Share a Coke with.....

The Cubs have been super excited and find it amazing that Coke bottles have launched the Share a Coke Campaign. They aren't normally allowed Coke, but were told as a treat they could have a bottle IF we found a one with their name on.

This was maybe a mistake, as they have been rummaging through coke bottles at every shop they can find! Eventually we found some in Tesco (After half an hour of going through all bottles!!) Cue two very excited little cubs...and little cub even took his empty coke bottle in for his show and tell at school.

It's a good idea for a campaign and everyone seems to be talking about it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I even got a bottle with my own name on - I'm sure the Gemma coke was the best I've ever tasted hehe!!

Fun and Frolics at the Beach

As it was the Bank Holiday weekend, we decided to make the most of some of the nice weather and headed to Tynemouth Londsands Beach. We travelled by car and as we went later in the day, we were able to park on the ramp heading down to the beach (Parking Machine at the top of the ramp). There is also plenty of parking on the main street, as North Tyneside Council have recently widened the parking space and created double the amount of spaces. If you don't have a car, the beach is easily accessible by the Metro either by getting off at Tynemouth station or Cullercoats.

When we got there the first thing the cubs did was race straight to sand and start digging a hole "to Australia" and Papa Bear and myself sat on the golden sand and watched them play in the sun. When they had finished digging, we went for a stroll and a paddle at the sea edge and did some sand writing. We decided to make some fun shadow pics and see how we could pull different poses. The cubs like it when we all looked super tall!!

Then it was time for a quick pop to the loo (Toilets are right at the enterance to the beach and are relatively clean) before fish and chips on the way home...well it would be rude not too when you are at the beach!

Baking Fun and Yummy Treats!

I am a big fan of Cherry Coke...do I drink too much!? Probably....but it's sooooo yummy :)

When I saw a post on Katiecakes Blog I knew that I had to make these!

I went with Big cub to the shops and we bought in everything that we needed and didn't already have. Then the fun began! We measured and mixed, stirred and tasted and ended up with a fabulour batter, that smelt delicious!

The cakes cooked well and little cub loved being head taster for us. We got his seal of approval and we started on the frosting. Unfortunalty the frosting didn't go to plan and it was quite sloppy (Think we added too much milk!) but we added more and more icing sugar til it was semi usuable. Then we made the choc coke glaze which was devine.

All in all our cakes looked NOTHING like Katie's Cakes....but they tasted gorgeous and we will definatly be making these again!!

For those wishing to try, this is the recipe taken from Katie's Cake Blog...Enjoy!

Cherry Coke Cupcakes

(Adapted from How to be a Domestic Goddess)

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

200g (7oz) plain flour - sieved

*250g (8.8oz) golden caster sugar

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

125ml buttermilk (or 30g/1oz yogurt mixed with 100ml/3.3 Fluid oz of semi-skimmed milk)

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

125g (4.4oz) unsalted butter

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

175ml (6 fluid oz) Coca-Cola

Frosting:

125g unsalted butter

500g icing sugar

50ml milk (more if needed)

1 small slug of syrup from a jar of morello cherries

Glaze:

225g (8oz) icing sugar (confectioners sugar)

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons of Coca-Cola

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (essence) 

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Beat the egg, buttermilk and vanilla in in a measuring jug. In a heavy-based saucepan, melt the butter, cocoa and Coca-cola, heating it gently. Pour into the dry ingredients, stir well with a wooden spoon, and then add the liquid ingredients from the jug, beating until it is well blended.

Pour into a muffin tin that has been greased or lined with papers and bake for 15 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.

For the frosting put the  unsalted butter into an electric mixer and begin to mix on a low speed.  Add the icing sugar by the spoonful, adding milk if the frosting becomes too dry.  Pour in a little of the cherry syrup and tint the frosting a pale pink. Leave to mix for 5 minutes until light and fluffy.

For the glaze sieve the icing sugar and set aside. In a heavy-based saucepan, combine the butter, Coca-Cola and cocoa and stir over a low heat until the butter has melted. Remove from the heat, add the vanilla, and spoon in the sieved icing sugar, beating as you do, until you’ve got a good, spreadable, but still runny, icing. Pour over the frosted cupcakes and allow to dribble do the sides a little.  Top with a gummy cola bottle and a cherry.

Excited cub!!

Today we have a very excited big cub!!! Her Uncle got her tickets to see One Direction next year!! She is over the moon!!!