Yikes! I am really behind with posting pictures. Here is Zacher's 6th birthday cake (from November!) He gave me a list of every item he wanted on his cake: palm trees, beach, himself, crabs, fish..... I just created his imaginative vision!
Zach's Beach Cake
Yikes! I am really behind with posting pictures. Here is Zacher's 6th birthday cake (from November!) He gave me a list of every item he wanted on his cake: palm trees, beach, himself, crabs, fish..... I just created his imaginative vision!
Jan's shower cake and petit fours
Happy birthday sweet Mabry (and a recipe!)
Mabry turned 6 last month! For her party this year she wanted a dog and cat theme in pinks and leopard print. As much as I thought I was keeping things simple this year and doing lots ahead of time. I found myself scrambling the night before and was saved by my sweet Rachel just as I have been for every one of Mabry's parties. I threw all of the decorations and treats I had been making/accumulating over weeks at Rachel and, as always, she did a far better job of arranging and decorating than I could have. Meanwhile, I made Mabry's cake. I first covered each tier in dark ivory fondant, placed a band of pink around the bottom of each tier, then a ribbon of darker pink around the centers. I applied edible glitter to the dark pink fondant ribbons and bows and hand painted the leopard spots using a small paint brush with brown and black gel paste food coloring which I diluted with clear vanilla extract. For the flavors this year she wanted chocolate and vanilla. So I made 2 layers of each flavor per tier. I've already shared the chocolate cake recipe I used, as well as the buttercream; but have not yet blogged about my yellow cake recipe. It is one of my prizes! It took a lot of trial and error to create and I'm excited to share (see end of this post!)More dessert table shots:
Earlier in the week I made and froze pink iced bone sugar cookies and white chocolate dipped Oreo cat pops:
It was a VERY special day for Mabry spent with her family, friends, and even her kindergarten and mother's day out teachers!
Kitty cat Mabry with Auntie Rachel.
And now as promised, my yellow cake recipe!
Until finding this recipe I was disappointed with each yellow cake recipe I tried. The problem with homemade butter cakes is usually the texture. They may taste great; but are often have a crumbly, cornbread like texture. Many professional bakers actually use cake mixes for yellow or white cakes! This recipe comes from cake queen Sylvia Weinstock; but I have modified it to make it easier with, at least for me, more consistent results. The original recipe can be found here.
Yellow Butter Cake
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (sift before measuring)
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 sticks of butter (room temp)
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs (room temp)
2 t vanilla
1 cup sour cream (helps if at room temp)
Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour (or spray with Baker's Joy) two 8X3 baking pans or one 12X3. Line with parchment.
Cream butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar, salt, vanilla, and baking powder and continue to cream until fluffy and light (I cream for at least 10 minutes).
Add the eggs one at a time on low speed, until each is just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of bowl between additions. Add the canola oil and mix on low or by hand until well combined.
Sift 1/3 of the presifted flour into the bowl and stir by hand until just combined . Stir in 1/2 of the sour cream until just combined. Repeat until you have incorporated all of the flour and sour cream.
Pour the batter into prepared pans and smooth with a rubber spatula. Bake for 60 min for the 12 inch or 45-50 for the 8 inch. Test for doneness with a skewer or toothpick.
And now as promised, my yellow cake recipe!
Until finding this recipe I was disappointed with each yellow cake recipe I tried. The problem with homemade butter cakes is usually the texture. They may taste great; but are often have a crumbly, cornbread like texture. Many professional bakers actually use cake mixes for yellow or white cakes! This recipe comes from cake queen Sylvia Weinstock; but I have modified it to make it easier with, at least for me, more consistent results. The original recipe can be found here.
Yellow Butter Cake
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (sift before measuring)
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 sticks of butter (room temp)
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs (room temp)
2 t vanilla
1 cup sour cream (helps if at room temp)
Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour (or spray with Baker's Joy) two 8X3 baking pans or one 12X3. Line with parchment.
Cream butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar, salt, vanilla, and baking powder and continue to cream until fluffy and light (I cream for at least 10 minutes).
Add the eggs one at a time on low speed, until each is just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of bowl between additions. Add the canola oil and mix on low or by hand until well combined.
Sift 1/3 of the presifted flour into the bowl and stir by hand until just combined . Stir in 1/2 of the sour cream until just combined. Repeat until you have incorporated all of the flour and sour cream.
Pour the batter into prepared pans and smooth with a rubber spatula. Bake for 60 min for the 12 inch or 45-50 for the 8 inch. Test for doneness with a skewer or toothpick.
Should I post this?
I feel a bit guilty. Underneath the fondant, I assure you the horns were sawed off! Gig 'em! :)
Wrestling Mask Cake
Jed and Rachel are having a baby!!!!
For the past few weeks I have enjoyed daydreaming about (some might say obsessing over) the details for Rachel and Jed's shower. We are excitedly awaiting the arrival of baby Hummel--about 9 weeks to go! But in the meantime the four sisters: Lacy, Adrienne, Kate, and I threw a shower.
The event was a cocktail hour open house at Rachel and Jed's loft. We tried to capture a modern, fun feel in the color palette of gray, pink and lime green.
The Scene: Industrial loft, Houston medical center.Lime green pom poms hung from duct work, electric
lines.
The Desserts: I made a tiered cupcake stand to display a small
cake and 3 flavors of mini cupcakes: pink velvet, coconut with
passion fruit buttercream, and almond with cherry filling and
Amaretto buttercream. Other desserts were key lime tartlets by
Lacy, Tobblerone almond truffles, and brownie buttons with white
chocolate raspberry ganache.
cake and 3 flavors of mini cupcakes: pink velvet, coconut with
passion fruit buttercream, and almond with cherry filling and
Amaretto buttercream. Other desserts were key lime tartlets by
Lacy, Tobblerone almond truffles, and brownie buttons with white
chocolate raspberry ganache.
More desserts, pink candy and the amazing invitation framed. I was so in love with this invite. I found it at minted.com and thought it was perfect for the type of event we were creating. The colors and city skyline design were a springboard for our decor.
Wishing tree with black and white baby pics of Jed and Rachel hanging from monofilament and lime green card stock leaves available for guests to write wishes for the baby or suggest baby names. Urban clothesline on brick wall made from white Christmas lights hung with with adorable custom onesies (made by Kate) and leg warmers.
FOOD!!! Various hors dourves including prosciutto wrapped asparagus, shrimp nachos with mango pico, seared beef tenderloin/bleu cheese butter/arugula with balsamic drizzle atop bruschetta, marinated manchego/roasted red pepper crostini (easy appetizer I make often--recipe here), smoked salmon canapes, fig bread with bleu cheese and candied pecans, assorted cheeses.
In lieu of corsages, Mabry and I bejeweled a pair of crunk cups for the couple!Mama and Papa in front of the favors:
I was so excited to find a city skyline stamp which I used on the favor toppers and the menu cards. The favors were pinned to a fabric covered cork board placed near the door.
The sisters: Adrienne, Rachel, me, Lacy, and Kate. Love you all!!!
The adorable Miss Henley.
Mazeltov from Mabers.
Mazeltov from Mabers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)