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!