CUPCAKES

In the end, I decided to make an Italian meringue to swirl on the top of last nights cakes. Actually, to be honest, I didn't think much of the cream cheese sponges, so made another batch using a lemon drizzle cake type recipe and filling the centres with lemon curd. The Italian meringue works because essentially the egg whites are cooked into the sugar and water so the cakes don't need to be put back into the oven to set the meringue. They were finished with a sprinkling of granulated sugar which I had coloured lemon yellow. Obviously Charles and I have had to try them out and they are really good - the sweetness of the topping balances the sharpness of the lemon in the sponge nicely.
I'm keeping an eye on the weather today. Helen and Bill are driving up from Yorkshire and we are having a fair few hefty snow showers. The roads are okay now, but won't be too clever if the temperature drops later.
We will probably have our usual 'at home' New Years Eve tonight, although a stroll down to the pub may well appeal if the weather holds off. It always used to be fancy dress time in the New Inn, although having changed hands recently, this tradition may well have gone. Of course there was the year when it was decided to cancel fancy dress, but no one told Dennis (from the Subawu gawage) and he flounced into the pub wearing a lovely pink tutu much to everyones' glee!!