tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28548462729184182982024-03-13T16:43:09.541-07:00Baby Got CakeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-715035911162377162017-07-06T17:51:00.000-07:002017-07-06T17:51:04.424-07:00Bachelorette CakeIt's been a while! I see that my last post was my son's first birthday cake. He's four now...<div>
I'm the World's laziest blogger, so I eventually stopped blogging and just started sharing all the photos of my cakes on Facebook. No camera, no full sentences. Just an iPhone and a few characters. More time for cake. Totally suits me. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was asked by a friend at work to make this cake and while perusing Pinterest, I was kind of stunned by what was out there. People are so...creative π Luckily, she had something in mind so I could stop looking at all the ideas out there. <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57139488999715510/https://www.pinterest.com/pin/57139488999715510/" target="_blank">This </a>is the link I was given. I'm not sure who did it, but this cake had all the elements. Realistic vein, hair, hand, and other... stuff, haha! I followed it almost to a t. I made the cake so tall, it would have looked really wonky to have a thumb on there. Come on though. Does anyone really even notice that it's missing?! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, the reason I'm back is because these pics aren't safe for the FB. Or IG. And probably not even this. But I'm SO proud of the work I put in, I just have to share. So I'll give you the warning. It's a bachelorette cake. So if you find man parts offensive, you're gonna want to move on.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In case of issues with preview photos, I'll start with something super tame. I colored my own fondant and was surprised to find out that the "Copper" color you get in those Wilton gel color boxes is actually pretty useful. Who knew it would be flesh tone?!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPafbUm8ub3KUElwDXizg1TmixTlUIojLGyJcW3k__aNOF2WDXRkFSEmQId68_iH8EHfKhVJvIZYGc-SopqKFQIZGl2ebzr0JFTyaUwD6urAzKMcPB6mS7vgHIEGepdmSVDIYZlebXI2E/s1600/file2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPafbUm8ub3KUElwDXizg1TmixTlUIojLGyJcW3k__aNOF2WDXRkFSEmQId68_iH8EHfKhVJvIZYGc-SopqKFQIZGl2ebzr0JFTyaUwD6urAzKMcPB6mS7vgHIEGepdmSVDIYZlebXI2E/s640/file2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had to share this because I'm lame. I had to carve this thing, so I felt super creative using the cake scraps to roll up a nice, fat vein :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YxqKjzaVp6-xUEKSFLbOfF3B37zCLg2qlWSufD1Q2Gb0j-0thO34sNWrRv3bqQ_sMBNkyo0uQDvE9qeTC7QLtVduMINBlN3K55XG_nEn5Rl2MntdG6CaeldP8XMt8pnhyphenhyphenRRf6xBXArQ/s1600/file1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YxqKjzaVp6-xUEKSFLbOfF3B37zCLg2qlWSufD1Q2Gb0j-0thO34sNWrRv3bqQ_sMBNkyo0uQDvE9qeTC7QLtVduMINBlN3K55XG_nEn5Rl2MntdG6CaeldP8XMt8pnhyphenhyphenRRf6xBXArQ/s640/file1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was the point where I thought, "I just might pull this off!"</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF4cixWs-eMKGoJkYW2p0ezmdzhgzGI589WX37CKcuFbVju5U7mC2PEjAF70WGE0qkj4m7Dg8gBF_CA4WcUGT6tuE_FBPGp2ZLFa8BRtaDF2Cgkz9CNrZQI988QWuNoht_uxPgV7T90U/s1600/file4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF4cixWs-eMKGoJkYW2p0ezmdzhgzGI589WX37CKcuFbVju5U7mC2PEjAF70WGE0qkj4m7Dg8gBF_CA4WcUGT6tuE_FBPGp2ZLFa8BRtaDF2Cgkz9CNrZQI988QWuNoht_uxPgV7T90U/s640/file4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here was where I finally had the majority done. Those nails were a bit tricky. I used my own hand as a model to cut from the fondant and used cut up lollipop sticks to secure the fingers to the cake.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZP08K2x-j5gVoU8yZpK2x2K0PeVo_s35rScVy2hDZd2gEYXgct5LiXM7Xy7iQRE2flXUHnvrDFP9-GycEe2jYPVeZPVwNTUyMAZzp6_na-6Mx5a_6Smo45BcOzh807iVdwVCzsWikCg/s1600/file3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZP08K2x-j5gVoU8yZpK2x2K0PeVo_s35rScVy2hDZd2gEYXgct5LiXM7Xy7iQRE2flXUHnvrDFP9-GycEe2jYPVeZPVwNTUyMAZzp6_na-6Mx5a_6Smo45BcOzh807iVdwVCzsWikCg/s640/file3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was the final shot and as usual, my kitchen lighting is terrible. And it was 2am when I finished so these shots really aren't the best anyway. But there you have it. I'm just excited I finally got to use those alphabet fondant cutters my MIL got me for Christmas π</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXlZD8Q1gspAzaszZCH4qNaP2NT3owzJOvazRKQ1UMl0SrO0UV39wpGAkjt5h0N_32OUT6tmNEZ-jkYxUGVOILUMxvxFMvQm5zgdBuDUyexHLwN4GDDbjpKmAJ4JCC4u5Ft2SybdvKYs/s1600/file-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXlZD8Q1gspAzaszZCH4qNaP2NT3owzJOvazRKQ1UMl0SrO0UV39wpGAkjt5h0N_32OUT6tmNEZ-jkYxUGVOILUMxvxFMvQm5zgdBuDUyexHLwN4GDDbjpKmAJ4JCC4u5Ft2SybdvKYs/s640/file-1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I didn't take it to work, for obvious reasons but my son always asks when he knows I took cake to work if there was any leftover. He didn't see it since I did all the work post bedtime, he just knows I made a cake. So I had to laugh when he asked me today if there was any leftover, ha!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-43631174397187194482014-04-27T13:56:00.002-07:002014-04-27T13:56:52.542-07:00Rainbow Cake for the Rainbow BabyWhen my oldest turned 4 last month, his <a href="http://babygotcake.blogspot.com/2014/03/thomas-train-birthday-cake.html" target="_blank">Thomas cake</a> was a huge hit and he was ready to help me pick the theme for his little brother's first birthday cake. When I asked him what I should make, the answer came immediately. "Mommy, you need to make him a rainbow cake!" It was exciting and intimidating all at the same time. I've been wanting to take on a rainbow cake since I saw <a href="http://www.whisk-kid.com/2009/08/say-it-with-cake.html" target="_blank">this one</a> on the Whisk Kid blog, but I never had the right opportunity, nor was I brave enough.<br />
<br />
I knew it was going to be a daunting task to decorate, so I used box mixes. I didn't want to have to hang my head in shame, so I looked up ways to make box mixes taste "homemade". Following instructions I Googled, I added an extra egg, replaced water with milk and oil with melted butter. There were lots of weird lumps and huge air bubbles and an eggy smell. The layers also came out really uneven due to shrinkage in the pan and that's never happened to me before. It tasted fine, but I'm pretty sure it would have been just as good (if not better) straight out of the box. Don't get it twisted, I did not say better than scratch :) Next time I'll know better and leave well enough alone. This is what I ended up with prior to leveling off the layers. I made a smash cake at the same time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIHjid-IxYRKfIWX_g8ff4Dv_pCSkRVNh_UORhitwtwqIASTOz4R2U1HPEyQzV7MGQ0jHoEY3yzmewA5teqTThAJ_bqKSVmNPiqmezSOkATJmKAwAsbaTK1WEIPLLymrNX5ff1YWqRCQ/s1600/DSC_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIHjid-IxYRKfIWX_g8ff4Dv_pCSkRVNh_UORhitwtwqIASTOz4R2U1HPEyQzV7MGQ0jHoEY3yzmewA5teqTThAJ_bqKSVmNPiqmezSOkATJmKAwAsbaTK1WEIPLLymrNX5ff1YWqRCQ/s1600/DSC_0049.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Overall, this cake was fun, fun, fun. Who doesn't love to play with all those beautiful colors?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvdFepZ6_LLz9AqfYw6enpsNaLyEYn0Dhor8QrPXQJPDWu2YoD8ufM0RUBcj4YJXTW6ehKjji7kI9KkOvuDJ0d06om9DY1JgYH0V6PgrpRoqvVnPJR2d0wfLqpi9tcIy5CcufW0Cag1M/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvdFepZ6_LLz9AqfYw6enpsNaLyEYn0Dhor8QrPXQJPDWu2YoD8ufM0RUBcj4YJXTW6ehKjji7kI9KkOvuDJ0d06om9DY1JgYH0V6PgrpRoqvVnPJR2d0wfLqpi9tcIy5CcufW0Cag1M/s1600/DSC_0008.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I used <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxxeOQuzLuc" target="_blank">this</a> video from the Woodland Bakery to decorate. I messed up on the very first line, so I turned the cake around and put a rainbow on the other side. I messed that up too, so each cake was a double rainbow. This is what I got. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU-_tmNTVK2VcZs0bugU4JIbIikfbTd5yiGRj6WvGKtNMUZ9xUtIqjJ6euR9F_6pK1vV69hUMsxLOtBFuSdRK0BQPWDLvY1_tUyIn5zQnScB21P-1Y72L1ergJNDFXDagWh0qjCT_74E/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU-_tmNTVK2VcZs0bugU4JIbIikfbTd5yiGRj6WvGKtNMUZ9xUtIqjJ6euR9F_6pK1vV69hUMsxLOtBFuSdRK0BQPWDLvY1_tUyIn5zQnScB21P-1Y72L1ergJNDFXDagWh0qjCT_74E/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I can't pipe to save my life, but check out the inside! I was super proud of that. Horizontally, the layers were pretty even and the colors so vibrant. My only issue was the shrinkage I discussed before so you can see extra blue frosting on the right and left sides. Rather than take a knife to it to even it up, I went with the even it with frosting option. Like someone told me, "Less cake or more frosting. This doesn't seem like a hard choice". </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ7cB1R3bAhyBbwFA49WxK-ll5N_Ew_6zCJN4HddJChxRcXXH9LtiPxlPSmlnvsLPipuVgW1xyaH7_GKLRoqY0obqTD8hP-gQSj1DnKAQJgpO5eC6LRbqxulQng1DuoTxmAGMZRZCgVI/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQ7cB1R3bAhyBbwFA49WxK-ll5N_Ew_6zCJN4HddJChxRcXXH9LtiPxlPSmlnvsLPipuVgW1xyaH7_GKLRoqY0obqTD8hP-gQSj1DnKAQJgpO5eC6LRbqxulQng1DuoTxmAGMZRZCgVI/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Fun facts - since I used butter in the box mixes and all the frosting, I decided to add up the butter and sugar content. Three batches of buttercream meant 6 sticks of butter and 6 pound (or 3 bags) of powdered sugar. I also made 3 boxes of cake and there were about 4 sticks of butter in them. So 10 sticks of butter and 6 pounds of sugar in the two cakes I made. Because you should always be thinking of calorie content while making cake :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy first birthday to my littlest Rainbow baby!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-54121690246764768062014-03-23T16:46:00.000-07:002014-03-23T16:46:16.149-07:00Thomas the Train Birthday CakeSo far I've been failing miserably at the whole keeping up with New Year's resolution thing. I usually never make resolutions, but I've been getting overwhelmed with other things (like the rest of the population, I suppose) and neglecting this blog. More importantly, I've been neglecting the things that calm and relax me when things get crazy. So I put it out there to the world (well, Facebook) that for the first time in over a decade, I was making a resolution. I was going to make more cake in 2014. Here we are at the end of March and I'm finally getting to make good on that promise to myself. A little slow to start, but hopefully, it's the beginning of more cake making this year. Luckily, my son's 4th birthday today gave me the push I needed :)<br />
<br />
Last year, I went big out of guilt. Check out the post <a href="http://babygotcake.blogspot.com/2013/03/curious-george-birthday-cake.html" target="_blank">here</a> if you like. It was to be his last birthday as an only child so I wanted to make it the best ever. He was excited, but not fully aware that the fuss over him was about his birthday. But this year was different. He's been asking since January, "Mommy, is it my birthday yet?". The anticipation has been killing him and he had a request. He wanted a Thomas cake. We perused Pinterest as usual and found tons of inspiration. No shortage at all of Thomas the Train cake ideas. I took aspects of cakes I liked and mocked up sad sketches of cakes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fke_lCzQOk9dslxVbvYwvosIe-nKMY2DuoxUwO1ANadu3ohqlk2PcnnwpXMpOTSksppcsKBxb_7sfzjiF7cToX5AGdXCqQFhJogQJOhCfe4DmhuYwhI_F4S4Rn2wNk2D9UZLsolYC-0/s1600/1450062_10152335235908894_205442894_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fke_lCzQOk9dslxVbvYwvosIe-nKMY2DuoxUwO1ANadu3ohqlk2PcnnwpXMpOTSksppcsKBxb_7sfzjiF7cToX5AGdXCqQFhJogQJOhCfe4DmhuYwhI_F4S4Rn2wNk2D9UZLsolYC-0/s1600/1450062_10152335235908894_205442894_n.jpg" height="348" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We do have paper on hand, so I have no idea why this is on a paper towel. Anyway, I couldn't decide, so I posted the picture to Facebook - where I apparently have all decisions made for me and got zero votes for cake 1. I really liked the second one, but people seemed to gravitate mostly to cake 3, which I liked, but it was also the most involved. Naturally, I took it as some sort of challenge. What I ended up doing is a sort of blend of the two. Always changing my mind :) I made a Thomas face for the top tier, and made the bottom tier of number 3, switching out the tree for a Railroad Crossing sign. I liked the result and more importantly, my kiddo liked it, so it's a win. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JPh36sNEqgoaiO4HvA2-Tw0uuKWjswQjKukt4hURi8DT2IMb_Kc4dikZuNcfNQw_ECZRwEKBtydSZ5Ioua7LL7D67Bf3o-pHlv_uBtvZQqrw5UPYADU9KSDs9a8G2mzBZt1g8EKp5GU/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JPh36sNEqgoaiO4HvA2-Tw0uuKWjswQjKukt4hURi8DT2IMb_Kc4dikZuNcfNQw_ECZRwEKBtydSZ5Ioua7LL7D67Bf3o-pHlv_uBtvZQqrw5UPYADU9KSDs9a8G2mzBZt1g8EKp5GU/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the cake, I used <a href="http://iambaker.net/the-perfect-white-cake/" target="_blank">this</a> recipe from <a href="http://iambaker.net/" target="_blank">I am baker.</a> It was for two 8 inch cake pans so I doubled it and had enough for 3 eight inch cake pans and 2 six inch cake pans. There might have been enough to divide it into 3 six inch pans but I only had 2 pans. I'll work on that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Generally, I completely stress over cakes and crying ensues at some point when things aren't working like I want them to and I think this one was relatively stress free given my expectations. Part of that was deciding on partial instead of full fondant. It could have looked a lot smoother, but I was craving a fluffy buttercream, so I used the recipe found <a href="http://addapinch.com/cooking/2013/10/11/classic-vanilla-buttercream-frosting-recipe/" target="_blank">here</a> at <a href="http://addapinch.com/" target="_blank">add a pinch.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Because I'm super proud of how it turned out, I'm adding a close-up shot of the Thomas face. I cut two gray circles and rolled up three tiny little fondant balls to place between them to make his nose and cheeks realistic and I think it had a nice effect. The black to color his pupils and surround his nose and mouth was just a food safe marker. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsyX6EWtbyMTSAQwuTs0JnkaG9Ga8XTGyQ-RX5SBxT1hTLWTZXOKvEEeKlHH0LYabeDt2_BDik9pDlSsdY5caARyd_n39KSEqyuRDTff050uU3VnBj-gGeuI-q1Ju66onFcf0sSW3a1c/s1600/DSC_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsyX6EWtbyMTSAQwuTs0JnkaG9Ga8XTGyQ-RX5SBxT1hTLWTZXOKvEEeKlHH0LYabeDt2_BDik9pDlSsdY5caARyd_n39KSEqyuRDTff050uU3VnBj-gGeuI-q1Ju66onFcf0sSW3a1c/s1600/DSC_0069.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another (blurry) close-up for good measure!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1PFsSD13I6w1nlmEYrv6H5QvTuxGsW9lYVvBwxq2_epaZuexR4uiK3ciVEQMl1-UrAtDVggoilBzGjT1d7zXloV-Il2f1CKesvtTB1vAZFZfV26asXz7fKT5onm2OMyGfwwCWvkkfJ4/s1600/DSC_0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1PFsSD13I6w1nlmEYrv6H5QvTuxGsW9lYVvBwxq2_epaZuexR4uiK3ciVEQMl1-UrAtDVggoilBzGjT1d7zXloV-Il2f1CKesvtTB1vAZFZfV26asXz7fKT5onm2OMyGfwwCWvkkfJ4/s1600/DSC_0073.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Overall, it looked great, tasted good and the icing on the cake was that dude was happy. I should admit that he was happy after it was iced in blue only. I'm a lucky mom. I get to do it all over again in one month from today when my second baby turns 1 :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-63994677255102600942013-08-31T20:57:00.004-07:002013-08-31T21:06:51.794-07:00Hello, Kitty!Lately, I've been dying to make a cake. Dying. With moving, new responsibilities at work and a four month old, my cake making opportunities have been on the decline. I used to just make them because I wanted to. Now, I have to have an actual reason so I can convince my husband it's worth the time. And get him to hold the baby for long periods of time. I've apparently made it so that he never wants to be put down :)<br />
<br />
A reason to make a cake recently came up. My niece's 3rd birthday. My sister-in-law has been extremely busy with moving stuff herself and training for an Ironman. I figured why not offer to do the cake and get the last one in before we do our own move? I have boys and know little about the likes of young girls, so I was told my niece likes Hello Kitty, pink and purple. Could she have made that ANY easier?!<br />
<br />
