Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Who doesn't love a good cupcake?!

Ok, so I had a fun little order this week.  The father of an old high school friend requested a dozen cupcakes for a combo celebration-2 birthdays and father's day.  I was given free reign on the flavors AND the designs.  With a little help from him, I came up with these babies...
Here were the flavors:
1. Dark chocolate cake with an oreo buttercream filling and chocolate buttercream icing.
2. Dark chocolate cake with a ganache filling and vanilla buttercream icing.
3. Vanilla sponge cake with a salted caramel filling and a salted caramel buttercream icing.
4. Lemon sponge cake with a vanilla buttercream filling and lemon cream cheese icing.


The toppers were all made from either modeling chocolate, fondant or melted chocolate. My two favorites were the grill and the crime scene cupcake. 

I'm really loving working with modeling chocolate and fondant and have also enjoyed experimenting with melted chocolate. I have been very fortunate to have had clients who have given me "open tickets" or the ability to just create.  Not having to fit my ideas into a (figurative) box is exciting!  And it makes the end product (the one that goes into the literal box...) even more beautiful to me. :)

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Catching up...

So it's been a crazy crazy month.  Not only in the baking world, but in my family life, as well.  It all started...Ok, you don't need all of the details.  So fast forward: this month we've spent as much time in Dr.'s offices as we have in our own home.  


Final tally?  
Croup x2 (7 yr old and 4 yr old)
Broken foot/cast (my 4 yr old)
Torn Achilles and surgical repair/cast (my husband)
Dog bite requiring stitches (my 7 yr old)
2 casts, some bandages, lots of antibiotics and pain meds later, we are a family on the mend.  


Oh, and mommy?  Mommy is just fine.  Mommy is Wonderwoman.  Mommy takes care of all of this and still manages to keep everyone fed, bathed, keep the fridge stocked and the washer and dryer spinning, repair pool screens, clean gutters, clean the pool, blah, blah, blah.  No rain, no rainbows, right?  Besides, it's not about kudo's or awards.  It's about taking care of your people.  Fixing their ills and seeing them smile.  This is all just temporary. But let's hope we are on the upswing. 




Enough of all of this negative stuff, did I mention all the baking I did this month?  Over a dozen BIG orders!  Cookie cakes, cake pops, muffins, cupcakes, custom cakes, cookies and even granola!!!  I am so thankful for each and every order I had, and for having the strength to be able to complete them all under less than ideal circumstances.  It meant being challenged in new ways, lots of off-the-cuff problem solving and even an all-nighter! In the end?  I am incredibly proud of myself and all that I have been able to accomplish.  My techniques have improved and my confidence is high. 










I'm looking forward to a fun summer and lots of  great new clients to work with.  And I can't imagine I will have any trouble keeping busy...  :)