tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26595781812437505862024-03-12T20:23:08.118-07:00Mela's Baking AdventuresCollege student by day, college student by night, and aspiring baker somewhere in between...Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-19243267435108065302011-05-01T21:59:00.000-07:002011-05-02T00:24:54.271-07:00Groom's Guitar Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edtylPcVUDw/Tb4zgXBZctI/AAAAAAAAAlE/zRrmaKxXvgU/s1600/SDC10502+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edtylPcVUDw/Tb4zgXBZctI/AAAAAAAAAlE/zRrmaKxXvgU/s400/SDC10502+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Finally, my MCAT nightmares are over! My scores were released last week and now I can relax a little until I begin my application for medical school. Which means... <i>more baking! </i>:)</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;">This weekend I had the honor of making a groom's cake for a wonderful couple<i>.</i>The groom requested a replica of his guitar, a Taylor T5-S. The cake was 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and completely edible except for the neck of the guitar. This is by far the largest cake I have ever made!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojWTuxW_gLs/Tb4ztoMZLXI/AAAAAAAAAlU/TFaDQm2QxXw/s1600/SDC10508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojWTuxW_gLs/Tb4ztoMZLXI/AAAAAAAAAlU/TFaDQm2QxXw/s400/SDC10508.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpU9YOXGXuM/Tb4zxsa_L0I/AAAAAAAAAlc/zpS9tXhkpzM/s1600/SDC10514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpU9YOXGXuM/Tb4zxsa_L0I/AAAAAAAAAlc/zpS9tXhkpzM/s400/SDC10514.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fleLOzBeAQ/Tb4zvYzy8OI/AAAAAAAAAlY/U9zv27fasys/s1600/SDC10512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7fleLOzBeAQ/Tb4zvYzy8OI/AAAAAAAAAlY/U9zv27fasys/s400/SDC10512.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here I am taking the picture above :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb9Dui0UmOk/Tb4zeEACaFI/AAAAAAAAAlA/4M4cs9PcWVU/s1600/IMAG0781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb9Dui0UmOk/Tb4zeEACaFI/AAAAAAAAAlA/4M4cs9PcWVU/s400/IMAG0781.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo taken by my older brother</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And yours truly posing next to the cake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxpKLptxeJ4/Tb4z34AZfqI/AAAAAAAAAlk/69t4XXk1GJk/s1600/taken+by+Amanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AxpKLptxeJ4/Tb4z34AZfqI/AAAAAAAAAlk/69t4XXk1GJk/s400/taken+by+Amanda.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo taken by</i><i> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/amandajenelle">amandajenelle</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Congratulations, <a href="http://www.weddingwire.com/vamiwedding">Van and Ami!</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope your years together are better than you dreamed :)</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-51350640963066131622010-08-16T21:28:00.000-07:002010-08-16T22:03:47.714-07:00Two Birthday Cakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoIEIuLzLI/AAAAAAAAAik/eprVOnEQ6-0/s1600/last+two_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoIEIuLzLI/AAAAAAAAAik/eprVOnEQ6-0/s400/last+two_2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Yay for cake! After completely disappearing off the face of the (blogging) world for the past month and a half, I'm finally back! I'm extremely sorry for the long absence. If anyone is to blame for my absence, it's certainly <b><i>not </i></b>me. I blame summer vacation combined with MCAT prep. I'm also extremely sorry to say that these are my last two cakes before I take the MCAT in March. I will probably blog about a few cupcakes and cookies here and there, but nothing big and fancy like the two babies I made this weekend.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Now... on to the baby photos! ;)</div><br />
The first cake I made was of a very rare coin handmade out of gold during the era of 13 colonies. There are only a few in the world, each worth millions of dollars... says my brother. If you want to know more about it, you can easily do an internet search for the Brasher Doubloon.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Here is what a real one looks like...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoKfl9P5II/AAAAAAAAAis/vfMezvTErSY/s1600/Brasher+Doubloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoKfl9P5II/AAAAAAAAAis/vfMezvTErSY/s400/Brasher+Doubloon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.centralstates.info/history16.html">http://www.centralstates.info/history16.html</a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And here is what the cake one looks like...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoF4IZ473I/AAAAAAAAAh8/hGmJzD3_QTc/s1600/SDC10085+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoF4IZ473I/AAAAAAAAAh8/hGmJzD3_QTc/s400/SDC10085+(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Made for my brother's co-worker David, who is a coin collector.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The next cake was for another of my brother's co-workers. Her name is Helen and she likes Louis Vuitton purses very much. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The front</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoFswfeFVI/AAAAAAAAAhk/vQPoFRbupLU/s1600/IMAG0404+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoFswfeFVI/AAAAAAAAAhk/vQPoFRbupLU/s400/IMAG0404+(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The side</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoFyzjC2aI/AAAAAAAAAh0/v6s87P5Mr54/s1600/IMAG0415+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoFyzjC2aI/AAAAAAAAAh0/v6s87P5Mr54/s400/IMAG0415+(2).jpg" width="325" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The back</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoFoaMQaNI/AAAAAAAAAhc/cSVeizk4laQ/s1600/IMAG0403+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoFoaMQaNI/AAAAAAAAAhc/cSVeizk4laQ/s400/IMAG0403+(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The side tag, inscribed with the words </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Louis Vuitton</div><div style="text-align: center;">Paris"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoNDlfC1HI/AAAAAAAAAjE/PSvpH3VsNQM/s1600/SDC10091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoNDlfC1HI/AAAAAAAAAjE/PSvpH3VsNQM/s320/SDC10091.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The zipper</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoGIyh8DEI/AAAAAAAAAiU/ZVeDkEfJ7D0/s1600/SDC10094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoGIyh8DEI/AAAAAAAAAiU/ZVeDkEfJ7D0/s400/SDC10094.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">And the thing you close the zipper with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoGDYtVjcI/AAAAAAAAAiM/NgdJu9B6JTE/s1600/SDC10092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TGoGDYtVjcI/AAAAAAAAAiM/NgdJu9B6JTE/s400/SDC10092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Helen and David! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope you enjoyed your cakes :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">**Edit!** For those of you who were wondering, the purse cake was a white almond sour cream cake with cream cheese buttercream filling, and the coin cake was a devil's food cake with chocolate buttercream filling, covered with chocolate ganache. Both cakes were covered and decorated with homemade fondant.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-70983386738649759422010-07-02T08:48:00.000-07:002010-07-02T09:26:30.418-07:00Anatomy Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TC1aTQV1-CI/AAAAAAAAAhM/h1AEa1qiR2c/s1600/anatomy+cake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TC1aTQV1-CI/AAAAAAAAAhM/h1AEa1qiR2c/s400/anatomy+cake+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Today was the talent show for the Pre-Med program that I'm in, and I decided to make an anatomy cake for everyone.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here it is before surgery...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TC1XhsU7tCI/AAAAAAAAAg0/70F81-py0-A/s1600/anatomy+cake+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TC1XhsU7tCI/AAAAAAAAAg0/70F81-py0-A/s400/anatomy+cake+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
And after...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TC1bCqHfeKI/AAAAAAAAAhU/v80GB_kgmxM/s1600/SDC19544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TC1bCqHfeKI/AAAAAAAAAhU/v80GB_kgmxM/s400/SDC19544.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Oh, wow, I guess the "surgeons" just couldn't stop themselves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TC1XleTvLQI/AAAAAAAAAg8/ewWpBCPMzoE/s1600/SDC19550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TC1XleTvLQI/AAAAAAAAAg8/ewWpBCPMzoE/s400/SDC19550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look at all their fancy operating tools! ;)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">And now, a special treat for you- a video that my older brother put together! The video condenses two days of work into 2 minutes, and in my humble opinion, it is very fun to watch. So please, <i>enjoy! </i>:-D</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/24EgBdnJ69k&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/24EgBdnJ69k&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="325"></embed></object>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-9600823087506798192010-06-26T19:45:00.000-07:002010-06-26T19:45:54.019-07:00Wedding Dress Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCa42-xi27I/AAAAAAAAAgs/HuYdrlVAA80/s1600/Picture2_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCa42-xi27I/AAAAAAAAAgs/HuYdrlVAA80/s400/Picture2_blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I made this cake for my mom's co-worker Michelle. Everyone at my mom's work had a bridal shower luncheon for Michelle, and my mom was responsible for bringing the cake. So what does she do? She asks me to make one, and honestly, it was a lot of fun :)<br />
