Christening dress cake

Here it is, the christening cake. I know it's not your typical white dress. The day before it was due I get a call from the baby's father who goes on to tell me that he wants the cake to be lavender. Well everything was all white, so I had to go back and color the little bows and make the cake itself the same color. Not your typical christening cake, but it's still cute. I really liked the turnout and so did the parents and guests at the party. I finally got my Fondx in and got to try it for the first time. I loved the flavor and it's so easy to work with. I was rolling it thin for the dress so it would tear here and there, but I got used to the texture and was able to do it right. The shoes, hat and rosary I made out of gum paste a few days ahead. It all turned out pretty smooth this time around, usually I have some trouble here and there. Can't complain! Thanks for keeping posted.

JJ's Graduation cake

Here's the tres leches I made for my nephew. I like the turn out, so far it hasn't oozed out from the bottom. Well I figured if you overdo it like they do in the Mexican bakeries then that's when it happens. I don't like mine really wet to begin with so this should be good. I will let you know what it's like when we cut it. This cake here is a 12" round, for some reason I really like round cakes, maybe because I can't get crisp perfect corners on my square cakes. lol That's sounds true though, at least I can be honest with myself and straight forward with others. The borders I did with butter cream and I did this little ruffle at the bottom before piping the yellow shell, I'd always wanted to try that. I figured I would on one of my own family cakes, in case I mess up it's just family. Ha ha I also found these boards that I set this cake on at Party City in the cake area, I love them. Not to bad price wise and saves from covering regular boards and you get that scalloped edge. Nice huh? Anyhow got to get to the other cake, Bye!

Authentic Tres Leches cake & recipe

I'm not a huge fan of these cakes, I'll have it here and there but I have come across a very good recipe and just had to share it with you. I'm making a tres leches cake for my nephew tomorrow (preschool graduation). I have started to make the cake and soak it with the milks then put it in the refrigerator today so I can decorate it tomorrow. That's how it should be done, so that you give it plenty of time to soak in and grab all the flavor. So this cookbook I got from Mexico, well not me but a relative brought it as a gift. I've added a little rum extract to mine, you don't have too, but since I'm not adding a filling I wanted to do that. So here it goes and I really hope you try it, very easy to make and really good too.

Ingredients:

Vanilla Genoise (cake)

8 eggs (separated)
2 0z. butter room temp (1/2 stick)
3/4 cup sifted flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Tres leches:

1 1/2 cups of evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups of condensed milk
1 cup of half & half
1/3 cup rum or 1 tbs rum extract (optional)

Chantilly Cream

2 cups of whipping cream
8 tbs of powdered sugar (sifted)
1/2 tbs vanilla extract


Directions for Genoise:

In a mixer on high speed beat (balloon whisk) egg whites until stiff peaks form. Remove from mixer and set aside in a separate bowl. In your mixer on high speed again beat (balloon whisk) your yolks and sugar and mix until thick & creamy, add vanilla and butter. Sift your flour and baking powder in another bowl. Slowly fold dry ingredients and yolk mixture into egg whites, alternating them until well combined. Grease and flour 8" pan and bake on 350 for 30-40 minutes. Using a toothpick in center to check if it's done. Remove and let cool on cooling rack.

Directions for Tres Leches:

Combine all 3 milks and rum (optional) in a blender and blend on medium speed for 30 seconds.
Once your cake has cooled return to baking pan and prick with a toothpick/skewer. Slowly add your milk using a large spoon to push down on cake so that milk is absorbed into cake. Once you've done that cover top of pan with foil and put in refrigerator overnight.

Directions for Chantilly cream:

In a mixer on high speed (balloon whisk) beat together heavy cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. You are now ready to turn your cake over onto a covered board and decorate using the Chantilly cream. You can add fresh fruit topping to your cake if you'd like or decorate it any way you want. Enjoy!

Gumpaste baby shoes

I made these gum paste shoes and have posted a tutorial. It's not the best because I was only allowed 5 pictures so I chose the best ones. This picture shows you a plain little baby shoe, but in the back you can see what I've done with the other 2 pairs. I've added a little bow to one pair and some little flowers to another pair, all of gum paste. I did attach accessories as they were drying but not hard. I know, I get a little impatient and want it all done fast. You can also color the fondant to any color you choose, I made them all white because I have a christening cake this weekend and still don't know what shoes I want to add to the cake. Hmmm Since I don't like plain baby girl shoes, I feel like I have to add something to these ones, they're too plain. I will also add a link for you to get the pattern to make these shoes. I found it on Cake Central here it is: http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=574533 Hopefully it works, just click on it and it should take you to the template, you can right click on the picture and save it to your computer then later print it out. You can use any gum paste of your choice, I used the Wilton recipe on the back of Gum Tex can. Real simple and it dries real fast too, you can find it on Wilton's website if you need it. You can also click on the You Tube videos I have posted down below and see Edna do her famous gum paste. She's good at what she does and while your at it check out all her other videos. Well nice talking to you and hope you enjoyed it! I promise I'll post my cakes for this weekend as soon as I finish them. Bye!

Baby shoe tutorial

These are the things you will need. Cotton, patterns, edible glue,
rolling pin, spatula, thin paint brush, craft knife, veiner & gum paste.









