Can I Lick The Spoon Mummy?

Did you like the cake spoon when you were young?

Did it make you giggle, did you get some cake mix on your nose?

I did.

I loved doing things with mum. I pestered her all the time to help her - Can I help with the washing? Can I iron the hankies? 

Can I lick the spoon?

~ Good mums let you lick the beaters... Great mums turn them off first ~ 

 I think I was constantly looking for a way to spend time with her that didn't involve my sister. Growing up with a mentally ill sibling is tough, in ways you don't even begin to realise until you're almost thirty and your heart breaks for all the times you missed out on licking the spoon.

Mum says I have a lot more patience with my girls than she had with us.

She was cranky and in a hurry and "just wanted to get it done" because she was trying to have five minutes to herself. I didn't understand, and I probably cried many times when she shooed me out of the kitchen believing she didn't think I was good enough.

Kids think dumb things sometimes.

I can be like that occasionally. But I know the pain that a busy, tired and stressed mummy can create without even knowing. I try really hard to say "yes, let's do it" instead of "not now". Sometimes I just want to read my book and that's okay.

Frog likes to cook. The toy kitchen passed on from her big sister is her biggest treasure. She's forever stealing cups and spoons and whisks from my kitchen. If you can't find something, just ask Frog.

I asked her what she wanted to do last Wednesday.

"Make cupcakes with Mummy!"

Okey dokey.

Now, cupcakes take effort right? Beating the butter and sugar takes forever and the kids wander off or throw a tizzy because they want to eat them "right now!" before you've even turned the oven on.

I have the solution. In the form of Mum's Cream Cakes. 

Complete with Frog demonstrations.

Ingredients

1 cup of sugar

3 eggs

1 cup of cream

1 & 1/2 cups of SR flour

For chocolate cakes use 1 & 1/4 cups SR flour + 2 Tablespoons cocoa

For orange cakes add grated orange zest.

Add a few drops of food colouring to a plain mix for something different.

Place patty pans in trays.

Beat sugar and eggs together until light and fluffy.

Slowly pour in cream and beat into mix.

Sift in flour and fold into mix.

Fill your patty pans 3/4 full. (We use the small old fashioned patty pans, just in a muffin tin to keep them tidy)

Pop them in a 180C / 170C fan forced oven for approx 20 mins, or until risen and springy when touched.

 Cool on a wire rack. Ice and decorate as you wish.

Et voila! Soft, scrumptious cupcakes.

This recipe makes about 30, and they freeze really well when cooked.

They also makes great desserts.

Cut a small circle out of the top and fill with jam and whipped cream.

Replace the top and dust with icing sugar.

Brilliant.

And don't forget to lick the spoon.