I was immediately all over Pinterest. I actually have a board dedicated to cakes and wondered if that is excessive, but I saw a few boards dedicated to Hello Kitty Cakes only, so I no longer feel this way. There are so many cute possibilities, I started having fondant dreams, but I pulled myself back to reality. "She's 3, Brandi. Three year olds don't do fondant." I pinned a few pictures for inspiration and I would totally link to them if Pinterest weren't down right now. Shocking, I know.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5f8C2HfGd8MOK3usIvL1pPMTQa0bpS_JaJ_tk0ubphaJPxPN9LMzVMlD8tEH1MF4h-CGtaMydqoOFsK1RWMhISzREGIAS-rLtRTs1zp7wZUoMx7m7carFAyO_07xinsrocJRz-TmvKA/s1600/BabyGotCake+Hello+Kitty+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5f8C2HfGd8MOK3usIvL1pPMTQa0bpS_JaJ_tk0ubphaJPxPN9LMzVMlD8tEH1MF4h-CGtaMydqoOFsK1RWMhISzREGIAS-rLtRTs1zp7wZUoMx7m7carFAyO_07xinsrocJRz-TmvKA/s640/BabyGotCake+Hello+Kitty+Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is how it turned out and I'm pretty proud of it given my lack of decorating skills. For the cake, I used <a href="http://sweetapolita.com/2010/10/classic-vanilla-butter-cake/" target="_blank">this</a> recipe from Sweetapolita. I like her style. She's a 3 layer cake kind of gal. That's how I roll too. I think we'd get along great.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The cake tasted SO good. My only issue was the frosting. It was so sweet, I think it overpowered the cake taste. I tend to spread frosting a little thick because I love it so that's totally my fault. But frosting is delicious, so I don't feel too bad about it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmZm_bfmkyj76gAhw-yllBKmXBNmNewWfsY6FPLW1LbuFWBd0CNpCl5dYihB7zKkWbAexE8B-OeLVhVZvP526nmScKmr2lqeMTnH3OsViFsBvFyEtzbRaeMk9eM9YkDyknce95-1PdC8/s1600/BabyGotCake+Hello+Kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmZm_bfmkyj76gAhw-yllBKmXBNmNewWfsY6FPLW1LbuFWBd0CNpCl5dYihB7zKkWbAexE8B-OeLVhVZvP526nmScKmr2lqeMTnH3OsViFsBvFyEtzbRaeMk9eM9YkDyknce95-1PdC8/s640/BabyGotCake+Hello+Kitty.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This picture is just to illustrate my complete lack of confidence in my cake decorating skills. I printed off a Hello Kitty face and taped it to parchment paper and cut it out. I put that on top of the iced cake and traced along the parchment paper with a toothpick. Could I have freehanded it? Yeah, but it wouldn't look good at all. I'm sure there was probably some easier way to have done it, but I seem to enjoy doing things the hard way. I also have to admit to a little OCD. I couldn't deal with the bow as is, so I cut it out of the cat face, then cut it in half. I put the nice looking half (the one on the left in case you didn't know) on a folded piece of parchment paper and cut the bow on the fold. I needed that bow to be symmetrical. Even looking at it now, sitting there completely lacking symmetry is bothering me. Moving on...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDFpY-VNIFYvWufEAMPREWO55jqZs1rMPEK_jlLz2yjKZB2fSZIkA_Cq6UvdJ2bBenc8Dm6PdXofwfVboUC74a1mLLOn2nZtp3jqbYQ3YTnBa_rhgUdRG2omxVm6GetDaE3D6KjBmnBQ/s1600/BabyGotCake+Purple+Gradient.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDFpY-VNIFYvWufEAMPREWO55jqZs1rMPEK_jlLz2yjKZB2fSZIkA_Cq6UvdJ2bBenc8Dm6PdXofwfVboUC74a1mLLOn2nZtp3jqbYQ3YTnBa_rhgUdRG2omxVm6GetDaE3D6KjBmnBQ/s640/BabyGotCake+Purple+Gradient.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is how I incorporated most of the purple. I jumped on the color gradient bandwagon because I think it's cute, but I'm steering clear of the "O" word because if I see it again, I may have a meltdown. That probably means I'm on Pinterest to much, so maybe the fact that it's down tonight is a good thing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_ncIL5J3mYI1jN6Uh_AyS_Bqg09r2IKkma4XtK0kabeMH4W8OxCLx2LySjcceUZhXzN4HgoFAKD9vb-D7cwVvgV0delcumcLp65BhcaezXOyDnJND-1kLByw4LZmWtyU3rMQ_euAsVY/s1600/BabyGotCake+Sliced+Hello+Kitty+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_ncIL5J3mYI1jN6Uh_AyS_Bqg09r2IKkma4XtK0kabeMH4W8OxCLx2LySjcceUZhXzN4HgoFAKD9vb-D7cwVvgV0delcumcLp65BhcaezXOyDnJND-1kLByw4LZmWtyU3rMQ_euAsVY/s640/BabyGotCake+Sliced+Hello+Kitty+Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And here are the layers. I thought the top one turned out just a little too grayish looking for me. It really could have benefitted from more purple. That bottom layer was just gorgeous. Sorry for not getting all the stuff out of the background. I keep promising that one day, I'll learn to take better pictures and that just never happens. And if you were curious, those Cliffs Notes in the background are for the Odyssey :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy 3rd Birthday, Miss Alaina!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~Brandi</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-5313715357673083692013-07-28T15:16:00.002-07:002013-07-28T16:47:36.160-07:00So THIS is what Unicorn Poop looks like - Cupcakes for Charlie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3QkvAuR33Tn2VoTIIwCVCa-2hCkScTxOXYwcyVsYrqhJIF9I3Xqpbw2lMqP-6jIiEXMJVXZcpsswLbKIczdCzQqshFxtRt73huy7q7IyelrsM1EtF_zV3iqxi5Udo2igT6tbFQWlyv4/s1600/Unicorn+Poo+Cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3QkvAuR33Tn2VoTIIwCVCa-2hCkScTxOXYwcyVsYrqhJIF9I3Xqpbw2lMqP-6jIiEXMJVXZcpsswLbKIczdCzQqshFxtRt73huy7q7IyelrsM1EtF_zV3iqxi5Udo2igT6tbFQWlyv4/s640/Unicorn+Poo+Cupcake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It's been a long while! Since my last BGC post, I had a baby and have been working on moving, etc. Jess has had tons going on as well. For starters, her son Charlie is in the hospital again. At the risk of publicly providing too much info, I'll direct you to his Facebook page since anything she says there is OK to be shared. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/prayersforcharliecole" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/prayersforcharliecole</a>. If you are the praying type, the more good vibes being sent his way, the better.<br />
<br />
I know she's normally the cupcake gal and I do the cakes, but I'm switching it up today. Since little Charlie was born, it's been one baffling medical mystery after another. Many long hospital stays. Surgeries. Life going on around all that. Jess has always been a great friend. Even (maybe I should say especially) considering all she has going on. I sometimes lose my mind and complain about things like losing a house I never had because the sellers backed out, or the fact that I can't seem to handle two kids at the same time and she gives advice. And listens. Never once did she tell me to suck it up because she has real problems and THREE kids. If the roles were reversed, I can't say I wouldn't have wanted to do that.<br />
<br />
She's an awesome person and I wish there were something I could do to help, but I keep coming up empty. She recently told me about a Facebook group where people get matched with special needs kiddos and run for them. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/irunformichael/" target="_blank"> https://www.facebook.com/groups/irunformichael/.</a> Charlie already has a runner so I thought, "Why not bake for Charlie?".<br />
<br />
I thought about a perfect cupcake for Jess and Charlie and naturally, unicorns came to mind. I'm pretty sure she once said that unicorns are magical so that was stuck in my head. Plus, there was a recent party at her house involving a unicorn mask...So I was off to Google. Until I Googled "Unicorn Cupcakes" I never thought to wonder what unicorn poop looked like. I ended up in a rabbit hole of weird things like the picture below. These were everywhere. You can get your fill of it <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/+unicorns-pooping-cupcakes+gifts" target="_blank">here.</a> And I even found a picture of a woman with one tattooed on her...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY3U7xaL2DNSbuCAJMEEIoNS-z78NMoQoJQBMWu7YsovauU84Fvqgkn5ZJh4O_aXShVlNqQLG5JM6I7lXU1hCuNe5iATrD8cHHGiikKTPx-rcKDTmm9NuHi7w6jMr3eedZ8xfnDG8goI/s1600/Unicorn+Pooping+Cupcakes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimY3U7xaL2DNSbuCAJMEEIoNS-z78NMoQoJQBMWu7YsovauU84Fvqgkn5ZJh4O_aXShVlNqQLG5JM6I7lXU1hCuNe5iATrD8cHHGiikKTPx-rcKDTmm9NuHi7w6jMr3eedZ8xfnDG8goI/s1600/Unicorn+Pooping+Cupcakes.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But on to the cupcakes. I can't remember how this came up in a search for unicorn cupcakes (probably through a Pinterest pin) but <a href="http://amandacupcake.blogspot.com/2013/04/fantasy-vanilla-almond-rainbow-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">this</a> is the recipe I used. And it didn't quite work out how I wanted, but I used <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGXLGDBEUTQ" target="_blank">this</a> video to see a tutorial on how to frost these things. Even if you aren't going to make them, you should check out this video. I watched it 3 times because the way she said "poop" made me giggle. Watch it. Trust me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-yFJIE7hHgbFOJ3AlXZ0RihrcdP4i6AW4uEe_qICy63fUcZfkkk8b-MF7IJPlfTHs4iHRfMf7kz-puleQAcEaqofQTPzVWmX9KTVrt1ahPo5m4WhloKUJi6YdHoYYbQ0PxGmveR14fY/s1600/Cupcake+liners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-yFJIE7hHgbFOJ3AlXZ0RihrcdP4i6AW4uEe_qICy63fUcZfkkk8b-MF7IJPlfTHs4iHRfMf7kz-puleQAcEaqofQTPzVWmX9KTVrt1ahPo5m4WhloKUJi6YdHoYYbQ0PxGmveR14fY/s640/Cupcake+liners.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just wanted to post a picture of these because they're awesome. I was just shopping for pretty cupcake liners and came across these and thought they were perfect for this project. They are Reynolds brand StayBrite. They don't fade during the baking process. I liked them because of that and because the plain Reynolds liners I normally use require that I spray them with Baker's Joy prior to baking. These didn't. No, Reynolds is not paying me to say this, but if they'd like to, they know where to find me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67KFyx77fEyVq5tjiwwfwRyGk0D6vvjaPKrbU0jzTW9UJsEyoWWvqcQBO3IvK5bCMYpvHth9lOrOPu9P2F47iy5VN4tUoJifDvG6oaV6o5m9ZZY4rayVr6oLVswNENiixSQJdmwOIJaU/s1600/Cupcake+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67KFyx77fEyVq5tjiwwfwRyGk0D6vvjaPKrbU0jzTW9UJsEyoWWvqcQBO3IvK5bCMYpvHth9lOrOPu9P2F47iy5VN4tUoJifDvG6oaV6o5m9ZZY4rayVr6oLVswNENiixSQJdmwOIJaU/s640/Cupcake+colors.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I tried to do this just like Amanda Cupcake told me too but it ended up looking like this. There's actually pink in there too. Well, I didn't do it JUST like she said, so this happened on a few. I didn't stop filling at the halfway mark like she said. I also *might* have been lazy and instead of moving the oven rack for the little pan with two cupcakes, I may have jammed it in next to the big pan so it was slightly tilted.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwMS8cN900Gm8obiOHUt7easXoPn4jTzRZI9zyocOa2u5GxEYlZMOkJXzGqnTiIGVFIeAQ6oZ8pQvWUtGax4TJKPsWjmqTB00xNYlu4A-C_YlDrElbwD6pShOgmgvT2jBCzeol0GbyjA/s1600/Cupcake+Fail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwMS8cN900Gm8obiOHUt7easXoPn4jTzRZI9zyocOa2u5GxEYlZMOkJXzGqnTiIGVFIeAQ6oZ8pQvWUtGax4TJKPsWjmqTB00xNYlu4A-C_YlDrElbwD6pShOgmgvT2jBCzeol0GbyjA/s640/Cupcake+Fail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They must have been alright, my son ate one before I could get it frosted.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHfEBw3llsgNmOxqHHHQVTytIh9UA6eGGFHXo1b1JP_k7Z2OzsLVYO2UIqmQ9-2qIyo2TVgOpTUNA9Dg4h5uTZrmCY6nhRoS06deMo7CD6uVopnmwPewjkb9dXV8YjVi59L66pes0rpw/s1600/Unicorn+poop+cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHfEBw3llsgNmOxqHHHQVTytIh9UA6eGGFHXo1b1JP_k7Z2OzsLVYO2UIqmQ9-2qIyo2TVgOpTUNA9Dg4h5uTZrmCY6nhRoS06deMo7CD6uVopnmwPewjkb9dXV8YjVi59L66pes0rpw/s640/Unicorn+poop+cupcakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I didn't quite get the swirling the way I wanted. I had 4 different colors and only 2 were prominent. Hey, we can't all be Jess ;) I also wanted to use a Wilton 1A size tip to frost these since it's more poo-like than a star, but I can't find that tip anywhere. Must be a hot item here in KC because I've been looking at multiple stores.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As a final Jess-like touch, I sprinkled them with pearl dust. You can't see it well here, but I tried. I think the application was wrong. I learned after I got it home, it's supposed to be brushed on. Oops. That would have been helpful. I've got that shimmery stuff is ALL over me. Luckily, I'm not going into the office tomorrow or people will think my weekend was much more wild than it really was. Speaking of not going to the office, now I don't know who will eat these things. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Charlie, I hope you love them and that you get well soon!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~Brandi</div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-844969301121085562013-04-08T02:00:00.000-07:002013-04-08T05:17:09.861-07:00It's our Blogiversary...I thinkTechnically, I'm not sure if the blogiversary comes a year from the date of the blog's creation or it's first post. Since I'm such a slacker, if it's the former, the blogiversary was about 8 months ago. Oops. So we'll just call it a year from the first post, OK?<br />
<br />
Even though I didn't make it from scratch, the <a href="http://babygotcake.blogspot.com/2012/04/its-easter-i-decided-to-go-nuts-this.html" target="_blank">Peep Cake post</a> is still one of my favs. I would love (like most bloggers on their first anniversary) to talk about how far I've come, but as I review the post, I'm still biting off more than I can chew, still making tons of mistakes, and still taking terrible photos. But it's completely fine, because most importantly though, I'm still having fun.<br />
<br />
After a long day today of trying to potty train my toddler, my 38 week pregnant aching body just wanted to go to bed. Instead, I easily talked myself into making a blogiversary cake and I quickly found myself relaxing. Something about cake does it every time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspdtJeHXQ2REbQtByU-V0dpKToJX0x8tucehegwIPp5GvrV6aTLfBRCQFk-Bl7m5m7O3gUyL9PMTyfY85dnLhXH0xnD_UsiF_gPx1-bBGnRW5VEHRF3QG2Yifnb-jNrFhBQvlnZNM3mY/s1600/BabyGotCake+Blogiversary+Buttermilk+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspdtJeHXQ2REbQtByU-V0dpKToJX0x8tucehegwIPp5GvrV6aTLfBRCQFk-Bl7m5m7O3gUyL9PMTyfY85dnLhXH0xnD_UsiF_gPx1-bBGnRW5VEHRF3QG2Yifnb-jNrFhBQvlnZNM3mY/s640/BabyGotCake+Blogiversary+Buttermilk+Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This one was a little different than what I normally do as it was only 2 nine inch layers instead of the 3 I usually insist on. It almost looks tiny to me. But there were 3 reasons I chose it. 1 - I was perusing Pinterest and came across a cake recipe that claimed to be <a href="http://thepaperseed.com/?p=266" target="_blank">The most AMAZING buttermilk chocolate cake EVER!</a> That sort of claim is hard for me to ignore. 2 - I just happened to have buttermilk on hand. This was happening. 3 - One word. Ganache.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDRxvzW25dYpvHoJdCBN1J5VW-fo3w3EVWdN2qzKoYYxm4G5csJMPSg3tNG75xbF40pyeyQotfJVUkAziI260lY8e0BtP3WaLeVrOxyeRAmaWHmNjEJlGLFe3AEjHOaWlSimrQiHYGt0/s1600/BabyGotCake+Baby+Buttermilk+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDRxvzW25dYpvHoJdCBN1J5VW-fo3w3EVWdN2qzKoYYxm4G5csJMPSg3tNG75xbF40pyeyQotfJVUkAziI260lY8e0BtP3WaLeVrOxyeRAmaWHmNjEJlGLFe3AEjHOaWlSimrQiHYGt0/s640/BabyGotCake+Baby+Buttermilk+Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While I was putting the batter into the 9 inch pans, I got the sense that my 9's were going to overflow if I used all the batter. It was the perfect excuse to make a baby 6 incher for myself. It is <i>my</i> blogiversary after all. And since I'm sending the big one to work with my husband, I still get a piece this way. Win! And the best part is that I don't have to make it pretty since it's just for me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwGw2QR-lF-izSqmPcwS_aO4PQso37StSIUc7eFUP7am_Nv-SkpMLTPOi15Ze6mMvCacRZP8kWusE35OY_VPgxejoPlu8KFAhlazUDa92bgTUxZOHK6pyphqw8xKrHjzFK0oubIwutEA/s1600/BabyGotCake+Baby+buttermilk+cake+slice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwGw2QR-lF-izSqmPcwS_aO4PQso37StSIUc7eFUP7am_Nv-SkpMLTPOi15Ze6mMvCacRZP8kWusE35OY_VPgxejoPlu8KFAhlazUDa92bgTUxZOHK6pyphqw8xKrHjzFK0oubIwutEA/s640/BabyGotCake+Baby+buttermilk+cake+slice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Nothing says happy anniversary like a piece of cake. Can't believe it's been a year! In the past year, Jess has had a baby and now I'm just weeks away, but I hope we still get some time to ourselves once in a while to bake some cakes and put some new posts out here. It saves our sanity! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~Brandi</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-49588087104836908132013-03-24T20:07:00.002-07:002013-03-24T20:07:43.392-07:00Curious George Birthday CakeMy baby turned 3 this weekend :( I feel like every other parent who just cannot believe it when their kids grow up. Time really does fly people! On to cake before I start crying again...<br />