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Everything is edible, even the dress, which is made of cake and fondant. The roses and rose petals are made of fondant as well and brushed with luster dust (edible glitter).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCazlC5roRI/AAAAAAAAAgM/nl9jiQ6OCo4/s1600/SDC19393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCazlC5roRI/AAAAAAAAAgM/nl9jiQ6OCo4/s400/SDC19393.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCaza0ZC5oI/AAAAAAAAAf8/Vkhzpu_dWkI/s1600/SDC19389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCaza0ZC5oI/AAAAAAAAAf8/Vkhzpu_dWkI/s400/SDC19389.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I think my favorite part was the bouquet of roses because of how hard it was to make it. It's no more than 1 inch in diameter with about 16 tiny roses.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCazfi1JQlI/AAAAAAAAAgE/Ti5VHCUkgVI/s1600/SDC19391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCazfi1JQlI/AAAAAAAAAgE/Ti5VHCUkgVI/s400/SDC19391.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and putting the sugar pearls on was pretty meticulous as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Actually, my <i>most </i>favorite part was coming back from class and seeing this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCa2E4urvCI/AAAAAAAAAgc/U-21wvxJUc4/s1600/SDC19398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TCa2E4urvCI/AAAAAAAAAgc/U-21wvxJUc4/s320/SDC19398.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm glad it tasted as good as it looked :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Congratulations, Michelle! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I hope you and Tim have a blessed marriage!</i></div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-76202811585936381462010-06-18T20:45:00.000-07:002010-06-18T21:01:05.764-07:00Teddiursa Graduation Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw6OpRkijI/AAAAAAAAAe8/Vu5in5nU_hI/s1600/SDC19096_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw6OpRkijI/AAAAAAAAAe8/Vu5in5nU_hI/s400/SDC19096_blog.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><br />
My cousin graduated from high school last week, and for his graduation party, I made him a cake of the Pokemon Teddiursa, who is one of his favorites. The open book says "Congrats JV! Class of 2010." Teddiursa's head, ears, arms, feet, and tail are made of Rice Krispies treats, and everything else is cake. I think my cousin really liked his cake because after decapitating Teddiursa and eating the ears, my cousin carried the head around all night.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">He took lots of pictures with it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw5kvT4YUI/AAAAAAAAAek/gLpVA4cVkCA/s1600/SDC19126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw5kvT4YUI/AAAAAAAAAek/gLpVA4cVkCA/s400/SDC19126.JPG" width="153" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Proposed with it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw716_BJVI/AAAAAAAAAfE/UoBHRU2MQIw/s1600/SDC19139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw716_BJVI/AAAAAAAAAfE/UoBHRU2MQIw/s400/SDC19139.JPG" width="302" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Played hot potato with it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw5wON7C-I/AAAAAAAAAe0/Kn5k2gWw7I0/s1600/SDC19163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw5wON7C-I/AAAAAAAAAe0/Kn5k2gWw7I0/s400/SDC19163.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And he even got everyone to dance with it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw5r8iE9nI/AAAAAAAAAes/BJAeUWWzDTk/s1600/SDC19156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TBw5r8iE9nI/AAAAAAAAAes/BJAeUWWzDTk/s400/SDC19156.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I understand this sounds a little weird, but honestly, it was the most fun I ever had playing with cake. You should try it sometime ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Congrats, Cousin, and good luck in college!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Love you!</i></div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-61388735440729160212010-06-08T20:42:00.000-07:002010-06-08T20:58:40.441-07:00Pink Birthday Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8JsvNyi8I/AAAAAAAAAds/jbCw5fHIdhQ/s1600/SDC19020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8JsvNyi8I/AAAAAAAAAds/jbCw5fHIdhQ/s400/SDC19020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div>It feels good to be back :) I've been so busy this past month that I've barely had time to even <i>breathe</i>! Well, maybe not <b><i>that </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">busy, but you understand what I mean. </span></b>I recently started my MCAT classes and things have been tough, so blog posts between now until I take the MCAT (probably March 2011) will be sporadic, and sometimes rare. Yes, I understand that's probably <i>not </i>the best way to keep your interest in my blog, but "Professional Cake Decorator" comes second on my to-do list. First things first!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I made this cake for Deborah's 20th birthday. She's a wonderful person and an amazing friend, so this is my way of saying "Hey, I think you're awesome." The cake is Funfetti with strawberry jam filling and cream cheese icing.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8Jw-vXjPI/AAAAAAAAAd0/QJvX7_Lg1is/s1600/SDC19022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8Jw-vXjPI/AAAAAAAAAd0/QJvX7_Lg1is/s400/SDC19022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8J0X7kfWI/AAAAAAAAAd8/VfH9gae_zdk/s1600/SDC19023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8J0X7kfWI/AAAAAAAAAd8/VfH9gae_zdk/s400/SDC19023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8J300mi6I/AAAAAAAAAeE/A0Xh4UF71IQ/s1600/SDC19024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8J300mi6I/AAAAAAAAAeE/A0Xh4UF71IQ/s400/SDC19024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally, the obligatory "cutting the cake" picture:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8J8kbSL7I/AAAAAAAAAeM/BiDGBpEIA9o/s1600/SDC19043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/TA8J8kbSL7I/AAAAAAAAAeM/BiDGBpEIA9o/s400/SDC19043.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fondant tends to darken over time, hence the darker pink color. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a little FYI, in case you freaked out about the color change :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Happy Birthday, Deborah!</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-1745792941355323532010-05-05T17:03:00.000-07:002010-05-05T17:15:20.930-07:00Yoshi's GraduationI can't wait until Friday to post because...<br />
<br />
1. I will be extremely busy Friday.<br />
2. I'm way too excited about this to wait.<br />
<br />
This post is for an amazing person- Tiffany. She's smart, funny, nice, and she's graduating from college and going to medical school. So here is the cake I made for her to celebrate her accomplishments. Congratulations again, Tiffany and good luck in the coming years!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJpBPC-eI/AAAAAAAAAdE/xdczpUcLIZc/s1600/SDC18928_watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJpBPC-eI/AAAAAAAAAdE/xdczpUcLIZc/s400/SDC18928_watermarked.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJrd0nxJI/AAAAAAAAAdM/3wZUweEU5MA/s1600/SDC18929_watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJrd0nxJI/AAAAAAAAAdM/3wZUweEU5MA/s400/SDC18929_watermarked.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJtfRsgAI/AAAAAAAAAdU/99u6aiwaY3k/s1600/SDC18930_watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJtfRsgAI/AAAAAAAAAdU/99u6aiwaY3k/s400/SDC18930_watermarked.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJyfy5hhI/AAAAAAAAAdk/EP9yBxZo9PU/s1600/SDC18932_watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJyfy5hhI/AAAAAAAAAdk/EP9yBxZo9PU/s400/SDC18932_watermarked.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJv6JcptI/AAAAAAAAAdc/6CyM2XfED1w/s1600/SDC18931_watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S-IJv6JcptI/AAAAAAAAAdc/6CyM2XfED1w/s400/SDC18931_watermarked.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-47566594237327003322010-04-30T14:59:00.000-07:002010-04-30T15:12:02.375-07:00Curiosity Mixed with Fruit Puree<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I have one more week of school! My finals are next week and then afterward, I can enter baking mode like crazy! I'm so excited. Sorry I couldn't post last week; I had an Organic Chemistry exam on Friday then a Histology practical on Monday. It was a terrible week for me.</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">This week, however, I found some time to bake. We had a ton of fruit so I threw some strawberries and blackberries into the blender along with a cup of sugar. I liquefied the fruit and strained out the seeds, leaving me with about 2 1/2 cups of <i>smooth </i>and <i>delicious</i> fruit puree.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I actually had no idea what to do with it. All I knew was I wanted to <b>eat some. </b>So I did. It all started with.. <i>What if I did this? </i>then.. <i>Hmmm, how about this?</i> and the next thing I knew, I had eaten this fruit puree in <b>four</b> different ways.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><u>Fruit Puree Dessert #1: Throw it on Ice Cream</u></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Sorry, no picture here. I was so excited to eat it that I forgot to take a picture!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><u>Fruit Puree Dessert #2: Sugar Cookies with Jelly Centers</u></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">This is actually very simple. First I thickened about 1 cup of fruit puree with 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch. Then I cut out two cookies with the same cutter, cutting out the center of one of those cookies with a smaller cookie cutter. Baked them and <i>ta-da!</i> cute cookies!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><u><br />
</u></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLDRYwduI/AAAAAAAAAak/lxxOENrGS10/s1600/SDC18861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLDRYwduI/AAAAAAAAAak/lxxOENrGS10/s400/SDC18861.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">This cookie was baked with a special someone in mind :)</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then I "glued" the cookies together with a bit of royal icing and decorated.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLHRDDynI/AAAAAAAAAas/umQShPgMgDo/s1600/SDC18864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLHRDDynI/AAAAAAAAAas/umQShPgMgDo/s400/SDC18864.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last, I filled the centers with the cooled fruit.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLMVpjyoI/AAAAAAAAAa0/9j0iwAwOTO4/s1600/SDC18867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLMVpjyoI/AAAAAAAAAa0/9j0iwAwOTO4/s400/SDC18867.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love that you can make all kinds of shapes.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLcJM45CI/AAAAAAAAAbM/-okuaxs57VY/s1600/SDC18870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLcJM45CI/AAAAAAAAAbM/-okuaxs57VY/s400/SDC18870.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLRQBljHI/AAAAAAAAAa8/LeawW6v7sLk/s1600/SDC18869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLRQBljHI/AAAAAAAAAa8/LeawW6v7sLk/s400/SDC18869.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><u>Fruit Puree Dessert #3: Mini Pies</u></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I had some leftover cookie dough so I lined a mini-cupcake pan with dough and poured a little bit of fruit in the center. After they were done baking, I had mini-pies no larger than a strawberry.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLgxOTkeI/AAAAAAAAAbU/NDjJoko2oQw/s1600/SDC18884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLgxOTkeI/AAAAAAAAAbU/NDjJoko2oQw/s400/SDC18884.