Today, Michael Dean turned 24. As I was working yesterday and then we went straight to see the wonderful Dylan Moran straight after, I had no time to make him a birthday cake as I had planned (originally I'd wanted to continue his birthday tradition by making a caterpillar cake, but veganized), so instead I bought some coffee and walnut cake from Earth Cafe and shoved as many candles as I could fit into it. Lovely:

I haven't totally let him down though; I'm remaking his favourite chocolate cherry cake right now. Last time, it turned out like this, and I felt extremely smug:

I haven't written in my food blog in ages, so I've got a bit of a stockpile to upload. I'm now back at Uni and therefore currently working my buttocks off, so I've not had as much time as I'd like for baking. Monday to Friday is spent working and generally giving myself brainache, Saturday is working at Earth Cafe and then *cough* X-Factor *cough* (I'm disgusted with myself too), and then Sunday is for dog walking and switching off. It's strange being back in such a routine, but I'm getting so much done that I can't complain too much, really. So, on to the photos...

Toffee apple and raisin (the same ones that formed my scientific theory of floating raisins and sinking apples), which I have finally decided should only now be made minus raisins and with a fudgy buttercream topping:

I did a major fail whilst attempting to make peanut butter fudge. Despite knowing it's all about timing and temperatures, I was distracted by trying to be polite and not cutting off a conversation with our flatmate's parents (this paid off though, as they brought me back some grape jelly from their trip to the States!!), and the "fudge" turned into a brittle, crumbling mess:

Oh well, better luck next time I guess! Whilst the next three aren't strictly baking-related, I feel they're necessary to mention. The stew isn't photogenic, but it's damn tasty. I found vegetarian suet and have now recreated my Mum's/Nan's amazing stew (minus the dead) about a million times. I can't get sick of this, I swear:

Bagels are still the highlight of any breakfast:

...and apparently, Mikee and I will drive around for 45 minutes trying to track down a decent Chinese takeaway, only to find that my tofu leaves a lot to be desired. We've now found one that's only 5 minutes away, but with no tofu... though I'm starting to think that even if by some small miracle they do sell it, English takeaways just don't know what to do with the soggy white stuff. Here are my leftovers the day after, served with quinoa:

And finally, my quest for a vegetable patch continues, but I'm consoling myself for the time being by repotting herbs and watching them grow with excitement. I'll put them on just about anything, which usually results in me being asked, "Emma, why is there garden in my food?" ...I think I love herbs a bit too much.