In which I make cupcakes

It’s been a quiet week in the Smith kitchen this week. Back at work after two weeks away and thrown into a hectic schedule, there hasn’t been much time for cooking up feasts.

But on Friday, we will be host to six girls as we celebrate darling daughter’s 13th birthday, so back to the kitchen I must go.

Since her first birthday when, as a highly inept cook, I made a dismal failure of her cake, I have made an extraordinary array of novelty cakes. Every year I hope to surprise and delight her with my latest creation, and every year she has challenged me further.

This year though, she is wanting something a little more sophisticated – and that means cupcakes.

Those who are familiar with my cupcakes will know that these are my most favourite thing to make, and I have made them for family and friend’s birthdays, weddings, work colleagues, and even for my favourite shop. And I’ve made them in huge quantities - 250 in one go is my record. Because, let’s face it, who doesn’t like a pretty cupcake?

I’ve played around with various recipes including ones in the popular Hummingbird Cafe cookbook. Gorgeous though they are, I have concluded that they are a bit of a faff and that many people find them simply too rich to enjoy.

But, it’s the sumptuous look that darling daughter is after this year and I have been instructed to cover them with a swirl of buttercream and sprinkles of glitter, so how can I let her down?

I am normally pretty swift and efficient in the kitchen when it comes to cupcakes, but today hasn’t really been my day. A manic day in the office and an infected insect bit on my leg left me feeling knackered and clumsy in the kitchen. I curdled the batter, almost burnt the cakes, my piping bag split and Al had to be despatched on a late night emergency mission to get more icing sugar as I had totally underestimated just how much butter icing the cakes would take.

Here’s hoping when she gets up tomorrow and sees these, they’ll bring a big smile to her face. And that’s all a mum can ask for.

The finished cupcakes