Autumn/Winter Reading List - United Cakedom

It's another one! I don't know if any of you are actually interested in what books I have lined up to read, but for me it helps me get through the pile if I have put it out there. It is a part of my personality that I do as I say I am going to do. So, I get away with stuff by not saying I will do anything. It takes a lot for me to commit to something. Hence the list's, I've committed to reading these books. 

However, I didn't quite manage to get all the books on my summer reading list read either - so they are still technically on the list too! Dead Zone by Stephen King and Happy by Ferne Cotton. However, when I do make these lists it tends to give me a bit of direction when it comes to tackling my huge pile of books! And narrows the "what to read next" question down!

When I was writing the summer list I was like "Yes, warm summer days to read outside in the park or if you're lucky by a beach!" Now I'm like "Nice rainy days are perfect for cuddling up with a cup of coffee or tea and a great book or if you're lucky by a roaring fire!" 

It just proves books are great for all seasons!! 

The Grisha Trilogy: by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising 

synopsis - (from Shadow and Bone) The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, is slowly destroying the once great nation of Ravka. Allina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the world of the kingdom's magical elite - the Grisha. Could she be the key to setting Ravka free? The Darkling, a man of seductive charm and terrifying power. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. But what of Mal, Alina's childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, what can't she ever quite forget him?

-I was suppose to give out copies of this book for World Book Night two years ago, but the copies never made it to my library pick up point. Ever since I have been intrigued and managed to pick up copies of book one and two at a charity shop and am keeping an eye out for the third. 

The Yorkshire Pudding Club by Milly Johnson

synopsis - Three South Yorkshire friends, all on the cusp of 40, fall pregnant at the same time following a visit to an ancient fertility symbol. For Helen, it's a dream come true, although her husband is not as thrilled about it as she had hoped. Not only wrestling with painful ghosts of the past, Helen has to deal with the fact that her outwardly perfect marriage is crumbling before her eyes. For Janey, it is an unmitigated disaster as she has just been offered the career break of a life-time. And she has no idea either how it could possibly have happened, seeing as she and her ecstatic husband George were always so careful over contraception. For Elizabeth, it is mind-numbing, because she knows people like her shouldn't have children. Damaged by her dysfunctional childhood and emotionally lost, she not only has to contend with carrying a child she doubts she can ever love, but she also has to deal with the return to her life of a man whose love she must deny herself.

- I was given a copy of this book in a book giveaway I managed to snag on twitter years ago. I have read The Teashop on the Corner by Milly Johnson and it was a light hearted easy read perfect for when life is just a little too much! 

A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson

synopsis - A God in Ruins relates the life of Teddy Todd – would-be poet, heroic World War II bomber pilot, husband, father, and grandfather – as he navigates the perils and progress of the 20th century. For all Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge will be to face living in a future he never expected to have. 

- A couple of summers ago I had Life after Life on my summer reading list and although it took a while to get into, I couldn't put it down so when I saw that there was a book following Ursula's brother I just had to get a copy! If you have never read anything by Kate Atkinson, I think you need to remedy that immediately starting with Scene's Behind the Museum or the Jackson Brodie novels!! 

The Good Psycopath's Guide to Success by Dr Kevin Dutton & Andy McNab

synopsis - How to use your inner psychopath to get the most out of life - Professor Kevin Dutton has spent a lifetime studying psychopaths. He first met SAS hero Andy McNab during a research project. What he found surprised him. McNab is a diagnosed psychopath but he is a GOOD PSYCHOPATH. Unlike a BAD PSYCHOPATH, he is able to dial up or down qualities such as ruthlessness, fearlessness, conscience and empathy to get the very best out of himself – and others – in a wide range of situations. Drawing on the combination of Andy McNab’s wild and various experiences and Professor Kevin Dutton’s expertise in analysing them, together they have explored the ways in which a good psychopath thinks differently and what that could mean for you. What do you really want from life, and how can you develop and use qualities such as charm, coolness under pressure, self-confidence and courage to get it? The Good Psychopath Manifesto gives you a unique and entertaining road-map to self-fulfillment both in your personal life and your career.

- To be honest I am not entirely sure what drew me to pick this book up, another charity find, I just thought that sounds interesting. 

