tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92224132792157042612024-03-12T20:54:48.761-07:00Welcome!cooking through life, one recipe at a time!
All recipes are the property of Just Like Mom's and may not be duplicated without permission.Jill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-18757541189087811022011-04-18T19:34:00.000-07:002011-04-18T19:59:54.730-07:00If Only a Cupcake Could Cure CancerThis is a very different post tonight. About 15 minutes ago I learned that my dear friend, Jenny, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. My heart is so heavy and I'm too tired to bake, so I'm doing the only other thing I know how to do when I have a heavy heart- write.<br /><br />I want to tell you about how I met my amazing friend. I was a Resident Assistant in Hudson Hall at Northwest Missouri State University. The most adorable, lanky, blonde young lady with a dimple-filled smile moved into the room next to mine. As she began decorating her room, I noticed that we had lots of things in common. She was Catholic, she had lots of arts and craft supplies, she wore a really cool Egyptian cartouche necklace, and she loved the movie 'The Jerk'. I instantly knew that this young woman was going to be a fast friend of mine. She finished her side of the room and then began to decorate the outside of her door. She hung the most AMAZING picture this only child had ever seen. It was a very contented looking woman surrounded by a sea of blonde children- EIGHT of them. This was a picture that had been in the Omaha World Herald on Mother's Day. I had never known anyone who was a member of a family with EIGHT children. I was instantly in awe and we forged a fast friendship as she told me all about her siblings. I still, on nights when I can't sleep, try to recite all of the names of the Reynolds siblings! <br /><br />The year wore on and Jenny and I noticed that we also had a love for music and she introduced me to what has become one of my very favorite groups, the Indigo Girls. We sang many duets to the song, "Language or the Kiss" as well as just about every other song on the Swamp Ophelia album. I cannot even count the number of laughs, tears, and songfests in the hallway that were had that year. It was magical. Jenny continued on and went on to be an RA in my husband, Matt's, residence hall and her decoration of her floor was flawless! While Jenny was at northwest, Steven, Angie, and Anna were born! Jenny was now the oldest of ELEVEN!!! My awe continued!!<br /><br />Jenny's was the only wedding I've actually missed. I mean COMPLETELY missed. Matt and I headed to Omaha on a Saturday morning, spent the day with my mom, gave her our baby, and were headed to the wedding. I couldn't remember the time, so I gave Jenny's mom a call and asked what time the wedding started. I'll never forget the heartbreak in her voice as she said, "Oh, Jill. Bless your heart. The wedding was last night!" AAAACCKKK! I was devastated and teary and what did Jenny and Tim do? They took time out of their busy family wedding weekend and came to the hotel to see US! That's just he kind of person Jenny is. Always putting herself above others. <br /><br />She is now an amazing wife to Tim, and a model of mothering to Kate, Josh, and Andrew. She is still her incredible self, singing in her church choir, working to live her life to glorify her god, and being an amazing oldest child for her now very, very large immediate family. She is truly one of the very best people I know, and someone who I wish I were more like every day.<br /><br />My heart is breaking, not because I don't have every faith in the world that Jenny will persevere, survive, and emerge an even better image of herself. My heart is breaking because this beautiful soul is going to feel pain and suffering. The thought of my dear friend going through this kind of pain is almost more than I can bear. I know Jenny, though, and I know she will be a warrior like no other. I am not one to believe that God makes choices to 'do' bad things to people or to 'make' bad things happen. I believe in a kind and gentle God and believe that my faith is that God will sit with me in the times in which I cannot bear to go on. I believe that prayers for wisdom for doctors, strength for Jenny's family, and a never-ending prayer chain of faith and love can raise the strength and spirit of Jenny's body. I know that God doesn't cure disease, but he does provide the grace and wisdom of doctors. That's what I will be praying for, unceasingly, from now until Jenny is completely cured. I would ask that you, if you are inclined to believe in a higher being of any kind, pray for Jenny, Tim, their children, and ALL of those Reynolds siblings that they may be strengthened and find love and laughter in this fearful time. <br /><br />Tonight I will dry my tears, and know that Jenny has undoubtedly already found the silver lining in this ominous cloud. All I know is that if cupcakes could cure Cancer, I'd bake, and bake, and bake. <br /><br />Thanks for your prayers,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-27651631720867392452011-04-14T19:23:00.000-07:002011-04-14T19:30:02.116-07:00Look out Paula Deen!I finally got a link to my television debut! Of course, we're all incredibly critical of ourselves, and I certainly look like a cross between the Barefoot Contessa and Paula Deen and a lot less like Giada or Rachael Ray, but hopefully the presence of the double chin won't frighten you away!<br /><br />The episode is actually very, very well done for a college production. I'm really impressed with the video editing that the kids did! I hope you enjoy it!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3l1uHIoIBA <br /><br /><br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-38976501751008844102011-04-11T10:13:00.000-07:002011-04-11T10:37:32.627-07:00Monkey BusinessSome cakes just make you smile. <br /><br />I had the opportunity to be a part of another first birthday this week. The mom asked me to make a monkey cake based on the fact that her little boy was always referred to as their 'monkey'. I was thrilled to do this for little Ryker. <br /><br />This whole cake has more of a story to it than just being a monkey cake. Early last week I was approached by our university television station and asked if I would be willing to be a part of their show, Diner in the Rough. This is a show that is a little like Food Network's 'Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives'. I was a bit hesitant at first, given that I'm not so much a 'location' as I am, well, my kitchen! I wasn't sure if my venue would be what the show was after, but decided to give them a chance to try. <br /><br />I had my first attempt at being a food network star on Friday afternoon. The producer asked that I have some sort of a project to work on during the shoot, so I chose Ryker's monkey cake. The college students that came to film were absolutely adorable, and took their work very seriously. I allowed the host, Aaron, to be my assistant on the cake. I was thrilled with his willingness to try new things and he did a really great job. I did some finishing items after the crew had left, but overall Aaron helped me with 90% of the cake! <br /><br />I have new-found respect for the ladies and gents who work on television. Of course, my tiny little show was nothing compared to what those individuals do every day. However, I found it both distracting and a bit disconcerting to talk about what I was doing as I did it. I'm so used to being 100% alone during my work day, that it was hard for me to articulate my process. After a few minutes, I got really comfortable with the host and was able to settle into a pretty good groove. I believe the show will air sometime soon on the university television network. As soon as they get it posted on You Tube, I'll review it and see if I've got my 'Rachael Ray meets Paula Deen' groove on enough to share with all of you!<br /><br />Here's the final monkey product!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7FZd9wPjes/TaM3S53yu_I/AAAAAAAAAUc/5No7nX40Ez8/s1600/Ryker%2527s%2BMonkey.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7FZd9wPjes/TaM3S53yu_I/AAAAAAAAAUc/5No7nX40Ez8/s320/Ryker%2527s%2BMonkey.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594375960036293618" /></a><br /><br />We also had another HUGE moment in our family this week. We celebrated my husband Matt's 40th birthday. It was a terrific surprise for him, and great fun to plan for me! He even got his very own cakes. Finally, something from the business that he was allowed to eat! <br /><br />I made the black and white fondant cake. He requested something with a chocolate mousse filling, so that's what he received. Avery also made him a special cake. I think she's ready to take over the business! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EvaoGlIxLSc/TaM7WbK_l6I/AAAAAAAAAUs/9Tdo3EV3sr8/s1600/Matt%2527s%2BCake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EvaoGlIxLSc/TaM7WbK_l6I/AAAAAAAAAUs/9Tdo3EV3sr8/s320/Matt%2527s%2BCake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594380418561316770" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qaa2pC8NwUw/TaM7WD_CZFI/AAAAAAAAAUk/9T7ceNnAZ4w/s1600/Matt%2BAvery%2B40.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qaa2pC8NwUw/TaM7WD_CZFI/AAAAAAAAAUk/9T7ceNnAZ4w/s320/Matt%2BAvery%2B40.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594380412337153106" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rtF83pv6Ek/TaM8CmJlXOI/AAAAAAAAAU0/vQqRpIGm0zA/s1600/208403_646208411622_62105857_34490585_8248650_s%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 98px; height: 130px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rtF83pv6Ek/TaM8CmJlXOI/AAAAAAAAAU0/vQqRpIGm0zA/s320/208403_646208411622_62105857_34490585_8248650_s%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594381177422437602" /></a><br /><br /><br />This week I'm involved in a local cupcake competition! Wish me luck! <br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-11914371434411437252011-04-05T05:40:00.000-07:002011-04-05T05:55:52.236-07:00Life's better with Mascarpone!What do you get when you combine fresh strawberries with Mascarpone cheese and powdered sugar???????