Shurtleff Wedding

July 2011- My niece got married! I cannot believe it. It was one of the most amazing events of my life and I have never felt so proud in my life. I loved being the MOH and being there for every moment. I almost had a very real situation, the night before I got food poisoning and I woke up hoping for a miracle and all I got was a nervous breakdown followed by hives...yes I did. I bought so many different things and ate nothing but crackers and by noon it was a thing of the past. I had enough time to get ready and also manage to frost cupcakes.
 Chocolate and vanilla and strawberry with cream cheese frosting. I had a team painting silver fondant hearts at midnight as I made a fondant top hat and tiara for the bride and groom. When I delivered the cupcakes I made it very clear that I was going to drop them off and walk away. I did just that and gave a full detailed explanation of what needed to be done.
I also clearly stated, if the tiara breaks-DO NOT PUT IT ON TOP! Well I think they looked sweet and there were chocolate dipped strawberries, and donut holes on top of fraps. I was very happy when my niece later told me that her husband wanted a dozen. Hooray! My lesson: Make back up toppers, that way you can walk away and be at peace.

Scott Wedding

June 2011- My responsibilities changed quite a few times during this wedding and I was very happy to do all that I could. This I believe was the first childhood friend of mine to get married and I was so happy with whatever I could help with. I was first given the job I had wanted for so long- The J-LO of the wedding, the wedding planner. I was helping with every last detail, searching for flowers, jars, and going to look for dresses. I was also asked to do the cake and cupcakes for the wedding which I agreed to because, I love her! :) It was I believe a couple months before, and plans fell through with one of the bridesmaids and I was asked to step in. I could not say no and I was very happy to help her, I just needed to delegate.




I had 120 cupcakes to get made and delivered as well as a top cake. I stepped down as The J-LO and thankfully I had some very good friends to help me take care of it all. Chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with vanilla whipped frosting, and as the topper, red velvet cream cheese, special for the groom :). I can not tell you how thankful I am to the ones who helped me because it was so beautiful. There were some minor setbacks with rain, location change, and a dress thats zipper decided to break..but no problem it was so beautiful. My lesson-Accept help offered, if you are sure they can deliver.

Baby Garcia's Cake

Well I can tell you this is an old post because this cake was for my friends baby shower and the baby is now almost 3 months old. Anyways I already explained my absence, back to the cake. I was very excited to do this cake because it was for a very special couple. I was privileged to be a bridesmaid in their wedding and it was only natural to be able to do the baby shower cake. I wanted to stay within theme of butterflies but add some giraffe which is the mother's favorite. They picked a Double Chucker bottom and a Funfetti top. There was also an amazing 5 tiered stand of cupcakes and a small cake topper courtesy of another friend of the couple which was adorned with a hand crafted giraffe figurine. I was very nervous about the cake because it was an outside event and it was very hot. Thankfully it made it with no problem. I mean really no problem. I have never been stampeded for one of my cakes before and that was even with the lack of silverware. I felt like I was in a cage with piranhas. It was very fulfilling. I learned a very good lesson that day, people love tasty cake...and they will eat it with or without silverware and they'll eat full slices or crumbs-just serve it fast or move out of the way!

There is never enough time!

I knew I would dread the day when there would not be enough time to bake...eek! I can't believe I even said that. With full time work and ailments meant for an 85 year old woman, I have been forced to step back a little. But its never over. I have been spending my time trying to save a buck by cutting coupons, and waiting in long lines on black friday and it has been worth it. I also have been collecting as much warm clothes as possible, which includes my new wellies! Thank you brother-in-law! Anyways I know this is just a bunch of nonsense but I felt I needed a small explanation. I am going to post a couple cakes and also leave that I already have one wedding cake booked for April and some baby shower cakes. Here we go 2012!

Cupcakes and...