How to Eat Better by James Wong

synopsis - Between the rush to keep up with the latest miracle ingredient, anxiety about E-numbers and demonization of gluten/dairy/sugar (or the next foodie villain du jour) many of us are left in a virtual panic in the supermarket aisle. Tabloid headlines, 'free-from' labels and judgemental Instagram hashtags hardly help matters - so what should we be buying? How to Eat Better strips away the fad diets, superfood fixations and Instagram hashtags to give you a straight-talking scientist's guide to making everyday foods far healthier (and tastier) simply by changing the way you select, store and cook them. No diets, no obscure ingredients, no damn spiralizer, just real food made better, based on the latest scientific evidence from around the world. With over 80 foolproof recipes to put the theory into practice, James Wong shows you how to make any food a superfood, every time you cook.

-There is so much out there these days on what's good for us and what's bad for us and they vary in extremes. James has taken years to write this book giving a clear and straight forward way to look at food and get the best out of it, I haven't read it through and that is why it's on my list as I must give it proper time and attention. 

My Summer Reading List - United Cakedom

We've had glorious weather for the end of spring and in England that may be it for us until August. In this country you can never tell what the weather might do and it's a constant topic for discussion. At some point if you live in England you just have to say whatever the weather will be, will be.

Summer however is the time for travel and holiday's and books are generally apart of any adventure or for those of us staying at home who need books and stories to pretend we are away on holiday!

Ahem.

Anyhow, I have an excessive stack of "to read" books and I have narrowed it down to the ones I like to get through by the end of summer. This is also my list of books I need to read before I allow myself to buy any more books new or used. Because the stack is getting ridiculous.

Wild Wood by Posie Graeme-Evens
synopsis - There are no accidents. There is only fate. 
1981. Jesse Marley calls herself a realist; she is all about the here and now. But in the month before Charles and Di's wedding all her certainties are suddenly blown aside by events she cannot control. 
Finding herself in hospital, unable to speak, she must write everything down. And as if her fingers have a will of their own, she beings to draw places she's never been to, people from another time. Rory Brandon, Jesse's neurologist, is intrigued. He knows the place she is drawing - Hundredfield, a castle in the Scottish Borders - and Jesse demands to see it. 
Unbeknown to them all, Jesse carries ancient knowledge that Hundredfield unlocks. She is key to the mystery that haunts this wild place, and she has a place in the legend of the lady who walks the forests …

- To be honest the cover of this book didn't draw me in. I won it in a twitter giveaway and it was part of a big box of books from the publishers Simon & Schuster. That was a good year or two ago and it's sat on my shelf since. It wasn't until I was looking for something to read that I picked it up and read the back again and became intrigued. I love a good historical mystery!

The Rosie Project by Graeme Smith
synopsis - Love isn't an exact science - but no one told Don Tillman. A thirty-nine-year-old geneticist, Don's never had a second date. So he devises the Wife Project, a scientific test to find the perfect partner. Enter Rosie - 'the world's most incompatible woman' - throwing Don's safe, ordered life into chaos. But what is this unsettling, alien emotion he's feeling?

- This is one of those best sellers I have been meaning to get around to reading. I picked it up at a charity shop, Age UK, for less then 99p! My good friend couldn't recommend it enough!

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
synopsis - Long before she was the Queen of Hearts, Catherine Pinkerton was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.
Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.
Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

- I am a sucker for twists on classic fairy tales and as I enjoyed the author's Lunar Chronicle series I couldn't wait to get my hands on this title! I bought it from Amazon and if you want to know more about the Lunar Chronicles check out my post here!

The Dead Zone by Stephen King
synopsis - The two things that conjured up that horrible night, were his run of luck at the Wheel of Fortune, and the mask . . .
Meet Johnny Smith. A young man whose streak of luck ends dramatically in a major car crash. Followed by blackness. A long, long time in cold limbo.
When he wakes up life has been turned upside down. His fiancée has met someone else. And Johnny is cursed with the power to perceive evil in men's souls. He's had these hunches since he had an ice-skating accident as a child. Now he has an ability to see into the future. An ability which will bring him into a terrifying confrontation with a charismatic, power-hungry and dangerous man . . .

- Gotta love a good Stephen King book and to be honest I haven't read loads, but I have read enough to know I need to read more! This one I picked up at work there was a book shelf of like leave a book take a book policy and I commandeered this one!