<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8wxDgXSY2Tc/TZsO_ULtbgI/AAAAAAAAAUM/WHxtw6JwMOE/s1600/IMG_1307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8wxDgXSY2Tc/TZsO_ULtbgI/AAAAAAAAAUM/WHxtw6JwMOE/s320/IMG_1307.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592079843222973954" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TdCCmc578iw/TZsO-7YdElI/AAAAAAAAAUE/sTqAgK9AZIs/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TdCCmc578iw/TZsO-7YdElI/AAAAAAAAAUE/sTqAgK9AZIs/s320/IMG_1306.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592079836565541458" /></a><br /><br />My dear friend, (and new mommy), Meghan recently celebrated her birthday. I was asked to create a strawberry shortcake cupcake for Meg. These cupcakes smelled like pure Heaven. They were a vanilla crumbed cupcake filled with strawberry glace and chopped fresh strawberries. The topping was a Mascarpone and powdered sugar frosting with strawberry puree and fresh chopped strawberries. I topped the whole thing with a huge, fresh strawberry. DANG IT! I shouldn't have given up sweets for Lent. I hope this special cupcake for a special lady tasted as great as it looked!<br /><br />This cupcake is not yet named. If you suggest a name and I choose it you will win a free dozen cupcakes, so suggest away!<br /><br /><br />I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Mascarpone cheese. If you haven't tried it, think of a creamy combination of Ricotta and cream cheese. If you've ever had my very favorite dessert, Tiramisu, you've had Mascarpone. In Tiramisu, the Mascarpone may be infused with a bit of Espresso, but it's still Heavenly. You can fill cream puffs, cannolis, or even strawberry shortcake with Mascarpone. It seems to live up to its Italian heritage; decadent and delightful! Of course, I've never found anything Italian that I didn't like....well except for possibly the pig's feet I was once encouraged to eat by an Italian cook....that would NOT be made better with Mascarpone! <br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-36930772945674578592011-03-28T20:01:00.000-07:002011-03-28T20:55:58.409-07:00Backlogged BlogHoly Moly! I have GOT to get better about blogging and baking at the same time! I looked back and realized I haven't updated since February 21! I'm going to lose followers if I don't get on it!!<br /><br />I have SOOO many exciting cake escapades to share with you. It seems as though my community, Maryville, was truly in need of a place in which customers could receive custom cakes. I always knew that custom cakes were fun and novel, but I had no idea how in-demand they really are!<br /><br />I got to experience the younger crowd's affinity for cake and cupcake design during my recent experience with two job shadow students. Our Association of University Women in town runs an exceptionally great job shadow program for 8th grade girls. The girls fill out an interest inventory form and then are matched with women who are in those professions. I was so lucky to have been matched with Madison and Chloe. I would hire either of these girls today! Not only were they excellent cake and cupcake designers, they did the dishes!!! The girls filled a cupcake order, took another order, and then each used their newly acquired skills to design a custom cake from sketching to completion! It was a fabulous day and I hope to participate again next year! Here are a few pictures from the day! <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSJx_IwCS9U/TZFOI_OkMhI/AAAAAAAAAR8/fFyX_EbFSVA/s1600/job%2Bshadow3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSJx_IwCS9U/TZFOI_OkMhI/AAAAAAAAAR8/fFyX_EbFSVA/s320/job%2Bshadow3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589334528861942290" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vFwnQtqBpGI/TZFOIQb9p4I/AAAAAAAAAR0/4lbT66D4wiM/s1600/job%2Bshadow%2B4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vFwnQtqBpGI/TZFOIQb9p4I/AAAAAAAAAR0/4lbT66D4wiM/s320/job%2Bshadow%2B4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589334516301670274" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1JT34ySZ2A/TZFOH3u0m5I/AAAAAAAAARs/UP7xpkpoaHs/s1600/job%2Bshadow%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K1JT34ySZ2A/TZFOH3u0m5I/AAAAAAAAARs/UP7xpkpoaHs/s320/job%2Bshadow%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589334509669882770" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8c6LRCkp5Q/TZFOHIRuaPI/AAAAAAAAARk/a7oUBDd53AY/s1600/job%2Bshadow%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e8c6LRCkp5Q/TZFOHIRuaPI/AAAAAAAAARk/a7oUBDd53AY/s320/job%2Bshadow%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589334496931375346" /></a><br /><br />I've had a ball creating so many interesting cakes for so many interesting occasions. I've created everything from an Eagle Scout court of honor cake to Rapunzel's tower! Rather than chatting on incessantly about each cake, I'll just show you the pictures and tell you a bit about each one! Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wqo1VYZsYuo/TZFQP8mz_2I/AAAAAAAAASk/uQQHZh7Awks/s1600/fancy%2Bchoc%2Bcake%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wqo1VYZsYuo/TZFQP8mz_2I/AAAAAAAAASk/uQQHZh7Awks/s320/fancy%2Bchoc%2Bcake%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589336847440674658" /></a><br /><br />My dear friend, Denise, is our first lady at our university. She needed just a nice chocolate cake for some older ladies who were dining at the president's residence. This was just a yummy triple chocolate cake filled with ganache and frosted with deep chocolate icing. Mmmmmm!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRmS2IoZImQ/TZFQPjFVe3I/AAAAAAAAASc/L7Z1zkIx3fE/s1600/fake%2Bcake%2B2.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 98px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRmS2IoZImQ/TZFQPjFVe3I/AAAAAAAAASc/L7Z1zkIx3fE/s320/fake%2Bcake%2B2.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589336840589376370" /></a><br /><br />Does it look real? IT'S NOT! This was my first adventure with fake cake! My sister-in-law to be, Julie, owns an AMAZING design firm, Bertie and Jules, in Kansas City. <a href="http://www.bertieandjules.com ">www.bertieandjules.com </a>She and her design partner are in the midst of designing a room in the KC Symphony showcase home. Their theme is all Marie Antoinette, so OF COURSE they needed cake. I designed two fake cakes and six fake cupcakes for their room. I was very pleased with my first fake cake adventure. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7yivUCPIHc/TZFQPKPkRgI/AAAAAAAAASU/-vJGpP69QpY/s1600/Eagle%2Bscout%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z7yivUCPIHc/TZFQPKPkRgI/AAAAAAAAASU/-vJGpP69QpY/s320/Eagle%2Bscout%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589336833921402370" /></a><br /><br />My friend Cara was my client for this Eagle Scout adventure. I had so much fun researching the eagle scout emblem. The emblem is fondant with a grey chocolate eagle. I created an edible metallic frosting to use on the eagle so it would look like the real metal emblem.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uR_3rEgvVh8/TZFQOplgdMI/AAAAAAAAASM/iCzXRGAh6ps/s1600/Dunder%2BMiflin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uR_3rEgvVh8/TZFQOplgdMI/AAAAAAAAASM/iCzXRGAh6ps/s320/Dunder%2BMiflin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589336825155056834" /></a><br /><br />Our sweet friends, Jeni and Paul, were married just recently. Both big fans of 'The Office' this Dunder Miflin groom's cake was just what every wedding needs!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KmYEZLJgPfM/TZFQODHrguI/AAAAAAAAASE/l7RkoSToUfA/s1600/Dora%2Bcake%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KmYEZLJgPfM/TZFQODHrguI/AAAAAAAAASE/l7RkoSToUfA/s320/Dora%2Bcake%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589336814829404898" /></a><br /><br />What little girl DOESN'T need a pink and purple Dora cake?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CnTxL7KCKi4/TZFSz9LORCI/AAAAAAAAATM/dHQLNv9BOvM/s1600/toy%2Bstory%2Bcake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CnTxL7KCKi4/TZFSz9LORCI/AAAAAAAAATM/dHQLNv9BOvM/s320/toy%2Bstory%2Bcake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589339665091937314" /></a><br /><br />The cutest three year old in Maryville needed a Toy Story cake! She's also a HUGE Bieber fan, so perhaps I already know what she needs for her fourth birthday!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7AbMq8d18fI/TZFSzSAqKEI/AAAAAAAAATE/fRhfaTr4cLw/s1600/Library%2Bcake%2B2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7AbMq8d18fI/TZFSzSAqKEI/AAAAAAAAATE/fRhfaTr4cLw/s320/Library%2Bcake%2B2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589339653504903234" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-geKVNWAUCvo/TZFSyxaCmHI/AAAAAAAAAS8/7Uirc4kC25Y/s1600/Library%2BCake%2B1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-geKVNWAUCvo/TZFSyxaCmHI/AAAAAAAAAS8/7Uirc4kC25Y/s320/Library%2BCake%2B1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589339644752992370" /></a><br /><br />After a slight meltdown with a new type of fondant, this cake finally got to the finish line. A wonderful librarian in our area celebrated her 60th birthday at school with this cake requested by her faculty. I was sure to make all of the titles match experiences from her life. Some of the call numbers are important dates from her life and the author's names are her two daughters and her husband. I was really thrilled to make this cake for Carla and I hope it made her 60th birthday just a little more special.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wqegUx8FcAA/TZFSx7gV66I/AAAAAAAAASs/xn0aEYgC3lo/s1600/First%2Bcommunion%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wqegUx8FcAA/TZFSx7gV66I/AAAAAAAAASs/xn0aEYgC3lo/s320/First%2Bcommunion%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589339630283910050" /></a><br /><br />I knew spring was in the air when I got to make this springy First Communion cake for precious Natalie!