Baby Shower Cupcakes

I do love cupcakes, and apparently so does everyone else. Not only are there cupcake shops in every shopping center but there are plenty of TV shows dedicated to the new craze of cupcakes. I for one love to make them and love to explore more ways of making them look fancy. For example the pink ones pictured to the left had 3 different flavors and 3 different styles. You can't really see but the bottom ones were baby footprints and baby girl faces. I need to find those pictures.

Chocolate Reese's Cupcakes

Packaged so sweet!

And lastly is my first attempt at a pie. Now normal people go for apple, maybe pumpkin but not this girl. Bring on the chocolate!

Snicker Pie

Cakes From The Past 2...

Diet Coke Cake

                                                         



Well I did have more to post but I couldn't fit them all in the last post so here are some more past cakes.

Diet Coke Cake 

Double Chucker in Louisiana

Thomas the Train Cake

Cakes From The Past...

Small cake for a Wedding Auction

Since I am on a bit of a cake break I've decided to add some photos of cakes that I did before. I am hoping to get better pictures than what I am going to post right now and actually some I am not going to post due to the fact that I don't have good enough pictures. 

Double Chucker for a Going Away Party

But for now here is a view of what happened before the blog, some I am more proud of than others. I am grateful for them however because they all have taught me something one way or another. There are so many more but that is all I have for now.

25th Anniversary Cake

Enjoy!

I Did It, The Cupcake Cake!

Well never say never, right? My sister in law has been begging me for a while for one of those "Cupcake cakes" from all the commercials. You know those one commercials out there that show you items that your life wouldn't be complete without them. Well of course my sister in law was sold on it the minute she saw it and I think she pushed it so much on me because she knew how much I was against it. Gotta love her. ; ) I guess the reason I was against it was because it came from one of those commercials. It is not a bad item and I guess the commercials work because I know I was eventually begging for a "Snuggie" for me and my chihuahua Bella. LOL. Don't judge me. Anyways I decided because she had her pioneer school coming up it was a good time to surprise her with her cupcake cake. I couldn't believe that I was now searching for the pan that I had been refusing to even use, let alone buy. I guess I could've been Super Cake Boss and carved it but I was looking for easy. LOL. I found the cake pan and I got it on sale. I love sales and coupons. I had to bake and decorate the cake at my friends house because I didn't want my sister in law to see it.

Well it worked out. My mom told me two cake boxes and I didn't think it needed that much but "safe than sorry" is what we go by. I ended up having enough batter for mini cupcakes and a small cake, which was my small payment to my friend for her house and help. A chocolate cupcake cake filled with a chocolate whipped moose, NOT Oreo Filling (LOL), and frosted with cream cheese frosting. I decided to make a mock cupcake paper cup out of fondant and I frosted the top with a pastry bag and tip. To complete the decorations I placed sugar roses on the cupcake cake that I had made while I was waiting for it to bake and cool. Then surrounding the cake were mini chocolate cupcakes topped with chocolate whipped frosting. Milk anyone?

I was very nervous whether or not the cake would make it to the school but with good support it made it and was able to provide the surprise I wanted. I would've loved to have been there but I knew she was going to be happy and the picture of the empty cake plate at the end was good proof of the yumminess of it all. So maybe I should take a chance once and a while on items that may seem cheesy or kinda silly and see if with a little bit of creativity, I can't transform it into something awesome.

Luau Baby Shower

I want to begin by saying that this was a very special cake adventure for me. I was privileged enough to do the wedding cake for my friend and so it was only natural that I would be able to do her baby shower cake. The theme for the shower had been chosen a while back so the wheels had been turning for me to decide what I was going to do. 

I met with her to just get a general idea of color and flavor. Since she is having a girl I could really have fun with color. I had to tell her that unfortunately all she could choose was the cake flavor because I already had a solid cake concept. Thankfully she trusts me so there was no problem with me going forward.
The top cake was a true sprinkle cake in honor of the baby "Sprinkle" on the way. A name given by the new dad to be, it was only fitting to do Funfetti with vanilla sprinkle frosting. The bottom tier was my classic Double Chucker. I googled images of luau cakes and I came across a few that I really loved. A colorful top cake and the bottom tier made to look like a hula skirt. The cake was then adorned with a colorful candy flower lei, flowers around the sides, a baby monkey, pacifier in mouth and a polka dot bikini.

