Free pie birds from Le Creuset

Free ceramic pie birds from Le Creuset

We are excited about this latest special offer from Le Creuset - a free ceramic pie bird when you buy a 19cm pie dish. (The pie dish is also on offer at only €14.00, thats 33% off the normal rrp)
The pie bird is available via redemption - you just fill in the form that comes with the pie dish and send it away saying what colour bird you need to match your pie dish. Its such a lovely idea and looks very impressive.

So, how do you use a pie bird?

Simply place the pie bird funnel in the centre of the dish before covering the pie with the pastry lid. Roll out the pastry lid, cut a small “X” shape at the centre. Lift the pastry lid into place, lining up the “X” cut with the birds head. Gently press the cut edges at the centre around the shoulders of the bird. The top of the funnel should poke up through the pastry. Trim excess pastry from the pie edge and finish as required, or as the recipe suggests

21st Birthday cake

Its not too often that I get the chance to make a proper celebration cake, and I certainly do not profess to being a professional decorator, but when my Daughter turned 21 recently and decided to throw a party, I just had to rise to the challenge and produce something a bit special. I would have loved to make her one of those fabulous topsy turvy cakes that you see on Ace of Cakes, but that was stretching things a bit so I had to decide on a simpler design.  It had to be pink (everything has to be pink where she is concerned) and she wanted it stacked like two presents. We made a chocolate biscuit cake for the base, Nigella's buttermilk birthday cake (How to be a domestic goddess) for the top.  The cakes were covered in a thin layer of white marzipan before I covered them with fondant icing. I was pleased as punch with the bow I made for the top of the cake with some Sugar Florist Paste as it was the first time I had used it. I made the bow a few days beforehand and filled the centres with paper towel before leaving to dry out. Then I simply stuck on cut-out flower shapes and piped a few swirls on the cakes. I wrapped the stems of a few ready made sugar flowers around a pencil to add a quirky corkscrew effect. The finishing touch was a light coating of pearl lustre spray all over the cake to add a nice glistening shine. Not such a professional cake close up, but I dont think it was a bad amateur attempt!

The Great Irish Bake for Temple Street Children's Hospital

I'm very proud of my daughter Kelly who organised a 'Great Irish Bake' cake sale in the store this weekend in aid of Temple Street Children's Hospital. Many of the staff in the store and friends and family contributed baked goods such as cookies, cupcakes, fruit cakes and slices and she raised just shy of €500 for the hospital. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the cake sale and supported us by buying the produce. The table was cleared by 4pm!

If you want to organise your own 'Great Irish Bake' fundraiser for Temple Street Children's Hospital check here for details.