Patty cake, patty cake, bakers man.......

This past week has been all about kindergarten. Petal goes to a wonderful community kindergarten, which means that there is a great deal of parent involvement.

I am the kindergarten librarian (that's one gold star) which is generally a pretty cushy job except for on book order weeks. Those weeks I roll my hair into a bun, don my specs and say "Shhhh children, mummy is trying to concentrate," and lets face it, post-pregnancy my brain doesn't seem to steamroller along in quite the same capacity as it once did.

On Tuesday we had a kindergarten excursion to the local Police Station (2nd gold star for being a parent helper). The kids had a lovely time and we all now know which little boy is already slurping on a cold beer and which mummy has a lead foot. No secrets with four year olds I tell you.

Wednesday night was our monthly committee meeting. These two hour plus meetings were pretty good when we started out, there were cakes and bickies and even a glass of wine. Now you're lucky to grab a lamington and a cup of coffee, sad times indeed. But we're a committed bunch, so if we can solve the crisis of the rut in the dirt next to the new soft-fall path, by jingo, we will, cake or no cake.

Friday I grabbed my apron and wooden spoon and baked up a storm (well, a mini-storm, one has to exercise some restraint, wouldn't want to show up the other mothers, would I ?) A delicious chocolate cake with dark ganache icing and a batch of pineapple and raisin muffins for the kindergarten cake stall (3rd gold star). Yummo. It was a touch cruel filling the house with the delectable aroma of baked goods and then informing the kids that this batch wasn't for them, but I'll make it up to them. A certain young artist has a birthday just around the corner, yay for birthday cake.

There's just something wonderful about a bowl of glossy, melted chocolate.

Naked cake *blush* and a batch of cooling muffins.

Voila, I have to admit I was rather happy with the end result. I have learnt to be patient with my ganache and allow it to cool to the correct consistency (first time I was too busy laughing as it dribbled everywhere) and I thought the white chocolate curls were quite pretty.

Now I have to go and get ready to help man the cake stall (4th gold star). Kindy, kindy, kindy, oi, oi, oi.