I took a lot of time with this cake because I wanted it to be exactly what I had envisioned. My only two oops was that the lei did not want to cooperate at first but with a little bit of thought it was ready and so cute and that the poor monkey lost her ear for a second. But we did find it. I was very proud of this cake and I was even more happy when I saw my friends reaction of it. I think she has even more confidence in me now. : )

40th Anniversary Cake

Here is an anniversary cake that I did on Friday for a friends In-laws 40th Anniversary party. The party was going to be similar to the carnival at the end of "Grease" and an old school 50's diner. They wanted a black and white checkered cake, musical notes, and a "Chevy" symbol at the top with 40 in the middle. I was told that they are a "Chevy" family and that the guest of honor had been working on restoring a Chevy himself. The cake had a lot of pipping work and I also was able to paint the Chevy sign to give it a good glow. I was very happy with it and I think they were as well.

Bad cake day...

I think when it comes to any hobby or job there are days when you just aren't feelin' it. I was all caked out and I did not want to make a cake. I begged my mom to get me out of doing the cake but it didn't work. It was a cake for my niece's Wedding shower, and yes I know that is a special occasion but it wasn't my day. I had planned to do my classic Double Chucker, which is a double chocolate cake with Snickers filling. Yum. I really didn't have anything planned for it but that it needed to be a good size.


For this cake I make my own frosting and here is where it all went downhill. It is very important to know where you can cut corners and where you have to just suck it up and spend good money. I bought all the best ingredients with the exception of the butter. I bought the cheapest one and I regret it. The mix of cheap butter and heat caused a bad reaction. Oh wait I forgot something, four layers became 2. LOL. I was trying to cut corners and placed a very heavy, cracked cake on top of an uneven cake. REALLY! I knew better. It was like that slow motion action shot in the movies when they are on top of a snowy mountain and you hear the crack and slowly watch the mountain split in two. What horror! There was nothing I could do and I knew it was bad when I saw my sister and nephew flee the room in fear of my Hulk like reaction. Haha. There was nothing I could do but move on.
So back to the cheap butter and heat. I knew it was bad from the start when the butter melted with Hershey powder went hard, I knew better! I frosted the cake and put it in the fridge and watched the second avalanche lol. The frosting was sliding down. I was mortified. I was determined to call it a day and not even show up to the shower, but the show must go on.

All I could do was laugh as I'm in the car on the way to the shower and watching the frosting slide down. I told my sister that there was nothing I could but at least it would taste good. In my head I kept imagining the reaction of the guests at the party and my idea was a complete opposite to reality. They opened the door and it was excitement. They called people to come and take pictures. I was confused as to whether or not we were looking at the same thing but apparently we were. They loved it and even more they loved the taste. So the moral of the story is: Unless the cake is in crumbs its still good... I wish that were true. The real moral for me was: When you are not in the mood buy the cake! hahahaha 

Not Just Cake!

Now don't get me wrong cake is the main thing I love doing, but we all know there is more than cake in the world of sweets. The bridal shower cake I did for my niece was not the only dessert there. I would've liked it to have been because it would've been easier but you know, GO BIG OR GO HOME!
 I have been wanting to do a dessert table for a while and I figured, what better time then now, for my niece's shower. I had a long list of desserts; cake, cupcakes, cookies, sweets dipped in chocolate and much more. I started by enlisting helpers (helpers, I would be lost without them) who could take on some of the desserts for me.

