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...
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...
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...
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...
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)....
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
read moreRoyal Icing and Piping Flowers
Royal icing can change an ordinary cake into an extraordinary cake with a little patience and a good royal icing recipe. Sydney and I thought piped cherry blossoms would be beautiful on our cherry blossom cake (recipe for cake to come). We colored about half of the icing with rose pink and stripe frilled the other half with the same color; the difference between the two methods is one will color the entire icing while the other allows only the edges of flower to be colored as shown above. Sydney thought since the cherry blossoms color ranges...
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 (...
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,...
read moreBehind the Mother and Daughter Team
Normally Bobbie writes the posts that are published on Bobbie’s Baking Blog, however, today I am going to be writing a post. As long as I can remember I have been in the kitchen with my mom, we have had so much fun learning to create new treats for the special people in our lives. As my life transitioned from teenager to adulthood I have had the opportunity to share my feelings with my mom, and even when I thought I couldn’t overcome an issue that was happening in my life my mom was there to help me and encourage me. I am very...
read moreCassis-Cherry Marshmallows, a New Flavor for a New Year
This past December Sydney and I created a heavenly Very Cherry Berry Coffee drink. As I sipped on my warm delicious spirited coffee I asked Sydney if she thought we might be able to turn the flavor into a Dreammallow (the marshmallows are so light they taste like a dream). We played around with cherry, red, and black current flavors; the Cassis-Cherry Marshmallows were born. Sydney and I felt like “mad” scientists in the kitchen testing combinations of flavors. Whenever Sydney and I are testing new recipes we have a brilliant time...
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