Second course, Final project

This is my first attempt at chocolate ganache. I must say it is so easy to make and what a shiny impact on these cupcakes. I even filled these fall funfetti cupcakes with some whipped ganache.

This is my graduation cake final project (from my second Wilton course Flowers and Cake Design) We learned how to make all of these flowers and the basket weave technique.

I'm not gonna lie...this cake is filled with a peanut butter cream cheese whipped mousse and has started to slide...with all the frosting on the sides from the basket weave...the cake had a major earthquake crack in it...good thing it was only for our family. Note to self: do not fill more than one layer with this particular mousse. It was unstable to transport.


We learned how to make lilies,violets, apple blossoms, primrose, daffodils, daisies, roses and rosebuds in this class. I NEED LOTS OF PRACTICE. It looks like a garden threw up on this cake. haha.

It's not as easy as one would think...it's all about getting the perfect frosting consistency and perfecting the technique. It was a fun experience...I'm so glad we did it, I learned so much. I did realize one thing: the older you get, the harder it is to learn new things...gosh I felt so inept at times. I didn't know there was such a thing as "Cake Stress".

We're taking a break from Cake Decorating classes until after Christmas. Now I've got a few months to perfect my techniques. I did get asked to make a 50th wedding anniversary cake for November 13th and now I've got to decide what I'm gonna do...more cake stress.

More football, homecoming, and cupcake love...

Joshua, Jordanne and Jake...The NCC "Game to Remember" where the players had special jerseys made with the pink cancer ribbon on them. The players wore stickers on their helmets honoring loved ones who died from cancer.

My three sons and their dad after Joshua's college game. Looks like the "little" brother isn't so little anymore.

Jacob and Aubrey getting ready to leave for Homecoming. What an adorable couple they make.

You can't really tell, but the orange leaf is made from melted candy corn, rolled out, and cut with a small leaf cookie cutter.

...more Halloween cupcake love...and yes, those are supposed to be mummies.

Scrumptious cream filled cupcakes for the football team dinner...

...I know, this is a bit extreme, but hey, it was the week of homecoming...what can I say?

lots of football brownies were made that day...40 to be exact! I know this seems insane, but I look at it as practice. These brownies were so yummy. They were covered with melted milk chocolate and peanut butter. mmmm.

...Actually, I think of baking as therapeutic. It cheers me up when I'm sad...calms me when I'm stressed...it fills me with a sense of well-being. It's something that I can take charge of from start to finish...I control the outcome...and all is well in my little cupcake world. I mean, really...how can you not be cheered up by a cupcake?

...stay tuned for the cookies I have to make for the out of town football game on Friday.

I have no words...

...so I will use someone else's.


Expect hope to be rekindled.
Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.
The dry seasons in life do not last.
-Sarah Ban Breathnach

Final class project

Hard to believe these pathetic roses ended up looking halfway decent in a cluster...(I totally struggled with these ribbon roses and feel so inept.)

... So my birthday is today and it's quite ironic that I would be able to make my own birthday cake for our final class project. The "old bag" is what Pat lovingly calls me. I felt pretty silly making my own cake in class so I had some fun with it.

practicing my skills on cupcakes...

morbid blood spattered "DEXTER" inspired cupcakes...

Mmmm. yummy bloody bones. I am truly more impressed with these cupcakes than I was with the season premiere of Dexter. How disappointing! I sure hope the next episode is better...

I am 47 today and so thankful to be alive. Happy Birthday to me.

More cupcake love

THIS IS A CUPCAKE...{Vanilla bean with Bavarian cream}

...and THIS is NOT.

I made the SVSU colored cupcakes for my college football boy who happened to be one of the leading tacklers this past week in his game.

He's "a little light in the ass" (as his coaches tell him) so I figured a little buttercream love couldn't hurt to pack on some pounds.

So proud of you Josh. Keep up the good work.

Brownie experiment on Football Friday

(* Note to self: wait until piping dries before packaging)

I made a pan of brownies yesterday morning at 7:30 am. It was one of those very organized, well thought out out mornings. I had put together Jake and Pat's lunches the night before...had the coffee pot ready and fully loaded...why not make brownies?

After I got home from my walk I cut out the brownies with my football cookie cutter. I melted some candy melts with a little peanut butter, poured it over and smoothed it. Then I refrigerated the footballs, piped on some white buttercream, and voila! The yummiest peanut butter browies. And look how darned cute they look packaged in a cello bag with a quick makeshift label! Now the wheels are turning...

One 9x13 pan of brownies only yields 9 footballs with a lot of leftover scraps. What to do with the leftover scraps? Stay tuned to my NEXT experiment.

Mmm. Raspberry filling

Well my cake was the last one posted...the one with blue and yellow. I have to say, my technique is a bit off, but the inside of this cake rocked! Yummy layers of raspberry filling. It was so moist and yummy. As a cake EATER...I definitely would have enjoyed a little bit more frosting. Note to self: LISTEN TO THE INSTRUCTOR WHEN SHE SAYS, "The bigger the blob (of frosting), the better the job." After all, you can always scrape off frosting...

my self scoring:

Taste- 9
cake assembly-8
icing- 7
decorating technique- 6

30pts./40

I definitely have some room for improvement... but not bad for my first classroom cake. Next week: Filled Cupcakes. Hmmm...already thinking about what kind of cupcakes I'm going to make.