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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 MoreBelgium Chocolate Cake
A while back Sydney, DF and I were on vacation, while dining at a favorite restaurant we were offered a piece of chocolate belgium cake. My eyes widened as my tastebuds danced with delight. The cake was moist rich and almost sinful; I realized Sydney was having the exact culinary experience…however, DF had finished his portion and inching his fork into our portions. Normally I am satisfied with a taste, however I was intent on finishing my share. Sydney and I have for the past few years tried to recreate the fabulous palatable experience. We came close, but something was missing....
Read MoreLemon Martini, Time for the Patio
Sydney and I are addicted to lemons; we can peel a lemon like an orange, segment the fragrant fruit, and eat the segments (my dentist has been cautioning that the enamel could be in danger). Rather than given up the fruit, we incorporated the bright lemon into various desserts and we squeeze the juice from the lemons. We have been drinking a lemon martini to cool down and relax during the hot days, however I seem to always want to have another. The martini has a secret punch that keeps you wanting more. The Lemon martini is ridiculously simple, though guest will never know. Lemon...
Read MoreHappy Birthday with Lemon Meringue Pie
It so happens it is my birthday week, yes birthday week! Many years ago, prior to DF and I marrying, he initiated birthday week. Before thinking how sweet, I need to explain why he initiated a week of birthday. The first birthday of mine we were together he asked me if I would go to a late dinner so he may play softball with his team (he was on 3 separate teams at the time). I agreed on the condition he would be ready by 9:00 pm, I had to be at work quite early the next morning. I was dressed and ready with hair and make-up by 8:50, however 9:00 past, 9:30 past, and 10:15 past. I changed...
Read MoreLadybug Sugar Cookies, For Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day has a plethora of meanings to many people, for me it is about being a mother. I question from time to time if I was and am a productive mother, with mistakes and all. I find myself looking through old photographs and memories, hoping Sydney felt and still feels love and safety through her life. I remember Sydney’s third mother’s day, she asked me when was Children”s Day. To which my reply was everyday, of course I knew she meant a special day set aside for children. From the moment she was first placed in my arms we had a special connection; of course...
Read MoreCherry Blossom Silky Cupcakes
Sydney and I have gone Sakura (Cherry Blossom) crazy; I have come to the conclusion that cherry blossoms are addictive. The flavor is as delicate as the flower blossom; we have been trying all sorts of recipes with the goody bag of cherry blossom ingredients our friend brought from Japan! Baking with floral ingredients adds a sense of romance to your pastries; the cherry blossom is intriguing as well. I have tried to articulate the taste of sakura, I feel I haven’t quite captured it’s prodigious tones. Surprisingly the cherry blossom does not have the floral punch like roses or...
Read MoreOh My Guimaves, Key lime Pie Marshmallows
It is 3:00 a.m and the sandman skipped dusting me, I am unable to fall asleep. After tossing and turning telling myself I need to sleep; I give up and head toward the kitchen. Unsure what culinary delight I will start with, I open the pantry for inspiration. To my delight the first ingredient my eye spies is dehydrated key lime powder! Sydney and I had just baked a batch of Key Lime Pies Macarons, and to honest I am not in the mood to wait the 60 minutes before I can place them in the oven. My brain screams, “Bob” marshmallows ( the entire procedure from measuring to clean-up is...
Read MoreRaspberry Cupcakes, Just in Time for Easter
I can’t believe it is already Easter; this year is just zooming by. Every year Sydney and I prepare easter baskets; we try to make each year’s Easter baskets original and duplicate the previous’ year. This year we decided to put raspberry cupcakes in the basket. We quilted the purplish fondant and placed gum paste decorations on the top. While the fondant is still soft we used an embossing quilter by Patchwork. We allowed the fondant to dry overnight and placed our gum paste decoration in the center with edible glue. We can’t wait to see the children’s faces...
Read MoreGluten Free Pâte Croissant, Perfect for Passover
During Passover, Sydney and I have had numerous requests for gluten free croissants. We have created recipes for our gluten free clients, friends, and family members. I must admit the individuals who are gluten free seem to grow each year. My nephew was born with Celiac disease. Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in everyday products such as medicines,...
