Happy Halloween!

Here are a couple of pictures of my most recent cupcake endeavor.

They are pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and chocolate lettering. I'm still working on the piping front, but these were still fun! They are for Lyle to take to work tomorrow.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween! 

Margherita Pizza

The other day Lyle had a craving for something that was that was simple and delicious. We are very big fans of fresh mozzarella, basil, and amazing bread, and it was easy for us to decide that we should make a Margherita Pizza. In case you are unsure, a Margherita Pizza doesn't have any alcohol in it (some people get confused by the name). It is a simple pizza that is created with a great crust and the simple toppings of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and maybe sauce. We did make some tomato sauce to use for dipping. 

This recipe is one that I use as a basis for all of the homemade pizzas I make. Sometimes we get crazy with the toppings, but these are great instructions for a simply delicious pizza pie. 

I handmade this focaccia, which is my family's favorite for homemade pizza, but it is amazing for sandwiches and other thing fun dishes. The recipe originated from Le Cordon Bleu's, "Professional Baking" book that I used in my baking class. I have changed it slightly, but it's really amazing as is. 

When baking, it's better to use weight measurements (oz, grams, lbs, etc.). There are many little chemical reactions that create the final product and exact measurements are sometimes needed. For the bread recipe, I will put the weights, but I did measure them out by cup, tsp, etc. so that you can still make this if you don't have a scale. Although, Christmas is coming, and I would highly recommend that you add a scale to your list. They are wonderful. 

Frost Doughnuts Continued...

I felt really guilty about not posting pictures in my last post about Frost Doughnuts. Since I love you all so much, I bought some more doughnuts and took pictures of them for you.

Enjoy! (You may want to put on a bib to catch the drool...)

The amazing Maple Bacon Doughnut

A vanilla and sprinkle doughnut.

The Strawberry Shortcake doughnut in the back and the Bavarian filled in the front.

In My Kitchen: (Spatulas and Spoons)

During my time in kitchens, any kitchen, I developed a love hate relationship with spatulas (rubber scrapers, or whatever you choose to call them). They are a great tool, but I have had many handles break, give me splinters, melt, etc. Plus, many of them have a dirty little secret. Have you ever had the rubber part slip off of the handle while you were stirring something and been disgusted by the sludge that was inside of the spatula? I don't have any pictures, but you know what I mean right?

I have thrown away my share of doughs, batters, and spatulas, because of that little nasty trap. The last time it happened was over a year ago and I vowed I would find something that would never let that happen again.

I am proud to tell you, that I found it! I have had this amazing spatula for a year now, and I adore it. It is completely covered in silicon, so the handle can't come off and the inside structure is so sturdy, no amount of stirring has been able to bend it! There is no hate for this spatula at all. 

This spatula has been absolutely perfect for that entire year. The little knick that you see it in was caused literally 1 week ago in a freak knife-in-the-sink-ate-a-chunk-of-my-spatula accident. Despite the little knick, it still works amazingly and probably will for a while. 

Before this accident, I also realized something shocking, I only had one rubber spatula! What?! I only had 1 rubber spatula?! Well, with the favorite child of spatulas injured, I decided it was time to grow our little spatula family. It's a good excuse, right? 

Here they are! Please excuse the little bit of dust that is on some of the spatulas. I just unpacked them and was so excited to take pictures of them, that I haven't even washed them yet. 

Ok, you caught me, there are some spoons in this mix too. How could I resist? Look at those fun colors.

Am I little crazy for being so excited about spatulas? Possibly. But the next time you are in the market for a rubber spatula or a stirring spoon, I highly recommend that you get something similar to these. They are definitely some of my favorite kitchen utensils. 

(Just as a side note, I'm not being paid by anyone to review these spatulas and I am making no guarantees as to the performance of this product in your kitchen.)

When You Come Visit....{1}

I am trying to get back into the swing of food blogging. After a few months of tough classes and work schedules, I have enjoyed a nice break and now I am working on new content for the blog.

For those of you who have not followed my every post on Facebook or my family blog, we have moved to Washington. We are in the Greater Puget Sound area, just minutes from Seattle and Bellevue. It is a food lover's paradise. It's such a fun area, that I thought I would entice some of you out to visit us. And honestly, what is a better incentive than amazing food? So here it is, a new series of posts called "When You Come Visit..." because you should know what you are in for when you do. Are you ready?

