Shits & Giggles

On Saturday morning I was faced with a critical decision...should I take something out of the freezer for dinner tonight or should I decorate a cake...

As you can see I choose the cake and my darling husband cooked dinner both Saturday AND Sunday night!!

There was no real reason to bake and decorate a cake other than I wanted to (and after Lexi's sloppy princess cake I wanted to redeem myself). So Saturday morning I set out on my mission. Baking the cakes was easy...thanks to Pillsbury ( yes, I cheated and used a cake mix...it is the weekend!) and I knew I wanted to do a purple and white cake so the hard part...decision making...was over! When I sat down to do the crumb coat (you know the first layer of icing) my hubby walked by and asked "what's that cake for?". To which I replied "Shits and giggles.". He then requested that I write that on the cake which is about the same time I reminded him how completely ridiculous he can be :)! Men, what do they know about pretty purple cakes....humph!

Decorating the cake itself went pretty well. I think I did a pretty good job getting the buttercream nice and smooth. I also think I did pretty good keeping those dots in a straight line on the top tier... I didn't mark the cake or space it or anything fancy I just sat down and started piping. It's when I went to decorate the top of the cake that I was at a loss. I didn't want to try my hand at piping flowers and I just can't warm up to the fondant and gum paste. I know, I know...gum paste and fondant flowers can be beautiful, I just can't stand the taste and I prefer cakes where all parts taste good. I did however, (in my effort to overcome my distaste for fondant) place fondant ribbons along the bottom edges of the cake, but I ended up piping almost all the way over them in order to hide a small gap between the layers caused from the cake board so I guess they really didn't need to be there...oh well, I tried! So what should I put on the top of the cake was the question of the hour. After much thought and consideration I finally decided I too can be just as ridiculous as my hubby...and I kind of like it that way :)

I'd love to hear what everyone else does for "shits and giggles", you know after the laundry's finished and the house has been cleaned (or in my case when you turn a blind eye to the laundry and the housework). Leave me a comment and maybe I'll add it to my next cake...I am always looking for inspiration :) !

Brides, Birthdays and Barack

Brides: My friend Denise asked me to make some cupcakes for her sisters bridal shower and of course I was happy to do so. The bride-to-be requested no chocolate because she didn't want to risk having it in her teeth during the party. I couldn't help but chuckle over this one only because since becoming a mother I have had things in my teeth, hair and all over my cloths and at some point your just like "ah screw it"!! But you are only a bride once (at least we all hope) so you should have it your way! So vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream it was. The wedding colors are going to be black and ivory so I used black ribbon on the cupcake tower and added some grated chocolate to the tops of the cupcakes and I think the end result was simple and classy. I do hope she enjoyed them and I wish her many happy wedding wishes!

Birthdays: The 15th was my little ones birthday...she turned 4 (wiping tear from eye). I had wanted to make her a Tinker Bell version of a princess castle cake with butterflies and flowers (per her request...at one point she wanted a Batman on top with Tinkerbell...because "they got married"????). I was planning on using the Wilton Romantic Castle Cake set as a template only with Rice Krispie treats in place of the plastic pieces. But after a day at Disney and too many jello-shots at a friend's birthday party I just didn't have it in me so I modified the plan. I had already made some fondant flowers and butterflies and had planned on painting some details on them and adding a little luster dust to make them sparkle (neither of which I have ever done but really want to!) but ended up just using them as is. I also totally cheated and used a boxed cake mix and only made one cake of each size rather than the 2 you really should make (like I said to many jello shots!) While I was not totally thrilled with the end result (it might just be cake wreck worthy...LOL) the birthday girl LOVED it and at the end of the day that's all the counts.