Read MoreSpicy Chocolate Caramel-Apple Cups
Tastes like chocolate covered carmel apples This is the fifth year Sydney and I have created Easter Baskets for clients; our chocolate carmel cups are one of top 5 requests for the baskets. This is year we thought we would add a spring to the cups. With the addition of apple flavoring to the carmel, cinnamon and cayenne pepper to the chocolate, a knew amazing cup was born. One of my favorite techniques for developing recipes is to begin with a popular, successful recipe, brainstorm how we may change some of the ingredients with Sydney, and invent an entirely new...
Read MoreMacadamia Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie-Cake
Wow, I think this is the longest amount of time I have been away from my blog. Sydney utilized her spring break to visit the colleges she wants to transfer to, NYU, Goerge Washington University, and Georgetown University. I never knew visiting three colleges in two states could be as excited and exhausting as it was. I had intended on writing an article during our down time; however we really did not have any down time. It had been a very long time since I visited our nation’s capital, the feeling of pride and patriotism was almost overwhelming! We lucked out on the weather, which was...
Read MoreCreme de Menthe Cupcakes, the Luck of the Irish
I’ve enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day parades since I was a little girl; I finally asked myself what is the symbolic meaning of the shamrock along with the color green? Oddly, I never put much thought into the symbols prior to today. From the research I’ve done: “St. Patrick was 16 when Irish marauders raided his village on the British mainland. He was sold into slavery and, later, became a Christian. He studied in a monastery in Gaul and was called to preach the gospel in Ireland, where he was appointed the second bishop of that nation.He converted thousands to the faith...
Read MoreAttention Chefs, Bakeries, Bloggers and All Foodies, We Need to Semper Fi
This morning I was reading my e-mails, just like every morning, when I came across an e-mail from Stuart McFaul, from California, whom I do not know. I read his e-mail and was touched; he was reaching out to help the owner of B. Hall Gourmet Whoopie Pies in D.C. Beryl Hall. He politely asked me if I would bring some attention to Beryl’s Plithe. Paying it forward as he referred to his request, while reading Beryl’s biography and ambition I couldn’t refuse, she is an amazing woman. Beryl has taken a 180 degree turn in career choices, she was not always the passionate...
Read MoreAlmond Paste-Strawberry Cake
My esthetician, Jess, opened her own salon, and wanted to to host an open house for all her clients. She asked sydney and I if we could cater the event. Jess wanted to serve petit fours, small l’opéra cakes, and single serving cakes. Her salon colors are light pink with accents of purple and Jess wanted the pastries to stay in that color theme. The first flavor that came to my mind was strawberry; Sydney thought adding almond paste to the strawberry cake cake would be heavenly. Opening her own salon has been a dream of hers since cosmetology school; she meticulously chose every...
Read MoreGum Paste Roses
Every once in a while someone or something will become a part of your life that shapes your views or changes you. I have been blessed by such an experience; both Kerry Vincent and Toba Garrett have entered my cake decorating life. I am in awe of their capabilities and genuine talent, if you have not had the opportunity to see either women’s amazing cakes please go to the links I have provided below. I recently received Kerry Vincent’s Romantic Wedding Cakes, a must for any inspiring or accomplished cake designer, the book contains pages of stunning cakes with detailed instruction...
Read MoreNoto-Cello Tea
I was hosting a late afternoon get-together for some of my sorority sisters and Sydney. With Sydney transferring to D.C. I wanted her to hear how pledging a sorority can give you a family; helping her acclimate to a new and exciting environment. Colorado’s temperature was about 30 degrees F, so a warm cocktail sounded perfect, but the drink needed to be light and refreshing as well as warm. I kept thinking of tea and I had brought the most wonderful vanilla tea leaves back with me from France (the tea is available in the US), lemon is a great marriage with tea so addition of...
Read MoreBrownie Boats
Every once in a while I’ll have an idea, that mesomorphs into another design. Sydney and I thought brownie bites would be a perfect snack for a party or school lunch; we placed the batter in a flexipan half- sphere. Once the brownies were finished baking we realized the half-sphere shape was bigger than we originally thought. Coincidently we had been working with fondant and began turning the scrapes into character chickens; I thought they might be adorable in the brownies. Sydney called them brownie boats; she thought the baby chicks looked as if they were going for a brownie...
