Royal 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 moreCherry Blossom (Sakura) Macarons
I have mentioned in the past Sydney has loved cherry blossoms since she was a little girl. Living in Colorado there are not a plethora of cherry blossom trees, but we always had a few cherry blossom trees in our yard of each home we owned,we called them Sydney’s tree. Recently Sydney and I were fortuitous to have the opportunity to taste a cherry blossom cake roll. The first thought I had was macarons, cherry blossom macarons. I asked my host where I might purchase cherry blossom flavorings; I was informed Japan. I thought how hard can...
read moreKey Lime Pie Macarons
Macarons are a specialty of ours and a family favorite, Sydney and I wanted to try a new flavor combination, Key Lime Pie with strawberry-lime filling. I think this might be my favorite flavor, the macarons actually taste like a key lime pie in a small biscuit. I considered my colorant would color too deep and I ended up not adding enough, there is always something new to learn. Key lime pie reminds of me of spring time, the weather is sweetly warm yet tartly rainy, resembling the key lime pie macaron. In the last week we have had requests for...
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...
read moreMango Martini, Toast and Welcome Spring
It is no secret I love Spring and Summer, the longer days, warmer weather, the smell of flowers and neighbors’ BBQ. This past week we have experienced 27 degrees C/ 80 degrees F days. (I hope I haven’t jinxed our good weather fortune). So Sydney and I were thinking of a drink that would celebrate the start of Spring..mango martini. I had the opportunity to try a few mango martinis around town, although they were refreshing most were too sweet or didn’t have a huge mango punch. We decided to try our bartending hands and invent...
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 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...
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...
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...
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