Fantasy Bakes

Give a writer a gift; a villain as old as Batman with no name or origins upon which they may create a character. The Joker has the potential to become to future generations of actor as defining a role as any Shakespearean villain. I love each and every Joker just a little in his own special way and would love to bake a cake for The Joker. In this episode of Fantasy Bakes, I discuss The Joker as seen on screen and take my film degree out for a spin. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on Apple Podcasts by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. Joaquin Phoenix – the first actor to earn a Best Actor OSCAR nomination for playing a comicbook character? Of course, these are just my humble opinions. Who is your favourite on-screen Joker? I cannot decide but prefer to pick according to my mood. Cesar Romero for fun and giggles Jack Nicholson for twisted weirdness from an OSCAR winning actor Heath Ledger for disturbing brilliance in an OSCAR winning performance – Best Supporting Actor awarded posthumously  Jared Leto for when I want to upset the film critics – Suicide Squad wasn’t the best film I have ever seen, but it wasn’t the worst, and The Joker was in it You can read my blog post dedicated to Adam West here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Adam West You can listen to the episode of Fantasy Bakes dedicated to Superman here: Fantasy Bakes: Superman Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

She is the Queen of Burlesque and a style icon. If Dita Von Teese has made any other woman feel as good about themselves as she has made me feel – though her embracing of her looks and celebration of her body – then she deserves all the cake! You see, it’s not about how big or small, how tanned or pale you are, but how fabulous you feel. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on Apple Podcasts by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. The art of Burlesque is one that has been close to my heart for many years and was the inspiration for my first book Burlesque Baking (Ryland Peters & Small, 2014). In this book, I created a cake inspired by Dita’s ‘Powder Puff’ routine and also for many other equally amazing performers. You can read the original blog post that inspired this episode here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Dita Von Teese You can get my recipe for the Lemon Drizzle Cake that I would bake for Dita Von Teese here: Lemon Drizzle Cake Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

I’ve always lacked the nerve to meet my heroes and had always believed that you should never meet them. Then I met my Husband whose love of The Cure led to precious time spent with the band over the last 30+ years, which makes me question my stance on this. The Cure are icons and are also surprisingly lovely. I would love to bake them a cake… again. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. This episode is extra special because it features an interview with my Husband Chris White, co-author of The Cure’s official fanzine Cure News. Chris has known the band since 1985 and, along with Janie Webber, worked tirelessly to share their incredible access to the band with fans across the world in the days before the internet and social media made these things instant and easy. Chris helps Robert Smith organise his set lists This episode is a love letter to the band and to the fans, friends that I have made along the way. The kitten was not sent as fan mail, he’s just helping with the opening of it You can read the original blog post that inspired this episode here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Robert Smith You can get my recipe for the Victoria Sponge that I would bake for The Cure here: Victoria Sponge Cake You can listen to the exclusive playlist that Chris has curated (Cure-ated?) for you on Spotify by clicking here or streaming below: It’s the perfect introduction to the band if you have only ever listened to Friday I’m In Love on the radio. Believe me, The Cure are so much more than their biggest commercial hit – even though it is a brilliant tune! Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

She-Ra was something different; she was a girl like I was a girl. The 1980s original She-Ra may be far from woke but the overall image of a woman saving the day was a good one to grow up on. This is the story of She-Ra and of one little girl growing up believing that she too could defeat the forces of evil with a sword and a unicorn. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. He gets a tiger on steroids, she gets a unicorn wearing a ribbon I would love to bake a cake for She-Ra. I’d make her my White Chocolate & Raspberry Cheesecake because… well… it’s super pink. If you have never seen an episode of 1980s She-Ra, here are the opening titles to catch you up. They are pretty self-explanatory! And because I promised you Skeletor, here is a brilliant compilation of the most maniacal villain ever to be drawn. He is bad, he’s drawn that way. You can read the original blog post that inspired this episode here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… She-Ra Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

