Red Velvet Love

Tonight I made a cake simply "for the sake of eating" as  sweet tooF put it.  He said "this one doesn't have all that crazy fondant on it, it's just to eat" haha.

Well he is right.  As he reminded me yesterday, he ate the last cupcake (aka we ran out of baked goods) and it was his way of saying "more please".

So tonight I made a Red Velvet cake, Buttercream filling, and Whipped Cream icing.  This was the first time I made homemade whipped cream.  It was SO easy! (and yummmmm-o)  I know the "classic" red velvet is covered with cream cheese frosting but I really wasn't in the mood for anything heavy.  The whipped cream was so light and fluffy and best part, it was so easy to make!

Here's the recipe:

2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 Cup Powder Sugar
2 Tbsp Vanilla

That's it! Oh and here's a secret - for good consistency, chill your mixing bowl and your beater in the freezer or 10 minutes before making it.  Something about the cold helps.

Anyway, enough of the blah blah blah... here it the cake!

Mixing up the whipped cream

All done! Nothing fancy. Just a "cake for eating" LOL

Cookie Cutters Galore!

I picked these up today! Wilton's 101 Cookie Cutters.  Shapes for every occasion (and popular shapes).  This will come in handy when making fondant cut outs. Best part? It was less than $10 :) Can you say bargain?

Retro Birdie

How cute is this?

I want to make a cake just so I can slap one of these lil' guys on it.

The Many Faces of Buttercream

Growing up our family got ALL of our cakes from these Japanese bakery, Ishigo Bakery.  Their buttercream was TO DIE FOR.  It wasn't too sweet (I actually don't have much of a sweet tooF believe it or not) creamy, buttery, aaaaahhhh pure heaven.  Sadly, the bakery closed in the early 2000's and heaven buttercream is no more. Even after I moved out to Orange County, I would drive the 30 mins down to the South Bay to pick up a cake from this place.  It brings back sweet childhood memories of my dad taking us to pick up a cupcake or a little "cake square" as a treat.

Ok so anyway, I'm on the hunt for the perfect buttercream.  Now, what I consider perfect and what people like Mr. Sweet TooF finds perfect is obviously different. He loves frosting that tastes like pure sugar, I on the other hand, well not so much.  So I'm trying to find a happy medium.  I've tried about 3 different recipes so far and I have yet to find one I can say "this is the recipe I will always use!" There are SO many types of buttercream, different recipes and everyone swears theirs is the best.  Well prove it people!

I'd love to find one that doesn't use shortening as those tend to taste "greasy" to me and the fact that I know I'm eating a huge wad of lard (ok I know it's not lard but you know what I mean) just doesn't sound appealing to me.  The search continues....oh and if you know of a good one, feel free to send it over!

Baking Cups Oh La La!

I think I have a flourish and a damask fetish. I LOVE anything with those designs.
So guess what I ran into the other day??? These beauties!

Can you say A-DORABLE!!

I can totally imagine using those to "dress up" my cupcakes!  No need for fancy sprinkles, pearls or any of those things when your cupcake has it's pretty little dress on :)

I've also seen these which I think are pretty fancy schmancy. These would be good for something like a wedding, or a nice shower.

and these if you like to take a walk on the wild side grrrrroowwl (yes that was my impression of a tiger)

                                          

The Swirl or The "Poop"?

Topping a cupcake can be fun.  You have SO many options - flavors/types of icing, sprinkles, sugar, candy hearts, coconut, chocolate shavings, etc... the list goes on and on.  The one option that is my favorite is the type of tip you use to ice the cupcake.  There are several different tips that you can use that will create tons of different styles.  Here are some examples:

To get the smooth look of the green cupcake above, you need to use a large round frosting tip (try a number 1A or 2A).
To get the swirled looks of the purple and pink cupcakes above, you need to use a large closed or open star tip (try a number 1M or 1C).
One thing to note - if you're using sprinkles they often adhere better to the swirled frosting as they can settle between the swirls. If you're using cupcake toppers then I like the smooth frosting look.

I think my fav overall so far is using the 1M (like the purple cupcake). 
One thing I have noticed is a lot of bakers I see on TV and cupcake shops that carry "fancier" cakes use the 1A (like the green cupcake), but for some reason it looks like poop to me! haha. 

