More Swell Stuff

I am having big problems uploading my favorite apron pictures, but I will send you to her website anyways. Just get an eyeful of Callie Mick's aprons and I think even the most defiant baker will agree that the apron should never go away. The logic of the apron defied my sensical ways until recently when I realized I was the only modern baker still wiping my hands on kitchen towels. Tired of looking for the towel, I realized the "always on another counter" towel could easily be replaced by the good old fashioned apron! Oh, and when you are looking around for cute aprons, you also need to try Sommer Designs. Carrie Sommers and her apron's could not be any cuter and may just make your husband want to pull out his pipe while reading the newspaper.

Not that I don't already own one. A picture of my female cousins and I was taken ten years ago at Christmas when one of the Aunt's gave each of us an apron from our beloved Grandmother's collection. It was in those apron's she made her Irish Mashed Potatoes, of which I could not stomach, onions and all. Thank goodness she usually made the onion-free, or American version, for my carb loving self. I refuse though to wear the apron from my Grandmother. Yet. First, I feel it may just be too special to wear. She died in 1988, after living since the turn of the century-last century. Second, it is in the Valley of the Unknown, a.k.a., My Hope Chest. I just don't know if I could bear to open a box full of so many momentos from years past. I fear the afternoon would be gone before me.

Thus a minuscule history on how we came to love the apron again. I will happily wear the new ones making cakes. Maybe Grandma's should be brought out on special occasions. Please pass the ba-tatas.

Glam Cake

O.K., I am really loving the glam look and love even more that it has transcended into the cake world. This gorgeous cake is from I Dream Of Cake and couldn't express the glam trend any better. I am trying to imagine how in the world Shinmin Li made this one, but if I learn, I will let you all in on the secret. True artistry!

In fun family news, we returned from a visit to my husband's hometown for the Fourth of July weekend. Oh, the fun we had. I had a chance to go out with my crazy sister in law and we all have children similar ages, so it is one non-stop funtime for the whole fam. The twins even ran a booth with my niece doing hair wraps and friendship bracelets at the nearby Farmer's Market. They were so cute and so excited to earn money! My hubby's family also has a farm so next weekend they are going to sell some raspberries from it. I am so happy they are able to create such fun memories of summer. Off to bake for now.....and to enjoy these beautiful summer sunsets.

Into The Oven!

My sentiments exactly! I think I can eat cake daily, although, I do not! I could manage a cupcake a day, but if I make them, they are pretty much gone within a day. My husband is getting annoyed having so much cake around. Annoyed almost as much as when I had to have Dairy Queen blizzards every night during the loooong nine months of pregnancy with the twins. I think he gained fifteen pounds that pregnancy and it never really left him. Sorry Honey!!! I will begin giving these cakes away soon!

On to my original thoughts with this post. The picture above is just a portion of the logo from the website, Into The Oven. Not only do I love the simplicity of the site, their product lines are the ones I am looking for. They also have excellent shipping rates and ship very fast for those of us who delay. Xia, your baking mistress at Into The Oven, brings a nice variety of newer unknown products while keeping the mainstays in stock. You can find everything from great looking cupcake liners to fishing lure chocolate molds. Xia also stocks India Tree's vegetable colored sugar crystals for anyone who wants to keep their cake as natural as possible. So much variety, it is hard to choose where to begin.

P.S. She also has a super cute logo!

Damask Stencil Cake Supplies

As I have been wondering where do all of these cake designers get the amazing stencils and script letters for use on cakes. I knew they were not doing these intricate stencils freehand. Ahhh, Designer Cake Stencils to the rescue! They have the stencil as featured on Martha's cake above. In addition, they have cookie stencils, really cool stencils for cake tops and full size cake stencils. I had seen their site a few months ago when I first saw the above cake, but they did not have the stencil set for sale yet. This cake has to be time consuming, but sooo worth the effort.

In unrelated news, I have been a bad blogger. The woes of mommyhood. I now find myself working full time in an uninspiring position whilst my kiddies spend their summer with an amazing nanny. And just recently the job of a lifetime came across my lap. No, not cake related. But one that would give my undergrad degree meaning, one mile from my home, and extremely prestigious and allow me to pay for my children's college. Will I get it? Who knows. It may dash my cake dreams in the short term, but may also fuel a kitchen addition. Hence, the lack of posting. No worries, though. Cake does not leave this swell kitchen. Oh no, it will carry on. If not with me, the next generation. I can't wait to post what my two twinnies have recently made.

Onward with the week-have a great one!

Let Them Eat Cake

(photo source)

So I was browsing my favorite blog of late....and could not resist sharing this dress with you! What is up with the Australian scene? I can't get over how much I love everything they are doing these days! Not just cakes....check out Wedding Style Guide's post about Rose & Ruby. Their clothing designs are total Breakfast At Tiffany's meets modern extravagance. Give their website a browse...their Winter 08 (remember we are talking Australia here) collection was/is superb. Visions of cake designs with draped and marbled fondant danced in my head....oh, sorry, cake on the brain-always!

Swell Recipe: Chocolate Buttaahcream

I am sharing my chocolate buttercream recipe with you. Honestly, I think I got it from Martha, but it has been so long that I cannot be sure. This buttercream is the perfect blend of sweet, chocolatey and salty all at once. You can use unsalted butter, but I (and the family) really love the salty side of this icing when I use the salted butter. Sounds funny, doesn't it? Well, it really works and you will know what I mean when you try this. I am sure Martha would have you use an unsalted butter and then add in the salt later. It is up to you, but if you try it my way, I don't think you will be disappointed. For some reason I wrote on the recipe that you can halve the recipe for a regular cake. Better not do that, as you may have too thin of a layer of icing. I made a half recipe for these cupcakes and it was not enough when I did the big swirls on top.

My husband wrote his love note on the recipe one night when I was up late baking. He enjoys that I love baking-and the end results! I really need to go through all of my abused recipes and get organized. This one is starting to worry me. At least I have it here if I lose my post-it. As far as mixing up the icing, just beat the butter for a minute then add in the vanilla. I also tend to add extra vanilla. Add in the powdered sugar and cocoa slowly. Sooo delish!

These cookies were for fun. I thought my kids would appreciate their initials on some cookies. The colors turned out better than I thought they would. I love the royal icing recipe that I found on Cake Central. It has a lemony flavor from meringue powder that is super tasty!

I have seen these cookies on Martha forever, but was not too excited about trying a cookie with hard icing. These are fast becoming my favorite cookie though, mostly because they do not become a gooey mess in the hot and humid weather we are having here in West Michigan.

School is out and my kids are celebrating with parties and picnics and last soccer games. Have a great weekend everyone!