You wanted the best and you got the best… the hottest band in the world: KISS! I am a proud member of the KISS Army and joined my fellow cadets watching this amazing band bid a fiery farewell to worldwide touring. What is it about KISS that makes them so special? You will have to listen as I explain why it is that I love them so. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. Take nothing seriously but the music… rock’n’roll! I would love to bake a cake for KISS, all members both past and present. You can get the recipe for the (blood) Red Velvet Cake that I would bake for the band by clicking here. You can also listen to some of the songs that I reference in this episode in a very special Spotify playlist that I have curated for you. It is only ten songs and it was AGONY limiting myself to this arbitrary quota! Go to the playlist on Spotify by clicking here or stream from this page below: You can read the original blog post that inspired this episode here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… KISS Rock on, you gorgeous lot, and bury me in a KISS Kasket when I am dead and gone… I’m not making this up; KISS have their own branded coffin which plays KISS tunes to your corpse until the battery runs out presumably. Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

As host of the Emmy Award winning RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul has done so much over the past decade to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ people and issues on TV. As a cis-gender straight woman who sees herself as an ally, being afforded the chance to peak behind the velvet curtain and learn is something that I am grateful to Mama Ru for. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. RuPaul says that we are all ‘born naked and the rest is drag.’ Girl, can I get an amen up in here? I would love to bake a cake for RuPaul this Pride Month and any day of the mother-tucking year! Here’s a cheeky rainbow number that I whipped up for one of the legal firms who passed the Marriage Equality Act here in the UK. Yes, I’m showing off because I am proud! Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

Loving Marilyn Monroe is bitter sweet; no-one can make me laugh like she can and I have wanted to look like her when I grow up ever since I can remember. I would kill for her wardrobe but I would not want to walk in her shoes. There are so many reasons why I would love to bake a cake for Marilyn Monroe. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. Expect light and shade in this episode. The recipe for the Mississippi Mud Pie that I would bake for Marilyn is here: Mississippi Mud Pie You can see the cakes that I have designed inspired by Marilyn here: My Marilyn Monroe Cake in this month’s Sainsbury’s Magazine! And here: Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

As we celebrate 30 years of Take That, this is a love letter to a band that has been present in my life since I was ten years old. Take That have managed to anticipate every stage of my life and hitch themselves to that waggon. This is rare in a band. There has been music that has been present but none that has so followed me. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. I love Take That now… … maybe even more than I loved them then. The recipe for the Salted Caramel Millionaire’s Shortbread that I would bake for the boys is here: Salted Caramel Millionaire’s Shortbread You can read the blog post that inspired this week’s podcast here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Take That This is also a love letter to my best friend, Kate Baxter, whose blog Fabric of My Life turns ten in May! Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

She may be a fictional character but that makes her no less inspirational. The lead character in Legally Blonde, Elle Woods sets an example of working hard to overcome adversity, carving out your own space in the world, and being successful on your own terms. Her example proved invaluable to me when I slipped into a terrible funk a few weeks back. I was so sad that I could not even write, which made me feel worse. Why? Well, the reason is as daft as I was for letting it get to me! Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. The recipe for the Key Lime Pie that I would love to share with Elle Woods is here: Key Lime Pie You can read the blog post that inspired this week’s podcast here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Elle Woods Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

Hers is the voice of hope, resistance, and resilience in the face of despair. Hers was the voice of comfort to those away fighting and to those on the homefront. In terms of Fantasy Bakes, Dame Vera Lynn is one of those national treasures who I hold so dear. Many of us will have known her voice passed down to us from the Wartime generation – our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents if lucky enough to know them. This week’s episode of the podcast is very special as I have baked a cake for Dame Vera Lynn… twice! I tell the story of both cakes and what baking them meant to me. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. I was lucky enough to meet the living legend – the phone picture is blurry but the memory ever-vivid. Here is Dame Vera with the cake that I made for her 95th Birthday in March 2012. And here I am with the cake that I delivered to the London Palladium for Dame Vera’s 100th Birthday celebrations in March 2017. Dress by The House of Foxy (Click for details) The recipe for the Lemon Drizzle Cake that I made for Dame Vera is here: Lemon Drizzle Cake You can read the blog post that inspired this week’s podcast here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Dame Vera Lynn Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