This I Know by Susannah Conway
synopsis - Part memoir, part creative journal, This I Know chronicles Susannah's journey through bereavement and healing, taking the reader on a ride into the possibilities of unravelling - and healing - her own life too. It's a guidebook of sorts, a collection of thoughts and theories, with creative exercises for you to try, and dreamy light-filled Polaroids dotted throughout the text. It's a cosy blanket for your heart.

- I have followed Susannah's blog for years now and I have been coveting this book for ages and I finally bought it used from amazon marketplace.

Happy by Fearne Cotton
synopsis - For many of us, life can feel like it's moving too fast with pressure bearing down on us from all sides - whether that's from school or work, family or social media. As a result, we find ourselves frazzled, lost and - too often - feeling blue.
It's a subject close to Fearne's heart. Drawing on her own experiences and including expert advice, HAPPY offers practical ways of finding joy each and every day. Happiness isn't a mountain to climb, it's just one foot in front of the other on the path of life, and here you'll find little steps that will help make the differences that count. With workbook elements to help you start and end the day well; get in touch with your creative side; and find peace through written exercises, simple practical ideas and visualisations, these are daily tricks and reminders to help you unlock that inner happiness.

- Mindfulness and happiness is a trendy thing at the moment. I do think it a bit sad that we are having to read books and seek advice on how to be happy, however my curiosity on what the hype is has me drawn in! I was given this as a gift from one of my best friends.

Plate to Pixel by Helene Dujardin
synopsis - Tips and techniques for making food look good before it tastes good! 
Takes you through the art and techniques of appetizing food photography for everyone from foodies to food bloggers to small business owners looking to photograph their food themselves
Whets your appetite with delicious advice on food styling, lighting, arrangement, and more
Author is a successful food blogger who has become a well–known resource for fellow bloggers who are struggling with capturing appetizing images of their creations
So, have the cheese say, "Cheese!" with this invaluable resource on appetizing food photography.

- This book is no longer in publication and all my fellow bloggers have always raved about this book so when it showed up on the amazon marketplace for a reasonable price I snagged it right away! It's something as a food blogger I am always looking to improve. So, this is my educational book for the summer!

What are you reading this summer? I love a good recommendation please leave them below in the comments!!! 

*I was not sent or given any of these titles in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own; please see my contact/policy page above for further information.

Spring Reading List

Okay so it's not exactly spring and I completely missed a winter reading list, but since this going to into spring I thought I would title it as a "spring" reading list.

That was a bit of a run on sentence.... anyway as I said in my round-up post this month is going to have a few more posts about books. Some novels and a cook book or two! Don't worry there will still be bakes!

Also Jen from Jen's Food and I are starting a pastry challenge! To be honest I'm not all that great at pastry which is why I wanted to be apart of this monthly challenge! Click on the button in the side bar, it links to Jen's blog where she tells you all about it! I will be getting more information up on here soon.

My Spring Reading List:

Ready Player One

By Ernest Cline

synopsis: It's the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We're out of oil. We've wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS - and his massive fortune - will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation.

The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder, Scarlet, & Cress

By Marissa Meyer

I am excited to start this series!! 

synopsis: Is a series of five young adult fantasy novels Each book entails a new take on an old fairy tale, including Cinderella, Litter Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. The story takes place in a futuristic world where humans, cyborgs, and androids all coexist. 

The Hundred-Food Journey

By Richard C. Morais

synopsis: The Hundred-foot Journey is the story of Hassan Haji, a boy from Mumbai who embarks, along with his boisterous family, on a picaresque journey first to London and then across Europe, before they ultimately open a restaurant opposite a famous chef, Madame Mallory, in the remote French village of Lumiere. A culinary war ensues, pitting Hassan's Mumbai-toughened father against the imperious Michelin-starred cordon bleu, until Madame Mallory realizes that Hassan is a cook with natural talents far superior to her own. Full of eccentric characters, hilarious cultural mishaps, vivid settings and delicious meals described in rich, sensuous detail, Hassan's charming account lays bare the inner workings of the elite world of French haute cuisine, and provides a life-affirming and poignant coming-of-age tale.

Prudence

By Gail Carriger
I have this pre-ordered so will be reading later when it comes out in a week or two! 
synopsis: When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is given an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female would under similar circumstances - names it the Spotted Crumpet and floats to India in pursuit of the perfect cup of tea.
But India has more than just tea on offer. Rue stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier's wife and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis and an embarrassing lack of bloomers, what else is a young lady of good breeding to do but turn metanatural and find out everyone's secrets, even thousand-year-old fuzzy ones?

