July 23

How-to: Hogwarts Houses Cake

Hogwarts Cake

Darla at Bakingdom.com clearly put a fair bit of work into the delicious looking Harry Potter cake, but the result looks spectacular. It’s a cake that caters for each house of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, at least in colours if not in volume! Darla has written out full instructions in the post – including recipes for the Spice Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting – should you want to give this a go. So check it out, along with some other of her great Hogwarts themed goodies here: Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts Cake.

Now all we need is a spell for removing cakey goodness from one’s hips! Skinnyramus!

December 24

Twas Knitting Before Christmas

Twas Knitting Before Christmas

Twas knitting before Christmas, when all through the castle
Not a creature was stirring, not even a thestral.
The stockings were hung in the Great Hall with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The professors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of butterbeers danced in their heads.
And Dumbledore dreaming of knitted socks,
And Hagrid of having cakes as hard as a rock.

When out on the staircase there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Past Filch and Mrs Norris who ran mad as hatters
To find that Professor Staarkatt had yarn and a pattern.

Fresh off the needles in various colors
Each pair just what the head of houses would order.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But miniature house scarfs to hang from your ears!

Burgundy and gold or green and silver
Other house color combinations so familiar
All it takes is needles in size zero
And a bit of perle cotton for your rows

“Now Hufflepuff! now, Gryffindor! Ravenclaw and Slytherin!
A wonderful way to finish your Hogwarts gift giving!
To the top of the towers! to the ends of the hall!
Now knit a pair! Knit two pair! Knit them for all!

As she posted the pattern, Professor Staarkatt did shout
“Make sure there’s a pair for McGonagall and Sprout!”
But I heard her exclaim, ‘ere she apparated out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all and just knit through the night!”