When I saw <a href="http://catchmyparty.com/photos/536479" target="_blank">this</a> Curious George Cake on Pinterest, I KNEW I had to make one, but I still wasn't sure. My son loves so many things, it was going to be hard to narrow down a theme. I was on the fence, so I posted all the possibilities to our Facebook page and the commenters seemed to agree that George was the way to go.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8587163087_a80755d60d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8587163087_a80755d60d_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The above is how I posted it to Facebook. I ended up making some minor changes. I forgot that I wanted to incorporate some airplanes (another one of my son's favorite things) as well as the number 3 candle. So it ended up looking like this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8587167201_c518824eab_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8587167201_c518824eab_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm notorious for complaining about my work. I'm just not a good decorator. I frequently tell people that I don't do pretty, I do delicious. But this time was a little different. I made tons of mistakes and as usual, I'll go on about most of them, but I was still happy with how this turned out despite the fact that it wasn't necessarily what I was going for. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So here's how it came together. The recipe is one of my favorites from <a href="http://sweetapolita.com/2010/11/rich-ruffled-chocolate-celebration-cake/" target="_blank">Sweetapolita</a>. Just the cake. So moist and delicious. I have tried and cannot make swiss meringue buttercream so I stuck with a basic buttercream recipe. Butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. I didn't do much measuring, so I'm no help there, but it might shock you to know that I used a grand total of 10 sticks of butter in all the frosting I made today. Yikes. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8587161737_5a4f39423f_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8587161737_5a4f39423f_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I couldn't find a Curious George font, so I just used something called "Dancing Script" in Google docs and printed off what I wanted. I also printed off a Curious George face from <a href="http://www.pbs.org/parents/birthdayparties/curiousgeorge/images/cm_curious_george.gif" target="_blank">PBS kids</a>. I taped these to my counter and then taped parchment paper on top. My plan was to add Wilton food coloring to candy melts and make it so I could peel them off and stick them on the cake. I dipped my first bit of black dye into the candy melts and it immediately hardened. I stared at it for a bit, then put it back in the microwave. Still hard. I added shortening to it and microwaved again. Still hard. Texted my blogging partner in crime to complain about this. She responded that they have separate dye for candy melts. Of course they do. I need to start filing my questions with her PRIOR to taking on big projects. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I ended up using the black coloring to make the smile and nose and hoping it worked. Luckily George is brown, so I just had to add chocolate candy melts to the white ones I already had. I also wanted to put the face on the side of the cake like the inspiration photo, but that didn't work out. Not a huge deal though. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also wanted to use an aqua color to pipe next to the red border, but it turned out more green than aqua. And that was the last of my buttercream, so I decided that the cake was good just red and yellow :) And since I couldn't put red tint in the candy melts, I ended up having to freehand the text. It actually turned out alright despite not being able to trace.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8587169215_786389cc7b_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8587169215_786389cc7b_c.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All in all, not what I was going for, but the boy was very pleased. He walked up to it and said "It's amazing". After that, I couldn't think it was anything but perfect and worth every bit of effort put into it. Happy birthday kiddo!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~ Brandi</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-48616005949228659502013-02-23T23:13:00.000-08:002013-02-23T23:13:09.364-08:00Peanut Butter and Chocolate...Cupcake StyleRecently my partner in blog Brandi posted an amazing looking peanut butter & chocolate cake. I recently dipped my toes into the world of peanut butter and chocolate as well only I did it cupcake style! Recently my husband had a birthday and cupcakes were required. He is a diabetic and rarely eats things like cupcakes so his birthday cupcakes are a big deal. Took him weeks to decide what kind he wanted. In the end he decided on German Chocolate Cupcakes....until I mentioned something about peanut butter cupcakes with chocolate frosting. He got very excited and decided that is what he wanted!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpuXF4nWoTCHGPBEVpB-7ilNOBEh7ZGLoLk7rdtG_YHwz7PLh8L3sL-I1f7gTl82V170tOTdU4D3Vzu7Ufa5L2rWnSCapDiCM8wT4pv4CmhAahjvemHJ_356MTfBFgEanAeOsVcy169Nj/s1600/IMAG0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpuXF4nWoTCHGPBEVpB-7ilNOBEh7ZGLoLk7rdtG_YHwz7PLh8L3sL-I1f7gTl82V170tOTdU4D3Vzu7Ufa5L2rWnSCapDiCM8wT4pv4CmhAahjvemHJ_356MTfBFgEanAeOsVcy169Nj/s640/IMAG0038.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These scream birthday to me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It did not take me long to settle on a recipe for peanut butter cupcakes. Once again I turned to my girl Martha Stewart. I made her recipe for <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/315845/peanut-butter-cupcakes-with-peanut-butte" target="_blank">peanut butter cupcakes </a>with one sneaky addition. I added Reese's peanut butter chips to the batter. They don't melt but they get soft and delicious and add an extra burst of peanut butter to your cupcakes. Now who the heck does not want an extra burst of peanut butter in their cupcakes? If you find someone who says "yeah, that's not for me" walk away because let's be honest you don't need those kinds of people in your life!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbhzBRAFY4D0IOOYda9-RagXxMmQ6lCwUj5NEIhTfenIt6s1RjeOpx5MDq8Jy1bc48KWQnVpV0p3Ekjc5fGCXj_ljkaugBF7LVd8q6Plgde4jJRdyplRUCeZO_Qzsh-Wrr3H4m31-XsDY/s1600/IMAG0312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbhzBRAFY4D0IOOYda9-RagXxMmQ6lCwUj5NEIhTfenIt6s1RjeOpx5MDq8Jy1bc48KWQnVpV0p3Ekjc5fGCXj_ljkaugBF7LVd8q6Plgde4jJRdyplRUCeZO_Qzsh-Wrr3H4m31-XsDY/s640/IMAG0312.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My arsenal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now you see that bag of jelly beans in the corner? Those are delicious. I first found them in the bulk bin at the grocery store and then later found them in those small bags. They are chocolate covered strawberry jelly beans but they are not the same texture as jelly beans they are softer and really quite delicious. They added that certain something I needed to the cupcakes. Now Martha Stewart has you adding peanut butter frosting to her cupcakes. But it's peanut butter and peanut butter needs chocolate. So I whipped together a chocolate cream cheese frosting and slathered the cupcakes with it. I will post the recipe below!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG43MZUdgmR1pOmVN67yMD9e_iot1fgb927ImFU9r5bSOhJPyoSsUPzgsSQ8yXCU-iMWiI0KBMGg9qjVzzD1_Ni0kcdzK6x7A7O6iHyyZNS9bvjTIiFId99qLIyvY0GRyAD59RffmBPHU1/s1600/IMAG0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG43MZUdgmR1pOmVN67yMD9e_iot1fgb927ImFU9r5bSOhJPyoSsUPzgsSQ8yXCU-iMWiI0KBMGg9qjVzzD1_Ni0kcdzK6x7A7O6iHyyZNS9bvjTIiFId99qLIyvY0GRyAD59RffmBPHU1/s640/IMAG0034.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was running late and my husband doesn't care if frosting is piped or not</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The frosting was pretty tasty but it wasn't my favorite. I prefer frosting made with melted chocolate makes it richer but this frosting was made with cocoa powder which is still good but not my personal preference. Everyone else loved them and that's all that matters! I of course topped them with a nice festive appropriate birthday party sprinkle! I again made them for Valentine's Day and used Valentine's Day sprinkles because that's just how I roll.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoOiiK940nlhq7bvOLeAccQqn6pEDdd5zimzwPAHqHpU-IQ4Xd1vzW-FmdUTnpb9tVmCYjSAYNSJBBzm_1yURRtOP32ciiLpD3KNLkLxjkUukUMtvHdWOrwLSFiIDXm978W_T0KJd2dN6/s1600/IMAG0328-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoOiiK940nlhq7bvOLeAccQqn6pEDdd5zimzwPAHqHpU-IQ4Xd1vzW-FmdUTnpb9tVmCYjSAYNSJBBzm_1yURRtOP32ciiLpD3KNLkLxjkUukUMtvHdWOrwLSFiIDXm978W_T0KJd2dN6/s640/IMAG0328-1.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My arty picture, every blog needs one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting:<br />
<br />
2 sticks unsalted butter - softened<br />
1 8oz block cream cheese - softened<br />
1 tablespoon vanilla<br />
1 bag powdered sugar<br />
Cocoa powder<br />
Brown icing coloring (only if wanted) <br />
<br />
Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla. Add as much cocoa powder as you want. You can be as light or as heavy handed as you choose in regards to chocolate. Then again add as much powdered sugar as you want. Depending on the level of sweetness and thickness you want/need. Then if you are unhappy with the color add some brown icing color to make it a richer brown. I am aware this is not much of a recipe but for me frosting is an experiment. I just start throwing things into the mixing bowl and hope for the best.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0cDgCUqZnym675vu9oCob0_FYB-Echc8ipLGaI2rHJi0grf_jCeOITLgxY-A32oeKtHDcFl81jbXTTP-O5JHmNfz2HTUX9_nOUXnruiMrPuvhXhW5E7Tqvz-Wjee0r3Vi4m8J5Y3MVNG/s1600/IMAG0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0cDgCUqZnym675vu9oCob0_FYB-Echc8ipLGaI2rHJi0grf_jCeOITLgxY-A32oeKtHDcFl81jbXTTP-O5JHmNfz2HTUX9_nOUXnruiMrPuvhXhW5E7Tqvz-Wjee0r3Vi4m8J5Y3MVNG/s640/IMAG0036.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those are Martha Stewart cupcakes in my Martha Stewart cupcake carrier</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm going to include the Martha Stewart recipe as well. I linked it above but as of right now our links are not showing up a different color so you may miss it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Ingredients</h2>
<div class="item-list">
<ul class="content-multigroup-group-ingredient">
<li class="ingredient first">
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour</li>
<li class="ingredient">
3/4 tablespoon baking powder</li>
<li class="ingredient">
1/2 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="ingredient">
1/4 teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li class="ingredient">
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened</li>
<li class="ingredient">
1 1/3 cups sugar</li>
<li class="ingredient">
2/3 cup natural, creamy peanut butter (I use Jif natural because it was on sale)</li>
<li class="ingredient">
3 large eggs</li>
<li class="ingredient">
1/2 cup sour cream</li>
<li class="ingredient">
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="recipe-section instructions">
<h2>
Directions</h2>
<div class="item-list">
<ol class="content-multigroup-group-steps">
<li class="step first last">
Make cupcakes as directed in <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/328102/yellow-butter-cupcakes" target="_blank">Basic Cupcake How-To</a>,
adding peanut butter before adding eggs. Use sour cream and vanilla as
wet ingredients. Once cupcakes are cool, frost tops with peanut butter
frosting. Place a dollop of jam in center of frosting. Decorated
cupcakes will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days.</li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwY7mLumEU61CIp6XFjCC5wwP7S76AfQjahTHaDtWpda1k3h4XuL62oNstKjRY4Z_PUcUggLHfYXqJ-NzDHPKoID1Qi8zzdb_-nlDIuEZukDZwOWHlOKZbKyAoZVhfdGoYa6HXnpASl-N/s1600/IMAG0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwY7mLumEU61CIp6XFjCC5wwP7S76AfQjahTHaDtWpda1k3h4XuL62oNstKjRY4Z_PUcUggLHfYXqJ-NzDHPKoID1Qi8zzdb_-nlDIuEZukDZwOWHlOKZbKyAoZVhfdGoYa6HXnpASl-N/s640/IMAG0039.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was delicious and look my teeth marks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jessica Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05775757089598292422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-76168077852308187182013-02-17T00:41:00.002-08:002013-02-17T00:43:48.193-08:00Chocolate Truffle ButtercreamA month ago my niece Zah turned 14 and delicious birthday cupcakes were definitely in order. Zah has been a chocolate fiend since she was a baby and I knew something super chocolatey and delicious was in order. I decided to make two batches of cupcakes both chocolate (just used a basic chocolate cake recipe) one with a white chocolate cream cheese buttercream and the other batch topped with what I call chocolate truffle buttercream.<br />
<br />
A few years ago before I realized that I could make my own frosting recipe I found the William Sonoma Chocolate Buttercream Frosting on their website. I fell in love with it. Rich, delicious, easy to make, easy to pipe. For this occasion I was looking for something a bit richer so I decided to sub out the milk and replace it with....heavy whipping cream. The change was out of this world delicious! It was like eating the filling of a delicious, wonderful truffle. If you are looking for a boring regular non rich chocolate buttercream go ahead and make it with the milk instead of the heavy cream, I promise not to judge you.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESTv_ub2YeSKPmMBDMXaLiKCmDsKXipAD6XG6mcug1R2z3zWzUnjN-0FcMjENn9A4lE8VV2YhTCFD6vIuFbzXFUcdfKxdPZl3q32IuFVjesJF5rffqbcTf9M02CTYIWlQWItwPkzCojmz/s1600/melted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESTv_ub2YeSKPmMBDMXaLiKCmDsKXipAD6XG6mcug1R2z3zWzUnjN-0FcMjENn9A4lE8VV2YhTCFD6vIuFbzXFUcdfKxdPZl3q32IuFVjesJF5rffqbcTf9M02CTYIWlQWItwPkzCojmz/s640/melted.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's unsweetened but I still want to dive in</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
At first I didn't use quite enough cream and the frosting was really thick and I had piping issues. I usually use the Wilton 1M tip but I could not get it to work. So I brought out a different tip and the results were what I call...the dog poop swirl cupcake. I quickly snapped a picture and sent it to my partner in blog Brandi because I knew only she could appreciate the dog poop swirl. Once I thinned it out a bit more with some more cream it would have been easy to use the traditional 1M but I didn't want to fill another bag so I just went ahead and embraced the dog poop swirl.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxT4cY-8YaNrbMnlpJXYoeuGBG1ugQ43c5rm-bwtY8vN6uP-RZCNrTphDU4Sge_MYCCyc88HEgZny1lApR0bPHptVnDP1PXMBScqylDLMq3pnfV_aPoGvcnLZcgkiBpoKD-eAGQzP9-eG/s1600/tgsdgd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxT4cY-8YaNrbMnlpJXYoeuGBG1ugQ43c5rm-bwtY8vN6uP-RZCNrTphDU4Sge_MYCCyc88HEgZny1lApR0bPHptVnDP1PXMBScqylDLMq3pnfV_aPoGvcnLZcgkiBpoKD-eAGQzP9-eG/s640/tgsdgd.jpg" width="382" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's delicious but it looks like...well yeah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I decided to just go with some sprinkles for decorations as I could get my niece to give me any information on what she wanted beyond chocolate. On the cream cheese buttercream cupcakes I originally placed a chocolate covered gummi bear but...yeah there is a theme here it looked like poop. So I took them off and ate them. I figured there was enough poop happening and no reason to pump it up. This was supposed to be an appetizing blog post but now I fear I mentioned poop too many times. oops. To distract you I will once again plug one of my favorite sprinkle sites <a href="http://www.sweetbakingsupply.com/" target="_blank">Sweet! Baking Supply</a>. I will also show off my super arty pictures that I took of my sprinkles.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ29wYzxP3gppb4WW70E2t9lY2u-H7MlA5UsFTIKPld9pM2PFbZKpNJ9qgQU36HRbSWsidSD7mPj5QjXwiFUhFn-65BP2rVc_pDCego1n-H7YMeH8g5fBEAk1AhWwxX4XE8z0qaO4HnvE/s1600/sweet!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ29wYzxP3gppb4WW70E2t9lY2u-H7MlA5UsFTIKPld9pM2PFbZKpNJ9qgQU36HRbSWsidSD7mPj5QjXwiFUhFn-65BP2rVc_pDCego1n-H7YMeH8g5fBEAk1AhWwxX4XE8z0qaO4HnvE/s640/sweet!.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ooooh Arty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The white chocolate cream cheese buttercream cupcakes were equally as delicious. Just a basic recipe I just kind of throw in whatever I have around the house. I like to do half salted butter and half unsalted butter I really think it gives it more depth. But it's a personal choice I know people who would never even fathom putting salted butter in their frosting and that's okay. Frosting is personal people, make it your own.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ylJD18DH5OJ1DE6pe1Olf9T1QvXiO-A2nixDSQkm3NdMEEJS09cwLvJ7ACKQOyv0v5FNOhmrp93wXSov9J6gJ27lPsB5VRdj2h4dbmGL04dka-llGWfVsZBIGjcM2DqQ35a-FkYwWf-E/s1600/IMAG2312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ylJD18DH5OJ1DE6pe1Olf9T1QvXiO-A2nixDSQkm3NdMEEJS09cwLvJ7ACKQOyv0v5FNOhmrp93wXSov9J6gJ27lPsB5VRdj2h4dbmGL04dka-llGWfVsZBIGjcM2DqQ35a-FkYwWf-E/s640/IMAG2312.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, look! No poop! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As for the chocolate truffle buttercream I mentioned before here is the link to the original recipe from <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/quick-chocolate-buttercream-frosting.html?cm_src=SEARCH_FEATURELIST||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Feature_Recipe_Rule-_-&cm_re=OnsiteSearch-_-SCHBillboard-_-SEARCH_FEATURELIST" target="_blank">Williams Sonoma</a>. Below is my modified version. Both versions are great...but I am biased towards my own personal version!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Ingredients:</h2>
<ul>
<li class="ingredient"> 8 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped </li>
<li class="ingredient"> 6 cups confectioners' sugar </li>
<li class="ingredient"> 16 Tbs. (2 sticks) unsalted butter </li>
<li class="ingredient"> 6 Tbs. heavy cream, plus more, if needed </li>
<li class="ingredient"> 2 tsp. vanilla extract </li>
<li class="ingredient"> 1/4 tsp. salt </li>
</ul>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Directions:</h2>
Have all the ingredients at room temperature. <br />
<br />
Put
the chocolate in the top pan of a double boiler set over but not
touching simmering water in the bottom pan. Stir until the chocolate is
melted and smooth. Let cool to room temperature. <br />
<br />
In the bowl of
an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, combine the
confectioners' sugar, butter, the 6 Tbs. heavy cream, the vanilla and salt and
beat on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and
scrape down the sides of the bowl. Increase the speed to medium and beat
for 2 minutes, then reduce the speed to low. Add the chocolate and beat
until combined, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 minute
more. <br />
<br />
If the frosting is dry, add more heavy cream, 1 tsp. at a time, until it is creamy but still holds peaks. Makes about 4 1/2 cups.<br />
<br />
