Baked a Cake

Over the weekend I decided to put my caking to good use and hosted an afternoon tea fundraiser as part of the Red Cross Big Cake Bake. It was a great excuse to see some great friends, eat some delicious food and raise a little money for a worthy cause – oh, and try out a new cake technique. 

After a spur of the moment decision to plan an afternoon tea after a full on week at work, making a super fun Darth Vader cake for a special little four year old, I got to work baking for a solid two days (with a break to attend a second birthday and the above mentioned fourth birthday, a couple of house inspections and game of football) with the pièce de résistance, a beautiful and delicious strawberry and thyme naked cake. 

I wanted a cake that was full of flavour, not too sweet and a little bit different, and stumbled across this one at The Cake Blog. The sticky thyme-infused syrup brushed over the top of the lemon ricotta cake and lightly covered in a strawberries and cream icing, was perfect. I topped the cake with some juicy strawberries and dried rose petals. Apparently it was almost a little too perfect with everyone too nervous to cut the cake in case they ruined it - I soon put an end to that.

I also made a salted caramel apple pie (very drool-worthy), a fig and walnut shortbread slice, lemon and coconut slice and chocolate cupcakes with some yummy cheeses to top it all off. 

I had such a nice afternoon with some lovely girls. Thanks again to everyone that came along for making some very generous donations - I hope you had a yummy afternoon x 

P.S. I meant to take a photo of all of the food together but wasn't as organised as I planned and run out of time, so a few dodgy photos at the end of the afternoon had to do. 

P.P.S. If you would like to donate to by cause, go to http://bigcakebake2015.gofundraise.com.au/pages/search and search for 'Alena Buesnel'