Purple Perfection Peony Spray
Peonies are one of my favorite flowers, we have had them adorn our landscaping for almost 22 years; I remember planting our first peony plant with Sydney (she was almost two) and it just happened to be Mother’s Day. As I was covering the the second cake Sydney came through the door ready for 10 days of fun (she is spending the summer in DC). I had originally created the Peony cake topper as another cake, in a long line, of 21 birthday cakes for her to choose from. The Peony symbolizes friendship, good luck, feminine beauty, elegance and poise, all the qualities Sydney has acquired. For...
Read MoreFabric Fondant Billow Weave Cake
I posted a few days ago Sydney will be turning 21, and I am creating a few different cakes for her to choose from for her party. This is the first cake for her to view. This cake is a billow weave, Susan Trianos has a wonderful video explaining how she creates a wonderful tufted billow weave cake. The first time I saw the billow weave I thought of Sydney, between her love of fashion and fondant cakes, I knew she would adore the fabric fondant cake. Generally, Sydney and I will construct a cake together via FaceTime, it is fun to create the same cake in two time zones; however I...
Read MoreSugar Paste Rose
I love a full open rose sitting on top of a cake. It is a simple touch of elegance. I had planned on designing a few cakes for Sydney to choose from for 21st birthday party. The first element I need is for her to choose from is the type of topper; she is leaning towards a flower. She wanted to see a few different types, last year we designed Butterfly Orchids for her birthday cake. This year she hasn’t a clue, so I thought I would start with the rose, but I wanted to have a fabric quality to match the cake design, (I plan to explain the cake design in another post). I found a perfect...
Read MoreRoyal Icing Daisies
It would seem Colorado wants to hold onto winter, we have had 3 major snow storms every Tuesday for the last 3 weeks; today we finally seem to be warming up. I thought if I decorated some daisy cupcakes I might give colorado a punch in the arm, so to speak. If know anything about Sydney and I we love warm weather, once Christmas has past we start dreaming of the balmy spring days. Sydney and I find use out of the t-shape parchment paper under a piece cellophane and visualizing the nail head is a clock to insure realistic daisies every time. Sydney had the idea of the “T” shape...
Read MoreRomantic-Vintage Royal Icing and Fondant 3-D Sugar Cookies
I was organizing my cookie cutters, and I came across a beautiful copper corset cookie cutter Sydney had given last summer. I couldn’t believe I had not used it yet. Since Sydney loves fondant I covered them in strawberry flavored and mocha-cinnamon fondant, from Fondarific. The decorative details are piped in royal icing. While Sydney and I were FaceTiming she suggested they would look best 3-D on a fondant molded stand with royal icing string work. Corset Sugar Cookies: Equipment: Corset cookie cutters Square cookie cutters Jewel mold PME icing bag stand Fondant smoothers Fondant...
Read More3-D Ruffled Ombre Dress Sugar Cookie
I have been watching General Hospital for 48 of the 50 years it has aired on ABC, my grandma and I would await for every new adventure each day at 2:00 pm CT. I skipped school on November 17th 1981 to watch Luke and Laura”s wedding, I actually missed a few more days leading up to the event. I cried in 1994 when Maxie Jones needed a heart transplant; her recipient being her cousin BJ and again in 1995 when Stone Cates died. I inadvertently turned Sydney, my daughter, into a GH fan in 2006 when Luke remarried Laura on their 25th wedding anniversary. This past week in half General Hospital...
Read MorePurple Passion Fondant High Heel Shoe
Shoes are the number one accessory; women brag about how many pairs of shoes they have in their closet. Mariah Carey had Mario Buatta design an elegant space with gold-leaf and bleached-wood floors for her stilettos. Although my husband has to share his closet with my left over shoes I do not have a special built room just for my shoes, I would not object to one! I admit I adore shoes, wearing them, looking at them, and shopping for them, so it only seems obvious that a shoe would be a popular cake topper. For the past few years fashion cakes have become popular. When I decided to write a...
