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Carrot Bundt Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
I absolutely adore carrot cake and have been wanting to bake one for a ages. It’s been a while since I’ve been asked to make one so I thought why don’t I bake one because I want to? Baking one in a Bundt pan is even better and such a treat. On Sunday afternoon I […]
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Blue Ripple Yachts Baby Blanket
In between the adult/ full size blankets I make, I also try to have a baby blanket on the hook. This gives me a change and often looks like something which can be made up quickly, therefore making me feel like I’ve actually completed or achieved something. Sometimes when you are in the throes of […]
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Vanilla And Chocolate Marble Bundt.
On Sunday, I decided to test out my second recipe from Mel Johnson’s fabulous book “Bundt”. This had been one of the three choices I was going to bake for the first one but the Snickerdoodle Bundt won the most votes in the polls across my social media. I had also asked if people could […]
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Cornish Pasties
I’m still working my way through my #100bakesposterchallenge and am really enjoying it. There are bakes I’ve made before a few times over and some I haven’t tried at all. Usually the ones I haven’t tried are down to whether they look complicated or are much easier to buy ready made. I must admit I […]
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Bundt Challenge #1: Snickerdoodle Bundt
My new challenge for 2023 is to bake as many recipes from Bundt by Melanie Johnson. You can read all about this in an introductory post here: Bundt- The New Challenge For 2023. I wasn’t sure which recipe I’d like to make first so I put it to the vote. It was a choice between Snickerdoodle, […]
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The Woodland Blanket- my project for November/December 2022.
The final big project for 2022 was a hybrid of two Attic24 blanket patterns. I used the Woodland colour palette but used the pattern from the Harbour blanket as I wasn’t so keen on doing the wave pattern in the original Woodland. I had been itching to make the Woodland blanket ever since I saw […]
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Sultana, Apricot and Marzipan Loaf Cake
Did you know that (January 12th) is National Marzipan Day? I didn’t, until a couple of years ago and found a few posts on Twitter. Last year I celebrated this with a delicious Marzipan, cherry and almond Cake: National Marzipan Day cake which was absolutely scrumptious. This year I had half a packet of marzipan […]
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Attic24 Moorland Blanket- Yuletide Version
With some Christmas money last year, I chose to buy an Attic24 Moorland Blanket pack from Wool Warehouse. I had been eyeing this up for about a year and loved seeing photos of others in the Attic24 Facebook group I’m in. It was such a beautiful blanket and the colours just “spoke” to me. The […]
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Bundt- The New Challenge For 2023
I’m always up for a challenge as well you know. A challenge which I would enjoy: even more so! I’m still working my way through the last few bakes of my #100bakeschallengeposter but they will be fitted in around as and when I can do them. There are about 27 or 28 things left but […]
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Mincemeat Shortbread
Yesterday (January 6th) was National Shortbread Day. Who doesn’t love a beautiful, melt in the mouth piece of chunky all butter shortbread dusted with caster sugar? Me, for one! Shortbread is one of those bakes I never tire of making. It’s so easy to make and you can flavour it with whatever you have going […]
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Attic 24 Fireside Giant Granny Square Blanket
During September 2022, Lucy from Attic24 released a new blanket pattern, the Fireside Blanket. It was a blanket using Stylecraft Highland Heathers DK and it’s design was made up of lots of squares of varying sizes. It looked stunning but I’m not so keen on doing squares. Especially if there are lots of different colour […]
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New Year’s Day Tiramisu
Happy New Year! Hope that 2023 brings you everything you hope and wish for after such a turbulent year last year. I was glad to see the back of 2022 to be honest. But sometimes I think different year, same s***! I have a few things to look forward to in 2023 but I am […]
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SmartCookieSam’s 2022 Round Up.🎂🍰🧁🥮
Happy New Year to all my friends and followers on here. I appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to read my posts and comment on them. Although my little blog is only a tiny corner of what’s on the internet, it really does boost and cheer me up when I see […]
