A Work Post

It's been quite some time since I've waxed on about my life as a baker, and being that I can't get cupcakes out of my head this evening, I thought I would share some recent ideas. Some events upcoming, and just generally muse on about my passion/profession.

So, I have been generating a list of cupcake flavors that I would like to try. Things that I find interesting or very tasty. Or just things that I think would sell nicely, as they are in fashion in the food world.

Some things I'm going to try soon include a tea infused line consisting of earl grey, chai, and green tea flavored cupcakes. Not sure on icing combinations to go with these yet, but after I'm able to test run the batters, I'm sure some sort of bright idea will surface. These are my current goal for new yummies.

Next is a line of dessert inspired cupcakes. Bananas Foster, Tiramisu, and Creme Brulee are on the short list, though I do need one more to round out both this category and the tea set. The creme brulee cake may have to wait until I can convince my boss to let me have a small blow torch. :-D

I also want to get a few more staple flavors implemented, like coconut and lemon. We have chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, and strawberry currently on the menu almost every day in some sort of combination or variation. I really think having those flavors in addition will help us cover all bases. Also, we absolutely must come up with a coffee flavored cake. Either in the batter or the icing. Espresso, cappuccino, hell I don't know. Something.

Other fun thing that's going on right now and will hopefully be prototyped by this week's end is the Mango Cupcake that I've been brainstorming on for a week or so. Honey and cardamom in the batter, with a sweet mango puree for either a filling or to incorporate into buttercream, and dried mango slices on top. I am so jazzed to try this one out. Hopefully a little hint of India, and again, hopefully by the end of the week.

Valentine's Day is coming up, and we're trying to convince the boss man that it is IMPERATIVE that we have examples of our v-day fair well before the day comes, so that customers will have us in mind while buying useless goodies to woo their love interests. Ideas include wafer paper and chocolate transfer accents, "talking heart" mini cakes, and possibly roses. Also, we're preparing to unveil our first filled cupcake for the year. Excited? You should be.

In personal business news, I'm preparing for my second cake order here in Indy, another wedding, coming up on February 20th. It's a sizable order, which should yield a reasonable profit, and hopefully not kill me in the process. I go tomorrow to meet with the bride about details. Wish me lots of luck, as she says she has pictures and "sparkle sprinkles" questions. O boy.

Newest Cake!

Just wanted to share my latest creation. It was for a friend who was giving it as a baby shower gift type deal. It was my very first time doing gumpaste flowers. I watched a tutorial on youtube, by this spanish lady with a fantastic accent and a lot of makeup. The steps to create the flowers are actually pretty easy. If you want to watch the tutorial it's in four parts. I'll share the link for those who are curious.

Calla Lily Tutorial! 


Her tutorials are pretty good. But anyways, I had a lot of fun making the gumpaste flowers. It's a skill I plan on building up, so that I can be more versatile in the sugar art world. Hooray! I also highly recommend it for people who like doing hands on intricate work, as it has a great pay off at the end. They last for ever and a day, and make even a plain cake look extraordinary.

Okay, I'll stop sounding like a cake blog, and move on. I also put a stucco or "tuscan" finish on the cake. People that are familiar with the old fashioned way of icing a cake with a textured look will see that this is a very similar effect. The beauty part of it is that you don't have to labor over it to smooth it. I find though, if you do want to use this finish, all the other elements of the cake have to be spot on or else you run the risk of the cake just looking poorly done...rather than having a textured funky finish. This technique is also sometimes referred to as an antique look or canvas. I like tuscan...makes people think rustic and inviting. I like that visual. 

It's just two single layers, with raspberry filling in each. Yellow cake. Oh, and the icing was a key lime flavor by request. I went with an ivory tone to offset the romantic texture and flowers. So...yeah. Fun to make! 

Blueberry Heaven

So I've had this pint of blueberries sitting in the fridge for a week calling my name. And night before last I whipped up a batch of shortbread dough, so I had the idea tonight to combine the two into something quite yummy. :-)



 

these little tasties were made with real blueberries and lemon juice/zest. the filling is sandwiched between the Lavender infused Lemon Poppy Seed shortbread I made the other night, and baked for 40 minutes until golden brown. These little guys are best served chilled. Or with a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. :-)

Hooray!

BAD day...good night!

Yesterday was 


interesting.

I had a cake order due, and ended up running hellishly late getting it to the womans house because streets were absolutely not marked much of the way there. Making mapquest directions useless...mostly.

Pictures sometimes say a thousand words...so here goes.

Cake before delivery:


a lovely DISASTER!!!




But...the evening went okay...

If computer screens had a tasting option...

Another weekend of cakery, and bakery...in the bag, and down the chute. Only one more cake until vacation! lol...
Until then, hopefully some of this will make you drool...

Chocolate Almond Marble Cheesecake!!!!

     

Is that fresh amaretto whipped cream, you ask? Why yes...yes it is.

    Combat boots...3D...nuff said.

last...a sheet cake...but I did some fancy airbrushin' on it...hooray

Next week, a 3D truck tire...then some relaxing and fun in (ack hot) and sunny Arizona. :-D

at least today is great :-D

So, a real quick update, since there's some good stuff. Guess who lost 2 more pounds?!? Yup...that's me. Totally down to 144. 


Oh, and this:

   that's right...totally awesome beachy wedding cake...done by me. Hooray!

Back to cakery....*trudge trudge trudge*

Weddings and Babyshowers...oh my...

It's been a while since I posted some cake photos. This past weekend was a doozy, with back to back weddings (spaced by an hour), and back to back baby shower cakes on sunday (also spaced by an hour). Earlier last week I was sure that I would crash and burn this weekend, resulting in heartache and possibly legal action from crazy brides. Okay, so I assumed the worst...but, after it was over, and I had a day to unwind, I look back at this past weekend as being one of my best (result wise) ever! So, I thought I would post the cakes...so you could share in my happiness for a moment. :-D

First up, a wedding cake that was ordered back in March, and my first official tasting. I was really trying to make sure that this was as close to profesional as it could be.

The Daisy Cake



Next up was my neighbor's wedding cake. She is a pretty great lady, and has had a rough past five year...with her husband being killed in Iraq, and 8 months later her eldest daughter being shot and killed by an ex boyfriend. Then having to fly to Texas year after year, up until recently, to witness these continuation trials to put the guy away. I really wanted to make sure she had a pretty cake.

The Lilly Cake


She also ordered 48 cupcakes to go with this wedding cake...

                        


Next are the baby shower cakes. These were similar in that they were both for people expecting boys, but other than that, pretty different orders. I have decided that I like the baby figures with hair much better than the bald ones. The bald ones remind me of the scary weird bald guy from  "Beyond Thunderdome". Right....so anyway, the cakes!

I'm a Viking?



I have a bias for red headed babies!



and there you have it...weekend complete. HOORAY!

This next weekend will be similar, in that I do have another wedding cake on Friday, but Saturday is split between birthday cakes, and babyshower cakes. Could be another creative and wonderful weekend....could be a disaster! Stay tuned...lol.