Sweet Smiles!

I recently received an email from our local family violence shelter.  They had an urgent need for children's clothing and were asking for help.  I was able to respond to their request with a large bag of clothes, toys and books for a two year old girl.  While I was at the safe house dropping off the bag, I was hit with an overwhelming desire to give a  more.  So, I spoke with the director and I volunteered to make beautiful birthday cakes for the children.  He was most appreciative and accepting of my offer.  I hope that my cake will help make a child's birthday a little sweeter during their time of hardship.

Many of you know the story of how and why I started decorating cakes.  I feel that I was truly blessed to find my passion and talent while helping another in their time of need.  I will save the whole story for another post.

Another Sweet Smile
This past summer I had the privilege of getting to know a great woman who is a travelling RN.  Around Christmas she received an emergency request from our local hospital to come to Sitka, AK for a month.  So, she packed her bags, left her family and flew to Alaska.  She had to work over the holidays and knew almost no one.  So, I decided to bake her a cake and deliver it to the hospital on Christmas eve!  She was so surprised!  Madeline and Olivia joined me and learned a lesson about making others happy!

Here is a picture of Kyla, Madeline and Olivia:

The cake was three layers.  Two were red Velvet and the center was a white chocolate cake.  All covered in cream cheese frosting. 

"I cried when you brought that cake to me at work. You are truly amazing. Your heart is bigger than all the frosting in the world.
Thank You! Everyone at SCH loved it!"

Kyla

In the last few months I have realized that cakes make people smile! I will continue to make cakes for people throughout my community.  If I can make someone feel happy for a minute then it is worth it.  I never in my life dreamed that I would get so much joy from one sweet smile.

Bake something sweet and give it to someone who least expects it!  Help me spread sweet smiles!

Amanda

Little Girls Love Pink Cakes!

This cake was a special request for a birthday party!  The cake is a milk chocolate/ chocolate chip with strawberry buttercream.  The birthday princess was thrilled when she saw her cake decorated with her favorite things.

Waste Not Want Not!

Leftover cake and fondant have not been going to waste.  My girls always enjoy preparing a cake for a princess tea party! 

Mmmmm!

I think they are the next great bakers!

My great friend Janie got to try working with fondant for the first time.  Her little cake looks so cute and the cupcake flowers look fantastic!  I am betting that she gets hooked on caking!

Not bad for the first try!

Shoot for the Stars in 2011! Happy New Year!

Caramel frosting and chocolate ganache make this cake one to remember!  The bottom tier is a 12" round torted with caramel frosting and the top tier is a 9" round.  I made the chocolate ganache with a three to one ratio semi-sweet chocolate to whipping cream.  It was a little thick to pour but it set up well and was easy to pipe. I added a couple tablespoons of butter to the ganache to help with the shine.

All of the decorations are gumpaste.  I made these a few days early so that they would dry and stand up on the cake.

Happy New Year!

Precious Metal Truffles

Each bite is sinfully delicious!  These truffles are cakes balls taken to the ultimate level of luxury. 

Ginger Gold:  Homemade gingerbread with rich molasses drenched in dark chocolate.  Topped with a drizzle of butterscotch confectioner's coating.  Each truffle is then delicately brushed with 24K gold.  Decadence to the max!

Peppermint Heaven: My favorite white cake laced with just the right amount of peppermint.  Double dipped in white chocolate and premium dark chocolate.  Crushed peppermint adorns the top and makes your mouth water when it hits your tongue. They glisten like a fresh Alaskan snowfall  after a dusting with red pearl.

Silver Dollar Chocolate Bliss:   This rich and moist chocolate cake holds chunks of dark chocolate.  This truffle is covered in smooth chocolate, and drizzled with more chocolate.  The top shimmers with silver and fine french dragees finish off this work of art.


Enjoy!

Santa Taking a Bath

Santa's tub is a dark chocolate cake with dark chocolate chunks.  I torted the cake with my homemade buttercream and then covered in fondant.  I used gumpaste to create Santa and all of his accessories. 

This cake had a few surprises for me during construction.  After I carved the cake and crumb coated it, the thin end of the tub started to collapse!  I had to roll my fondant a little thicker than I prefer in order to help stabilize it.  After the fondant went on it started sagging again but there was nothing I could do about it.  So, I used a small piece of fondant as a wedge under the bottom of the tub to level the top.  It worked like a charm!  Then came the bubbles.  Each and every bubble is a hand rolled ball of fondant.  I grossly underestimated the amount of bubbles I would need.  I wont be using fondant bubbles again anytime soon!  But, they do look great shimmering with pearl dust!

Santa is getting ready for his big night!  Who doesn't love a little luxury?

Merry Christmas!
Amanda

Sugar Magnolia

The flower and leaves are gum paste!  This beauty makes me think of the sunny south.  Magnolias have always been one of my favorite flowers.  My first attempt turned out well.  There are a few things that I would have done differently but they are mostly time savers. 

I did not design this flower for a cake so I took it outside for a quick photo shoot in natural light.