Merry Christmas!

I know it is a little early...but it is practically Christmas Eve (day!), and since everyone, especially me will be running around tomorrow to do some last minute shopping- I figured I would wish you all a very Merry Christmas early!

Here are some Gingerbread houses my best friend and I made.  I went a more colorful, patterned house. This is actually the first time since Kindergarten that I have made a Gingerbread house, and I think it is going to become a new tradition for me!  Anyways...keeping it short and sweet today...have a VERY MERRY, JOYFUL, & LOVING CHRISTMAS!! :)

BAKE ON!

Gotta love sweets!

As I mentioned in my last blog post- I got a new job!  WOOOHOOO!  I start on Monday, and I am really really excited!  However, I am super sad to be leaving my current jobs...Yes, I currently hold 3 other jobs and I end them all this this week.  Tomorrow is my last day at my current internship (I was a Business Development Intern), Saturday is my last day as a hostess at a FANTASTIC restaurant, and next week- I leave my other job as a Marketing Assistant for a FABULOUS interior designer (She really is fabulous!)


I really hate saying goodbye- even when I know it is just "see you later," but it's not the same as seeing the same people every day or every week- I am going to miss everyone at my jobs.  They are all so sweet and definitely contribute to the amount of smiling I do in a day-- and I smile A LOT!  So as a goodbye "don't hate me for leaving" gift- I baked and am baking for all of my jobs!  For the restaurant, I made mini cupcakes last week for everyone!  They went fast!  Tomorrow, I am bringing in peanut butter filled brownies (my supervisor loves the combo).  And next week-  I am baking a plethora of Christmas Cookies that I am going to wrap up all pretty and leave (like Santa) for all of my co-workers as a THANK YOU!  Because I would not be where I am today and I would not be going where I am if it weren't for all of them! 


Anyways- think about who has helped you get where you are today, and thank them next time...even if it's with a cupcake!  Everyone loves sweets!  BAKE ON!

It's been a while!

Sorry I disappeared for about a week!  It has been hectic here- got a new job!  Yayyyy big girl job now!  And so I've been focusing on tying up loose ends and what not!  But in the meantime, I have received 2 cake orders (WOOOHOOO another $50 to the USO)!  This week's cake was for a Miami Dolphin's fan who is also a member of SU's Department of Public Safety!

It was an interesting and fun cake to make- I don't think the Dolphin was as fierce as the actual logo- BUT I was the one making it, and I don't think I can make anything mean or fierce!  Unless I was really really angry :)  Which isn't often!  Check it out below and let me know your thoughts- there is also a police badge for our DPS officer!  (Don't miss Syracuse's FREEZING weather- there is 2 feet of snow there! brrrr)

And remember- for each cake order I receive until now until the end of the month $25 will be donated to the USO- Operation Care Package.  If you are personally interested in donating- check out their website:http://www.uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx  And get excited- it's Christmas Cookie Season and time for some Gingerbread Houses!

Happy Holidays and BAKE ON!

What I'm Thankful For...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  This has been a great year- with SO much to be grateful for...including:  graduating from college, woohoo entering the real world, having some of the BEST friends any person could ask for, having a loving family, a great boyfriend who is out there serving our country (GO NAVY!), and for having the opportunity to make a career and make an impact :)

 This year, I have made it a really important part of my holiday season to give back.  And so whether that is contributing to my Parish's Giving Tree or donating money to the USO to send care packages to the Troops, I am doing all that I can to give back!  Hopefully you all realize how lucky we are in life and can use what we have to make a difference!  Take a peek below at my FIRST cake order this season with $25 of my profits going the USO-Operation Care Package!

If you'd like to donate to the USO- check out their website: http://www.uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx

Happy Holidays...gobble gobble..and remember BAKE ON!

A Rock & Roll 5th Birthday...Hannah Style!