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The inside</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLlZeKlCI/AAAAAAAAAbc/VHU-F3XoWk8/s1600/SDC18889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLlZeKlCI/AAAAAAAAAbc/VHU-F3XoWk8/s400/SDC18889.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was really <i>really</i> good.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLqHsuRdI/AAAAAAAAAbk/xQaJF_gauVc/s1600/SDC18891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLqHsuRdI/AAAAAAAAAbk/xQaJF_gauVc/s400/SDC18891.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><u>Fruit Puree Dessert #4: Mini-Popsicles</u></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After indulging in more calories than I needed, I figured I should freeze the rest of the fruit to keep it fresh. Then I remembered how much I loved to make my own popsicles when I was younger.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I found these tiny cups lying around the house. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Since they were small enough, I used toothpicks for the popsicle stick.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLwb-L9pI/AAAAAAAAAbs/KOr-mnjILmw/s1600/SDC18894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tLwb-L9pI/AAAAAAAAAbs/KOr-mnjILmw/s400/SDC18894.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I used a piece of aluminum foil to hold the stick in place while it was freezing overnight.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tL0brIgII/AAAAAAAAAb0/EKWmwdebnM0/s1600/SDC18897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tL0brIgII/AAAAAAAAAb0/EKWmwdebnM0/s400/SDC18897.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The next day, I ran the outside of the cup under cold water for a few seconds. It easily slid out in one perfect popsicle piece.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tL4C9TMLI/AAAAAAAAAb8/Gz6W1PV-YMo/s1600/SDC18901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tL4C9TMLI/AAAAAAAAAb8/Gz6W1PV-YMo/s400/SDC18901.JPG" width="273" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even my little brother thought they were delicious.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tL9tMU9MI/AAAAAAAAAcE/R2f3_VKXAag/s1600/SDC18906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tL9tMU9MI/AAAAAAAAAcE/R2f3_VKXAag/s400/SDC18906.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tMDGkitEI/AAAAAAAAAcM/FseYk1kp8Q4/s1600/SDC18911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S9tMDGkitEI/AAAAAAAAAcM/FseYk1kp8Q4/s400/SDC18911.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And I hope you do too!</span></span></div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-32546144657280248212010-04-17T21:16:00.000-07:002010-04-18T15:29:09.698-07:00Brownie-Bottom Cheesecake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8puUgrD4qI/AAAAAAAAAZc/lr4kViYHIEM/s1600/SDC18756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8puUgrD4qI/AAAAAAAAAZc/lr4kViYHIEM/s400/SDC18756.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Last week was Michael's Customer Appreciation week so I took advantage of their wonderful 50% off any item deal and went back every single day. I even brought my mother and brother along to pay for my items since the policy was "One coupon per customer per day."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">One of the items I bought was a mini-springform pan, also known as a cheesecake pan. It's a pan with a latch, allowing you to remove the rim. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8pt4I9jv5I/AAAAAAAAAYs/sPGdPzmF3FI/s1600/SDC18737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8pt4I9jv5I/AAAAAAAAAYs/sPGdPzmF3FI/s400/SDC18737.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8pt9QZFN5I/AAAAAAAAAY0/fk9i3ShU6i0/s1600/SDC18739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8pt9QZFN5I/AAAAAAAAAY0/fk9i3ShU6i0/s400/SDC18739.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I thought my mini-pan was adorable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8ptzeZcdzI/AAAAAAAAAYk/YAAvYs_JXU8/s1600/SDC18733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8ptzeZcdzI/AAAAAAAAAYk/YAAvYs_JXU8/s400/SDC18733.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Until it <i>broke</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8puBDu1v-I/AAAAAAAAAY8/tGG3Y8W4Vz0/s1600/SDC18746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8puBDu1v-I/AAAAAAAAAY8/tGG3Y8W4Vz0/s400/SDC18746.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I went back to Michael's and replaced it with a different product. Instead of making one regular cheesecake and one small one, I made one regular and three mini's.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The recipe for this cheesecake is perfect, especially for you brownie lovers. Of the 20+ people that tried it, only one objected. It's great for parties or, if nothing else, just pure <i>indulgence</i>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Brownie-Bottom Cheesecake</u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ingredients</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">2 oz. bittersweet chocolate</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 and 1/2 cup sugar, divided</div><div style="text-align: left;">4 eggs, divided</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/4 cup milk</div><div style="text-align: left;">3/4 Tablespoon vanilla extract, divided<br />
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional) </div><div style="text-align: left;">1/2 cup flour</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/4 teaspoon salt</div><div style="text-align: left;">3 packages (8 oz) cream cheese (room temperature)</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/2 cup (4 oz) sour cream </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Instructions: Making the crust</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a springform pan with pure vegetable shortening and sprinkle with flour. Turn over and tap to remove excess flour. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Cut the chocolate squares in half and combine in a large microwaveable bowl with the butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave and stir until the chocolate is melted and fully combined with the butter. You should have a smooth mixture.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Add 1/2 cup sugar. Mix well. With a mixer on low speed, add in 1 egg. Add milk and 1/4 Tablespoon (same as 1 and 1/2 teaspoons) vanilla extract. Combine the flour and salt and slowly add into chocolate mixture.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Spread evenly into prepared springform pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Making the cheesecake</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Bring all ingredients down to room temperature. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth and lump free. (Make sure you're using the blocks of cream cheese and not the kind in the tub!) Add the remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 Tablespoon of vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. Add sour cream and mix well. Add remaining 3 eggs, one at a time, incorporating each egg at low speed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Triple wrap the bottom and sides of the cheesecake pan with aluminum foil to waterproof it. Pour the cheesecake mixture into the pan. Place the cheesecake into a large roasting pan and pour the boiling water into the roasting pan until it reaches about halfway up the pan.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Place in the oven and bake at 325 degrees F for 55 minutes to 1 hour, until the center is almost set. Turn off the heat and allow the cheesecake to sit in the oven, with the door closed, for another hour. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now, if you're wondering, why can't I set it directly on the oven rack to bake? Well, because cheesecake is more delicate than a regular cake or pie. Baking in a water bath prevents the sides of the cheesecake from baking faster than the center. Allowing the cheesecake to sit in the oven with the heat off prevents <i>browning</i> and <i>overbaking</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You want a cheesecake like this (my second attempt)...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8pu0Oxbz8I/AAAAAAAAAaU/uzMocF0NqoQ/s1600/SDC18832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8pu0Oxbz8I/AAAAAAAAAaU/uzMocF0NqoQ/s400/SDC18832.JPG" width="397" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And <b>NOT</b> like this...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8pulJAXKvI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/SOy2cm-Wx9s/s1600/SDC18772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8pulJAXKvI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/SOy2cm-Wx9s/s400/SDC18772.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(my first attempt, baked directly on oven rack<br />
with water bath on bottom rack)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>See the difference?</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After one hour of sitting in the oven, remove and cool completely on a wire rack. Afterward, chill for at least 4 hours or overnight. Before removing the rim, remember to run a thin knife between the edge of the cheesecake and the pan. When ready to serve, allow to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The original recipe can be found <a href="http://cakecentral.com/recipes/5743/brownie-bottom-cheesecake">here</a>. I just used a different type of chocolate in my recipe and cut the amount of crust in half. Either way you choose, it still turns out delicious!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even Pac-Man thinks so ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8puYBCPFcI/AAAAAAAAAZk/GQiSbstRY6g/s1600/SDC18757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8puYBCPFcI/AAAAAAAAAZk/GQiSbstRY6g/s320/SDC18757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Open up WIDE and...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8qMHgnAgmI/AAAAAAAAAac/09sD9FqMCyw/s1600/SDC18769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S8qMHgnAgmI/AAAAAAAAAac/09sD9FqMCyw/s320/SDC18769.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Enjoy!</div><span id="goog_631940443"></span><span id="goog_631940444"></span>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-6031291483145543782010-04-08T23:54:00.000-07:002010-04-09T00:02:17.578-07:00No-Bake Cheesecake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UWmSY6CI/AAAAAAAAAVs/mEB8rIuhRfw/s1600/SDC18689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UWmSY6CI/AAAAAAAAAVs/mEB8rIuhRfw/s400/SDC18689.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
As you may know, my little brother is quite the baker. He loves helping me in the kitchen and cries himself to sleep when he can't help me out, which is why I usually start baking after he's knocked out. As wonderful as he is, I work a bit slower with him. We can only bake together when I have a lot of time on my hands.<br />