Read MoreVictorian Two Tone Brush Embroidery
I was showing Sydney a two tone royal icing brush embroidery (that is a mouthful), and she thought the cookies would be a wonderful dessert to create for Mother’s Day. I must say I agree, the cookies would look exquisite in a clear top box with a blush pink ribbon. In fact I am planning on remaking the exact cookies for my 99 year old grandmother, she taught me my early culinary skills. I can remember when I was in college my grandma would send me care packages of treats. The treats, I admit, did not last long in my dorm or sorority house! I find it apropos I am sending care...
Read MoreVintage Easter Basket
It was wonderful having Sydney baking and decorating with me this past week, however I admit saying goodbye has become harder as she visits more often. I began realizing our relationship will be a series of visits and goodbyes. She loves living in D.C. and will probably go to graduate school at George Washington University. I am happy to see her become a self assured adult able to live on her own, but I would be lying to myself if I didn’t also admit each time she leaves I have this empty feeling (my heart hurts). While she was here we were able to bake and design a plethora of...
Read MoreEaster Egg Cookie
I was inspired to create a sugar cookie with frills from a Craftsy video and a beautiful fluted egg cookie cutter I purchased at Copper Gifts. The design is a collaboration between Sydney and myself, we wanted something different and frills seemed perfect. The fondant is a monochromatic pink-purple color as are the frilled wrapped roses. To add an elegant touch we subtly colored the edges of the frills with antique gold lustre. While frilling the section Sydney thought this would be a fun project to create with your children. After many attempts to design a sugar cookie recipe that would be...
Read MoreThe Luck of the Irish, Crème de Menthe Cupcakes
DF asked me to bake cupcakes for the women in human resources (to thank them). With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner I thought they should be decorated for the occasion. I was inspired by, of all things, a 21 century insurance commercial. I realize how odd that may sound, but in the little commercial they show this fantasy land with grass, a pound, and flowers; the person who has the 21 century insurance receives a visit from a leprechaun dancing around a pot of gold. I knew I wanted the cupcakes to resemble the scenery. When Sydney saw the leprechaun hats, prior to petal dusting...
Read MoreGluten Free Pâte à Croissants
I adore a warm buttery flaky croissant with a strong cup of coffee. A friend, Nancy asked me if I could bake some gluten free croissants (she has celiac disease) I was hesitant, but she was persuasive. Sydney explained I should go out of my comfort zone and try to create a flaky gluten free croissant, the worst that could happened is the gluten free croissants would not turn out. I reminded Sydney I am a perfectionist and have a problem with failure, I become panicky. Sydney replied back the only way to learn anything new is to fail and learn from the mistakes. She also repeated my own...
Read More“In your Easter Bonnet with all The Frills Upon it”
I have had a love for Judy Garland since I was a little girl; my father introduced me to The Wizard of Oz when I was two. From that moment on, I watched every Judy Garland movie I could find. I still can recall the first time I saw Judy Garland and Fred Astaire dancing and singing to classics like “We’re a Couple Swells”, “Drum Crazy”, and of course “Easter Parade”. I introduced Sydney to Judy Garland and now we both share an admiration for her movies. Sydney thought it might be fun to dedicate a blog to the Easter Parade. She happened to be home...
Read MoreMint-Strawberry Macarons
This past weekend a customer (M.B.) threw a baby shower for her friend, and she wanted aqua colored macarons. MB gave Sydney and me carte blanche in choosing flavors. First call was to Sydney, she is the macaron connoisseur of our shop, within 3 minutes Sydney proclaimed strawberry mint! We had our flavor. In order to achieve the aqua color I mixed sky vert pomme & citron; however the color turned a beautiful full body green due to the pink color of the strawberry powder. Panic consumed me, MB wanted aqua, they needed to be more blue. After I calmed myself down I remembered PME blue...