Roll out your gum paste aprox 8/16" (thick as a pita bread).
This piece is the sole (bottom) of shoe. Use the same pattern
just flip it over to cut out the left foot.

*Note:You don't have to let it dry before applying the upper part of the shoe. I find it easier to do it as soon as I cut it out.







Roll this part of gum paste 4/16" (thick as a flour tortilla.)
After cutting smooth any rough edges with your fingertips.












Using a small brush and some edible glue (Tylose & water)
brush around the edge of the sole all around. Be careful not to get the bottom or it will stick to your mat.







Wrap the upper part of the shoe around the front first before
doing the sides and back. Add a little glue to the side of the shoe
to close the seam. Using your the veiner tool, gently push the upper part under the shoe to smooth it out.






I wish I could've been able to post more pictures on this tutorial but I was only allowed 5 pictures, so I chose these ones. I felt that these were a little more self explainable. Hope you find it helpful and it works out for you. You can always ask me any questions, I will answer any of them you have.

123...Elmo cake

Gabby's birthday cake. This is for an old school friend's daughter. I made their daughter's christening cake and they loved it so this was another order (hopefully they have enough). I hope they like it. It's a marble cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Whipped cream icing and used a little butter cream for the borders, I needed the bright colors. I made the street sign in her name and the number/letters out of fondant. Since fondant and whipped cream don't go well together I used a little butter cream under each letter and sign to keep it from melting. I made Elmo, poor Elmo he looks like Cookie monster in disguise. lol He was make from rice krispy treats and covered in butter cream. I couldn't find my fur tip, so I just used my spatula. He's a little heavier looking than he should be but nowadays he looks normal. lol Just kidding! Thanks for keeping posted!

Hot Wheels for a baby shower?

Pretty weird request, but coming from, Michelle, I'm not surprised. So her brother's having a baby boy next month (well not her brother but his girlfriend) and they are into Hot Wheels. Since Michelle couldn't figure out the theme she just bought 3 different color blue decorations so that's how the cake got it's colors. I know Hot Wheels are usually royal blue, orange, yellow...and so on. On the other hand this is what she wanted and my job is to make it. I came home to another disaster when I was going to start my cake......my fondant. For the life of me I tried to save it and it just didn't work....it dried out and would crack no matter how much shortening I used. I just about died at 3am when I gave up. Got up at 6am and did what I could with the ever so famous butter cream. It turned out ok considering it was supposed to be fondant. I hope she likes it and they enjoy it. Top tier was chocolate chip cake with chocolate butter cream. Middle tier was vanilla cake with cream cheese filling. Bottom tier was chocolate cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

Have to get it!

This is a must see cake DVD. Sharon really has lot's to show on how to make these perfect, bows & bows, she really is a perfectionist. They are so nice and really don't even look like a cake. I mean if someone showed up to a party with something like this you would probably try to unwrap it, that good! She has a whole set of different DVDs she's made, I have a couple of others too but this one is one of my favorites. I really am tempted to just make one for myself just to try. Hmmmm Maybe next month because this month I don't even have time to breathe. I have a couple of cakes this month and juggling time with kids, home and everything else is driving me crazy. But I like that rush, it keeps me going. I'll leave you with a link to her site so you can see what she has, her DVDs are really good and very thorough. Her cakes are so neat and pretty you have to see them, you can even check out her blog. Here's the link http://www.sugaredproductions.com/

Talking about not breathing, this is a pretty busy month and am so hoping it stays this way. I've extended my vacation in August for a last minute wedding cake August 8th. But I'm really looking forward to all the good things that come my way. What a blessing! Just had to share it with you. As soon as I make them I'll post those pictures for you to see! Keep in touch, I know I will!

Skater dude

Yeah dude, it was a last minute cake....like really, dude. lol My neighbor came over and asked if I could do a last minute cake for a nephew. He really likes skateboards or is into boarding. I really couldn't figure it out until I headed down to the store and my kids made me realize that "Teck Decks" are in. I hope I spelled it right. Well any 12 year old knows what I mean right. Sorry I'm just not that "in" right now with the kids latest toy trends. I still think Elmo is so cute and my baby likes it and so do I. Half chocolate, half banana cake with custard filling. I hope they enjoyed it. The birthday boy really likes banana cake and they don't usually have it at grocery chain bakeries unless you go to a scratch baker. Well not much more to say I know, picture isn't the greatest, but I am really saving up to get myself an awesome Nikon and will be snapping like crazy when I do get it.

Oakland A's.....

Really not a fan. Yankee girl here! My good friend ordered this cake for her nephew, poor child doesn't know any better. Ha ha Just kidding! He really wanted a baseball theme cake, since they were really impressed by the tall round cake they tried at another birthday party. Yay me! I like to hear things like that. It's all whipped cream, chocolate cake with fresh bananas and whipped cream.Airbrushed again and used some graham cracker for the dirt, good ol' sweet dirt. Pretty tall cake, 3 layers of cake and 2 layers of filling. My son was jealous since I made it the day of his birthday and didn't even make him a cake. Bad mommy! I know, I have to make it up to him. With the exception that his will be grand, spectacular, awesome...ok now. At least we'll try huh. Well hope you liked it, regardless of the team. Go Yankees!