My fave little cousin (okay...I have more than one favorite!) but my favorite 5 year old cousin's birthday was last week!  And was she SO excited for her Hannah Montana cupcakes- I actually think my Aunt was more excited for them!  I tried some new techniques and tools to make the cupcakes look more professional and more fun!

I piped them with white icing, nice big swirls- and then airbrushed them HOT pink with fun guitar sugar toppings and star sugar toppings!  I even made it look more hard-core with broken guitars!  Check them out below! As well as Deb's starry rocking cake!  Happy Birthday Beautiful!

And remember that this month until December 25th- all of my cake orders, $25 will be donated to the USO- Operation Care Package to send care packages to the troops!  If you're interested in donating, check out: http://www.uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx.  Happy Holidays everyone-- remember 'tis the season to give!

BAKE (&ROCK) ON!

TOUCHDOWN!

Well...today I decided to write about the football cake that I made two weeks ago for a first birthday party!  The reason I chose to write about and show the cake today, is because my boyfriend made the Navy Flag Football Team on his base of over 6,000 sailors!  I'm so proud-- he's going to kick Army's (you know what!) GO NAVY!
But as I digress...the little boy, Roy LOVED football and he is only one year old!  He would yell "touchdown!" at the TV whenever he saw a game on.  He was so excited and way too adorable for his own good, for his big 1st birthday.  The cake was huge and so much fun (and so much work). I did a banana cream and strawberry filling in between all of the layers (YUM!). And individually piped the field and the football.  It was a huge hit!  What do you think?

And remember:  All of my cake orders between now and December 25th- I will be donating $25 of my profits to the USO- Operation Care Package.  If you are interested in a cake- let me know (send me a comment)!  And if you are interested in donating to the USO directly, check out: http://www.uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx  Happy Holidays everyone...it's the giving season.

Bake on!

In honor of...

In honor of today being Veteran's day... I am not posting but reminding you all of my special for the month of November/December!  We need to keep up the spirit of giving throughout the year, but especially now during the holiday season. 

Therefore...
 I have decided every cake order I receive between now and December 25th, I will donate $25.00 to the USO for their care package program (http://www.uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx ) I am also going to ask customers if they would like to match my donation! We should continue to show our support to the troops! If you're interested in a cake (NYC-Westchester area) please feel free to contact me! Thanks :)  Start getting in the holiday spirit-- it will brighten up everything in your life!

Bake on!!!

To the Rescue!

This past weekend was my nephew's 3rd birthday party...and my brother wanted me to show how much I love my nephew through a cake.  He handed me a picture and said..."Make this, it's for your nephew/godson". Sooooo as stressed and busy as I was- I stepped up to the challenge.  I cut fondant and molded it into Buzz Lightyear (my nephew's obsession).  I  made little alien cupcakes and even threw in an extra starry/space cake to make sure there was enough for everyone!

Everyone was super impressed, what are your thoughts?

NEWS:  I have decided (in the spirit of giving!) for every cake order I receive between now and December 25th, I will donate $25.00 to the USO for their care package program (http://www.uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx )  I am also going to ask customers if they would like to match my donation!  We should continue to show our support to the troops!  If you're interested in a cake (NYC-Westchester area) please feel free to contact me!  Thanks :)
BAKE ON!

Cakes Galore...

Sorry I have been m.i.a. for the past few days...it's been pretty hectic over here!  I am working on new business postcards!  (check them out below!) AND i have 2 HUGE cake orders for this weekend.  I have been baking cake after cake after cake. 

I am working on a football field and football cake for a 1st birthday on Saturday for a friend named Roy! It's also my nephew's 3rd birthday who is obsessed with Buzz Lightyear- so I am making a buzz cake and alien cupcakes...stay tuned for pics next week!

Bake on!!!

Giant Cupcake for a Giant Heart!

The past 4 years, I have not been able to make a cake for my younger cousin because his birthday fell in October and I was always away at school.  This year, I am home and could make his cake...however his birthday falls the day after my boyfriends.  And I was in Chicago visiting my boyfriend and couldn't make a cake for his actual birthday...boo!