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The Aria Granny Stripe Blanket
This blanket is a variation of the Aria Blanket created by Attic24 in Autumn 2020. I love the look of the original Aria Blanket which is a series of brightly coloured flowery squares connected together. Created by Lucy of Attic24 during the height of the Pandemic, the Aria Blanket was definitely a riot of cheerful […]
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My #100bakeschallengeposter Progress Update
Last Christmas my friend Amy gave me a brilliant present. It was a giant poster from Crumbs By Colette and it features 100 scratch off squares. Underneath each scratch off square is a picture of a traditional or popular bake. The idea is that you choose one of the squares, bake the recipe and then […]
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The Dune Blanket
I treated myself to the Dune blanket pack when it was the lockdown in early 2021 but at the time I was working on other things! I thought I would be fine with the shell pattern as I had already made a blue, white and grey baby blanket using the pattern. I forgot that I […]
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Dundee Cake
It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve been able to bake and I’ve really missed it. Our kitchen has had a revamp- a new floor, painted walls and soon to have new light fittings. Why not a completely brand new kitchen? For a start there is nothing wrong with our old one and we […]
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The Coastal Blanket
The Attic24 Coastal Blanket had been on my wishlist ever since I first saw it online back in 2020. I used the pattern from it several times over during lockdown on baby blankets. It was such a wonderful feeling to master that pattern after several bungled attempts. But both Lucy from Attic24 and Bella Coco […]
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October 2022 Baking Round Up
Once again I’ve not kept up to date with my blog, even though there has been several attempts to write posts over the last few weeks. It’s the same with my Facebook page. There’s always something which gets forgotten about and neglected. So this post is rounding up what has been made in the SmartCookieSam […]
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The Yuletide Blanket
When Lucy of Attic24 first posted pictures of her Yuletide Blanket back in late summer/ early autumn of 2021, I knew I had to make it. The stunning , bright jewel colours of the Yuletide blanket, coupled with its square pattern made it an extremely popular blanket. I ordered my kit in the September when […]
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Key Lime Pie Ice Cream
Tuesday 13th September 2022. I have been wanting to make Key Lime Pie for a while. Not only is it another challenge for the #100bakeschallenge poster but it’s one I’ve not made for a while. I think the last time I made it I tried to make a healthier version but it ended up going […]
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Scotch Pancakes #100bakeschallenge
On Saturday September 10th, which was only two days after the announcement came about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I ended up not eating breakfast until later and then decided we needed a little treat. I had been watching all the news updates and feeling so sad. I made us some Scotch Pancakes (otherwise […]
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The Harbour Blanket (Attic24 CAL)
Until recently I had two Facebook pages managing my two side hustles- SmartCookieSam is my baking business and blog and I also had Sammy Jane Stitches which showcased the baby and single bed size crochet blankets I started making during lockdown. It’s so time consuming managing two pages, two Instagram accounts and a separate Twitter […]
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June Baking Update #100bakeschallenge
It’s the beginning of July and I’ve been so behind with my SmartCookieSam blog. It seems I only have time to update it in the school holidays at the moment and that really upsets me as I love doing it. I’ve had a busy time recently and as normal, the blogging gets pushed to the […]
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Blueberry Muffins- #100bakeschallenge (24)
After the Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins went down well the other week, I’ve not made any more muffins since. Such a shame as they’re so easy to make. So different to shop bought in size and in terms of sweetness. These muffins are perfect for a breakfast on the go or a snack with […]
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Garibaldi Biscuits #100bakeschallenge
Do you like Garibaldi biscuits? I don’t care much for them, to be honest. I don’t know why I’m not that fussed with them and I love eating biscuits far too much! It’s not that they have dried fruit in them. Maybe it’s their texture. I don’t know. But at least they taste nicer than […]
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Baking Update!