Read MoreValentine Sugar Cookie Card
Every year D.F. romantically buys a dozen roses and chooses a card in which he meticulously underlines the words he feels is a representations of his feelings for me. He buys Sydney sweet cards for an daughter and 2 roses as well. This year I thought I would create an edible Valentine’s card for him, and for Sydney (I am sending most of the cookie cards to her & her roommates). While the sugar cookie dough was chilling I began to design the look for the cookie cards; royal icing brush embroidery kept creepy it’s way into my brain. The look is elegant, romantic, and...
Read MoreCherry Blossom Fortune Cupcakes
Sydney started noticing personalized fortune cookies and thought it might be fun if we created fondant fortune cookies with a gumpaste personalized message. I thought it would be perfect to add cherry blossoms gumpaste flowers with cherry blossom flavored cupcakes. As I have written prior, cherry blossoms are a major part of D.C. history. Sydney and I FaceTime and Skyped this post together, I must admit it was hilarious to watch us trying to figure the structure of the fortune cookie over the internet (D.F. was in tears from laughing). There were a few times Sydney became dizzy from my...
Read MoreSweet Strawberry Angel Food Cake
This past week Sydney and I did not have an opportunity to bake together; it was time to move her to George Washington University, her new home while she finishes her undergrad years. It seems strange to start a baking project alone in my kitchen, I find myself missing her idiosyncrasies that once made me crazy. As most of my readers know Sydney is more than my daughter, she is my best friend, business partner, and my inspiration! She continually surprises me with her hidden inner strength and resolve. I realize most mommy bloggers write about younger children, but we parents don’t...
Read MoreGuest Post: Mommies Saving Dough
This is a guest post from Michele of Mommy Blogger Directory. If you’re like most parents, you probably spend a lot of money on your children. Not just keeping them fed, but also keeping them entertained and educated. There are many ways you can “have it all” while saving a few dollars here and there along the way. First, you must be proactive. Consider where you are likely to spend money you were not expecting to and prevent it from being a budget-crusher. Throughout the year, take note of clearance items at department stores. If you find a neat toy on clearance, use...
Read MoreGift Box Cake Filled with Peace and Hope in 2013
As I write this special post I am in Washington D.C. dropping Sydney off to start her junior year at George Washington University. It seem apropos to be in our nation’s capital while I write a gift box cake post dedicated to a New Year filled with peace and hope. Sydney and I started the plans for the peace gift box cake the day after Christmas 2012. I was reminiscing with Sydney when it occurred to me how much violence has happened in her short life compared to my entire life; I wish I could erase all the awful events from our world, since that is impossible I thought I could pray that...
Read MoreA Baking Year in Review
Sydney and I are presently working on a very special post, but in the meantime we thought it might be fun to revisit 2012. We were blessed with an amazing friend who travels home, to Japan, twice a year, and generously brought us back a plethora of cherry blossom flavors. We spent an entire month using cherry blossom extract, sugars, and compounds in array of treats, by far the favorite was the Cherry Blossom Macarons. And Strawberry-Blossom Macarons. This summer Sydney turned 20 and wanted us to design Butterfly Orchids out of gumpaste for a tiered birthday cake. We spent a good 5 days...
Read MorePoinsettia Cake, A Peek into our Holiday Traditions
Poinsettias have become a staple during the holiday season, the plant is sold every year, and most homes have a few. It has become a family tradition to design a special cake that represents the season, last year we created a Buche de Nöel (Yule Log), I suggested we design another this year, but Sydney wanted something spectacular! Thinking of a spatular cake isn’t as easy as you think. As I was thumping the front of my head saying “think, think, think,” yes just like Winnie the Pooh, I glanced over to fireplace and saw…a poinsettia plant. Eureka! I had a dazzling...
Read MoreMr. Freeze, The Holiday Cake that Came to Life
Sydney was looking through Alan Dunn’s, Christmas Cakes (A perfect gift for any cake enthusiast) when she came across a cake of the most adorable snowman. She insisted we create a snowman cake of are own. Alan Dunn’s cake inspired Sydney and I to design our own version. I knew the cake would be a fun project for us, but I must admit I was caught off guard at the amount of excitement that came over us as we began bringing the cake to life. We found ourselves giggling like first graders as we added the parts of the snowman’s body and apparel. As we added the last snowflake a...