<br />
But one day this week, I randomly remembered a no-bake cheesecake recipe that my aunt gave me eons ago. I think I was 11-ish?<br />
<br />
Anyways, here's the recipe, with pictures! :)<br />
<br />
<u>No-Bake Cheesecake</u><br />
<br />
1- 8 oz package cream cheese (room temperature)<br />
1- 8 oz tub <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kraft-Cool-Whip-Whipped-Topping-8-oz/10801133">Cool Whip</a> (room temperature)<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
1 ready made graham cracker crust<br />
1 cup fruit topping<br />
(Need: 1/2 bag frozen fruit + 2 Tablespoons cornstarch + sugar)<br />
Fresh fruit (<i>optional</i>)<br />
<br />
Blend cool whip and sugar together on low speed until the sugar dissolves. Add cream cheese and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Pour into graham cracker crust and spread evenly. Refrigerate for 2 hours.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">At this point, it should look something like this.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76Ucfjf5VI/AAAAAAAAAV0/1lN_fsFHSNc/s1600/SDC18680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76Ucfjf5VI/AAAAAAAAAV0/1lN_fsFHSNc/s400/SDC18680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">While it's chilling, you can make the fruit topping. </div><br />
First, thaw out a bag of frozen fruit. Then, squish up all the fruits before opening the bag. Pour half of this into a small sauce pot. Then dissolve 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch with a bit of water, mix with the fruit, and add sugar to taste. Last, bring the mixture to a boil for 2-3 minutes or until thickened.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Make sure the fruit topping cools completely before moving on. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UhfTX4hI/AAAAAAAAAV8/lUoniBysu0I/s1600/SDC18685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UhfTX4hI/AAAAAAAAAV8/lUoniBysu0I/s400/SDC18685.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's really not a thick layer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UpghvlPI/AAAAAAAAAWM/-wCmtILh_JI/s1600/SDC18688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UpghvlPI/AAAAAAAAAWM/-wCmtILh_JI/s400/SDC18688.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now you can eat as is or garnish with fresh fruit.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Even though this was a <i>berry</i> medley, my brother <i>insisted</i> that we add bananas. So I let him. As long as he cut the bananas himself, I said.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And he did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76Ul0YCVnI/AAAAAAAAAWE/C5TQRkEWUio/s1600/SDC18686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76Ul0YCVnI/AAAAAAAAAWE/C5TQRkEWUio/s400/SDC18686.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I sliced the strawberries and we arranged the fruit in a circular pattern, alternating bananas and strawberries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UvECrDnI/AAAAAAAAAWU/qdOHsTCkIg4/s1600/SDC18692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UvECrDnI/AAAAAAAAAWU/qdOHsTCkIg4/s400/SDC18692.JPG" width="348" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then we put it in the fridge for later, using the convenient plastic cover to protect our creation.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UzLCTBkI/AAAAAAAAAWc/8c5D-Glz1dI/s1600/SDC18698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76UzLCTBkI/AAAAAAAAAWc/8c5D-Glz1dI/s400/SDC18698.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then "later" came along... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76U8DhHjPI/AAAAAAAAAWs/WnG3dfRnHBg/s1600/SDC18702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76U8DhHjPI/AAAAAAAAAWs/WnG3dfRnHBg/s400/SDC18702.JPG" width="323" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">OM NOM NOM.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76U3IOyR5I/AAAAAAAAAWk/Dm5e3oEnrHE/s1600/SDC18701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S76U3IOyR5I/AAAAAAAAAWk/Dm5e3oEnrHE/s400/SDC18701.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Delicious.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>You can have lots of fun with this recipe by changing up the extract and topping. Though the inside is not as firm as a baked cheesecake, you still get a nice, creamy, easy dessert. It's so easy, a kid could do it. In fact, my 8-year-old brother did all the work this time... minus the strawberry slicing, of course. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Enjoy!</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-52136476373191287622010-04-05T10:23:00.000-07:002010-04-11T21:39:10.010-07:00Easter WeekendIt's been a while since I last posted, and after being gone for so long, I realized I probably shouldn't disappear off the face of the Earth without prior notice. I will try to post regularly from now on. Let's see how every Friday before noon works out.<br />
<br />
Alright, so this weekend was filled with a lot of fun. First of all, congratulations to my cousin Justin, who recently joined the air force and completed basic training. He is the first of my cousins to serve in the U.S. military, and we're all extremely proud of him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oW55ArRII/AAAAAAAAAVU/0kLJ7VZE_jM/s1600/SDC18599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oW55ArRII/AAAAAAAAAVU/0kLJ7VZE_jM/s400/SDC18599.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">To celebrate, I made him a cake with the United States flag and Air Force logo. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oVQWqhruI/AAAAAAAAAUM/iw84N9Z4xJ8/s1600/SDC18655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oVQWqhruI/AAAAAAAAAUM/iw84N9Z4xJ8/s400/SDC18655.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Back of the cake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oVWCCqbzI/AAAAAAAAAUU/bPDuofiZ700/s1600/SDC18658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oVWCCqbzI/AAAAAAAAAUU/bPDuofiZ700/s400/SDC18658.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And from another angle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oVbGPIm3I/AAAAAAAAAUc/0Qi7pxB_5js/s1600/SDC18659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oVbGPIm3I/AAAAAAAAAUc/0Qi7pxB_5js/s400/SDC18659.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Afterward, I had the privilege of baking with the sweetest person in the world, Cathleen. It was a great way to relax after a tough week at school.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We made cake balls and cupcakes. First we made cake balls, but didn't have a spoon to dip them in the chocolate, so we used what we had... a measuring spoon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oops, didn't quite turn out as well as we hoped! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you find the heart and two Easter bunnies?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oVgMukzcI/AAAAAAAAAUk/6GsRI9H-VLQ/s1600/SDC18665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oVgMukzcI/AAAAAAAAAUk/6GsRI9H-VLQ/s400/SDC18665.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">(They're in there somewhere - <i>I promise</i>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then we used the cake balls to turn half of the cupcakes into pandas.<br />
<br />
Cathleen thought hers looked like an alien.<br />
I disagree. I think it's cute :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oV0x1tSBI/AAAAAAAAAU0/Gb1498gYg3Y/s1600/SDC18670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oV0x1tSBI/AAAAAAAAAU0/Gb1498gYg3Y/s320/SDC18670.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
And my attempt.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7ojGJAwQ-I/AAAAAAAAAVk/66AyjMYPsRc/s1600/SDC18671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7ojGJAwQ-I/AAAAAAAAAVk/66AyjMYPsRc/s320/SDC18671.JPG" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then we turned the other half of the cupcakes into Easter baskets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oWC5CMc3I/AAAAAAAAAVM/m10LUpBz6oE/s1600/SDC18674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oWC5CMc3I/AAAAAAAAAVM/m10LUpBz6oE/s400/SDC18674.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was Cathleen's idea to use Twizzlers for the basket handles.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oV-mH6-HI/AAAAAAAAAVE/esrjeMIl4RY/s1600/SDC18673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S7oV-mH6-HI/AAAAAAAAAVE/esrjeMIl4RY/s400/SDC18673.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Aren't they adorable?<br />
<br />
Alright, I'm off to play with my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Gum-Paste-Modeling-Tools/dp/B00175RMF8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1270488575&sr=8-1">gum paste tool kit</a> which I proudly bought for <a href="http://mic.michaels.com/20100325USA.aspx">50% off </a>at Michael's. Perhaps I'll show you on Friday what I can conjure with it. Ta-ta!</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-60474260035043978712010-03-23T15:37:00.000-07:002010-03-23T15:37:19.551-07:00Food for the (Stressed) BrainOh <i>Spring</i>, you're my favorite movement of Vivaldi's <i>Four Seasons</i>. Spring the season, however, not so much, mostly because Spring means MCAT time for us Pre-Med students. So, here's to my Chemistry tutor, Miss Megan, who is taking her MCAT this weekend.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided on <a href="http://notsohumblepie.blogspot.com/2009/12/chocolate-ganache-filled-brain-cupcakes.html">Brain Cupcakes</a> (thank you, <a href="http://notsohumblepie.blogspot.com/">Ms. Humble</a> for the idea!),</div><div style="text-align: center;">and for the <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chocolate-ganache-frosting">Devil's food cupcake recipe</a>, I turned to Martha Stewart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6kznTGxwEI/AAAAAAAAASE/Aec5XauGhB4/s1600-h/SDC18470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6kznTGxwEI/AAAAAAAAASE/Aec5XauGhB4/s400/SDC18470.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yum, yum, butter, buttermilk and chocolate... exactly what a stressed out brain needs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6kz9aS4fSI/AAAAAAAAASM/xan6I4jHGpE/s1600-h/SDC18472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6kz9aS4fSI/AAAAAAAAASM/xan6I4jHGpE/s320/SDC18472.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My least favorite step: Chopping the chocolate. I hate chopping chocolate because it melts so easily in my hands when I'm holding it steady. I probably should have chopped the pieces smaller, but again, I hate this part so I tried to finish it as soon as I could.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k0Tf1dwWI/AAAAAAAAASU/V99N8EduScE/s1600-h/SDC18473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k0Tf1dwWI/AAAAAAAAASU/V99N8EduScE/s320/SDC18473.