Love Tanya 
by Tanya Burr 
synopsis: Hi everyone and welcome to Love, Tanya! This book is really close to my heart, because it's inspired by my journey to becoming confident and feeling happy about who I am. I wanted to write a book to share the things I've learnt with you - to reveal my top tips on fashion, beauty, love, friendship, YouTube... and loads more! Plus, there is room for you to list your own hopes and dreams alongside mine - so get creative and get involved! I'd love it if this book became a keepsake you can turn to whenever you need some guidance or a little pick me up. I hope you enjoy it! Love, Tanya

the hummingbird bakery: Life is Sweet 
by Tarek Malouf and the hummingbird bakers
synopsis: The brilliant new book from Britain’s favourite bakery – packed with recipes for extra-special treats and surprises. My review will be up tomorrow!! 

Chocolate at Home 
by Will Torrent
synopsis: Covering the history and provenance of chocolate, the varieties available, and the techniques needed to turn it into beautiful and mouthwatering creations, this book will inspire you to try all sorts of chocolate recipes. You will discover how to make a host of delicious ganaches, caramels and pralines. There are also chapters on Cookies, Biscuits & Bakes, and Desserts & Puddings, so that you can put your new knowledge and love of chocolate making to the best use in recipes!

From Season to Season 
by Sophie Dahl 
synopsis: Bursting with moreish yet nutritious recipes for budding foodies and seasoned gourmets alike, stunning photography and Sophie’s delightfully quirky illustrations, this latest offering promises pleasure, indulgence and of course, simple, good food.

Books I still have to read from my Summer Reading List:
Life after Life by Kate Atkinson
Pretty Good Number One: An American Family Eats Tokyo by Matthew Amster-Burton 

Books I read in the winter: 
The Shining by Stephan King
Red Glove & Black Heart by Holly Black
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Deliciously Decorated by Charlotte White 

notes: images and synopsis's have been taken from various online sources mostly amazon I have bought all of these books except for Deliciously Decorated and Life is Sweet were given to me to review in exchange for the book and I won a copy of Chocolate at Home through a twitter competition. 

Huffkins {inspired by Paddington by Michael Bond} #storybookbakes

I don’t know how many times I have written about my love of books so I won’t go into too much detail all you need to know is that I love books. Okay? Okay, so I have been trying to figure out a way to combine my love of books and food for a while now on a regular basis and I think I have found a fuss free easy way to do it! 

Basically I am going to be baking and making from whatever novel or children's book or autobiography that inspires me to do so! See that wasn't so hard! Originally I was going to make it a linky post, but I started to find that a bit stressful. The stress of getting people involved etc... however I think I've come up with an easy solution for that too! See the notes below! 

I hope to do this at least once a month, possible 2 as I actually have a list of stuff I have been wanting to make inspired by my favorite books! This month I was inspired by Paddington and here's what I made! 

My girls and I went to see Paddington with some friends before Christmas and they loved it. It is very cute! After that my girls started asking for their Paddington book to be read at bedtime. Then they dug out their Paddington Cookery Book and insisted we make something from it.

They choose Huffkins! I tried to convince them to make something else, because I didn't want them to be disappointed. See bread and I have a love hate relationship. Meaning it either loves me or hates me and I never know which it will be!

However, love or luck or something was on my side the other night when we made these! They turned out just fine! The girls loved filling the indent with marmalade and munching on them before bed!

Huffkins

500g plain flour

50g butter

pinch of salt

2 tsp sugar

7g fast action yeast

120ml milk

120ml water

12 tsp marmalade

Start by sifting the flour and rubbing the cold butter into it, to make it look like breadcrumbs. Stir in the salt and sugar before adding the yeast, leave to the side while you heat the milk and water together until it’s just warm to the touch. Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients before pouring in the heated milk and water. Using a wooden spoon start to bring the dough together, once it’s started use your hand to finish making the dough into a big ball. On a clean counter surface knead the dough for a few minutes until the dough is smooth and completely combined. Place in a clean bowl and leave in a warm place to rise for an hour.

Heat the oven to 220C and lightly grease a baking tray. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces the best you can, then gently roll them into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Press them down lightly to slightly flatten them, then using your thumb press a hole in the middle of each one (this was the girls favorite part.) Leave them for another 20 minutes to rise, or until they double in size. Once they are ready, bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. They should have a lightly tan/brown color to them, place a teaspoon of marmalade in each indent and enjoy while reading Paddington stories!

