Seasonal Favourites at Twin Lakes Velo Cafe, Croston

There is a definite nip in the air now and things are starting to feel a little Christmassy so for our last Clandestine Cake Club outing we made a welcome return visit to the Twin Lakes Velo Cafe in Croston. The Cafe is aimed at cyclists but everyone is welcome including hardy cake fans like our members. Our theme was Seasonal favourites and once again we had some great cakes enjoy with a warming brew.

The cafe is a hidden gem with two gorgeous lakes outside which create a wonderful calming view,  the cafe is cosy inside and serves a great range of food and drinks. Thanks to all the team for hosting our event.

Tea and cake, what more can one want, Gluten free Ginger Zinger cake.

White chocolate and cranberry cake

Gluten free Clementine, almond and pomegranate cake 

Gluten Free Ginger zinger cake

Astrids festive no bake cake

Pear and mincemeat cake 

Apple and Mincemeat cake

We also had an alternative christmas bundt cake but I didn't get a picture sorry Helen.

Some of our members enjoying a chat and a great range of cakes

Smiling faces enjoying the treats we have to share, thats what cake club is all about.

Tales of the Unexpected at Townhouse Coffee and Brew Bar, Preston

South Lancashire Clandestine Cake club has been running  for over 6 years and over the years for our 39 and counting events we have been hosted by lots of lovely venues. We have lots of favourites, one of which we paid a return visit to for our most recent event.

We have loved them all, all different in their own way. So we were really pleased when we were invited back to hold another event at this great little coffee house in Preston.

Run by the a great team we love this venue, it's so friendly and the refreshments are second to none, the Townhouse is a wonderful retreat from the busy town centre. Its so calming...

For our theme this event we decided on "Tales of the Unexpected" and we really enjoyed chatting through the "unexpected" ingredients in our cakes, great fun and some amazing combinations.

Lemon and Lavender drizzle cake containing swede. This was also gluten free

4 C's cake - included cauliflower

Rich Porter Cake - West Indian Porter

Rich Dark chocolate cake - Guinness

Citrus and Cardamon cake - chickpeas. Gluten Free

Julie's Swiss roll - Spinach

You can find the Townhouse Coffee and Brew Bar on Friargate, in Preston Town Centre

Tolkien Inspired cakes at Townhouse Coffee and Brew Bar, Preston

For those of you in the know, the 25th of March every year is Tolkien reading day, so as we held our last cake club on this date, I decided that we would have a Tolkien inspired cake theme.

Our lovely members ever inventive came up with some fantastic cakes which fitted the theme perfectly.

Bilbo's Tea cake

Anglo Saxon shield and seax cake

Evil Eye ginger cake

Magic lemon cake

Beorns Honey cake

Chocolate "ring" cake

Chocolate orange ring cake

Blueberry lavender shire cake

Our lovely venue was the Townhouse Coffee  and Brew Bar on Friargate in Preston town centre. Our hosts were fabulous, so welcoming and lovely attentive service, they couldn't do enough for us.

We thought the decor was great and loved the book swap area, the menu was also fabulous and featured some lovely dishes and the drinks were great, they have Origin coffee ( as chemex, aeropress, pourover and expresso) and Birdhouse teas. Please pay them a visit while you are in town. They are open Monday to Saturday.

We love independent coffee shops and their individuality, fresh flowers, quirky decor and great service with a smile.

Individual pots of tea and cute little urns of milk

You can find the Townhouse Coffee and Brew Bar at 62 Friargate, Preston . They are on facebook

Cosy corners to relax and lose yourself in a book

Says it all really .........

Anything Goes at The Folly, Worden Park, Leyland for South Lancashire Cake Club

Our latest cake club outing was to The Folly Coffee House situated in the heart of Leyland's beloved Worden Park,  housed in the old stable block this quirky coffee shop welcomed us with open arms.

