British Baking Part 6: Spaced Out

British Baking

Part 6

Spaced Out

My husband and I have this funny little routine that we do with Nick, where we go through a list of professions and see which ones he wants to be.  It is amusing, considering the fact that he is two, and doesn't even know what a job is, but all the same, he plays along with us.  Invariably, he replies no to everything except one profession.  It doesn't matter how long or short the list is, as soon as you mention that one thing, the answer immediately changes from No to Yes.  The conversations go a little something like this:

Mom or Dad: Nick do you want to be a vet when you grow up?
Nick: No.
M or D: Do you want to be a doctor?
Nick: No.
M or D: Do you want to be a writer?
Nick: No.
M or D: Do you want to be an actor?
Nick: No.
M or D: Do you want to be a plumber?
Nick: No.
M or D: Do you want to be a farmer?
Nick: No.

Even when we choose something we know he loves, the answers still the same:

M or D: Do you want to be a golfer? A soccer player?  A ship's caption?
Nick: No, no, and no.

But, when we say, "Nick, do you want to be an astronaut?"  He excitedly shouts "YES!"

And again, we've tried stumping him, making longer and shorter lists, and giving him choices and choices of things he loves, but the answer is still no Mom and Dad.  Only cosmonauts suffice.  Why?  I'm not quite sure, but I find it endearing nevertheless.

It turns out that the same is true when it comes to book selection.  I was a little startled when yesterday we went through his entire stack of books, with Nicholas saying "No, no, no" until the appropriate books were located.



And yes, I know what you are thinking, he does have a lot of books.
We are both teachers, so sue us.



A thought came to me while reading his books to him.  I could finally give the regal icing a try.  I have been extremely intimidated by fondant/gum/regal icing.  It is beautiful.  But it is what all the professionals use, so I have just been a little apprehensive.  My friend Lauren, says it's like using Play-Doh, and frankly, it looks like fun.  I start out with the store bought stuff.  I got this from Tesco, and at home it is available in many, many places like Michael's.

I open it up.  It is soft and smooth.  Yes, just like modelling clay (Lauren, you are dead on), and smells sweet.  I try a small bite.  It tastes pretty good...in small quantities.  People, it is plain sugar, so be warned.  I cover the cupcakes (I just used a simple Fairy Cake/Yellow Cake recipe) with blue regal icing that I round into a ball and smooth out with my hands to make a flat circle. 

There are myriad fondant tools available, and I have none, so you don't need anything fancy, just your hands, a little bit of icing (confectioner's/powdered) sugar in case the heat from your hands makes it too sticky, and your imagination.

Background for the space themed cuppies

Here is where the imagination bit comes in handy:

Not to shabby for my first stab at it, huh?



This is what your son looks like when he discovers there are "Rocket Ship, Rocket Ship!!!!!" cakes
and asks you "Pleeeeeaaaassse.  Very Nice Manners"






And here he is having his second bite of pure sugar.  Oh boy!
Later that afternoon you wonder why he is running around in circles like a dog chasing it's tail.
Then you recall letting him eat an entire sugar rocket, and make mental note not to do that again :-)