Read MoreStollen, A Christmas Family Tradition
Every year at this time, for the past eighteen years, Sydney and I bake a Christmas Stollen. When Sydney was small, her job was to roll the almond paste (her favorite flavor) and pour all the ingredients, as she grew up so did her baking capabilities! This year as we were baking our Christmas Stollen I realized it would be the last time we would bake a Stollen together for at least six years; Sydney has been accepted to The George Washington University for the spring semester, she leaves the first week of January. Next year I will be baking most of the Christmas indulgences for her...
Read MoreChristmas Cranberry Pound Cake
I am going through a fresh cranberry phase, Sydney and I have been finding ways to develop recipes that incorporate cranberries; putting them in stollens, brioche pockets, cookies, and a cranberry white chocolate cake. I believe we have started a new family holiday dessert tradition. This past Sunday we had friends over for dinner, the dinner consisted of bolognese, warm pancetta spinach salad, garlic bread, steamed green beans, and to finish the meal we had cranberry white chocolate pound cake. I must admit I was on “pins an needles” waiting to hear their opinion of the...
Read MoreCaramelized Pear Almond Tart
The day after Thanksgiving our family’s tradition is put up the trees and decorate them and the whole house while waiting for Sydney’s favorite holiday tart, an almond cream tart. The recipe has been handed down from my great great grandmother, through the years I am sure each generation has changed the recipe a little. My change was to use crème frâche versus mascarpone, but this year I also caramelized the pears. I actually added crystalized sugar and flamed them with a torch. I must admit neither Sydney nor I had intended to flame the pears, but I accidentally didn’t...
Read MoreApple Cider Cupcakes with Acorns and Oak Leaves
This year for our Thanksgiving Sydney and I thought Apple Cider cupcakes with gumpaste acorns and oaks leaves would be fun and festive place tags that will adorn our table! Apple cider starts the holiday, once you begin to see gallons of it in the food stores you can’t help but start thinking of the festivities. Thanksgiving is the first of the holiday meals, family and friends gather together, while cooking, baking, and of course eating! Sydney and I wait all year to host Thanksgiving at our home, and we try to show our appreciation for our guests with special edible place...
Read MoreBoston Cream Pie: A Special Thanksgiving Dessert
Boston Cream Pie happens to be DF’s favorite dessert; Sydney and I normally bake him a special Boston Cream Pie for his birthday every year! This year Sydney thought, since DF’s birthday is two weeks prior to Thanks giving, Boston Cream Pie would be the ultimate Thanksgiving dessert, and DF had his second favorite dessert, Belgium Chocolate Cake . You might be wondering about the traditional pumpkin and apple pie, no worries those wonderful Thanksgiving desserts will adorn our table too. When Sydney first approached me with the idea of changing the “main”...
Read MoreHoliday Baking: Fondant Kitchen Mixer Fun
With Thanksgiving and Christmas quickly approaching Sydney and I thought it would be adorable to create some treats of baking essentials. Over the summer I had found an awareness ribbon cookie cutter for pinktober at ecrandal, a family owned handmade cookie cutter store, while surfing around their site I came across a kitchen mixer with an inset and rolling pin cookie cutter (which I bought). Sydney’s palate is addicted to fondant so we decided the mixer cookies would be completely decorated with fondant. I used my kitchenaid professional 600 series and Sydney’s Artisan for...
Read MoreHappy Halloween Cupcakes
Halloween is as entertaining for adult as it is for children; Sydney and I are no exception. We become completely engaged in decorating, dressing-up, and baking treats to give to family and friends. These amusing cat, bat, pumpkin and ghost cupcakes are just one of many mouthwatering goodies we are packaging to hand out. With just a few materials and imagination an ordinary cupcake becomes a boolicously, unique Halloween pastry, that is irresistible to all. Sydney and I baked an extra batch for the preschoolers she is observing for her development class. The kids frosted, with help, and...
