Cake/Biscuits/Muffins for a Special Birthday

[Zosherooney]

I have a special person in my life who has a BIG Birthday a week on Tuesday there will be 6 of us for lunch at home. A chicken and bacon pie for mains and for pud I thought I would utilise my Mums 2 tier cake stand and do a selection of the above decorated with various items and load them on the cake stand.

I am looking for easy recipes and possibly, some that can be made a day or two before so I am not overloaded with cake making all on one day.

So please offer me some ideas/help with recipes ? TIA

[Suelle]

Shortbreads flavoured with lemon, orange, rose, or ginger.
Brownies cut into slim fingers.
Lemon drizzle cake.
Bakewell tart made as a tray bake and cut into fingers.
Carrot cake.

BBC Good Food is fairly reliable for recipes, as long as you don't choose recipes which readers have submitted themselves, which aren't tested. Or pick an ingredient and search my blog - I'm honest about how well the recipes work.

[earthmaiden]

Fruit cakes and gingerbreads improve if made in advance and can usually take a drizzle of water icing for decoration.

[suffolk]

Florentines

[Zosherooney]

Thanks one and all, I have come up with a list of what I might attempt. Suff. like the idea of florentines and have looked at Mary Berry's recipe https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/marys_ ... ines_49833 She says careful measuring is the key, my scales will struggle with 3 quarters of an ounce but I see that's 50g. Will just have to try and be careful.

This is what I might attempt. Mums malt loaf, Chocolate Brownie, Lemon Drizzle cake, Lavender shortbread, Apple and Cinnamon Muffins and jam (if I can find some solid jam) and cream puffs or oblongs of puff pastry 'glued' together with jam and cream and some Florentines. So a bit of everything - dried fruit, fresh fruit, citrus, crispness, chocolate. Her favourite treat is a Morrisons jam and cream puff - she seems to live on them and is a skinny rake - Bitch !!!

[Zosherooney]

Whilst in Aldi yesterday I bought two Betty Crocker cake mixes, mainly to make my chore a bit easier. Given present conditions at home my kitchen is a bit discombobulated and stuff is all over the place. They are salted chocolate brownie and lemon cake bars. I feel a bit of a fraud not making them from scratch but needs must on this occasion. It appears we may not even be able to greet guests by the front door this time next week, they may have to make their way around the back and come in through the patio windows !

[scullion]

if you can't find any jam that's solid enough for what you want you could do a little re-boil to thicken it up a bit. or add in a bit of agar/gelatin.

[Zosherooney]

Thanks Scully - good tip !

[Zosherooney]

It's on the back burner for the time being.... Her MIL died (at 98!!) last Monday......

[Zosherooney]

We are popping round tomorrow @ 5pm and will take some HM scones with clotted cream and jam and a card and gift certificate of tickets to see a show in Jan 19.