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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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Empire Biscuits
I don’t know what it is about Empire Biscuits but I love them! I can’t even say why I love them but they’ve always been my favourite biscuit. Before I had the children, years ago you used to be able to buy them in my local Sainsburys from the bakery counter. Every Saturday we used […]
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Devil’s Food Cake -National Chocolate Cake Day
I had no idea it was National Chocolate Cake Day on the same day as Mr S’ birthday! It was a huge coincidence that I was baking him a chocolate flavoured birthday cake this year for him instead of the Lockdown brownies he got last year. I love baking chocolate cakes (and eating them, too […]
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Lotus Biscoff Blondies: #100bakeschallenge
I wanted to scratch off another two recipes from my #100bakeschallenge this week. I’d already made some pizza dough on Monday for challenge number 5 which incidentally was also World Pizza Day! Saturday 22nd January was also Blond Brownie Day. I had to make some Lotus Biscoff Blondies so great: another challenge could be scratched […]
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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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Marzipan, cherry and almond Cake: National Marzipan Day
Today is National Marzipan Day! To be honest, although I love marzipan, I only bake with it at Christmas, Easter and for traditional fruit cakes. I never bother with it at other times of the year. I see it as something you use for special occasions. Even if it isn’t used as a layer for […]
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Cranberry and White Chocolate Shortbread #100bakeschallenge/ National Shortbread day
January 6th 2022 Did you know that January 6th is #NationalShortbreadDay? I didn’t until I got a My Legoman Mostly Foodie Days of Calendar for my kitchen wall. Or rather, its framed but still on the floor in my office until I can move pictures around in my kitchen and have the space to put […]
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Sticky Toffee Pudding- #100bakes
This is my go-to dessert recipe for New Year’s Day or for a winter family Sunday lunch
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Amazing Cakes #30: Fairy Cakes
Hi everyone! Once again I’ve not kept up with my blogging. I’ve started a new job. I only work part time (every morning) but I’m busy with my online baking commitments and juggling lots going on at home at the moment. I’m pleased to say it’s actually now half term week here and although I […]
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Amazing Cakes #29: Fondant Fancies
When you hear the name Fondant Fancies you immediately think of Mr Kipling’s yellow, chocolate and pink creations. Or if you live in Yorkshire like me, you might have even tasted the delectable version which Betty’s creates. I must admit I find Fondant Fancies too sweet and sickly, even though I’ve got a sweet tooth. […]
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Amazing Cakes #28: Mint Chocolate Roulade
Baking roulades and Swiss Rolls always fills me with dread. They look fiddly and messy whenever I make them and the filling never looks neat when I roll them up. Or the actual sponge cracks so much. Roulades are usually made without flour and fat and are whisked sponges baked in a flat rectangular cake […]
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Amazing Cakes #27: White Chocolate and Blueberry Layer Cake.
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve tried out a recipe from The Great British Bake Off The Big Book Of Amazing Cakes. Most of the recipes I have left over in the challenge are the more complicated ones or the ones you would bake for a special occasion. Can’t imagine me baking a three […]
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Chocolate Orange Tiffin (aka Terry’s Tiffin)
This blog post is written in memory of a very special person. My Dad Terry passed away on June 11th. As I was growing up, my Dad was always encouraging and enjoyed sampling my baking. In more recent years he would enjoy various treats I would make for him and my step mum. Dad was […]
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Amazing Cakes #25: Coconut Sugar Fruit Cake
I’ve been trying out recipes from The Big Book Of Amazing Cakes recently. The book has a chapter brimming full of Free-From recipes which is really useful. So far I’ve made the Gluten Free Brownies, the Vegan Marble Bundt Cake and the Vegan Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake. To fit in with dietary requirements, lifestyles and […]
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Amazing Cakes #23: Vegan Lemon Drizzle Loaf
It’s been a busy week here, not had much chance for actual baking as I’m getting my website ready for my online cookie business! All will be revealed by next week. I’m waiting for some new packaging to arrive so I can send out cookie samples to my taste testers. I’m also rethinking a couple […]
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Amazing Cakes #22: Angel Cake Slices
As I mentioned before in my previous Cherry Cakes post, there are a couple of recipes I’ve already baked which I can tick off my Amazing Cakes recipe book challenge. Angel Cake as from a British point of view is the traditional cake you buy in slabs which contains a triple layer of sponge in […]
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Amazing Cakes #20: Vegan Marble Cake
It’s been about three weeks since I baked this cake. I wanted to try out another recipe from The Big Book of Amazing Cakes but not to make anything which would be time consuming and fiddly to do. I wanted something which would double up like a pudding with a scoop of ice cream. Looking […]
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Parkin: Amazing Cakes #11
It’s that time of year again as Autumn draws upon us that I begin to think about recipes I love baking when it gets colder. One recipe I love making at this time of year is Parkin. If you don’t know what Parkin is or you have never tasted it, then you are missing out! […]
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Amazing Cakes #9: Coffee and Salted Caramel Cake
While we’re self isolating and Mr S is working from home sometimes he likes to have something with a cuppa to keep him going on an afternoon. Last week’s Victoria Sponge had been eaten and he doesn’t really like gingerbread like the gingerbread loaf I made the day before. So on Sunday morning I planned […]
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Amazing Cakes #6: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Brownies
There are a couple of Brownie recipes in The Great British Bake Off Amazing Cakes which I’ve been really keen to try out. I have my own favourite regular Brownie recipe but I must admit I’ve never made a gluten free brownie before. The Amazing Cakes book has a whole chapter dedicated to Free From […]
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Battenburg Cake: Amazing Cakes #3
I’ve been so excited for the Great British Bake Off. It’s exciting every year but this year it’s been more welcomed as something special and comforting in these difficult times. At one stage I was wondering if it would make it onto our screens this year. Baking has helped a lot of us through difficult […]
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Amazing Cakes #2: White Chocolate Blondies
Hot on the heels of baking my successful Lemon Drizzle Traybake, I wanted to try something slightly different to take along for my work mates to enjoy as an alternative to the lemon drizzle. I’ve lost my baking confidence recently and have found recipes I’ve baked time and time again going wrong. I have always […]
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Amazing Cakes #1: Lemon Drizzle Traybake
Recipe Challenge #1: Lemon Drizzle TraybakeLemon Drizzle Traybake is a classic recipe and one I’ve made lots over the years. Recently I have made Mary Berry’s version and this always goes down well. I was keen to see how this version from The Big Book Of Amazing Cakes measured up to Mary’s version. At first […]
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Lemon Cupcakes
How are you all doing? As I write, I’m catching up on my day off after a busy first week back at work. My workplace reopened last Monday and it’s just fantastic to be back. To mark the day of reopening, I just had to celebrate by taking in some baking to share with my […]
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Blueberry and White Chocolate Layer Cake
Cake baking to me is a great stressbuster and it really helps with my anxiety. It brings me back into the moment and has been a huge help to get me through all the worries brought about by this coronavirus pandemic. I was feeling a bit off it on Monday. I know I am far […]
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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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Bakewell Slices #100bakeschallenge
Hey everyone! How are you doing? How did you cope with the scorching hot weather last week? Not the weather for baking, I can tell you. Not the weather for any type of cooking to be honest. As I type, it’s the first weekend since I broke up for the summer holidays. I’ve been playing […]
SmartCookieSam
Welcome to my very own Yorkshire Kitchen Bakery!
SmartCookieSam 