Barack: Well, what can I say. While I did not vote for Obama and may not vote for him should he be up for re-election in 4-years I can recognize the historical significance of his being elected and sworn in. I think what strikes me the most is the energy his campaign and inauguration has brought to this country and to the rest of the world. It is the first time in my life when I have seen such enthusiasm surrounding a presidential candidate and in the political arena in general and for positive reasons. And it's not just those that voted for him who are enthusiastic and hopeful that he will be able to bring the change that he speaks of. I watched the inauguration with my daughter the other day and she brought me her recorder (you know like a flute) and told me to play music for her every time she walked by like they were doing on TV...she then told me "I want to be the President when I grow up". I paused for a moment and then I replied "baby if that's what you want to do then you can." and when I said it I meant it and believed in it as a real possibility. As parents we try and raise our children to believe that they can do whatever they set their minds to but often in the back of our minds we think or know that the chances of these things happening are limited but now it seems the tables are turning and doing what you want is a real possibility for all people. Now who among us can deny the excitement in that!

I had a little extra time the other day before picking up my little one from pre-school so I swung in to Homegoods to see what treasures I could find. I rounded the corner of one of the aisles when this lovely little thing caught my eye!

Can you believe it? It's a cupcake stand! And it's the cutest freaking thing I've seen in sometime. I couldn't resist and HAD to have it. I also just had to make a special cupcake just to place on top so when I made the Gator cake the other night I also made some standard size cupcakes as well as 4 jumbo cupcakes. I iced the standard cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and the jumbo's with the same chocolate fudge icicng I used on the cake. And since I was in the fondant flower making mood I made some pink ones to place on top of the cupcakes. And now for the results...

Next: Lexi's 4th birthday cake...

Sweet, Sweet Victory

Gator football and cake...two things I love! Last night I finally found a use for the neon orange fondant I had laying around. I'd been wanting to make some little flowers and since it was Gator orange and the game was on I couldn't resist. I also had a bag of Reese's Pieces in the freezer and who doesn't love those? I filled a devil's food cake with marshmallow fluff and crushed up Reese's Pieces, then I iced the cake with chocolate fudge frosting added the candy at the bottom and the fondant letters and flowers. I thinks she's cute!

Happy New Year

Ahhh, a new year. I love the beginning of a new year. It's like a new car when it still has that "new car smell", still all pretty, hasn't been dented yet or had coffee spilled all over it. This is how I feel about the beginning of a new year...I haven't had time yet to blow my resolutions, I have a whole year to accomplish whatever it is I plan on getting done, and it also means that December is over. While I do love the holidays, December is a particularly busy month in my family. We have 5 family birthday's all in December, that combined with the traditional Christmas baking and the holiday parties leaves me with little time for anything else. So to officially put a close on 2008 I wanted to post the pictures of some of the baking I have been doing (I was sooo busy I didn't even snap pictures of some of the stuff) I hope the new year brings you happiness :) Thanks to those who have stopped by to check out my blog, offered words of encouragement, or just passed through. I plan to continue baking and sharing my stories of such with you in 2009!

My Grandma's birthday cake - Devil's food with raspberry filling and raspberry buttercream and buttercream roses (it was a little messy but she loved it)

My birthday cupcakes - Devil's food with raspberry buttercream and devil's food with coconut buttercream and then topped with mini chocolate chips, coconut and chopped roasted almonds (HEAVENLY!!)




Cupcake tower I did for a little girl's dress-up themed 4th birthday party. It was a 6 inch devil's food cake and mini-cupcakes and yellow buttercake cupcakes iced with pink and white buttercream.

My mom's dessert party

Devil's Food cake with coconut buttercream, toasted almonds and coconut.

Yellow Butter Cake with raspberry whipped cream filling and lemon buttercream icing paired with yellow butter mini-cupcakes with raspberry buttercream or lemon buttercream.

Some traditional Christmas cookies

Almond Crescents or Christmas Trees

Russian Teacakes or Snowballs

Two-bite brownies with peanut-butter buttercream and mini-chips

And last but not least my mom's birthday cake and her request. Chocolate Devil's food cake with raspberry buttercream.






Happy New Year!