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--C-MUJyOcko/TZFWGIcfXXI/AAAAAAAAATU/Hjfmmbj58LQ/s1600/boot%2Bcookies%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--C-MUJyOcko/TZFWGIcfXXI/AAAAAAAAATU/Hjfmmbj58LQ/s320/boot%2Bcookies%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589343275889679730" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqFqAtG8moM/TZFSyXCcWBI/AAAAAAAAAS0/ve8N1BeOEDI/s1600/Grant%2Bcake%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqFqAtG8moM/TZFSyXCcWBI/AAAAAAAAAS0/ve8N1BeOEDI/s320/Grant%2Bcake%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589339637674694674" /></a><br /><br />What cowboy birthday party would be complete without boot cookies and a big boot cake?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dnvhh21GFAw/TZFWIKgFowI/AAAAAAAAAT0/rbvrcmi0aCY/s1600/Tractor%2Bcake%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dnvhh21GFAw/TZFWIKgFowI/AAAAAAAAAT0/rbvrcmi0aCY/s320/Tractor%2Bcake%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589343310801380098" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4bCgEjd_Ot0/TZFW-BdIjeI/AAAAAAAAAT8/1odNYrmKYrM/s1600/tractor%2Bcake%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4bCgEjd_Ot0/TZFW-BdIjeI/AAAAAAAAAT8/1odNYrmKYrM/s320/tractor%2Bcake%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589344236086005218" /></a><br /><br /><br />This cake was SO much fun to do. I sculpted the John Deere tractor out of Rice Krispie treats and added the fondant accents. The cake was vanilla and chocolate marble topped with vanilla buttercream.<br /><br />Finally, the biggest project I've had in awhile! Kennedy LOVES the movie Tangled and all things Rapunzel. So, her awesome mom commissioned me to re-create Rapunzel's tower in cake form. I had an absolute ball creating this cake!<br /><br />It's six layers of vanilla cake topped with a Rice Krispie and ice cream cone roof. I covered the cake in fondant I had molded to mimic cobblestones and hand cut and crafted each shingle for the roof. I crafted the shingles to look like shake shingles. I sculpted Rapunzel out of fondant and added fondant and icing flowers. Kennedy was very, very excited when her tower was delivered. Apparently, Rapunzel met an awful fate when Kennedy ate her! Oh well, at least she got out of the tower!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_ZoAvlt57Y/TZFWHtbZ37I/AAAAAAAAATs/3wwLFfsJc_U/s1600/Rapunzel%2B3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_ZoAvlt57Y/TZFWHtbZ37I/AAAAAAAAATs/3wwLFfsJc_U/s320/Rapunzel%2B3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589343302997106610" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ct7RczyhXgE/TZFWHZ-_VuI/AAAAAAAAATk/5-8fedHUdIA/s1600/Rapunzel%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ct7RczyhXgE/TZFWHZ-_VuI/AAAAAAAAATk/5-8fedHUdIA/s320/Rapunzel%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589343297777653474" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5WEhUGecqY/TZFWGtz_-4I/AAAAAAAAATc/7pJe9cA5tGA/s1600/Rapunzel%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5WEhUGecqY/TZFWGtz_-4I/AAAAAAAAATc/7pJe9cA5tGA/s320/Rapunzel%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589343285920398210" /></a><br /><br />I can't wait to share my next set of creations with you, and I vow to blog once a week from now on!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-36831354268075989472011-02-21T19:32:00.000-08:002011-02-21T20:17:09.225-08:00Baby, Baby, Baby...ohhhhhh....it's been BUSY!Wowza! Where did the last 14 days go? Oh, wait, I know...they went to Valentine's day, Justin Bieber, and Buzz and Woody. Sounds strange, I know, but in my world it's all in a day's work!<br /><br />I had a super duper successful Valentine's day. I wasn't quite prepared for how many people would be excited about giving baked goods rather than the traditional chocolates and flowers. I had an absolute ball creating these adorable cookie bouquets for several of the recipients.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6oFm9IgK8H4/TWMvJcrMCrI/AAAAAAAAAQM/ABXJTyHTd4s/s1600/Val%2BCookie%2BBoq.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6oFm9IgK8H4/TWMvJcrMCrI/AAAAAAAAAQM/ABXJTyHTd4s/s320/Val%2BCookie%2BBoq.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576352602977471154" /></a><br /><br />I think one of the most enjoyable parts of the day was traveling all around town (and even a few towns outside of Maryville) to deliver the goodies. I've said a million times that I love this business because of the fact that I get to see the faces of the recipients. There was nothing better than playing Cupid on Valentine's Day. I can't wait for next year, although I think I'd better start baking heart-shaped items tonight!! <br /><br />My mom has told me a million times that I'm 'brave' to do this business. I have countered that arguement a million times and said that it's not 'bravery' it's one part creativity and two parts stupid! In my personal life I have no ability to take a risk. I could be the head of risk management for the millitary and the poster child for safe living. Heck, I won't even drink milk after its expiration date. However, in my business life I seem to be very comfortable with risk. Someone says, "Hey, can you make the White House out of cake?" My response, "Sure! I think we can do that!" WHAT??? Seriously???? I have no freaking clue how to make a White House, or an airplane, or a hippopotamus, or a motorcycle out of cake but yet I find myself saying, "SURE". So, is it stupidity or is it some kind of sadistic need to research and create? I think it's the latter. Now, I've never been asked to make the White House, or an airplane, or a hippopotamus, or a motorcycle, but I think that if I were I'd give it a shot. Yes, of course it's terrifying to think that I could completely screw something up, and yet the thought of learning a new technique or purchasing a new tool is simply exhillarating. And so, the next few cakes are explained with that simple word...exhillarating. I had no idea how to do any of them, and yet they came. The first was, by far, the easiest and no less exhillarating. The last, well, it was just plain fun. I wonder if real artists have that same feeling when they are asked to create? I was once told by my good friend, (and artist), Dana that artists can actually go into a creative depression if they have not had a chance to create for a long period of time. I think I understand that. I think I spent many, many months doing the wrong kind of creating. Who knew that the 'right' kind lived just below the frosted surface of a cake. Hmm. Interesting. <br /><br />Here are the crazy creations of this week! Enjoy!<br /><br />Sweet, sweet Brynlee turned three this week. If you want to see a cute kid, you should see Brynlee! I was very excited when her mom called and said that she was very into Toy Story. I had a ball making this sweet, yet simple Toy Story cake and including some of Bryn's favorite friends from the movie! The top tier of the cake is made to look like Woody's shirt and the bottom tier was made to match the wallpaper in Andy's bedroom. There's just nothing about Toy Story that doesn't make me smile. So combining cute-as-a-bug Brynlee with Toy Story was just about too much cuteness to handle! <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLhzK1whG0I/TWM35-F-pSI/AAAAAAAAARc/I3tK3_dhNQo/s1600/toy%2Bstory.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLhzK1whG0I/TWM35-F-pSI/AAAAAAAAARc/I3tK3_dhNQo/s320/toy%2Bstory.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576362232674952482" /></a><br /><br /><br />You've seen sweet Eliana in previous posts. She's my friends Tim and Jenni's adorable daughter. She truly is one of the most precious and loveable babies I've ever known. I've adopted her as my local 'niece' and was so incredibly thrilled to get to be a part of her birthday brunch. <br /><br />Eliana has a very sweet jungle-themed bedroom. Somehow giraffes have played a very big part in her bedroom and she has collected several 'giraffey' things. Jenni asked for a giraffe-themed cake for the birthday party. I had said to Jenni, "I'll probably just make a giraffe sheet cake rather than trying to get a giraffe to stand up." She was totally cool with that. Well...of course I couldn't just do that, I had to make a three-dimensional giraffe. It's ELIANA! She's such a special part of our lives that it was just not enough to give her a sheet cake! <br /><br />Sooo...the giraffe was created. I sculpted the giraffe's body out of cake and the head out of rice crispie treats. The whole thing was covered in fondant. I wanted to be sure Tim and Jenni had enough cake to feed the guests, so I also created a very basic little extra cake to match the giraffe. I had so much fun creating both cakes, as well as the little smash cakes. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FUnrQ3q9Njo/TWMyTM98ZLI/AAAAAAAAAQk/dsiZ5nh0zgQ/s1600/e%2Bgiraffe.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FUnrQ3q9Njo/TWMyTM98ZLI/AAAAAAAAAQk/dsiZ5nh0zgQ/s320/e%2Bgiraffe.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576356069094745266" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5u5na1RzBsQ/TWMySzc_zfI/AAAAAAAAAQc/Hd71I0FOTx8/s1600/e%2Bgiraffe%2Band%2Bextra.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5u5na1RzBsQ/TWMySzc_zfI/AAAAAAAAAQc/Hd71I0FOTx8/s320/e%2Bgiraffe%2Band%2Bextra.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576356062245670386" /></a><br /><br /><br />And finally, here's what happens when you mix these tools...<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8U2yiVuummo/TWMySiq-h6I/AAAAAAAAAQU/Qp4F0BGJEHo/s1600/bieber%2Btools.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8U2yiVuummo/TWMySiq-h6I/AAAAAAAAAQU/Qp4F0BGJEHo/s320/bieber%2Btools.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576356057740904354" /></a><br /><br />with a crazy idea and one very funny 13 year-old with a serious case of Bieber Fever!!<br /><br />You get a cake with Justin Bieber on top!