Hi everyone! I feel as if it’s a lifetime since I last updated my blog. My last post was just around Easter, I think. As soon as we got into the second week of the Easter holidays, I began to feel unwell. I have been using HRT for nearly two years and due to the […]
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#100bakeschallenge: Rice Crispie Cakes
Well these strictly aren’t Rice Crispie cakes, as there isn’t a single Rice Krispie in them. But allow me to bend the rules slightly as I wanted to make some Chocolate Easter Nests but you don’t make them with Rice Krispies. Cornflakes or Shredded Wheat. I noticed the wording on my #100bakeschallenge poster (see Crumbs […]
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Mini Egg Flapjacks
I can’t get enough of Mini Eggs and I can’t get enough of Flapjacks. So I thought what if I could combine the two? My regular Flapjack recipe is one I’ve used for over 15 years and I’ve lost count of the times I’ve baked it. It’s been baked for my family, for friends, baked […]
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International Coffee Cake Day-Coffee and Walnut Cake #100bakes
Today (Thursday April 7th) marks International Coffee Cake Day! Can’t beat a nice bit of Coffee Cake and my Coffee and Walnut Cake always goes down a treat. A tearoom classic, I love a slice of this if it’s ever on the menu anywhere I go. Mr S doesn’t like sickly sweet cakes and lots […]
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Salted Caramel Pretzel Cupcakes
On Tuesday I baked some Salted Caramel Pretzel Cupcakes. One of those flavours that was around everywhere a few years ago and it still is popular with lots of people. It’s been a while since I’ve made anything salted caramel related, though. Tuesday 5th April was Caramel Day according to My Legoman’s Foodie Days Of […]
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fitwaffle’s baking it easy- a book review
I must admit I’d never heard of Fitwaffle before I picked up a copy of this book the other day. I’d gone to Northallerton to buy baking supplies and saw Fitwaffle’s Baking It Easy on the shelf in WHSmith! I am always looking out for new baking books. Those of you who know me well, […]
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#100bakeschallenge: Sausage rolls and scones.
For Mother’s Day this last Sunday I made an Afternoon Tea for my own mum, Mr S and I to enjoy. My son is away at uni and my daughter was working, although I did get to see her in the morning and then she was home to enjoy the Afternoon Tea leftovers later! For […]
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#100bakeschallenge: Raspberry and white chocolate muffins (Muffin Monday!)
Did you know that Muffin was my nickname as a little girl? I think it was my Dad who called me that as apparently I couldn’t say Samantha properly and it came out something like “Muffind”! Or maybe I was like Muffin the Mule, haha! Whatever the reason, I love baking muffins even though it’s […]
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#100bakes: Lemon drizzle cake
There are quite a few Lemon Drizzle Cakes or variations of Lemon Cakes already on my blog. But I was wanting to contribute a couple of cakes to the Cake Stall at our village coffee morning. Lemon Drizzle cake always seems to be popular at events and a traybake is so easy to make. Just […]
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#100bakes: Victoria Sponge.
You can’t beat a traditional Victoria Sponge. It’s got to have fresh cream in it, for me. I also prefer it sprinkled with caster sugar, rather than icing sugar. A Victoria Sponge is another bake to scratch off the #100BakesChallenge Poster. I chose to use Mary Berry’s recipe, which always works for me. Instead of […]
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National Chocolate Caramel Day: Caramel Chocolate Rocky Road
I absolutely adore Rocky Road and made a batch of it the other day thinking ahead to celebrating National Chocolate Caramel Day on Saturday 19th March (see my National Mostly Foodie Days Of 2022 calendar by My Legoman! It was also another challenge to scratch off my Crumbs By Collette #100BakesCalendar As I make a […]
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#100bakeschallenge: Fondant Iced Birthday Cake
What a busy few days it’s been both in the SmartCookieSam kitchen. As I type, it is Sunday March 20th and it has been a glorious, sunny Spring weekend up here in North Yorkshire. We have been very lucky with the weather over the past couple of days. But as I am so busy, I’ve […]
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Mary Berry’s Love To cook- Recipe book review.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a recipe book review. If you have a new book you would like me to review, do let me know! I love new recipe books and testing them out. Send them my way, I will only be too happy to help! This time I am reviewing Mary Berry’s […]
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National Oreo Cookie Day
Who likes Oreo cookies? I do, although they’re not my favourite cookie. I like baking with them, though. I like the mini ones best, which are the lunchbox bag ones with six cookies inside. Yesterday (Sunday, March 5th) was National Oreo Cookie Day according to the My Legoman Foodie Days Of 2022 calendar. When I […]
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Banana Bread Day- February 23rd.
