Rebecca is totally right. Citrus fruit is a great antidote to winter blues. I had a lot of clementines and a burning desire to make cake - Nigella's clementine cake. And then it seemed like fun to poke a sparkler in it. Just for extra joy.
Does that not make the winter blues seem far away? There is such childish pleasure to be had from sparklers. I am a big fan.
Though I do have a slightly chequered sparkler past to confess to. Way back in the dawn of the new Millennium (in the era before children) we were planning a party for New Year's Eve. It needed some kind of special centrepiece. Something to mark the occasion. As a nation, the Milennium Dome was deemed the appropriate choice.
Good enough for the nation? It must be good enough for us. So we recreated it in the living room, in the form of a Baked Alaska (we were so damn classy in those days). And for those big yellow struts? You guessed it, whacking great sparklers. To be lit on the first stroke of midnight on the dawn of a new century.
Which is how we came to spend the first half hour of 2000 on the front lawn of the house, with all the doors and windows open, trying to get rid of the noxious smoke that had filled the whole of downstairs. Crying with champagne fueled laughter. Who knew you weren't meant to use outdoor sparklers inside?
Thankfully, the new millennium has brought with it the advent of the indoor sparkler.
So much more civilized. And in the dinkiest box, to boot. So there is no excuse not to spread a little sparkly joy.
I was burned pretty badly by a sparkler when I was a child, so I am a bit gun shy, but that pretty tin might be enough to face the fear. The cake looks delicious too.
Posted by: Jennifer | 27 January 2010 at 20:37
I love sparklers too! We forgot to buy any at Guy Fawkes so I was like a little pouty kid looking at all the other people who had them. (Though can understand why Jennifer is saying she's gun shy of them... they do burn hot!)
Posted by: Zoe, Conversation Pieces | 27 January 2010 at 20:51
These are very sophisticated sparklers- last time I tried to sparkle a cake I used a supposed-non-toxic-everyone-friendly thing from local Party Shop. Wicked thing wouldn't light, let alone sparkle! I presume these are Internet sourced??!
Posted by: magsmcc | 27 January 2010 at 21:16
Oo indoor sparklers how wonderful
Posted by: TheMadHouse | 27 January 2010 at 21:28
I love the sparklers! But I can't find them in the US. :-( Anyone know where I might find them over here? Or online? The company you linked to is lovely...but they don't ship to the US, sadly.
Posted by: Holly | 27 January 2010 at 21:38
I like the sound of indoor sparklers! I trust they're more impressive than the indoor fireworks we used to play with as students ...
Posted by: dottycookie | 27 January 2010 at 21:44
I've never seen indoor sparklers before!
must. find. before next birthday!
Posted by: kirsten | 27 January 2010 at 22:04
How Fun! Indoor sparklers must be a UK phenomenon? I googled to find a source here in the US and got lots of sparkler "not for indoor use" warnings. Maybe when we grow up, we can have indoor sparklers too!!!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 27 January 2010 at 22:56
Your NYE party sounded fun! I probably would have used outdoor ones inside too.
I love that small box of sparklers, very sweet. There's something mesmerising about sparklers isn't there?
Posted by: Deb | 27 January 2010 at 22:57
Certainly does send the winter blues away!!
Love the indoor sparklers, even though I am not a big fan of them really, but brightens things up :-)
Posted by: anne | 27 January 2010 at 23:30
What a beautiful photo! When it loaded unto my screen a felt a little ping of surprise. The cake sounds delicious... I must get some sparklers in for a special little man's birthday next week. A x
Posted by: little pink room | 27 January 2010 at 23:46
Domesticali: Unrelated but fun story (bear with me): I think I found the Dorset Cereals site through your blog (little blog awards, maybe) and I played some of their games, and LO AND BEHOLD I WON A CEREAL PACK AT SPIN THE BOTTLE! However, since I live in the US, I didn't think I'd get one. . . but it arrived today, with an email message saying that no, they don't plan to ship to the US but since I'd won, they did (but please not again). Isn't that a nice gesture? The cereals look terrific, the boxes are gorgeous, even, and I am touched and delighted. Thought I'd share the news. . . tho if I didn't run into Dorset through your blog, sign me off as an oddball and forgive me!
Posted by: Becky | 28 January 2010 at 00:16
It's the little things that make us happy, cake,sparklers, perfect.
Lisa x
Posted by: Lisa | 28 January 2010 at 07:11
That cake looks lush! Went to check the recipe, and I was quite surprised to see you have to cook the clementines for 2 hours and then blitz everything! Will definitely have to try it soon!
Posted by: Petit Filoux | 28 January 2010 at 08:34
Your cake looks delicious! I love whole-orange cake, and a whole-clementine cake sounds even nicer.
And must have a look for indoor sparklers. I've never seen them before...
And at least the New Years escapade makes for a very good story!
K x
Posted by: kristina | 28 January 2010 at 09:09
Love the milleneum sparkler story! Also rather taken with that beautiful little tin of sparklers - how sophisticated!