And to make matters even worse, my poor little cousin had to have major surgery a week before his birthday.  He's doing well, but he's only 4 and is recovering as best as he can.  He's a little superhero, champion, and miracle.  When you see this little boy, you can't help but to smile because he is so loving and so warm- he doesn't deserve to be sick.  I wanted to surprise him and make him something just for him.  So I created a GIANT cupcake just for him...it probably weighed more than him (he's THAT tiny!) 

My prayers go out to him...and hopefully this giant cupcake can warm his giant heart!

BAKE ON!

Cupcakes for Kids!

As I have mentioned probably many times before..I LOVE KIDS!  and I love baking for kids, they love anything that is cute, festive and YUMMY!  This past summer..I had 2 birthday cakes for lovely little kids.  A little girl who was turning 2, and a little boy who was turning 5!  Of course, they wanted fun and festive cakes (for the grown ups) but cupcakes work so well for little kids!  Because it is a miniature cake just for them.  They can dig in, make a mess, and enjoy.

For the little girl, I made that awesome butterfly themed cake (shown in earlier posts) and then I did lady-bug cupcakes.  I individually piped each part of the lady bug, switching from red icing, to black to white.  It was time consuming and it hurt (my hands were sore and dyed red!).  But look how cute they came out!  Perfect for a cute bug themed birthday party :)

And the adorable 5 year old wanted a Buzz Lightyear themed cake with the Aliens as cupcakes (You know the ones who said "oooooooooooh").  Again..I hand piped each cupcake with the face, eyes and ears.  It was a little difficult to get the right ear shape and make them as cute as they are in the movie...what do you think of them??

BAKE ON!

Delivery Disaster...ALMOST!

Most people assume that the most difficult part of making and decorating a cake, is making it perfect.  Which, I can not lie-- is very true.  I am a perfectionist, so I like to create a product that has absolutely  NO flaws.  However, the most difficult and challenging part of having a cake business, is delivering the cake! 

If you have watched any Cake Challenge on the Food Network or even Ace of Cakes, it is absolutely nerve racking to move a large cake, let alone travel a long distance with a cake.  Well, I have had first hand experience delivering a large cake and almost dropping half of it on my lap.  It was a three-tier engagement cake with really delicate fondant details.  As my mom drove, I held the cake in my lap praying for dear life that the cake would not tumble.  Unfortunately, some of the fondant lattice work, crumbled off of the cake to my dismay.  I was able to move the top tier around to hide the flaws, but I was heart broken.

Now, I have mastered the tiered cake (sort of) and I have learned how to place a cake in my car so that it won't tilt or tip. It's still a bit nerve wracking, but hey- it's always worth the smile and happiness of delivering it to the birthday person! (or engaged couple!)  Check out the cake below!

BAKE ON!

Baking for the heart!

I've recently lost my voice...and it is not fun.  So in order to cheer myself up, I decided that I was going try out some new cookie recipes just to work on my techniques and to add to my resume new assortments of cookies.  So I was inspired by Martha Stewart as well as the Food Network. 

I started of working on Red Velvet Gooey Cookies.  I used Red Velvet cake mix and mixed it with cream cheese, butter and a few other ingredients.  And they came out YUMMY.  They stay soft and kind of crumble in your mouth.
  

Next up, I made a great FALL or Winter cookie...oatmeal, almond crisps.  Super easy, and they are nice and warm for you to have with tea (I have had 3 cups today) or coffee (I miss my dear coffee...since I am sick, I can't drink it) or hot cocoa (best part of winter!)

And lastly...I attempted to make Lemon Meringue cookies (attempt being the key word).  I successfully made one batch, after throwing out 2 different batches of the Meringue that did not get to the proper consistency.  And my oh my...it took a lot of mixing to get it to the proper consistency and my arm hurt.  But the batch came out pretty good!  May have to try it out again to learn some new tricks..but live and learn!

