Wedding Week on FoodTV

Set your digital recorders - it's wedding week on FoodTV - which means... wedding cakes!! There's a new surprise engagement cake challenge, a Bobby Flay wedding cake "throw down", history of wedding cakes, new Ace of Cakes, all kinds of great stuff! I know what I'll be watching! http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/tv/

You can also check out some really great cakes posted to the Ace of Cakes Cake Community: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_db/text/0,,FOOD_26996_67255,00.html

Here piggy, piggy!

OK, this was definately a first! ...maybe a last?! Thought the cake came out cute (?) but not sure about the concept - cutting into this "wild boar" cake, (red velvet by the way) seems a little gross for a wedding... but that's just me! This grooms cake was selected by the bride, for her man -a hunter of wild game! I'm sure he'll love it! This cake was carved from sheet cakes, covered in fondant and color was airbrushed. Tusks and ears were formed out of gumpaste.

This 5 tiered cake, was for a special 50th anniversary. Combination of white almond sour cream cake, and chocolate fudge cake, iced in vanilla buttercream. We were going for a "latte" colored icing w/ ivory scroll work, and little gold fondant pearls. Chocolate brown fondant ribbon, was used as a border for each cake. We added a large floral cake topper, but my battery had died (of course!) Congratulations Jim and Peggy!

Tori's Cake (My version)!

Tori and Ryan celebrated their wedding this weekend, with a reception at the beautiful Melrose Hotel. I posted a picture last week or so, with a cake photo that Tori sent me, that she absolutely loved. Who wouldn't - it was a gorgeous cake! ...although I had no idea how the design on the sides was achieved! So with a little creativity, this is my version. We did the cake, in a pale pink - iced in buttercream, then fondant panels were wrapped around the cake. I used a lace impression mat for the texture, and details were overpiped w/ royal icing. Chocolate fondant ribbons and bows decorated the cake, with rhinestone broaches to give it some bling - I thought it turned out beautiful! Each tier was a different flavor too! I hope you loved it Tori!

Can't leave out Ryan's cake! His cake was lovely too! Chocolate fudge w/ chocolate buttercream, and chocolate curls and dipped berries... YUM!

Congratulations Tori and Ryan!

Something old, something new...

...I think I've used this title before, but it fit! Two weddings this weekend to celebrate - one new cake design (kind of) and one old! (I hate saying old - lets just call it a repeat!)

Charity's cake was white almond cake, with cream cheese filling, iced in vanilla buttercream. Bottom tier w/ diamond imprint pattern, and fondant pearls, second tier w/ fondant striping (pearlized) and the top, scrolls. I can't tell you how many times I've done this cake or variations of this cake!!

Wai Shan's cake was a three tiered fresh strawberry cake, with cream cheese filling and buttercream icing. Sage green fondant swags, with gumpaste calla lilies. Very simplistic, but very beautiful! Tall calla lily arrangements decorated all the tables, very pretty!

Off to make a froggy birthday cake for Victoria! I'll post a finished picture tomorrow!

The Knot - Best of Weddings 2008

For the bride-to-be, who expects nothing but the best on her wedding day (who wouldn't?!)... this is your insiders guide to the top-rated wedding professionals across the country! The new issue of Best of Weddings (2008), published by The Knot, is out and available! This beautiful magazine is chock-ful of ideas and advise - from bridal salons, to cake bakers, to photographers. A great reference guide, if you're planning your wedding or helping someone who is! Of course if you're looking for "local" references here in the Dallas area - I'll be happy to point you in the right direction!

Martha Stewart - Spring 2008

The new issue of Martha Stewart Weddings (Spring 08) is out! http://www.marthastewart.com/weddings A must have for brides this season! The beautiful cover features diamonds! Articles include, selecting the perfect diamond ring, gorgeous cakes designed by Wendy Kromer, new trends in flowers and boquets and glamorous receptions! If your needing some inspiration or ideas for your wedding and reception - you know Martha's got it covered!

Pretty in Pink

Today, Annie and Warren got married... and although I've done this cake design a number of times (or variations of it), I just loved it today - I think it was the flowers! I am not a "girly-girl", but I just loved their pink themed wedding! GORGEOUS pink and white flowers filled the ballroom at Royal Oaks Country Club - pink peonies, tulips, roses, hydrangeas... beautiful centerpieces, just an abundance - feels be spring! Wildflower floral designs (http://thewildflower.com/) did a beautiful job. Congratulations Annie and Warren!

(Speaking of "pink", I just stopped at the store, and picked up some pomegranate martini mixer! ...sounds delicious! I'm off to mix up a batch and kick back and enjoy the sunset on this beautiful day!) Cheers!



