Christening cake

I was reminded today by my mother in law that’s its been a long while since my last blog post. This, I told her, and shall now tell you, is because I have been too busy making and baking (sadly I haven’t managed any raking) to do any writing. But now I am back. And I have lots to write about. Although not all today.

So, where to begin? Let’s start with a christening. James’s christening.

I wanted to keep things simple: a christening at our local church followed by lunch at home with friends and family. And that’s what we did. Except it turns out we have a lot of friends and family. At a rough count 60 (plus children). This led first to denial (christening, what christening?) and then panic (arrrgggghhhh!)

Fortunately
1. Our 60 friends and family (plus children) are AMAZING and we had lots of help with catering. So many delicious salads and desserts that I didn’t have to cook for a week afterwards.
2. Ed bought a smoker. Super tasty meat ready just in time for the arrival of our 60 friends and family (plus children). Such a good idea. Although please don’t tell him I said so.

So, with the rest of the food taken care of,  I just had to make a christening cake. The first attempt was a disaster. My whisked sponge rose beautifully before collapsing suddenly and inexplicably five minutes before it was due to be done (and, before you ask, no I did not open the oven door.) This has happened to a lot of my cakes recently. I blame the oven. And rightly so it seems, as my second attempt, cooked in the  conventional oven rather than the fan-assisted one, worked just fine. Henceforth all cakes will be cooked herein.

So, my whisked sponge was split into four layers, filled with whipped cream mixed with (homemade) lemon curd, topped with (shop bought) ready-to-roll icing and decorated with piped lemon curd. A success, I think. And after James cut his cake, Bobby was first in line to try it.