I Knew You Were Coming So I Baked a Cake

A very warm welcome to VP Gardens to all garden bloggers & Chelsea Fringe goers.

Hello and welcome to The Bloggers' Cut for the Chelsea Fringe 2013! The cake is ready, the coffee brewed and thank goodness the weather's brightened up for you to join me in my garden today :)

When I set up The Bloggers' Cut, I wanted my contribution to reflect a previous post or two from Veg Plotting. Rhubarb and ginger jam is one of my top posts of all time, so it's fitting I've baked a scrummy Rhubarb and Ginger Crumble Cake for today. I'm pleased this is a blogged recipe I found via Not Just Greenfingers - keeps it in the family so to speak.

Fresh out of the oven...
I discussed the recipe with NAH and agreed we wanted more ginger than is given, so I've used some chopped fresh ginger to replace the powdered used for the sponge layer. I've also added some to the crumble mix to keep that gingery 'bite' throughout. I also needed to add a little milk to the sponge mixture to get the right consistency and I haven't dusted any icing sugar on top of the cake. NAH and I prefer the browned look!

I've been very fortunate to meet up with a number of bloggers over the years and have some memorable cake moments in various gardens. Here are a few of my highlights:
  • Taking shelter from the rain with Helen when we visited Hergest Croft. The cake was most welcome and we were still able to sit outside on the porch with a wonderful view over the garden.
  • Lazy Trollop bakes exceedingly good cakes. So good, one photographed at Highgrove has become her avatar.
  • Visiting Karen last year, with the added drama of an impending cake crisis for her NGS opening. Luckily the possibility of no cake was averted in time. Phew.
  • Great Dixter not only gave us a wonderful day when we met up for a Bloggers' get together earlier this year, they also baked a delicious cake just for us!
  • Garden visiting and cake can be a life changing event - as happened to Victoria last year.

Now without further ado it's time for me to cut the cake, offer it round you all and come visit your contributions for today. Thanks so much for joining me - let our garden and cake tour begin!

Add the full URL of your blogged contribution to Mr Linky below. It'd be great if you could also leave a comment telling us your favourite cake for gardening or garden visiting. I'd like to do a follow-up post after June 9th (the closing date for your contributions) revealing The Bloggers' Cut best cake for garden activities. Forget the RHS Chelsea People's Choice, this is THE vote which counts ;)

Thanks so much for joining in and helping to create a fantastic garden tour for the Chelsea Fringe!

And at Naomi's Cake Sunday event via Twitter (there's more - so these deserve a post of their own - now provided by Veronica via Mr Linky):

Comments

  1. The reluctant gardener2 June 2013 at 11:03

    Thanks for setting this I have been banned from gardening until my back recovers from my recent over exertions. Concentrating on doing something I don't normally have time for really helped Funny how we both picked a cake including rhubarb. Now I've just got to find some friends to finish it off.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP2 June 2013 at 15:04

      Sorry to hear about your back. I had real problems with that a few years back and nearly lost my allotment as a result. Hope all is well soon. I wonder how many more rhubarb-based cakes will turn up? I know Jono's baked a fair few lately...

      Delete
  2. Flighty2 June 2013 at 14:34

    About the only perk of being teaboy at the horticultural society trading shed on Sunday mornings is usually being given any leftover cake to bring home. It doesn't happen often but when it does I take it to the plot the next day to eat, and makes a welcome change to the couple of digestive biscuits that I usually have. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP2 June 2013 at 15:06

      I really like the idea of allotment cake on a Sunday morning. Sadly our trading hut is no more, so well done you on helping to keep yours going. You deserve that extra cake :)

      Delete
  3. rusty duck2 June 2013 at 18:07

    Great idea VP and thanks for hosting. It's been a lovely opportunity for some time out in this beautiful weather. And even better with cake.. the walnut and coffee went down a treat!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP2 June 2013 at 20:39

      A fantastic choice of garden - one I hadn't heard of, so thank you for taking us there :)

      Delete
  4. CJ2 June 2013 at 21:40

    Delicious cake. I meant to sit in the garden and eat some myself, but I clean forgot. I put in some tomatoes and cucumbers with my littlest boy, then went on a picnic instead. Hope you had a lovely day. That was a great post; I'm off to check out your jam now, as I've got lots of rhubarb on my plot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 June 2013 at 09:30

      Such a lovely day for a picnic CJ :) Looking forward to hearing what you think of the jam, it's one of our favourites.