Now please enjoy a few more pictures of cupcakes, yay cupcakes!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvXh-t89buHPwItVRKd2J2EEbVk1HCzknugYQw-Vdb2zwBvo30iqGRhEj_8Pc8LtlrKCY6gZxCU8YuoTaJrYU5Rm-GP3W7_YYj-wB8S6BXNTHREa7ldrWu0eAEa7r2r7MnMBhUzw798cZ/s1600/dfsfx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvXh-t89buHPwItVRKd2J2EEbVk1HCzknugYQw-Vdb2zwBvo30iqGRhEj_8Pc8LtlrKCY6gZxCU8YuoTaJrYU5Rm-GP3W7_YYj-wB8S6BXNTHREa7ldrWu0eAEa7r2r7MnMBhUzw798cZ/s640/dfsfx.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Professional Sprinkle Placer is my day job</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9CqN_H5ygMvGX9VS2TjUWvekIzgvLrQky39qaKbdW0RpoQ3WO5286HxCxM-xgWI9Kfz6EHG7JzQ9CYaMMG_92E4KubKlWfdtCfMm3SbKOIIvuNXSM9yV-jhCgIlLRl7O6M5wL91oBwwe/s1600/rets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9CqN_H5ygMvGX9VS2TjUWvekIzgvLrQky39qaKbdW0RpoQ3WO5286HxCxM-xgWI9Kfz6EHG7JzQ9CYaMMG_92E4KubKlWfdtCfMm3SbKOIIvuNXSM9yV-jhCgIlLRl7O6M5wL91oBwwe/s640/rets.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look I have a fancy cupcake plate! For blog pictures!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCAWQYWthio_bHmp9qooacKw304ZywC08B0Ne1VpyObjJ4ygMyVF1IgRj-BaS2gQVCjKPSvXSyp9nk_bIoOS8OdsjMrOwlWsqCiq8Y0VP0lct04I23Afac97SYQbUDqnXG_AJpmqbL7hG/s1600/trhgs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCAWQYWthio_bHmp9qooacKw304ZywC08B0Ne1VpyObjJ4ygMyVF1IgRj-BaS2gQVCjKPSvXSyp9nk_bIoOS8OdsjMrOwlWsqCiq8Y0VP0lct04I23Afac97SYQbUDqnXG_AJpmqbL7hG/s640/trhgs.jpg" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaking things up with stars!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jessica Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05775757089598292422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-48476684275575216902013-02-15T21:22:00.001-08:002013-02-16T19:50:36.191-08:00We go together like Peanut Butter and ChocolateOn Monday, I got an instant message from someone I used to work with. I'm still with the same place, just in a different position. Anyway, the man's idea was genius. A few years ago, I brought a cake to work that his wife got to try and she loved it. He thought it would be great to give her this cake for Valentine's Day. I'm not a huge fan of flowers for Valentine's Day. The prices are jacked WAY up just because it's February 14th and the flowers just die in a few days. Cake doesn't exactly last long either, but you can't eat roses, yo.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZortj09x91R80Gt7wIosKhBUSHDUdcGuHaOCZbVeNehlz8qKdTylkWjGAsNKqW5lYT8wxLdYxAL4qvogWxjR0XrgByWpgU8jwpqrgvsEKn-yw2kJ9UdkJ8z7sgxxEpBlnBW5fHpYz1E/s1600/BabyGotCake+Choc+PB+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZortj09x91R80Gt7wIosKhBUSHDUdcGuHaOCZbVeNehlz8qKdTylkWjGAsNKqW5lYT8wxLdYxAL4qvogWxjR0XrgByWpgU8jwpqrgvsEKn-yw2kJ9UdkJ8z7sgxxEpBlnBW5fHpYz1E/s640/BabyGotCake+Choc+PB+Cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But THAT ^^^ you can eat. And love. And gain a few pounds eating. I don't have a food scale at home, but I think that thing weighed at least 10 pounds. I think I just gained one looking at this picture again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you want to try some - and I highly recommend that you do - You can find the base recipe <a href="http://www.sassyradish.com/2009/01/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake">here</a>. I left out the peanut brittle and the ganache. On a side note, I've also had that cake with the ganache and it's equally amazing. I did change up the frosting recipe a bit and LOVED it. The only thing that stopped me from eating it with a spoon is knowing that I needed every bit for this cake. Full disclosure though, I did save some left over and I have had a spoonful of it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I used two 8oz blocks of cream cheese, 1/2 Cup unsalted butter, 6 Cups powdered sugar and I did stick with the 2/3 Cup of peanut butter. Try it. You'll thank me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This cake is really really soft and hard to decorate (even cooled) so I freeze it prior to decorating and have good luck with it that way. The decorating is actually the hardest part. But it's not because of the soft cake, it's because of this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSmZI2bKm-mM3W_khFfbK9Ekd6WMpEnpTnYJGhgndc8q4kvQj9wjVo3LwmzqRMDQcI7drObjOmR8LSb9xk7zTa7_64fpvLH4hRL2J-5m2n3txomr4BcBmuaIHCoo5OphDoQcz73XGi3I/s1600/BabyGotCake+Reeses+Trash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSmZI2bKm-mM3W_khFfbK9Ekd6WMpEnpTnYJGhgndc8q4kvQj9wjVo3LwmzqRMDQcI7drObjOmR8LSb9xk7zTa7_64fpvLH4hRL2J-5m2n3txomr4BcBmuaIHCoo5OphDoQcz73XGi3I/s640/BabyGotCake+Reeses+Trash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hey Reese's, I've got an idea. How about you sell a bag of those things unwrapped? They can make life so much easier with a simple change. I could have asked for help, but they are my husband's favorite, so I doubt many of them would have made it onto the cake :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I do need to say that I got the decorating idea from one of my favorite food blogs, <a href="http://www.annies-eats.com/" target="_blank">Annie's Eats</a>. Oddly, that recipe and picture have since been moved or removed and I can't find it anymore. Not sure what's up with that, but if you search for it, you can find pictures on other sites.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And because I can't post without sharing some stupid thing I did, check this out:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjM7nUQdhCpVu8Sgm6FxQn1dvCNz-h80qjyFMeIbwfCcQ4ro6YVlunWM7sCZVdW1AOVOEF56um4rzpTQ7_mp-_QVPyeA0T1Y7hEhyphenhyphenlsIQ9FV0E4sSv4qu9b95b8qtIHhrFM3CsHm3ghgw/s1600/BabyGotCake+What,+no+cocoa%3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjM7nUQdhCpVu8Sgm6FxQn1dvCNz-h80qjyFMeIbwfCcQ4ro6YVlunWM7sCZVdW1AOVOEF56um4rzpTQ7_mp-_QVPyeA0T1Y7hEhyphenhyphenlsIQ9FV0E4sSv4qu9b95b8qtIHhrFM3CsHm3ghgw/s640/BabyGotCake+What,+no+cocoa%3f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was on the second step in the cake batter section. Just mixing away and had a thought. This chocolate cake sure doesn't look very chocolatey. Hmm... I could be all stereotypical and blame my blondeness. Or my pregnancy giving me baby brain. It is what it is :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And just so I end on a positive note, here's a close up. Enjoy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaECVvvNcKEctuqbMTb8RvEulC2St8s0uFkUznLbwUmxjrP6X0Chr5PmIqg7DlqZbbr3wHgX0eu5MpWsGeH3AoFqxdkX4Wl_F4SCn2Q2MejKM_UfNEZhpk0K5jcL2PY8qUuEmBHqwHBE/s1600/BabyGotCake+Choc+PB+Cake+Close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaECVvvNcKEctuqbMTb8RvEulC2St8s0uFkUznLbwUmxjrP6X0Chr5PmIqg7DlqZbbr3wHgX0eu5MpWsGeH3AoFqxdkX4Wl_F4SCn2Q2MejKM_UfNEZhpk0K5jcL2PY8qUuEmBHqwHBE/s640/BabyGotCake+Choc+PB+Cake+Close+up.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~ Brandi</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-77673723783030698542013-01-23T10:14:00.000-08:002013-01-23T10:14:59.264-08:00About Us & InstagramIt came to my attention recently that most people don't realize that there are two people blogging on this blog. Which is fair we just started blogging with no real introduction. So the people on my (my = Jessica BTW) facebook think this is my blog and the people on Brandi's facebook think that this is her blog. Of course...they are both correct!<br />
<br />
I am Jessica I live in Seattle. I'm married with 3 kids. Brandi lives in Kansas City, is also married and with one kid and one baby on the way! We "met" a few years ago on the internetz and our friendship has blossomed over the years. We discovered we had a lot in common from our history of being stabbed (just with pencils), our love of rap music and most of all our love of cake (and sir-mix-alot).<br />
<br />
One day on the facebook Brandi posted that she wanted to start a blog where she went through a cake cookbook and made every cake in the book. Sort of a Julie & Julia sort of blog. Me being totally obnoxious jumped on it and said "OMG YES! Do it! Not only should you do it, but I will do it with you!" Now I will never know if she actually wanted to do the blog or if she actually wanted to do the blog with me because I got all eager puppy and jumped all over it and never thought about actually asking or anything. Oops.<br />
<br />
Brandi picked a book of cakes and I picked Martha Stewart's cupcake book. As the months went by we both were busy and a bit unmotivated. Then I found out there is already a blog doing Martha Stewart's cupcake book. So it evolved to where we are just doing whatever we want and Brandi does cakes and I do cupcakes.<br />
<br />
There were a lot of names tossed out while naming this blog. I was honestly (and still am) rather fond of Bone Thugs & Cakery but I guess it probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense or flow well but I loved it all the same. After tossing around many names we settled on Baby Got Cake. Brandi went and snatched up the domain name and the name on blogger.<br />
<br />
We discovered however that there are a lot of people on the Internet squatting on various sites with the name baby got cake. Most accounts are going unused and it's so frustrating. So recently taking a page out of the Internet squatters book I went around and snatched up the name wherever we could. Unfortunately a lot of places it was already in use so I had to go with BabyGotCakeBlog which I suppose is better than nothing. So now we may never need a GMail, or a tumblr (ummm what's a tumblr???), a Flickr or an Etsy shop but if it ever comes up, the names are ours!!! We even have a twitter (and we are following sir-mix-alot) despite the fact that both Brandi & I are a bit twitter unaware.<br />
<br />
The one thing we do know how to use (um sort of) is Instagram. So far all that we have posted is a bunch of pictures of cupcakes that I found in my phone but hopefully we will start using it more. So everyone should follow us at BabyGotCakeBlog on Instagram!<br />
<br />
So in closing we have a lot of hope for this blog...mostly that it goes viral and a movie is made about it. I haven't decided who should play me yet, I am still considering actresses!Jessica Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05775757089598292422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-23345571411701002542013-01-20T18:19:00.002-08:002013-02-16T20:11:12.096-08:00I like 'em round and BIGWho doesn't? Square/rectangle cakes are boring to me and the bigger the better. I think it's been a while since I made a cake that wasn't a three layer. And since it's for me, I can have it however I want. Round and big it is!<br />
I made a Chocolate Cream Cake that I've made several times before. It comes from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Everyday-Cooking-Desserts-Gardens/dp/0696213761" target="_blank">this cookbook</a>. It's basically a devils food cake with a very smooth buttercream inside and a chocolate cream cheese frosting on the outside. SO yummy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR830ECKJXHCvvhLb_vbSdTxtCyNtKZErqcMDsux6Sqdo26MR5HtTwEEodEP4BHhtqVulB9_KMsjHCGnaBKuyIIZMDZtd065EwIaQGCHZ38ry-qi9SdjwinG3NT8l4Jo4KPeVRshGbfcQ/s1600/DSC_0334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR830ECKJXHCvvhLb_vbSdTxtCyNtKZErqcMDsux6Sqdo26MR5HtTwEEodEP4BHhtqVulB9_KMsjHCGnaBKuyIIZMDZtd065EwIaQGCHZ38ry-qi9SdjwinG3NT8l4Jo4KPeVRshGbfcQ/s640/DSC_0334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had to take a shot of the cream layers because once you put the frosting on, you have no idea how good it looks until you cut into it.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAKNtUop5yOeBye_qzKDZmPWa4AXt24LhU28gAiukOVu7bR_5hlz6xtvsvn116pKsb9e3jBKRfRdGjesJgXL3wzEHB5hxg3zw-acbi9ly3DnkzpQM0qDEt3IxbNaKFSPXqlQACFlg850/s1600/DSC_0338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAKNtUop5yOeBye_qzKDZmPWa4AXt24LhU28gAiukOVu7bR_5hlz6xtvsvn116pKsb9e3jBKRfRdGjesJgXL3wzEHB5hxg3zw-acbi9ly3DnkzpQM0qDEt3IxbNaKFSPXqlQACFlg850/s640/DSC_0338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
See what I mean? Looks good and chocolatey, but you have no idea the goodness you are about to cut into.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Xw6jW6AiP7nX-WVh4ohfv9AWs4qFx2BrAzkhqxpJLAF9T_FAaGqrgBqLTSvchZOKmxoj45TS7SX1tf2_uhGQJUy130Zg0-1w3N4ZaSrDpqSvojoAK05Lf0d-svWUSh8FXhRo8iVE9ns/s1600/DSC_0348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Xw6jW6AiP7nX-WVh4ohfv9AWs4qFx2BrAzkhqxpJLAF9T_FAaGqrgBqLTSvchZOKmxoj45TS7SX1tf2_uhGQJUy130Zg0-1w3N4ZaSrDpqSvojoAK05Lf0d-svWUSh8FXhRo8iVE9ns/s640/DSC_0348.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was a bit uneven in the cream filling distribution, but I promise that doesn't take away from the flavor. Nom, nom.</div>
<br />
~BrandiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-41286181667814400552013-01-13T00:27:00.003-08:002013-01-23T15:53:13.952-08:00Back in the Saddle (Oven?) AgainWell so as it turns out giving birth to a baby with a incredibly rare genetic mutation that causes a host of problems from hydrocephalus to a rare form of genetic cancer (rare is the word of the day!) kind of knocks you on your ass. All the things you used to do go by the wayside and everything changes. Having a baby changes everything as it is but having a special needs baby with cancer that you weren't prepared for changes it in ways you can't even imagine. It also means that people treat you differently and are always going out of their way to make life easier for you. So when it's a holiday or even and you say "can I bring anything?" they say "OMG no, of course not, you have too much going on please don't!" Which is a nice sentiment, it really is. Unless you are craving some sense of normalcy and miss things like baking cupcakes more than anyone even realizes. So when I heard at Thanksgiving that I did not have to bring anything I thought "cha! I'm totes bringing cupcakes and there is nothing anyone can do about it".<br />
<br />
Well when your life is turned upside down and your brain is fried and you don't know whether you are coming and going and you decide to make cupcakes where do you turn for inspiration? I obviously don't even need to answer that question because obviously I go straight to my homegirl Martha Stewart. Thanksgiving = pumpkiny deliciousness. So I decided to give Martha's (word to my homie!) <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/317069/pumpkin-cupcakes/">Pumpkin Cupcakes</a><span style="color: black;"> </span>a try. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLnFgM81hbXqiQnefX-QIcNfIMCe-izWUOak0yY7nWKAHHJqbb3P5pwl78FyZB1zCx_gg_S1VZ3EpqleM6QR9bKRDjSVQnHZUEtb3I8S1w4WQKwXkSTXJbHqzyoyWgVRHAFKbN-jagREy/s1600/pumpklin3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLnFgM81hbXqiQnefX-QIcNfIMCe-izWUOak0yY7nWKAHHJqbb3P5pwl78FyZB1zCx_gg_S1VZ3EpqleM6QR9bKRDjSVQnHZUEtb3I8S1w4WQKwXkSTXJbHqzyoyWgVRHAFKbN-jagREy/s640/pumpklin3.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<br />
I topped them with a brown sugar cream cheese frosting. A basic cream cheese frosting with 1/2 cup light brown sugar mixed in. If I had put more time and effort into it I would have added some browned butter to the frosting as well to give it another level of flavor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCzH57oDKcHROG7K6b9Sz0RlzgfJuAUUiIWdBNh9rQHcp1WRNyBIk0BepmuWFl1VwUvk5B50q7LovjYx9eprOUzLGLOsiQ4pijTQY3y2B-hYtVfBrIs46D3q0Jh9T67CRJvfSkD-4DXlY/s1600/cupcaes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCzH57oDKcHROG7K6b9Sz0RlzgfJuAUUiIWdBNh9rQHcp1WRNyBIk0BepmuWFl1VwUvk5B50q7LovjYx9eprOUzLGLOsiQ4pijTQY3y2B-hYtVfBrIs46D3q0Jh9T67CRJvfSkD-4DXlY/s640/cupcaes.jpg" width="380" /> </a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the last minute I decided to top them with a candied pecan. I hastily looked up a candied pecan recipe and threw it all together. I'd love to share the recipe and tell you they turned out amazing but...no they turned into a big giant candied mess of grossness. I tossed them oh and the pan I made them in because they were stuck in the pan. I sent my husband to the grocery store up the street to their amazing bulk bin and had him get me a bag of candied pecans to top the cupcakes with. I really like the bit of crunchy sweetness that they added. I was taking them to a get together where there were some nut allergies so some cupcakes just got some extra sprinkles instead.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BKeLGwW1wcxIWpNP1q9lNy1MFeshYj02-FQbsliwbmCReRuzfxk0eIMSFaMKB-Fo-MNTWlUbpZm9dVb8LqraTWfWSh8e1FJ1XvnQwKunMxInpKOKzqN3zEaBfHK9y4ro_oRRirYmKO4A/s1600/pumpkin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BKeLGwW1wcxIWpNP1q9lNy1MFeshYj02-FQbsliwbmCReRuzfxk0eIMSFaMKB-Fo-MNTWlUbpZm9dVb8LqraTWfWSh8e1FJ1XvnQwKunMxInpKOKzqN3zEaBfHK9y4ro_oRRirYmKO4A/s640/pumpkin2.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm not sure where I got the fall sprinkles but if I had to guess I would assume <a href="http://www.sweetbakingsupply.com/">Sweet! Baking Supply</a> because they have an incredible selection of sprinkles. I know sprinkles are "suave" or anything but I really do think they add a bit of fun to a cupcake and I think cupcakes should be fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqp6mkswsWfR9YnA85X6XCHya2iJD1EHTwv0FJpsvvAQHjfn5Y1crrVSHiLmTjSfcQj0NfpkthZ_HUJHjyu8NuASLi6j0R7YoxjjsqPYCIvTbBc9GIJorvNgXQ1uCSgfN-us4Tj-7GQmm/s1600/pumpkin4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqp6mkswsWfR9YnA85X6XCHya2iJD1EHTwv0FJpsvvAQHjfn5Y1crrVSHiLmTjSfcQj0NfpkthZ_HUJHjyu8NuASLi6j0R7YoxjjsqPYCIvTbBc9GIJorvNgXQ1uCSgfN-us4Tj-7GQmm/s640/pumpkin4.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In December my mom asked me to make her some cupcakes for her work Christmas party. She gave me free reign to make whatever I want and I was very excited to get creative! I'm including these as a pure cupcake porn blog bonus as I'm not really including the recipes. It's January and Christmas is over and eggnog cupcakes aren't happening again for another 11 months! This first batch was french vanilla cupcakes with eggnog frosting. Of course I added a variety of Christmas themed sprinkles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_650shRbSQO5-Dks5RgGZtMS720mz1HgCp_fIEbPxHQhtfZirwhX-WtyoK1lsolsrp4zyM6jcrZRXQnt2FPYA0dvDnh9CrcTH3wit3OQG8ry51JowIPJQRFmlFnXEvvS_IVrLHMK-akUF/s1600/eggnog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_650shRbSQO5-Dks5RgGZtMS720mz1HgCp_fIEbPxHQhtfZirwhX-WtyoK1lsolsrp4zyM6jcrZRXQnt2FPYA0dvDnh9CrcTH3wit3OQG8ry51JowIPJQRFmlFnXEvvS_IVrLHMK-akUF/s640/eggnog1.