Jubilee Queen of Cakes Competition

Every now and again I enter recipe competitions, usually when something catches my eye. I think they are a great way of making you think up something new and different before the deadline and that works well for me, a prize at the end is just an added bonus!

When I spotted the Good to Know recipes Jubilee competition I just knew I had to enter something.

I wanted to make a cake that encompasses everything quintessentially British, royal & still be unique all at the same time, not an easy task but the end result was something I was very pleased with.

I was totally thrilled when I received an email to say I was one of the two finalists in the competition and would need to take my cakes to the London offices of Good to Know for the judging on Friday 1^st June, yikes!!!!!

On the Friday morning I was a big bundle of nerves & excitement. I have the worst sense of direction so most of my nerves were focused on worrying that I wouldn’t find the office or get there on time. Strangely I wasn’t that worried about the cakes & tiaras arriving in one piece or whether or not I would win!

Well the Good To Know offices are very impressive and Maxine (the other finalist, a totally lovely lady) and I were made to feel so welcome by everyone that most of the nerves subsided.

We set up our cakes on display, drank tea and chatted until the master classes Good to Know had laid on began.

I know Victoria Threader by following her amazing cakes on her Facebook page Victorious Cupcakes. In her posts she comes across as friendly, chatty and with a wicked sense of humour. Well that’s exactly what she’s like!

We all had a great time making the Queens head cupcake tops together. (I apologise Ma’am as the likeness on mine may not be particularly favourable!) Victoria is such a star and brought all the equipment along so that Maxine and I could follow along at the same time. The kits of fab equipment were her gift to us to take home, so generous and thoughtful.

Next we were making ice lolly cookies with Ruth Clemens. I know Ruth because of her fab Facebook page The Pink Whisk. Ruth is lovely. We chatted happily while we worked about all sorts of things. She is full of energy and great ideas. She kindly signed her brilliant book, The Busy Girls Guide to Cake Decorating, which she brought along for us.

By then it was nearly lunch, the time was flying by. Joining us was Gino D’Acampo. He is such a cheeky chap! We all had lunch together and chatted round the table. I just love all things Italian including the people, the thing that I love the most is their passion for life and Gino certainly has plenty of passion! I love the way that when Gino arrived a lot of the staff just decided to call in and say hi to us (mostly female strangely, nudge, nudge, wink, wink!).

After lunch Maxine & I were escorted to the roof garden which had the most amazing views over London. We sipped a cup of tea and listened to the brass band that had been provided just for our special day, wow! (not really it was part of the Jubilee Party they had going on for the staff!)

After what seemed like a very short time we were called back in and the results were announced. As the pictures may show I was a little surprised to have won.

After we’d all done a little bit of “chat to the video camera” it was time to pack up and head home. We didn’t leave empty handed, as we had a hamper of cakey things, the goodies bags from Victoria, Ruths book, flowers etc (I really needed another pair of hands for the journey home).

It was the most amazing day, which will stay with me for a long time (it has taken on a dream like quality already in my mind as I still can’t quite believe it) I would like to thank everyone involved with the judging day, a lot of time & effort was made to make it the brilliant day that is was. I also feel that I have made some wonderful friends including Maxine, Victoria & Ruth not to mention the Good To Know team (apologies as I am rubbish at remembering names).

The recipe will be published in a forthcoming edition of Good To Know Recipes Magazine which I am really looking forward to seeing. I also have a huge range cooker that I will be taking delivery of shortly…………I’m going to need a bigger kitchen!