Hers is the voice of hope, resistance, and resilience in the face of despair. Hers was the voice of comfort to those away fighting and to those on the homefront. In terms of Fantasy Bakes, Dame Vera Lynn is one of those national treasures who I hold so dear. Many of us will have known her voice passed down to us from the Wartime generation – our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents if lucky enough to know them. This week’s episode of the podcast is very special as I have baked a cake for Dame Vera Lynn… twice! I tell the story of both cakes and what baking them meant to me. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. I was lucky enough to meet the living legend – the phone picture is blurry but the memory ever-vivid. Here is Dame Vera with the cake that I made for her 95th Birthday in March 2012. And here I am with the cake that I delivered to the London Palladium for Dame Vera’s 100th Birthday celebrations in March 2017. Dress by The House of Foxy (Click for details) The recipe for the Lemon Drizzle Cake that I made for Dame Vera is here: Lemon Drizzle Cake You can read the blog post that inspired this week’s podcast here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Dame Vera Lynn Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

The story of Nell Gwyn was the Cinderella tale of it’s age, the actress who captured the heart of a King. Over 300 years of storytelling, Nell Gwyn has become something of a mythical creature with whom I am entirely fascinated. In this week’s episode of Fantasy Bakes, I tell tales of Nell Gwyn and exploring why her legend endures. Is there something in her story that is still relevant in the 21st Century? Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. My opening remarks include the tale of this wonderful picture. It is a signed promotional shot by Anna Neagle in the title role of Nell Gwyn (Herbert Wilcox, 1934). Cedric Hardwicke and Anna Neagle in Nell Gwyn (Herbert Wilcox, 1934) I’ve already made a cake inspired by King Charles II (and, arguably, every cake that I have made as Restoration Cake has a little of his influence). You can read all about it by clicking on the picture. For Nell Gwyn, I would make a version of my Mint Chocolate After Dinner Tarte with the mint flavours substituted for orange flavours. This is easy enough to do – just switch out the Mint Oreos in the base for regular Oreos and change the mint extract for orange extract or Cointreau. You can read the blog post that inspired this week’s podcast here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Nell Gwyn Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

Groucho Marx may as well have been a blood relative – I saw more of him growing up than I did of many family members! You think I am exaggerating? Ask my parents and my little Brother. We watched Marx Brothers films all the time and I have always found it difficult to share this passion with my peers as I understand how strange it was to be watching such old movies as a child. A few years ago, I attended a double bill of Marx Bros movies in a cinema – watching these with an audience of other people who laugh BEFORE the jokes, was a joy from start to finish. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. Old movies gave me my sense of style AND my sense of humour and it is this that I am grateful to Groucho Marx, and the Marx Brothers for. I would love to bake a Red Velvet Cake for Groucho Marx and you can get my recipe by clicking here. In the podcast, I mentioned a few clips which I would like to share with you if you have never watched a Marx Brothers movie before. Have a look at these… That’s the benefit of working with your siblings, right there! Here’s Harpo Marx doing what he does best… OK, one more but I imagine the current President singing this song all the time. You can read the blog posts that inspired this week’s podcast here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Groucho Marx and here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… All the Marx Bros Blondes Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx  

Are you surprised that I am a fan of Lady Gaga? No, I thought not. I admire hard work more than anything so, watching Gaga’s OSCAR acceptance speech, in which she reminded everyone at home that success needs working at, made me love her even more. Maybe it’s time to revisit those platinum bangs that I had in 2009… Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. You can watch Lady Gaga’s acceptance speech here. And you can watch Gaga slay the Superbowl here. Yes Gaga! YAAAAAS GAGA!!! You can read the blog post that inspired this week’s podcast here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Stefani Germanotta Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