Posted by: Gina | 28 January 2010 at 09:37
fantastic!
Posted by: joanna | 28 January 2010 at 09:37
Ooooh they are really pretty! We of course have a ban on fireworks although I think we are allowed sparklers and indoor ones sound just perfect! And yum - one of my fave cakes!
Posted by: Louise | 28 January 2010 at 10:22
I just love your cake with sparkler photo ♥
My bad sparkler story is the time that my younger brother poked me with a lit sparkler and it got stuck to my thumb because it melted the skin around it. Yum.
Posted by: Heather | 28 January 2010 at 10:26
Sounds like you had great parties! We spent the Millenium New Year with friends but all had the flu so no wild house burning antics from us!
Love sparklers and hog them on Bonfire Night!
Posted by: French Knots | 28 January 2010 at 10:36
I made that cake a couple of weeks ago, was yummy!
I am also addicted to sparklers, they make everything fun.
Posted by: Laurie | 28 January 2010 at 10:45
I find that cake freezes well too btw :)
Posted by: alice | 28 January 2010 at 11:35
Fantastic story and I am so glad you can now fulfill that urge for indoor fireworks in safety.
I remember when I was a child that my dad once bought a whole set of indoor fireworks which we set up on a tray on the dining table! I am pretty sure these are illegal now, along with so much 1970's fun.
Posted by: Rebecca | 28 January 2010 at 11:40
I'm a big fan of Nigella's clementine cake. Haven't made one in a while but now you've given me the urge get some citrus fruit on the boil again. And the indoor sparklers look great - might need to treat myself to some for my birthday.
Posted by: Lynne | 28 January 2010 at 11:47
What a great little cake topper!! I have a friend who's 40th will be on this coming New Years Day. THIS is perfect.
Posted by: Anna - Three Sneaky Bugs | 28 January 2010 at 12:15
sparklers on a cake... once you've done it for one child... there's no going back!!
that cake looks delicious... must try it. Can you let me know which book is it from, please?
Posted by: monica | 28 January 2010 at 13:47
Delicious looking cake, and yes, sparklers are great fun! We always add one to the birthdays cakes in our house. Everyone has to sit back a bit before blowing any candles out, lol!
Posted by: Lisa | 28 January 2010 at 14:41
What a fantastic sparkler story Ali - not one you'll ever forget! Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | 28 January 2010 at 16:13
Inside sparklers and clementine cake???? IRRESISTIBLE!!!! -- Allison
Posted by: Allison | 28 January 2010 at 18:39
Sparklers are one of my all time favourite things, I get quite giddy!
And I had some of that cake, Laurie (badsparklythings) made it for a visit here a few weeks ago. It didn't last long! She made a delicious clementine curd from a Jamie Oliver recipe too, delish.
Posted by: Annie | 28 January 2010 at 19:49
Sparklers are my favorite! But possibly illegal here except on Independence Day. Drat!
Posted by: Lynn | 29 January 2010 at 06:22
Please tell me you have pics to share of that baked alaska millennium dome - it sounds fantastic. I was left frankly terrified of sparklers after those public information ads they screened in the 80s- remember the child who reaches out a mittened hand for the just-dead sparkler? the stuff of nightmares!
Cake looks delicious.
Posted by: Helen | 29 January 2010 at 16:22
cake AND sparklers? what more could you want!
Posted by: lazylol | 30 January 2010 at 13:32
that little sparkler box is soooo pretty - mind you, I put them on my daughter's cake for her sixteenth last year & one fell out & scorched my new kitchen table !
My friend said very tactfully at my mortified face, " It's the first of many scars which tell a story around this kitchen table " Lovely !
I have sent off my seven days of February gifts - and I'm glad you enjoyed my ghost story !
Posted by: Penny | 31 January 2010 at 09:17
Is that cake in 'How to Eat'? I just bought a second hand copy. Perhaps I should be less lazy and go and look!
I have a memory of indoor fireworks as a child. Our favourite was 'the cobra'. When the little tablet was lit a ghastly snake-ish thing grew out. Disgusting but gleeful.
Posted by: Emma | 31 January 2010 at 10:21
your cake looks delicious, all yummily rippled with orange zest and the sparkler is the perfect finishing touch! Had to giggle at your millenium dome recreation - certainly made for a memorable new year!
Posted by: Julie | 31 January 2010 at 11:15
Wonderful pictures!
Your post made me remember a sparkler story I haven't thought of in years and years and years. One New Year's, when I was in 9th grade, my friends and I lit sparkler's in a friend's front hallway and the sparks fell on the beautiful hardwood floor and burned little black holes in it. Needless to say, my friend's mother was not pleased.
Boy, I'd forgotten all about that! Or else repressed it ...
frances
Posted by: frances | 01 February 2010 at 15:02
What a fabulous photo! I want sparklers for all future cakes.
Posted by: Katherine | 24 February 2010 at 16:47