Another method I've seen a lot lately (which someone recently called "couture style") is not frosting all the way to the corners of the cake like this:

I don't think I really like that, not sure. Looks kinda naked dontcha think?

Playing with the different tips is certainly fun and you can create some neat designs (if you have the patience) so have at it!

Again, how does this NOT look like poop? heehee....

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes? Done! Banana Bread? Done!

So I couldn't decide which to make, so what did I do? I made both (are you surprised haha).

First I made the banana bread.  This was fun to make.  We usually use a bread maker to make our breads so this was the first time I was baking one from scratch using the oven.

Here is the recipe:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

Here's the batter at work in the mixer

Ready to go in the oven!

and the final product

It's delicious!!! It came out just a tad darker than I'd like so next time I'll probably tweak the temp/cooking time but regardless, it's yum!! I'm sticking to this recipe.  I would've added walnuts but hubby hates walnuts...boooo..

Ok on so the Snickerdoodle Cupcakes! These are a take off the famous Snickerdoodle cookies which are sugar buttery cookies rolled in cinnamon. YUM!

Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self- rising), sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, plus 1/2 teaspoon for dusting
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for dusting
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk

They filled the cups nicely

All done!!!

I iced them with a new buttercream recipe I found and sprinkled them with the Sugar N' Cinnamon I found today.  The cake was so deelish! Love the cinnamon kick.  Mr. Sweet TooF ate 3, YES THREE, in a row. I guess they're good haha.

I'm freaking EXHAUSTED.  I'm done baking for the week....or am I? haha. 

I Love the Dollar Tree!

I headed over to the Dollar Tree today (one of my fav stores ever) and I picked up some goodies.
I love these polka dot pot holders! and as I was browsing the spices aisle, I ran into THIS gem! C&H Sugar N' Cinnamon. SCORE. This will be perfect for my Snickerdoodle cupcakes!!  Little things like this makes Sweet B a happy little girl :)

Sweet TooF Baked!

This morning our house was filled with a yummy breakfast aroma.
Hubs decided to bake us breakfast! (He's an awesome cook).

This morning was his Bacon & Egg Quiche.
Recipe:

8 strips bacon, cooked & crumbled
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. Bisquick
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 c. Cheddar cheese

It was super yummy, light and fluffy!

Yummy breakfast hun!!

Project 52?

If you're a photographer, you probably know about "Project 365".  Every single day for a year, a photographer takes a picture and adds it to his/her project list.... for a entire year, that's a commitment.  So this inspired me. Of course there is NO way I'm going to bake every single day a year (and that Julie and Julia chic was absolutely crazy).  What I will try is my own project, "Project 52".

I will attempt to bake something different every weekend, that's only once a week..not bad right? (let's see how long this lasts ha)

I'll start this weekend and I'll be sure to post recipes and pics of all the goodies I make!

   

Bake Crazy

I've been going nutso looking up tons of recipes and want to make EVERYTHING. Is this bad? haha I still have leftover cupcakes.  Hubby is not complaining but I think I need to start giving some of this stuff away.

I've been looking forward to making another fondant cake.  My nephew's birthday is in a couple of weeks and his these is Toy Story! I'm going to attempt a Toy Story cake, I'm so excited to make it.

Ok, so what do I want to make now? I've got some great recipes for banana bread, snickerdoodle cupcakes (these look YUM) and red velvet cake. Not sure which I want to make, and if it were up to the hubs, he'd say all 3 ha!

I'm also looking into picking up some more supplies this weekend at Michael's with my awesome 50% off an item coupon. I never pay full price at that place. They always have coupons. Sometimes I'll make sweet tooF go with me so we can use TWO coupons.  It's awesome.

So here is one items I need to pick up:

2 tiered cupcake carrier!

I have the cake carrier which is great for storing and taking your cake places.  I make a lot of cupcakes so this will def come in handy.

So back to the baking. What should I make??? Banana bread sounds so yummy, but I love decorating cakes/cupcakes.  Hmmm, dare I make all 3?  Stay tuned...

Damn You Cookie Sheet!