This is why I am excited for Fall...

There are many blogs that I follow, and today I happened to look at this one. WhipperBerry is a fun blog and today they had me itching to go buy pureed pumpkin and all sorts of other baking goodies. 

I had to share it because it seemed wrong to keep the amazingness all to myself. 

I love summer, but it's time for a change. Bring on the sights, smells, and tastes of fall! 

Photo Obsession

So, I'm not a photographer. Lyle isn't a photographer. But he is taking a class that has caused us to buy one of these:

and one of these:

And some other random photography equipment. 

The class he is taking is excellent and has taught him a lot about taking pictures. He has done some quite amazing photos. Here is a link to his class blog if you are interested in seeing the kinds of things he has done. http://lyleborders.wordpress.com/

This picture even got him the "deans choice" for that particular assignment http://www.byuideanspics.com/: 

I have loved this new little obsession. I have even taken some pictures of my own. 

Now, I know what you are thinking. "Melissa, this has nothing to do with food. Why are you posting about this on your food blog?" Well, one day, I am hoping to take pictures of food that really get the mouth watering. Maybe with Lyle's class and our continuous random dabbling in photography, we will get there. 

I'll make you a cake! :)

Hi everyone! I have had a couple of friends ask me if I can make them a cake. I just thought I would tell you all, I will gladly make you a cake if my schedule is open! Also, you would need to live close to me. But, I would be thrilled to do it. I really could use more excuses to practice, and I love doing it. Because you would really be doing me a favor by letting me practice, I would only charge you for the materials that I have to purchase. Also, you would have to cut me a little slack because I am "practicing." :)

We are moving August 2nd, so if you would like one between now and then, let me know.

I also do more than just the fondant or buttercream cakes I have blogged about before. Here are some other pictures of other things I have done in the past:

These are mini Mint Oreo cupcakes

This is a blue berry ribbon sponge cake

 Blueberry cupcakes

Mini Flower cupcakes (I can do a variety of flowers now)

 Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Strawberry rainbow sponge cake

 Fondant elements cake for class: Drape, ribbon insertion, frills.

The famous chocolate mousse cupcakes

Sorry the pictures are not the best. Most of these were made a while ago and most of these pictures were taken with my phone.

Anyway, let me know if you want a cake and we will work something out. :)

My Weekend!

Well, my little sister graduated, my brother-in-law had a birthday, and it was Easter. So, I made 3 cakes this weekend. They definitely are not the best cakes I have ever made, but 3 in one weekend was kind of busy and I was a bit hurried. So much for having a break once school was out. :)

I forgot to take a picture of Tyrel's birthday cake before we started eating it. 

I made Kimberly a graduation/birthday cake. I was experimenting with a softer filling and it didn't work out so well.... so the cake is less smooth than desired. Also, my fondant was too soft, which means it took on too much of the bumpy shape of the 

My mom also asked me if I could make a cake for Easter dinner. I did this yesterday morning before church. Whew! 

Anyways, I hope you all had a great weekend! Thanks for indulging me in my cake posts. :)

TA DA!!!!!!!!

My final cake is done!!!!!!!!!! WHEW!!!! What an amazing weight lifted off of my shoulders. 

I am kind of in love with it. Well, as much as one can be in love with a cake (especially when you can see all the flaws, but you know how much work went in to it). 

Just one more little reminder before you look at my cake. I am no expert!!! So, it has flaws and there are definitely things I would do differently if I did it again. BUT, this is my very first 2 tiered fondant cake, AND it is only the second cake that I have ever covered with fondant. I am in a "beginning" class after all. 

And now that you are all prepared to be underwhelemed 

.............(Imaginary Drum Roll Please)...............

The moment you have all been waiting for............

TA DA!!!!!! 

(As my super cute niece Kemry would say)

I just love the color of blue that the top tier is covered in. I have some fondant left, so maybe one of you will get a random blue cake. :)

Here is a top shot of my final fire flower. The lighting in the room was weird, so it looks a little more saturated than it was. 

I thought it was fun to put this star on a wire so it looks like Mario will have to jump for it the way he does in the game. 