What is your favorite Paddington story? Leave a comment below! Mine will always have to be the original and first book about how the Browns came to have him living at their house!

notes: Recipe is adapted from Paddington's Cookery Book by Lesley Young. If you, like me, have been inspired by the books you read then I would love to see what you create whether it be food or a craft or art! Please get in touch in one or more of these ways: on Twitter tag me and use the hash tag and I will like and re-tweet! On Instagram tag me and hash tag and I will like it and leave a comment. If you have Facebook like my page (or not) but add your image to the page and I will share it with the rest of my readers! If you are on Google+ good luck to you! Just kidding I'm just not very good at being active on it. So, if you do share on there please be patient with me. If you prefer Pinterest, I will be starting a group board, if you would like to be added email me at unitedcakedom(@)gmail.com, unless you tell me otherwise I will use the email you emailed me with. 

Looking for inspiration? Here are a few of my old posts that were inspired by books I have read!

• Harry Potter series by JK Rowling: I made a Snitch Cake, Pumpkin Pasties, and Rock Cakes! 
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman: Forgotten Blackberry Pudding from the Hempstock Farm
• Cupcakes at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown: Everything is not as it seems Red Velvet Cupcakes
• Judge Dredd: The Dark Judges: Slo-Mo Cupcakes

The Lazy Loaf {Pesto & Sundried Tomato}

Today I didn't feel like doing anything.

So, I did something. I made bread.

When making bread it’s kind of like doing nothing. You mix stuff together and let it rise. You can't go too far because you have to be around to knock it back before shaping it and letting it have a second rise. Then it's just a matter of baking it.

There is just time in between those stages. In that time you can get a lot of nothing done. 

Like reading a book. I finished reading The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult while making this bread.

Which is fitting because there is a lot of bread making in the book. Definitely worth a read for bakers, historians, and mystery type readers.

The thing about bread is that it’s not really hard to make. Putting the few ingredients together isn't complicated at all.

However there are so many ways it could go wrong. If the water temperature is too hot or two cold it will not rise properly. If you over or under knead it affects the tightness of the dough.

I don’t bake bread often enough to have it down where I know when to stop kneading or what the exact temperature feels like. I think that comes with experience and with experience comes you gain the knowledge one needs to create the perfect loaf of bread.

Don’t get me wrong I get by, for instance this loaf has turned out great! It has a crust, with a soft (small) holey middle. With the added pesto and sundried tomatoes it’s a real winner!

It’s so good I just ate a slice all on it’s own. No butter or anything! That’s when you know it’s good bread.

Try it out for yourself!

Pesto & Sundried Tomato Loaf

500g Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Very Strong Canadian White Bread Flour             

7g sachet fast-action dried yeast

2 tsp salt

2 tbsp basil pesto

300ml tepid water

5 sundried tomatoes, chopped

a little oil from sundried tomatoes

pinch of sea salt

In a large bowl mix the flour, yeast, and salt before adding the pesto. Very gradually add the water, while gently bringing the dough together with your hand. If the dough is soft and brought together before all the water is used, just leave the extra water. If it’s not needed don’t use it. Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or for about 7 in a mixer on low speed. It shouldn’t look bumpy, instead it should look smooth and bouncy. Bring the dough together in a ball and place in an oiled bowl. Let rise in a warm place for about an hour or until it’s doubled in size.

Grease a 2lb loaf tin with oil before knocking the risen dough back (knead the air out), gently flatten the dough out and scatter the chopped tomatoes over the top. Shape it into a sausage like loaf and place in the loaf tin. Leave again for about an hour or more in a warm place until it doubles in size.

When it’s doubled heat the oven to 220C and brush a bit of the dried tomato oil on top and sprinkle a pinch of salt on top of the loaf. Bake for 30-35 minutes until when you “knock” on the bottom of the loaf it sounds hollow.

 notes: In association with Sainsbury’s; they have a wide range of self-branded flours and for this recipe I used the Taste the Difference Very Strong Canadian White Bread Flour as mentioned above. They also have a nice range of bread mixes, which I tried and some how burnt? It's because I was trying to be clever. Check my instagram! Recipe is adapted from Bakes & Cakes magazine Summer 2014 edition. 

World Book Night 2014: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore {review & giveaway} *closed

This is my 3^rd year as a World Book Night giver.

