Homemade Gift Baskets

I was reminded by my daughter's iTouch just the other day that it was only 95 days until Christmas.  (Still not sure if getting that Countdown to Christmas app was a good idea or not)  But that aside it did get me thinking about a few things.  I know trying to start my own home business is a relatively new adventure for me, but I have been baking for several years.  Many of friends, family and co-workers have had the misfortune pleasure of trying out many different baked goods over the years.  A few years ago I did make up a few gift baskets for my husband's co-workers and office staff.  I wanted to do it again this years, but I am actually at a lost at what to make.  I know I know, that must sound strange, but it is true.  I know I could always make old standbys like chocolate chip cookies, brownies, gingerbread and other typical holiday things.  But there is nothing typical about me.  Is that good or bad?  Anyway.....  what to bake, what to bake?

I now know I will be scanning the websites looking for different things, hoping to find a few things new to try.  Of course I need to narrow my search.  I need to look for things that are individual, like cookies. or things that can be easily divided like loaves of bread.  I also really don't want to to make things I made before.  Before I made Rocky Road Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Individual Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Peanut Butter Blossoms and Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies.

I did make a post on Facebook asking for some suggestions.  I know not everyone reads that, so that is why I am writing this post.  I hoping to may be reach a few more people that might be willing to help with my dilemma.  I am open to any ideas you may have.

Until next time...... Happy Baking!

Cake Pops? Is this a possible avenue?

This is a book I have seen at several times over the last few weeks.  It is titled "Cake Pops: Tips,Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Different Mini Treats", by Bakerella also known as Angie Dudley.  

I walked by it many times a night.  It would call to me... "Come look at me.  You know want to".  I resisted for many many days before I even picked up the book.  Well, I finally did look at it.  All I have to say is..... OMG!

The pictures on the cover hardly scratch the surface.  They had general ideas and also holiday specific ones.  There may only be 40 ideas in the book, but I already had many others going through my head.  I never thought that cake pops like this was even possible.  I had always thought the best I could do was dipped the cake into chocolate or candy coating and then sprinkles with nuts/ sugar candies...etc.

Now, I can't help but think is this something I can do?  Is is as labor intensive as it looks?  Is there an untapped market for these things?  If I am capable of this could I make money doing this?  Of course there are many more questions running through my head.

I am crazy, right?  Please tell me I am crazy.  I know I must be crazy.  I must be to be writing a blog about cake pops.  Then again.....

Until next time..... Happy Baking!

Monster Cookies and More Microphone Cupcakes

This week I got to two orders.  One was for microphone cupcakes and the second was for Monster Cookies.  I won't go into much about the cupcakes since I have already had two post about them.  In case you want too here are the links to those posts.... http://sweettreatsandmore-colleen.blogspot.com/2011/01/microphone-cupcakes-and-other-things.html and the other http://sweettreatsandmore-colleen.blogspot.com/2011/03/microphone-cupcakes.html .  I didn't do anything different from the other time I made them.  The only difference was the cake that was used.  The request this time was for a yellow/chocolate cake. Because of being cupcake I was unable to do a true marble cake.  I had to just layer them.

I think it work out good.  I do have some left over batter and plan on making a marble cake with it.  I'll show it to you after I make it.

The other thing I made for this weekend was Monster Cookies.  Some may be saying.. "What are those?"  Well, I'll tell you.  They are a little bit of everything.  They are chocolate chip, peanut butter and oatmeal cookies combined.  The main added thing is mini candy coated chocolates..( psst that is a fancy way of saying M&Ms).  You could add anything else you you wanted like raisins or nuts.  This time I added pecans.  They are definitely a cookie that would cover what ever you had a taste for.

They description I was given by the customer, "They are da bomb!"

I will be doing baking for myself this upcoming week.  First I am going to try the marble cake for myself.  Then also this will be my last week working overnights.  So, I thought I would be very nice to my fellow co-workers and bake them something nice.  Just need to come up with something.

Until next time........ Happy Baking!

Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Today I finished baking 4 dozen sugar cookies.  I know you are thinking that isn't  a whole lot of cookies.  Normally I would agree with you since when I just bake for fun that is what do on average but, not this time.  This time they were cut-out sugar cookies.  Still not usually a big deal with all the types of cookie cutters out there.  And again I would usually agree, but I was not able to get a cutter in time for what I needed.  But, thanks to a fellow baker and friend, I was told what I could do.  She suggested just making a plastic template and then using a knife to cut them out.  The process took some time, but I like to think the results turned out rather well.  You tell me.....

Sugar Cookie cut into the shape of a Fleur de Lis.  Sprinkled with yellow and blue sugar crystals.

These were made for a beginning of the year Boy Scout meeting that takes place tomorrow.  I will let you know what everyone thought.

Thanks again, I Heart Sprinkles, for helping me with my cookies cutter dilemma.

I have more cookies and cupcakes to make for this upcoming weekend.  But, I will tell you about them later.

Until next time....... Happy Baking!

Doing things for fun!

I have not had any orders recently which to a part is good because I have been working overnights the few weeks.  But, I did do some things for fun.

I currently work with a small group of people.  We are part of a bigger team, but because we work overnight we tend to miss some of the fun things going on during the day.  So, I decided to be nice and bake some things.

The first thing I did was make my famous chocolate cookies.  I hate to sound egoistical, but they were a hit.  I wanted to try something new.  It needed to be easy to bring in and also easy to divide up.  I thought about it for a bit and realized that I haven't really made any muffins.  I knew that was the answer.  The decision was made Applesauce Muffins it was.  Here is the link to the recipe that I used http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mothers-applesauce-muffins/detail.aspx .

A co-worker also had a birthday recently.  I made him a chocolate two layer cake with chocolate fudge buttercream icing.  The icing came out a little pudding like, but worked very well.  I plan on making a black forest cake for another co-worker.  I think that will be fun since I have never made that before either. I promise I will have pictures of that.

I don't have any details yet for either of them, but I will have an order for my microphone cupcakes and some cookies.  I'll let you know when I know.  If nothing else the cupcakes will make me write another post about how to transport them.

Until next time...... Happy Baking!!

PS... Only 5 days until in is completely legal to sell baked goods made in your home in the state of Texas.

Got to do something special

Some of you may or may not know, but because due some changes in my life I need to go back to work a few months ago. It was suppose to be a temporary thing, but a always life sometimes throws you a curve. Even though I didn't need to continue working I did. Several things came because of this. I have made some great friends and also have gotten some great customers. Recently the place I am working started to remodel its store. I was asked to make a cake and cupcakes to celebrate the start of this occasion. I of course was honored that my boss thought of me for this. I happily accepted. I had to make a 9 x 15 cake and 8 dozen cupcakes in 4 days. I knew that this was going to be a challenge but I knew I could do it. Half of the cupcakes were chocolate with chocolate buttercream icing and they were made to look like footballs.

The other half of the cupcakes were yellow cake with buttercream icing.  The cake was also yellow and made to look like a football field. I also used buttercream icing to decorate.

What do you think?

I have been thinking about doing some posts of how I do things, where get my ideas, websites I use, and about other baking news out there.  Any thoughts?  I am trying to expand my horizons.  I hope it works.

Until next time....... Happy Baking!

Happy Birthday! Ok it is a little late!

Today's post comes to you from Orlando, FL.  Yes, that is right Disney.

My daughter's birthday was about a month ago.  I was able to use a new toy that I had received for Christmas.  It is is a cake pan that is adjustable.  I am able to make every letter of the alphabet both upper and lower case as well as any number. I won't lie I had large dreams of making six cakes and spelling out my daughter's entire name, but of course life and reason finally set in before it was too late. I ended up making just one cake and two dozen cupcakes.  Both were strawberry margarita cake because they were PINK.  Pink was the theme for this cake,.  I was specifically asked for pink cake with pink icing and pink sprinkles.  This was the result of that request:

I think it works.  What do you think?

The cake was not as a specific of a request.  The only thing that was asked for was that is was a pink cake.  So, like the cupcakes I used strawberry margarita cake.  I used buttercream icing which I colored pink and purple.  The cake itself I did in the shape of a four.

Both were a big hit at the party.  Many thought the 4 idea was great.  I think it was too.  I can't wait to try that pan again.

Until next time....... Happy Baking!