beeautiful

This afternoon I’m going to a housewarming party. A barbecue actually – although it feels like tempting fate to mention that out loud, in case it rains. My friend loves bees, so I’m taking her these chocolate cakes. I was going to attempt Nigella’s Honey Chocolate Cake, but the lure of the cupcake became too strong.

bare bees

I used my usual recipe, finished with a shiny chocolate glaze and marzipan bees. Too cute to eat?

And while we’re (sort of) on the topic of transporting baked goodies to parties, I must mention my clever two-storey cupcake carrier.

Gone are the days of using tins, tupperware or cardboard trays refashioned from empty cereal boxes and then struggling to keep them level in order to prevent smeared icing. This baby does the job perfectly. I’ve lost count of the number of random strangers who have remarked on it when I’ve been journeying across London with a batch of cakes (and I’m fairly sure that at least half of those comments were not a lame attempt at a chat-up line).

please don't eat me...