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FdN0bgRAaM/TWMzt2B6kUI/AAAAAAAAARM/Gm7zXUcItp8/s1600/bieber%2B5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FdN0bgRAaM/TWMzt2B6kUI/AAAAAAAAARM/Gm7zXUcItp8/s320/bieber%2B5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576357626305483074" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vk51_RB4Vkw/TWMztieosdI/AAAAAAAAARE/hHW0ipzwMyw/s1600/bieber%2B4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vk51_RB4Vkw/TWMztieosdI/AAAAAAAAARE/hHW0ipzwMyw/s320/bieber%2B4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576357621057237458" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGK7F3tY5dA/TWMztUiMkGI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/7JOLludHFFs/s1600/bieber%2B3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGK7F3tY5dA/TWMztUiMkGI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/7JOLludHFFs/s320/bieber%2B3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576357617314074722" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYgnVnjBwuE/TWMztKGOrFI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/gCpqh_oSdQE/s1600/bieber%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYgnVnjBwuE/TWMztKGOrFI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/gCpqh_oSdQE/s320/bieber%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576357614512417874" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZgcYFBQjHQ/TWMztBX9pAI/AAAAAAAAAQs/AIorWmaG4s0/s1600/bieber%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZgcYFBQjHQ/TWMztBX9pAI/AAAAAAAAAQs/AIorWmaG4s0/s320/bieber%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576357612170880002" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oAkR3xH7tOg/TWM35_xD--I/AAAAAAAAARU/iUbI2iPYjgs/s1600/bieber%2B6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oAkR3xH7tOg/TWM35_xD--I/AAAAAAAAARU/iUbI2iPYjgs/s320/bieber%2B6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576362233124092898" /></a><br /><br />The cake had a very simple vanilla cake bottom layer and a chocolate second layer. The backdrop was fondant with piping gel and coarse sugar accents. Justin and his 'wife' were both sculpted out of fondant. I let them sit for about five days prior to the party so that they were really good and hard. I also attached skewers to the backs of everything that had to stand up so that there was enough support to keep it all vertical! The little spotlights and the stage were also crafted out of fondant and allowed to dry hard. The crowd was cut from fondant and attached to the buttercream with water. I was really thrilled with how all of the colors and elements came together. This was certainly one of those crazy cakes that just had to be completely conceptualized. Oddly enough if you google 'Justin Bieber cake' you only come up with cakes with edible images on them. I was really, really excited to be able to create a great finished product that was an enormous suprise to the birthday girl! Again, that's truly the very best part of this job!<br /><br />I'm off to a well-earned rest!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-72251533756151014632011-02-07T20:12:00.000-08:002011-02-07T20:44:57.375-08:00Quick UpdateIt's been a hectic few days in the bakery. It sounds so funny to call it a bakery, let's be serious....it's my kitchen! It IS still the hub of the business, so I'll make the kitchen feel good about itself and call it 'The Bakery'. <br /><br />I so enjoyed writing the last post (if you haven't read it, simply go to the 'waxing poetic' post) that I feel as though my project update is just a bit superficial! <br /><br />I'm gearing up for a tremendously busy 'pre-Valentine' week. In addition to fulfilling my regular orders, I've also agreed to help out our Newman Catholic Center on campus by baking the goods for their Valentine fundraiser. They're a great group of kids and are raising money for their spring break Habitat for Humanity trip. I'm thrilled to be able to help them out. I figure late night baking gives me an opportunity to watch all kinds of movies and DVRd shows! Let's just hope no one accidentally gets a True Blood cake or an Everybody Loves Raymond cookie bouquet! <br /><br />Here are just a few of the projects from last week! Enjoy! <br />I love being part of first birthday parties! Corben turned 1 this week and had a baseball-themed birthday party. The large cake is a vanilla sheet cake covered with royal blue buttercream. The three-dimensional baseball and bat are both carved out of triple chocolate cake filled with chocolate buttercream. The texture on the bat and ball are created using the star tip which is what Corben's mom had requested. The smaller cake is Corben's very own baseball 'smash' cake to do with as he pleased! <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDGWRvdHlI/AAAAAAAAAPk/H6a08WOoh_M/s1600/Corben%2BCake.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDGWRvdHlI/AAAAAAAAAPk/H6a08WOoh_M/s320/Corben%2BCake.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571170825079168594" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDGWPRwbqI/AAAAAAAAAPc/n-EIdVPK8xw/s1600/Corben%2BSmash.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDGWPRwbqI/AAAAAAAAAPc/n-EIdVPK8xw/s320/Corben%2BSmash.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571170824417734306" /></a><br /><br />A dear friend and one of the classiest ladies I know ordered up a brand new flavor for her son's birthday. He is a fan of coconut cream pie so the Zach Attack coconut cream cupcake was born! This is a vanilla cake filled with coconut cream, topped with vanilla buttercream and zested with sweetened coconut shavings. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDJ3va-03I/AAAAAAAAAQE/B9M7VoLBKRw/s1600/Zach%2BAttack.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDJ3va-03I/AAAAAAAAAQE/B9M7VoLBKRw/s320/Zach%2BAttack.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571174698516927346" /></a><br /><br /><br />Undoubtedly one of the sweetest Kindergarteners in Maryville turned six this week and wanted all things Star Wars! I gleefully delivered a Star Wars cookie bouquet to him at lunch time and a load of Zen Zebra cupcakes (not pictured) and a Star Wars cake to his home later that evening! The cake was a layer of vanilla cake filled with chocolate buttercream and topped with another layer of triple chocolate cake. The entire cake was frosted in buttercream with hand cut and painted fondant accents. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDHUUn1qFI/AAAAAAAAAP8/Gzbnlj50OyY/s1600/Colby%2BBouquet.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDHUUn1qFI/AAAAAAAAAP8/Gzbnlj50OyY/s320/Colby%2BBouquet.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571171891004418130" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDHT3pAwpI/AAAAAAAAAP0/j5cLw6V-pfc/s1600/Colby%2BCake.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDHT3pAwpI/AAAAAAAAAP0/j5cLw6V-pfc/s320/Colby%2BCake.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571171883224711826" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDHTacRg8I/AAAAAAAAAPs/ktSnGa42yfg/s1600/Colby%2BCookie.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDHTacRg8I/AAAAAAAAAPs/ktSnGa42yfg/s320/Colby%2BCookie.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571171875386655682" /></a><br /><br />Last but not least, Da Sheeb. Where to begin with this extremely special cupcake. Sometimes, as a teacher, you have the opportunity to meet those kids with whom you just 'click'. I am lucky to have lots of those kiddos, but I have two from the graduating class of 2009 that are especially dear to me. They are my two 20 year old 'sons', Zach and Joe. These two young men mean as much to me as my own son and I think the world of both of them, which also includes giving them a swift kick in the fanny every now and then, and telling them exactly how I feel regarding most topics! When I started the business, both Joe and Zach were insistent that they have cupcakes named after them. My policy was, "you name it and tell me how to make it and I'll do it!" Zach, the significantly squeakier wheel of the two proclaimed his cupcake and named it Da Sheeb (his nickname is Sheeb). So, Da Sheeb has been born and is making its way to Sheeb's fraternity house as we speak! I must say, for a future veterinarian, he has excellent culinary taste! He chose a chocolate cupcake with cookie dough on the inside. I modified his request just a bit and made a chocolate butter cupcake filled with fresh chocolate chip cookie dough and baked to the peak of gooiness! It's topped with chocolate buttercream and a fresh-from-the-oven miniature chocolate chip cookie! Sheebie....good choice!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDGVruJ15I/AAAAAAAAAPM/lU0Wu8GK-Ac/s1600/Da%2BSheeb1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDGVruJ15I/AAAAAAAAAPM/lU0Wu8GK-Ac/s320/Da%2BSheeb1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571170814873163666" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDGVHrkmEI/AAAAAAAAAPE/wJqbvEOiwH8/s1600/Da%2BSheeb%2BCenter.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TVDGVHrkmEI/AAAAAAAAAPE/wJqbvEOiwH8/s320/Da%2BSheeb%2BCenter.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571170805198657602" /></a><br /><br /><br />Good Eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-81341688652617914652011-02-03T19:52:00.000-08:002011-02-03T20:15:08.581-08:00Waxing PoeticI don't often go all 'philosophical' or 'foo foo' on this blog, but tonight I feel as though I must. So, dear reader, bear with me and know that I'll be back to talking about the latest cupcake tomorrow night!<br /><br />Fear. I have learned that it must be a part of every new business venture. I'm feeling it these days. Although I have been blessed with a tremendous amount of business, a merchant's license, a great accountant, a supportive husband and family, a community embracing my crazy food ideas, and never ending creativity, fear looms below the surface.