German Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Marries Sugar Cookies

Sometimes my clients think up the best ideas...and then I get credit for them. That is the case with this batch of cookies. A friend called me early in the week wanting to know if I could put together a few dozen cookies at the last minute for her daughter's school project. She was doing a presentation on her Irish heritage. The friend requested a few dozen shamrocks dipped in chocolate.
I just happened to have some really good chocolate on hand and took on the challenge. I decorated the shamrocks using the colors of Ireland's flag and dipped away. What a great combination! I can't wait to use this idea again in the future.

Alice Medrich in my kitchen

I have a crush--a food crush that is. Her name is Alice and she rocks chocolate. When I found out Alice Medrich has a class on Craftsy I went gaga. I loved watching this class! It is the first Craftsy class I ever took and was a little suspicious of it at first, but I have to say the Craftsy platform is really cool. I love that I can watch the class in segments that fit into my schedule, and the ability to rewind and pause makes me feel like Alice is right in my kitchen with me! It was a day of firsts as this was the first time I tempered chocolate as well.
The cake is Flo Braker's Devil's Food cake with a whipped chocolate ganache filling, a chocolate glaze, and tempered chocolate fans glued to the side. I used a 65%-my favorite.
I am so surprised that I was able to pull off this cake on the first try. My mother LOVES chocolate (so that's where I got it!) so I made it for her birthday party. And because I am the way I am, I didn't do a test run, nor did I have a backup plan. (EEK) However, things turned out perfectly. The cake looked gorgeous and tasted even better. Success!
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Here are some glimpses into the process:

PS~ My mom loved it and had a lovely birthday party. Thanks, Alice!

Simplicity

Simplicity:
     Green grass
       Yellow Daffodils
         Spring day
           Nowhere to be
             Vanilla bean buttercream
               &
                Miette's Double Chocolate Cupcakes

Buche de Noel

December 2012
Buche de Noel

My favorite cake of the season was this Yule Log. I made several of them during this Christmas season. They are incredibly easy and very yummy. I especially like them because the light sponge cake is not too heavy after all of our holiday meal exploits. The pine cones are made from almonds and fondant and the pine needles are chocolate. The kids got a kick out of these. They love it when I make things that do not look edible. Next year I am going to make some meringue mushrooms and add a log on top to make it more traditional looking.

Cake #2!...Chocolate Peanut Butter

October 2012
Well, here is cake #2. I told you I was hooked! This was my final cake for my RI flowers class. It looks pretty bridal but I really love white on white. The best part was the chocolate cake and peanut butter buttercream filling inside. On the way home from class I stopped at my friend's house (10PM...her husband wasn't thrilled) and we cut this bad boy up! YUMMO!

RI flowers pre-dragee

Looking back, I guess it could have used some leaves or filler, but I like how simple it is too.

In Memory

In Memory of a beautiful little girl whose life touched many, many people.

If you would like to read about the Kielsmeier's Journey you can do so here
If you would like to make a donation to the Kielsmeier family as they begin to receive Sterling's medical bills you can do so here