Read MoreAlmond Marshmallow Meringue; for the Oscars
The 84th Annual Oscars, Academy Awards began this evening at 5:30 PST, Billy Crystal is hosting for the 9th time.. anything is possible. In 1992 he surprised us all as Hannibal Lecter going as far as shaking hands with Anthony Hopkins still in Dr.Lecter’s mask and inviting Sir Hopkins to “dinner.” His grand Titanic entrance in 1998; 2000 Oscars “What are the stars thinking?”, and 2004 the year of Lord of the Rings too many parody’s to write. Not only will the Academy be entertainingly funny, but the Academy will be hosted with class and respect. Sydney...
Read MoreRibbon and Rose, Fondant and Marzipan
Sydney realized this is our 200th post; we wanted our 200th post to be special for our readers as well as ourselves. I must have gone through hundreds of ideas, only to realize I had already shown a tutorial or given the recipe. We had a month of cake making between Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras parties (plus a few proposals and a baby shower). Sydney is not a fan of buttercream, anytime I bake a cake specially for her it is either an Opera Cake or a Joconde, until she tasted Massa Grischuna Fondant. Fondant and gum paste are both fun decorating aides, they remind me of polymer clay....
Read MoreBaby Shower Cake, With Egg Yolk Butter Cream
On Thursday, February 4th, DF’s product team planned a baby shower for one of their colleagues, Stephanie. They asked DF if Sydney and I would bake some special treats. Unbeknownst to the team, Stephanie had her weekly doctor’s exam as they sent a company e-mail to all. DF was out of town and assumed someone would let Sydney or I know. DF’s product team assumed DF would tell us the shower was postponed to February 15th. Luckily we had not frosted nor decorated the cakes and was able to use the cake for another project (we did however still need to design two baby...
Read MoreChampagne Rosé Génoise, The Perfect Cake to Say I Love you
Valentine’s Day proposal is happening this evening as I write. Sean, the boyfriend of Sydney’s good friend (Carrie) confided to Sydney, Saturday night, he was planning to propose (on Valentine’s Day) to Carrie. Sean wanted Sydney to be a sounding board to his evening. He went into great detail explaining the candle light dinner he was cooking for her, how he planned to decorate the table with red rose petals, and rented a limousines to bring Carrie to his apartment. Sean had not, however, quite figured the proposal timing and thought Sydney might have an idea. While Sydney...
Read MoreTaking Time to Be with Your Children, Can Make A Titanical Difference?
Sydney and I have been designing everything form Valentine’s Almond Cookies to Cassis-Cherry Marshmallows. I realize this will most likely be the last Valentine’s Day Sydney and I will have the opportunity to bake together for the next few years; Sydney has decided to transfer to Goerge Washington University (in DC). I want her to spread her wings and fly solo, experience the world, but it would be deceitful of me if I did not admit I am melancholy (a tad). Letting go has to be the hardest parts of parenting, but necessary, in-fact since her birth our job has been to guide her...
Read MoreDecant Brownies, Just Having Some Fun
Brownies, almost everyone loves them and DF probably more than most. Sydney and I were feeling a little mischievous today and decided to play around with brownies. We cut them in 1 1/2-circles, placed them on a stick and glazed them with a decant ivory chocolate, colored red. DF simply went crazy for our brownie pops. Decant Chocolate Brownies: Adapted from the Soho Charcuterie cookbook 453 gram/1 ¾-cup unsalted butter 453 grams/ 2 2/3 bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine 170 grams/ ¾-cup white chocolate chunks 170 grams/ ¾-cup semisweet chocolate, cut mini size 300 grams/ about6...
Read MoreLasagna, Sydney’s Favorite Italian Meal
Lasagna, is a Noto tradition; I can’t image the up-roar that would occur if lasagna was not prepared at least once a month. Lasagna is on every major Noto Holiday table; both DF and Sydney remind me all Thanksgiving morning to prepare the lasagna (as if I could forget)! The lasagna’s sauce is an authentic tradition, Noto Family recipe. Four times a year we spend the entire day, as a family cooking a piece of family history and culture. I found myself “time traveling” about ten years in the future, as I visualize teaching Sydney and I teaching her children/child...
