Hi my name is Lisa and I'm a Twitter-holic.

When I started my blog I used to blog about anything and everything I did that revolved around baking! I even have a blog post on crème brulee lip gloss… However since I started my twitter account I just tweet most of those things now. I mean why bother going to all the trouble and work a blog post takes when I can just tweet it?!?!

So as I was going through the pictures on my phone I thought I’d do a big round up of products and sweet stuff I've done over the 8 months or so. As a warning this is probably one of the longest posts I have ever done. Also a lot of these things will have been seen on Twitter already. I am a bit of a Twitter junkie! Find me @unitedcakedom! So let's get started with the more recent: 

Join the Realm! I'm a huge Game of Thrones fan! I have read the book and have yet to start the series I will wait and get a box set and watch it all at once. I made this on a facebook app Join the Realm

Browns Restaurant in Reading! Girls night out for a friends birthday! I had to try the Browns Brownie and a couple of the other ladies had Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was a good night out, service was good until they switched shifts and we had a new server, but overall a fun time! I do apologize for the pictures not being of the best quality!

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan: I love her series of "sweet" books. Starting with Meet Me in the Cupcake Cafe up to this one!! Looking forward to Christmas as the sequel to Rosie's Sweet Shop of Dreams is out! 

Warings Bakery: As most of the locations are local to me it's amazing I haven't been in before! I tried this apple fritter and a Viennese finger sandwich thing. They were both very lovely! Didn't take a picture of the latter. Will definitely be visiting again! 

Pancake Day at Giraffe! Giraffe offered a half off pancakes on pancake day, so a friend and I took full advantage! I think it was only advertised to those who are signed up for the news letter as that's how I was informed. So sign up for some great offers! 

White Chocolate Millionaire Shortbread! This was made by a very nice lady at the toddler group I take baby baker to every week. She is always bringing in treats for all of us. These were cut so big, I could hardly eat it as the white chocolate took it to another level of sweetness! But so good! 

My first attempt at crepes... Not sure why I didn't post this as a regular blog post? So, here they are using the left over raspberries and raspberry cream from the peach melba cupcakes I had made. I think I just used a Nigella recipe? Don't quote me on that as I am slowly losing my memory! 

Haribo Rhubarb & Custard Splats! We found these at our local newsagents and they were good. I love pic n' mix candy/sweets so these didn't last long in a house full of sugar junkies! 

Bake! from Dunelm Mill : What can I say? I am a sucker for cute knick knacks! Hey it was only 1.99! 

Care Packages!! There is nothing in the world like getting a care package from friends who miss you!! 

Thank you Dena!! (October)

Thank you Scott & Katie!! (January)

Lotus Biscuit Spread! I finally got around to hunting this stuff down after seeing it appear on tons of other food blogs. I never got around to baking with it as originally planned. I had thought I would substitute it in some of my favorite peanut butter recipes, but the girls and I just ate it. Sometimes just with a spoon. Shhhhh don't tell Daddy!

The Oracle Christmas Spectacular! I was sent VIP wrist bands because I have done a few reviews for The Oracle in the past. I would link to them, but they are not currently up on the Oracle website. Here were my blog posts for those visits: Jamie's Italian & Patisserie Valerie. It was a fun night out and a great way to get into the Christmas spirit! Afterwards we went for a drink in Giraffe! 

Amarettini: amaretto disaronno, strawberry&pomegranate w/layer of cream  & biscuits on top

Christmas Lumpy Bumpy Cake! from Pausa Cafe in Dunelm Mill. I first discovered Lumpy Bumpy Cake from Boswell's Cafe in Newbury when I meet my friend there for lunch one day. Then a while back I discovered a strawberry version in Pausa and so when I was visiting close to Christmas this version was staring at me. It's more of a coffee like flavor, so good! I love coffee flavored stuff! 

Mochi from Yo! Sushi! My friend and I try to have sushi dates every other month or so as we love the stuff! I hadn't really looked at the desserts because the little Victoria sandwich cake things they serve aren't anything to shout about! Mochi is interesting. I think it's the texture that had me second guessing it. I probably won't order it again and spend my money on the delicious rolls and curries instead! 

And that is the end of that if you like this sort of general information about my baking life, please follow me on twitter. As the title suggests I am a Twitter-holic! 

made just for me {a valentines post}

I have mixed feelings about Valentine’s Day. Similar to the ones I have about Christmas. See, I love the idea of a day that celebrates love. However I feel some people really miss the point! It’s not about having a boy/girl friend or husband/wife it’s about having people in your life that you love and showing that to them!

In saying that I would love someone to show me how much they love me by making me one of these cakes, torte, or tart (pop tart)! 

Chocolate-Raspberry Bavarian Torte from Heather Baird @Sprinkle Bakes

photo from Sprinkle Bakes used with permission
from Heather Ba

I have been eyeing this torte since Heather’s posted it last August! It’s one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. If someone took the time and effort to make me this I would definitely know that they loved me!!

Chocolate Cherry Pop Tarts from Stella Parks @Brave Tart

photo from Brave Tart with permission from
photographer Stephen "Rosco" Weber

I've been in love with Stella’s blog ever since stumbling upon her Soft Batch Cookies. Being an American ExPat I sometimes have a longing for snacks from my childhood. Unfortunately if I do get my hands on something they are never as good as I remember. Maybe it’s my mature taste buds? Who knows? I do know that if I had these homemade pop tarts made for me I would be that person’s best friend for life!

Trifle Sponge Cake from The Caked Crusader @The Cake Crusader

photo from The Caked Crusader used with permission
from The Caked Crusader herself!

I don’t remember ever having trifle growing up. I do remember one of the Thanksgiving episodes of Friends when Rachel makes a trifle and layers sweet with savory. However to me trifles are a very British thing. A very British thing that I have been more then happy to accept with open arm! Or should I say open mouth? (insert awkward pause) Anyhow, when I saw this post I thought to myself “The Caked Crusader is some sort of evil genius.” Then I was like well, maybe not evil, but definitely a genius. It doesn't take a genius to get to my heart; but someone who makes this Trifle Sponge Cake might have a chance. 

Heaven and Hell Cake (Stephen Pyle’s) from Melissa Gray All Cakes Considered

picture of my book

A cake that promises you heaven and hell must be like the best cake ever! Alternating layers of Angel Food Cake and Devil’s Food cake with peanut butter mousse between each layer. This cake is aptly named! Whoever makes this cake must have a little angel and a little devil on each shoulder!

Cherry Vanilla Tuxedo Cake from Kristan @Confessions of a Cookbook Queen:

I’m not so sure about “cookbook” queen but Kristan is definitely a Queen of delicious, indulgent, and adorable sweet treats! Out of all the amazing desserts Kirstan has posted over the years, this is the one cake I can’t get out of my mind! Such a simple yet elegant cake! I would easily fall in love with someone who gave me this cake!! 

notes: Here's hoping my husband reads my blog! :0) Or any of my friends, local friends that is. I'm sure my sister would make one of these for me, but it would never get through customs, if of course it actually made it through the mail/post! Will probably resort to making them myself one day! All photos are used with permission from stated blog! Happy Valentine's Day!!