Birthday times...

♥ Ceri makes...  has been busy of late celebrating my birthday,  firstly with a relaxed birthday weekend at home in the countryside and more recently in London with a debauched afternoon tea party!  

LOTS of baking in the build up to the main event but was definitely worth it for this feast for the eyes...

Not bad for a first attempt at macaroons...

For something equally as impressive (but A LOT less faff) try whipping up some minature french pastries like the ones below...

To make at home simply roll out some puff pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin,  glaze with a little beaten egg, sprinkle with icing sugar,  cut into rectangles using a pizza wheel for speed,  lay on a baking tray and bake in a 200C oven (180C fan oven,  gas mark 6) for approx 8 minutes or until slightly golden on top.  Break the shells in half and allow to cool,  whip some double cream adding caster sugar and vanilla extract to taste.  Fill the bottom half of the shells with a blob of whipped cream,  pop on some pieces of sliced fruit (I like strawberries and blueberries!)  place the top half of the shell back add a blob of whipped cream and add another piece of fruit for decoration  ...yummy!


♥ Ceri makes...  xx