Not just cakes..

So my need to practice the baking religion doesn't stop at cakes.  That would be bad.  So I also adopted those beautiful bites of loveliness we call cup cakes.  Just enough, not too much.. but an opportunity to fill that tiny paper cup with bites of yummy goodness.

Here are my three favorite types to bake.. One I like to call the PMS Cupcake. It's a chocolate cupcake with chocolate ganache, filled with chocolate chips, of course.  Number two, is simply a fresh strawberry cupcake - the batter is filled with fresh berries and lemon zest to bring out the flavor in the berries. Then I top it with fresh strawberry marscarpone icing... yum yum :P  Finally, a fan favorite amongst my friends;  a vanilla bean cupcake with salted caramel melted inside, topped with a caramel butter cream and lightly dusted with sea salt and caramel sauce. Mmmm Mmmm good!

Here's a shot where I made them for a friend's baby shower.. decorated with  giraffes, palm trees and monkeys.. VERY cute!

More Cakes

Here are more examples.. because one just is never enough.  Once you've learned how to work with fondant that yummy marshmallow based product that goes on oh-so-smoothly, you can conquer almost any shape you can think of. But butter cream icing is always at your mercy if you know how to use a piping bag and tip. My hint for exceptional butter cream icing is almond extract.  Most bakers use vanilla, but for me, the almond gives it a flavor that leaves people guessing "What's in that icing?" and that's what I'm always looking for.

Guess I should be able to back up my big talk huh?  Here are a couple of examples of what I love to do... they say a picture paints a thousand words.  I'd like to believe that these pictures will make you lick your computer screen. 

This is my daughter's birthday cake from last year.  Bailey is a photo fanatic.. she wants to be a freelance photographer for National Geographic one day.. so I said "let's put a camera on your cake". Six layers of chocolate filled with chocolate butter cream icing and covered in fondant and zebra print.  Happy Birthday Bailey!

Why I do what I do...About Me

What do you need to know about me?  I'm 38, Married with three beautiful kids, ages 11, 16 & 17. We have two fabulous dogs named Gabbi & Layla.  I am blessed with a life full of friends and family that keep me busy, but my heart is full.  A life that busy & full can lead to a little bit of stress.. and stress is something you have to cut out of your life as much as possible, or find a way to handle it.
What is there to say? I bake cakes!  I work in a very stressful job where I am constantly interfacing with people on a daily basis.  They complain, they ask for favors, they ask for MORE... I'm in sales.. so when I want to touch my creative side, work on my good mood and bake something for my family to help me apologize for an entire week of grumpy mom and wife.... I bake.

But it's not just about baking.. it's also about being CREATIVE!  I can't make a canvas come to life.  I can't make clay, pottery, or arts and crafts take the proper shape... but I can make a cake do just about anything. It's the perfect medium for me.. flour, sugar, eggs, vanilla and then butter cream icing and fondant.  I can stir, bake, and create fantastic things... and enjoy every peaceful minute of the hard work.

So I decided to exorcise my work demons by making delectable, delicious, fantastic concoctions that move me to a happy place... and conquer my sweet tooth.  Come see what my stress relief can do for others :)


My friends call me the Cake Goddess... I'll let you decide for yourselves if the "shoe fits".