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Melting the chocolate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k0ohfibGI/AAAAAAAAASc/HtMmFTRT1Js/s1600-h/SDC18474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k0ohfibGI/AAAAAAAAASc/HtMmFTRT1Js/s320/SDC18474.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k0_otKseI/AAAAAAAAASk/zO1Iora72SQ/s1600-h/SDC18477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k0_otKseI/AAAAAAAAASk/zO1Iora72SQ/s320/SDC18477.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mixing the melted chocolate with the batter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k1W2N69-I/AAAAAAAAASs/7nfGz5ojOfk/s1600-h/SDC18479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k1W2N69-I/AAAAAAAAASs/7nfGz5ojOfk/s320/SDC18479.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">At first, everything looked fine. It seemed like Devil's food, but only until the chocolate was thoroughly mixed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k2CLZRPGI/AAAAAAAAAS8/_13HcCwHugs/s1600-h/SDC18482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k2CLZRPGI/AAAAAAAAAS8/_13HcCwHugs/s320/SDC18482.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">See, what happened was, I was in a rush to get home and bought the wrong type of chocolate- bittersweet instead of unsweetened. To try and fix things, I added a bit of unsweetened baking cocoa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k1swIyEvI/AAAAAAAAAS0/mv4rReIMQ6k/s1600-h/SDC18480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k1swIyEvI/AAAAAAAAAS0/mv4rReIMQ6k/s320/SDC18480.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But that was useless. I still ended up with just plain chocolate cupcakes. Plain chocolate cupcakes with flat tops. Not good because the flat tops made it challenging to pipe the icing into nice brains. I really need to figure out how to make domed cupcakes. If you know how, please, please, please tell me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k2qiS5teI/AAAAAAAAATM/QdSe26JRelI/s1600-h/SDC18486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k2qiS5teI/AAAAAAAAATM/QdSe26JRelI/s320/SDC18486.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Making the Swiss Meringue buttercream icing required this many sticks of butter... along with five egg whites. Yikes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k2VlY70VI/AAAAAAAAATE/vrXkzKexHvc/s1600-h/SDC18484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k2VlY70VI/AAAAAAAAATE/vrXkzKexHvc/s320/SDC18484.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the final product... flat brains atop flat cupcakes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k3HN70N7I/AAAAAAAAATU/HSQ1DA6jlwc/s1600-h/SDC18492+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k3HN70N7I/AAAAAAAAATU/HSQ1DA6jlwc/s400/SDC18492+%282%29.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Yes, there is ganache filling, but that also required chopping chocolate into fine bits and I was too frustrated to take pictures of the process. Sorry for depriving you)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">More brain cupcakes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k_EHgOZQI/AAAAAAAAAT8/agmUtRxTyp4/s1600-h/SDC18511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k_EHgOZQI/AAAAAAAAAT8/agmUtRxTyp4/s400/SDC18511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Packed with a little message</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k3j0XFZ7I/AAAAAAAAATc/p6yV3HbfzEg/s1600-h/SDC18502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k3j0XFZ7I/AAAAAAAAATc/p6yV3HbfzEg/s400/SDC18502.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k4COohJOI/AAAAAAAAATk/SG5fpGRhNl4/s1600-h/SDC18503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k4COohJOI/AAAAAAAAATk/SG5fpGRhNl4/s400/SDC18503.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And here's Megan devouring a brain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k4z1NcjXI/AAAAAAAAATs/V_uG85kRoXM/s1600-h/SDC18512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k4z1NcjXI/AAAAAAAAATs/V_uG85kRoXM/s400/SDC18512.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With icing all over her face</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6lBkc6-uLI/AAAAAAAAAUE/wSs0FBEeJ1o/s1600-h/SDC18513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6lBkc6-uLI/AAAAAAAAAUE/wSs0FBEeJ1o/s320/SDC18513.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hopefully that helped with your stress, my genius tutor! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Good luck this weekend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k5H1_V8aI/AAAAAAAAAT0/85WnmCUjCds/s1600-h/SDC18515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6k5H1_V8aI/AAAAAAAAAT0/85WnmCUjCds/s320/SDC18515.JPG" /></a></div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-88081681581499465182010-03-22T17:14:00.000-07:002010-03-23T09:18:57.963-07:00Spring Break Cakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week was Spring Break for me and I was so excited because no school means baking frenzies galore. Sadly, though, I did not bake anything more than two cakes and a few cupcakes. <i>What? Why?</i> you ask. Well, my friend introduced me to the television series <a href="http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/home.do">Dexter</a> and it was <b><i>love</i></b> at first<b><i> </i></b>episode I suppose :) I seriously got no sleep the whole week and finished all four seasons. I love Dexter almost as much as baking... <i>almost</i>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first cake I baked and decorated with my little brother. Chocolate cake with chocolate chip cookie dough filling and cream cheese icing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you guess our theme?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLniM1LaI/AAAAAAAAAPc/gal2ABvG3oc/s1600-h/SDC18345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLniM1LaI/AAAAAAAAAPc/gal2ABvG3oc/s400/SDC18345.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The back of our cake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fL4Mt7gQI/AAAAAAAAAP0/cFO8vvGfhdA/s1600-h/SDC18356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fL4Mt7gQI/AAAAAAAAAP0/cFO8vvGfhdA/s400/SDC18356.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">One more clue if you haven't figured it out yet</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLtMKsStI/AAAAAAAAAPk/pPKyvZcHq_Q/s1600-h/SDC18347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLtMKsStI/AAAAAAAAAPk/pPKyvZcHq_Q/s400/SDC18347.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
And now for the answer...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLyTn4sjI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Gjv0VstDiks/s1600-h/SDC18349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLyTn4sjI/AAAAAAAAAPs/Gjv0VstDiks/s400/SDC18349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A safari drive through!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The second cake I decorated was for my friend Brad, who no longer lives within driving distance. White almond sour cream with a blueberry-strawberry filling.<br />
<br />
The Brad figure, the bulldog (Yale's mascot), the backpack, and the paper pieces were made with gum paste.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLeThzvuI/AAAAAAAAAPM/qWwVoNVGyKA/s1600-h/SDC18365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLeThzvuI/AAAAAAAAAPM/qWwVoNVGyKA/s400/SDC18365.JPG" width="325" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The back of Brad and his bulldog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLhsO_NHI/AAAAAAAAAPU/UrCXBLMMaG0/s1600-h/brads+cake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6fLhsO_NHI/AAAAAAAAAPU/UrCXBLMMaG0/s400/brads+cake2.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">the two from the side,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6gHV1vnhkI/AAAAAAAAAP8/18KV-Vmikes/s1600-h/SDC18375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6gHV1vnhkI/AAAAAAAAAP8/18KV-Vmikes/s400/SDC18375.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And from the inside...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6gHZMR9s7I/AAAAAAAAAQE/mYrBUb2QBMo/s1600-h/SDC18410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S6gHZMR9s7I/AAAAAAAAAQE/mYrBUb2QBMo/s400/SDC18410.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Miss you, Brad... see you in the Summer!</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-6978736501052462372010-03-05T09:57:00.000-08:002010-03-05T09:59:43.846-08:00Hiatus<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I think I really need to take a break from baking to focus on school more because when I'm not baking, I'm reading about baking and formulating new decorating ideas. I'll be back when I'm satisfied with my academic performance. I will occasionally update Twitter from time to time, though, since that doesn't take more than a few seconds to do. Ta-ta for now, my friends! I will miss thee dearly :)</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-6480153097308983882010-02-28T20:29:00.000-08:002010-03-23T09:19:18.153-07:00The Reason WhyOver the past few weeks, I've been asked way too many times, "Carmela, are you sure you're going into the right profession?" and "Why don't you open a bakery instead of go to medical school?" Tomorrow morning at 8:20 AM, I am taking my second Organic Chemistry exam for the semester, and in the midst of all these chemical reactions, I wonder, "Why <i>not </i>just open a bakery?" Well, according to one of my friends, I should choose the medical field because I need to <i>help</i> people with diabetes, not <i>give</i> them diabetes. <br />
<br />
To a certain extent, she is right. Even though I can make a lot of people happy with the things I bake, it's only a short term effect and it gives me only a tiny bit of happiness compared to helping people on a more personal level.<br />
<br />