<br /><br />I have a hunch that even Edward D. Jones, Mr. Prada, and Paula Deen struggled with this fear when they started their businesses. It's amazing what runs through your mind on a daily basis. You second-guess, question, and 'what if' yourself to death. Just today as I was going through my list of philanthropic activities for the last couple of months, I found myself wondering if I was being TOO philanthropic (as if that's even possible) and not profit-driven enough. I'm not sure I even set out on this adventure to be profit driven. Heck I just wanted a place to express my creativity and find a passion. Unfortunately, the blessing and curse of a capatilist society is that you find yourself wondering about the bottom line. Looking at your receipts versus expenditures and questioning your viability as a business. <br /><br />WHO AM I??? Those of you who know me well know that I haven't a businessman's bone in my body. I ran screaming away from Mr. Lucas's and Miss Carson's room in high school because those were the places in which scary subjects like Marketing, Accouting, and Business 1 took place. BLECH! Give me the fine arts wing of the school. Plunk me into Miss Maschman's home ec classroom and then walk me to Mr. Berry and Miss Holder's rooms so I can write about what I think. But DO NOT, under any circumstances, put me into a business class. <br /><br />Guess what...I'm enjoying it. <br /><br />WHAT??? ENJOYING BUSINESS??? How is that even remotely possible? Well, let me tell you. Hold on for a bit of an 'Uncle Jed sitting on the porch whittlin' a stick' type story. <br /><br />I was a good teacher. Honestly, I think I might have been a really good teacher. That is, when I was allowed to grow and be challenged and express my creative side. I may not have been the best about remembering to turn in my lunch count on time, and God knows I NEVER had a clue where my school keys were, but when it came to engaging kiddos in a lesson, I was your go-to gal. However, lying underneath that ability to create engaging lessons was a creative beast just waiting to be released. A thermonuclear pressure of epic proportion. Sure, I'd express creativity in my classroom...making up songs, wearing inflatable ducks around my waist to teach about the equator, etc. but it wasn't enough. The passion just couldn't find it's place. I tried going to my fine art side, becoming the resident 'funeral singer' and finding a niche at Karaoke and Rock Band. Still...not enough. <br /><br />I can't tell you how many jobs I've taken, how many avenues I've persued just because I 'thought' just maybe they'd give me relieve from the creative pressures within. They certainly helped to pay the bills, gave me awesome perspectives on things about life and taught me more and more about me, but they still didn't give me that fueled passion. What was it? What was I searching for? Where would I find it? <br /><br />And then it happened. The single worst day of my life, to date. My mother-in-law, a terrific, driven woman in her own right, died. Just died. No warning, no "hey guys, I'm not doing so well". No nothing. Just a 'here today, gone tomorrow' experience. It rocked my world. I have no doubt it's continuing to rock my world. Be that as it may, it gave me a little reflection time. And, due to her incredible generosity, some financial breathing room, as well. That's when the idea of 'take a year or so off' was born. Could I ever have imagined that this experience would catapult me into this immense creative phase of my life? NEVER! But, it did, and here I am in the middle of this intensely crazy, wonderful thing called business. <br /><br />Wow. I love what I'm doing. I can honestly tell you that there is not a single job I've ever held that has made me happier. Is it because I'm my own boss? Sure. Is it because I'm the one picking up my kiddos after school everyday? Sure. Is it because for the first time in my life I'm combining all of my loves and doing it MY way? Absolutely. <br /><br />However, as with every great endeavour comes a tremendous amount of risk, and this is where the fear comes in. My time to be successful is finite. Money is finite. Unfortunately finances don't understand creativity! I find myself worrying each day about whether or not this 'little business that could' will be enough to sustain me. Will I have enough money to keep the business alive when so many around me are failing? Have I kept my capital high enough and my overhead low enough to take care of things? Have I done enough marketing? How can I market better? AAACK! These are the questions that one would think would completely usurp the creative side of the business, and yet I find them just as exhillarating as creating a new cupcake flavor. Again, I ask the question...who IS this person who is talking about business??? <br /><br />It's me.<br /><br />I think for the first time in many, many years, when I say "it's ME", I know who 'ME' is. Wow. That's pretty damned fantastic. It makes all of the late nights of baking, all of the researching strange techniques and ordering things that look like barbaric arms used in Medieval warfare worth it! <br /><br />So, perhaps I'm learning that with every great risk comes the potential for great reward. The smiles that come to the faces of people to whom I deliver are well worth the fear that lives just beneath the surface. I believe I will be successful. I believe I'll be able to continue to sustain myself without a full-time job to support this little cupcake dream. <br /><br />Thanks, faithful reader, for listening to my little soliloquy (if you haven't taken Shakespeare yet, google that word...you'll learn something). Knowing that you're still reading sustains my creativity. <br /><br />That's the poetic wax for tonight. <br /><br />Good eats, <br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-32946650960229664152011-01-29T15:30:00.000-08:002011-01-29T15:36:46.429-08:00Boo ThomasThe "boo Thomas" cake is finished! Hope Brayden will enjoy celebrating his 3rd birthday with this cake! Happy birthday, Brayden!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUSkWnIQb-I/AAAAAAAAAO4/Z_lbXOtO1Ak/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUSkWnIQb-I/AAAAAAAAAO4/Z_lbXOtO1Ak/s320/004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567755747704467426" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUSkWcdbshI/AAAAAAAAAOw/eC25WGoExSs/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUSkWcdbshI/AAAAAAAAAOw/eC25WGoExSs/s320/003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567755744840495634" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUSkV6wwo4I/AAAAAAAAAOo/ADnMl-bAMfI/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUSkV6wwo4I/AAAAAAAAAOo/ADnMl-bAMfI/s320/002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567755735794754434" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUSkVoxVt0I/AAAAAAAAAOg/TVgb-GcAWYs/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUSkVoxVt0I/AAAAAAAAAOg/TVgb-GcAWYs/s320/001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567755730965346114" /></a><br /><br />Good Eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-72584371824656245362011-01-26T19:31:00.000-08:002011-01-26T19:48:56.372-08:00Sneak PreviewI have lots of fun projects coming up in the next few weeks. One of my favorite projects is a "boo Thomas cake" for a sweet little three year old boy. His grandma is a friend of mine and said that his only request was "boo" and "Thomas". So, a BLUE Thomas theme it is! This is just a sneak preview of the topper and some embellishments that are drying.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUDqpfGsPmI/AAAAAAAAAN4/pMiz-mMIHGU/s1600/189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUDqpfGsPmI/AAAAAAAAAN4/pMiz-mMIHGU/s320/189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566707137875033698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUDqpPHSzVI/AAAAAAAAANw/qAYf8e-AaMc/s1600/188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUDqpPHSzVI/AAAAAAAAANw/qAYf8e-AaMc/s320/188.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566707133582593362" /></a><br /><br /><br />I created a Thomas cake for my nephew last year and had a ball doing it. You can imagine my extreme depression when, after traveling with it in the back of the van for seven hours, Thomas fell apart. Yep, COMPLETELY apart. So...on the morning of the birthday party I was at Target buying up each and every pound cake they had in order to reconstruct Thomas. It turned out great and Joey was just as happy. However, I learned my lesson from that cake and decided to go a little different direction for this Thomas cake. <br /><br />I have been inspired by an Etsy shop (www.etsy.com) that sells fondant cake and cupcake toppers. Fondant isn't necessarily my favorite medium, but I use it when I need to. This particular Etsy shop makes adorable toppers that just sit on top of the cake and are incredibly cute. I decided to echo that idea with this cake, so I've created a 2 dimensional cake 'topper' that will sit on the top of a 9inch square cake. The 3 and the stars will adorn the sides of the buttercream cake. I'm excited to do the cake in this way so that it is cost-effective for the family AND it will make it to the Kansas City party in ONE PIECE! Pictures of the finished product will follow soon!<br /><br />I'm also currently researching a Justin Bieber cake (I'm SOOO excited about my idea for that) and a cake inspired by the movie 'Tangled'. Can't wait to work on them both! <br /><br />I'm equally thrilled to be working on a BRAND NEW cupcake flavor. Cupcakes, hands down, are my favorite thing to do, so creating the Zach Attack flavor will be a ball. <br /><br />Finally, I'm starting to work on my Valentine orders. I got to deliver my first Valentines Day themed cookies today. Valentine's Day is my absolute favorite holiday, so making people smile with my confectionary creations is a terrific way to celebrate the holiday! Have you placed YOUR holiday order yet? Don't be caught buying the tacky box of chocolates at Wal-Mart on the afternoon of the 14th!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUDqornZyRI/AAAAAAAAANo/KVpex0bmWsE/s1600/186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUDqornZyRI/AAAAAAAAANo/KVpex0bmWsE/s320/186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566707124053592338" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUDqodOATII/AAAAAAAAANg/_SY3TD4Lfm4/s1600/185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TUDqodOATII/AAAAAAAAANg/_SY3TD4Lfm4/s320/185.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566707120188968066" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-28409139620233177832011-01-23T20:32:00.000-08:002011-01-23T20:54:06.743-08:00This is why I do what I do....