MERRY CHRISTMAS

At Sugar and Ice of Shaw, we love rich fruit cake.  Fruit cake containing cherries, walnuts and soaked in French Brandy...mmmmmm.

 

However, it would appear that most people don't like fruit cake!  Yet again, we have received NO orders for Christmas Cakes this year!

 

Well, that means we need to make our own!  We soak our pre-soaked fruit in fresh orange juice and use only fresh ingredients to create the most moist, succulent delicious cake.  Then we "feed" with 3 year old French Brandy before encasing our cake in yellow marzipan and soft fondant white icing.

 

At our house, fruit cake is LOVED as it should be!  We made two this year - one for our Mother and Father-in-law for their Xmas table and one for us, for our Boxing Day party.

 

A special Christmas gift for our parents

 

Our penguin snow-scene took pride of place on our table

 

 

MAY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR

 

IF YOU HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OF SERVICE AGAIN

VERY SOON

 



 



Our Wonderful Customers

At Sugar and Ice of Shaw, the business is really just "me" - Joanne Godfrey.  However, I do receive support from my husband, Tim who does assist me with baking and general domestic work.

 

As I take a look back on 2012, I wonder whether the time has come to stop writing my blog in the "3rd person" but to say "ME" instead! Whilst the jury is out, today I am going to type this post as myself so here goes...

 

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all my customers and wish each and every one of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR.  Even, if you are reading this and you aren't a customer, the sentiment is the same.  Thank you for dropping by - without you all, we are nothing.

 

Yesterday it was my birthday.  I hate having a December birthday...why? Well, all the tables in the best restaurants are full and even if you DO go out to celebrate, everything is all about Christmas, so you have to sit/shop/browse amongst crackers, party poppers, baubles, crowds, queues and of course the cold.  You can't really plan a night out to celebrate cos nobody is interested - your night out either clashes with that legendary office Xmas party or people are just too skint having to save for all the presents they need to buy.  I feel even more sorry for those people out there who have birthday's on Dec 24th, 25th, 26th, New Years Eve and New Years Day... So if that includes you, my deepest sympathy. Perhaps I am just getting more cranky as the years creep by, probably!!

 

On a lighter note, the best part of my birthday yesterday was my thoughtful customers.  I received birthday wishes, cards and even a gift! Awww, makes it all worth while.  A massive thank you to Lynne, Leanne and Julie - see you all in the New Year :0)

 

 

Recently...

Well, the festive season is upon us and at Sugar and Ice of Shaw we have been as busy as usual, if not more so.

There have been various cakes, cupcakes and even a party or two :0)

So, to re-cap; here is what we have been up to.

This large 16 inch cake was designed completely by the customer.  The customer knew exactly what she wanted and was kind enough to sketch the design, which we simply copied.  The cake was delivered to an address in Chadderton a couple of weeks ago and the feedback we received was very positive :0)

We always make celebration cakes and cupcakes, but recently we had a "left-over" chocolate sponge and thought we would try to make a Black Forest Gateau! A family get-together had been arranged for Sunday 25th November and we thought it an excellent excuse to try this out.  We smothered the centre of the cake with Morello Cherries and Cherry jam topped with fresh whipped cream.  We piped fresh cream onto the top of the cake and decorated it with glace cherries and crumbled Cadbury's Flake chocolate.  The difference between this and a frozen gateau...well, there was no comparison and let's just say that this cake did not make it through the entire Sunday :0)

This 12 inch chocolate sponge cake was for a customer who had requested a 3D Waybuloo figure.  We had the figure holding a number 1 and decorated the cake with pastel shaded flowers and Waybuloo butterflies.  Perfect for any little girl :0)