So this blog is a shout out to my friends that were recently accepted to an important Pre-Medical program. They are one step closer to becoming wonderful doctors :-)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Here I am decorating the first cake with my little brother. He insisted on helping, so I let him color the fondant black, which is hard to do. Props to him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s7z1xeVlI/AAAAAAAAAOE/sXhVyYL0LXs/s1600-h/SDC18039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s7z1xeVlI/AAAAAAAAAOE/sXhVyYL0LXs/s400/SDC18039.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He also made the stethoscopes. Well, he tried at least :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s8GmjffAI/AAAAAAAAAOM/Yw-ptYAwSSE/s1600-h/SDC18040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s8GmjffAI/AAAAAAAAAOM/Yw-ptYAwSSE/s400/SDC18040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The completed cakes, tailored to match each friend's personality. They are<a href="http://www.designmeacake.com/id29.html"> white almond sour cream cakes</a> with strawberry filling and strawberry icing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s7Wwy4IfI/AAAAAAAAAN0/QrpNYe0Kblc/s1600-h/Lab+coat+strawberry+cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s7Wwy4IfI/AAAAAAAAAN0/QrpNYe0Kblc/s400/Lab+coat+strawberry+cakes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s7Y6FBQ3I/AAAAAAAAAN8/gbtwMGBt5HM/s1600-h/SDC18044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s7Y6FBQ3I/AAAAAAAAAN8/gbtwMGBt5HM/s400/SDC18044.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s8Xwkz4eI/AAAAAAAAAOU/tA7z4VRgaFs/s1600-h/SDC18052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s8Xwkz4eI/AAAAAAAAAOU/tA7z4VRgaFs/s400/SDC18052.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s8ZXFaECI/AAAAAAAAAOc/Rnj5ctK9Fcw/s1600-h/SDC18053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s8ZXFaECI/AAAAAAAAAOc/Rnj5ctK9Fcw/s400/SDC18053.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The previous three were made for girls, and the next one is for a good guy friend. It's chocolate cake with chocolate chip cookie dough filling and vanilla icing. The cake was <a href="http://www.vegcooking.com/vegcooking-eggreplace.asp">baked without eggs</a>, using a substitute that combined flour, oil, and baking powder. It was a little crumbly, which made it difficult to fill, but it still tasted great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s89f-i0KI/AAAAAAAAAOs/OT0zNq-FgUo/s1600-h/SDC18087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s89f-i0KI/AAAAAAAAAOs/OT0zNq-FgUo/s400/SDC18087.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s9RJy5ENI/AAAAAAAAAO0/yxek1Q6OInE/s1600-h/SDC18083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s9RJy5ENI/AAAAAAAAAO0/yxek1Q6OInE/s400/SDC18083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Babu cuts his cake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s9jw9Ea_I/AAAAAAAAAO8/h38FaziQREM/s1600-h/SDC18091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s9jw9Ea_I/AAAAAAAAAO8/h38FaziQREM/s320/SDC18091.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Vi cuts her cake</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4tAe3cIySI/AAAAAAAAAPE/nbAMpiyw8_U/s1600-h/SDC18065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4tAe3cIySI/AAAAAAAAAPE/nbAMpiyw8_U/s320/SDC18065.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was amused by the way she cut the first piece. When I told her this, she said, "I don't know how to cut cake! Is there a certain way to do it?" Oh Vi, you're awesome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s8rgfsAkI/AAAAAAAAAOk/rNfChG2d6Go/s1600-h/SDC18068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4s8rgfsAkI/AAAAAAAAAOk/rNfChG2d6Go/s320/SDC18068.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Deborah brought her cake home to celebrate with her family, and I heard from Stephanie that she and her friends ate some in her dorm that night. If I can get pictures from them, I will most certainly post those too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, it's back to studying for me! </div><div style="text-align: left;">I have a date with my Organic Chemistry book in a few minutes... <i>sigh</i> look at all these reactions... opening my own bakery looks mighty tasty right now...</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-19324642402921478982010-02-27T19:13:00.001-08:002010-03-23T09:19:49.243-07:00Baking Bonanza #1: A Bridal ShowerI think today was the first time I asked God to protect strawberries, and hallelujah, it was also the last time. My story: I was invited to a bridal shower this weekend and I promised the bride I would bake her anything she wanted. She said, "Surprise me!" Since she has been an important part of my life, I tried my hardest to make her happy. My only problem was transporting her baked goods, which was probably the most torturous 30 minute drive of my life.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I started my adventure early on Friday night, attempting to <a href="http://blog.jugglingfrogs.com/2007/10/make-your-own-cookie-cutter-from-clip.html">make my own bride-groom cookie cutters</a>.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I first made my template.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm6VII5cI/AAAAAAAAAJk/ITIRpaiOiPY/s1600-h/SDC18160.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135514432038338" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm6VII5cI/AAAAAAAAAJk/ITIRpaiOiPY/s400/SDC18160.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Then, for sturdiness, I cut up an aluminum pan.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm665dLYI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/J47FK0zrKj8/s1600-h/SDC18164.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135524571000194" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm665dLYI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/J47FK0zrKj8/s400/SDC18164.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm6m1_FcI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2oScKLXO5Z4/s1600-h/SDC18163.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135519187736002" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm6m1_FcI/AAAAAAAAAJs/2oScKLXO5Z4/s400/SDC18163.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
After a few hours of bending and shaping, I had one bride and half a groom.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm7FmWADI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/3jISDy7LZpE/s1600-h/SDC18169.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135527443628082" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm7FmWADI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/3jISDy7LZpE/s400/SDC18169.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I really didn't like the bride cutter, so I ended up cutting out each individual dress.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm7Y5MF2I/AAAAAAAAAKE/44WgNNfM5Ow/s1600-h/SDC18170.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135532622944098" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nm7Y5MF2I/AAAAAAAAAKE/44WgNNfM5Ow/s400/SDC18170.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nnNWwRrNI/AAAAAAAAAKU/6RxgqabGGJM/s1600-h/SDC18173.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135841286335698" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nnNWwRrNI/AAAAAAAAAKU/6RxgqabGGJM/s400/SDC18173.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nnNoJU36I/AAAAAAAAAKc/iK2kCxdMjoE/s1600-h/SDC18175.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135845954805666" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nnNoJU36I/AAAAAAAAAKc/iK2kCxdMjoE/s400/SDC18175.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;">What about the groom cookies?</span> you ask. I didn't have enough dough, so I made mini hearts instead. Lacking a mini-heart cookie cutter, I again resorted to cutting out each individual shape.</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nnOEyEDZI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Wb5aQrXx6Po/s1600-h/SDC18177.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135853641862546" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nnOEyEDZI/AAAAAAAAAKk/Wb5aQrXx6Po/s400/SDC18177.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nnOcmPbjI/AAAAAAAAAKs/e2ZQqSDmp9w/s1600-h/SDC18179.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443135860034727474" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nnOcmPbjI/AAAAAAAAAKs/e2ZQqSDmp9w/s400/SDC18179.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
But I had a hard time getting the edges smooth, so I made a cookie cutter. The shape was simpler so the cutter-making process was easier.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrwqT5t8I/AAAAAAAAAK0/HhTKpXjzb_M/s1600-h/SDC18182.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443140845877966786" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrwqT5t8I/AAAAAAAAAK0/HhTKpXjzb_M/s400/SDC18182.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrw1DF3gI/AAAAAAAAAK8/w8OltCAJauI/s1600-h/SDC18183.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443140848760249858" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrw1DF3gI/AAAAAAAAAK8/w8OltCAJauI/s400/SDC18183.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Here are all the cookies, cut and baked.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrxJV07eI/AAAAAAAAALE/0tZ6zISUl18/s1600-h/SDC18201.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443140854207540706" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrxJV07eI/AAAAAAAAALE/0tZ6zISUl18/s400/SDC18201.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
In the morning, I prepared my royal icing with different consistencies for outlining and flooding.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrxcEY5GI/AAAAAAAAALM/X43z83Vj_TQ/s1600-h/SDC18207.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443140859234673762" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrxcEY5GI/AAAAAAAAALM/X43z83Vj_TQ/s400/SDC18207.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Then I proceeded to decorate. Honestly, though, my piping skills need more work.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrxgwNdWI/AAAAAAAAALU/dMGCxaZtFTM/s1600-h/SDC18209.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443140860492215650" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nrxgwNdWI/AAAAAAAAALU/dMGCxaZtFTM/s400/SDC18209.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
But I somehow saved the cookie :-)<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntEccf4xI/AAAAAAAAALc/8rzkq81UW1Y/s1600-h/SDC18211.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443142285264937746" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntEccf4xI/AAAAAAAAALc/8rzkq81UW1Y/s400/SDC18211.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Not this one though. It made me sad.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntE00KZrI/AAAAAAAAALk/pG1vsdRNKbw/s1600-h/SDC18215.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443142291806643890" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntE00KZrI/AAAAAAAAALk/pG1vsdRNKbw/s400/SDC18215.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
The completed monogram cookies.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntGa22sxI/AAAAAAAAAL8/k7cHTQTL7rw/s1600-h/SDC18223.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443142319198352146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntGa22sxI/AAAAAAAAAL8/k7cHTQTL7rw/s400/SDC18223.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