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I fully admit I have a lot of Christmas themed sprinkles. Sprinkles are around $2 a jar and they are incredibly hard to resist.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOqL9RZoyv4k_aCFzjoIGZHgrE74gkDFkH8gVj4JXehI7riP2T4my5miLNDOD_KKoMwfMdO-Ux_SVf1Ixo_XLqIQi6x2oxeEStVHDXOpplaHNjneazVw9_Qx1UNllLIo2cjCkmpvqjzEf/s1600/eggnog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOqL9RZoyv4k_aCFzjoIGZHgrE74gkDFkH8gVj4JXehI7riP2T4my5miLNDOD_KKoMwfMdO-Ux_SVf1Ixo_XLqIQi6x2oxeEStVHDXOpplaHNjneazVw9_Qx1UNllLIo2cjCkmpvqjzEf/s640/eggnog2.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The other set of cupcakes I made looked incredible. As these weren't for me I never actually got to sample one. Dark chocolate cupcakes, peppermint white chocolate butter cream, chocolate ganache swirl & chopped candy cane Hershey kisses & topped with a starlite mint. The first batch I put a dollop of ganache on the mint but it looked like a creepy eyeball so I didn't repeat it for the other batches.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3rKfIF1qksMTv4FzxYZ93eJbYa6hsj2QAzJOCUTEbcffv6PJWdWVDkbVIBnMFvyFFpnGhm-oDwLEweyOiC7pzu0TCXo5Yw17Eq8pqniYJHrAnloMaYxFtecoKpbDRwU2vWXKME4QUc_M/s1600/peppermint1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3rKfIF1qksMTv4FzxYZ93eJbYa6hsj2QAzJOCUTEbcffv6PJWdWVDkbVIBnMFvyFFpnGhm-oDwLEweyOiC7pzu0TCXo5Yw17Eq8pqniYJHrAnloMaYxFtecoKpbDRwU2vWXKME4QUc_M/s640/peppermint1.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I definitely contemplated throwing some sprinkles on them because why not go overboard but I reigned it in at the last minute.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQhuFdg9sxJA11-Sc1S1OcIzilKui-E2pYXS0QJjjVdnQIucvDvE8CYjLYRThUN7r5BzNJ3cs7VqEv1684vcK6ne6t48D5QLNJZKbPOwVdqRglN9Wgh0ctRN3Sr4Fxnp3mc7-pjW-BSfs/s1600/peppermint3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQhuFdg9sxJA11-Sc1S1OcIzilKui-E2pYXS0QJjjVdnQIucvDvE8CYjLYRThUN7r5BzNJ3cs7VqEv1684vcK6ne6t48D5QLNJZKbPOwVdqRglN9Wgh0ctRN3Sr4Fxnp3mc7-pjW-BSfs/s640/peppermint3.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's a new year, a new blog header (LOVE IT) and hopefully in the months to come I will be able to regain a bit of normalcy and make a few batches of cupcakes here and there. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Jessica Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05775757089598292422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-77742965678580109012013-01-05T21:15:00.002-08:002013-02-16T20:11:31.617-08:00Adventures with Fondant IcingI'm just going to start with the finished product. This was a new experience and I have a problem with being too wordy, so this will save people lots of time and scrolling :)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8351283793_4d80b48d61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8351283793_4d80b48d61.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
Now on to the wordy backstory. I'm known around these parts (meaning where I work) for making cakes. It's not unusual for me to get a request, but this one was different. It had me scared. Why? One word. Fondant. I have never had the guts to attempt it. I've had some unfounded biases against using it too. First, I have heard that it tastes gross. Being a buttercream girl, it's hard for me to replace that with something that doesn't taste nearly as good. Next, I heard it's a huge pain to work with. That alone was enough to keep me away. I like my cakes easy.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
However, fondant cakes are SO pretty. I'd never gotten the chance to work with it before (mostly because I avoided it). No better time than a new year to try something new, right? Also, the mama who needed the cake for her one year old's birthday was OK with the fact that I was a fondant newb. Challenge accepted. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The cake was to be lemon flavored, so I made the cake I've done before in <a href="http://babygotcake.blogspot.com/2012/06/it-feels-like-its-been-forever-since.html" target="_blank">this</a> post and just left out the blueberry part of it. That was the easy part. I made the cake one night and decided to dirty ice and give it a fondant cover the next night. Being a newbie to fondant, I decided to defer to the experts at Wilton. Call it cheating, I'm OK with that :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8351284915_aa74609159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8351284915_aa74609159.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I found some varying opinions online about how to roll fondant. Use cornstarch, no - use powdered sugar. Roll 1/8 inch, no - roll 1/4 inch thickness. I heard some warnings about cracking and showing wrinkles if too thin so I went with 1/4. In retrospect, that was probably too thick. Here it is rolled and covered. At this point, I think I'm doing OK. Kinda looks like a dress. And that's how some of the youtube videos described it so I thought I was alright.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8351278535_699945b46e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8351278535_699945b46e_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then, I started tucking the bottom. I quickly realized that this was not going to be easy. No matter what I did, I just could not get rid of the wrinkles at the bottom. I smoothed and smoothed, but it wouldn't give and the top was starting to stretch. I started to wonder if I bit off more than I could chew. I hoped that the fondant ribbon I was going to put on the bottom would cover most of the wrinkling. I decided to head to bed at 11:30 that night with it looking like this. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/8351280429_e6906d7a4f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/8351280429_e6906d7a4f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then came night three. Cake was due the next day and the pressure was on. Thing is, I was out of fondant because I had only bought enough for the cake, apparently. Another thing all the videos say is to buy more than you think you need because fondant keeps for a long time. Noted. I'm not sure what got into me, but I thought I could make it. I ran to the grocery store and bought items for a recipe I saw that claimed to taste like buttercream. I won't post it, but I will say if you come across such a recipe, go ahead and avoid that. It never got to a fondant consistency so I couldn't even roll it, it just kept breaking apart and never lost it's greasy sheen from the shortening. Very disappointing. I will say, I should have just asked for Jessica's (BGC's cupcake blogger) advice before I even started. She had never even heard of buttercream fondant :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8352345924_c4aeb4b9df.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8352345924_c4aeb4b9df.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At this point, it was 9:30. Just in case the buttercream recipe fell through, I had also purchased marshmallows earlier in case I needed to make marshmallow fondant. I decided against more unknown and headed to Wal-Mart to buy more fondant. Glad I could count on them for a late night cake emergency :) I was a bit worried though that I would be up all night. But once I got back home, it was like things had clicked. I dyed the fondant to match the party colors, rolled it all out, cut the polka dots and had it all together just before midnight. This is actually good for me! Here it is again. Despite it not being perfect, I'm still really proud of myself.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8351283793_4d80b48d61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8351283793_4d80b48d61.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Overall, it was challenging. This is totally normal from everything I read/saw on youtube. Almost every video I watched stated that it takes lots of practice to get it right, so that makes me feel better. I was also able to put that other bias to rest. I tasted it when I was done and I didn't cringe. It was actually not too bad! It's no buttercream, but it's certainly not gross :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now that I sort of have a clue as to what I'm doing, I might be using fondant on my son's birthday cake. We shall see. Either way, I'd definitely try again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Almost forgot to add that the cake is modeled after the topper on <a href="http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/04/abby-elmo-first-birthday-party/" target="_blank">this party post.</a> I will update again when the mama does her post. It was SUCH a cute set up!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~Brandi</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-32168768292137577852012-12-05T08:53:00.001-08:002013-02-16T20:11:44.600-08:00I'm so excited, I could Jump! Jump!Couple of confessions.<br />
1. I made this cake back in August<br />
2. I never intended to share it here.<br />
3. I'm only here to show off the new blog design. Isn't it awesome?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bQnm8OmyYm9LPz4rEmKAoSxQ69Gt58TV_rtZCY0zLYuESHkUad7iw7baJ-t2ZZ1fOULP41MJk3BYmXKWcn5_yElBw6ZdJxkHP-tJA8esE0FwNaUae545bYj7Y9Was7ZOdI1ByOmy3qk/s1600/Jump,+jump!.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bQnm8OmyYm9LPz4rEmKAoSxQ69Gt58TV_rtZCY0zLYuESHkUad7iw7baJ-t2ZZ1fOULP41MJk3BYmXKWcn5_yElBw6ZdJxkHP-tJA8esE0FwNaUae545bYj7Y9Was7ZOdI1ByOmy3qk/s1600/Jump,+jump!.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I made this for a guy at work on his last day. His name was Chris Cross so this had to be done. I originally wanted to make a cake in the shape of a guy with his pants on backward, only I started at 9pm the day before so this is what I came up with. I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one who "got it" since I'm the oldest one on the team. It was a disappointment all around.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But, I'm sharing anyway because I'm just super excited about our blog makeover and HAD to post something so people could see it. I'm also pregnant, so my motivation levels to make cake are surprisingly low these days. Too impatient to wait for the next post. AND, this is a cake/cupcake blog and I couldn't just post without a cake...a rap themed cake at that. It just wouldn't be right. Enjoy my cake fail!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~Brandi</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-5673048173789300322012-11-19T14:12:00.002-08:002013-01-23T15:53:13.953-08:002012 RecapI'm going to pretend that this blog post is just a recap of the last few months in honor of the end of the year. But really it's not actually the end of the year (and there are more cupcakes that will be made in the coming weeks!) and it's not really a recap. I just want to show off all the cupcakes I neglected to blog about in the past few months because I was the first pregnant woman ever and the end of that pregnancy got rough and blogging seemed difficult.<br />
<br />
Then I had the baby and that was even rougher and the weeks following were rough and now here we are still rough but blogging because I have cupcakes I am dying to show off!<br />
<br />
First off were the cupcakes I made for the 4th of July. <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Red velvet cupcakes, strawberry cream cheese frosting base, cream cheese butter cream swirl & topped with blueberries. In addition around the outer edge was a layer of red pop rocks (flavor raspberry I assume) and topped with red, white & blue star sprinkles. These were so good and festive! I used red velvet from the box and as this was months and months ago I don't remember the frosting recipe but I am fairly certain I just threw ingredients in the mixer and called it good.</span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklbh716QS3fNtgiq3NCTPYUNDXth6ZH2YXZgolFeYyt2S295TchvqSs48lH_9hV0mrDanvwOfVLEfZrdMAlVYlCDyICyH1wpixFYNaRnCDMYOYmH_Jgv98aU6CvGG8yQth6jqB00QyjPs/s1600/4th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklbh716QS3fNtgiq3NCTPYUNDXth6ZH2YXZgolFeYyt2S295TchvqSs48lH_9hV0mrDanvwOfVLEfZrdMAlVYlCDyICyH1wpixFYNaRnCDMYOYmH_Jgv98aU6CvGG8yQth6jqB00QyjPs/s320/4th.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Next up (although technically they happened before Fourth of July but I forgot about them until I started this post) are cupcakes for my son Henry's 2nd birthday! Dark chocolate cupcakes, strawberry cream cheese & topped with his most favorite candy mini m&m's. He got very excited over blowing out the candles and eating a cupcake but in the end he ate all the m&m's off the cupcake and then ate ice cream. Toddlers have no appreciation! The cupcake was my go to recipe that I have posted before. The strawberry cream cheese frosting was just butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla & pureed strawberries. It was a fairly humid day and the frosting didn't get as stiff as I would have liked. Which is one of the reasons it wasn't piped on. The other reason was he's two and doesn't care!</span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZeoSuJmMXVNtw_LWJJC9oA0r22t3iCfd3Vb6rHOzHmf-e0swc1p3YXjYdGihn3AkTlTAIIoPElVYXFKW-Jolj6zi61K8IUpz7T-PzoVlu7r1bP_DlWark6uArQtY_yRCteZhPqi-D0tM/s1600/m&m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZeoSuJmMXVNtw_LWJJC9oA0r22t3iCfd3Vb6rHOzHmf-e0swc1p3YXjYdGihn3AkTlTAIIoPElVYXFKW-Jolj6zi61K8IUpz7T-PzoVlu7r1bP_DlWark6uArQtY_yRCteZhPqi-D0tM/s320/m&m.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Then came my children's combined birthday party. Henry was 2 on July 2nd and Arianna was 12 on July 14th. We did a combined party in our backyard (omgosh the weather was so amazing you never know what you are going to get weather wise in the summer in Seattle, last year my cousins outdoor wedding in July was rainy and cold!) and each kid got their own special cupcakes.</span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Henry got monkey cupcakes, I found a picture on pinterest no tutorial but it seemed easy enough to figure out on my own. They were </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Yellow
funfetti (from scratch) cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese sour cream
frosting. Monkey face made with nila wafers (mini and regular) and
candy eyes. The candy eyes I purchased from Sweet! Baking Supply (I fully intend to put a click able link in here for them, I love them!) and the nila wafers just at the grocery store. The mini wafers cost more than the regular size, why?! Everyone seemed to enjoy the yellow cupcake but honestly I found the taste and texture to just be gross. No one complained so it may have just been me or else they just didn't want to be rude. I did not like the recipe and did not save it. The texture reminded me of a vegan gluten free cupcake I once ate and tasted like bananas despite no bananas in the recipe. The frosting I again just threw whatever I had in the fridge in the mixer and hoped for the best. It was quite delicious and quite decadent which is good because there was not a lot of frosting on the cupcakes so a little went a long way!</span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQwEx1eHHjMFP0SE8ESZG6R-E3zxVcuK4QFs7N6dBQ-5K74Ky55VsZHQ8HJRFB6wV-NmuQgQLIQvJ8e2kCozFNzovQSxMxU-I_Y9pKAXEHNt35uMUesQdqKT4WOVlPwezyZE_7AFC_puT/s1600/monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQwEx1eHHjMFP0SE8ESZG6R-E3zxVcuK4QFs7N6dBQ-5K74Ky55VsZHQ8HJRFB6wV-NmuQgQLIQvJ8e2kCozFNzovQSxMxU-I_Y9pKAXEHNt35uMUesQdqKT4WOVlPwezyZE_7AFC_puT/s320/monkey.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">For Arianna I made panda bear cupcakes <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.bakerella.com/easy-little-pandas/">Bakerella</a></span> </b> posted a blog on how to make mini panda cupcakes. I used her tutorial only making regular sized cupcakes and per the request of the birthday girl I added sugar mustaches courtesy of again<u><span style="color: blue;"> <b><a href="http://www.sweetbakingsupply.com//">Sweet! Baking Supply</a></b></span></u> . The cupcakes were </span></span><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">dark
chocolate cupcakes, cream cheese butter cream. Face made out of Ghiradelli dark chocolate chips, candy eyes & sugared mustaches. The Ghiradelli chips were preferable as they are larger than regular chocolate chips. The dark chocolate cupcake was once again my go-to recipe.</span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3DIUHQmE5qHPfub2ON61s_xS7mF7iymCvD9A9vfCNy2axC96DyiC9JAOYyY135WDH1VE6QpDDsgBfkJmPpwK9_WTw4viJjlIkAfKxfI9TdG3c0eJb_LZCZgDZ3FEhrRgiosyWiQ0KfCG/s1600/panda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3DIUHQmE5qHPfub2ON61s_xS7mF7iymCvD9A9vfCNy2axC96DyiC9JAOYyY135WDH1VE6QpDDsgBfkJmPpwK9_WTw4viJjlIkAfKxfI9TdG3c0eJb_LZCZgDZ3FEhrRgiosyWiQ0KfCG/s320/panda.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><br /></span></span>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">So that is my year end recap...only I am making myself birthday cupcakes/thanksgiving cupcakes in the next few days along with obviously cupcakes for the rest of the holiday season. Hopefully I will blog about them before 2013 arrives!</span></span><br />
