OMG!

I know it has only been two days since my last, but I thought I would honor you with my presence again this week.  Sorry had to poke fun at myself.  I am really going to try to get back into the swing of things again.  Which means, you my faithful readers will be seeing more of me..... (I just hope I can come up with things to talk about).

Obviously, I haven't baked anything new, but as always I am searching the web for new ideas.  Nothing has jumped out at me recently.  Maybe I need to find some new websites.  I just keep seeing the same things over and over.  And I know my husband will never get tired of my chocolate chip cookies, but even he has to admit we need variety.

I did get some new toys to try out.  My mother decided to send me some baking tools for Christmas.  She sent me some of those silicone cake molds.  I now can make a giant cupcake, a three tiered present, a house and an American flag with little stars.  But, the best thing I got was a pan where I can make every letter and number just by moving pieces around.  The first thing I said was when I opened it was, "What letter can I make?"  But, I wasn't allowed.  I guess I need to wait until someone needs a letter cake.  So, anyone out there need a cake?  LOL!

I did find out one thing though.  The cake that I will be making next month will be another Transformer cake.  So, I will need to get out those star tips again.  Lucky for me I find decorating a cake that way therapeutic.  The only details I need now are what kind of cake and if they will need cupcakes or not.

Well until next time....... Happy Baking!

Microphone Cupcakes and Other Things

I feel like I am always apologizing for not posting a blog.  So, again I am sorry.  I just have been really busy working a job in retail and of course the holidays.  I hoping now that things are calming down at work, I should be able to get back into blogging and baking.  I did do a little bit of baking over the holidays and I will tell you all about them.

First, I made my PB and J snack bar for my Christmas holiday party.  They were well received by everyone.  I did have few that were disappointed that I didn't make my angel food cupcakes again, but they got over it.

This year I didn't have as many "gift" baskets to make this year with different things in them.  So, this year I only made about 6 dozen chocolate chip cookies and gave them to a few people.  But, because of them I will be making a birthday cake for a little boy next month.  I don't know what yet, we haven't worked out the details yet.  I also sent a dozen cookies to a dear friend in the Netherlands, unfortunately because of a bad winter storm here in the States and few storms that had parts of Europe shut down, after almost  two weeks she still doesn't have her cookies.  I just hope they are still edible by the time she gets them.

Lastly, I got to make some microphone cupcakes for a little 5 year girl who was having a Justin Bieber theme party.  She asked specifically for my strawberry margarita cake because it was "SOOOOOO good and it was Pink!"

There are not to hard to make.  It is just any cupcake you want to use, some icing and sprinkles.  As I already said the cake was strawberry margarita, the icing was butter cream tinted black, chocolate sprinkles and then sugar ice cream cones.  The hard part was trying to figure a way to get them to the party without incident.  It took some time, but with few of my ideas and my husband's ideas, we were able to come up with something and it worked out perfectly.

I'll let you know as things come up.

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

My Latest Creation

This past weekend was a friend of mine son's birthday.  She asked me to make the cupcakes for his party.  I, of course said yes.  The request was for a white cake and Iron Man theme.  This was my first time making a white cake from scratch.  I think I did pretty well.  I was also asked to make a icing that was not as sweet, so I went with a cream cheese icing.  I was able to find both Iron Man paper cups and cupcake picks.  I decided to have two different color icings.  One was red and the other was golden yellow.  Here is the final result.......

Everyone was happy with how they looked and tasted. (Hopefully, I'll be able to do her daughter's birthday cake next month.... hint hint)

This weekend I have several things going on.  I have Mom's Night, Breakfast with Santa and a work holiday feast.  I have decided to make a strawberry margarita cake and apple enchiladas for the Mom's night.  I am making a quiche for the breakfast.  And lastly the work holiday is still up in the air.  I have a few ideas, just not sure which to do yet.  I'll let you know when I do.

Until next time..... Happy Baking!

Happy Holidays!

I realized I missed Thanksgiving, but I have been working everyday since then.  Things are starting to get a little hectic for me, so I am going to apologize now if I seem to disappear until after Christmas.  But, I do have a few things happening between now and then. I'll get to them in a moment.