I have mentioned before that I have a love affair with books. I have this idea in my head that books have answers to questions we would have never thought to ask.

I have found a whole community of people who enjoy reading, but I also encounter those who say they don’t. There are others who would like to read more, but have other priorities.

The whole point of World Book Night is to target those in the later group(s).

This year I was given The Recruit (a CHERUB novel) by Robert Muchamore. It’s the first in a series about a young man who at first gets into a bit of trouble only to be recruited into a top-secret branch of the government.

I hadn't read the book before I collected my box of books from a local library. So, before I gave them out I had a read.

It’s very cleverly written and entertaining for most ages, starting from about 10 years old! It kept me reading late into the night! I really enjoyed the main character and might have to see how he gets on in the following books - there are a total of 12!

On the day of World Book Night (23, April) I took just over a third of my books on the school run. I gave them to parents to read and to parents who I knew had a pre-teen or young adult at home who needed to be encouraged to read.

I also gave a couple of copies to my English teacher friends to share with students they thought might need encouragement to read more.

And I have one copy left to share with my United Cakedom readers!

Follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter and one reader will be chosen by random! As World Book Night has “world” in it, entries can be from anywhere!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please share this giveaway with someone who doesn't read a lot and encourage them to enter! Or just enter for them! Or if you can't wait that long go find your self a copy! 

Oh, I almost forgot! All the World Book Night books include a recommendation from the author! Plus more resources on other books and World Book Night! Also a bonus when you've just finished a great book and don't know where to look next!

notes: Check out the official UK & Ireland World Book Night page if you are interested in being a giver next year or for more information. These books were provided by The Reading Agency for World Book Night and I was chosen as a giver. Please see my contact/policy page for further information. Check out my past World Book Nights here & here. I place this competition on Prizefinder: Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

Killer Zebra Cake {Clandestine Cake Club}

This month’s Clandestine Cake Club theme was “A Novel Idea” where we could create a cake inspired by any book we wanted!

I have several novels and childhood books that I have been inspired by to create edible treats from. Two years ago I had a whole week dedicated to Harry Potter treats. I made a dessert inspired by Neil Gaiman’s An Ocean at the End of the Lane last spring. It’s something I enjoy doing!

Sunshine by Robin McKinley was where I decided to draw my inspiration from this time.

It is a book I have read more then once and have come to love. It sounds like a nice sunshine and roses book, but it's far from it! That's all I'm going to say about that! 

It was a bit of an easy one as the main character Rae aka Sunshine works in a bakery.

She creates all sorts of delicious sounding desserts like Cinnamon Buns as-big-as-your-head, Hell’s Angel’s Food, Killer Zebras, a 6 layer chocolate chip cake, Bitter Chocolate Death, Butter Bombs, Cherry Tarts, Lemon Lechery, and many more.

I've always admired Robin McKinley’s creativity when it came to naming the desserts. I also always wondered where her inspiration came from for the names? Did she have certain desserts in mind?

Originally I was going to make a Bitter Chocolate Death Cake, but someone was suppose to bring Bruce Bogtrotter’s cake from Matilda. So, I thought since there were to be two very chocolaty cakes I would make something else. I needn't have worried as they didn't show, but ah well.

I just liked the way Killer Zebra’s sounded so, I made a stripy cake and the tasty frosting makes it “killer!” Um..hum yeah. Anyway .... It was a pretty good cake, not as rich as expected, but a perfect sweetness to a soft crumb. Yum!

Killer Zebra Cake:

260g unsalted butter, room temperature

420g caster sugar

4 medium eggs

430g plain flour, sifted

1 tbsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

240ml whole milk

30g cocoa powder, sifted

Preheat oven to 180C conventional & fan assisted/gas mark 6. Prepare 2 15cm round cake tins, greased and lined.

Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until completely incorporated, scrap down after each egg. Remove half of the batter and set aside.

In a bowl sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Half it. In one half sift in the cocoa powder. Set both bowls aside. Measure out the milk, set aside.

In one half of the butter mixture add a half of the half of flour (so you’re adding a quarter) mix well before adding the vanilla and half of the milk. Then add the rest of the flour (another quarter to make half) mix well. That is your vanilla batter.

In the other bowl of batter mix in half of the cocoa flour, mix well before adding the rest of the milk, make sure that is well incorporated before adding the rest of the flour and mix well, but don’t over beat.

