Micky

Layers upon layers

April 1, 2019May 9, 2019

Sometimes, one layer of cake is not enough!

I’ve really enjoyed making some truly enormous cakes this year. From weddings to big birthdays, it seems everyone loves a layered cake.

Naked wedding cakes are so popular this year, and so are beautiful fresh flowers. I only use organic flowers, and I can recommend to you which flowers are safe to have on cakes that will match your colourscheme.

The best thing about a cake with layers is you don’t have to choose one flavour. Chocolate on the bottom, lemon in the middle, and a traditional fruit cake on top? Or why not include one layer that’s vegan, gluten free or sugar free for your guests with dietary requirements?

I’ve put some of my favourite cakes in the gallery below. I love the idea of layers of little cupcakes underneath a larger cake, or matching your macarons to your wedding cake!

I’m always excited to hear your ideas for decorations and designs. Just get in touch!

Pink naked cake with flowers for birthday

Savoury summer recipe testing (in February!)

February 24, 2019May 10, 2019

It’s a warm weekend in February, which is making me think that Spring is in the air! I always look forward to the summer, and all the time for picnics, BBQs and plenty of eating ‘al fresco’.

I’m sure that the Beast from the East will return soon to remind me summer is still a little way off though…

Anyway, I’ve been doing some recipe testing to get in the summer mood. So much of my favourite food is vegetarian, from light frittatas to lovely mixed salads. Let me add to your buffet with sandwiches, wraps, or some delicious savoury pastries – samosas or spanokopita (Greek spinach and cheese pie!), anyone?

I’m also completely in love with Ottolenghi’s cauliflower cake. I’ve found that the recipe does not need as many eggs as he uses, and I can make a gluten free version using coconut flour.

Give me a call, or send me an email or facebook message to talk about your party planning!

Five Stars for Simply Delish

August 23, 2018

I am pleased to say that Simply Delish has kept a 5 rating with the Food Standards Agency! This is great news and I’m happy that this means I can keep making lovely food for all my customers!

Happy birthday Simply Delish!

May 28, 2018September 10, 2018

On 1st June this year it will be Simply Delish’s 4th birthday!

I don’t know where the time has gone. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind; fun getting to know all my customers, crazy cakes, challenging cakes, tiring, meeting deadlines and working until the early hours. I’ve met some great inspirational people along the way and, with almost 400 cakes going out of my kitchen, I can’t believe I’m still standing – just about!! Many thanks to all my lovely customers and I look forward to another crazy year of creations and sugar mountains.

Thank you!

Here are just a few recent cakes – – and I have so many orders to look forward to this summer…

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Unicorn-cake-simply-delish-lambourn-ibelieveinunicorns

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Cheering on Welford Park CC

May 1, 2018August 23, 2018

This season I’m a sponsor of Welford Park Cricket Club (spot me in the programme!).

Watching cricket, perched outside a country pub or lazing on a picnic blanket with cucumber sandwiches and afternoon tea cakes, is the stuff of perfect summer days.

I’m happy to put together sweet or savoury picnic treats for your summer outings, just let me know how many people you hope to feed and your budget, and I can draw you up a menu. Give me a ring or message me via Simply Delish on Facebook.

Here’s to a sunny summer!

Cake Trends: sugar people!

August 2, 2016August 2, 2016

Hello again… is it still the summer or are we in a time warp?

I promised I’d share some more of the ‘cake trends’ that I’ve noticed over the last year, based on some of the most popular requests from my customers.

So here’s trend number two: sugar-paste figures!

These are some of my favourite cakes to make, I get very involved with the details, and obsess over tiny things like the positioning of eyebrows – it can turn a figure from scowly to friendly with just a few mm of adjustment.

Very small children love to see their favourite characters smiling at them from their cake, whilst more mature customers have requested their loved-ones in cake form, usually with the tools of their trade or hobby.

Do you know someone who would love their own little Winnie-the-Pooh or Peter Rabbit? Or, perhaps someone who would like their own sugar-paste mini-me? Sugar-work is a real head turner, and makes for very photogenic cakes, as you can see!

Micky

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Animals for a birthday cake

A racing birthday

Say cheese!

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Animals for a birthday cake

Cake trends: ombre icing and OTT treats

July 11, 2016March 12, 2017

We’re halfway through the year, and some definite trends are coming through in cakes people are asking for! So, in these next few blog posts, I’ll put up some examples of designs that have proved popular in 2016.

First on the list… well, I couldn’t think of a one-word way to describe these cakes, but they all have these features in common: round, tall (with more than 3 layers), often with a water-colour swirly buttercream frosting, and VERY over the top decorations.