Read MoreSugar Cookie Dress For the Oscars, The Joke is on Me
It would seem the Oscars forgot Leonardo DiCaprio’s nomination and my invitation again. I was sure after last year’s Tuxedo Mousse Cake lost invitation the Academy would have taken extra precautions to ensure my invitation would arrive. With only twenty two days left to the Oscars it is time to realize The Academy has over looked me and once again over looked Mr. Dicaprio’s wonderful portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover; I suppose I am in excellent company. It is a shame I spent days working on two wonderful dresses; I wouldn’t want to wear the same dress as Meryl Streep or...
Read MoreRaspberry-Champagne Macarons, A Toast to Love
Sydney and I wanted to create a macaron flavor that screams Valentine’s Day. In the past we generally have a small amount of champagne left over, not enough for a glass, but I detest wasting. I thought champagne raspberry macarons would be a perfect marriage. Valentine’s day is still a couple weeks away so we needed to purchase a bottle of champagne, no need to worry about waste we created a few more recipes with champagne and each of us had a glass ( it would be a disservice if we didn’t verify the quality of the champagne). Choose your favorite rose champagne; you are most...
Read More“Masquerade Paper Faces on Parade,” Mask Almond Sugar Cookies
I have a friend/client who every year hosts a Mardi Gras Party; this year she wanted a change to refresh the party, and asked Sydney and I if we could put a few ideas together. The Phantom of the Opera was both mine and Sydney’s first thought, and we began discussing an array of ideas. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera has magical mystic to his operatic play; that leaves a lasting impression to the audience. We started envisioning a party in which the guests would have a similar experience. Sydney and I began designing invitations that were shaped like masks and...
Read MorePhotoshop Masking, Breaking Through The Confusion
If you are taking your own photographs for your blog, photoshop is a necessary tool, it is also like walking through mud. The book is almost as many pages as War and Peace, but the characters are not Russian. I have found after reading and re-reading the Photoshop CS5 book I found that there needs to be an easier way to understand. I have found a few short cuts and will share these with you. I hope my experience will be helpful. For the The Mousse au Chocolate I started with a studio background, using the the quick mask tool to cut out the mousses and the cake plate. Select the Quick...
Read MoreSydney-Chelle, A Romantic Valentine Cocktail
Sydney and I were racking our brains trying to create a new champagne cocktail, that would not only look alluring, but be a palatable party. What we finally settled on was The Sydney-Chelle; it represents our favorite flavors and is festive enough for any holiday. I thought how sweet it would be to serve the Sydney-Chelle on a bed tray to your special Valentine. Hint hint to DF by the way! Don’t you think that would be a lovely surprise, or in my case a pseudo surprise? The Sydney-Chelle: Champagne 1/2-ounce crème de cassis 1/2-ounce crème de Framboise 1-shot glass Prepare your...
Read MoreThe Miracle of Nature, a Recipe for Life
Anytime I feel melancholy or stressed I pull a few photographs from our past. When Sydney was three years of age during a cold January day; I allowed her to play “hooky” from Montessori. We had a day of Colorado nature; we started at the Butterfly Pavilion, next stop was the Denver Zoo, we ended our fabulous day with lunch and a hike outside of Breckenridge. The memory of that amazing day always brings a smile to my face. The Butterfly Pavilion exhibits 5 areas, including four indoor exhibit halls, gardens and nature trail outdoors. Filled with thousands of alluring...
Read MoreWorking with Glass, Porcelain, and Glares
In the past month Sydney and I have found ourselves using glass for quite a few recipes ( the esthetics can be eye popping). Glass however can be problematic when working with studio lighting. I wanted the Champagne Pudding to have a romantic yet mysterious look. After spending time researching “false black” backgrounds, instead of masking in photoshop, Sydney and I put together a DIY macro table setting, Using an antique night stand, a black stone dish, and a red napkin Sydney styled the pudding beautifully. It was my turn to create the alluring mood. As I have mentioned in...
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