I was on a baking roll and decided to make homemade chocolate chip cookies today.
Here's the recipe I made:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

For the most part they came out yummy, EXCEPT, I bought a new cookie sheet and the cookies I made on that sheet (I was using 2 different sheets) burned on the bottom! hmmmph! Initially I thought I had put them in too long, but then realized that they were still black on the bottom. WTH? The others were fine, yet the batches on the new sheet were caca.  I think the new sheet I bought is a piece of crap. Too thin maybe?
I wonder if next time I layer it with foil if it will help.

I didn't get a chance to take any pics because I was so disappointed. The ones that were not burnt came out pretty yummy and the hubs has no problem eating about 6 cookies in 1 minute....so is that a compliment? ha.

I'm going to have to bake these again and see if covering the pan makes a difference.
Anyone have good advice for this (aside from "just throw the sheet away"), I'll take it :)

Little Red Corvette!

Up until now, every time I baked I used my mom's good ol' hand mixer from the 70's.  (seriously, she's had this since before I was born, it's a faded yellow too.)  Anyway, it's always done the trick, but I always drooled over the AWESOME KitchenAid mixers I would see on TV but could never convince myself to pay for one (they're pricey! and I'm cheap).
Since I've been baking more, I figured one of these babies would make things much easier.  Finally, the day came. Hubby kept telling me "just do it!" What finally convinced me was, hubby has given me a gift card for $50, the store was having a 15% sale and KitchenAid was offering a $30 rebate. Ok, ok. So I did it!
Here is my new baby!!!!

Isn't she a beauty!!! I was SO excited to bring her home and USE IT!!!
I wanted to make everything under the sun haha, but I ended up making vanilla confetti cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting.  Sorry, I was too excited and didn't take pics of my cupcakes ha!  What have I been doing without one! The cupcakes practically made themselves! This machine is heaven sent. If you are a baker, and you don't have to be a professional or be one that bakes daily (or even weekly) this is a MUST buy. It speeds up the process by freeing you up to do other stuff while this little gem mixes everything for you!

Yay!!!  This is going to be dangerous.

Baby Noah is Here!

The anticipated arrival of baby Noah James is here!! My dear friends Patricia and Jasen welcomed their little love bundle on 7/12/10!  So what did I bring the new parents? A cake! (did you think I was going to say diapers or something?) Patricia commented on how much she loved my first fondant cake and wanted one so of course the birth of her beautiful baby boy was the perfect time!

I made a 3 layered chocolate fudge cake with home made buttercream frosting and of course, marshmallow fondant!  

I absolutely LOVE how it came it!!! Let me tell you, I originally tried to find the footprint cookie cutter but no go, so I had to draw and cut these little feet and toes by hand.  It was a struggle at first, I tried an exacto knife then later realized good ol' fashioned scissors worked.  I wrapped a pretty little satin brown and blue polka dot ribbon, added his name and done!

I'm finding it easier and easier to make these cakes with every one I'm making.  It's true what they say, practice makes perfect!! 

Oh and there is no way I can end this post without posting a pic of the cutest little man EVER!!!

Introducing Noah James :)

                         

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July, what better way to celebrate than to make another cake! (Not that I need an excuse haha).

So I decided on a two-tiered cakes this time (what can I say, I'm a rebel) but this time I knew I didn't want to use the ready-made fondant so I opted to MAKE my own! I found a great recipe for Marshmallow fondant that turned out great! (It is a bit messy to make but it's WAY easier and yummy!). 

The recipe is:

16 oz bag regular or miniature marshmallows
1 – 2 lb bag confectioner’s sugar
2 Tablespoons water
Shortening
Cornstarch

Seriously, that's it. You melt the marshmallows, mix with powder sugar, knead and VOILA! done! It's WAY easier to use, flexible, stays moist, easy to color and taste a lot better than the boxed kind.

So back to my cake, home made buttercream frosting, 1st tier - chocolate fudge, 2nd tier - yellow cake with fresh strawberries filling.

Look how cute!!

 I piped stars made out of icing and used cookie cutters for the stars.  I will NEVER go back to the boxed fondant, the Marshmallow fondant was a million times better.  I'm still learning how to smooth out the surface, hey it's not as easy as it looks.
Anyway, I took the cake to a 4th of July party and it was a hit! Everyone couldn't believe it was my second cake. Oh and it was yummy!!!