More is definitely more with these cakes! Decorations should be fighting for space and spilling over the edges. These cakes are very popular for older teenage birthdays, and for anyone who loves luxury and opulence. Lashings of cream, mini-meringues, chocolate, fruits, and sweeties are all sure to grab attention and get everyone’s mouths watering!

Here are four of my favourite examples of these cakes from 2016 so far. We’ve got a gin and tonic cake with fresh fruits, mini meringes, and nuts and shards of chocolate; a Chocolate Orange cake with Terry’s and Matchmakers, and plenty of candied orange; a bold blue mojito cake loaded with huge fresh flowers and berries; and some wild hundreds and thousands! And of course, three of these cakes are showing off another key trend – the ombre icing, which looks gorgeous in so many colour combinations.

Which one would you have? And do you prefer these OTT cakes or a more traditional royal icing top?

Micky

Gin and Tonic cake with fresh fruits and mini meringes

Chocolate Orange cake with Terry’s and Matchmakers, candied orange, and swirly buttercream

Mojito cake with fresh flowers

Wedding cakes

March 13, 2016December 28, 2018

frills and ombre wedding cake

wedding sweet treats

buttercream wedding cake with fresh flowers

From intimate gatherings to huge knees-ups, every wedding is different. I’ve made single tier cakes for smaller parties, as well as multi-tiered extravaganzas with extra cutting cakes for up to 300 guests.

Be inspired by some of the cakes below, or if you have an idea in mind simply fill in my enquiry form or give me a call! Please include as much detail as possible in your request even if you’re not 100% sure – from size and shape (or number of slices you’d like) to decorations.

I can also create extra sweet treats or wedding favours to match your theme: choose from cupcakes, lollipops, iced gems, macarons, biscuits, or mini meringues… or go for a combination of all of them.

You are also very welcome to visit my kitchen and taste some samples, and go over your ideas in person. Just get in touch!

iced traditional wedding cake

iced wedding cake with fresh flowers

mini meringue kisses

homemade lollipops with fresh flowers

naked wedding cake with fresh flowers

Happy Birthday Simply Delish!

June 1, 2015August 30, 2016

So, today I celebrate a year of trading as Simply Delish! It’s been a whirlwind of cakes, buffets and celebrations. I have met some lovely people over the last 12 months and had so much support and encouragement from everyone. I’ve said more than once how I wish I started years ago, but I have no regrets and there are many positives to starting something once you have lived a little and learnt to take the rough with the smooth. Had a couple of shaky moments at the beginning when there seemed to be more and more expense but, as thing settled, the books seem to be balancing a little better and some of the big investments I’ve made are beginning to pay off. Not least my lovely Kenwood mixer – sad to get sentimental about a piece of kitchen kit I know – but I credit it for the lovely fluffy cakes which have come out of my oven over the past few weeks.
My order book is filling up nicely with orders through to September. I have some lovely customers who come back again and again – which means a lot – and each week, I meet new people who set me great challenges! I never know what I’m going to be asked to do next! It’s exciting and scary at the same time. I look forward to seeing the finished cakes as much as my customers and sharing their excitement gives me a big buzz!
There are lots of people I’d like to thank for pointing me in the right direction and giving me a kick when I was ready to throw in the towel but I thought I take this opportunity to acknowledge their support in a way that I’m sure they will appreciate.

1. This will forever be known as the ‘Carol Bradley’ – much requested and reincarnated in various forms ….

2. Will from this day forward be known as the ‘Graham Bradley’ – much admired and a chocolate lover’s dream …

3. My nemesis – though I love them all dearly … have lost count of the number of Frozen cakes I have made…

4. Finally, I was going to post a picture of my favourite cake but ended up finding 3 which I loved doing and just can’t decide which one is my absolute favourite so I will let you decide.

I suppose I should include this one too!

Let me know what you think and I’ll select someone to receive a little something as a special treat.

Thank you again to all my customers and friends, and here’s looking forward to the next year of baking for your celebrations!

Micky

Little Pixies Market at Hungerford Town Hall – 23rd May 2015

May 16, 2015May 16, 2015Leave a comment

I’m really happy to have been invited to provide a cafe for the coming Little Pixies Market next weekend 🙂

Come along to Hungerford Town Hall on the 23 May!

I’ve been busy putting together my menu of take away lunches, snacks, teas, and coffee, and I’m looking forward to having a little browse around all the great stalls myself (leaving the sous chefs in charge – haha!).