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!







Finally Becoming Official!

This post is going to be a little different then my normal posts.  I have been trying not to say much about it, but now I feel like I can.  Up until yesterday it was illegal for home bakers like myself to make things in their home kitchens and sell them.  I was not aware of this when I started this adventure last summer.  A few friends informed me and let me now of a group called the Texas Baker's Bill.  Their sole job was to help get a bill passed into law that would allow us home bakers to do the one thing we loved doing.... baking and make some money from it.  When I first joined the group several months ago, there were actually two bills trying to make it through the process.  One of them never it out of committee to come up for a vote.  The second made it further.  It did make to the floor for a vote and was passed.  After that it went to committee that regulates the Health Department.  Unfortunately, the bill died there because of one city.... Houston.  It seemed that in this case money seemed to talk more then the best interest of the people.  All was thought to be lost until Rep. Lois Kolhorst added an amendment to SB 81 on May 24th, 2011.  This gave us hope again.  There were some hurdles still over come, but this time around there seemed to much more open support.  The amendment was approved and the bill was passed on to its final vote.  That final vote came on May 28th, 2011.  Then both the House and Senate signed the bill on May 29th allowing the bill to be put in front of the governor on May 29th.  Now the waiting begun.  Three things could happen.... One: the governor could sign the bill.... Two: the governor could veto the bill..... Third: the governor do nothing and the bill would automatically become law on June 19th, 2011.  Of course our main concern was that he not veto the bill.  I will admit for a person who studied politics and history in college, I never became very involved in the political process, but this time I did.  I wrote letter to the governor and actually called him also.  I want to believe my voice made a difference because on June 18th, 2011, Governor Rick Perry signed SB 81 into law.  Now all of those home bakers that have not been baking in their home kitchens (cough cough) can officially start on September 1st, 2011.  YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to thank everyone out there who has supported me and others like myself in our struggle.  I hope you continue that support and keep buying those HOME-baked goodies.

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

Graduation Cakes

I was lucky enough in the last two weeks to be able to make two graduation cakes for a wonderful person. The first one I told you a little about before.  It was the newspaper design that I came up with.  The graduation girl loved it and even asked if I was making the cake for her party that was on a later date.  So, that is where Cake #2 comes in.  First here is the Newspaper Cake:

It is a red velvet cake with buttercream icing.

This cake was actually very fun to make, except for the red food coloring.  (Anyone who has worked with red food coloring in anything should know what I mean.)  It was very exciting to see what I had sketched on paper come to life.  All the decorations on the cake are done in icing except for the graduation cap which was done in yellow chocolate.

The second cake was much simpler.  It only needed to half the size of the first one and didn't need to red velvet.... (thank god!)  Did I mention, red food coloring and I are not getting along at the moment?  Anyway here is the second cake....

This is a Vanilla White Cake with buttercream icing.

As you can see this is a much simpler cake then the first.  Just like the first one, I made the cap and diploma of out white chocolate.  To make the cap black while the chocolate was still melted I covered it in black sugar crystals.  I also got play a new toy that I bought.  It was the letters.  I know my writing is not the greatest, so I knew I needed some help in that department.  I bought a letter press.  I am able to create any word with the letters and then just press them into the icing.  Then use the impressions as a guide to your writing.  I think I did pretty well, if I say so myself.  I can't wait to try it out again.

My next big project will be for my daughter's 4th birthday.  I still have several ideas running around in my head, so I can't really tell you much yet. But, I promise I will tell and show you all.

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

Snoopy Cake

All went well with the Snoopy Cake for the most part.  After two different cakes and two different icings, it was finally made.  Here is the finished product:

The cake was a vanilla white with buttercream icing.  

I know you must be wondering what happened.  Well, I like to think you are wondering what happened.  Even if you aren't I am going to tell you anyway.  I ended up making  two cakes and two different icings.

The first cake came together very well and baked with no problem.  So, I didn't think much of it.  Well, even the best bakers have goofs.  I turned the cake out of the pan to finish cooling on the rack.  Let's just say half the cake didn't want to leave its warm home of the pan.  The cake tasted great, it just wasn't in one piece.  So, my daughter's teachers got vanilla cake pops dipped in milk chocolate as an end of the year thank you gift.  Hey, I couldn't let a good cake go to waste. Back to the mixer I went.  The second cake was nice and came out its home.  So, I am thinking.... Phew, all good..... WRONG!

I thought I would make a whipped icing instead of my normal buttercream because I wanted Snoopy to be a brighter white.  Stupid me.... I need to learn to stay with I do best.  For whatever reason, the whipped icing did not want to set up right nor no matter how much sweet I added to it, it never tasted right.  Needless to say, I ended up making my buttercream icing instead.  

In the end all was good and Snoopy went to a good home.  He was loved by all.

As a small side note I did start writing this entry on May 30.  Sorry I got a little side tracked with another cake I was making and forgot to finish.  But, it is here now.  And very soon I will have two cakes to write about.

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