Good by winter........

Well I have enjoyed a relaxing winter believe it or not!

 BUT 

 looks like springs gearing up to be quite a busy season for me!

So here are a few pics of cakes and cookies I've done lately for you to enjoy =)

30th B-day cake

Ducky in a bath tub cake for a baby shower.....

Hello Kitty cookies for another baby shower =)

18th B-DAY cake 

Thanks for looking!

To you ...... with LOVE

Being it's Valentines day...... AND I haven't posted lately , been very very lazy busy lately ! I really do enjoy recreating all of my customers wonderful ideas..... but...... I also LOVE free form decorating especially with royal icing ...... it's actually therapeutic after a hard day believe it or not not! Enjoy !


My absolute go to sugar cookie recipe from Bridget over at Bake@350.blogspot.com  I love LOVE her cookie blog!


Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies

3 c unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 c sugar (I use sugar that I've stored vanilla beans in)
 2 sticks (salted) butter, cold
 1 egg
 3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pure almond extract

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine the flour and baking powder, set aside. Cream the sugar and butter. Add the egg and extracts and mix. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat just until combined, scraping down the bowl, especially the bottom.

The dough will be crumbly, so knead it together with your hands as you scoop it out of the bowl for rolling.

Roll onto a floured surface and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets (I recommend freezing the cut out shape on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before baking) and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit a few minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.

 Hand molded HEART cake...... *grin* I LOVE the way this one turned out =)  

To you and your loved ones Happy LOVE day <3

Let them eat CAKE !

Why hello there 2011 !!

Another year has come and gone, and even though i spent most of it sifting powdered sugar and rolling fondant, I enjoyed every minute ...... OK so not EVERY minute, but most lol ! I just wanted to take a minute to thank each and everyone of my family, friends, and loyal customers for all your wonderful support and encouragement . You all have such wonderful and creative ideas, I've had so much fun planning and creating all of your wonderful designs =)  I cant wait to see what 2011 has in store for us all !!   Now onto the cake.......

Giant cupcake cake

Retirement cake for a woman leaving her job at the bank after many many years

Lady bug cake, design for the top lady bug provided by the customer

...... with a smash cake for the birthday girl =)

AND in the midst of holiday and new years madness is my baby girls birthday(Jan 1st to be exact) !! 

and THIS is what happens when mom gets tired of making cakes....... but she still loved her dog/pig cake !!! 

I hope you all had as wonderful a holiday as I did. Now onto another year.... and another cake !

The not so "mini"..... Minnie Mouse !

     Being a Southern California girl born and raised in Orange County, I practically grew up at Disneyland. Celebrating many birthdays there, and of course owning a pair of my own special set of ears, Minnie Mouse holds a special place in my heart. And I just love wandering through the giant down town Disney store, with every single thing they have ever made..... but my favorite spot is the kitchen area ( how darn cute is all that stuff !! ) OK I'm a little obsessed I know.... I guess not EVERYONE wants to buy the Mickey mouse face spatula and the glove oven mitt *grin* but I DO !  So ENJOY.... I know I did !!

I started the Minnie Mouse figure, and the top ears a couple days in advance. It's just better if these things have time to dry, they are happier that way :) The bottom cake is chocolate cake, chocolate icing, and the hat is all vanilla.I thoroughly enjoyed this cake..... from start to finish. The colors are bold and gave the cake a great over all look. Doesn't it just make you smile ?

December MADNESS

December MADNESS !!

SO  as if December isn't busy enough ......... i had a ton of decorating to do.  Hope you enjoy your holidays .

100 Holiday cookies for clients for my job. The logo is printed on edible frosting paper.

class Christmas cookies......

 high heels birthday cake

 bow and pearl bracelet fondant detailing

3-d dinosaur cake

sub sandwich birthday cake. chocolate cake with fondant condiments ( and pink ham hahaha)

 Chocolate chip cookie pizza cake. Red butter cream sauce, and white chocolate cheese, and fondant pepperoni. mmm smelled sooo good !

8" chocolate cake, banana filling. fondant train topper. the last cake of a VERY long weekend ( which included the hubby getting surgery !) ....... but I HAD to squeeze this one in for our neighbor ;)

mmmm now time for some coco with homemade marshmallows ! ciao !

Homemade Oreos

                                              Homemade Oreos

I have been wanting to try these for some time now. I first saw these over at Bake@350.blogspot.com (one of my favorite cookies bloggers) And since Oreos happen to be one of the only cookies the hubby will eat *gasp* i know ! Which happens to be very frustrating when it comes to needing a taste tester, good thing my 7 year old is always available ;)   Warning ! These are rich and addicting, bad combo I know, but at least we know what is in them. Unlike there packaged counterparts, which I try to avoid buying like the plague, I LOVE them, my hips....... not so much !

chocolate Cut-Out Cookies
{modified from Cookie Craft}

2 & 1/2 c. all-purpose, unbleached flour
1/2 c. dutch-process cocoa (natural is OK, too)
1/2 tsp. coarse salt
1 c. unsalted butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk together the flour,cocoa, espresso powder and salt; set aside.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light an fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well combined.

In 3 additions, add the flour mixture at low speed. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl as needed.
roll out cookies and Freeze cut cookies five minutes.( this step helps to keep any sugar cookies shape) 

Bake 8 minutes. Let cool completely.

Should all look a something like this .......

AND this is how I roll out my cookie dough, the last thing i need in my life is another mess!

Cream Filling
{source: The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion: The Essential Cookie Cookbook }

1 tsp. plus a heaping 1/4 tsp. unflavored gelatin
2 TBSP. cold water
1/2 c. shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
2 and 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Combine the gelatin and water in a small bowl or cup.  Place the cup into a larger bowl of hot water and leave it there until the gelatin is completely dissolved and liquid transparent.

Remove the cup from the hot water and let the liquid cool to room temperature, but hasn't begun to set...about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the shortening with a paddle attachment until fluffy.  Beat in the vanilla.  Add the sugar a little at a time, beating until the mixture comes together.  Scrape the bowl as needed.  Beat in the gelatin.  Use immediately, or store, well-wrapped at room temperature.

out a teaspoon of filling on each bottom cookie.......

 I found it easier to "pre-squish" so the cookies didn't crack.......

AND WALLAH !!! 

Enjoy , and I hope your hubby's enjoy ....... mine actually gave them a thumbs up !