeared had never known the market existed until that point!  At one point I managed to sell seventeen gingerbread Santa’s within about an hour!  (Let’s just hope they all remember I am here and come back!)   After closing we then donated the remaining cakes to the hardworking police officers who were overseeing the event and keeping everyone safe.

 So we are now on to week 4 and here’s hoping for a good week!  I think it is important to point out at this point that I joined a gym on Friday.  Cakes are delicious but they should be balanced with healthy food and exercise!

….at least that’s what I tell anyone who asks how I manage to bake all the cakes by myself. In reality it’s not far off, I feel lucky if I can get six hours sleep at the moment! Working in my day job along with being a market trader makes for some long hours! So week one went well, I was delighted to get to the end of the week and be in profit! (Of course that was always the plan…!) I also had a lot of wedding cake enquiries so if some of those translate to orders then I should be doing ok! I contacted the local paper to let them know that I was looking for suggestions of where any leftover cakes should be donated to and they came and took a photo for the paper and wrote up a story. (You might know it was on the day I hadn’t bothered with make-up!) Not a bad picture though.

For those who didn’t see the article, it explains how at the end of every week, rather than throw away the cakes I haven’t sold I will be donating them to a good cause. So at the close of week one I took a huge box of cupcakes up to the nurses at the Children’s ward of the local hospital. They were overjoyed which gave me a lovely feeling all weekend. (Last week I visited a care home and received the same delighted reaction, love it!)

At this point I also just wanted to a say a BIG THANK YOU to my very talented friend Louise who spent the Saturday of week one writing out beautiful labels for all my cake flavours so if you stop by you can see what we have to offer easily. She also stood proudly in a LJC T-Shirt to serve the customers all afternoon. (Louise also makes lovely jams and chutneys so I am hoping in the future this talented lady will be able to offer her products through our stall!)

Last week was a little busier than week one with more people browsing (if only I had £1 for everyone who commented on how lovely my cakes look) and I took a birthday cake order. The birthday cake has just been collected and it is now the start of week three. This week we have been given the gift of a bonus day! The Burton Indoor Market Hall will also be open on Sunday 20th November for the Christmas light switch on. I plan to be selling plenty of gingerbread Santa’s and Christmas cake pops so if you are in the area, why not stop by and say hello!

 Well, we are open!  Cupcakes have come to Burton!  Monday night I spent six hours baking a variety of cupcakes.  I might have managed to get them all done in five hours if my supermarket bought food processor hadn’t given up part way through my third batch of buttercream!   From the smell and the heat coming from it my husband was pretty sure the motor had burnt out.  So it was back to the old fashioned method of beating it by hand.  This of course took significantly longer and I quickly disappeared under a cloud of icing sugar.  On completion of all cakes I then set about the clean up operation which took a little, while before I collapsed into bed.

 So opening morning arrived and after several trips between home and the market place all stock was transferred and set up.  Thankfully I also had help from my mum.  The day ran well with around 30 or so cakes sold.  (Chocolate cupcakes the most popular). A good few of those were sold to people I had handed flyers to the day before which goes to show the power of self promotion!  Everyone was really friendly and my mum and I also enjoyed several big mugs of ‘proper’ tea and cheese on toast from the café at the front of the markets.  Totally worth a visit!  Thankfully spending all day surrounded by cakes does seem make me a little less hungry which is a good pre-Christmas diet.

 We shut the stall at 4pm, set the alarm and I headed home for more baking, after a quick stop at a supermarket to pick up another food processor.  Let’s see how long this one lasts!

 Tonight I am off to a very important meeting with a place that is interested in stocking my cakes so I will be packing a box with a large variety of cakes for them to taste test.  I can’t say where it is yet, but keep your fingers crossed!

I can’t believe it is only a matter of hours until my very first cake stall opens!  Thank goodness for the clocks going back last night, I am always in need of extra hours in the day so to be given a free hour was fantastic…I debated using it for yet more baking but wisely opted for more sleep!

 Now my dining room is filled with Christmas cakes, flapjack and gingerbread all ready for Tuesday.  The only thing left to bake is the cupcakes!

 Last week I spent a day trying to make the stall look good.   The plan was to put a strip of beautiful fabric down the back wall then hang pictures of my beautiful cakes over it.  This turned out to be trickier than planned.  Armed with panel pins a hammer and my near seven month pregnant friend we went to get things in order.  Thank goodness my friend is a teacher!  After several failed attempt to hammer the pins in to place she remarked “what you need is a staple gun…”   She was right!  I was reluctant to spend more money on set up however this staple gun worked like a dream!

 So now the fabric is hung, with some help from my husband the pictures are on the wall and thanks to my mother in law, I have lovely chocolate brown curtains surrounding my space.  (I just need to sell some cakes to pay for it all now!)

 It also looks like I have made the cake supplies shop nervous, (they also sell beautiful wedding cakes, celebration cakes and offer classes)…on the day of set up we noticed a stack of their business cards and leaflets to the back of my space. (Now surely there is enough room for both of us?!)  I am looking forward to introducing myself on Tuesday with a tray of cakes in my hand, hopefully that will help!…I will keep you posted!

So with just over one week until I open my first cake stall, the nerves are beginning to take the shape of butterflies in my tummy! How will it look? Have I bought enough pretty things to fill it? How many cakes will I need to make? Will I sell any?! …and are the other market traders going to be nice to me?! I figure if I take a few free cupcakes around on my first day I should make some friends right?!

You know how you have those moments of blinding inspiration like “I know, I’ll open a cake stall!” And then two months down the line you go “wow, really, I am going to open my very own Lady Jayne’s Cakes? Erm…ok then!” With a slight sense of panic!

What made me do it? Well I was inspired by the lovely owners of ‘Outsider Tart’ based in London. They came over here and worked very hard to introduce their all american baking to London and at talk they gave they encouraged everyone to know what they were capable of, to take the next step and to go for it! I am not sure if it was all the sugar from the free cakes that spurred me on (I believe I consumed five different types of cake before 11am) but that was it, I knew I simply had to give it a go!

I figure there are three things I need to succeed, good planning, good stall design and good cakes! The third I am pretty sure I have achieved. To date I have supplied cakes to the BBC, Heart FM, Best Buy and Primark as well as many wedding cakes and plenty of weekly deliveries to Redpoint Climbing Centre and The Apple Tree Cafe at Barton Marina. This year I also made it to the finals of the National Cupcake Championships. not bad for a business that has only just turned two!

The first I approached enthusiastically, and yes, I did consume yet more cake in the name of research.

I figure my competitors are and should be the big, well known cupcake companies so in order to compete I went to check them out! What I learnt was this:
*A smaller choice means refinement. At one of the shops they offered a choice of 6 cupcake flavours. All looked like they had been made with love and the ones we sampled tasted exquisite!
*Flavouring the topping does not constitute as a ‘flavoured’ cake! At a cake shop in Covent Garden over 15 cakes were on offer, but it soon became clear that most were either vanilla or chocolate with an edited topping. most disappointing!
*£4.00 is too much for a cupcake. Yes I paid it, Yes it was delicious, never again though – even if the box was lovely.

(At this stage I would just like to say a big thank you to my friend Rose who gave up a day to join me in London to eat cake, it was a tough job, but she approached each shop I dragged her to with enthusiasm. Thank you! Same time next year right??!)

The second stage of planning has been designing the stall. Hopefully you will all visit and think how lovely it looks! Thank you to Ikea and many more good value home wear places for helping me kit it out!

So below is a picture of the shell! I can’t wait to show you the finished stall!