The Bakeress: Baby Boo Boo's!

The Bakeress: Baby Boo Boo's!: "Miniature new born human beings, otherwise known as BABY'S! Don’t we all just adore them? I newly found out two of my family members are exp..."

Baby Boo Boo's!

Miniature new born human beings, otherwise known as BABY'S! Don’t we all just adore them? I newly found out two of my family members are expecting new humans, and are both due to have summer babies! I myself am a summer baby and trust me, there is just something sunny about us people... How exiting!! Baby shower and baby announcement cakes & cookies are the kind of orders I immensely look forward to baking…after all, I’m having a helping hand in the auspicious celebration of a new life in this bizarre world of ours!! None the less, when these incy wincy pruney wrinkled bodied creatures reach their destination on Planet Earth, they never fail to make us forget about day to day difficulties, and for that one special moment make us smile without a care in the world.

Seriously, are you telling me this picture isn't make you smile? It isn't making you say "aww that's just chooo chweet!!! or "I want one of them!" (The latter being 'I want one of those chocolate cakes, not the baby)

I love babies I do! They make my heart swell with pride. Not to say they don’t make me feel broody, after all, more womanly emotions are embedded in me than I know of. Even as a child, I loved holding babies. I would be fascinated by the little squidgy bit at the crown of their heads (posterior fontanelle) and I’d enjoy pushing it in and out…wondering why my own head does not feel so spongy. Later on in life I realised how dangerous this pushing in and out baby head thing was. I do now question why some of my younger cousins turned out strange…should I blame myself and my obsession with pressing their posterior fontanelle for this? Life is too short for sorrow, so lets leave that thought out...

Now, I'm all for receiving a box of Ambala sweets at the announcement of a baby. I used to love Ambala’s Habshi Halwa in the 1990’s, chewy, glossy & packed with roasted cashew nuts. Warmed for a few seconds and BAM, Bobby darlings your uncle! These days I’m a little spectacle, they don’t seem to be as generous with their cashews you see, and a good Habshi Halwa needs to have cashews right?

Ambala Habshi...just look at the gloss on it!! Stretch it in half and you can see the little syrupy strands come apart..yum! Just a few more cashews is all I ask for and it would be back to being perfecto!! :D

Another of my all time favourites from Ambala’s is their Laddoos! Amazing deep yellow/orange balls of sunshine. The way they crumble as soon as you bite into them, and thereafter tiny syrup explosions in your mouth occur. Now when these Ambala laddoos are fresh ,I am not shameful to admit, I can not resist no matter how stuffed I am (and I am usually quite stuffed with the amount I feel the need to eat)…and devilishly they are particularly Moorish. When I was younger, I secretly had an ambition, that I’d apply for a job at Ambala, I wanted to be that woman wearing a white coat, working in the kitchen of Ambala rolling warm ladoo mixture in my hands, forming them into ladoo shapes. I wanted to be the ‘LADOO WOMAN’. I’d day dream in junior school lessons, that in my time of employment at Ambala they would hold a staff award ceremony and I’d have to benevolently accept ‘Ladoo Roller of the Year Award’. I admit at times, I like having a laugh but I shall have you know, I’m dead serious here. I never do give up my aspirations, so my CV is still in progress…

Ambala Laddoo! A bite of this and a dull life is sure to turn into a sunny one! So perfectly round, hand molded...I need one now!!!

Right up there at the top of my Ambala list though, would be their creamy Ras Malai. I cant help but smile when I use the word Ras Malai, reminds me of ‘Goodness gracious me’ and when those two Ghetto Asian guys, Sanjeev Bhasker & Kulvinder Ghir spot a ‘well fit chick’ and feel the need to say “Rasssa Malaiiii!!!” I am worried about my mental state of health as I sit here giggling uncontrollably at the thogt of that scene… Ambala’s Ras Malai is truly the greatest! Spongy white cakyness soaked in thick, creamy milk, not to forget they have a nutty centre. Ahhhhh I sit here craving!!!! The saffron, the cardamom….If India had a heaven of it’s own, I promise you they would have a pool of Ras Malai in the centre of it. It’s truly a dessert invented for the Gods! (Metaphorically speaking so please do not go all religious on me)…

There is only one thing I complain about with Ambala Ras Malai, it states easy peel on the pack, but in reality its the most difficult and messy peel you can have on a food product. For as long as I can remember, they have had the same packaging. Its virtually impossible to peel the seal, so you have to stab it with a knife and then cut all the way around the seal, whilst the Creamy milky 'rass' pores out of the packaging and drips all over the kitchen worktop. There has never been a time where I have opened a Rass Malai box and not been told off by my mother for making such a mess. It's not my fault honest, Mr Ambala seriously needs to rethink!! Why must it 'Easy peel' be printed on the pack, thats just evil and deceptive? :(




Ahhh Glorious, look at those Bad Boys!! Waiting to be succulently eaten spoonful by spoonful. The chopped pistachio nuts perfectly placed on each one. Why must I torture myself this way??? I sure must be glutton for punishment!

