I'm back!

Well, it's been awhile since my last post, but like always I have a good excuse.  I have a 3 month old - that's right, it's hard to believe but Lucy Kate is already 3 months! And with the introduction of naps means more time for this momma to bake and decorate.  I find it truly amazing that something that can't go anywhere or do anything takes up so much time, but I've loved almost every minute of it. :)

So, for my first cake post-baby, I was excited that it was a bridal shower cake.  I mean, who doesn't love weddings and all things included?! The wedding colors are shades of peach and the shower hostess wanted to incorporate that into the cake.  The bride also had a monogram made for the wedding, so I wanted to make that the topper.  It's definitely not exact, but the idea is there.

The cake was a vanilla cake and vanilla frosting with strawberry meringue buttercream filling.  The strawberry helped break up the monotony of the vanilla, but wasn't too rich or too sweet.

I'm glad to be back in the game and be on the look out for more cakes and sweet treats coming soon!

The great brownie challenge

(Disclaimer - if you're reading this post and expect to see pictures - stop now, I don't really have any)

I have a confession - I LOVE brownies.  Despite all of the cakes, cupcakes and cookies that I bake and generally have laying around the house and in the freezer, when I get a craving it's usually for brownies.  And once I make a pan, well, they don't really last too long.  My favorite thing about brownies, other than the chocolate, is the fact that you really can't undercook brownies.  Overcook, well, just have a glass of milk on hand...

I believe I come by this love naturally and blame my mother completely (just kidding, mom!).  I'm pretty sure boxed brownies were one of the first things I learned to "bake" and we baked them A LOT. And while boxed brownies are great in a pinch (Ghiradelli is my choice), there is nothing like a pan of homemade, from scratch brownies.  My biggest problem has been finding the "best" one.  So, when I get a hankering for some brownies I've been trying to test out a new recipe and trust me, I have several on hand and there are LOTS that claim to be the best.  Today, I'm going to share some of my favorites with you in hopes that you'll return the favor (@Whitney - no recipes with veggies).

First up - Barefoot Contessa's "Outrageous Brownies" from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.  These brownies are not for those in a pinch.  They actually take some time and A LOT of chocolate.  I also warn you, if you're not a caffeine drinker (or you're pregnant), you might want to leave out the 3 tablespoons of instant coffee granules.

Next - Baked's "The Baked Brownie" from Baked: New Frontiers In Baking. I have made these in the past, but decided to try them again and boy am I glad I did. This is one of those that you really have to pay attention to the recipe and the cook time.  They are amazing!!!

And finally - Fudgy Brownies from The Essence of Chocolate.  I think I need to try these again.  This is one of those recipes that you really have to watch how long you stir so you don't get too much air in the batter and change the consistency.  But they are a lot simpler than the other two recipes.

Now you're turn, what are some of your favorite recipes?

Happy Baking!
Sara

Rainbow Party

May was another month of first's - birthdays that is. My friend Lyndsay had a "Rainbow" themed party for her sweet girl, Campbell Grace and once again I was asked to make the adult cake and smash cake. I have to say, this cake was one of my most challenging, but I was so pleased with how things turned out!

The adult cake was a 10" - 7 layer rainbow cake meaning each layer was a different color.  Once completed I covered the cake with white fondant and decorated it with a fondant chevron pattern.

                                      

Love this picture! 

The smash cake was equally as adorable! It was a strawberry cake covered with "rainbow" icing rosettes. 

 

And let's not forget about the beautiful birthday girl! 

Isn't she sweet?!

Dr. Seuss First Birthday Cake

My sweet friend Whitney (Modern Day Memory Keeper) has some of the cutest twins ever - ok, so I might be a little biased...but still.  However, last month they celebrated their first birthday with an adorable "Thing One, Thing Two" themed party and she asked me to do their smash cakes and some cupcakes for the party.

The smash cakes were both white cakes with white icing so as to not stain the little kiddos.  The adults, however, were fair game.  The cupcakes were chocolate with blue colored white icing and "Thing" hair.

                                      

Before the party

Charlie's cake - after 

Harper's cake - she was very dainty about her eating

I told you he was adorable

Check out those eyes - she's going to be a heartbreaker

Happy Birthday, Harper and Charlie!

A busy couple of months

So, once again, it's been awhile since my last update.  However, I can promise you that I've been busy baking and decorating.  In fact, the last few months have been REALLY BUSY! And while I'd love to do a post for each individual project, there's just too many.  So forgive me and I promise, I'll try to do better going forward.

White cake with white icing with a ninja outline

Cinco de Mayo - Margarita cupcakes

Mexican Hot Chocolate cupcakes 

Texas cake makes another appearance 

White cake with white icing for a very special graduate

Cake and Architecture

This past weekend I was asked to do a cake for an architect.  Normally I wouldn't consider this a big deal, except that the cake I was making was a replica of one of his designs - that's where the stress came in.  In my daily job I do spend a bit of time working with architects and rightfully so, they are very particular about their work.  What if my cake didn't turn out the way he had envisioned? Would the architect be offended? Would my replication minimize the design he probably spent hours working on? Regardless, I gave it my best shot and am happy to report that he was pleased with the final result!

The cake was a slightly altered 9 x 13 yellow cake with chocolate buttercream filling covered with vanilla buttercream.  I made a terra cotta colored fondant and covered the cake.  The roof is where it got a little tricky, but think it really captures the look of spanish roof tiles.  For the chimney, I have to credit my husband, they were three mint chocolate wafers put together and covered with fondant.

To see the original design you can visit: http://www.stephenarnndesign.com/projects/2atherton.html.  It's the last picture in the row at the bottom.

So I guess cake baking and architecture are more alike than people think.
Sara

Lego Cake

Not having any kids, I generally have little knowledge about the toys kids play with these days.  So, you can imagine my delight when I was asked to do a Lego Birthday cake.   It was nice to know that at least one toy from my childhood is still alive and popular! But, enough about me... and now for the cake.  All of the cakes were chocolate with chocolate filling.  The red and blue cakes were also covered in chocolate frosting and the yellow, as to not show through the fondant, was covered in a swiss meringue buttercream.
  

Here's the birthday boy - love his faux hawk

I know my mom always wished we played with Legos a little more when we were younger, I bet she never thought I'd be making cake legos as an adult!
Sara