      Delete
  5. VP2 June 2013 at 21:51

    This is from Lucy - nice comment but I couldn't allow the link :(

    This festival is a very innovative concept. I was intrigued by the notion that the festival was about pushing boundaries. Normally I would not consider gardening art in a traditional sense. Seeing photos from the first festival, including a miniature house garden, has changed my perspective. This sounds like fun. Lucy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous2 June 2013 at 23:12

    Gardening and cake - two of my favourite things.. I just couldn't resist joining in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 June 2013 at 09:31

      I'm looking forward to trying your cheesecake - thanks for joining in :)

      Delete
  7. Juliet2 June 2013 at 23:19

    Lovely idea, VP. I've only had time to write a very quick round-up of my favourite gardens for cake (chosen for cake, rather than garden, but the gardens are all worth a visit too). I look forward to reading about everyone else's cakes/gardens when I'm not quite so rushed off my feet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 June 2013 at 09:32

      It was a good idea putting together your 'good cake guide' - I agree on the quality of the cake at Ryton :)

      Delete
  8. Anonymous3 June 2013 at 06:55

    Thank you for mentioning and making my cake. Yours look lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 June 2013 at 09:29

      And thank you! It's delicious - its hours (not days) are numbered ;)

      Delete
  9. Anna3 June 2013 at 08:42

    Now that rhubarb and ginger crumble looks most moreish VP. Thanks for the invitation to afternoon tea and for such a unique
    idea :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP3 June 2013 at 09:33

      And everyone needs to rush over to you to see that amazing slice of cake! Impressive gardens too :)

      Delete
  10. Andrea Mynard3 June 2013 at 10:30

    Lovely looking cake and I love the idea of cake saving the day, especially in a garden with coffee. So lovely to have sunshine in the garden, to enjoy gardening and cake too - must get baking and join in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:46

      Andrea - welcome! The warm weather continues it would be great if you joined us :)

      Delete
  11. Anonymous3 June 2013 at 16:49

    Quite obviously I should have looked for a rhubarb cake! Thank you for hosting this. I feel great things coming next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:48

      'tis the season for Rhubarb, Helen. At least everyone will have plenty of ideas of what to do with theirs :)

      Great to see you took the opportunity to explore a new garden over at yours.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous3 June 2013 at 17:06

    That was good fun - despite my cake... thanks, Michelle!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:49

      Kate - my favourite cake is chocolate and I would have been delighted to sample yours :)

      Delete
  13. Karen - Artists Garden3 June 2013 at 17:25

    Yum, that cake looks good VP :)
    My post is up, thank you for a fun Bloggers Cut - we had such a nice afternoon
    K

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:50

      I'm so pleased the opportunity was taken for a get together with Dobby and Kate - exactly the kinda thing I'd hoped would happen.

      Delete
  14. Dobby3 June 2013 at 19:50

    Thanks for doing this VP. At least I got a very nice slice (or 2 actually) of cake after getting very smelly in Karen's pond!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:51

      That pond was very 'productive' wasn't it? Did Karen compost the contents after all the little creatures had had the chance to crawl back into the pond?

      You certainly earned your slice of cake!

      Delete
  15. Anna B3 June 2013 at 22:39

    Hello Michelle! Thanks for the invite into The Bloggers Cut! It was just the boost I needed to actually publish a blog instead of starting one and never finishing!!! I love the idea of the rhubarb cake! Really interested in the Chelsea Fringe too, I'd not heard of it before and it sounds very, very cool. Hope all is good with you!
    Anna B :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:53

      Hi Anna - I'm fine thanks :)

      I'm really pleased you've got your blogging mojo back. Look out for some more 'events' in a few months time - ideas to help winter along a bit and keep the fun in blogging.

