“Whoever said blue was just for boys, was wrong.”
A cake I wish I could swim in.. well it wouldn’t be a first I guess, but it’s mostly due to the dreamy azure shade of blue that reminds me of a warm tropical ocean.
Okay enough of the romantic metaphors..
I whipped up this dark chocolate cake at 10.30pm the night before my mum’s birthday and frosted it whilst she was at work on the day. A little last minute due to a busy week, but how could I not bake her a birthday cake! She asked for a chocolate cake and said she fancied a teal or turquoise shade of buttercream.. a brief I ran with! I really hope she enjoyed the finished product. I loved the expression on her face as she walked in from work to find a table full of presents she never expected, and even two bunches of flowers from Dad, whilst my little sister and I sprung up from our hiding place behind the table and shouted ‘Happy Birthday!!!’
I adore the contrast between the rich chocolate-brown and the fresh bright shades of blue. The type of colour scheme you would find in the brochure of a luxury interior designer. I had attempted to create an ombre effect with the different shades of blue, like that of the gorgeous Sweetapolita, but was a little disappointed as I soon realised that my cake was not tall enough at the side to create the full effect, and even more that my colours were not distinctly different enough, and they really did just blend into one. Although hopefully you can notice a light change in tone in the first photo, and appreciate my feeble effort. However, this is a technique I shall most definitely try and master next time, perhaps with pink or purple! Hmm.. imagining a cake already!
For this yummy cake I used my new favourite birthday cake recipe, the super easy One Bowl Dark Chocolate Cake from Sweetapolita, and frosted it with my classic Vanilla Buttercream.
These two weeks spell birthday season, with first my mum’s and then mine within a week of each other. This calls for much cake, presents and our usual girly shopping trip. It’s a time that is also of course, the time to head back to school, and this year for me, it means a whole new school and a whole new beginning…
I am excited, and of course a little nervous. I start a school which over a year ago I would never have though of attending, one which I had stroked off in my head for a number of different reasons. Yet after actually visiting the school, the warmth and welcome I felt drew me in, and I suddenly had a complete U-turn. I knew that this was where I wanted to go for Sixth-Form. Now a year later, after thankfully being offered a place, I start my first day tomorrow!
I purposefully and bravely I guess, decided to go the opposite direction to all my friends. And I mean ALL. There is one other guy from my previous school joining me, and that is it. I knew for a while that I wanted to find my own way, break off from the crowd of old familiar faces, meet new people and find a change of scenery. Yes, of course I will miss my old friends, and I am most definitely not waving goodbye to my closest girlfriends, but I am excited at the prospect of new starts and new things ahead.
Butterflies will fill my stomach, I am certain, as I walk through the door to a crowd of strangers, who all know each other, but not me. Yet I have confidence that everything will be fine.. I’ve done something much more scary!
Last summer I stepped on a bus at 4.30 in the morning, with a bunch of new people I had never met, bound for an international conference in Canada, where I would have to meet another 200 new people from all corners of the world. Scary biscuits! Yet this was one of the most exciting, memorable, amazing experiences of my life! You know why? I learnt that underneath it all, we’re all the same. We all have the same fears, the same worries and more things in common than we can imagine. I met a girl from New York who seemed to be like my long lost sister, and we became inseparable. Crazy right?
So although it will be tough for the first few days, and even weeks, I know that things will be alright, and I’m excited for my future at this new school!
Oh, but lastly, I have some sad news.. As I am now going back to school, and the world of studying, exams and homework, the cupcakes might not just be so frequent, nor the cakes or bakes. But I promise, in the sweet name of macarons, that I will try my best to keep you all updated with all that I learn and get up to, in and out of the baking bowl in these coming months.
Once again, thank you for taking this journey with me.
Amy xox
SnazzyBiscuits 