Anyhow, back to the original topic, As I was saying, I’m all for boxes of Ambala sweets being given out at the birth of a baby…but unfortunately not all appreciate the glory of Indian sweets and desserts. I have now also found that being a little different takes you a long way, and gives your baby a bright start to their future ;)

So I thought I’d share with you some of my baby delights. My cakes will forever hold the cute factor, but can you imagine my cakes with prams, bottles, baby feet, booty’s & bum-hearts?? Seriously is it even possible for cakes to get any cuter?? I can assure you it is possible!

The Yummy Arrival of Hussain & Tasnim's Baby Boy

(2010)

Baby Announcement cakes are increasing in popularity, it's a lovely occasion to celebrate the birth of a newborn baby! These gorgeous 4 inch cakes are a perfect size to give out, and whats best is even after the cake has been eaten, you have a huge cookie to munch on! (That is if you didnt start on the cookie before the cake!) These delights worked specially well with my Madagascan Vanilla bean sponge with homemade raspberry jam and Vanilla bean frosting. Sealed with Roasted Almond Marzipan & White Sugar paste icing...These cuties had no choice but to stay moist for a very long time!




My 4 inch bundle of joys, all wrapped up and ready to be sent to their new homes! Mamma's gonna miss you!!

Finished with a hand crafted heart shaped cookie, tied delicately with a baby blue ribbon and encrusted with blue pearls. Finished with Hand made baby booties to give it that extra adorable factor!

My Baby Boo Boo Boy Cupcakes!
(2010)

My Pretty Sugar Muffin Baby Girl Cupcakes!
(2010)

My Baby Boy Cookie Pops!!!

(2010)

Baby Girl Assorted Cookie Box!

(2010)

This clear box with 50 cookies is a perfect gift to take when going to see the baby for the first time. Yes, although the baby cant chew on them, its the mother who deserves something sweet to cheer her up after that dreadful labour!

Baby pink & Brown are one of my favorite colour combinations. It reminds me of one of my idol Pastry Chefs, Peggy Porschen...her whole Cake parlour is Pink and Brown...it's like stepping into paradise in Victoria!

Jamila & Javid's arrival of perfect little Zainab!
(2010)

One of my dearest friends, Jamila was heavily pregnant this time last year. She gave birth to a perfectly beautiful little Angel who they named Zainab. These assortment of cookies were a perfect way to announce their daughters individuality! The little white doily's set off the glass jars perfectly, giving it that old fashioned sweet jar look! Finished with the classic Bakeress's signature ribbon, just so everyone knew where they came from ;)

My heart Vanilla shortbread cookies!

My Gingerbread Naked Baby's!!




Shamim & Hussains Baby Boy Arrival!
(2011)

Mr & Mrs Udat were expecting their second child. Shamim wanted to share out a novelty at the birth of her baby and went for 6 stylish baby boy cupcakes. These gorgeous treats had a Madagascan Vanilla bean moist sponge, with Homemade Strawberry jam in the centre and piped with a fluffy intense Vanilla Bean Frosting. They were then finished with hand made baby boy decorations, including The Bakeress's signature Bum-heart!

A few days after the couple got blessed with their son, I received a text from Shamim;

"Salams Fatima! I know I'm really delayed but you know how it is...Keeping busy busy...! I wanted to say a huge thank you...U done a great job and mashallah everyone loved them! Hope to place another order for something else soon. Take care Hun xx" -Shamim Udat.

A sense of satisfaction is truly felt with positive feedback as such :)

Baby's…they make me smile…and when I smile my cakes cant help but make you smile xxx

The Bakeress, with lots of broody baby lurrrveee xxx

The Bakeress: Sweet Feet

The Bakeress: Sweet Feet: "They say a girl can never have too many shoes…or handbags….or makeup…or chocolates…or marshmallows (since they are fat free after all, so wh..."

Sweet Feet

They say a girl can never have too many shoes…or handbags….or makeup…or chocolates…or marshmallows (since they are fat free after all, so why leave them out?!)

I was never much of a shoe person when I was younger. As a child I was very much a tom boy. I would only be wearing shoes which gave me comfort, as a teenager I was pretty much the same. When I was little my mum would only let me wear dresses on special occasions…that way I appreciated the essence of dressing up.


My mum, (bless her cotton soxys) was always my idol when it came to making an effort. Ever since I could remember, she’d never go to a wedding without wearing heels. Even for her, heels were only for special occasions…on a daily bases it was comfort. May God hold her beauty for ever, but damn does she look fine at times!

It was only two years ago, when I found my inner shoe person, and every girl has that inner self I can assure you. This was when my mum brought me a pair of Stuart Weitzman Crystal embedded heels, which are still sitting in the bottom of my cupboard, wrapped in tissue paper (I love things wrapped in tissue paper, doesn’t it just make it all the more special?) in a pink and brown polka dotted box waiting to be worn on my wedding day. From that day onward my fate had been written, ‘you either wear heels, or you stay fun size forever’. I decided, fun size was my destiny, but hell, why not try these shoes with sticks at the bottom of them once in a while…it helps me to see beyond my capacity? So from that day forward, I became a shoe fanatic, its true, a girl REALY can not have too many shoes! (Or marshmallows for that matter)

Although I only wear my heels when I’m attending weddings, or once in a while when I’m going out for dinner with my friends and Faju (a friend who is on my fun size level) forces me…it feels special, Lady like. A good quality pair of heeled shoes gives a sense of elegancy and usually carries a dress off sensationally. All girls have a princess hidden deep in there somewhere, who’s feet deserve to be dressed up every so often.