      Delete
  16. Gaz3 June 2013 at 23:35

    Great idea VP, and well done on bringing us the lovely weather at the weekend too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:55

      And you took great advantage of it Gaz - I love the jewel-like colours of your new pots.

      Delete
  17. suburban veg gardener4 June 2013 at 11:27

    What a fabulous collection of cakes! Mine's another rhubarb and ginger combo - definitely the season for it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:55

      It's an excellent combo, Jules. I hope your exams go well.

      Delete
  18. Caro4 June 2013 at 16:23

    My cake was almost a rhubarb cake but, pushed for time, I went with what I had in the kitchen rather than trotting off to harvest my friend's rhubarb - my own plant being a bit too small still. It was lovely to be a part of both Cake Sundays - I enjoyed a brilliant afternoon at 'Veg Street'!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 08:57

      I really wanted to come to Veg Street too! I'm so pleased to see how it went via yours and Veronica's posts. I'm also going to have a go at making your lemon and polenta cake :)

      Delete
  19. Anonymous5 June 2013 at 10:41

    I just discovered your 52 Week Salad Challenge page - brilliant idea which I will definitely be having a go at, then I clicked on your latest post and found this great idea for what to do with the rhubarb that's been sitting in my fridge for a couple of days - thank you for lots of inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 09:00

      Hello and welcome! Lovely to have another salad challenger on board :)

      Yes, there's more to rhubarb than just crumble!

      Delete
  20. Janet/Plantaliscious5 June 2013 at 13:28

    Bother, bother, bother, I has such good intentions for joining in with this, but the visitors ate all the cake and stole all my energy. That crumble cake looks as if it would solve the second though, scrummy...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 09:01

      I hope you give it a go Janet. Shame you couldn't join in, but understandable. We have friends coming from Oz this weekend, which has scuppered my plans on going to the Fringe event in Bristol.

      Delete
  21. Wife, Mother, Gardener7 June 2013 at 02:35

    Lovely idea! Wish could have a piece of yours- yum. We made a white cake with strawberry icing (from real puree) and topped with whipped cream for our garden party a few weeks ago.... still dreaming about that one :)
    ~Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 09:02

      Wow, that sounds delicious, Julie! Thanks for Following :)

      Delete
  22. VP7 June 2013 at 09:05

    Nice comment from 'Aaron' - who has other names elsewhere when commenting on the blog:

    Nothing better than this, a warm cake and piping hot cup of coffee, so suitable and enjoyable in this beautiful weather.

    NB if you're using Veg Plotting for SEO purposes, Blogger inserts your link with the No Follow attribute, so you're wasting your time.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sarah Salway7 June 2013 at 15:25

    Lovely idea, thank you! And because I'm 'late' then I get to eat everyone else's too. Right? Oh wait,there's nothing left. Not even a crumb...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP7 June 2013 at 20:48

      Lovely to see you Sarah! You're in luck - we have friends arriving tomorrow from Oz, so I'm making another :)

      Delete
  24. Margaret7 June 2013 at 23:13

    Cakes and gardens are always a great combination. Sorry my pics are so useless on my blog and I didn't even take a pic of the scones and jam, but we had a lovely day out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP12 June 2013 at 11:28

      The day out and enjoying your cream tea for real are what counts Margaret. Your photos are fine :)

      Delete
  25. colleen9 June 2013 at 23:58

    Just about managed to squeeze in with the Victoria Sponges at Abbey Gardens Chelsea Fringe event on Saturday.

    We managed to squeeze in six Eat London Open Squares Gardens today too. Lots of cakes there too along with the veg and flowers, but simply couldn't manage any more and so whacked after riding round that I'll have to write it up later.

    Thanks for organising the Blogger's Cut, Veep.

    ReplyDelete
  26. colleen10 June 2013 at 00:01

    PS My favourite cake would probably be something like carrot cake, or apple cake, nothing too sweet for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP12 June 2013 at 11:29

      Colleen, thanks so much for joining in - great to have the perspective from a real life cake judge :)

      Delete

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