In September 2012 the bones of King Richard III were discovered beneath a council car park in Leicester. This discovery has enabled us to look into the face of a man who has suffered from one heck of a bad PR campaign over the last 500 years. We are now able to reconsider the History books using all of the tools that modern science has provided. This discovery was the result of historical research, and scientific knowledge imparted by many but the driving force behind making any of this happen was Philippa Langley of the Richard III Society. You have to be seriously bloody-minded to make something like this happen. Because of her dedication and determination we have been able to look into the face of the last King to have been killed in battle. Sorry, I should have said Philippa Langley MBE as her incredible work was swiftly recognised by the Queen. Listen and subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes by clicking here. Listen and follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify by clicking here. You can read the blog post that inspired this week’s podcast here: http://www.restorationcake.com/i-would-love-to-bake-a-cake-for-philippa-langley/ And I feel that I should add a few additional links for you to explore; you can visit the King Richard III Society here: http://www.richardiii.net and the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester here: https://www.kriii.com Share far and wide and tell everyone that you know and don’t forget to let me know who YOU would love to bake a cake for on social media using the hashtag #fantasybakes Stay gorgeous! Cxx

Can you be a true fan if you enjoy watching a tribute band? I love David Bowie and I love Absolute Bowie. I believe that a good tribute band is a very good thing and that a great tribute band is to be cherished and enjoyed as often as possible. There is a magic in live performance of music – now that David Bowie is gone, it cannot simply be over. What about the new fans? The ones that were born too late? Do we just shrug our shoulders and say ‘hard cheese’? Photo credit: Victoria Kahl The link to the original blog post that inspired this week’s podcast is here: http://www.restorationcake.com/i-would-love-to-bake-a-cake-for-absolute-bowie/ And you can read about the time I baked a cake for Tony Visconti here: http://www.restorationcake.com/i-would-love-to-bake-a-cake-for-tony-visconti/ Don’t forget to subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes, adding a 5-star rating or a review if you are feeling generous, or follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify if you prefer. Do both! Treat yourself. Stay gorgeous! Cxx

In this week’s Fantasy Bake, I would love to bake a cake for Christopher Reeve AKA Superman. The two are entirely interchangeable to me. I’m using my expensive film degree to express my adoration for Superman: The Movie (Richard Donner, 1978) and the man who will forever embody truth, justice, and the American way. I think we all need heroes, especially ones who are so universally good, to help us be the best version of ourselves. If you have never seen the movie that I bang on about for 20 minutes, you should click here right now… The link to the original blog post that inspired this week’s podcast is here: http://www.restorationcake.com/i-would-love-to-bake-a-cake-for-christopher-reeve/ And I’ve also shared some love for Batman AKA Adam West here: http://www.restorationcake.com/i-would-love-to-bake-a-cake-for-adam-west/ Don’t forget to subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes, adding a 5-star rating or a review if you are feeling generous, or follow Fantasy Bakes on Spotify if you prefer. Stay gorgeous! Cxx

The soundtrack to my adolescence and the last of the great British analogue music scenes, Britpop was a movement in which being a girl in a band started to feel normal. I would love to bake a cake for… Louise Wener and the women of Britpop. This podcast also features an interview with the legendary DJ, Steve Lamacq. You can read the original blog posts that inspired this podcast here: I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Louise Wener & Sleeper  I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Steve Lamacq  Strong female role models; may we have them, may we be them, may we inspire them. Sonya Maden (Echobelly), Justine Frischmann (Elastica), and Louise Wener (Sleeper) Remember to subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes and give it a 5-star rating if you are feeling particularly generous. Stay gorgeous! Cxx

It seems fitting to begin this podcast series at the beginning and begin where I began, with my very first Fantasy Bake. I would love to bake a cake for… Nigella Lawson. You can read the original blog posts that inspired this podcast here: On Idolatry I Would Love to Bake a Cake for… Nigella Lawson On Idolatry Again We all need someone to look up to. Remember to subscribe to Fantasy Bakes on iTunes and give it a 5-star rating if you are feeling particularly generous. Stay gorgeous! Cxx

It would be rude to start a podcast without introducing myself properly, right? In this introductory episode, I introduce myself and Fantasy Bakes in the hope that you will join me on this feeder’s flight of fancy. Listen and subscribe on iTunes today to be the first to hear new episodes coming soon. Stay gorgeous! Cxx