Our theme for our event was "Anything Goes" so we had a fabulous selection of cakes and bakes some of which wouldn't normally be allowed at a Clandestine Cake Club.

We enjoyed chatting about baking, the history of the park and the weather. So if you are visiting the park pop in for a warming coffee or a bite to eat at The Folly.

The interior is quirky and reflects the history of the venue.

Outside is the Arts Centre (sadly unused now due to budget cuts) and the remains of Worden Hall, ancestral home of the Faringtons.

 As stated previously as our theme was Anything Goes, traybakes were allowed , so we had some lovely Gluten Free, date sweetened brownie bites and some delicious Carmelita's.

Scrummy Cherry Madeira cake, traditional Dutch celebration cake , Coffee cake and Tunisian Orange Cake.

Good Intentions cake, Rum Truffle and savoury goats cheese cake

The Folly is open everyday and more details can be found here

Re'velo'ution at Twin Lakes Velo Cafe for South Lancashire Clandestine Cake Club

November saw at visit to the "Twin Lakes " Velo cafe for South Lancashire Clandestine Cake Club, it was a chilly day bright but cold, the welcome was warm and friendly in this tucked away venue near the village of Croston, near Chorley.

Situated by two lakes hence the name and with a cycling theme as the area is popular with cyclists the cafe is a little of the beaten track, our members however had no trouble locating our event and arrived a wonderful selection of suitably themed cakes.

Our cakes attracted a lot of attention from cyclists and passing walkers who pop in for a warming drink or snack whilst in the area.

Our cakes included a Yellow Jersey cake, Brandy snap cake, Paris Brest, Chocolate, cherry and chestnut roulade, Tipsy Orange truffle cake, Treacle and lemon dizzle bundt, Berry and cream rings cake, Chocolate, coffee meringue roulade, Carrot and Chocolate roulade, Black Forest Circular and Clares Mum's Wheely good cake.

The lady who made the Paris Brest, wrote a little missive on her trails and tribulations on making her creation for her first cake club.

"How not to make a Paris Brest"

It may be on theme, but  35 step recipe is possibly a little ambitious to start with. Still some of the steps are pretty straightforward –eg step 21 When cooked remove from oven & leave to cool. The cake  only takes 1 hr 30 mins to complete.

8.30 start . Step 1 All ingredients assembled by 8.45. Dropped plain flour on to chair, so have to use part self raising. Also snapped thermometer Not sure it can still be used in 2 pieces.

Panada . Butter, salt, water in pan, boiling. Tick. Remove from heat . Add all flour at once. Too stiff to stir & certainly doesn’t need drying off. Add eggs one by one. Should be shiny, not dull and drop off a spoon in 3 seconds rather than 3 minutes. Add another egg

Pipe 3 rings onto greaseproof. Looks singularly unattractive. (picture available)  Just remembered in time to glaze with beaten egg. Supposed to sprinkle with 100g flaked almonds, but only about ½ will fit on.

Cook for 20mins at 180- nowhere near done. After 30 mins almonds burning, so removed. Has not risen

Almond praline cream

Boil up sugar syrup- get husband to stick finger in or guess when it is done. Beat in 8 egg yolks then 250g butter. Continue to beat for an hour to an hour and a half (resting mixer frequently to stop motor wearing out) Add almond butter. How can this still be liquid?

Assembly

Slice a very thin uneven layer off the top.  Rebake  bottom half for 10 minutes as it is completely raw.

Cool. Pipe in squidgy praline cream, try not to laugh. Spend 40 minutes trying to clear the kitchen walls and work surfaces  of choux pastry base, praline cream and egg.

Now seeking recipes needing 8 egg whites and a bowl of almond praline cream.

  

Original recipe used was

https://www.meilleurduchef.com/cgi/mdc/l/en/recipe/paris-brest.html

This made us all chuckle ! 😋😋😋😋

Thanks go to all the team at the Velo Cafe for making us so welcome