Baking Lately - the adventures and happenings at United Cakedom

I wouldn't say I loved my job at Sainsbury's, as an online shopper, but I didn't hate it either. I loved being a witness to the sun rising and to scenes like the one above. I loved having my whole day ahead of me, but most of all I loved my co-workers. It was a comfortable environment and we were a great team of people. The only thing that made me want to change my job is that I was tired of dragging myself out of bed at 3:30am for a 4pm start. Picture below was taken on my last day and you can see how tired I am. 

I have found another part time job that suits my lifestyle better. It's just another change in a year of changes. I am looking forward to a new challenge, but sad about leaving behind two years of essentially some really great friendships. There are a handful of people I will be keeping in touch with, and the rest well let's just say thank goodness for Facebook!

One of things I did before I left is bake this Coffee and Walnut Cake for a charity bake sale going to BIBS, the local charity that our branch is currently supporting. Recipe can be found in Nigella's Kitchen on online here! 

I was told it was big hit and I got pictures of people eating it and the empty plate! The bake sale it's self was a big hit and it raised money for a great cause! BIBS (Babies in Buscot Support) is a registered charity that supports babies and their families in the special care baby unit (Buscot Ward) at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. 

This cake is one of many things I have baked lately, but haven't shared with you all! A lot of what I have been baking is stuff I not only have baked before, but also blogged. Here are a few of the things I've been Baking Lately: 

Strawberry & Cream Muffins 

Banana Bread 

(I haven't actually blogged this, but the recipe comes from the hummingbird bakery cookbook.) 

Muesli Flapjacks

So, that's a quick update on what I've been up to lately! I am still baking, but not as frequently nor as experimental as I used to be. I have also been a terrible baking supporter and have missed most of the Great British Bake Off this year. Think I will spend the rest of my Sunday trying to catch up with it as it is the semi-finals this week! 

It is my hope that once I've settled into my new job and I get a new routine set I will have more time to not only bake, but blog and get back into the blogging world! I have missed it as I have been dealing with real life stuff. 

I was all ready to get my Jamberry business off the ground and running and I've literally done nothing in regards to running it as a business, but I am still buying and using them! My latest manicure is called Ribbon Dance and I'm very pleased with it! 

United Jamdom

A link to my sight if you want to check them out! 

There are a lot of new styles for Autumn/Winter! 

Thanks for reading! Do you have a favorite cake or cookie or pastry or bread and so on recipe that you bake over and over again? Leave a comment below I would love to know! 

notes: This post has not been sponsored in any shape or form by any of above mentioned people/places/things! Please see my contact/policy page above for more information! 

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

I haven’t followed a TV series closely since Lost ended. I sometimes feel a bit left out because I really don’t watch a lot of TV.

My new co-workers are always talking about their favorite shows so, I've started to watch some more TV. You know so I don't feel so left out! 

One I have recently tried to get into is Made in Chelsea. Mainly because I have met Jamie Laing and I thought you know it’s a mix of reality TV and a sitcom.

I’m not so sure how much longer I will continue to watch; they are just so talky talk. The American guy makes me uncomfortable. Not sure why? Anyone else who watches think the same thing? Or have I just missed something in a previous season? 

Besides talking about TV shows I sometimes steer the conversation to cakes. It was one of these times that my co-worker exclaimed her love of pineapple upside down cake.

On Monday night (while watching Made in Chelsea) I made my first every Pineapple Upside Down Cake and took it to work with me Tuesday morning. 

I was a little worried about how it had turned out. I always worry about that when I make a cake for the first time and every time it's unnecessary.

Everyone enjoyed it, even the guy who doesn't like cake or pineapple said it was pretty good! Most importantly the lady who requested it absolutely loved it! So, I would say it was a success! 

I had found a few different recipes to try, but in the end I decided to adapt Nigella’s recipe from Nigella Express.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Square of butter

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

6-7 canned pineapple slices

3 tablespoons of pineapple juice

cocktail cherries

100g flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda

100g unsalted butter, softened

100g golden caster sugar

2 medium eggs, room temperature

3 tablespoons of pineapple juice

Heat the oven to 200C. With the square of butter thickly layer the bottom of a cake tin, it can’t be a loose bottom or springform tin, the juices would run every where. Then sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of sugar evenly over the bottom. Then layer the pineapple slice on the bottom shaking as much juice from them as possible. Then place the cherries in the circles and in the open areas between the pineapple circles.

Then place the remaining ingredients minus the pineapple juice into a bowl of a stand mixer or food processor or just a big bowl. Mix together until smooth and then add the pineapple juice.
Gently spoon the batter over the pineapple slices and cherries, it will just cover them, so spread carefully.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Once out of the oven run a butter knife around the cake, then place a plate or serving platter over the tin and flip! And just like that Pineapple Upside Down Cake!

notes: Nigella’s recipe is also found on her official site.