Lessons I learned or things I would change if I make this cake again:

• I am super glad I didn't decide to do 3 tiers for this project. I would be crying right now. Two tiers took plenty of time. 
• Hindsight is 20-20. I wouldn't do the "Bricks" on top of the bottom tier, or at least I would do them differently. I'm really not very pleased with them.
• It is hard to get powdered sugar off of some fondant. I really over dusted the fondant I was working with for the same bricks mentioned above. I'm sure you saw they were a powdery mess.
• Make sure you always tape your foil or saran wrap down to your board before you put the cake on it......duh. I swear, sometimes I think my brain just leaves me. 
• I would make my star thicker so the wire doesn't show through. Also, another, duh moment.
• My characters and scenes are not super proportional, but I'm ok with it. Next time, I need to make sure I take that more into consideration, though.
• I would try not to let Mario flatten out too much. But, with that being the first character I have ever modeled in my life, I'm ok with it.
• It can be hard to let people eat what you have worked so hard on. Lyle keeps asking to eat a goomba (the little mushroom guys). First of all yuck, it's just fondant. Secondly, I just think they are too cute! But, I guess it's either eat it or throw it away. 

As cheesy as this sounds, probably the best thing I learned is that I am more capable than I give myself credit for. I know, I know, my cake is not perfect, my skills are not perfect, but they are quite a bit beyond what I thought I was able to do. If you had shown me a mario cake before this semester started, and asked me to make it, I would have laughed in your face. But, I think I proved to myself that with a practice and patience, I can do some cool/hard things. :)

Bottom Layer - Check!

First of all, I have to say "Holy Cow!" What a stressful, fun, tedious, and did I mention stressful, night it was. I stressed out about whether I could successfully make chocolate fondant or not; how I was going to fit an entire scene on a cake, taller in my head; Mario may be way too big for this cake and I may have to redo him. But, I do have to say, for my very first decorated-however-I-want-it fondant cake, I think it isn't too bad. :)

It will probably make more sense with the other tier on top (I sure hope it does). In Mario, there are levels that he goes to through pipes. In my mind, they are underground. So this layer is supposed to be a sneak peak at those layers. 

Well, it's not perfect, but I'm pretty pleased with it regardless. I am so close to getting done, that I almost want to stay up all night just to finish it..... almost....... :)

Now, I just have to get it to my classroom disaster free. 

Mario is born.....well kind of

Today in my class I made Mario, the star of my cake. I found this picture online: 

And I thought, "Sure, why wouldn't I be able to do that?"

So, I modeled my Mario after this one. I was really afraid that I wouldn't get it right, but I think he is close enough (and not the pinterest-close-enough-jokes, close enough). He is flatter than the Mario I modeled him after, but I haven't done this before and it was easier to let him squish half way down. 

Now, I just need to figure out how to stick him on my cake.....

I also made this little goomba guy. His eye is a little weird, but that's ok. I still think he is pretty cute. :)

Working on my Final Cake

Now, I don't mean my final cake ever, just my final for my class. Lyle has requested that I make a Mario cake. I am required to have at least 2 tiers and 3 decorating techniques. So, I am going to do fondant work, a little piping, and a gum paste flower. I may also try to use color flow somewhere, but that's not working out as well as I would have hoped (so if anyone has any Mario color flow ideas, let me know. Color flow was used to make the bird and butterfly on my previous cake if you need a reminder of what it is). 

Anyways, the gum paste flower is supposed to be representative of the fire flower on Mario. 

The only problem is that this:

Is not a particularly exciting flower to make, and I really want to do a large gum paste flower. So I am working on a compromise. I am going to make a 3D version of this flower that is more intricate than just circles. And it will look something like this:

 (I'm sorry if you saw this on my Facebook page and are already bored with it) 

This is the first time I have made this kind of a flower. I wanted to do a peony style rose because it has more of a balled up center, and I will probably put little eyes in it like the previous picture. Plus the petals allow for more of a fire ball look too. 

I have not been using the "correct" tools to make this flower. The kit to make a peony is $27.00 and it only contains 4 cutters and a "veining" tool! Isn't that a little ridiculous? I think so.

This is most definitely not my final flower, I have a bit more practice yet. I want the red on the final layer to be really bright, and it will need to be a little bigger still. I am soooooooo excited about it, though. 

Stay tuned for more projects as I work on completing my final cake. :)