Bake on! 

Obsessions!

I must admit...I am a coffee addict! Completely obsessed, love it, could drink it everyday, all day, for the rest of my life.  My sophomore year of college, my roommate was (almost) equally as obsessed as me with Starbucks!  So for her birthday, I decided to make her a Starbucks cake to reflect  her obsession.  The best part of the cake...I used chocolate covered espresso beans on the top of the cake to look like the coffee!  Delish!

Then this year, a friend of mine wanted a cake for her friends birthday.  Of course, I asked- what does she like?  The best cakes normally reflect people's hobbies, favorite sports teams, favorite books, or movies... what did she want for her friend?  Twilight!  So I did some research (I've already read the books and seen the movies) but how could I put THAT on a cake?!  So I went with something simply and symbolic.

I think that taking your obsession and turning it into something delicious is important and fun!  And plus, by knowing what people like allows me to get to know the person and put my heart and soul into the cake.  I always always put my heart and soul, but to get to know why a person loves things in their lives- makes it so much easier and more fun to create a beautiful cake!



BAKE ON!

Busy Birthday Weekend!

This weekend was filled with lots of birthday cakes and cupcakes, not enough time and some stress.  But all in all-the cakes and cupcakes came out great.  I let the pictures do the talking! I made cupcakes for my co-workers.  Which were gone by the end of the night, and not everyone got one!  So I will have to make some more- but they were a huge hit!

Here I am with my Aunt Lillian's Birthday cake- I have missed her birthday the past 4 years while at school, and so I was finally home to make her birthday cake.  She loves old movies, so I made a film spool and put her favorite movies on the film (Gone with the Wind, The Parent Trap, Casablanca and It's  Wonderful Life).

I've made this Minne Mouse cake once before, but this time around- I had SO much trouble with the fondant.  So I had to think on my feet and dye some new fondant and it finally came out great.  Below are my 2 cousins who were at the birthday party- they LOVED the cake!

Bake on!

FORE!!!!

As I have said many times before...(maybe not here,  but in person!)  Cakes make great gifts!  It's a great way to show someone you love just how much you care.  It gives them something delicious to enjoy and it can incorporate anything about them, their favorite color, pastime, hobby, band, sports team etc... You can say pretty much anything with a cake.

Well my best friend is away at graduate school, and missing her dad's big 60th birthday.  Soooo..since her family is my 2nd family- she asked me to make her dad a cake.  As an avid golfer, I searched to find him a great golf cake to make for his special day!  I settled on combing a putting green, water, and a sand trap.  I showed up at her house and delivered the cake a few minutes before her dad got home.  He saw me as he walked in, and was like "ahhh...I have a cake" he walked into the kitchen and this lovely cake (if I do say so myself) was sitting right there for him!  Happy Birthday Mr. D!!!

Next time you want something special...just think of a cake! and BAKE ON!

Baking Blunders

So I must admit, with all of my experience baking, I have made some mistakes and caused messes, burned myself and once almost blew up the microwave.  What good baker doesn't get her hands dirty, have a few burn marks and end up with flour everywhere?  At least that is my mentality!

I think the best story I have is how I tried to make Ice-Cream bon bons!  My best friend and I thought they would be a fun addition to our annual 4th of July BBQ.  Sounds great, right?  NOT.  We bought some ice-cream (chocolate-vanilla) and let it melt down a little so we could scoop it easier.  We made nice little ice-cream balls and let them re-freeze.  We then melted molding chocolate and butterscotch to cover the ice-cream balls with.  BAD IDEA!  I used a double boiler for the chocolate, and then decided to microwave the butterscotch.  Well...I left the metal spoon in the dish, then melted the butterscotch too much that it burned and ended up melting the microwavable bowl.  Disaster!  As my friend and I tried rolling the ice-cream balls in the melted chocolate, the ice-cream started to melt and they no longer stayed in shape.  Her and I ended up eating what was left of the chocolate and ice-cream and totally forfeited the idea of Ice-Cream bon bons!