To create the zebra stripes, spoon about 3 tbsp of the vanilla batter into the center of each prepared pans. Then add 3 tbsp of the chocolate and repeat until the batter is gone. It will spread out don’t worry! Do not level out the top! Whatever you do it will work out.

Bake for 25-45 minutes depending on your oven. I used a conventional oven and it took at least 45 minutes, but the recipe suggests a fan-assisted oven 25-30 minutes. Use the skewer test to make sure it’s completely cooked. Cool in the tins for about 10 minutes before removing them and cooling completely on a wire rack.

vanilla buttercream

100g unsalted butter, softened

300g icing sugar, sifted

1 tsp vanilla extract

75ml double cream

Beat the butter for a few minutes before adding the sugar, vanilla, and cream. Beat on low, you don’t want icing sugar everywhere! Then once it comes together beat on high for a few minutes until it’s nice and smooth!

It was a very quiet night. I don’t know if it was due to the flooding around the Reading area, but there wasn’t the best turn out. Sometimes it is nice when it’s quieter as we get to chat and get to know each other a bit better! I always really look forward to "Cake Club night as my" girls call it. They also always remind me to save them some cake!

Louise made an amazing Lemon Sherbet Cake inspired by Dumbledore from Harry Potter. Clara and Fiona brought a delicious cherry cake in ode to Enid Blyton. Clare created an orangey loaf cake, that I can’t remember for the life of me what book it was suppose to be from! It was good though! I look forward to our next meet-up!

notes: Clandestine Cake Club: fine one near you! HarryPotter Week; Forgotten Blackbery Pudding inspired by Neil Gaiman, AmericanCupcake Life has a book club that is run by reading the book and creating something inspired by the book, I partake as often as I can! Recipe was taken from Lily Vanilli’s Sweet Tooth.  

Forgotten Blackberry Pudding from The Hempstock Farm

Just last week Neil Gaiman's much anticipated The Ocean at The End of The Lane was released to the masses. With a title like that I wasn't sure what to expect. Except the unexpected which is what is expected when reading Neil Gaiman.

My first love is reading. Baking allows me to relax and escape the stresses of everyday life. Reading allows me to escape to other times and places.

When I first moved to the UK I'd go to Waterstone's on my lunch breaks and get 3 books for the price of 2. It’s how I discovered Neil Gaiman for the first time, I picked up Fragile Things as my third book and I've never looked back.

I want to tell you about The Ocean at The End of The Lane, but I am not really sure what to say or how to say it. It’s everything I wanted it to be and nothing I expected it to be.

However it was never my intention to review the book here, but to share with you a dessert inspired by the delicious sounding food from the Hempstock Farm. As this is a “forgotten” pudding it was fitting for our main character. Then on the day that changed everything he has homemade blackberry jam, so blackberries were a must. It was so easy to make and so absolutely delicious. I imagined I was using fresh eggs and cream from the Hempstock’s! 

Forgotten Blackberry Pudding

6 large egg whites

½ tsp salt

250g sugar

½ tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla paste or extract

250ml double cream

350g blackberries

250g blueberries

Preheat the oven to 220C/450F/gas7. Whisk the egg whites and salt in a mixer or with a hand mixer. You can whisk by hand, but it would take forever! Once peaks have formed gradually add the sugar. Once it’s all mixed in whisk in the cream of tartar and vanilla until stiff and glossy. Butter up a swiss roll tin or baking sheet (with sides) and then spread the mixture into the pan and even as best as possible. Put in the oven, close the door, turn off the oven, and forget about it until the morning. Do not open that oven door no matter what!!

to serve: If you can get it out of the pan in one piece awesome, I couldn't figure out a safe way to remove it. So, I just left it in the tin. Then I whipped up the double cream until it’s thickened, but still smooth. Spread over the cooked marshmallow meringue and spread over the berries!

It's amazing where inspiration comes from. What has inspired you lately?? 

notes: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman (Amazon UK & USA); Neil Gaiman; Our main character in Ocean’s is in love with books and for his 7^th birthday, the birthday where the story starts, he receives a whole set of The Chronicles of Narnia. I am currently giving away a whole set of The Chronicles of Narnia a couple posts below. If you love books and know a child who you’d love to share the stories of Narnia with you should enter for a chance to win!; Neil has a lamp post!!; Recipe is adapted from Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson it’s also found on her official site.