<br />Jessica Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05775757089598292422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-77886723188601532252012-07-18T20:06:00.002-07:002013-02-16T20:11:57.979-08:00It's a Bleedin' Armadilla!OK, so it's really nothing that dramatic, but wouldn't that be fun? I feel like the last woman on earth to find out what a bleeding armadillo is. It came up recently in a conversation and when I had to ask what this bleedin' armadilla was, it was a shock to some friends that I had not seen "Steel Magnolias". Apparently, everyone has :)<br />
<br />
Eventually, I was shamed into watching it. The first few minutes, I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into. The southern accents in that movie are awful. Within a few scenes though, I was trying to figure out who I would be if I were a Magnolia. M'Lynn was a little high strung for me. Shelby's sweet, but she dies in the end and that creeps me out. Hopefully I'm not spoiling the end for anyone who wanted to wait a bit longer than I to see this flick :)<br />
<br />
In the end, I couldn't decide between Ouiser and Clairee. I'd like to think that when I am a mature woman, I will fall somewhere between one who says whatever I want without giving a crap and one who is honest like that but much nicer. Plus, one day I'd like to tell someone that I love them more than my luggage.<br />
<br />
I did eventually see the bleedin' armadilla and it was definitely gross. Mine was much more low key.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwNyaEsscQ6R_4ExzRyrm3D7-aINiM-Y6rW8-RRVTPw5JhdXGrKEAbeNivK1ysVFq5YgesTNyso7EYQ6pKEg0HAhz9HWZVWEyRZSXCN-hv7zyKskbV8gOVxiMPNyM5U1maJ11fpOR8aE/s1600/BabyGotCake+Red+Velvet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwNyaEsscQ6R_4ExzRyrm3D7-aINiM-Y6rW8-RRVTPw5JhdXGrKEAbeNivK1ysVFq5YgesTNyso7EYQ6pKEg0HAhz9HWZVWEyRZSXCN-hv7zyKskbV8gOVxiMPNyM5U1maJ11fpOR8aE/s640/BabyGotCake+Red+Velvet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I do have to confess that while red velvet seems to be a favorite of many people I know, it's really not my thing. Look at how dense it is! I prefer cake to be a little more light and airy. But it was a special request from my brother in law on his 25th birthday, so I was happy to oblige. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl8nUwvlo382Si68DlGTgOEvgL0S5btkwu6rd3d5d-D81PCFTJHX8PYBDmlmpvnYJtNWk8UeGh9LrWr2_Fo5uMheYZlchE1WwXXqiarNlK-I7OLxAVrI9D1B-DbBO3wvxHgQT9hEd0gM/s1600/BabyGotCake+All+Cakes+Considered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl8nUwvlo382Si68DlGTgOEvgL0S5btkwu6rd3d5d-D81PCFTJHX8PYBDmlmpvnYJtNWk8UeGh9LrWr2_Fo5uMheYZlchE1WwXXqiarNlK-I7OLxAVrI9D1B-DbBO3wvxHgQT9hEd0gM/s640/BabyGotCake+All+Cakes+Considered.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I got the recipe from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Cakes-Considered-Melissa-Gray/dp/0811867811" target="_blank">this</a> book. It was a birthday gift from my mother in law and it's definitely one of my favs. It features tons of lovely cake recipes from simple to fancy and some really obscure flavors as well. I've made the red velvet a few times now and it's always a huge hit. If only it showed me how to shape it like an armadillo...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzHrb2qEoDnsH13vCbwiNgZUmfM2TMazVUlXZitDDFQWPmEcsy40fdEoBNoTxGMirQ8Kh-k9uMiTip3W4xON_vO46LKp_sGoUKh45aCkumkRGSRBhpbEGKAo6QTPWV46yHrNmnu5Wuys/s1600/BabyGotCake+Batter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzHrb2qEoDnsH13vCbwiNgZUmfM2TMazVUlXZitDDFQWPmEcsy40fdEoBNoTxGMirQ8Kh-k9uMiTip3W4xON_vO46LKp_sGoUKh45aCkumkRGSRBhpbEGKAo6QTPWV46yHrNmnu5Wuys/s640/BabyGotCake+Batter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The batter is super thick and mousse-like. So pretty. Then comes time to put the red in the red velvet.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCHwr356p7b1yCLzYqu1v6Yyj2pTF5_YpliJsoCnuvzInOQuzGPJy4iROhIa_OQeqoqeiQKHFS6HqcZ6Zy6zLAvvRC9gt_BP8EkqLbAnpnTk299RwTggWMIfUxK1wz8csbzIq5TaB3yo/s1600/BabyGotCake+Food+Coloring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCHwr356p7b1yCLzYqu1v6Yyj2pTF5_YpliJsoCnuvzInOQuzGPJy4iROhIa_OQeqoqeiQKHFS6HqcZ6Zy6zLAvvRC9gt_BP8EkqLbAnpnTk299RwTggWMIfUxK1wz8csbzIq5TaB3yo/s640/BabyGotCake+Food+Coloring.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I like to use Wilton gel food colors in my baking. You really have to watch it though. A little color can do a lot. So a little of this turns it into...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbXOPe7zl2S_IfBcmk4-dNLJTYKac-EgXyqmm561CyWVDrBpxJF48TMJPVjS1cauqQxo8W546bWgBIrRI1wuMiWcygSy6aWo_N2AnIWdnjNMQmffT9Fm3CIa60PCATbD2ShXA5QGfaac/s1600/BabyGotCake+Red+Velvet+Batter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbXOPe7zl2S_IfBcmk4-dNLJTYKac-EgXyqmm561CyWVDrBpxJF48TMJPVjS1cauqQxo8W546bWgBIrRI1wuMiWcygSy6aWo_N2AnIWdnjNMQmffT9Fm3CIa60PCATbD2ShXA5QGfaac/s640/BabyGotCake+Red+Velvet+Batter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
a little bit of that. Now that is beautiful!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Because the post is so very random, I'll end with my favorite quote of the whole movie. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Oh! He's a real gentleman! I bet he takes the dishes out of the sink BEFORE he pees in<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> it!" Gotta love that Ouiser :)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~Brandi</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-87509057585382380622012-06-29T18:28:00.000-07:002013-01-23T15:53:13.954-08:00Laziest Blog Post EverI've got a backlog of stuff that I have made and meant to do super fantastical funny blog posts for each one. But...yeah I don't know if you know this but I am like the first pregnant person in the entire world and I just can't get it together to blog. I know there are pregnant bloggers all over the internetz they even have pregnancy blogs but I am just too lazy and too pregnant to get it together. Plus I have a 2 year old. He doesn't really prevent me from blogging but I figured I should spread some of the blame around.<br />
<br />
So there are a few yummy treats to post about but given my current pregnant/lazy state I will just be posting links instead of actual recipes. Actual recipes is hard. So for starters my niece turned 13! She had a two-part party and the first part was a sleepover. I put together some yummy treats for this sleepover. I made her a popcorn cake and some funfetti rice krispie treats. I have a link for the popcorn cake the rice krispie treats I just followed the recipe on the back of the box and threw a bunch of rainbow sprinkles in...fancy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVwR72xlqjNFBXmCcmxQA4aBVEUWEIIeA3_OxQWKxt7epfn6RIPvCPlOwY03tIuXdgNB8Bwa77tOj9VPs_oPMgAAtATY57y3Rf-Q-AnUceGtdX1DhLAW-W-y0jZ5Gad4LlUpTEhbXUHps/s1600/rice+krispie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVwR72xlqjNFBXmCcmxQA4aBVEUWEIIeA3_OxQWKxt7epfn6RIPvCPlOwY03tIuXdgNB8Bwa77tOj9VPs_oPMgAAtATY57y3Rf-Q-AnUceGtdX1DhLAW-W-y0jZ5Gad4LlUpTEhbXUHps/s320/rice+krispie.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I should really learn to take fancier pictures so when I make super fancy things like rice krispie treats with sprinkles thrown in I will have fancy pictures to show them off with. But I don't even have a fancy camera and I have no real interest to add fancy photographer to my short list of awesome skills.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYnBZ2zPt9hc9qWP4Qs298GnYaaatCyRXsdu0MuWTBZTU6iYSnoa9GVPP1vWxTOlogLsODE4JVqoauSf69edLkyzeWJaD82hXdPOsDvhOtU0xhIqSBeT2I7PJhACK0gFgvEfcEV7StUiN/s1600/popcorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYnBZ2zPt9hc9qWP4Qs298GnYaaatCyRXsdu0MuWTBZTU6iYSnoa9GVPP1vWxTOlogLsODE4JVqoauSf69edLkyzeWJaD82hXdPOsDvhOtU0xhIqSBeT2I7PJhACK0gFgvEfcEV7StUiN/s320/popcorn.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://cookiesandcups.com/popcorn-cake/">Popcorn Cake</a><br />
<br />
I never tried any of the popcorn cake but there were plenty of rave reviews. The blog post fails to mention how messy and difficult it is to make so let me throw that out there. I got marshmallow EVERYWHERE. I also had to use two bowls to mix it all up it was not as easy as I expected but pepole really seemed to enjoy it so totally worth it. Again no fancy pictures to capture the fanciness.<br />
<br />
<br />
The next part of her party was a regular birthday party and I made cupcakes! No links or recipes because the cupcakes were made from a box, one frosting recipe I made up as I went along and the other the recipe was a disaster and I spent a lot of time trying to make it work. I made vanilla rainbow cupcakes with white chocolate cream cheese buttercream (oh super yum) and chocolate cupcakes with Nutella buttercream. The Nutella buttercream was the disaster. It took a lot of work and tweaks to make it work and I can't even remember all that I did. I topped the cupcakes with disco dust glitter and jeweled shiny sprinkles which I purchased at a lovely internet store called <a href="http://www.sweetbakingsupply.com/index.php?osCsid=433d79e167173c88e91da95bac78a53f">Sweet Baking Supply</a> I have purchased so many great items from them everyone should check them out! I even just purchased a bunch of sugar mustaches for an upcoming cupcake design for my 12 year old's birthday!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgk-E4bOsk8I7USDajyPM4MmiVHM-MZlInvsbrjWSr_SArLjO1tS6w9ac_5UM6N-e_FUC2x8Clv-iMwIC9pzdcXvAmllMjfa7JYPKlAXzF-r5yS-QrywhBoQJNl6uSM43OFcjPWlI9R6y/s1600/glitter+cake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgk-E4bOsk8I7USDajyPM4MmiVHM-MZlInvsbrjWSr_SArLjO1tS6w9ac_5UM6N-e_FUC2x8Clv-iMwIC9pzdcXvAmllMjfa7JYPKlAXzF-r5yS-QrywhBoQJNl6uSM43OFcjPWlI9R6y/s320/glitter+cake+1.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
I actually didn't really eat these as I have a hard time now fitting cupcakes in on top of any meal (remember only pregnant person in the whole world) but I did taste the frosting and it was quite delicious. One more picture to show them off and make sure this blog post is super long.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie71O79oHyKGn7BkW31xF-VVKXKnWtChP9uw8lZSqtmvt9evBJx0h2TbatKZ_Zod6UrUhsZHtZW2B2iVGQN2OBFzmyZTCUUfol8_YNVctHUZ37M7Q2mJZI5_qE0suZLFptgfrYau8NEwgg/s1600/sparkle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie71O79oHyKGn7BkW31xF-VVKXKnWtChP9uw8lZSqtmvt9evBJx0h2TbatKZ_Zod6UrUhsZHtZW2B2iVGQN2OBFzmyZTCUUfol8_YNVctHUZ37M7Q2mJZI5_qE0suZLFptgfrYau8NEwgg/s320/sparkle+2.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
So sparkly! The chocolate with nutella buttercream also received rave reviews but I don't like Nutella so I only took a tiny taste of the frosting to make sure it was edible and it tasted like nutella so...yum I guess?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR5gp_Wp8YLNfTtHWcEYpFjjbPurldJkXuo9hNkWKs5f_A9UaBwCwQ-fb17ZoeRc4fosI3zw2TLhZr-ivH99-XYuQOd21Q9GHnxYAg4i2UUvArasMsEgxKENh5RMiradbDirzGV7L-BQc/s1600/glitter+cake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR5gp_Wp8YLNfTtHWcEYpFjjbPurldJkXuo9hNkWKs5f_A9UaBwCwQ-fb17ZoeRc4fosI3zw2TLhZr-ivH99-XYuQOd21Q9GHnxYAg4i2UUvArasMsEgxKENh5RMiradbDirzGV7L-BQc/s320/glitter+cake+2.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The next thing I made was for memorial day. I made grape soda cupcakes. I actually also did not try these at all except for the frosting which was a plain buttercream. I topped them with a "straw" made out of grape vines which were super delicious. I ate so many that I was totally unable to fit in a cupcake and I forgot to snag one for later so I never tried them. Everyone enjoyed them though! Recipe here: <a href="http://www.thekitchenmagpie.com/grape-soda-pop-cupcakes">Grape Soda Pop Cupcakes</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgECks8FWa3OyUAylTbISaSpUwg6fKQmCX_peJoDs4dg-rWnEHXqak-jY4MHglZ31I8unsNVRBwbLZfTS_93_x3St2u5HBSI-hbZknGR-y_YTIjgiF3hVm8uM3zMJYomCXP2npVFZC-osI/s1600/grape+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgECks8FWa3OyUAylTbISaSpUwg6fKQmCX_peJoDs4dg-rWnEHXqak-jY4MHglZ31I8unsNVRBwbLZfTS_93_x3St2u5HBSI-hbZknGR-y_YTIjgiF3hVm8uM3zMJYomCXP2npVFZC-osI/s320/grape+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
I also made a set with purple sugar instead of sprinkles. My plan was to use purple poprocks because it sounded like fun, but I never was unable to find purple poprocks. I have a large supply of poprocks that I once bought just in case but I did not have any purple. Next time I make these I will need to get some purple pop rocks. Also I will probably use a cheap can of grape soda instead of using the fancy organic grape soda the husband insisted we use. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-uKRvA5AEeH-8-X0FDtsYSxc_sXNoAjLkSlZafxsSRctZfxXE-eEpK242ecfArOzh7gv9vWr_ybB38X-UEmeM8kLGXolmzTsuSaZMXQxgedap42WJ0UYzo5XuvFtaxAVE_zShUXI7B5m/s1600/grape+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-uKRvA5AEeH-8-X0FDtsYSxc_sXNoAjLkSlZafxsSRctZfxXE-eEpK242ecfArOzh7gv9vWr_ybB38X-UEmeM8kLGXolmzTsuSaZMXQxgedap42WJ0UYzo5XuvFtaxAVE_zShUXI7B5m/s320/grape+2.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Whew so there we go. A mammoth blog post that is actually three blog posts in one. I have a few more cake making events before I go into retirement for the rest of my pregnancy (only pregnant woman in the world) and hopefully I will manage to blog those!Jessica Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05775757089598292422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-61003794293027968982012-06-10T21:49:00.002-07:002013-02-16T20:14:40.192-08:00Lemon Blueberry Birthday CakeIt feels like it's been forever since I've made a cake. I've totally been going through withdrawl lately. I used to make cakes for occasions such as Tuesdays. In April I found out that I am one of the lucky ones who entered the lottery for the Nike Women's Marathon in San Diego AND got chosen. Since marathon training really cuts into your "me time" and cake doesn't necessarily lend itself to losing the weight I need to in order to run this thing without dying, I had to cut back on the cake making and eating. I'm admittedly sad about it. But lucky for me, my husband just had a birthday today (Happy Birthday Babe!) so I <strike>had to</strike> got to make a cake.<br />
<br />
I wisely chose a Lemon Blueberry cake that I found on <a href="http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2010/07/request-year-in-making.html">this</a> blog. Two reasons for this. First, it's not even summer and it's freaking hot already. Nothing says summer like the fresh taste of lemon and blueberries. Second, I have this weird "thing" about the amount of effort I put into something. Despite being proven wrong on multiple occasions, I feel like the more effort you put into any one thing, the more it says to the recipient about how you feel. Oh, and the more people should like/appreciate it. Again, doesn't always work out that way for me, but I'm working through it.<br />
<br />
This cake has several of pain in the a*$ (PITA) elements to it but they are all very much worth it. That being said, I cheated on several of them without a decrease in the appreciation for the cake, so maybe I've had a breakthrough on some of my issues.<br />
<br />
<b>Baking PITA #1</b> - Parchment paper lining<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgln6KOwWjmhWn448-Z9yk107ZoGQFMf9un1xh5gnzXfiKKifMd0MEsu-Ih2rNfgNuHzqaezRSz1RIxcBeqllfGAyuifurBvZy4uGY8M0p1SKFBr9dcgyzqIVD3naBkseBhL41drf5JmmE/s1600/BabyGotCake+Parchment+Lined+Pans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgln6KOwWjmhWn448-Z9yk107ZoGQFMf9un1xh5gnzXfiKKifMd0MEsu-Ih2rNfgNuHzqaezRSz1RIxcBeqllfGAyuifurBvZy4uGY8M0p1SKFBr9dcgyzqIVD3naBkseBhL41drf5JmmE/s640/BabyGotCake+Parchment+Lined+Pans.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I groan every time I read this instruction. "Butter and flour pans and line with parchment paper". Despite my interest in doing lots of work on a cake, prep isn't my thing. It's like pinning before sewing or taping before painting. I really just want to get to the fun stuff. Normally I might skip this step and my cake would stick to the bottom, then I would be mad at myself later. But my mother in law was here (here comes cheat number 1) and offered to help and I passed off this task without hesitation. Thanks Cindy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Baking PITA #2 </b>- Zesting</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I suck. I didn't take any pictures of this. You tell me how I'm supposed to zest a lemon and take a picture of it at the same time. Had to be done.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Baking PITA #3 </b>- Separating Eggs</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFzUgsUGQGtI-mc2cmB1Gl1Im99KuhpxvVSpKJ0nwAUHSZnKRaNXNK5fusi_GoxrS4C-LWmpRCaB_rEBAzXtgRT266byePnQ-D_ncD_NnNd7yB2o_JINYtEw7Q6Lv8OCV-EC0ZXkCZ8A/s1600/BabyGotCake+Egg+Separator+Fail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFzUgsUGQGtI-mc2cmB1Gl1Im99KuhpxvVSpKJ0nwAUHSZnKRaNXNK5fusi_GoxrS4C-LWmpRCaB_rEBAzXtgRT266byePnQ-D_ncD_NnNd7yB2o_JINYtEw7Q6Lv8OCV-EC0ZXkCZ8A/s640/BabyGotCake+Egg+Separator+Fail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
