Time for sleep

Two weddings, a birthday, and a rehearsal dinner dessert this weekend. I've already put in about 22 hours just on cake the past 2 days, and it's up early tomorrow to put the finishing touches on 3 of the orders...and respond to some website inquiries.
These are days I really miss my family. I long for Saturday night already; a movie on the couch, some popcorn, and good sleep before church Sunday morning...Oh, man, I forgot about my nephew's birthday cake for Sunday afternoon!

There goes Saturday night.

Sweet dreams.

Time to work

Because I work at home, procrastination is always tempting me. How do I bypass it??
There's always something to do other than the task at hand!

I find a streaming online radio station, "schedule" breaks for myself, and picture myself working at 2 a.m. (NO FUN!), which is a great motivator.

And then I post here, and tell everyone I'm getting to work...first up...a Darth Vader groom's cake.

Have a great day, everyone!

Off for another cup of coffee, and back to work!

i still love the muppets

What is a groom's cake?

(please note...these groom's cakes are examples; not cakes done by me.)
From Wikipedia.com...

A groom's cake is a wedding tradition typically associated with the American South. While a wedding cake may often be decorated in white and light in texture and/or color, the groom's cake can take a variety of forms, many incorporating chocolate or fruit. Cheesecake sometimes serves as a groom's cake. The decoration of the cake may reflect the favorite hobby or interest of a groom, or be used for humorous effect, as depicted in the film adaptation of Steel Magnolias, in which a red velvet cake was fashioned in the shape of an armadillo. The groom's cake is often served at a separate table from the wedding cake at a wedding reception, though it may be served as a dessert for a rehearsal dinner.

Somewhat mirroring legend associated with wedding cakes, a young lady who sleeps with a slice of groom's cake under her pillow will supposedly dream of the man she will marry.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groom%27s_cake"

Orange

A great color choice; bold and unique, especially with the right flowers.
Congratulations Jennifer!

Just stop and listen.

Sometimes we forget to stop and just listen.

Fondant does not have to taste gross

When most folks meet with me about cake, they ask me "What does fondant taste like? I've heard it tastes really gross."

Fondant (pronounced fon-dunt, not fahn-dahnt) can come manufactured or homemade. A few manufactured brands (namely the big W) do taste, well, like old gum. Though, it makes a cake so beautiful! But who wants to pay for something people will just peel off their cake? Dessert should not be so much work!
But there are several brands that taste wonderful (think tootsie rolls or a white chocolate roll-up). When I started making cakes, I used the Big W, and added some flavoring to it to offset the "chemical" taste. Then, I found other brands to try, and worked with them for a bit. Better...
They tasted much better. But still, not quite right.
Then I discovered:
Making my own fondant.
There are a few recipes out there, with some variations. With additions like extracts and flavorings, the variations on fondant flavors are endless. And almost nobody peels it off their cake now. Pretty and edible! Now, that's good fondant.
And a beautiful cake.

Sugar eggs flour and butter

Some folks say...it's just a cake.
The ingredients don't cost that much.

(Well, you haven't been shopping lately!)

But here. Here are some examples of what you can make with sugar eggs flour and butter. And a lot of time.

Beach themed-cakes can be simple and elegant.

This is one of my favorites from the summer.

First day

I just got started today.

On days I'm not working, or particularly great work days, I'll share some more.

Baking tip of the day:

Get an oven thermometer. Your oven probably does not bake at the temperature you think.