<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TT0BCspsdiI/AAAAAAAAANY/gi1GVe-YdPc/s1600/Stacicake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TT0BCspsdiI/AAAAAAAAANY/gi1GVe-YdPc/s320/Stacicake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565605860357207586" /></a><br /><br /><br />is there any better face? <br /><br />My beautiful friend, Anna, ordered the black and pink cake from the previous post for her sister, Staci, who was turning 40. Staci has special needs and is the apple of her family's eye. The party was a complete surprise to Staci, as was the big cake.<br /><br />I am truly blessed to be a part of something that evokes a reaction like this one.<br /><br />I hope you're doing what YOU love....life's too short to do anything less. <br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-59838355658003195592011-01-21T17:34:00.000-08:002011-01-21T18:53:55.393-08:00Birthdays, Brides, and Business Licenses...OH MY!This was one of my most fun creations to date...<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TTo0nkiv9MI/AAAAAAAAANA/27ldh4K5L8k/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TTo0nkiv9MI/AAAAAAAAANA/27ldh4K5L8k/s320/001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564818143998637250" /></a><br /><br />this cake was for a very special lady who is turning 40! My dear friend has a sister with special needs who always requests a 'white cake with pink frosting'. For her fortieth, her family held a big soiree complete with gorgeous invitations, catering, and a BIG cake! I had so much fun designing this particular cake knowing that the woman who was to receive it had NO idea it was coming and would be so thrilled to see it! <br /><br />The cake is all light pink buttercream with black royal icing accents. The pink ribbon is made to match the pink on the invitations. The black is a 'shout out' to 40, and is made out of fondant. This cake weighed a TON, so I hope it made it to and from it's location without incident! It's always a fear to send my creations out the door and hope they perform well for the clients! This order also had 36 super yummy cupcakes going out the door with it. I hope it was a yummy success!<br /><br />I've been getting lots of calls from brides lately. When I first started the business I was dead set against having anything to do with weddings. As I've gotten more comfortable with my own skills and my product, I'm beginning to feel confident enough to take on weddings. Super Husband says, "Weddings scare the heck out of me!! You're a lot more brave than me!" Honestly, I'm not sure it's bravery or just a lust for creativity that leads me toward weddings! There are lots of hot trends in weddings these days. If you see an interesting idea for a wedding cake or a wedding cupcake tower, drop me a line and share it with me! I'm always looking for new and creative ways to make the day more special for the brides and grooms!<br /><br />Finally, I've taken my last big 'leap' into being a REAL business! I have a MERCHANT'S LICENSE!! Whoo hoo!! I know it shouldn't sound as exciting as I'm making it sound, but it's a big deal! I can now legally charge sales tax and pay Missouri taxes! Well, wait, now that I think about it maybe having a merchant's license is NOT something to be excited about! Tee hee! <br /><br />For anyone out there who is looking to start a home-based business, GO FOR IT! The book, Home-Based Business for Dummies has really helped me navigate the process. I'm now starting to really pursue advertising and other revenue generation streams. I'd love to chat with anyone else who is looking start a small business. <br /><br />More creations to come!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-21761848889345798712011-01-19T06:26:00.000-08:002011-01-19T06:35:23.112-08:00Girl Scout Cookie Inspired Cupcakes....need your input!This week I have the opportunity to make a really special cake for a very special lady. My dear friend has a sister with special needs who is celebrating her 40th birthday this week. She's having a fancy party and needs fancy cupcakes and a fancy cake to go along with it! I'm very excited about making the three tiered pink 'fancy' cake for this special lady. Can't wait to show you the pictures of it all! <br /><br />I'm doing lots of research lately on new cake techniques. I'm not sure I ever realized how much fun it is to research the melting points of pure buttercream versus buttercream/shortening blend...but it's important to know when you're working on wedding options for June! No one wants a melted wedding cake!!! <br /><br />This week's experimental flavor is Das Sheeb (named after one of my 'sons' who insisted). 'Das Sheeb' will have chocolate butter cake and cookie dough combined and will also be the first cupcake I've ever shipped! Wish me luck! <br /><br /><br />The Girl Scout cookies have also come in this week so I'm looking to make some Girl Scout cookie inspired cupcake flavors. Tell me about YOUR favorite GS cookie flavor and perhaps it'll be made into the next cupcake! <br /><br />Good Eats, <br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-64769531890036656752011-01-15T20:30:00.000-08:002011-01-15T20:41:15.219-08:00The Best Part of My 'Job'You know you've found the perfect job when one of your employment requirements is bringing a smile to the faces of very special people. I had the opportunity to do just that, yet again, today. <br /><br />This was today's big project and delivery<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TTJ0-xxsNTI/AAAAAAAAAMw/F4LaZw8WwpM/s1600/254.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TTJ0-xxsNTI/AAAAAAAAAMw/F4LaZw8WwpM/s320/254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562637111618450738" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TTJ0-sHbrYI/AAAAAAAAAMo/BY44ZzfXJkc/s1600/253.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TTJ0-sHbrYI/AAAAAAAAAMo/BY44ZzfXJkc/s320/253.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562637110099029378" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TTJ0-aGOJFI/AAAAAAAAAMg/AJjqNNvKy48/s1600/252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TTJ0-aGOJFI/AAAAAAAAAMg/AJjqNNvKy48/s320/252.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562637105262109778" /></a><br /><br />This cake was part of the celebration of Raymond and Eileen Seipel's 65th (yes, you read that correctly) wedding annivesary. Wow. 65 years. Raymond and Eileen are about the sweetest little couple you'll ever encounter and I was so incredibly thrilled to be a part of this big day for them. When Eileen's daughter-in-law called me to order the cake I asked her to ask Eileen about her wedding colors, etc. so that I could match the flowers. Eileen told her that she thought the flowers were white. I found these gorgeous Chrysanthemums at our floral shop and I was instantly in love with the starburst shape. I also loved the organic color of the green mums and was really excited to get to use those as an accent color. <br /><br />I absolutely love creating cakes out of buttercream. It's like working on a canvas that's just ready to be painted. I really enjoy working hard to make sure that the buttercream is smooth and ready for whatever I choose to do to embellish it. Lately I've been very excited about intricate scrollwork on cakes and the elegant way that it compliments the cake. All of the buttercream on this cake is exactly the same color, but I love the texture and class that the scrollwork and beading provide. I can't wait to really practice this technique and possibly begin to incorporate it into cupcake toppers, as well. <br /><br />I'm not sure what the secret is to 65 years but I'm sure, somehow, it involves cake!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-37248373773198619222011-01-11T14:56:00.000-08:002011-01-11T15:34:42.536-08:00Finally......back to the blog!!!So sorry, dear and faithful readers, to have been away from posting for A MONTH! This is ridiculous. Does this get me off the hook? I was obviously unable to communicate via technology, what with all of the snorkeling, sunning, card playing, etc. I was doing!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzguKjTUWI/AAAAAAAAALg/QVdhICtVNE8/s1600/606.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzguKjTUWI/AAAAAAAAALg/QVdhICtVNE8/s320/606.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561066723606745442" /></a><br /><br />Truly it was one of the best trips we've ever taken. Six days, just adults, and critiquing cruise ship desserts...it was HEAVEN!<br /><br />I'm back in the swing of things and working on the business harder than ever. I have some wonderful orders coming up including several weddings! I'm so thrilled to be able to share my talents and passions with others. <br /><br />You might have noticed that there is a new button on the right hand side of the blog. If you copy and paste the URL on that button into your browser's address bar, you'll be taken directly to my brochure link. You can feel free to print or download as many copies of the brochure as possible! I am very, very excited about having a more formal 'menu' for my customers and look forward to creating some very exciting goodies in the coming months! <br /><br />I have many pictures of holiday goodies to share, so enjoy a little break from whatever it is you're doing and take some time to scroll through the pictures. After all, it's not breaking your New Year's resolution to just LOOK, right? <br /><br />Good eats and HAPPY NEW YEAR to each of you! Tell a friend about Just Like Mom's, post a comment about it with your name, and I'll give you 10% off your order of $50 or less! Such an easy way to save a few dollars! <br /><br />Good eats! <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSznggcY_tI/AAAAAAAAAMI/00CCaXw4rPA/s1600/130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSznggcY_tI/AAAAAAAAAMI/00CCaXw4rPA/s320/130.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561074185546563282" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzngfZdStI/AAAAAAAAAMA/Y-goZYHY7jU/s1600/094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzngfZdStI/AAAAAAAAAMA/Y-goZYHY7jU/s320/094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561074185265826514" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzngL4Q0PI/AAAAAAAAAL4/2oOhSZDWHow/s1600/070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzngL4Q0PI/AAAAAAAAAL4/2oOhSZDWHow/s320/070.