Lola turns ONE....and I survive my first blunder!!

My boyfriend Jimmy, his niece Lola turned the big 1 this September and I was asked by Heidi & Josh (the 'rents) to create her 1st birthday cake. It was my first, 1st Birthday cake and I was a little excited. They wanted a vanilla pound cake with strawberry buttercream frosting and a 2D picture of her from the back, dancing. So I go about making the cake ahead of time and don't ya know, me in all my infinite wisdom ended up making a chocolate cake instead of the vanilla one they ordered. I know, I know, why didn't I look at my notes before hand, why didn't I double check?? Who knows, why I didn't check! So here it is 2 days before it's due and I have baked the wrong flavor cake. I was pretty much up a particular creek with about a paddle, if you will...Oh now if you know me, this is a typical situation that I tend to get myself into quite often. Now I have to bake the cake, decorate it and prepare it for transport all the day before it's due, so that leaves me with 1 day to do all of this. Now did I mention that I have to work that day too? I started a new job and I'm still in training, and had already switched my schedule around to have the day of the party off, so I was unable to get out of work. Looking back on it all, it was pretty much a caffeine induced blur. I remember getting pink frosting everywhere and having my hands stained HOT PINK for several days, but I don't remember how long it took me or why I forgot to take pictures of it. I do remember getting a message that everyone loved the cake and I was sadly missed because of a previous commitment. I did manage to get a picture of the cake after Lola got her piece. Which I know she enjoyed, after seeing pictures from the party!!



Oh and Josh, Heidi, I truly am sorry for her HOT PINK hands too!

Allrecipes and me!?!?!?!

Ok, so I just opened my email this morning, and look what was there....


Hello Bridget!

Cory Vicens here with Allrecipes.com, and I’m working on our cool new project “What’s Cooking America” for Allrecipes and we are interested in your participation!

This summer Allrecipes video crew will be traveling across America meeting, interviewing and videotaping home cooks in their kitchens/homes to learn more about their tips, techniques, favorite recipes and food traditions. We will be visiting Rhode Island and are curious if you would consider letting us come to your home to ask you some questions about your cooking adventures while we film you preparing your favorite dish? This “webisode” will appear on Allrecipes.tv.

If you’re interested in participating please respond to my email by June 15, 2010

All my best and happy cooking!

Cory Vicens
http://allrecipes.com/Cook/cookn/Profile.aspx

Allrecipes.com Brand Team


***UPDATE*** 6/18/10

I've done everything I needed too. Just sitting back and waiting to see if I was picked!!!

Keep those fingers crossed!

Kelly's Cake....and the DRAMA!!!

My friend Kelly asked me if I would make her Bridal shower cake a few months ago. I gladly took the project and couldn't wait to start brainstorming. I googled, binged and yahooed every bridal shower cake you can imagine. I found some truly amazing works of art and others that are best left eaten, rather than displayed. I found myself at a loss and was overwhelmed with all the choices. She didn't care what it looked like or the flavors so long as it would feed approx 40 people and had the color Navy Blue somewhere on it. Well I found the perfect cake for her...or so I thought! I was going to go with a certain blue box with white bow, sitting on a round cake. However I've run into a problem with the blue box. I called the legal department of the company to see if they will give me permission to recreate their famous box & logo on a cake (or as a cake) . Since the cake is a gift made by a non professional, the gentlemen I spoke with didn't see it being a problem, but he'd still have to speak with an attorney.

So now here I am four days until the cake is due, and I don't know whether or not I'm going to be able to make it....

Stay tuned and keep those fingers crossed!!!

***Update: 5/20/10***

Well, still no call from the legal department of the certain blue box company. I'll give them until tomorrow to call me back, then I'll call them.

So today I'll start baking the cake, making the frosting, coloring the fondant, cutting out decorations and making the blue box bow all in hopes of keeping my original idea in place :)

In the mean time I've got to run out and pick up a few last minute ingredients and supplies for this weekend's baking festivities!!!

Hey, if anyone is bored and is looking for something to do... Call me, you can come do my dishes :)


***UPDATE: 5/25/10***

Well, the shower was a SUCCESS!!! After not getting a call back from the blue box company I went ahead and made the cake anyway.
The top tier (the box) was a Chocolate Grand Marnier cake with Raspberry Filling and the bottom tier was a White Pound cake with Buttercream frosting!!
Kelly was so thrilled with her cake, and several of her relatives thought it was professionally made :)
I even got an A+ from the Groom's 86 year old Grandma, you know you've done something right, when Grandma likes the cake!!

Ohh and before I forget, here it is.....

The Triple Superhero Cake

This is Dylan's cake! I made it for his Superhero themed 4th birthday party. The Batman layer is chocolate cake and white buttercream filling covered in yellow fondant and the Bat symbol and Gotham City as well. The Superman logo is royal icing and is a white cake with red buttercream filling covered in blue fondant. The spiderweb and writing are white chocolate.

He loved his cake and can't wait for his next one from "Auntie Gidgets"!!