Irene's cake topper

This was a topper I made for Irene's baby shower cake. I love this little baby, the details are awesome. I've had this mold for some time and have never come around to using it. From now on I'm going to make a bunch of them with lot's of different looks. I was trying to go for the, Anne Geddes, look with a bow on the baby's back. I think the bow was a little too big or something was wrong but, he's adorable. He's made of just fondant, I usually add some, Tylose, to make it harder but he did pretty good without it. I hope you like it just a s much as I do. Thanks for looking.

My 2010 goals.........

I started making cakes about a year ago now and I love it. There are a few things I have in mind and just don't know where to start. I was considering, Pastry School, but don't' really have the money for the tuition. I never realized how expensive that could be. I do want to start somewhere, that is with one of my other goals. I'm trying to invest on a good digital camera. Starting next month I want to start on my cake portfolio. I get asked quite a few times on a book or album they can look at to see my work and as usual I refer them to my blog. Well not everyone has computer access so I want to do the right thing. I want this portfolio to be my inspiration on cakes and not copycats. I like what other people do I just don't think it's right to get credit for something your broke your head thing about making. So in the meantime I'm sketching out cake designs and we'll see what happens. I have all my cake dummies lined up and all this new cool cake stuff I bought a few months ago and are still sitting in boxes. Yeah..... let's just say we have a cake addiction. In saying that keep posted with new cake pictures that are going in the portfolio and keep your fingers crossed while I find a nice camera. Thanks!

Best Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Cake!

I'm not a chocolate lover, but I have to say I have never had a better piece of chocolate cake than this. I came across this recipe after opening up a Hershey's cocoa powder. For Christmas, I had to make desert for dinner at mom's and I made it. To my surprise it was the best, so I have decided to post it on my blog so you can try it. It has this nice cocoa flavor, not too chocolaty if you know what I mean, but yummmm it's good. Very moist you'll love it and it's so easy to make. Once you try it, post your comments and let me know what you think.

Hershey's Perfect Chocolate Cake

2 cup sugar

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 8" round pans (your choice).

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla beat on medium speed for approximately 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into pans and bake for 30-35 min or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool and frost as you wish, enjoy.

Makes 30 cupcakes or 2 8"or 9" cakes.

Christina's cake

This was a very small cake for my sister's good friend. She's a "fondant lover" and has always wanted petite fours for her birthday. I didn't have much time to bake all those little cakes but I did make this one extra special with an extra coat of fondant. Lemon poppy seed cake with key lime filling, covered with fondant. Polka dots and bow are all fondant. She loved it and that's what counts. I really like the colors and overall look. I might just make myself one someday. I will be adding more pictures, so keep posted. Thanks once again!

Mom's 60th Birthday cake

So, I was finally able to upload my mom's 60th birthday cake. She's diabetic, so I tried to make a cute cake out of whipped cream, that wasn't too sweet. Sorry about picture quality it was uploaded through my cell phone. Cake was a butter vanilla cake with a raspberry mousse topped with whipped cream. I added a really big flower and a ribbon around the edge and some silver beads around the edge, piped a few swirls on top.....voila. It was really good and not to sweet. The most important was that she liked it. Thanks and keep posted for more pictures and recipes.

Sopa Borracha

Here's a Nicaraguan desert that's usually made around this time of year (Christmas). It's called, Sopa Borracha (drunk soup). Funny name but very good. I just made some to try it out since my mom doesn't know how to make it. I found a recipe from an authentic Nicaraguan article that's printed in that country. Some ingredients can only be found in Spanish markets (Pinole) and the rum used is, Flor de Cana, which is originally from Nicaragua. It has a distinct flavor so be sure to use that rum. Here goes the recipe I hope you enjoy it like my family does.

Pinol Cake/Marquesote de Pinol

2 oz butter

7 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup Pinol

1/3 cup sifted all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Rum Syrup

2 1/4 cup sugar

3 cups water

1 cinnamon stick

1 tsp lemon juice

1 cup rum (Flor de Cana)

Separate eggs/yolk. Beat whites until stiff, slowly add yolks one at a time. Slowly add sugar until well combined. Fold in pinol, sifted flour and baking powder. Grease pan (9x13) and line with parchment paper. Bake 350 x 40-45 min until toothpick comes out clean.

For syrup add sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and water to a small saucepan and boil until it thickens into a syrup (aprox 40-45 min), once done allow to cool then add rum. Pour over cooled cake let rest for 1-2 hours (if you can preferably overnight for better flavor). Enjoy!

Brush embroidery

I know it's been awhile, but I have made a few cakes just haven't posted pictures of them. This is a fairly recent one I made just this past weekend. I was asked to make a champagne colored cake with brush embroidery flowers. It was fun to do. I know I have a few things to learn to make it look perfect but I've got the idea on the brush embroidery. Vanilla cake with chocolate mousse and fresh strawberries. Very different flavor but taste pretty good. This was a small anniversary cake for a couple who will be getting married next year. I hope they choose me to do their wedding cake. I have to upload more pictures, but in the meantime thanks for looking.