Making a running shoe cake!

Yes while in NZ we had the first of the 40ths for this year. A great party was put on at Shakespeare Park in Whangaparoa with lovely food and many friends and family attending. Thanks to everyone who made it such a great day.

It took a whole day but the following Birthday cake was finally produced. Inspired by pictures of what others had done on th internet the cake became 3D rather thn 2D!


Step 1 - Cakes
Bake several chocolate mud cakes. We used 2 large baking dishes to give us enough. Annabel Langbein's chocolate mud cake recipe with coffee in it works well.

Step 2 - Making the pattern
Take one clean and new running shoe and using tin foil and baking paper draw around it and press the design into the foil to make a pattern. Cut these out.

Step 3 - Building the cake
Layer the cakes on top of each other to give enough height. Stick each layer together with icing.

Step 4 - Cutting the shape
Using the cut out templates carve the shape of the shoe into the cake.

Step 5 - Putting on the first layer of icing
Roll white icing large enough to cover the whole cake. Use plenty of icing sugar on your rolling surface to stop it sticking. Soften a little raspberry or apricot jam in the microwave and using a pastry brush brush a thin layer all over the cake to help the icing stick. Pick up the icing by rolling it over the rolling pin and in a swift motion, with your tongue held right, put the icing onto the cake. This is the most nerve wracking bit! Try and get the icing in place first go as repositioning is near impossible especially once you have sticky jam on the back! Use your hands to gently mould the icing into shape. It will blend and stretch a little bit to help you. Trim excess icing off around the base with a sharp knife.

Step 6 - Decorating
If you want the shoe to have a mesh canvas design then use something like florists netting or normal net to press the design into the first layer of icing. After this use your patterns to cut out the other shoe decorations from rolled coloured icing. Use egg white to stick these patterns onto the cake. Roll a long piece of icing thinly to make a shoe lace.

Step 7- Unveil your creation and enjoy the look on peoples faces!

Christmas 2010

6 months have gone by for this year already and its not for want of something to say its that we have too much! Sorry for the silence. Will update you now on the last little while.

So back to Christmas. A while ago but still great memories of family and friends during our time home in NZ. Had a lovely time down Wellington way and this year even managed a few days staying at our beach house at Waitarere. Enjoyed fish and chips on the beach at Paraparaumu with Mum and Dad from Dads favourite place "Fed Up"!

Also spent some great days up north with fantastic NZ weather and plenty of delicious food and drink. Tried a new cocktail made with iced tea, Jack Daniels, Cointreau and mint leaves. Very lovely. Also went to Kawau Island for the day and I won the competition for the most photos taken of the copper mine from all angles around the.island. Are you surprised?! We also visited the sculptures at Brick bay which were interesting indeed.

One of my Christmas presents this year, following on from my taster on a jet ski in Samoa, was a 30 minute jet ski ride at Whangaparaoa. Adam dared to ride on the back and even though I tried a couple of times to loose him, he was still there clinging on for grim death at the end! Eat our spray man we zoomed and it was such an adrenaline ride. Spray in our faces the works. Still need to perfect the turn, as didnt quite believe what I was being told about the jet ski being impossible to tip over and that it would always pop back upright like a Weeble that wobbles but wont fall down!

Check our Flickr for the photos.