Another great one...I was making an Angel Food Cake for my aunt (she's diabetic, and there is less sugar in Angel Food Cake).  Well, I made the mix and put it in a bundt pan..it was a little high but I figured it would NEVER bake over.  Well I placed it in the oven, set the timer and went on with my daily tasks.  Soon, I started smelling something funny.  Lo and behold, the cake baked over and spilled all over my mom's oven!  The batter burned on the bottom of the oven, I took it out and burned my hand and tried to salvage what was left of the batter.  Let's just say- I finished the cake and learned a hard lesson about how much batter to put into a pan!

Hopefully you can learn from my blunders- but stories like this make baking exciting!  And scars always make good stories!  Remember, BAKE ON!

CoOkIe CaKEs!!

I know I have spoken about how much I LOVE to bake cookies, especially cookies from scratch- but you know what is even better than individual cookies?  COOKIE CAKES!  And I am not talking about a generic large cookie, or a Ms. Fields cookie cake- I am talking about a really individualized, personalized, delish cookie cakes!

Customers always wonder how I make my cookie cakes, and they are actually quite simple!  What makes them unique is how I decorate them and how I really infuse personality into the decorations.  But step by step cookie cakes are a snap.  First, make your batter (or you can even press out pre-made cookie batter) into a shaped pan.  Whether you use a rectangle or circular cookie sheet, you can shape the cake however you like.  Just place all the batter in the middle and spread evenly throughout the sheet and then bake for the normal amount (anywhere from 12-15 minutes).  Next up- after it cools just decorate it as you please.  Feel free to check out my cakes, comment, or ask questions.

BAKE ON!

When you wish upon a star!

So a new trend in my cakes...DISNEY cakes!!!  I mean it all started when I made a Tinkerbell cake for my best friend Erica.  It was the first time I attempted to make a Disney character and actually make the face!  I used a mold for her face and then I just followed the contours of the mold to make her face.  I think the defining part of that cake was her hair.  I used a special tip that gave it a very textured feel, and more realistic (for yellow hair!)  Check it out below!

Also, since I just started the new doll cake phase I made yet another Disney Princess!  This time, I chose to do Cinderella.  I was debating between making her or Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and well...who does not love Cinderella's dress?  She came out beautiful!  I had some trouble with the ribbon detail along the bottom.  But I actually think the sweeping marks of the icing knife gave the dress some body and life!  It was a huge hit!  My co worker's niece goes "It's a doll?  and a cake?  I can keep the doll and eat it?!!"  She was ecstatic- which made it worth it all!  Always does.

That's all the Disney I have for now...up until a Hannah Montana cake coming up later this month!!  Stay posted!  and Bake ON!

Serving our country..one brownie at a time!

So my boyfriend just joined the Navy and while he spent 2 months in boot camp eating not the best of food, all I wanted to do was send a package with baked goods for him and his friends.  However, he was not able to receive packages- so for his graduation I made sure I brought him enough cookies and brownies to last him and his friends maybe maybe an hour. 

I went all out and created these miniature brownies that had peanut butter chips on the inside...but that wasn't the most creative part of the brownies!  I bought a stencil from Michael's with an anchor on it- and I then proceeded to use powdered sugar and stenciled anchors on the top of brownies for little sailor brownies!  They not only came out adorable, but they were delicious too!  A new trick I want to try is actually piping peanut butter into the center of the brownie for a softer center than the PB chips!

Now that he is out of boot camp and on base- I can send him food! Since I love brownies and I figured they would ship the easiest- I made regular brownies.  But since I was missing one of my key additives- I cut up dark chocolate Hershey's bars and tossed them into the mix- and OMG they came out amazing- my mouth was watering just smelling them!

Seeing that I am going out to visit him in 2 weekends, I want to bring some fresh goodies for him and his shpmates- I was thinking of making some peanut butter cookies with hershey kisses?  Or I was thinking going with simple chocolate chip cookies- classic, but everyone loves them!   We will see how much time I have next week- after packing and what not...maybe I will do both! 