I feel as if I’m walking in a permanent brain fog at the moment. I can’t remember anything and I feel so tired this week. Last week was half term week but I spent most of it catching up. Even then, I didn’t achieve everything I needed to get done. One of these was to […]
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Lindor Mini Mint Truffle empire biscuits- National Mint Chocolate day.
It was National Mint Chocolate Bar on Saturday 19th February. As mint is my absolute favourite flavour for cakes and ice-cream, I had to create something to celebrate this day on the Foodie lovers calendar! I was actually in London all day on Saturday so my post is three days late. A very early start […]
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Jammy Biscuits #100bakes
It’s now Monday 21st February and I’m on half term week this week. I am glad of the break and the catch up. It made me think about what half term was like last year and we were still in the third lockdown. The weather was definitely wet after all the snow had melted up […]
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National Have A Brownie Day- Crunchie Brownies
As I type this, it is Monday 21st February. This post has been edited several times and sat in draft form for nine days now. I honestly don’t know how bloggers with other jobs manage to fit in all their writing time. Last Sunday I was busy with Valentine’s Day baking orders. Then last week […]
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Nutella Brownie Cake: National Nutella Day
It was National Nutella Day on Saturday 5th February. I wanted to test out a recipe on the day but this didn’t happen. Saturday was my “catching up day” at home and I also needed to actually go out and buy some Nutella as I didn’t have any in my baking cupboard. Do you like […]
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Carrot Cake #100bakeschallenge
Thursday 3rd February was National Carrot Cake Day! I know what you’re all thinking! Oh, she’s a bit late here, it’s now Tuesday 8th February. But last Thursday was so busy, I had no time to think about making any carrot cakes. Instead I shared a photo collage of some previous carrot cakes I’d made, […]
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Chocolate Fudge Cake: #100bakeschallenge
I’ve been so busy this week I haven’t had time to update my blog. Every afternoon after work has been taken up with something: baking, trying to catch up on jobs around the house or even to go out for walks in the fresh air with the dog. It has been a crazy week. It’s […]
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Homemade pizzas- WORLD Pizza Day
January 17th is World Pizza Day as I found out when looking at my #mostlyfoodiedaysof calendar from mylegoman.com. As if I need an excuse to eat Pizza? To be honest, I didn’t often eat pizza at home until a few months ago when I started a new job. On my way home from work I […]
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Oat And Raisin Cookies: #100bakes
For those that are wondering what the #100bakes challenge is: it is a poster from www.crumbsbycollette.co.uk featuring 100 popular bakes. As you bake the recipe, you scratch the relevant square off the poster, revealing a beautiful hand drawn picture of that bake underneath. Mine doesn’t look that neat when scratched off as you can tell […]
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Black Forest Bundt #100bakeschallenge #bundtbookchallenge
It was Mr S’ birthday last weekend. He doesn’t normally like celebrating his birthday or making a fuss but his family think differently! He also told me not to make him a birthday cake. But when I don’t bake anything he asks if I’ve baked anything. I can’t win! I don’t listen to him- we […]
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Focaccia
Yeast baking and bread making is my nemesis! I’m not confident baking bread at all. Things either don’t rise or they look a complete mess. So when I have to make anything bread or yeast related, I run for the hills! Now as you know, I have my #100bakeschallengeposter on the go and by New […]
SmartCookieSam
Cakes, Cookies, Crochet lovingly made in North Yorkshire.
SmartCookieSam 