I’ve always loved cooking and am perfectly at home pottering around my kitchen, surrounded by ingredients, trying out a new cookie recipe whilst simultaneously making a lasagne and a loaf of bread!

Having more free time on my hands recently I’ve been thoroughly enjoying spending more time cooking and baking, and especially experimenting more with new recipes. I have rediscovered some of those cookery books which have been gathering dust on my shelves for the past few years, geekily bookmarking recipes I like the look of and writing comments under ones I’ve tried. I find so much pleasure in taking the time to cook something delicious and feeling proud of the result, rather than grabbing something from the freezer and throwing it in the oven because you have no time. Now I am aware that many people either don’t have the time to do this or sadly have no interest, so I count myself lucky that I not only currently have the time but also the inclination to get stuck in to some experimental baking!

I’m not sure what inspired me of late, but this week I had a sudden urge to attempt to decorate cakes. I don’t think I’ve ever tried to properly decorate a cake before, and wisely so I imagine! But I decided to set my sights low and begin easy with some simple cupcakes. I can see why so many parents choose decorating cakes as an activity to do with their children, it’s so much fun! Especially when you let loose with the piping bag! Here is the evidence of my first attempt, banana cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Although they may not look quite shop-bought, they’re super tasty and I think not a terrible start! I definitely plan to continue with my newly found cake decorating enthusiasm, although it might have to be planned around visiting friends or dinner parties as there’s a definite limit to how many cupcakes a person should eat!