The Wedding Cake

I can finally say I made my first wedding cake.  Here it is.....

I know it isn't too elaborate or anything, but I like to think it is pretty good.

I made this cake for a co-worker.  She just got married on December 10th.  She decided to have a very small intimate wedding.  She had no plans of having a cake at the reception.  I, of course, could not let that happen.  Every woman needs a cake at he wedding.  So, I decided to make her her cake anyway.

With getting married a few weeks before Christmas, she was having a Christmas/Winter themed wedding.  With that in mind, I started thinking of winter type things to decorate with.  I really wanted to make snowflakes, but was unable to find a snowflake cutter or anything that looked like one on such short noticed.  So, I thought stars was the next best things.  This was my inspiration.  It was from Wilton.com ......

I know, it isn't exactly the same, but that I wasn't trying for that.  I just wanted an idea.  The inspiration cake is done completely in fondant, where I iced the cake in buttercream and only the stars are made from fondant. I covered the stars in a blue and silver pearl dust. (This was actually very fun to do).  It was also my first time working with fondant.  After getting over my initial fear of it, I really like working with it and can really see the potential of using it.  I hope to get the chance to use it again.

I had real fun making this cake and it was great seeing J's face when she saw it.  She was happy and I was glad to bring a little extra happiness to her on her special day.

I know I have bee talking about doing a few different with my blog and haven't done anything.  But, I finally have what I want to do, so look for some new fun things after the New Year.  

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

I think I did it!

After I started this blog I had tried something new for me.  I made cinnamon rolls completely from scratch. (If you want to check out the old post here it is  http://sweettreatsandmore-colleen.blogspot.com/2010/09/tried-something-new.html ) In my opinion I did not think I was very successful.  Overall, the rolls were good, but I knew they could be better.  I know I am my on worst critic, but even hubby agreed then weren't my best.  I had pretty much figured out what was wrong.... it was the yeast.  Those little suckers just didn't produce the gas they were suppose to.

I did try again not to long ago with not much better results.  They still tasted great but could have been a lot better.  This time instead of being chewy they were much more dense and heavy.  Cinnamon rolls are not suppose to be heavy.  Again, the culprit was the yeast.  I was starting to think this little ingredient was doing it on purpose just to drive me crazy. (Yes, I do believe that inanimate objects do things to annoy me)  I was about to give up trying until.....

Last week co-worker and I were talking about my baking.  She kept bugging me to make cinnamon rolls for her.  I was very hesitant because of my first two failed attempts, but after about a week I thought, "What the heck I need to try again."  So, I did.  Here is the result....

I think MUCH better this time!

YAY!  SUCCESS!!  I beat those little suckers!  The battle was long and hard, but in the end I won!  (Ok, I know a little over the top, but I am happy)  Actually, in the end I just used a completely different recipe then the first two.  Everyone that had one today said they were great.  I guess I can add another the the win column.

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

An Even Newer Adventure

About two weeks ago, my sister-in-law made a very interesting Facebook status update.  I had known she was working with a some people on a collaboration for a website.  What I didn't know was there had been some creative differences and the founders parted ways.  Well,  that didn't stop my spunky sister-in-law and her cohorts.  They decided to start a new collaboration.  And by some strange stroke of luck, I am now a part of this brain child.  Today is the official launch date of Off The Deep End. I think it is a perfect name.  I don't know all of my co-workers as of yet.  (I guess you can call us that.)  But, I know that will change very soon.  We all come from different walks of life and have different views on the world.

I hope you will come check us out over at www.off-the-deep-end.net. I will be making my first post over there next Monday.  I will have a post there every week. So, please stop by, roam around, take a look at things, sit for a spell, and enjoy yourself!  You won't be disappointed!

Until next time..... Happy Baking!

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!