Well two weeks into 2023 and I have had a nice and slow start back to the baking to ease myself back in. The “New Year” is always the same for a home baker as everyone has sickened themselves of the sweet treats or they have gone down the diet route which means that the sweet treats take a back seat. Along with the cost of living problems I can see why I have had a quiet start to the year as this is how it feels in my own house but I ain’t giving up and I am still here. I have filled my time in very productively with a post “Christmas” clear out from every bedroom so I feel like I have a very clean house upstairs but there is still the downstairs to tackle??
Not only have I been de-cluttering but I have been watching what other home bakers are doing with their business currently just to keep going. I do have a few ideas which I want to work on so that is what I am focusing on whilst everything has gone quiet. My ideas book may actually have a few lines through it when I manage to finish some of the tasks which I have written in it during 2022. It will be a nice feeling to actually finish some ideas through to the end for a change – so bring it on!!
I have a couple of birthday cakes to bake for family this month – my husband – who wants a Victoria Sandwich Cake – no chocolate in sight was the request and for my eldest daughter who has asked for Slutty Brownies. I haven’t made the Slutty Brownies for ages and I have seen so many variations that I am quite looking forward to having a go. Slutty Brownies are a cookie base with a brownie layer on top. Other ingredients can be added to bling the bake up but you get the idea. 🙂
![](https://www.love-to-bake.uk/wp-content/uploads/Birthdaycake-strawcream.jpg)
For my husband’s cake I based it on the Victoria Sandwich Cake with a special twist. I filled it with fresh cream and strawberry jam and decorated with more cream and Jazzies (a little bit of chocolate). I think my husband had overdone the Christmas chocolate which was why he asked for a simple but very nice cake – even though I do say so myself 🙂
Baking the birthday cake got me thinking that I should add Birthday Cakes to my webshop as a product as I seem to receive a lot of requests for birthday cakes but I usually turn them down as I really don’t want the stress which birthday cakes can cause. I am thinking about it but my birthday cakes won’t be too difficult or over the top so the prices I charge will reflect that. I don’t like all the negotiation required for making birthday cakes as I know it has to be to the customer’s requirements but it is so hard to accommodate everything and actually make a profit for a birthday cake order that I take my hat off to all the home bakers out there who have the skills, patience and time to produce some amazing cakes.
![Empire Biscuits](https://www.love-to-bake.uk/wp-content/uploads/Empire-Biscuits-pic.jpg)
Well my first order of 2023 is in for Empire Biscuits which are heading to a new customer down in the Channel Islands. First time posting to the Channel Islands so fingers crossed that the biscuits arrive safely and in good time. To say I am slightly nervous is an understatement but I am smiling as I work on my website thinking about how my Empire Biscuits are being posted all over the UK now. 🙂
Right I am off to grab a cuppa and browse on the internet in between ordering more packaging for the webshop and working on the website behind the scenes. I have a few bakes to try out next week and I really want to use up the sweet mincemeat I have in the store cupboard so I am thinking a Sweet Mincemeat and Oat Slice traybake (possibly with marzipan) if anyone would like to place an order just message me to let me know. 🙂