For these hearts, I outlined only.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntFBRxYGI/AAAAAAAAALs/UlW_2sYOJ4s/s1600-h/SDC18218.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443142295152058466" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntFBRxYGI/AAAAAAAAALs/UlW_2sYOJ4s/s400/SDC18218.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Outlined bride cookies.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nuIlQKh3I/AAAAAAAAAME/j4vQdFmq0kE/s1600-h/SDC18220.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443143455860230002" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nuIlQKh3I/AAAAAAAAAME/j4vQdFmq0kE/s400/SDC18220.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Bride cookies after flooding.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntFp7i7yI/AAAAAAAAAL0/BiVnjtStatU/s1600-h/SDC18222.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443142306064690978" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4ntFp7i7yI/AAAAAAAAAL0/BiVnjtStatU/s400/SDC18222.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Completed cookie.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nuI6IvEEI/AAAAAAAAAMM/tMedY5z6pmc/s1600-h/SDC18227.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443143461466214466" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nuI6IvEEI/AAAAAAAAAMM/tMedY5z6pmc/s400/SDC18227.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Then my little brother discovered my pastry bags and drew a chair. Can you find it?<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nuJFamofI/AAAAAAAAAMU/WeRa7fcyu_A/s1600-h/SDC18231.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443143464493949426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nuJFamofI/AAAAAAAAAMU/WeRa7fcyu_A/s400/SDC18231.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
So while the icing dried, I proceeded to decorate <a href="http://melabakes.blogspot.com/2010/02/cupcake-filling-firsts.html">red velvet and strawberry filled cupcakes</a> that I prepared earlier in the day. (You can click on the link to see another adventure I had with these.)<br />
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The cupcakes.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nvzdrPK4I/AAAAAAAAAMs/zLMaVijtDX4/s1600-h/SDC18241.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443145292072299394" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nvzdrPK4I/AAAAAAAAAMs/zLMaVijtDX4/s400/SDC18241.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
And the cupcake toppers.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nvy4PJAqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/eOlHShiUzbs/s1600-h/SDC18238.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443145282022343330" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nvy4PJAqI/AAAAAAAAAMc/eOlHShiUzbs/s400/SDC18238.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Yes, these were the strawberries that I prayed for.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nvzLAh5RI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Ei2A5KrD_KI/s1600-h/SDC18239.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443145287061333266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nvzLAh5RI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Ei2A5KrD_KI/s400/SDC18239.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
And here are the completed baked goods for the party.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nwuxJfNrI/AAAAAAAAAM8/_jfEXfmE_54/s1600-h/SDC18243.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443146310911735474" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nwuxJfNrI/AAAAAAAAAM8/_jfEXfmE_54/s400/SDC18243.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nwulMq4CI/AAAAAAAAAM0/HtZXjEr_pyk/s1600-h/SDC18242.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443146307703857186" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nwulMq4CI/AAAAAAAAAM0/HtZXjEr_pyk/s400/SDC18242.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nwvcdPPjI/AAAAAAAAANM/MO7tgX9H6fM/s1600-h/SDC18248.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443146322537299506" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nwvcdPPjI/AAAAAAAAANM/MO7tgX9H6fM/s400/SDC18248.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nwvIfNTxI/AAAAAAAAANE/KvbYu7EqnYk/s1600-h/SDC18247.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443146317176852242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4nwvIfNTxI/AAAAAAAAANE/KvbYu7EqnYk/s400/SDC18247.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>The cookies were easy to transport, but the cupcakes made me anxious. The strawberries wanted to slide off the cupcakes, and one actually succeeded! It ruined the icing swirl and convinced me that if those strawberries had hands, they would have thrown them up in my face and yelled <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Rollercoaster!"</span> as I hit all the speed bumps. Torture, I tell you. <span style="font-style: italic;">Pure</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">torture.</span> From now on, cupcakes and strawberries travel separately.<br />
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So other than that nerve wracking drive, I had a lot of fun on this adventure. Everyone enjoyed the cookies and cupcakes, and the bride was delighted. Mission accomplished :-)</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-86584139219344749582010-02-24T07:44:00.000-08:002010-02-27T21:35:15.803-08:00Fondant Fun: My First Real EncounterOk, so I lied about my first experience with fondant. I'm sorry I lied, I promise it won't become a regular thing on here. My brother's Transformers cake wasn't <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> my first time working with fondant. I actually played around with it earlier in the week, but not on cake. My first encounter with fondant was with, yes, you guessed it... CUPCAKES. I practiced my fondant work on <span style="font-weight: bold;">cupcakes</span> :-)<br />
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I thought now would be an appropriate time to come clean since all I've been thinking about this week is well, cupcakes.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I did a very sloppy job of applying my crumb coat and sticky coat because I was so excited to decorate them.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VNSDn-o4I/AAAAAAAAAIM/KMwStL3hAb8/s1600-h/SDC17534.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441840697353085826" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VNSDn-o4I/AAAAAAAAAIM/KMwStL3hAb8/s400/SDC17534.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I even stacked two cupcakes, but this one got eaten before I could decorate (my cousins were over that night).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VNv-28lSI/AAAAAAAAAIU/HXKIaXnZ_G8/s1600-h/SDC17536.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441841211469763874" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VNv-28lSI/AAAAAAAAAIU/HXKIaXnZ_G8/s400/SDC17536.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
And here is my first fondant-covered "cake"<br />
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I decided to paint my second fondant-covered cake, but didn't realize I needed to dilute my icing colors with an alcohol based product rather than plain water. It didn't turn out as pretty as I imagined.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VNRpleX0I/AAAAAAAAAH8/xAzuEp9TINo/s1600-h/SDC17527.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441840690363260738" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VNRpleX0I/AAAAAAAAAH8/xAzuEp9TINo/s400/SDC17527.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
I'm not the only one who had fun. My little brother enjoyed keeping me company.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VSSDOa5ZI/AAAAAAAAAIs/xHUUOCWomAA/s1600-h/SDC17580.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441846194804024722" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VSSDOa5ZI/AAAAAAAAAIs/xHUUOCWomAA/s400/SDC17580.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VSaKc3ejI/AAAAAAAAAI0/AOXGZLeJCI4/s1600-h/SDC17581.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441846334182619698" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VSaKc3ejI/AAAAAAAAAI0/AOXGZLeJCI4/s400/SDC17581.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Together, we had lots and lots of fun...<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VNQiwl1KI/AAAAAAAAAHs/9U4-kaG7FZI/s1600-h/SDC17518.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441840671350969506" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4VNQiwl1KI/AAAAAAAAAHs/9U4-kaG7FZI/s400/SDC17518.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Don't worry, I'm better now at minimizing baking messes :-)<br />
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</div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-73508097926802711812010-02-23T22:08:00.000-08:002010-03-23T09:20:09.741-07:00Cupcake Filling FirstsSo, I am a sauce person. You can ask anyone I've eaten with. No, I won't eat my food with a lot of sauce, just a lot of different ones. I've had up to eight small piles of sauce on my plate before, making every bite taste a little different from the one before it. I just love tasting many flavors in one sitting. It makes me happy :-) so you could probably imagine how excited I was when, in my 8 AM Organic Chemistry class, I found out how to fill a cupcake without cutting it open.<br />
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I was so excited that all I could think about that afternoon during my Histology exam was cupcakes. Then that night I dreamed about decorating cupcakes. And during my nap today, I had another dream about cupcakes.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">So I went on a quest to HEB to buy what I needed.<br />
And Lo and Behold!<br />
A very basic cupcake decorating set! (for less than $8)</div><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TJ0ZMI_aI/AAAAAAAAAEc/8YDSXAW2kEo/s1600-h/1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441696151722589602" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TJ0ZMI_aI/AAAAAAAAAEc/8YDSXAW2kEo/s400/1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The Icing Writers came free with a coupon :-D</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TJ0mSodcI/AAAAAAAAAEk/3AOagantOuM/s1600-h/2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441696155239478722" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TJ0mSodcI/AAAAAAAAAEk/3AOagantOuM/s400/2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Here is what I wanted to accomplish. Isn't that one of the most amazing things ever?</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TJ06h1TOI/AAAAAAAAAEs/uSuwR_FMm4w/s1600-h/SDC18100.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441696160671943906" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TJ06h1TOI/AAAAAAAAAEs/uSuwR_FMm4w/s400/SDC18100.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Just beautiful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TKsBm5adI/AAAAAAAAAFE/5Z9pYEDeekc/s1600-h/SDC18102.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441697107465038290" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TKsBm5adI/AAAAAAAAAFE/5Z9pYEDeekc/s400/SDC18102.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I decided to go with red velvet. I made the batter with my trusty hand-held mixer, which I've been using since I was eight-ish.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TKkHbe-CI/AAAAAAAAAE0/GdVOtCIWaBs/s1600-h/SDC18106.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441696971588827170" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TKkHbe-CI/AAAAAAAAAE0/GdVOtCIWaBs/s400/SDC18106.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>And as my cupcakes baked, I made the filling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TKkdR-TBI/AAAAAAAAAE8/J648l65QYA0/s1600-h/SDC18108.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441696977454517266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TKkdR-TBI/AAAAAAAAAE8/J648l65QYA0/s400/SDC18108.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TN5zstgaI/AAAAAAAAAGk/Mmn_fnA181g/s1600-h/SDC18138.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441700642784379298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TN5zstgaI/AAAAAAAAAGk/Mmn_fnA181g/s400/SDC18138.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>And with my handy-dandy Bismarck 230 tip, I filled my cupcakes.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TN6PauNDI/AAAAAAAAAGs/KiH9LykHyfM/s1600-h/SDC18114.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441700650225120306" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TN6PauNDI/AAAAAAAAAGs/KiH9LykHyfM/s400/SDC18114.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