Read MoreJust in Time for Autumn Mini Pumpkin Bundt Cakes
This time of year pumpkins and gourds are everywhere; we plan trips to arboretums to find that perfect pumpkin worthy of carving and placing on or near the front porch. I vividly remember carpooling a car of excited three and four year olds for their first arboretum. Sydney and her friend’s energetic excitement became contagious and exhilarating; we began going each year as a family. Sydney and I were reminiscing our Autumn arboretum ritual and thought creating mini pumpkin shaped bundt cakes, orange flavored, would be a great way to honor a sweet memory and have a delicious...
Read MoreFleur de Sel Caramel Apple Macarons, The Perfect Halloween Treat
I am so excited to share this flavor of macarons with you; Fleur de Sel Caramel Apple Macarons. Every year in mid September to early October we pick apples and dip them in caramel to hand out to the special people in our lives; this year Sydney and I wanted to create the luscious flavor in a macaron. The fist step was to write down the essence of a caramel apples, the first taste to the last on our palates. That first crisp apple sensation, followed by the sweet gooey caramel, and finally the fleur de sel lingers on your taste buds. Now we had our challenge, to fabricate the exquisite...
Read MoreBewitching Dulce de Leche, Brush Embroidered Cupcakes
The holiday season has officially begun with the month of October and Halloween; from now until Jan 1st celebrations will be happening each month. This month we have the opportunity to dress in costume, eat amazing goodies, help with school Halloween parties, and decorate our homes with scary witches, skeletons, webs, and spiders. When sydney was young I couldn’t wait for this time of year to start, Sydney and I baked up a plethora of treats for her parties. Now we have the opportunity to bake for other little one’s parties. This year we thought it might be fun to create brush...
Read MorePinktober, Ribbons of Hope
The month of October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness and most states, cities, and towns decorate the highways, buildings, and universities in calming pink ribbons, but breast cancer is the furthest thing from calming. We as a caring society need to do whatever it takes to assure the women in our lives have a mammography; one of my closest friends, AL, saved her own life by her persistence to have a mammography, at age 32, after finding a lump. I remember the day AL was given the horrifying news that her test was positive. (Medical tests are the only tests where positive is bad news)....
Read MoreDaffodil Cupcakes, for a Sweet Wedding
Sydney and I were asked to create Daffodil cupcakes for a wedding, the daffodil happens to be the bride’s favorite flower.The bride, Tara wanted cupcakes in lieu of a traditional wedding cake, I must admit this was the first wedding Sydney and I prepared cupcakes for as an alternative to a cake. I suggested we in conjunction with the cupcakes create a small cake for the bride and groom to cut and feed each other the traditional bite. Tara loved the idea! A few little guide lines to help your daffodils be a success: Always prepare extra due to how fragile the dry gumpaste becomes...
Read MoreBlood Orange and White Chocolate Chunk Pound Cake
Pound cakes are so popular I decided to welcome the changing season (early September 22, 2012 the Fall season begins) with a blood orange white chocolate pound cake. As many of you already know DF enjoys pound cake; Sydney and I were lucky to be able to photograph this cake before he cut himself a piece. He reminded me of a young boy waiting for the release of a new version of a video game. Sydney was having a hard time styling the pound cake, she was so distracted by DF’s behavior, she began to tease him. Finally I had to explain to my husband the longer he pouted around the photo...
Read MoreSydney’s 20th Birthday, We Need a Special Cake
I will warn you ahead of time, this will be a heartfelt article, if you want to jump to the cake recipe/instructions please feel free. Sydney, my miracle child after ten miscarriages, turned twenty. I know every parent claims time passes quickly, but her twenty years snuck up upon me. I remember deciding I would treasure ever moment with her; I not only cried when she went to kindergarten, but I neurotically remained at St Mary’s the entire day. I was becoming a fixture on the stairs to the point Sister Susan offered me a volunteer job at the school. Everyone, all the other parents, my...