Unfortunately I never did end up finding my love for handbags as I did for shoes…Those dinky little things under a girls underarm whilst she trots away on the underground, steps into a train ready to leave, and the wretched handbag gets stuck in the train doors as they close, and then the train cant leave the station until that one girl doesn’t pull her dinky handbag out of that door. By the time she does pull it out of the gap, there is tutting, hissing and sighs all around her. As you may have well guessed, none of that ever appealed to me, partly because I knew my books would never fit in there! I’m happy using my Eco friendly recycled material bag, that seems to fit my life in it. J

I had a customer a year or so ago, requesting a cake with a pair of designer shoes and a hand bag. This was all very new to me, but I was always looking for a challenge, so I thought why not!? After that one cake which was made for a lovely girl called Shabnum (who is one of my biggest sources of advertisements, oh and she also resembles Katrina Kaif, ***wolf whistle***) The Bakeress’s shoes and hand bag cakes had a WANTED title before them.

All of my shoes and hand bags are hand made, and can be made in any colour desired (Yes, even teal colour, which is a colour I’d never heard of until a customer requested a teal coloured handbag!). I now take pleasure in making every shoe an individual pair, designing them exclusively for each customer. Each and every pearl or stitching design created on my shoes and handbags is thought of with much affection and care. I adore trying to make them look as realistic as possible. If one has a doll, they would even be able to dress her feet in them!

The shoes and handbags are made out of Sugar paste icing and are completely dried out before being placed on their destined flavoured cake, be it my Sinful Chocolate cake, Luscious Lemon cake, or a Ravishingly moist Red velvet…the shoes and handbags look edibly divine on them all! The great fact is that, the recipient can just lift the shoes and handbags off the cake before cutting it, and keep them as a momentum sitting on their room shelf for a life time! (I can assure you they won’t turn green). Alternatively for people with an extra sweet tooth, they can lick the shoe or handbag whenever peckish, for every inch of them is made from an edible material, if this is the case then please to be aware of an extreme high sugar rush!

What’s best is seeing the birthday girl (or boy, I say this whilst looking up to the heavens) who the cake is made for smile, or even better squirm with delight (especially fourteen year old girls, they seem to do a lot of squirming), at the fact that a friend or a family member of theirs has so thoughtfully placed a personalised cake order for them.

Seeing the cake recipient smile, for me is what makes my life more worthwhile :) xxx

"If a shoe doesn't fit, must we change the foot?"

My edible shoe and handbag wardrobe!

The Bakeress's shoe and handbag wardrobe!

The dolls pink handbag!

A rich deep purple handbag with creased skin.x

Funky new green retro handbag!

Cute little lavender handbag with yellow swirls!

The Bakeress's little Shoe Shop for Dolls!

The Bakeress's little shoe shop for dolls!x

My Minny sparkly slippers!

Baby girl trainers!! These are exceptionally cute..don't you just want to eat them??!! Good thing is now you can! :D

For those rainy days...

The Bakeress's favourite pair of shoes! The floral pumps are adorably cute and girly looking. They look exceptionally well with a pretty dress and skinny jeans!x

My collection of sugar made stylish handbags!

Just like mummy!

My deep pink sparkly slippers all ready to go on top of its destiny!

Teal LV handbag and Floral pumps. I shimmered the the handbag and shoes with bronze colour, which gave a whole regal outlook...x

A deep pink set of glittered heels, with an elegant rope of edible pearls & and a matching handbag to go with them!

Candy pink & Black Prada handbag, bedded on top a Sinful chocolate cake!

Baby pink LV handbag and Floral pumps, on a supple, luscious lemon cake with lemon zested frosting.x

My LV handbag and Floral pumps, in the process of drying so they can be placed on a very special girls cake!

My stylish deep purple handbag and Floral pumps, sitting comfortably on a seductively sinful chocolate cake! This cake was for my niece Aisha, on her birthday last year, Huggy's to Aisha!xxx

Mulberry handbag, Gucci sunglasses...so the slippers had to be from Unze! Baby blue and brown make a stunningly soft combination. Reminds me of blue sky and droplets of chocolate rain dripping down from it...one of my many delicious dreams.x

My baby pink and black Gucci handbag and Floral pumps! This hand made item was placed on a good old fashioned moist Vanilla flavoured cake. An old English teacher of mine, from secondary school ordered this for her friend, after getting in touch with me after all these years. Had a good catch up when she came to collect the cake...did I mention that my cakes are wonders for social catch up's? ;)

I only ever belived in one person when it came to shoes...Cinderella. After all, was she not proof that a pair of shoes can change your life?xxx