 My mom made lemon curd and apple torts, my sister made popcorn that were put in cones and a Louisiana sweet called Spiders, and my other sister made rice krispi treats. Next were the parfait cups, which were perfection! My friend had never put them in cups the way she did that day but I think she saw her dessert called Heaven in a whole new light. Oh I can taste it now! Mmm! I also was privileged to have cookies, not just any cookies...fancy cookies by IART Cookies. Mixed in with cute creations of mini cupcakes chocolate peanut butter and chocolate vanilla, chocolate dipped rice krispi treats and strawberries, a mini pink and brown chocolate tiered cake and small white chocolate candies shaped as the brides bodice, and small multi-colored meringue treats places in small apothecary jars. And breath. LOL. I was determined to do more but I don't think it would've fit.
I was very happy when I stood back and saw how it was all arranged. I knew that it was a success when people were puzzled and didn't even know how to begin choosing. I am very grateful for all the help I received and I know I couldn't have done it alone. I know that I can only get better from here.

My cake goal!

Bridal Shower July 2, 2011

So I said there were two special cakes and here is the second one. Like the golf cake I had built in my head an idea, an idea of a cake that had to be truly special. It needed to be so special because it was for one of the most important girls, well women, in my life, my niece. More like my baby sister she has grown up beside me, through ups and downs and some of the best memories I have. Now I am preparing to stand beside her as her maid of honor at one of the most important events in her life her wedding day.
The cake for her bridal shower needed to be unique and her style. I knew I wanted to add flowers but I wanted to try something new.
"My cake goal" was to paint on a cake with luster dust as I see every major bakery do on TV. I found what I needed when I was in Santa Rosa and I was like a kid in a candy store. So much cake stuff!!! I could've spent hours there. The women there thankfully shared in my joy and helped me find what I needed.
I began this cake at 11:30 pm and finished at 6:13 am. I was determined to keep this cake a secret and create as I moved along. Amazingly with that little of sleep i could actually function and create. A 6'' funfetti cake atop a 8'' strawberry cake, as requested by the bride. I could go on for days about all things that took place that night/morning and how there was almost only one cake but I won't. All I need to say is that I accomplished my goal and that at 6 a.m. when I stepped back and looked at my vision in real life, I was proud. I knew I did good and I knew I deserved the next two hours of sleep that I got. LOL.

Cakes, cakes, cakes!

I added penguins in the pond in the middle

Penguins, golf cart, and golf bags

Tiny squirrel holding a golf ball

Before I began my blog I had two very important cakes to do. The first one was a senior graduation cake for my nephew and his best friend. I wanted the cake to be very special and for it to taste good as well. I asked the boys numerous times what flavors they wanted but all I got was the ol' "I don't care." Really! Well eventually I had to make due with a list of what they didn't want. No fruit, no cream cheese, and no snickers. No problem. I played it safe and went with a chocolate cake with vanilla filling and a vanilla cake with oreo filling. In the words of RR "Yummo!"
I had in my head for months the design of this cake. The party was at a golf course and the boys are avid golf players. I googled daily "golf course cakes" and saved numerous images on my phone. I discovered my cake design within several different cakes online. I usually take several different ideas and mix them together with something personal to the client. The idea: a board large enough to fit two sheet cakes cut into the shape of two golf greens. The board needed to be green with inset mountains and a pond in the middle. I had to incorporate my nephews love of penguins and his friends love of the SF Giants, and not to mention all the essential golf accessories. A true feat indeed.
Here is my end result. I am very proud of how it turned out. The lack of sleep was worth it when I saw my nephew and his friends reaction. Nailed it!
Mo

Let the posts begin!

Here it is. I have been debating for a while whether or not to start up a blog. I thought that what I had to say really wasn't that important, and hey maybe it isn't but I want to go for it anyways. LOL. I wanted a blog devoted to my love of baking and maybe at time my battle with baking. Anyone who bakes knows that its a double edged sword but if you are patient you can accomplish great things. I am going to try and blog my adventures which includes shopping for items, baking, decorating, finding new recipes, and my ongoing debated with people about baking. I know that even if I'm the only one to read this, and care, at least I have something to reference and to look back at.
Let the adventure begin!
Mo