Summer Cake, from Pinterest #food

Parfaits are pretty
Sorbet is sweet
but when it comes to entertaining, there is nothing better than having a beautiful cake to serve your guests.

I went in search of a yummy summer cake using seasonal fruits on Pinterest, and was overjoyed by this one!

 

 

First and foremost, the presentation is glorious. I love the slices of peach with their golden flesh, accented by the raspberry tones of the pit.

I also love that this cake uses peaches as the flavor. For summer, I find that so many use strawberries or raspberries, so it's nice to have a new fruit to enjoy in baking!

You can find the recipe here from The Baker Upstairs.

The Hubs Turns 30, #birthday #cake ideas for him

When it comes to the sweet tooth in the family, that one definitely I have covered. My husband doesn't really reach for desserts, so finding the perfect cake for him is going to be a challenge.

While I know that he would love these chocolate and banana cupcakes that I've made in the past...

I'm not sure that I want to spend all of that time creating cupcakes, frosting them all individually, then decorating them all as well. {sorry party peeps!}

Typically, I suggest that you contract out the cake. It's a big under taking, especially if you are hosting the party at your home, doing all of the appetizers, bar, invitations and decorations, but since this is a special birthday, I want to do something special for him.

I know the flavour will have to be red velvet, with the standard cream cheese frosting.

This recipe from Sugarhero is the one that I will be using. I don't want to break the mold when it comes to red velvet since it is a rather difficult cake to master, so this isn't the time to create my own recipe. I am thinking of making a few 6" stacked cakes, probably 5 layers or so, and topping them with fresh berries.

What is your go-to cake recipe?? If you have any red velvet tips to share, let me know!

30th Birthday Planning

In just a couple of weeks, I'll be turning 30.

Thirty.

The big 3-0.

To me, it's an excuse to have a realy fabulous party with all of my nearest and dearest. It's not a reason to wallow or be sad. It's not a reason to sulk and hide in bed all day.

It's a reason to get dressed up and have a great time!

I've been planning what I'm wearing for a long while now, a fabulous dress from Kristine Cook Designs, but I think what i've been planning for even longer is the cake!

As the girl who makes everyone elses birthday cakes and throws parties for everyone else, I think it's high time that I get a fabulous cake all to myself!

Here are my top 3 favourites {from Pinterest}

Adore the purple ombre!

Love the three different patterns on these layers, and chevron...hello!

Pretty much the perfect cake for an artist...handpainted petals

So...I want something amazing and fabulous, girly and bright, with the perfect pop of detail and ruffle. Hopefully, the Hubs has taken notice of my Pinterest board!!

Food&Wine Friday: Lemon Bundt Cake

One thing I love about summer are all of the fresh and vibrant colours.

Take this lemon bundt cake for example

Lemon yellow with a fresh pop of white

Add in some black poppy seeds and you have a stunning combination and inspired this little beauty!

Such a fantastic combination, and a bold splash of colour for the summer!

SWH4T$: DIY Cake Stands

Happy Thursday everyone! Since I know that you're all probably planning out Easter dinner and brunch menu's, I wanted to blog a little DIY project today that you can do super quick and easy to make your dessert table pop...without breaking the bank!

Blog Hop Rules

1) Follow your hostesses, Baby Shmizz and Sweet Stella's, via GFC or BlogLovin'

2) Post our button on your blog for others to follow along

3) Link up a post that helps you save time, money, frustration...your sanity!

Have fun linking up and reading other mama tips!

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DIY Cake Stands

Planning an Easter dinner or brunch? Have a bevvy of desserts to display? This thrifty little DIY will have your table looking fabulous in no time flat, and with little money spent!

Supplies:
White plastic plates or trays from the dollar store
Glass candle sticks or tumblers from the dollar store

How-to:

Flip over your plate or tray.

Using a permanent adhesive {I used Epoxy because I had it on hand, but I'm sure that you could use hot glue. Just be warned that hot glue won't give you as permanent or strong a bond between the plate and candle stick or tumbler}, smear about a 2" circle on the bottom side of your plate or tray.

If you're using epoxy, make sure that your room is well ventilated and that you're doing it away from children. Heavily toxic and you don't want it getting on your skin either!

Place the candle stick or tumbler on the adhesive. Since I was using tumblers, I put them end to end...flat surfaces will give you the strongest bond and the most stability in your cake stand.

Place a hardcover book or two on the tumbler. The weight will help the bond become good and strong.

Leave the stand to dry for 24 hours.

After it's dry, place cookies, sweets, treats, cakes...whatever you'd like on display for your guests! you could even tie seasonal ribbon around the base to make it more festive!

Link up your thrifty frugal crafty time and money saving ideas today!

Fabulous Finds Friday: Flirty Girly Cake

Okay...I'll admit that I am fully addicted to Pinterest. I've done everything from planning the decor, room by room, of our new house (that we don't even have yet) to planning my son's 2nd birthday party (next June...), to creating an inspiration board for my big 30th birthday next year

This cake caught my eye and I think it's absolutely over-the-top-fabulous!



I love everything about it...the colours, the flower, even the cake stand!

Check out The Pastry Studio for more fabulous cakes!

Tip Me Tuesday: Fondant on a Cake

This past week, I had a very very important project to work on.

