What's the last thing you baked?

Hummingbird bakery is lush Jewlz!
The one on South Ken is my favourite haunt, but the portobello Road is the original I believe.
They do American sweet pies, key lime, mud, pecan, pumpkin etc
 
The cookbook is definitely on my Amazon wish list, I'll have to pick it up sometime

Oh yum! I should look into getting that cookbook, then. I tend to only really use baking cookbooks these days. Now that I've kind of learned to cook, I just do my own thing unless it requires more precise measuring.  If you ever see the Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking cookbook anywhere, you should definitely get that. It's so amazing. 

Oh yum! I should look into getting that cookbook, then. I tend to only really use baking cookbooks these days. Now that I've kind of learned to cook, I just do my own thing unless it requires more precise measuring.  If you ever see the Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking cookbook anywhere, you should definitely get that. It's so amazing. 

I want it, but it's really pricey on Amazon, it's cheaper on TBP but I'm too lazy to sign up for their site for one book, I'll have a look on ebay

I want it, but it's really pricey on Amazon, it's cheaper on TBP but I'm too lazy to sign up for their site for one book, I'll have a look on ebay

I think I got it for £8 off the Book People, and I have the Essentials of Slow Cooking one which is great, too. Hopefully they will have some good deals on eBay. I like the Book People guy who comes by here, so I always try to order at least one thing from him so he keeps coming by.  This time, I'm getting the Hairy Bikers Cookbook for a fiver! 

I was all set to bake a sort of rustic peach pie for dessert tonight.  I just saw them there in the produce section and got this craving.

But when I got home, I realized I'd forgotten to buy vanilla ice cream.  Can't have peach pie without ice cream.

So, it'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Oh yum! I should look into getting that cookbook, then. I tend to only really use baking cookbooks these days. Now that I've kind of learned to cook, I just do my own thing unless it requires more precise measuring.  If you ever see the Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Baking cookbook anywhere, you should definitely get that. It's so amazing. 

I would highly recommend it! I got my book from the book people for £5 which was an absolute bargain! The book is brilliant and all the recipes are delicious (the brownies are my fave!) I would be happy to share any recipes if people want them

I baked an experiment! 

Well it's the Mississippi Mud Pie recipe out of the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook.  Except it called for making a short crust pastry pie crust, and I was like - huh.  I thought Mississippi Mud Pie had a chocolate biscuity type base - you know like mud on dirt.  I didn't want to do short crust pastry.

So I looked up another recipe (elsewhere, different cookbook) that called for a graham cracker crust - I made that, using digestive biscuits instead, and chucked some cocoa powder into the mix to make it chocolatey.

I'll let everyone know tomorrow how the experiment turned out - taking it to a lunch we're having with friends.  They have 3 children, so that will be the ultimate test - if it passes the kid test.

I like the Hummingbird Cookbook though - got it for my birthday.  I think it's been mentioned on here before.  The bakery is in London, but I've never been.  The cookbook (and bakery) is for American-style desserts using UK ingredients.  Yay!

Mrs Robinson that sounds delicious!

Tonight I baked brownies and red velvet cupcakes from the hummingbird bakery cookbook, brownies taste AMAZING and the red velvet cupcakes look lovely - they are for tasting tomorrow

Tonight I baked brownies and red velvet cupcakes from the hummingbird bakery cookbook, brownies taste AMAZING and the red velvet cupcakes look lovely - they are for tasting tomorrow

Those sound lovely too!  I'm glad to know I've a lot to look forward to with my Hummingbird baking.  Let us know how those turned out too, emmylou! 

I baked an experiment! 

Well it's the Mississippi Mud Pie recipe out of the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook.  Except it called for making a short crust pastry pie crust, and I was like - huh.  I thought Mississippi Mud Pie had a chocolate biscuity type base - you know like mud on dirt.  I didn't want to do short crust pastry.

So I looked up another recipe (elsewhere, different cookbook) that called for a graham cracker crust - I made that, using digestive biscuits instead, and chucked some cocoa powder into the mix to make it chocolatey.

I'll let everyone know tomorrow how the experiment turned out - taking it to a lunch we're having with friends.  They have 3 children, so that will be the ultimate test - if it passes the kid test.

I like the Hummingbird Cookbook though - got it for my birthday.  I think it's been mentioned on here before.  The bakery is in London, but I've never been.  The cookbook (and bakery) is for American-style desserts using UK ingredients.  Yay!

That sounds lovely!

I have a Primrose Bakery one () which sounds similar. I need to investigate this other cookbook. 

The Mississippi Mud Pie was a hit!  Next time, I might crush up some of those Bourbon biscuits instead to make it easier, but I wonder - the digestives (and adding cocoa) are maybe cheaper?  Anyway, it was good. 

The Mississippi Mud Pie was a hit!  Next time, I might crush up some of those Bourbon biscuits instead to make it easier, but I wonder - the digestives (and adding cocoa) are maybe cheaper?  Anyway, it was good. 

No surprise there! 

If I am feeling better tomorrow, I might try a pine nut honey tart, though I am crap at pastry. 

I haven't had any of my mint chocolate chocolate chip cupcakes due to a tummy bug, but Mr MLG has been enjoying them! 

Those sound lovely too!  I'm glad to know I've a lot to look forward to with my Hummingbird baking.  Let us know how those turned out too, emmylou! 

They were delicious! The kids werent a big fan but that was more because of the cream cheese frosting  but the cakes were blood red and tasted and looked fab. Now I need to choose my next recipe from the book - im thinking lemon bars or lemon cupcakes

I want to try some of the pies (esp mississippi mud pie after Mrs Robinsons post) bt I am too scared of the pastry so may need to rope my mum in to help!

I want to try some of the pies (esp mississippi mud pie after Mrs Robinsons post) bt I am too scared of the pastry so may need to rope my mum in to help!

If you're doing the MMP, skip the short crust pastry!  I did this:

1 1/2 cups crushed digestive biscuits
1/2 cup of melted butter (113 grams)
3 Tablespoons sugar (or could go a bit more)
Dumped in some cocoa powder

Mixed that up, then pressed into the pie pan, poured in the MMP filling & baked it.  (you can add more melted butter or more crushed biscuits, as necessary, if it's not pressing together for you)  It was really easy & gorgeous!

Cool! Thanks for that Mrs R!
Do you press it all around the sides aswell?

Cool! Thanks for that Mrs R!
Do you press it all around the sides aswell?

Yes!