But I messed up once...<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TOXFS_ZlI/AAAAAAAAAG0/E60buVMLRTg/s1600-h/SDC18115.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441701145724544594" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TOXFS_ZlI/AAAAAAAAAG0/E60buVMLRTg/s400/SDC18115.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
or twice...<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TOXTkDdhI/AAAAAAAAAG8/qkENwFG2K70/s1600-h/SDC18116.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441701149554210322" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TOXTkDdhI/AAAAAAAAAG8/qkENwFG2K70/s400/SDC18116.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Or maybe twelve times...<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TOX8VEUcI/AAAAAAAAAHE/lgRbXdRF7bc/s1600-h/SDC18117.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441701160497205698" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TOX8VEUcI/AAAAAAAAAHE/lgRbXdRF7bc/s400/SDC18117.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>But that didn't matter after they were iced and garnished.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TQCHTWVkI/AAAAAAAAAHk/ffDSUn8p3iQ/s1600-h/SDC18127.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441702984508921410" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TQCHTWVkI/AAAAAAAAAHk/ffDSUn8p3iQ/s400/SDC18127.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Besides, I'm sure my momma, daddy, and older brother will be happy to take some to work tomorrow.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TO7hRlmdI/AAAAAAAAAHU/xFhMnsmvzKs/s1600-h/SDC18122.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441701771710142930" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TO7hRlmdI/AAAAAAAAAHU/xFhMnsmvzKs/s400/SDC18122.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>And I'll be happy to let 15 of my friends try them out as well :-)<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TPrsvmvXI/AAAAAAAAAHc/GceGkLaannk/s1600-h/SDC18123.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441702599422557554" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TPrsvmvXI/AAAAAAAAAHc/GceGkLaannk/s400/SDC18123.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
To you, my faithful companions!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TO7cuDWDI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xCcRzzpbdpc/s1600-h/SDC18120.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441701770487355442" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4TO7cuDWDI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xCcRzzpbdpc/s400/SDC18120.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-50910825511018794512010-02-22T22:01:00.000-08:002010-03-23T09:20:22.596-07:00Fondant Fun: My First Encounter<span style="font-size: 100%;">Perhaps the biggest mystery of my baking and cake decorating life has been solved with my recent discovery of FONDANT. Who knew one could get such beautiful results with a simple play dough-like icing? I certainly did not. Every wedding cake I have ever seen in my 20 years of living always seemed like a dream I could never achieve, and now, with my eyes open to the wonderful secrets of cake decorating, I am one step closer to that dream.<br />
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Please don't take this the wrong way, of course my ultimate dream to be a doctor supersedes any baking dream I could ever have. Baking is just my <strike>obsession</strike> hobby :-)<br />
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So about a month ago, my parents told us that my little brother would not have a party to celebrate his 8th birthday since, in the midst of their wedding anniversary plans, they forgot to plan for his special day.<br />
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I pretty much flipped.<br />
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My little brother is important too! How could we NOT do something? I figured that since he loves it when I bake for him, I should make as elaborate a cake as I could. So for almost a week, I scoured the internet learning everything I could about cake decorating, and in case you were interested, I created links to the recipes I used.<br />
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I started off with a dense cake strong enough to withstand the weight of fondant. I read that <a href="http://cakecentral.com/recipes/2322/white-almond-sour-cream-cake-wasc">white almond sour cream</a> is durable yet delicious.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">I placed a thick layer of <a href="http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/ButtercreamIcing.htm">buttercream icing</a> between my two cake layers.<br />
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</span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N3kCo5_nI/AAAAAAAAABs/P8OZh7L3u7o/s1600-h/SDC17552.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441324235861130866" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N3kCo5_nI/AAAAAAAAABs/P8OZh7L3u7o/s400/SDC17552.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 222px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Time for the second layer of cake!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N3j85p14I/AAAAAAAAABk/DGP27LIGkTQ/s1600-h/SDC17571.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441324234320762754" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N3j85p14I/AAAAAAAAABk/DGP27LIGkTQ/s400/SDC17571.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Then I finished applying my first layer of icing. Doesn't it look like a gigantic sandwich? At this point, I made the mistake of not leveling my cakes, which gave me huge headaches later on when smoothing out my second layer of icing and then laying on the <a href="http://thecookduke.com/fondant-recipe/">fondant</a>.<br />
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For the fondant, I preferred not to buy the nasty tasting store bought fondant, so I tested out three different recipes. The one I used for my brother's cake tasted the best of the three, but it had the most difficult texture to work through. The hardest part was probably coloring the fondant because I didn't set aside enough time for that earlier in the week. I ended up using way too much food coloring... and <span style="font-style: italic;">time</span> (almost 6 ridiculously long hours!) getting it perfect.<br />
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At this point, it was about 3 AM, Jan 10, and I had long given up on picture taking (mind you, I had been working on the cake since 6 PM, Jan 9). I started on the Decepticon and Autobot symbols at around 4 AM.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">For my template, I just printed out a picture of each symbol and cut out the individual parts.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N5Tb6cJlI/AAAAAAAAACE/UWxLrUWVb8E/s1600-h/SDC17586.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441326149611038290" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N5Tb6cJlI/AAAAAAAAACE/UWxLrUWVb8E/s400/SDC17586.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Decepticon symbol<br />
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</span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N5TFnSkuI/AAAAAAAAAB8/f28shNKrRug/s1600-h/SDC17587.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441326143625138914" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N5TFnSkuI/AAAAAAAAAB8/f28shNKrRug/s400/SDC17587.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Completed Autobot Symbol<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N5Sj53GBI/AAAAAAAAAB0/LmT26xy-iEA/s1600-h/SDC17585.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441326134576224274" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N5Sj53GBI/AAAAAAAAAB0/LmT26xy-iEA/s400/SDC17585.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">And finally, after slaving for so long, I rolled into bed at 7 AM. I finished the cake!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N5TkviImI/AAAAAAAAACM/O24g67Emt_8/s1600-h/Transformers+birthday+cake_cropped.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441326151981212258" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tZYPqlrb-7o/S4N5TkviImI/AAAAAAAAACM/O24g67Emt_8/s400/Transformers+birthday+cake_cropped.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 279px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Well, almost. I wasn't completely happy with the cake - my fondant was cracking and I didn't know how to fix it. I wanted to make flames for the sides, but it was too late and I really needed some sleep.<br />
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Yet despite this, my little bro still loved the cake, and everyone thought it was delicious.<br />
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Oh Fondant, you were a pain to work with, but I'm so glad we met.<br />
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</span>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2659578181243750586.post-23631347372264867292010-02-21T18:33:00.000-08:002010-02-21T18:50:49.418-08:00First Blog Since Xanga<span style=";font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >The very last blog I had was in middle school to early high school when Xanga was extremely popular with my friends. At that time, however, my blog was usually filled with depressing thoughts about my day (I had a rough time dealing with my low self-esteem), and after closing it down, I never started another one up.<br /><br />Now that my baking hobby is reaching highly addictive levels, I would like a way to keep up with my many adventures. So until I figure out how to work this site and find some time out of my busy Biology major's life, I won't update this regularly. If you follow me on facebook or twitter, though, I will definitely let you know when I put up my first post since the dark ages of my Xanga days :-)</span>Carmelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14773566241666161828noreply@blogger.com0