Read MoreOrchids for Sydney
If you’re familiar with my blog you know each member of are little family unit has a birthday week; 2 weeks ago it was Sydney’s 20th birthday. She requested a very special cake decorated with gumpaste Butterfly Orchids; I was so excited to be creating this special “Sydney cake” with her. Butterfly Orchids have a very special place in her heart, and she wanted sugar paste butterfly orchids to adorn her cake (the cake will be continued on another post). I had ordered butterfly orchid cutters and veiners when the summer began, I thought I was prepared to teach her how to...
Read MoreOh My More Guimauves, Cherry Blossom- Strawberry Marshmallows
Sydney introduced me to cherry blossom flavor in late March; since that moment we have been experimenting using the extract and sugars in a plethora of recipes. Over this past weekend Sydney suggested we try cherry blossom marshmallows, however the flower blooms during the spring months. I am blessed to have the extract from a dear friend, who goes to Japan often, but I needed a little dehydrated powder. Strawberries are not only in season now, but gloriously huge, a fusion was in order. The flavor combination was powerfully delicious. Both Sydney and I were enthusiastically surprised not...
Read MoreKiwi Strawberry Macarons, Perfect for Late August
I was preparing a kiwi strawberry salad when I had an epiphany: kiwi strawberry macarons for a late August flavor. Sydney adores macarons, in fact we always have macarons in our house for her and her friends to snack on. I described my flavor macaron fusion to Sydney, who thought the macaron would be amazing. I was so excited to test the combination, I began to separate my eggs at that moment. Alas I had to wait a few days for the egg whites to age, in the meantime I dehydrated the kiwis. Since most people do not own a dehydrator I will explain the oven method to dehydrate kiwis. Pre heat...
Read MoreRuffle Blossom Cupcake
Sydney and I are always on the look for new tips/tubes for our kitchen; I happened to purchase a set with a #070 ruffle tip/tube. We had worked with quite a few of the ruffle tips/tubes, however we hadn’t had the opportunity to work with tip/tube #070, coincidentally I came across an Ombre Cake that caught my eye. The cake was monochromatically decorated in pink tones of rosettes, but I was enthralled with the idea of violet ruffles on a cupcake. I wanted the ruffles to have a fabric sense to the eye almost as if the cupcake’s frosting was in constant motion. It would seem I...
Read MoreDaisies for a Baby Shower
Piping daisies for years has been my nemesis, this past weekend I was asked to create royal icing daisies decorations for cupcakes, for a baby shower. I must admit I thought of trying to talk the expectant mother into another royal icing flower or fondant daisies. I was explaining the situation to Sydney, as I was justifying changing the flower Sydney called me out. She not only was disappointed with my attitude, but convinced me I had the ability to pipe daisies. The cupcakes and royal icing were sitting on the counter ready to be decorated. The petal tips, bags, and icing nails were all...
Read MorePansy Garden
I had been waiting to experiment with a technique I had read about, but had not had the opportunity to work with, when Sydney and I were approached to create an edible party favor for a six year old’s birthday. The birthday theme was pansies. Lighting bolt: what could be more perfect than a pansy garden, a sugar cookie pansy garden? With bright beautiful colors and the elegant simplicity of pansies, the cookie blooms into an eye catching delight! The technique requires working with two or more colored icings in one pastry bag, placing the colors strategically in a specific order to...
Read MoreCrème Cheese Muffins
Taste like a Crème Cheese Cake! My husband, DF, seems to always be waiting for his favorite breakfast; Sydney and I bake all day long for our business, we are exhausted by the end of the day and generally put DF’s request off for another day. Saturday evening DF and I were having a quiet moon light drink on the deck, when he sheepishly asked if I had baked his muffins. He reminded me of a pouting little boy anxiously awaiting for an ice cream sundae only to realize there isn’t any ice cream left. I must admit he played the sympathy card well, I woke up Sydney before the...