WHY do recipes need to require egg whites? And 7 of them at that. I did this SEVEN times! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9-eJYKx8SJbTMyqVxUOafsz3oF0bUGTtw0xY4MGE9MY2yOqcc4sLlYb24YFmzKsM-eWhP4UFV1TdmuTJDq0c2lgapkszg8nzGzqDS6bLyLZnBcKB9raxK4kWD3lJe_WISnTJd79noo0/s1600/BabyGotCake+Egg+Separator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9-eJYKx8SJbTMyqVxUOafsz3oF0bUGTtw0xY4MGE9MY2yOqcc4sLlYb24YFmzKsM-eWhP4UFV1TdmuTJDq0c2lgapkszg8nzGzqDS6bLyLZnBcKB9raxK4kWD3lJe_WISnTJd79noo0/s640/BabyGotCake+Egg+Separator.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Except for this time, when the yolk fell through the separator and then broke into the whites when I tried to remove it. Woopsie!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Baking PITA #4 </b>- Marbling</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCvoZZSPdDpRjEx1AFEKPhtL3owvDvmyo3YaCWLpt-6PRbZOC81MlXeSBa4Z_KibPj1L5kSegFxMIrFHsjjXpS_zMef8PL58qzQSnTN3VDkxANAfgVdL_QTG1Aqd_c-Xz-eiSEZXr9xk/s1600/BabyGotCake+Blobs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCvoZZSPdDpRjEx1AFEKPhtL3owvDvmyo3YaCWLpt-6PRbZOC81MlXeSBa4Z_KibPj1L5kSegFxMIrFHsjjXpS_zMef8PL58qzQSnTN3VDkxANAfgVdL_QTG1Aqd_c-Xz-eiSEZXr9xk/s640/BabyGotCake+Blobs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04h0KwAB5eGTc6xVHeIBMyxffn-Mg1xV32rWRUlLdDq0n2Fp0bdYoH-OWJRZwWgqIjd092Rp6k4zanK09UvxGNi9yhxtMygetHCEK9FPKN9AFY0bCBkId28PNBOQwDEjll3h0Xu7SRyU/s1600/BabyGotCake+Swirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04h0KwAB5eGTc6xVHeIBMyxffn-Mg1xV32rWRUlLdDq0n2Fp0bdYoH-OWJRZwWgqIjd092Rp6k4zanK09UvxGNi9yhxtMygetHCEK9FPKN9AFY0bCBkId28PNBOQwDEjll3h0Xu7SRyU/s640/BabyGotCake+Swirls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Maybe it's only a PITA for people like me, who can't seem to get such a simple task done well. I reserved a cup of the batter and mixed it with some blueberry jam (see Baking PITA #5) and dropped some blobs into each pan. I'm not sure why, but it's less swirled and more like blobs with a few swirls around them. Oh well, it still tastes the same, right?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Baking PITA #5 </b>- Making your own jam/curd/etc</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC8jp6VHW7v7Aq5B9OMQrL-E2kIuJeTVVdUhFlPNjOcwHjn4kWijdi3QAE_uzBjwhDk7HlShyI09hX2tMBsGp1Sa3ADe8CEiZ_Vn4QQbRDmkS8UdDf2BgJ2Mb-lRCtvtG02GGfWHWwMc/s1600/DSC_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC8jp6VHW7v7Aq5B9OMQrL-E2kIuJeTVVdUhFlPNjOcwHjn4kWijdi3QAE_uzBjwhDk7HlShyI09hX2tMBsGp1Sa3ADe8CEiZ_Vn4QQbRDmkS8UdDf2BgJ2Mb-lRCtvtG02GGfWHWwMc/s640/DSC_0025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lemon curd, cream filling, blueberry jam...Whatever it is, making it for cake layers is a bigger PITA than just filling them with buttercream. This one's worth it though. Cheat number 2 comes in here. I made the blueberry jam for something else a few weeks ago and saved the leftovers. It was still a PITA to make, just not today :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Baking PITA #6 </b>- Clean up</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4osyZIW2nAAQtlpJAs5o1R7ND7UkyhrnlK0VL6aNnurSrqPnI02RiPwaecq3uEeNdTXZS09FpEYusmzGBrJarGVVR8xqbuM-EpkUlcg6fbAisGw0MpJBWapzzJHJdcjh_Idn6mx8V5yk/s1600/BabyGotCake+Dirty+Dishes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4osyZIW2nAAQtlpJAs5o1R7ND7UkyhrnlK0VL6aNnurSrqPnI02RiPwaecq3uEeNdTXZS09FpEYusmzGBrJarGVVR8xqbuM-EpkUlcg6fbAisGw0MpJBWapzzJHJdcjh_Idn6mx8V5yk/s640/BabyGotCake+Dirty+Dishes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Worst part of baking ever. Especially since I use a ton of dishes. I swear that empty beer bottle hanging out in the back is not mine!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
By no means was that a comprehensive list of ALL Baking PITA's, just the ones that occurred in this instance :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9a-FPFnrG_A0daR8J3O_fF6AH_Mia752UpgMm6NWXSe4BR633y0lTeLvGfwXM3cx2H18iYRBMY68pLg4NbW8RY9ZMq6v2MKfyY0oymtH7zhnE6iny4W7QUJ_A4l9Na9JLWM0mhz6h7A/s1600/BabyGotCake+Lemon+BB+cake+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9a-FPFnrG_A0daR8J3O_fF6AH_Mia752UpgMm6NWXSe4BR633y0lTeLvGfwXM3cx2H18iYRBMY68pLg4NbW8RY9ZMq6v2MKfyY0oymtH7zhnE6iny4W7QUJ_A4l9Na9JLWM0mhz6h7A/s640/BabyGotCake+Lemon+BB+cake+Side.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's a shot of the side. I can't show the top because I'd be super embarrassed that I didn't start the piping in the right place, so the word "birthday" is all jammed into the right side. Plus, my husband probably doesn't want his name out there since his age is out in the open. The lean comes from me not following directions. I used three 9 inch pans instead of 8 inch as the recipe called for. I don't have three 8 inch pans so the layers came out a little thin. And with a little lean.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhRKNKuOJN8Fe_ncwMQgr6CI4mBqyNlJjY81pO9b9XCFJEpbzNKe3gC601Q-r7EtAjSYediUhSgy37bDmrTVzdcmcjere_6Q8IFQxjBeLDAidcislBhowzA5zEUPD4TIufFDliNgXa24/s1600/BabyGotCake+Blowing+out+candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhRKNKuOJN8Fe_ncwMQgr6CI4mBqyNlJjY81pO9b9XCFJEpbzNKe3gC601Q-r7EtAjSYediUhSgy37bDmrTVzdcmcjere_6Q8IFQxjBeLDAidcislBhowzA5zEUPD4TIufFDliNgXa24/s640/BabyGotCake+Blowing+out+candles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Just because he's so damn cute. He was really happy to help out with the candles. So much so that he asked us to light them after he blew them out so he could blow them out again :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Taq9e8Ocnhife-JLqzPeFcnmVwJ3ll22RIieUMglmza3MlIIxm6PgOmmW3mLGT65c0HOcp7IumOOOPJdzMHhx0wJsS69zh4P355tbsiFxX2DMm6jaHIMkcVplJZfv9azLuAP429h8_E/s1600/BabyGotCake+Lemon+Blueberry+Cake+Cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Taq9e8Ocnhife-JLqzPeFcnmVwJ3ll22RIieUMglmza3MlIIxm6PgOmmW3mLGT65c0HOcp7IumOOOPJdzMHhx0wJsS69zh4P355tbsiFxX2DMm6jaHIMkcVplJZfv9azLuAP429h8_E/s640/BabyGotCake+Lemon+Blueberry+Cake+Cut.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
Regardless of the fact that it was blobs instead of swirls, it was a huge hit. </div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
Note: I didn't use the lemon buttercream in the recipe. Ever since a disaster with some swiss meringue buttercream, the idea of making a frosting that calls for use of a candy thermometer is immediately dismissed. If you want to be lazy like me, here's the recipe for cheat number 3. I did have quite a bit extra so if you frost sparingly, you can probably get by with half of this.</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<b><u>Lemon Buttercream Frosting</u></b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
2 Cups room temperature butter</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
8 Cups powdered sugar </div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
Juice and Zest of 2 lemons</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract</div>
<br />
~Brandi<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-51404249946736283132012-05-02T22:14:00.000-07:002012-05-03T09:34:18.262-07:00The Enchilada & Cupcake AnniversarySaturday was my 5 year anniversary which I have dubbed the Enchilada & Cupcake anniversary. Mostly because I just really wanted enchiladas and had no interest in a fancy dinner or dressing nice or staring at each other over candlelight. I wanted mariachi music, enchiladas, guacamole and a never empty basket of tortilla chips. I didn't even want cupcakes. But I needed to make something so I could post about something so I forced the husband to pick some cupcakes he wanted. He picked peanut butter & chocolate cupcakes. Easy enough. I combed the Internet looking for the perfect recipe which I actually did not find. So instead I mixed a few recipes together.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0aHrg07itkc43HtaiouJVBIHTwcGvFiYVG0dy4w1p3XiQTAFi7KLtKZfZ509q9MIlOTgKsskvZAXzNheP74MFmcrwFnZ8pwPQJDFj9V7UmyppFIwT8O2O_L0WpZMrx3oUxjcTHos-AmM/s1600/finished+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0aHrg07itkc43HtaiouJVBIHTwcGvFiYVG0dy4w1p3XiQTAFi7KLtKZfZ509q9MIlOTgKsskvZAXzNheP74MFmcrwFnZ8pwPQJDFj9V7UmyppFIwT8O2O_L0WpZMrx3oUxjcTHos-AmM/s320/finished+3.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Full disclosure about the making of these cupcakes. As the days went by I kept not making them. The husband had planned his entire day of meals and snacks around eating one of these cupcakes. Then each day there were no cupcakes. So I promised him Tuesday, Tuesday I will finally make them. To be fair I really genuinely planned to make them Monday but discovered he had purchased the wrong cocoa powder so my plans were thwarted. So Tuesday night, I was set, I was ready. Then I got tired...and whiny. Tired, whiny and pregnant which was really the crux of the problem. So some help was offered he at first offered to melt my chocolate so it could cool, an offer I accepted because it's not THAT big of a deal. Then he was whisking my flour and baking soda together and next thing you knew I was ushered into a kitchen where all the work was done except the actual throwing it into the Kitchenaid to mix all together.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8LWPk4COcOjGhyphenhyphen2EbSfAc0CXC-tDQXRkrDwZak9AOzU-nouEVX2pT6-OmQ3e3lss5_2wkx1fZl4940alBZ7QOAgkg5FfwNb7ZGTIozgiXyqWO_97y_s1-MeQRFkRxqkxjBeOCsXjYuxq/s1600/prep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8LWPk4COcOjGhyphenhyphen2EbSfAc0CXC-tDQXRkrDwZak9AOzU-nouEVX2pT6-OmQ3e3lss5_2wkx1fZl4940alBZ7QOAgkg5FfwNb7ZGTIozgiXyqWO_97y_s1-MeQRFkRxqkxjBeOCsXjYuxq/s320/prep.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Originally these were going to be chocolate with peanut butter frosting the end. Then I was like "eh slap some ganache on these bad boys" then top with frosting. Then maybe drizzle on some more ganache I mean I already had the ganache what was it going to hurt? Then I planned to top each one with a Reese's peanut butter cup. But I kept eating the cups and wasn't sure I'd have enough. So I ran what I had left through the food processor and just did a nice Reese's crumble on top. Oh and somewhere along the way I added some chocolate sprinkles to the first layer of ganache because why not? Technically these were for our five year anniversary and five years of marriage (11 years together total) totally deserve some ganache and sprinkles.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp9Xp3Bh4-a84yRT5RqzNVFFGj94eVstolQPiJAwcrqNpe-XDUB_-Yiy1WZtHEHbeFNmdNILYXKNVL5kpuJ7daZFEWj11ZTEaaW9P8Bg5aPe4q1qig5fSZs8IHx20EOImvLagRQWBFqYp/s1600/ganache+topped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp9Xp3Bh4-a84yRT5RqzNVFFGj94eVstolQPiJAwcrqNpe-XDUB_-Yiy1WZtHEHbeFNmdNILYXKNVL5kpuJ7daZFEWj11ZTEaaW9P8Bg5aPe4q1qig5fSZs8IHx20EOImvLagRQWBFqYp/s320/ganache+topped.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The recipe made 12 large cupcakes (probably more like 18 if you do not like a large giant cupcake like I do) and I ate one fresh from the oven. Then I had 11 and 1 didn't fit on the platter. Luckily the husband was dancing around impatiently waiting for one so I used a spoon to slap on some frosting and did a drizzle and shooed him away. He was in heaven and did not speak for at least ten minutes which BTW is a record. The frosting recipe I threw together made just enough for frosting 11 cupcakes but I piped the frosting and I put a lot on. If you are big on piping and are crazy about frosting like I am then I would suggest making a little extra frosting I found myself seriously scraping the bowl trying to get enough to cover the last one.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H4mP_W0DKiCJ5jTK8Tkcd9vUmWLUEyebNcT87o0cnMpqFUmTNNa_kq2ysZ4NhclQu0JJZkl1rgPzXKgm-MYSeRS0kS9pHXSjscV6qOgIqVoPJ3pfNf44YWSw9UMpDQUvgIQwObma2c8j/s1600/Finished+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2H4mP_W0DKiCJ5jTK8Tkcd9vUmWLUEyebNcT87o0cnMpqFUmTNNa_kq2ysZ4NhclQu0JJZkl1rgPzXKgm-MYSeRS0kS9pHXSjscV6qOgIqVoPJ3pfNf44YWSw9UMpDQUvgIQwObma2c8j/s320/Finished+2.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Things I did wrong:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Baking of the cupcakes nothing. Other then being super lazy and whiny which prompted the husband to do the prep work.</li>
<li>I messed up my first batch of ganache. The husband walked in while I was making it and just looked at me in shock because he had no understanding of what I was doing. I've had him make me ganache before when I was busy and I was in no way shape or form making it in any sort of rational fashion. Off to the store for more heavy cream. The fact that he only got me a small thing of heavy cream is something HE did wrong as we all know I mess up a lot of stuff.</li>
<li>I almost messed up the second batch of ganache because the toddler was being super cute and my cream boiled over almost scalded and the smell of burnt cream on the burner was awful and permeated the house. Yay!</li>
<li>Nothing else. I did not mess anything else up. I am proud. Well I did make the 11 year old unwrap all the Reese's but I'm pretty sure she stole like 8 in the process and child labor is never wrong.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNr3DyKCSFr9wRdiTgoH98WHLrJYGm0cTz9npmbHA4vR-CRCTHcVOoGBu9QOSVrD8334CCPBBtLRlR5HJNJmWOUPKx0Cnv01XwDg7YusYyd0MoMERZFbi6fkWh_-7ZKpCrjdqTsVhf1qD/s1600/done+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNr3DyKCSFr9wRdiTgoH98WHLrJYGm0cTz9npmbHA4vR-CRCTHcVOoGBu9QOSVrD8334CCPBBtLRlR5HJNJmWOUPKx0Cnv01XwDg7YusYyd0MoMERZFbi6fkWh_-7ZKpCrjdqTsVhf1qD/s320/done+2.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dark Chocolate Cupcakes:<br />
<em>(makes 12-18 cupcakes depending on how much you fill the liners)</em><br />
<br />
1 stick unsalted butter - room temperature<br />
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate - chopped<br />
1/2 cup Dutch-processed baking cocoa powder<br />
3/4 cup all purpose flour <br />
1/2 teaspoon baking soda<br />
3/4 teaspoon baking powder<br />
2 eggs<br />
3/4 cup granulated sugar<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
1/2 teaspoon table salt<br />
1/2 cup sour cream<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line muffin pan with baking cup liners.</li>
<li>In a medium heatproof bowl, combine butter, chocolate, and cocoa. Set bowl over saucepan containing barely simmering water; heat mixture until butter and chocolate are melted and whisk until smooth and combined. Set aside and cool until just warm to the touch.</li>
<li>In a small bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder; set aside.</li>
<li>In a medium bowl, mix eggs; add sugar, vanilla, and salt until fully incorporated. Add cooled chocolate mixture and mix until combined. Add half of flour mixture to chocolate mixture and mix until combined; mix in sour cream until combined. Add remaining flour mixture to chocolate mixture and mix until batter is combined.</li>
<li>Divide the batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cupcakes comes out clean.</li>
<li>Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before icing.</li>
</ol>
<br />
Peanut Butter Frosting:<br />
<br />
1 cup confectioners' sugar (plus some more on stand-by I added almost another cup after I added the heavy cream to get the frosting stiff enough for piping)<br />
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter<br />
1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature (if using salted butter omit kosher salt)<br />
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.<br />
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt<br />
1/3 cup heavy cream<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Cream together peanut butter and butter.</li>
<li>Once thoroughly mixed add vanilla and kosher salt.</li>
<li>Add 1 cup of powdered sugar mix thoroughly.</li>
<li>Add heavy cream let mix for 3 minutes to help get it nice and light.</li>
<li>If unhappy with consistency of frosting add additional powdered sugar until reaches preferred consistency.</li>
</ol>
<br />
Chocolate Ganache:<br />
<br />
1 cup heavy cream<br />
8 ounces (1 cup) bittersweet chocolate. I used Ghiradelli bittersweet chocolate chips. If using a bar chop bar, you don't want any large pieces<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Slowly heat cream to a slow bowl in saucepan.</li>
<li>Place chocolate in a large heat-proof bowl.</li>
<li>Pour cream over chocolate.</li>
<li>Let sit for 3 minutes.</li>
<li>Slowly stir together until all the chocolate is mixed together. </li>
</ol>
For help with ganache I would normally link to Martha Stewart's ganache 101 but her website is currently down.<br />
<br />
Optional toppings:<br />
<br />
Chocolate sprinkles<br />
Reese's cups, chopped, halved, whole etc.<br />
<br />
To put them all together take cooled cupcakes and dip into cooled ganache and roll sides in chocolate sprinkles. Pipe buttercream using Wilton1M tip. Drizzle with ganache and top with Reese's. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7XEghQ-5fRIboAujq_QUcMiQKDzbptzUhIV4nFly7dxIEatubCcoMN5HuMydB-w62go7aCdLMC1NGLf8G0VUUKWWQ8-UNnQFN404QdNzSboEHFnwPfXtKxv-9G-6UOT7GD4DaywTlhbX/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7XEghQ-5fRIboAujq_QUcMiQKDzbptzUhIV4nFly7dxIEatubCcoMN5HuMydB-w62go7aCdLMC1NGLf8G0VUUKWWQ8-UNnQFN404QdNzSboEHFnwPfXtKxv-9G-6UOT7GD4DaywTlhbX/s320/finished.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jessica Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05775757089598292422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-56110939348099549082012-04-25T22:04:00.001-07:002013-02-16T20:14:24.698-08:00Not Everything I Make is AwesomeThis is what I try to tell my co-workers. They don't believe me. Ever since I joined the team, I've been bringing in baked goods quite often and they think I'm amazing. I guess I can let them keep thinking that. But I'll let you in on my secrets.<br />
It was 9pm tonight when I remembered that one of my fellow associates has a birthday tomorrow and I had promised cake. Yikes! A quick scan of my refrigerator showed that I had no ingredients for awesome cake. You know, buttermilk, sour cream, any of that. I had to make it simple.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsN003o0uuEJL6bRF_LPuNg8ncnukuh88i4gwD0kmNBU7G8x8LUYtqXDk1coNJPGnqpBnu7bPIZcduQ0guLbXp1las06-h_fRFDhUYrvwXvKVIEDHpvdMJScvfxHyasJqVWvsStoBXp_g/s1600/DSC_0604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsN003o0uuEJL6bRF_LPuNg8ncnukuh88i4gwD0kmNBU7G8x8LUYtqXDk1coNJPGnqpBnu7bPIZcduQ0guLbXp1las06-h_fRFDhUYrvwXvKVIEDHpvdMJScvfxHyasJqVWvsStoBXp_g/s640/DSC_0604.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