My mission: feed 160(ish) people cake for a wedding...and not just any wedding...but my best friend's wedding, and be a beautiful bridesmaid at the same time!

Here's the cake...




And my gorgeous bff cutting it with her new husband.

So...here are some tips from me to use, when using fondant and making a tiered cake

• bake your cakes and freeze them a couple of days prior to the event - seal in that freshness and make sure that they'll be stable when you're stacking them!
• fill and frost, then refrigerate overnight before starting your fondant work
• internal supports are your friend! For this cake, I used 4 plastic Wilton dowels in the middle tier, and 5 in the bottom tier. Put them in the cake AFTER you've done all of the tiers in fondant and decorated
• if you're IN the bridal party and doing the cake (who does that!?) have a clear plan for your week (bake and freeze Wednesday, fill and frost Thursday, fondant on the friday)
• slab cakes are your friend if you have a massive amount of people to feed!

Link up your homemade project with Tip Junkie!!

Wow-Me Wednesday: Wedding Cupcakes

I just realized that I completely forgot to post the photos that I took once all of the 12 dozen cupcakes, one 8" cake and cookie favours were all set up!

Here they are!!

Vanilla, Chocolate and Blueberry cupcakes


Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting


Gluten-free Chocolate truffle cupcakes


The entire cake display!

Pretty awesome and I'm really proud of how they all turned out!

Have you made something pretty great lately? Link up with Ginger Snap Crafts!!

What's Next Wednesday: Shipping To The Emmy's!

Well...now that my notestacks are all packed up and ready to go {being shipped in the morning}...What's Next??

The next big project that I'm working on is more baking than anything else. I have a wedding order for cupcakes, a cake and cookies for this coming weekend...and then in just over a month I am doing the wedding cake for my best friend's wedding.

Here's what I've been working on!


Chocolate, Blueberry and Vanilla cupcakes


Frosted to look like Hydrangea's...how did I do?



Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting...that tastes like Cinnabon!


Chunky Peanut Butter Hershey Kiss thumbprints

And oh darn...I may have baked too many...and we may have needed to taste test some!

Y3W Friday: New Cake Toppers

I have had an absolutely blast creating new products over the past two weeks, some that I haven't even shared with you yet!!

These just hit Etsy yesterday, and I have a fabulous time making them and taking awesome photographs with these beautiful cakes from Whimsical Bakery


So simple, and yet unique and whimsical!


Each cake topper comes attached to a 4" food safe lollipop stick, making it easy to anchor into your cake!


Toppers measure approx 5.5", and are available in a wide variety of ink and paper colours (and patterns!)


All toppers are backed with coordinating cardstock, to give a polished and finished look.

Monogrammed cardstock cake toppers are available by special order, and on Etsy, for only $14.99 (plus shipping!)

Don't forget to head over to Jenni from the Blog for the y3W bloghop!

Pretty Pictures and Whimsical Weddings

There are two things that I've been focusing on over the past week or so are two categories of new products.

Pretty Pictures - photography props

Whimsical Weddings - cake toppers, favour boxes and cones, fun wedding embellishments

I'd like to unveil a few to you now, namely my new monogrammed cake toppers for weddings (because I think that they are just beautiful, and simple, and elegant, and unique)



Monogrammed with bride and groom's initials



Simple and sweet...I Do...

I have been having a great time just running with my creativity, thinking back to my own wedding and about what I would have done differently.

The other focus, Pretty Pictures, has been alot of fun to create. I've been working with a few photographers on cute sayings, speech bubbles, thought bubbles, even small banners for engagement, maternity, newborn and wedding shoots.

Here are a few of my favourites



For an outdoor cowboy and cowgirl themed shoot



For an engagement shoot



For maternity and newborn shoots

I adore them! Working with photographers has really opened up a whole new world (Queue Aladdin and Jasmine...) of products and creativity that I hadn't thought about before.

Are you a photographer or have a photo shoot coming up with your fiance, baby, husband, kids, parents? Keep Sweet Stella's in mind for your paper props! Everything from hanging decor to be strung from trees to cupcake toppers for a fun and retro picnic! Banners galore in whatever you need them to say...in retro and funky or classic and beautiful bachgrounds.

How-To Tuesday and Whimsical Wednesday: Chocolate Skor Cake

My apologies for a two-in-one post, highly unlike me! However, I've come down with a head cold, likely due to burning the candle at all ends!

Thankfully, today's post is absolutely DELISH!

Chocolate Skor Cake

Use your favourite chocolate cake recipe (boxed or scratch) for this. It will taste amazing no matter what recipe you use as long as it's your favourite!

Once cake is completely cooled (I like to cool the cake, then wrap in plastic wrap and further cool overnight in the fridge), place one cake on your chosen cake plate.

Fill will chocolate buttercream.

Option #1: top buttercream with crushed Skor bars

Place second cake layer on top, frosting then entire cake with chocolate buttercream.

Option #2: top outer edge of cake with crushed Skor bars

Wipe the edges of your cake plate clean, and serve with a smile!

I did say this was delish, right??

Some fun facts about chocolate:

- chocolate contains antioxidants that help prevent cancer and heart disease

- The Swiss eat the most chocolate every year...nearly 19lbs per person!

- the first chocolate bar was produced in 1842 by Cadbury...now makers of the ever delicious Mini Eggs and Creme Eggs!