Happy Birthday America!

Dear America,

In celebration of your birthday I baked you a cake, just like I do all my favorite people!

Last year we made a pie in your honor...

...but this year I wanted to make sure you had something extra special so I personally decorated a cake for you.

I know you won't be here to blow out the candles, but that's okay because we probably wouldn't be allowed to light them anyways. Texas actually put a ban on all things related to your fireworks (even sparklers are out of the question) but don't worry, we're still going to celebrate... just fireless.

You're pretty special you know that? It's not every birthday that we get a whole day off from work to celebrate, so thanks :)

XOXO,
  E

I hope everyone's day is filled with grilling, cold drinks and good friends!

Happy 4th of July!!

Free Cakes for Kids: a Non-Profit Organization

A few weeks ago I was contacted by the coordinator of our local Free Cakes for Kids chapter. Through some lucky strike of the keyboard, she found my blog and after admiring my cakes, sent me an email asking if I'd become a part of this fantastic organization.

Free Cakes for Kids is a non-profit organization developed for families who are going through financially hard times and can't necessarily afford to provide their child with a birthday cake. With over 30 talented volunteers in the Killeen chapter, we devote our time and talents so no child will have to be without a cake any time soon.

I've always believed that food has a special power; there's a reason why holidays revolve around food, that we look for comfort in treats and why the kitchen table is where happiness is shared. And so I feel blessed to be a part of a group that offers families a little bit of happiness during a tough time through a very special birthday cake.

My first volunteer job was a Blue's Clues themed cake for a little boy's birthday...

Even though I don't have my own children, I've spent my fair share of time babysitting and Blue just happens to be one of my favorite cartoon pup. I tried to stay true to the show and incorporated her clues around the base of the cake.

 

 

"You gotta find Blue's paw print, that's the first clue!

And we put 'em in our notebook, cuz they're who's clues?!"

 "Blue's Clues!"

For those of you out there that love to decorate cakes, I hope you'll look into local chapters of Free Cakes for Kids. Not only would you be a part of a great cause, but you get to practice your decorating as well! Practice or not, his mother's warm words of gratitude were enough for me.

Happy Baking!

Tacky Sweaters and Gingerbread Men

 Mountain Man and I recently hosted a Tacky Christmas Sweater party.

We wanted to look as tacky goofy as possible.. what do you think?

Flash-back or Flash-forward? 

In case you were wondering, yes, those are dark green valor track pants and no, MM will not be rocking that 'stache for very long. And don't worry, when I got warm that top sweater is removable and I could sport the matching sleeveless sweater.

With a house full of very tackily dressed friends, we feasted on a good spread of food, partook in a few adult bevs, played some games of catch phrase and laughed the night away.

But the best part of the night? Having everyone decorate their own Gingerbread Men. 

When I first thought of the idea I was tickled...right next to the dips and apps there was to be a Gingerbread Man station complete with icing bags and candy accents.

I was a little worried that our friends wouldn't find it as amusing as I did.  I totally understand that some people don't find baking and decorating as much fun as I do (crazy people),  but I was pleasantly surprised at how much they got into it...

Not to mention the quality of the cookies they decorated! I was so impressed..

I even got to try out another recipe from my newly received Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook. These gingerbread cookies had just the right amount of spice and the texture was amazing.

Gingerbread Men
Recipe from Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook (Ginger Hearts)
Oven: 350 Bake time: 10 minutes 
Makes a lot of cookies

2 1/2 cups AP flour
1 TBS baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp allspice
1 TBS cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves
1 egg
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup dark molasses, unsulphured
1/2 cup salted butter, softened (I just add a little extra salt and used unsalted)

Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices.
In another large bowl, cream egg and sugar. Then add molasses and butter- beat until mixed well.
Add flour mixture (dry ingredients) to wet ingredients and mix until well combined. *You might need to add a little more flour if the dough is still very sticky.
Roll dough into large ball, cover in saran wrap and chill for about a 30 minutes to an hour.
Once chilled, cut ball in half, keeping one half in the fridge while you work with the other half.
Transfer gingerbread to lightly floured surface and roll rough till about 1/4 inch thick.
Use Christmas cookie cutters to cut out shapes and transfer cut cookies to prepared baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart.
Repeat with reserved dough in the fridge.
Bake cookies for about 10 minutes or until they're slightly firm to the touch.
Don't let the edges brown or they'll be too hard!
Remove cookies and allow to cool on wire rack.
Once cooled, decorate with royal icing, candies and sprinkles.

I reserved a few cookies and decorated them myself, but I felt no need to share those because the ones our friends decorated are way better anyways :)

 It's almost Christmas!!

Happy Baking!

Carrot Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing

Earlier this month one of the girls at work asked me if I could make her mother a cake... her parents were coming from South Carolina to check out her new digs in the Great State (aka Texas) and it just so happened they would be celebrating Mother's Day a few weeks late and her mother's birthday a few months early.

And what better way to celebrate any occasion than with a swEEt cake :)

So I share with you, Carrot Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing.


Carrot Cake
A collaboration of recipes from allrecipes.com 
Oven temp: 350 Bake: 40 min
Makes 2 8-inch round cakes

3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
4 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups AP flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup buttermilk
3 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup walnuts, plus more if using for decoration

In a bowl mix sugars and slowly stream in oil until combined. Add applesauce and vanilla.
Mix in eggs on at a time, mixing after each addition.
In separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Combine flour mixture with sugar mixture, alternating with buttermilk- always begin and end with flour!
Fold in shredded carrots (too easy if you use a food processor) and walnuts.
Pour into 2 prepared 8-inch round pans and transfer to oven.
Bake for 40 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
Transfer to cooling rack. After about 10 minutes remove cakes from pans and continue cooling.

White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing
1/2 stick butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Heat cream in microwave until bubbly, pour over white chocolate chips and whisk until smooth- you're basically making a quick ganache. (side note: I heat my white chocolate chips about 45 seconds in the microwave first because white chocolate can be tricky sometimes) Set aside to cool.
Beat butter, cream cheese and vanilla until fluffy and smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Slowly pour in melted chocolate and keep beating until smooth and creamy consistency.

*If the icing seems too soupy, add more powdered sugar. Everyone likes their icing a little different.. if you don't want it as sweet don't add the white chocolate and/or don't ad as much powdered sugar. I on the other hand, like my cream cheese icing almost to just have a hint of cream cheese flavor so I use lots of sugar.

Assembly:
If your cakes have uneven or rounded tops, always make sure to level them off with a sharp bread knife. Place one layer on serving platter (or cake board) and fill with cream cheese icing. Place second layer softly/neatly on top and finish by icing the top and sides of the cake. For a fancy looking, yet super easy decorating technique, press crushed walnuts along sides of cake.

If not eating right away, make sure to refrigerate!

Happy Baking!