While I was lacking many key ingredients for awesome, I saw that I did have Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa. That HAS to lead to amazing, right? I stuck with Hershey's and used a recipe I found online for <a href="http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=184&name=HERSHEY&#39;S%20&#34;PERFECTLY%20CHOCOLATE&#34;%20Chocolate%20Cake#content_area">Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake</a>. I had all the stuff on hand and it didn't seem too labor intensive. It was go time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPpTXeumM9wjD_dSdMD3npoXd7XQykSI3DzHtz4mon00ZYQYTqH24CZsAvZAXg__YfBX6RtR10cBlrhBC_Mqh91awz7IlJKmpyZ8YN9f9DdCjKBfT7q-04Pc_PViWCFx8S0FCMGFn580/s1600/DSC_0606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPpTXeumM9wjD_dSdMD3npoXd7XQykSI3DzHtz4mon00ZYQYTqH24CZsAvZAXg__YfBX6RtR10cBlrhBC_Mqh91awz7IlJKmpyZ8YN9f9DdCjKBfT7q-04Pc_PViWCFx8S0FCMGFn580/s640/DSC_0606.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Look at how perfectly dark and chocolately that looks. So far, so good...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyDHY9Vi7hRUOxlDewtevoG50mXZHy4BIUsDkVGD1Q8zJ5ETvwRQDX3Uo-3Sc8JjpsHxOfZYkyMqeWkxGjPn_c96_CzOy2Ys8NUYnk4PtN9Nupecr8H1OhxBBKV3cD-kxn-MwNtVd3SI/s1600/DSC_0605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyDHY9Vi7hRUOxlDewtevoG50mXZHy4BIUsDkVGD1Q8zJ5ETvwRQDX3Uo-3Sc8JjpsHxOfZYkyMqeWkxGjPn_c96_CzOy2Ys8NUYnk4PtN9Nupecr8H1OhxBBKV3cD-kxn-MwNtVd3SI/s640/DSC_0605.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Even Bailey is helping. I was trying to get done quickly and was a bit overzealous with my mixing. She soaked up all the flour that would have fallen to the ground. No sweeping, yay!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9qS0blZSZ0qJYs98xkW9c-d7NPnCCMdt6KHa4Do3lsi_8luEFrigxNnKBpeSIMquzQgTVN1lQvLCtfAfHcdr8cL-LyPh8xDPDmwPpbDQzeMeQVUjmkV_m0fiMq1Zyqzfd81FyKuOnHI/s1600/DSC_0609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9qS0blZSZ0qJYs98xkW9c-d7NPnCCMdt6KHa4Do3lsi_8luEFrigxNnKBpeSIMquzQgTVN1lQvLCtfAfHcdr8cL-LyPh8xDPDmwPpbDQzeMeQVUjmkV_m0fiMq1Zyqzfd81FyKuOnHI/s640/DSC_0609.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
OK, so here's where I start confessing how not awesome I am. How can you call yourself a baker and not have Baker's Joy in the house? Seriously. I got lazy and did not butter and flour my pan (did I mention I was in a hurry?) but instead used Pam. I know, I know. You can't see me, but I'm hanging my head in shame. Hopefully no one will miss those little chunks of cake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqCzWSi0iUL1FoP5eGBgvT3yOlGrDKu_3tzv_29TVrobBjxchRC3GvYDZyLk5YM_QrZhhleO5Tuldsx7B10dhmx4qJaMCDzJ7oywGgQ1xlBdkYm04LggoUjK0qmjg7md5UGrifRJu0oA/s1600/DSC_0611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqCzWSi0iUL1FoP5eGBgvT3yOlGrDKu_3tzv_29TVrobBjxchRC3GvYDZyLk5YM_QrZhhleO5Tuldsx7B10dhmx4qJaMCDzJ7oywGgQ1xlBdkYm04LggoUjK0qmjg7md5UGrifRJu0oA/s640/DSC_0611.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So here's "I'm not awesome" part 2. I had no powdered sugar in my house either and don't realize this until 10pm. I can almost hear the gasps from people who bake on a regular basis. No powdered sugar. This is actually not going to be a surprise to people who know me, I pull stuff like this ALL the time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I honestly had no idea you COULD make frosting without it until I googled "chocolate frosting without powdered sugar". This is what I got. It's super runny, but I made do. I'm pretending it's a fancy pants cake and that mess you see above is ganache. What do you think?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So what did I learn today?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ol>
<li>Keep your kitchen stocked with the basics. Seriously Brandi. What is wrong with you?</li>
<li>Never use Pam for your cakes. Stop being too lazy to butter and flour. </li>
<li>Use technology. I have a number of ways to remind myself to do things before it gets late. Time to join this decade, girl. </li>
</ol>
<div>
Let's hope they like it!</div>
<br />
<br />
~Brandi<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-29190800805654436652012-04-11T22:31:00.049-07:002012-04-13T07:56:13.302-07:00Delicious Lemon Cupcakes for Easter<div>Jessica here, while Brandi was slaving over a peep cake and chick cupcakes AND egg cake balls(<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">coughcoughshowoffcoughcough</span>) I went simple with lemon cupcakes with strawberry lemon cream cheese frosting. For most occasions I try and stick with cupcakes. I used to go big and crazy and do elaborate cakes but...cupcakes are so much more simple and no one is ever afraid to eat them. Plus the husband (aka the man that cleans the kitchen) is not as annoyed about the mess as he was with the giant elaborate cakes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 191px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730758762936158610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEpWgRse2swSB9V8CS1V5l1rtmdY2eDgEuO1lewgh8z3iHPquDN1IkftACRDu61WBXnUPuu_tXIkHhhexr7aRt6nSQwL3n6PTgwX4u4Bfrp_3Gb_jtZqCKC8VW0KPDy47pQj6RtJi8Yu6/s320/Cupcakes+3.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You'll have to excuse my fancy cupcake carriers, as I lost my cupcake carrier in a tragic cat on the counter accident and decided to just keep buying plastic shells from grocery store bakeries so I no longer had to stress over getting my cupcake carriers back<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 191px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730758296893886994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6-OOMMlOuUSi6x6x9YRGRex6vbgQUXNBbYPtmTWnCkR3b4qzOwoPNDMqSIzf58DaJwhoCLwm26cApM4tUVwtIyGl4i4fiNkmdlcIYMLwEb2Tg6YJQRIIR17MTVrcXUU4KprPz2kZ-AH7/s320/Lemon+Cupcakes+1.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I included the recipe for both the cupcakes and the frosting below (but please be warned my frosting recipe includes things like "dump sugar in until you think it's enough sugar"). The only tweaks I made to the cupcake recipe were instead of measuring out lemon zest and lemon juice I just juiced and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">zested</span> three large lemons and called it a day. I like lemon. As I was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">zesting</span>/complaining the husband reminded me that we have an old box of lemon cake mix in the cake pantry (yes an entire pantry full of cake supplies) and I could always just <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">use that</span>. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cha</span>! As if! I am not above using a mix (especially for elaborate cakes!) but I'm blogging here, I can't just write a blog post that goes "open box, dump in bowl etc". So onward I trudged/<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">zested</span>. The results were fairly delicious and super lemony.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 191px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730758075760884626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoRBZuvx4RRiLW7FXCnrUQhverlTz5IutlJyfFvCWaQDCXAsgnjKvOAqP5LtSitS0TXwuvcv_YZe9FRz8jr2RWgc8BZ8dxXyPXDDPh1JHVvudrZuale8Uy5f27XiccyZ1Gc-OudXmJtGa/s320/Lemon+Cupcakes+2.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The frosting ended up with way more strawberry than necessary so it involved a lot of powdered sugar and it still never was as firm as I would have liked. I also went overboard and made....well enough for a second batch of cupcakes. Contemplating what to do with all the frosting (discarded ideas included eating with a spoon and using as a facial mask) I decided to break out the box of lemon cake mix (and discovered it was a month away from expiring) and make cupcakes for the husband to take to work with him. He's a diabetic and the two small children in this house do not need more cupcakes so they cannot stay in this house. Although I suppose as a pregnant woman I have the right to eat an entire batch of cupcakes with delicious frosting I think itβs better to just send them away.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 191px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730757535340453170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-bwnwEkGj8sZ6-vdLnbaB7xx0IYaeIXhqr0bTNbyINssXUiiIc1p_CmFVCP9wT-C3xoMU7yeNuU3Z382ERxU2dA27hNK4oM5yPgjTbBe9j9PIJ3zIw8gWH4piryjEOkCUruOjqht4Pnk/s320/unfrosted+lemon.jpg" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The first batch of cupcakes I attempted a rose swirl, but my frosting was not sturdy enough. With the rose swirl you also do not get as much frosting. So with the next batch I did a boring swirl which still did not hold up as well because I did not use enough powdered sugar to really make the frosting sturdy. The last batch (not pictured) I just slathered on with a knife and was done with it. I made the frosting on Sunday and a few days later after hanging out in the fridge it was even more delicious and tasted like strawberry ice cream and had the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">consistency</span> of ice cream. I'd lie and say I didn't eat it with a spoon, but let's be real I totally did. I topped each batch with a variety of sprinkles. I know when you go to a fancy cupcake shop they don't put sprinkles on their fancy cupcakes but I don't think a cupcake is a cupcake without sprinkles. Plus I kind of really like to buy sprinkles. I have a few places I buy them from but that is for a different post.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 191px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730762357526771202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJAAxj5tus3uN5vtPBHGhUt9tyCNYQyOwNXThma3h7z_OjgPi54K7BSbLsS6VwytF3tIAG-khVgqUDdelDugXIe_DjxDfDKD3oVFAbLGAcQHc7tXupFQV7AQ8FTQIuEjXzGRilMOAmg7n/s320/Frosting.jpg" /><p> </p><p><br /><br /><br /><br />And just for fun here is an awesome list of all the things I did wrong while I made cupcakes:<br /><br /></p><ul><li>The first batch I did nothing wrong. Except for maybe when I squirted frosting in my mouth from the frosting bag, which isn't wrong, but speaks volumes about the type of person I am.</li><li>The second batch (Betty <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Crocker</span> mix) I overfilled the cupcake liners (I like a tall cupcake) and ended up only making 19. </li><li>I forgot to take the empty liners out of the muffin tin and baked them empty, they got weird so I had to throw them out, such a waste.</li><li>The toddler and I ate a few of the warm cupcakes because they were delicious</li><li>Which brings me to the third batch (Duncan Hines mix as they were out of Betty <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Crocker</span> Lemon) that I had to make because there weren't enough cupcakes...</li><li>I dropped a piece of eggshell in the batter and lost it and told the husband to tell anyone who gets the shell that they win a prize...he wasn't actually as amused as I was.</li><li>I couldn't get the batter smooth and there were a lot of little tiny lumps. I'm sure it'll be fine...right?</li><li>For one batch I didn't set the timer and got engrossed in an episode of Parking Wars but I did manage to get them out in time.</li><li>I made a giant mess which the husband also was not amused by.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 191px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730756395943288178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRQSqp_bRFA46pDMC4ShuOl24yuiIgUoLFKXWCsJusKeMVtJ0Q3QAeSw1KgoHb2PY7Oa5eoJZX4fpzeOoRH8LE-fsfLAJIporzhlUQgHzKAxAmZTNmAD2S6bCvf9D0dll_nd_46BVrdQ8/s320/Cupcakes+4.jpg" /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lemon Cupcakes:</p><p><em><a href="http://www.bakedperfection.com/2012/03/lemon-cupcakes-with-strawberry-frosting.html">Recipe from Baked Perfection</a> </em></p><p><em>Makes 24-30 Cupcakes</em></p><p align="left">1 cup butter softened</p><p align="left">2 Cups sugar</p><p align="left">3 eggs</p><p align="left">4 teaspoons grated lemon zest</p><p align="left">4 tablespoons lemon juice</p><p align="left">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</p><p align="left">3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour</p><p align="left">1 teaspoon baking soda</p><p align="left">1/2 teaspoon salt</p><p align="left">2 cups sour cream</p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left">In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a separate mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream (batter will be thick). Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups 3/4 full with batter (I use a ice cream scoop for this). Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely.</p><p> </p><p>Strawberry Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:</p><p><em>Recipe from Baby Got Cake</em></p><p>2 Sticks softened unsalted butter</p><p>2 sticks softened salted butter</p><p>1 brick softened cream cheese</p><p>1 pint strawberries, cleaned, chopped and pureed (if you dislike seeds feel free to run through strainer I generally do not bother)</p><p>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</p><p>1 bag powdered sugar</p><p>Juice of 1 large lemon</p><p> </p><p>In a stand-mixer with a paddle attachment cream butter and cream cheese until fully mixed and smooth. Add in strawberries, lemon juice & vanilla; mix <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">thoroughly</span>. Carefully pour in powdered sugar in 1 cup increments and mix <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">thoroughly</span> after each cup. Continue to add powdered sugar until frosting is the consistency you are looking for. Instead of pureed strawberries you could also use strawberry jam.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p></div>Jessica Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05775757089598292422noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2854846272918418298.post-74233566226633393882012-04-08T23:01:00.000-07:002013-02-16T20:13:42.283-08:00Peep Cake!It's Easter! I decided to go nuts this year and make a Peep bunny cake. The idea came from a discussion I was having with my sister in law about leftover frosting. I baked a cake for a friend and totally bombed the frosting. The cake was supposed to be for her grandma and I went a little crazy with my coloring. I had 5 cups of hot pink mess. Probably OK for a Sweet Sixteen, not cool when Grandma is 94.<br />
<div>
I do my best not to waste, so when I asked my sister in law what I should do with all of it, the Peep bunny idea came to be. I think she was joking, but I was intrigued. Tons of pink frosting on hand, as well as pink sugar...what else would I make? Plus, Peeps are one of my favorite things. Marshmallowy, sugary goodness. But this is about cake.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTLtw549gSrFrycosBh973-JlzEf0nIFzVQpOp3g3JdThn8VnhtNbpHUnGMeOcPSo52v8wE1XWI7IBPF0TIkjDY4WgOzWTQGtRPuikdzrsSwPICkOx8ta2byysauEATOZ98ULHuxUvWE/s1600/DSC_0583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTLtw549gSrFrycosBh973-JlzEf0nIFzVQpOp3g3JdThn8VnhtNbpHUnGMeOcPSo52v8wE1XWI7IBPF0TIkjDY4WgOzWTQGtRPuikdzrsSwPICkOx8ta2byysauEATOZ98ULHuxUvWE/s640/DSC_0583.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm quite embarrassed to admit that I used two of these ^^^. I can't even bring myself to say what it is. I totally think this is cheating, not to mention inferior to scratch cake. But as I said before, I don't like to waste. On this project, scratch cake would have meant wasted time. All that work, just to douse it in hot pink frosting and coat it with sugar? No, thank you. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIQTkbpvdVCh7M2GN6j2axTRFc3oAZzhLcSoSm46R3P5V3W7sjVzCAVwEDNq0_UQ8LwKqmfe7azysND9bPf2e7rzdNUktbcpJhN2d0X4L_De3h7ZFP8-PxopMlaGiWgjaQaxFze-hm0E/s1600/DSC_0584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIQTkbpvdVCh7M2GN6j2axTRFc3oAZzhLcSoSm46R3P5V3W7sjVzCAVwEDNq0_UQ8LwKqmfe7azysND9bPf2e7rzdNUktbcpJhN2d0X4L_De3h7ZFP8-PxopMlaGiWgjaQaxFze-hm0E/s640/DSC_0584.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Unfortunately, I was this far before I remembered I was supposed to be taking pictures. With the two box mixes, I filled two 8 inch and two 6 inch pans. In retrospect, I might have put another 8 or 9 inch pan in there. I ended up filling the pans I had much too full. One 8 inch cake round was the body, the 6 inch round was the head and I cut his ears from the other 8 inch round.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZSo7_mjCbQWJiBZDC9fVljdbC9b9rUE11m0oUfocS7WJ7weHKqQ5OGEeXQ9iWTpFz3RsMuWTBBmT7aXfabV5ioceBmwgB8F98u0AldPnK1-LtDIhSitFKRRFgzg_xtQ12fxJ9RIe_nc/s1600/DSC_0589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZSo7_mjCbQWJiBZDC9fVljdbC9b9rUE11m0oUfocS7WJ7weHKqQ5OGEeXQ9iWTpFz3RsMuWTBBmT7aXfabV5ioceBmwgB8F98u0AldPnK1-LtDIhSitFKRRFgzg_xtQ12fxJ9RIe_nc/s640/DSC_0589.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There he is, all frosted and sugared. Not too shabby, eh?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7vAJjTN_NXDY5qujgKUqAJjBASCZn2V3g_eL_5kBD3C4vtfUBmuH9DzSAxebJ60e8a3kUH7VMoMcxdDU7voAnxrjIk035LkhZEc8DWwwR2uJoxyID9uE3YY_T193IYgfhY3zdtxFj0c/s1600/DSC_0600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7vAJjTN_NXDY5qujgKUqAJjBASCZn2V3g_eL_5kBD3C4vtfUBmuH9DzSAxebJ60e8a3kUH7VMoMcxdDU7voAnxrjIk035LkhZEc8DWwwR2uJoxyID9uE3YY_T193IYgfhY3zdtxFj0c/s640/DSC_0600.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's the finished Peep Cake! The eggs are cake balls that I made from the leftover cake. See? No waste! I made the cupcakes because I just had too. I saw them on Pinterest and they were too darling to pass up. Go <a href="http://birdonacake.blogspot.com/2012/03/adorable-easter-chick-cupcakes.html">here</a> for a tutorial on those. Her execution is much better than mine. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Things I learned today:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Measure your refrigerator before you go making a giant makeshift cake tray out of cardboard and aluminum foil.</li>
<li>Not all decorating tip kits come with a grass tip. No grass for this Easter bunny :( </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy Easter!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~Brandi</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2