Expect some more posts about the military- because I am going to start a service baking project for the troops! Keep an eye out!

 here are the sailor brownies!

here is my sailor!
BAKE ON!

It's Beauty and....Andi!

So this was the first year I have been home for my cousin's birthday!  So, of course I was recruited to make her cake.  Starting August 1st - Andi asked me if I was making her cake that day...I told her she had to wait until her actual birthday.

Well- yesterday I set to work on making her Belle cake.  It was going to be her beautiful yellow/golden ball gown with Belle inside!  I didn't tell her what I was making, but I could feel her excitement throughout the day when she would ask if her cake was ready!  I bought special/edible gold sparkles for the cake so that Belle could shimmer! 

I made the cake- and added a base so that there was enough room for the Belle doll to fit through...as I placed her in the center of the cake- I realized I had mis-judged the height!  The cake started to split!  AH!  So instead of panicking- I slowly removed the doll and iced the cake with a rough coat of yellow icing...this kept the cake together and formed a great base!  I then piped ribbon like icing around her dress and added the sparkles!  I slipped Belle into the cake and voila!  It came out awesome and Andi was ecstatic! 

She came running up to me and goes "Thank you for making my Belle cake, Vicky"- worth it every time! 

Cakes for Jeffrey!

So I have a 5 year old cousin...and he's been my biggest supporter, fan, and customer since he was 3!  He's the cutest, most precocious 5 year old with the warmest smile and biggest heart.  For his 3rd birthday, he wanted Lightning McQueen from the movie "Cars"- it was the second time that I would use fondant to make a cake...and it was a HUGE cake.  I shaped the cake first, and then covered it with white fondant....and then air brushed it red!  It was so much fun...and it came out great.  I somehow do NOT have a picture  (I know, sad face). 

However...for his 4th birthday-- I DO have pictures of the cake that I made.  It was a carnival themed party...so I made a fun and festive, colorful layered cake with many different colors and stripes and shapes.  It came out awesome (and was even bigger than Lightning!)  Jeffrey goes to me "Vicky...I think I like the Lightning cake better"  (he's 4...he wanted something a little more flashy than this cake!)

And then this year- for his 5th birthday pool party extravaganza...I made my Teddy Graham Pool Party cake with Jell-O water!  Everything is completely edible and is SO much fun!  (I had one small mishap and did not let the Jell-O set enough before adding it to the cake...so it spilled through!)  But it flavored the cake and made it even more yummy! 

Jeffrey's already planning his cake for his 6th birthday- he's thinking Leggos--- any ideas?!!  Bake on :)

Cookie Monster!

While watching an episode of "Cake Boss" last night, I was inspired by the cookies and cookie cake that Buddy made for Sesame Street's Cookie Monster!  Growing up, who did not love Cookie Monster?  I know that now-a-days, "cookies are a one-time treat" but you can not deny how delicious cookies are!

My favorite cookies to make are peanut butter cookies with Hershey kisses...its pure peanut butter heaven in your mouth!  However, the most delicious melt in your mouth cookie are my great-grandmother's almond biscotti.  Right out of the oven, they are so warm and Delicious that they just melt in your mouth.  True to biscotti, (which means twice baked) if you leave them for a few days- they get nice and crunchy!  Crunchy enough that you have to dip them into your tea or coffee (sometimes even wine like Santo Spirito) to really enjoy them!

I love making my cookies from scratch, and I experiment all the time with different types of cookies and am now going to try and decorate cookies!  Always up for new suggestions and ideas- feel free to leave comments!  Be sure to get a cookie next time you have some coffee or tea, it will make the whole experience that much greater!  Bake on!

Yummy Yummy Cupcakes!

