Bring a Bit of Colour into Your Life

I went to meet a friend today, and as I put it, pick her "cake-brain". We met long ago at Play school... she was my teacher! But I also knew her as the lady who decorated those beautiful cakes I would see at our friend's parties, she even taught my Mother how to pipe butter cream! We had a lovely time not only chatting about cakes, but also about our families, our travels and our lives over the past few years. It was all very inspiring, and I've come away with some great ideas!

As a little hostess gift, I brought some of my creations for her to see!!

50 Reasons to Give Thanks

Hello again Faithful Followers!

Since coming back from the Baking and Sweet Show I have been keen to get stuck back into baking and decorating. I have a few orders for mid-October, but before that how could I miss the opportunity to make sweet treats for Thanksgiving?! Last year I was so worried about Christmas that I didn't really get the chance to test out some of the other designs around this time of year, apart from the odd pumpkin. So naturally I was really excited about making these delicious turkeys for the first time.

This rafter of turkeys is not only to offer to our hostess tomorrow for Thanks Giving dinner, they're also to celebrate my 50th post on this blog!!! That's 50 posts you all have loyally read, and responded to and enjoyed.

Happy Thanksgiving all, may your bellies be full and your hearts be satisfied. Have a great long weekend!!

Canada Sweet and Baking Show 2012

A couple weeks ago my Auntie Christine told me about a Show dedicated to all things baking, decorating, etc. The more I looked into who would be there and what would be shown I knew this would something invaluable to me. They boasted that hundreds of booths and stalls would be showing off their talents and selling their goodies, and that baking giants like Redpath Sugar and Canadian Living were there demonstrating how to make delights with their products. I also noticed that several celebrity chefs from The Food Network would be making appearances!! Names like Chef Duff from Ace of Cakes, and Anna Olson of shows like Sugar and Bake to name a couple. These chefs would be giving presentations showing techniques and giving good advice to bakers of all levels.

My goal while I was there was to ask as many questions as I could learning how I could grow my business and how I can manage myself in a way that shows off what I can offer and also help me move forward. To help describe what type of cake pops that I make I brought along a photo album of all my styles (yes that's right... I kept getting out my photo album and showing anyone I could show) and I was pleasantly surprised at people's reactions. It was really a great confidence booster and a renewed sense of pride.

Although seeing the tall decorated cakes was awe inspiring, and seeing all the delectable cupcakes made me drool, I had hoped to see someone selling cake pops! Only one stall had them but they were plain and not their main talent they were showing off. I had heard there was a Cake Pop Competition on Sunday, but I was only going for the one day so perhaps it's something to think about for next year.

Apart from soaking up visual knowledge and asking people questions, I wanted to see as many talks as I could. While I was there there were several main-stage talks including a live cake decorating competition sponsored by Porter Airlines, and a 13-year-old boy who had been nicknamed "The Cake Prince" by the Toronto Star, decorating a cake with beautifully hand-made gum paste flowers! Quite spectacular to see. And I was lucky enough to have two celebrities giving talks while I was there: The cast from the Food Network's Sugar Stars and celebrity chef Anna Olson.

The Sugar Stars seem so loud and fun on TV and quite honestly there were just that in real life! I built up the courage, and patiently waited while people took their photos with the cast, to speak with Yolanda their baker. She confessed that she had not had the best success with cake pops which coming from such a talented baker I was surprised to hear. I boldly showed her my work and I was honoured to hear here say that she thought they were great. She especially loved my Reindeer growing a broad smile when she saw them! (How could you not?!) I can hear my Mother ask "did she offer you a job?" and the fact is no, she didn't, but if she had I would have had to move to Toronto... and I'd like to keep catering to Montreal. 

 Secondly I had the delight of listening to Anna Olson share her knowledge on how to make Pâte Sablé (sugar pastry). The concept of her talk was to run through an entire episode of her show Bake. She started with how to make the pastry itself, then moved on to Empire cookies using the dough, then on to a gorgeous looking Pumpkin Crème Brulée using the dough as the pie shell, and finally she made a wonderful large fruit tart filled with pastry cream and topped with fresh raspberries and figs, glazed with warmed apricot jam. Through it all she talked about how they filmed the shows and the various processes they go through on each day. She even divulged where the food goes; Her crew gets first dibs, but the food Anna Olson makes during the testing phase goes to her local charity! After her talk the entire audience queued up to have a book signed and  get a photo with Anna herself!

By the end I was tired and my head was overstuffed with ideas and new knowledge, but I felt invigorated and encouraged to get into my kitchen and create beautiful things!! Enjoy the photos...

Let's Hear from You!

I've been going through my settings of my blog and I think I've got it so that anyone can comment now!
I welcome comments, questions, suggestions, etc. Leave me your email if you like and I will do my very best to write back.

I'm starting to plan my Christmas season (I know, it's not even October yet!!) but if you know you'll be needing your Christmas cake pops for any Christmas parties or family gatherings, please let me know as soon as possible... it's never too early.

First, though... Hallowe'en and Thanksgiving!!

ConGRADulations!

My first Graduation celebration came a very busy time of the week, within a very busy month. At the same time I had been forced to turn down big orders, I took on this smaller one.... Why? I asked that too and at first I was unsure of the decision. If this order hadn't been as small as it was (eight cake pops), and had the design not been this simple (a single letter on each) I wouldn't have even attempted it. However, as it turned out, less was more for visual impact when it came to these cake pops, spelling out "CONGRATS" in sweet chocolaty goodness all standing proud in a stand I fashioned to look like a graduation cap.

Their simple design and clear message were quite charming when I stood back and looked at the whole package, and it reminded me that even though these little cakes were celebrating a big milestone in someones life, that the little, simpler things are worth celebrating too. 

Keira is Two with Winnie the Pooh!!

When asked several months ago by one of my colleagues if I would make some cake pops for her daughter's 2nd Birthday in August I knew that what ever design I did they would have to be adorable! For a couple weeks, we toyed with doing either Mickey Mouse (a classic) or Winnie the Pooh (another classic). When the decision was made to go with a Pooh themed party, I automatically started thinking how I would try and represent this iconic bear in cake and chocolate. As usual I did my research and Googled several images of Pooh Bear to decided what were the main characteristics that made him special from other cartoon bears. One was his yellow colour: soft and mellow. Second his smile; wide and fun. Third his little eyes: too big and they changed his face completely, likewise with his eyebrows- they had to be just right. Once all these components came together there he was, Winnie the Pooh times 20 smiling at me from my kitchen counter. To finish them all off, I made a cake pop stand with foam and used paper to make a "Hunny" pot.

It seemed like the Birthday Girl was in for a wonderful day, so hopefully these will just be the.... chocolate...on the cake!

Happy 2nd Birthday Keira!!!!

Puppy Love

The second auction lot was successfully delivered this weekend despite all this heat!! Last weekend, I asked the luck lady if she had any thoughts about what she wanted. She was having all her family round to her house, and she wanted something special for the grand kids. Being a Brit, she ask if they could have puppy dogs... in red white and blue for the Union Flag. I paused, making sure she was serious, then answered: "I think I can work with that".

This is what came out of my head. I had wanted to include some medals in honour of the Olympics, but maybe next time.

Go Team GB!!