Sunday 22 June 2014

I Love Blue...

A week after Patrick's cousin's wedding and we got the chance to celebrate a belated Father's day for Patrick's Dad. With the family all around for dinner at our place, I could hardly miss the opportunity to make a cake to go with the meal! Instead of a typical tiered cake or cupcakes, I decided to test out a new pan and make these cake doughnuts using the red velvet recipe I'd been spending so much time with the week before, but this time I decided to make it blue.

Although in the end it turned out more teal than blue, I was still happy with the end result, and the family tucked in happily. Incidentally, The name for these cakes; "I Love Blue" was Patrick's idea... such a poet.





Saturday 14 June 2014

Daniel & Francesca's Happy Day

This is the only wedding that I have gone to where the gift has been a no-brainer! A few months ago Patrick's cousin asked if I would make her wedding cake, and not just a cake for a small intimate gathering, but cake enough to feed 165 people. I know, I make hundreds of cake pops over the Christmas season, and I make and bring a couple hundred cake pops to the craft fairs I do, but this was a different sugar coated beast. 

The bride had sent me a few pictures of what she had in mind as far as tiered cakes went. Very simple and elegant, and not too over the top. Luckily what they had in mind was a cake that they could cut for photos and then eat themselves, as well as some cakes to be cut up for the guests but not put on display so they could be simply sheet cakes, which after a bit of thought was more manageable than I thought.

I exchanged a few emails with the Bride and we came up with a design and I planned out the number of cakes I would need then the amount of icing. All was prepared, all was planned out, all I needed to do was work my butt off and get his cake looking perfect...

Admittedly there were a few moments where I was tempted throw cake and fondant across the kitchen (Patrick can attest), as well as a few late nights, but it was all worth it. I knew I wanted to make a beautiful cake for Francesca and Daniel, and to try to make their day just a little bit sweeter; I hope it did just that.

Building the sugar paste flowers.

All the sugar paste flowers were in full bloom!

All these sugar paste petals were individually cut and placed on all the tiers. 

Bottom tier done!

Believe it or not, these two tiers aren't real!


This is the top tier for the Bride and Groom, and it is real cake.

Seeing how all the tiers look together.

Testing how and where the sugar paste flowers and petals will go on the cake.

All these petals are edible.... the Bride's sister tested a couple!

My fridge has never been so empty or so full all at the same time! These are the sheet cakes for the guests (so I guess that means me too!)

 The car all packed up... so much cake!

Wipe the sweat off my brow, the cake is here and it looks great! (Now for me to get ready for the reception!)

 Me with my beautiful cake. The relief isn't as clear on my face as it was in my heart...

 In the evening, at the reception, along side the Bride's bouquet and the cake cutters!

 Cutting of the cake (the Bride cried happy tears where she saw it- best reaction ever!)

 And to top it all, they thought it tasted great too!

...real cake! Red velvet.

And for the guest's dessert: a slice of my cake, plus a chocolate covered strawberry and an ice cream filled cannoli. 

*
At the end of the night, I was relieved that the cake had arrived above all, but that they thought it was truly tasty. I was so proud to have been a even a small part of their special day- 
I love you guys!!

Friday 13 June 2014

Auction Pops

You may remember a couple years ago I made pops as part of a talent auction held at my church. Various people within the congregation offered their services in many different forms, whether it be grass cutting, babysitting, car washing, book repairing, tea parties, or in my case a group of cake pops for the occasion of your choice.

Before the auction started, a young lady in our congregation approached me and while jumping up and down, she expressed her keen interest in winning the bid for my cake pops because she had a friend's birthday party coming up. At the start of the bidding, there was much interest in my cake pops but the lot finally went to the young lady with a birthday party- much to my delight!

After the auction had ended, the winning young lady came up to me and proceeded to tall me all the things her friend liked such as Harry Potter, unicorns, flutes, and some of her favourite colours: pink, purple, blue and green. After a pause and with blinking eyes, "Chocolate or vanilla?" I asked. Somehow I had to try and channel this energy into these pops in order to make her friend's birthday party one to remember!


Luckily most of the sprinkles and coloured sugars I have can be put all together to match anyone's tastes. These pops were a translation of the birthday girl's favourite colours: purple, blue, green, and pink.



*****

When the young lady was running off all the things her friend loved, the one that really stood out for me was the mention of the unicorn.... I have been wanting the chance to make unicorns for the longest time. I've done donkeys and Christmas, zebras for the last talent auction, but never a unicorn. I know for sure my oldest sister would love these!



Sunday 1 June 2014

Frozen Pops and Cupcakes... in June!

Despite what the title implies these cup cakes and pops are not literally frozen, instead they have been designed with Disney's Frozen in mind. Last time I got to make cupcakes for a Frozen birthday, I said I had wanted to make some of them to look like Sven the reindeer. My wish came true!!!

Along with the Olaf cupcakes that I had made for the last order, I made a herd of Svens to go with them. These two characters were adorning the tops of mini red-velvet cupcakes and they looked fabulous! To accompany them I made cake pops, again with a Frozen look. They all had snowflake sprinkles and coloured sugar to get the look right.

Hopefully the three-year-old had a great birthday party, and will be the first of many great parties she has.




 Chilly looking pops perfect for the Frozen sweet table.

 Those antlers are made of butterscotch chocolate....yup.

 All these guys are on mini cupcakes, and all the main decorations are all in butter cream...

Happy looking snowmen.

Again, all of these are mini cupcakes, and the he's made out of butter cream! 

Group shot!

We are ready for a party!!
***
More great post-party reviews from the birthday girl's Mum:
"Just wanted to say a big thank you for the amazing cake pops and cupcakes. People were raving about them. I will def be using your services again (...) You are so talented!"