I think that cupcakes are under-rated, up until recently atleast.  If you turn on the Food Network, or walk down a street in New York City you are going to see a Crumbs Cupcake bakery, (Sprinkles on the west coast), or you are going to catch an episode of Cupcake Wars!  Cupcakes are making a comeback, and much to my delight!


I enjoy making miniature cupcakes, just big enough for 1-2 bites and they can be colorful and creative.  I have also experimented with giant cupcakes (enough to feed lots of people!) and even filled a chocolate cupcake with chocolate pudding (if you are a chocoholic!). And of course, I can not forget the regular cupcakes-- either brightly colored with sprinkles, or specially decorated, they are super easy to experiment with!


Next up, I am going to have some fun with my mixer and make a variety of different flavors, not necessarily just chocolate or vanilla, but maybe an espresso cupcake or a peanut butter cupcake with chocolate on top!  I will definitely keep you updated and feel free to post some other ideas for other flavors!

Take me out to the ball game!

Well as an avid sports fan, and a New Yorker, I am obviously a Yankee fan.  Over the past year I have had the opportunity to make a few sports cakes.  Unfortunately, one of them was a Boston Red Sox cake.  I am not a fan of the team, but it was actually a fun cake to make- I even put a layer of M&M's in the center, and yes- they were red and blue.  That little surprise made the cake extra delicious, and I am always more than happy to put anything fun in the center of the cake...M&Ms, Sprinkles, Strawberries, Cream, Pudding..you name it!

Then, once the Yankees won the World Series- I made a Yankee cookie cake with blue and white icing and the symbol.  It was a birthday cake for a few co-workers of mine.  They weren't really Yankees fans, but I couldn't resist bragging about my fave! 

I think sports cakes are great- they make awesome gifts for guy friends, sons, brothers, husbands, and boyfriends.  I can make logos, jerseys, helmets, or even a field (granted..I am not on the level of making a full replica of Yankee Stadium...but I can make a little league field to start with!)

Take a look at the cakes, and feel free to post comments or suggestions!  PLAY BALL!

Cake Challenge!

So most people ask me how I got this random talent of decorating cakes and why I even thought to start a cake business.   Well...it all started my freshmen year at Syracuse.  My roommate and I spent countless hours watching the Food Network and coloring in Looney Tunes coloring books.  The Food Network became our go-to channel when we were having a bad day.


Also as a way to make friends on my floor, I baked a whole bunch of chocolate chip cookies and wrote on everyone's doors to help themselves to some cookies!  Baking became a way into people's hearts and brought my entire floor together.  From then on, I continued to bake on my floor during finals and midterms, for birthdays and holidays just to bring everyone a bit closer. 


That summer, my mom handed me a copy of Woman's Day Magazine and told me to make the cake that was featured on the cover.  (The Teddy Graham Pool Cake from Summer Cakes).  After successfully making that cake...the rest was just history.  My mom's little cake challenge turned into a new found talent and hobby.


Since then, I have made cakes for all of my family's birthdays, christenings, holiday parties.  This year as a senior at Syracuse I came up with the idea to sell my cakes.  So I advertised them on Facebook and a Twitter and sold cakes to some friends and friends of friends.  And now, that I am home for good- I am working on making the business even bigger and better.  Creating new items to feature and improving my decorating skills! Some of my favorite cakes are featured below- feel free to comment and post suggestions:
Happy Baking!

Summer Cakes

I have come to the conclusion that summer cakes are so far the most fun and the most extravagant!  Also- the great thing about summer cakes- is that so far they are all for little ones!  2-3-4-5 year olds!  And who loves colorful and fun cakes more than little ones!  (me, of course)  I think what I enjoy best is being able to be creative, colorful and make something yummy for everyone including parents and the kids to enjoy!

This summer has included a beach cake, butterfly cake, lady bug cupcakes, a buzz lightyear cake, alien cupcakes, uncle sam mini cupcakes, and up next a Belle cake! I am excited to start creating a kids cake portfolio! 

See what I have done in the past, and feel free to comment on them!