Read MoreStrawberry-Blossom Macaron
The flavors of summer are some of daintiest, delicate, and delectable of all the seasons. Between the elegant, delightful flavor of strawberries and the exotic, exquisite fragrance of cherry blossoms; a macaron was a definite must. I wish Sydney or I could articulate the amazing flavor sensation strawberries fused with cherry blossom created; however I will do my best to try. As you bring the biscuit to your mouth the aroma subtlety entices you to pause and enjoy the bouquet; but only for a moment or two before your impulses give way and you must have a bite. The taste is gentle; if you are...
Read MoreButterfly Lavender Cupcakes, Two Kind of Techniques
I seem to find myself in a more relaxed state during the long warm summer months. Sydney and I find time to lay in the sun and catch up on our lives. Although we are blessed to work together with an “occasional” lunch, Sydney’s life is busy with friends and preparing herself to transfer across the country to another university, and I am busy preparing pastry classes and scheduling our clients. The alluring sunshine with summer sounds of a light breeze blowing through the grass and butterflies fluttering on aromatic flowers propels my senses to relax and take a a break. While...
Read MoreRose-Vanilla Cupcakes
We, the entire family, were invited to spend an Old Fashion Fourth of July in Aspen, with some friends. Although due to the fire danger in the mountains the Annual Fireworks Extravaganza has been canceled, it should still be a fun holiday. Aspen is known for celebrating Independence Day on a whimsical twist. Approximately 20,000 people come together to honor the nation’s birthday in true American style. Festivities include a parade, U.S. Airforce flyby, concerts, a kid’s bicycle rodeo, and “dancing in the streets.” Sydney and I offered to bring dessert; at...
Read MoreTiering a Cake
Cakes come in all sizes and designs, some are elegant for a christening, engagement, or wedding. Some are wacky for birthday parties or celebrations. Others are designed to look like flowers in a vase; I could go on and on, but that might bore you. Sydney and I thought it might be helpful if we showed the basic way to tier a cake, there is nothing more aggravating than to put a wonderful cake together only to see one of the upper tiers sink into the base. Regardless of the flavor option, all tiered cakes need structure. Think of the base and the dowels of a tiered cake as the main structure,...
Read MoreMarbled Pound Cake
With summer starting off in the 90 degree heat and a hail storm that plummeted softball size ice rounds, baking a rose chocolate marbled cake seemed atropos to our day. Warm and sweet in the early afternoon, like the rose cream part of the cake; and a stormy wild evening, similar to the rich deep chocolate swirl of the cake. I am always surprised how the weather can be so calm one moment and complete the opposite the next moment. Comparable to the marbled cake, two amazing flavors completely different from one another, but just as compatible. I have shared my love for the long lazy days of...
Read MoreTiger Lily Gumpaste Flowers
Tiger Lilies are romantic, amorous, and mysterious; perfect for wedding cakes. Weddings give off a feeling of enchantment, the bride feels as if she is a princesses for one beautiful day. The air of mystery seems to enthrall the couple the next day; unsure what the next twenty years will bring. Tiger Lilies are beautiful and full of pride. So it is apropos that many brides choose them for their wedding cake decor. Creating them out of gum paste gives an illusion of realness and elegance. Mastering the technique takes time, patience, and an understanding of the flower. The center is composed...
Read MoreCake Mixing Methods
Almost everyone has their favorite type of cake, but might not realize the different methods used for baking cakes. Mine is an Angel Food Cake, strawberry, is my ultimate favorite flavor! Angel Food cake is a egg white, fat free foam cake. Sydney’s happens to have two favorite cakes joconde and genoise, both are a French type of sponge cake using both egg whites and egg yolks, separately, to leaven the delicate cake. Angel food cakes and foam cakes contain very little fat or no fat at all and the eggs are relied on for their light and airy texture. There are no other type of leaving...
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