First things first...... I made and delivered my first order for Thanksgiving.  From my understanding everything was good.  I never a got am official yes, but I am assuming if something was wrong I would have been told.  I made 2 pies and 6 creme brulee.  I am hoping this order may lead to others.  We shall see. (keeping fingers cross)

Pumpkin Pie

Maple Pecan Pie

I have 2 Christmas parties coming up in the next few weeks.  One of them has a Mexican theme, so I will be making a Strawberry Margarita Cake and somethings else.  I haven't decided yet what.  I have come across a few things that seem very promising.  I need to bounce the ideas off a few people and get their input.

The second one is "Breakfast with Santa" for the kids.  I need to make a breakfast item.  Believe it or not I am completely stumped at the moment.  I know I will think of something, but right now I am lost.  I'll let you know when I figure it out.

Lastly I will be making for myself and family a lemon meringue pie for Christmas.  I know it isn't scream holiday, but I like it and have fun making it. (also with the left over yolks, it gives me an excuse to make creme brulee again.....shhhhh, don't tell though)

Well, until next time..... Happy Baking!

Sorry for being Away

I know I know.  Before any says anything, I know it has been awhile since my last post and for that I am sorry.  Many things have changed in my life.  First I was sick for a bit, which was not fun at all.  then second to earn a little extra money for the holidays, I started a new job.  I work a retail chain and I am in to work at 4 am.  So, to say the least it has been an adjustment.  But, with that said I new have a few things happening in the very near future.

The first thing is on Monday I am having my work Thanksgiving party.  I wanted to try something new, but husband kept saying I shouldn't.  So, after explaining to me a few times I should do something I am good at, I decided on making Angel Food Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Mousse.  Something a little extra I was planning on putting mini-chocolate chips on them, but alas that won't happen. (Silly me forgot to buy the chips)  But, as I sit here and write this, a new idea just came to me.  I may not have mini-chips, but can have chocolate shavings.  Man, I love how my brain works at times. (I know a little egoistical, sorry sue me)

Second thing....I think is really big news.....ok wait for it...... I got my first order!   YAY!  Think I am excited?  I don't think so.  Well anyway, I received an email about a week ago after a woman saw my flyer at my daughter's school.  She is a member of the church that the preschool is associated with.  After a few emails, she decided to order a few things for Thanksgiving.  So, I will be a little busy baking all this week.  I will let you know how everything turned out and pictures.

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

Tried Two New Things

I made two new things that I had never tried before and I think they turned out pretty well.

The first thing I tried was a creme brulee.  I decided to make this because after making an angel food cake last weekend I knew I would have several egg yolks left.  I really didn't want them to go to waste, so the only thing I could come up with was creme brulee.  I always thought that this was a hard dessert to make, but I was quite surprise how easy it was. (I like to think it is just because my baking skills have gotten better)  The only thing I didn't have was a mini torch to caramelize the sugar in top, so I just used my broiler.  Both my husband both think it tasted great,

The second thing I tired was mini chocolate cheesecakes.  I was having a get together with my girlfriends.  We decided to do an appetizer themed pot luck.  So, after much thinking of finger food type desserts, I came up with mini chocolate cheesecakes.  I thought they would easier to handle the a whole cake.  

I had to use an Oreo cookie for the crust because I was unable to find wafer cookies or chocolate graham crackers.  I made them in individual tin foil cupcake sleeves.  They are topped with hot fudge syrup and a raspberry.  Everyone just loved them, even a friend who doesn't eat cheesecake liked them.  I will need to find out if some one's husband finished the left overs or not.

Well, I don't have anything in the works at the moment.  I am not sure what I am going to do.  I know something will come about soon.

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

Weekend Update

I hope everyone had a great holiday.  Mine was ok.  I was unable to take my little trick or treating because she was ill, maybe next year will better.

Even though I was unable to enjoy the holiday festival that our HOA holds every year, I did submit two cakes for their cake walk.  I decided to bake a Cinnamon Apple Angel Food Cake and a Red Velvet Cake.  I like to think they both turned out rather well.  See for yourself.....

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

(I did end up covering the whole cake, but I wanted to show you the cake too)

Cinnamon Apple Angel Food Cake

(It is a Angel Food Cake with a Cinnamon Apple Glaze)

I have not heard any feedback on how they tasted.  I think I am going to try and find out from the organizers by the end of the week.

One other exciting thing happened this weekend also.  I got an email from a  potential customer.  She is looking to have cookies as her wedding favors.  Of course, I already have a million ideas for running through my head.  I hope I hear back from her soon.  Keep your fingers crossed!

I have a few other things in the works.  I will let you know as they come up.

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