Wednesday, February 6, 2013

a birthday and a sponge cake




Last week we had a little low-key (as most of ours are) birthday. Julia's 8th. It is the last of our birthdays for the season, as all the kids birthdays fall in late Spring and Summer. Just a few friends and our immediate family.

The cake was Nigella's Birthday Custard Sponge from the book Feast (but the recipe is also online here).  I gave Julia a whole stack of cookbooks to look through and this was her choice. Though there was three steps and lots of washing up involved, it was still fairly quick and easy. Though I didn't use a food processor as stated in the recipe, just some old electric handbeaters, but it turned out fine. I think we could say this sponge is pretty foolproof.

Of course, for a very long time Julia was the baby of the family. Quite hard to believe my "baby" is now 8. How time does fly.



12 comments:

  1. I love that she is happy to flick through cookbooks. Happy Happy Birthday Julia. xo

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  2. Happy Birthday Julia!! I love home made birthdays and yours looks lovely and simple.... but as usual its Violet and the glee on her face that really makes me smile!! So cute!

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  3. Happy Birthday to Julia, my girl turns 18 this year my next turns 16 and my baby turns 11 and I swear I don't know how that happened! Thats the only thing that makes me feel olddddd xxBrenda

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  4. Oh that picture of Violet is gorgeous. Happy birthday to your big girl. mel x

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  5. oh happy birthday Julia! sponge looks amazing...Nigella is one fine dessert queen xx

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  6. Happy 8th birthday Julia I do love the look of that cake. My Miss 9 just had her birthday last week too we haven't celebrated much because of the flooding and school starting but will be this weekend might have to give this a try for her. x

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  7. Happy birthday beautiful girl! Hope your wishes come true! :)

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  8. Happy, happy birthday to your dear one! Time sure flies, indeed! It is all so apparent when children are around...I keep asking my sister how here teenny-tiny baby has already turned into a kindergartner. Crazy!

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  9. I hope she had a lovely birthday! That cake looks sooo yum! Well done to you for keeping it simple!

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  10. Hope she had a great birthday! That cake looks delicious. I have fond memories of being given cookbooks as a child, to pick the cake from.

    S x

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  11. Happy Birthday lovely Julia. 8 is such a beautiful age. I actually wish they could stay 8 forever.....the cake looks delicious!

    Mel x

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  12. Happy Birthday to your daughter! Homemade birthday cake is the best and it can be tricky to find the perfect recipe! Good job.

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