Warren was a graduate of The Jesuit School in Dallas, and SMU - chocolate fudge cake with chocolate buttercream - all atop a bed of wheat grass!

Tori's Cake

Tori and Ryan (my web designer) are getting married in a couple weeks, and this is Tori's "dream cake" (we had a previous design in mind, but she tripped across this, and just loved it - who wouldn't!) However, I'm not familiar or sure about the technique used on the sides of this cake... so I'm seeking cake advise! To me - it appears to be a fondant impression, wrapped around the cake... but it almost looks like brush embroidery too... Any help from my cake friends out there would be appreciated - I'd love to do this cake for her!

New Firsts!

Had a couple weddings this weekend - and some new venues that I had not yet been too... both unique and unexpected!

First was Mary Jo and Austin's reception, which was being held downtown, at the Dallas World Aquarium. I had no idea the aquarium was set up to hold such events... I loved it! It was completely unexpected (I was thinking... humid, noisy)... quite the contrary - it was beautiful! Views of lush foliage, waterfalls, very tropical. They had a tropical destination wedding, so this suited them. The bride designed her cake, I hope she liked it! (Turtles on the grooms cake was requested by the groom!)

Then was Lindsay and Clarks reception, which was being held at the Performing Arts Center at the historic Collin County Courthouse in downtown McKinney. Again... I was not aware they held private events at the PAC! ...I loved it! It has that majestic historic feeling... old maple floors, exposed brick, lots of windows and cozy little rooms. Even with a large guest count, with all that space, it felt very intimate. (I unfortunately had to leave before the flowers arrived for the cake- I hope they came out pretty!)

Crazy About Cupcakes!

Cupcakes are all the rage! Specialty cupcake shops are popping up everywhere!

Who doesn't love a cupcake? They're little bites of delicious goodness, wrapped up and ready to go!

Cupcakes are also quickly becoming very popular in leau of wedding cakes these days.... They can be served alone, or combined with a small wedding cake, for a whimsicle and less-than-traditional reception.

If you love cupcakes - set your TiVos next week for The Martha Stewart Show.... beginning Monday, is "cupcake week"! Tune in for some tasty recipies and design ideas!

Martha's also on the hunt for the cutest cupcake idea! You can enter to win the "custest cupcake" contest! If you need some inspiration? ....check out these books or go to my favorite sites: http://www.thepinkcakebox.com/ or http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/ for some of the cutest cupcakes and delicious recipies!

A few new cakes to post...

Aubrey's wedding cake... all various square cakes iced in vanilla buttercream and green ribbon borders. Various lilies and roses decorated the tops.

Grooms cake designed after his favorite hobby! Chocolate fudge cake w/ chocolate buttercream icing. Cake was covered in chocolate fondant, and all details are fondant. (I wished I had a better picture, this came out a little fuzzy...) Big fat chocolate dipped berries added the final touch!

Bananas and berries!

Food TV - Challenge

Since I've been out of town for several days, I had my TiVo set for a couple Food TV Cake Challenges that were on... So I caught up with them last night (2 Challenges and an Ace of Cakes episode! "Whoo-hoo!") OK, so for those of you who frequent my blog, and are closet cake addicts! ...check out the new Challenges on Food TV! There's a "Dr. Suess" cake competition, which The Cake Girls (of Chicago) won - their cake was awesome! (I have a link to their website on my blog page) - I absolutely love their clean elegant style! Then there was a "baby shower" Challenge, and a young (guy) cake designer won - and for the life of me, can't remember his name. Beautiful cake though! Check out the Food TV schedule for the next showing to air - and see what goes into making these amazing, edible, and creative works of art!! http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_cc/

Thank you Angel Fire!

We had an awesome weekend up in the mountains! Angel Fire had a foot of new snow the evening before we arrived - ski conditions couldn't have been better and we beat the spring breakers, no one was there!


What a view! The snow capped mountain in the backround is Wheeler Peak, elevation 13K feet.

Matt spent the first half day, teaching Jake how to snowboard... not as easy as it looks, but he totally had it by lunch time! After spending most of the day falling on his butt (and his head), he opted to ski the remaining two days (which he's awesome at! ...I can't keep up with him!)

Looks impressive, hu?! Just after this shot of Matt, he totally bit it! Champ enjoyed the snow for short moments... wasn't a fan of the cold white stuff!
Gas: $260... Equipment rental: $175... Lift tickets: $618... Spending a ski weekend with my family... priceless!

Checkin' Out!

No posts for a few days... we're heading off to Angelfire, NM for a ski weekend! This is where I'll be... ridin' up the Chile Express! What a view!

Snow forcasted for today and tomorrow, sunny and in the 30s for the weekend - perfect spring skiing weather!

Peace out and checkin' out!