Grahame's Bakery

My friend Peggi and I headed to Kemptville yesterday to pick up some little trees and we decided to find the old town of Kemptville and see what it was like. 

 We came across Grahame's Bakery that actually bakes using a wooden oven!

 The place is around the corner from the street...pretty unassuming looking.

 As you round the corner, we noticed lots of wood!

 Loved the old Grahame's Bakery sign, tucked in the corner.

 We opened the door and wow! The smell was amazing!

We were lucky and owner Debbie Wilson showed us the enormous oven that ran along the back wall...

...lined in fire bricks. I forgot to ask Debbie how they regulated the temperature. Gak!

 The baked good were all over the place...donuts galore!

 Peggi got some lemon-filled donuts for her husband.

 I bought an assortment of cookies. (Yummy)!!

 Loves of bread of every description.

 These beauties were baked to be served at The Brigadoon Restaurant, just down the road in Oxford Mills.

 I love this stack of trays of goodies, waiting to be put on the shelves.

 And I had to ask what the heck this contraption was. Seems it takes the dough and separates it out evenly for making rolls. I always wondered how rolls were always the same size!

A great day and a great find. Peggi and I bought bread and scones, donuts and cookies. What a serendipitous bit of luck that we happened upon Grahame's Bakery. Can't wait to go back!

Grahame's Bakery, 115 Clothier St. E., Kemptville, ON
Phone: 613-258-2317
Website: www.grahamesbakery.com

Spring Tea Time

 The weather was sunny and cool and the creek at the back of the property was running making a lovely sound.

Perfect time to take a break from pulling in wood and doing woodsy chores. And best of all? No bugs!

The sun dappled off the creek. Lovely time of year when the land is leaving winter behind and welcoming spring.

Easter baking

 I made Easter-themed cupcakes for a gal last year and she asked me to make them again this year so the challenge was to change it up a bit. I had a blast.

We're heading off for Easter brunch and I offered to bring the cake. It's a lemon sponge with lemon curd filling. Happy Easter!

Spring is sproinging

 It seems to be taking forever but as the snow is receding, the crocuses are popping out of the lawn.

I especially love when the pussy willows start to appear. It's still pretty cool here in these parts, and it even snowed a few days back, but Ol' Man Winter is on his way out...

Naked Oreo cake

Since so-called "naked cakes" seem to be all the rage in the cake world, I thought I'd try my hand at one. I had a potluck dinner to go to so I decided to bring 

a naked Oreo cake with me. Everyone loved it!

Fun with Fondant

 Last week I gave a classed entitled Fun with Fondant at The Quirky Carrot in Alexandria.

 There were 12 very enthusiastic students.

 They all mixed colours and covered (and decorated) their own cakes.

 Lots of icing sugar flying around. Rolling pins too!

 Some gals made zebra-striped cakes.

 Others made them look quilted.

 One gal did a flower power, tribute to the '60s cake.

All the cakes turned out just great. The gals were so creative and 

it showed in their creations.

All in all a great evening with a really fun bunch of creative women.

Flowers for Joan

My friend Joan marked a landmark birthday recently. 

What better way to celebrate than with cake?

Maple Time

It's that time of year when you can sample hot maple taffy that's swirled on the snow and ready to eat on a stick! So happy spring has finally arrived and the sap is flowing!

Buttercream Basics

 I gave a class on buttercream basics at The Quirky Carrot in Alexandria.

 There were six people in the class.

 Everyone got a cupcake and a 6" cake to decorate.

 After my demo, everyone went to town on their cakes.

 Here's a pic of Julia, who owns the Carrot, taking pix of a busy student.

 Lots of different techniques. Here a gal attempts basketweave...and did a great job!

 Cupcake with green shells.

 A sunflower cupcake in the making.

 This cake ended up as a beautiful underwater scene replete with seaweed and fish.

 More basketweave.

 Good piping bag techniques...

 Here's the underwater scene getting its fishy.

 Daughter helping mother making a rose.

 Attempting stringwork and lace. Wow!

The graduating class with their handywork. Well done class of 2014!

6th Annual Winter Picnic

 This year we had our annual picnic in the woods on April 6th.

The snow bridge is still intact over the little creek, which is running from the melt.

 It was 4C and sunny...actually a nice temperature for a hot cuppa tea.

 Everything tastes better outside, right?

 We had to snowshoe in this year there's still so much snow.
And we got to try out the new table which isn't perfectly flat...but who cares!

 This year's fare was kosher salami sandwiches on dark rye.

And a little salsa and chips too!

Masked bandits

As they come out of hibernation, raccoons are very hungry and end up at the nearest bird feeder. Mine! There were FIVE of the little darlings when I looked out. By the time I opened the window to take the photo, I only managed to snap two and a half of them. The fled but were back an hour later!