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561074180026323186" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSznfkFOblI/AAAAAAAAALw/5PRmVlbx6wI/s1600/067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSznfkFOblI/AAAAAAAAALw/5PRmVlbx6wI/s320/067.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561074169343274578" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSznfEouqBI/AAAAAAAAALo/NtSvhAILSXY/s1600/063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSznfEouqBI/AAAAAAAAALo/NtSvhAILSXY/s320/063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561074160902252562" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzoVxPh9tI/AAAAAAAAAMY/7_tW4E9JU8U/s1600/215.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzoVxPh9tI/AAAAAAAAAMY/7_tW4E9JU8U/s320/215.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561075100589094610" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzoVeV10GI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/M4BW-3Yz10I/s1600/135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TSzoVeV10GI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/M4BW-3Yz10I/s320/135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561075095515287650" /></a>Jill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-21294870524467404082010-12-09T16:06:00.000-08:002010-12-09T16:23:53.389-08:00Kids in the KitchenI was such a lucky little kid. I was raised in a family where the women were fabulous cooks and they weren't afraid to let me in the kitchen! In all gender fairness, my dad is a mean grillmaster and I had grandfathers who could cook like crazy. However, the biggest influence on my ability to cook were the women in my life. From my Aunt Connie's recipes that had such inspired lines in them as, "get them drunk enough and hungry enough and they'll eat anything" and "beat the hell out of it" to my Mom's red Better Homes and Gardens cookbook the things I learned to cook were simple, yet amazing. <br /><br />Chocolate chip cookies have always been a staple of our family. My dad will tell you that there is really no need to BAKE the cookies, the cookies are just a vehicle for dough! However, I've taken to baking them tens of dozens at a time and love having a cookie jar full of them! My family will tell you that the cookie jar is often full of the 'rejects' or the cookies that I don't want others to have! But I would argue that the jar is just as often full of delightful cookies that are NOT rejects! :) I learned to make chocolate chip cookies when I was very young, and am just now teaching Avery how to make them. Patrick used to love being in the kitchen with me, but somehow his love for all things sports has taken over his love for all things baking! He still makes a mean grilled cheese and some very tasty waffles, so at least he won't starve in college! In addition to the chocolate chip cookies I have very fond memories of making little mini apple pies when my mom was making the real pies. I do, however, tend to cheat these days and buy my pie crust pre-made, but back in those days the crust and all were crafted by hand! My mind is also full of Grandpa Trambly's pork chops, Aunt Connie's frog eye salad (and many other fluffy salady things), Grandpa Trambly's homemade french fries (which will, undoubtedly be the #1 cause of any clogged arteries I have later in life), and Grandma Woody's Red Velvet Cake. Like it or not, food is such a staple of family life and cooking is truly becoming a lost art! I am forever grateful that I had these strong role models of cooking in my life because I'm not afraid to try anything in the kitchen. I love that I can make 95% of what I cook without a recipe and without using processed or boxed foods. It's a good feeling to pass this skill on to my own daughter. If you're afraid of cooking or say "I can't cook" I challenge you to bust out a computer, type in your favorite food, accompanied by the word 'easy' into Google and TRY IT! I want to hear about your adventures with new recipes! Tell me all about it in the comments section! <br /><br />I don't let the kids help me in the kitchen when I'm processing orders, for obvious reasons, but I do like to get them involved as much as possible. Last week Avery and her darling BFF, Grace, had a great time decorating their own cakes. They decorated them using a Bearcat football theme, both believing that their cakes would be the good luck charm that the Bearcats would need to advance in the playoffs! It worked! Perhaps they need to bake again this weekend so that we can win our final game before the National Championship!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQFyiLOM4NI/AAAAAAAAALU/pu29yrVoEfo/s1600/avery%2Band%2Bgrace%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQFyiLOM4NI/AAAAAAAAALU/pu29yrVoEfo/s320/avery%2Band%2Bgrace%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548842147350634706" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQFyh31wYPI/AAAAAAAAALM/T0xvb7xK1D8/s1600/Avery%2Band%2Bgrace%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQFyh31wYPI/AAAAAAAAALM/T0xvb7xK1D8/s320/Avery%2Band%2Bgrace%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548842142147830002" /></a><br /><br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-56223079189755654682010-12-08T19:48:00.000-08:002010-12-08T21:21:12.208-08:00Making a list, checking it twice!WWWWHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! I honestly have NO idea what's happened to November and the first seven days of December. I am significantly shocked that Christmas is just three weeks away. It seems like the Bakers were just all here for Thanksgiving. Then came the rush to get the tree up, decorating done, etc. I downsized significantly on my decorating for Christmas this year and I've been so pleased. We did a smaller tree than usual (our living room ceilings are 20 feet high, so we usually have at least a 10 foot tree). We bought an adorable little Frasier fir from Hy Vee and it's just charming. I think sometimes the holidays become so much work that they stop being fun and we completely lose the point of the season. One of the most wonderful things about this new adventure is that I get to be a part of making the holidays (and other special occasions) nice for others. There is something really wonderful about knowing that my 14 hours in the kitchen have made the holiday season better for a mom who has worked 10 hours, has small children to get ready, and is responsible for baking holiday goodies for a work party. If I can spend my 'work days' doing that for others, well, then this is a pretty darned good job! <br /><br />I mentioned in my last post that a new flavor had been born to the family. Unfortunately I didn't remember to snap any 'baby pics' of this one, but it was born because of my pregnant sister-in-law's penchant for cordial cherries. I DO NOT understand the love of chocolate covered cherries by they are a real favorite of Anne's. So the 'Queen Anne' cupcake was created! It's a very simple chocolate cupcake filled with cherry filling (cherries in heavy syrup), topped with whipped chocolate ganache and topped with a Queen Anne cherry cordial. Apparently they were yummy, but since I absolutely do not love chocolate covered cherries, I stayed away! Maybe I should make all food in my world chocolate covered cherry flavored and then I'd look more like Jessica Simpson rather than Julia Child! ;) <br /><br />It has been a tremendously busy week at the bakery and I don't see things slowing down any time soon! I keep a book and a calendar of all of my orders, but I'm always terrified I'm going to forget someone or something. I can't imagine being Santa! No wonder he checks his list twice! I think I check my book and calendar at least twenty times a week!!! Here are a few of the things I had the privilege of making last week...<br /><br />This fun cake was for little Allison's first birthday. Allison had a farm themed birthday, so her mom chose this fun cake design. The top part of the cake is a jumbo cupcake decorated to be a barn. This served as Allison's little 'mini' cake for her to do with as she pleased. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBW38enlPI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/8SXbTC7sAPY/s1600/allisons%2Bcake2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBW38enlPI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/8SXbTC7sAPY/s320/allisons%2Bcake2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548530260047795442" /></a><br /><br /><br />These fun jumbo cupcakes were created for a little guy and girl who were both celebrating their first birthdays. The jumbo cupcakes are covered in black fondant and the ears are made with black fondant and buttercream. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBYaftaqGI/AAAAAAAAAKU/29G0Hcug6hA/s1600/minnie%2Bmouse%2Bcupcake.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBYaftaqGI/AAAAAAAAAKU/29G0Hcug6hA/s320/minnie%2Bmouse%2Bcupcake.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548531953132284002" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBYaJsKvXI/AAAAAAAAAKM/oyKZVplsF0s/s1600/mickey%2Band%2Bminnie%2Bmouse%2Bcupcakes.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBYaJsKvXI/AAAAAAAAAKM/oyKZVplsF0s/s320/mickey%2Band%2Bminnie%2Bmouse%2Bcupcakes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548531947221466482" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBYZoIH78I/AAAAAAAAAKE/UVmpfg9oKHg/s1600/back%2Bof%2Bmickey%2Band%2Bminnie%2Bcupcakes.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBYZoIH78I/AAAAAAAAAKE/UVmpfg9oKHg/s320/back%2Bof%2Bmickey%2Band%2Bminnie%2Bcupcakes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548531938211917762" /></a><br /><br />I had the opportunity to get a bit of an education this week. Prior to Monday I had never heard of Chuggington. Apparently Chuggington is the new Thomas the Train. I had to do a quick study of the Chuggington characters in order to make the cake for Cash's 3rd birthday. I was worried about the figures not being exactly like the actual characters until I walked into Cash's house and he said, "CHUGGINGTON!" WHEW! Making actual characters can be so stressful because you can't quite ever get them exactly right. I think Cash and his mom were pleased, and I was happy to get my Chuggington education! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBbZgi3hgI/AAAAAAAAAK0/s0CwnBQ_7Yw/s1600/CASH%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBbZgi3hgI/AAAAAAAAAK0/s0CwnBQ_7Yw/s320/CASH%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548535234711488002" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBbZdrDiBI/AAAAAAAAAKs/QqCOLuFQfFk/s1600/CASH4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBbZdrDiBI/AAAAAAAAAKs/QqCOLuFQfFk/s320/CASH4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548535233940523026" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBbY1rYsqI/AAAAAAAAAKk/W5JJUA1s0NY/s1600/CASH3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBbY1rYsqI/AAAAAAAAAKk/W5JJUA1s0NY/s320/CASH3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548535223204491938" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBbYpew64I/AAAAAAAAAKc/slW_SIfZprc/s1600/CASH2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBbYpew64I/AAAAAAAAAKc/slW_SIfZprc/s320/CASH2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548535219930327938" /></a><br /><br /><br />Another adorable 3 year old celebrated his birthday with a Just Like Mom's cake and cookies. Kort is a Handy Manny fan so I created this fun tool belt cake for him. I got to have fun creating some tool cookies, as well. I would do some things differently on these cookies the next time I make them, but they worked out just fine for this particular cake! I hope Kort enjoyed it! <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBcYhx9K4I/AAAAAAAAALE/UzdA5fdfV1A/s1600/KORTS%2BTOOLS.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBcYhx9K4I/AAAAAAAAALE/UzdA5fdfV1A/s320/KORTS%2BTOOLS.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548536317374966658" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBcYIQaTgI/AAAAAAAAAK8/mcTG-ONlYN8/s1600/KORTCAKE.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TQBcYIQaTgI/AAAAAAAAAK8/mcTG-ONlYN8/s320/KORTCAKE.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548536310523383298" /></a><br /><br />I'm off to catch some ZZZs before another long day of baking and frosting. Tomorrow I'll show you some pictures of my adorable assistant bakers! <br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-73843691896521432132010-11-27T17:34:00.000-08:002010-11-27T18:05:48.192-08:00So Much to be Thankful For!Happy Thanksgiving weekend! I'm not really sure there's anything much better than family. As an only child I always looked forward to the large family dinners we had with my mom's family in central Nebraska. We would gather and eat too much, laugh, and have fun with cousins. As I got older, my cousins (who were substantially older than I) moved on to their own lives and the family dinners changed. I missed those times tremendously until I had the opportunity to meet my husband's family. <br /><br />The first time I met them I knew they were a bit like a Hooters slogan, "delightfully tacky, yet refined". They're all well-educated and intelligent, and yet they have a zest for slightly crude humor and laughter at each others' expense. However, you won't find a more loving, kind, committed, open-minded group of people anywhere. I feel so blessed to have them all as part of my life.<br /><br />As I write this, 19 of them have descended upon my home. Most of us have changed into our 'holiday pants' and are enjoying the Oklahoma State/Oklahoma football game. There is also a contingent bathing the two adorable nephews from Minnesota who are awaiting the birth of their new baby brother or sister, there's an uncle blowing up air mattresses, and there are children making a hide-and-seek-in-the-dark game in our basement. There's a newly engaged 'aunt' and Uncle, and a grandfather who drove 2 hours after a day of traveling via airplane just to share a meal with his kiddos. It's the sound of family, and it's wonderful. As an only child I feel so fortunate to have married ALL of them, warts and all. They accept me (well, mostly) for exactly who I am and support the crazy endeavors I find! I love them all, as well as my Dad and Leslie who are awaiting our arrival in Florida, my Mom who is able to be here to share in this insane Baker feast, and of course all of my cousins and their beautiful families who are sharing the holidays far away from here. <br /><br />All that family sleeping in my house has to eat, and EAT we have! In addition to the beignets, sausage croissants, dip, homemade egg nog, all matter of alcoholic beverages, cookies, turkey fixings, pies, cheesecakes, and 'foo foo' drinks, a new cupcake has emerged! Tomorrow I'll tell you all about it! For now, enjoy this adorable view of the current baby of the family enjoying the latest flavor.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TPG4nHSGkyI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/adibuXSu8cc/s1600/IMG_3184.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TPG4nHSGkyI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/adibuXSu8cc/s320/IMG_3184.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544415598379176738" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TPG4mVv7mdI/AAAAAAAAAJs/4SgnPhZJlaU/s1600/IMG_3183.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TPG4mVv7mdI/AAAAAAAAAJs/4SgnPhZJlaU/s320/IMG_3183.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544415585082513874" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TPG4ldQbEFI/AAAAAAAAAJk/TPyHHU-qD48/s1600/IMG_3182.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TPG4ldQbEFI/AAAAAAAAAJk/TPyHHU-qD48/s320/IMG_3182.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544415569917972562" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TPG4jq3IKMI/AAAAAAAAAJc/ArZi_n0f8iI/s1600/IMG_3181.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TPG4jq3IKMI/AAAAAAAAAJc/ArZi_n0f8iI/s320/IMG_3181.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544415539210234050" /></a><br /><br /><br />Many thanks to YOU, faithful blog readers! <br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-69977373094313530442010-11-22T20:07:00.000-08:002010-11-22T20:58:23.490-08:00A Successful HuntThis weekend I got the fantastic opportunity to be a part of the Maryville Holiday Hunt. The Hunt is a terrific gathering of true artisans who sell their artwork and other handcrafted items. It was a pleasure to be selected to join the group!<br /><br />The Hunt began with the baking of about 355 cupcakes, all to be created as signature flavors. Needless to say, the kitchen was COMPLETELY taken over with the goodies. Super Husband and the kids feel totally annoyed that they don't get to 'keep' any of the creations I make...they all end up leaving the house! However, I think they were all relieved to see this batch go! <br /><br />I had a gorgeous spot in which to display my cupcakes. I brought in my NEW cupcake tower (thank you SOOOO much to my 'second husband, Mark' for transporting the mammoth stand for me) and filled it up! I loved the way the cupcakes looked on the stand when they were displayed. The stand is really versatile. I love the fact that the side boards on each tier are removable so that the boards can be covered with fabric, ribbon, etc. It would be great fun to use coordinating fabrics for brides, etc. I can't wait to get to bring the stand out for a wedding! <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE50lJMRI/AAAAAAAAAIk/8xzzo-D_qNo/s1600/stand1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE50lJMRI/AAAAAAAAAIk/8xzzo-D_qNo/s320/stand1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542599526567194898" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE5WK1PdI/AAAAAAAAAIc/ioWhwMM7YG0/s1600/Display3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE5WK1PdI/AAAAAAAAAIc/ioWhwMM7YG0/s320/Display3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542599518403771858" /></a><br /><br /><br />I also had a display area with my laptop (referred to as my fifth appendage) and displayed a slide show of my cookies, cupcakes, and cakes. I was in charge of a children's activity, as well, so I created sugar cookie decorating kits for the kiddos. They looked so pretty displayed on my smaller cupcake stands. Of course, my logo and bakery boxes are all pink, so my area looked a little like an exploded Pepto Bismal bottle, but I thought it was fun, light, and festive! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE45PXjrI/AAAAAAAAAIU/rHuSQdCZ_F4/s1600/Display%2B2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE45PXjrI/AAAAAAAAAIU/rHuSQdCZ_F4/s320/Display%2B2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542599510638169778" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE14dtxqI/AAAAAAAAAIM/ifWIspcUAcY/s1600/Display%2B1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE14dtxqI/AAAAAAAAAIM/ifWIspcUAcY/s320/Display%2B1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542599458890303138" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI3-WIAcI/AAAAAAAAAJM/q86aOyd0HqM/s1600/Sue%2BWoo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI3-WIAcI/AAAAAAAAAJM/q86aOyd0HqM/s320/Sue%2BWoo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542603892875329986" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI1f3_dMI/AAAAAAAAAI8/hruUiwm1iY4/s1600/GoodGoalie.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI1f3_dMI/AAAAAAAAAI8/hruUiwm1iY4/s320/GoodGoalie.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542603850336138434" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I sold out of my cupcakes and made some really fun appointments and contacts for future baking jobs. I'm really looking foward to continuing to try out new flavors and techniques! <br /><br />In addition to the Holiday Hunt goodies, I had the MOST fun opportunity to cater cupcakes to a really great guy's SURPRISE birthday party! It was sooo much fun to work with Kevin's wife, Patty, to coordinate the big surprise. Kevin is an avid hunter and doesn't particularly love cake, but he does love, love, love Scotcheroos. So, naturally I thought he needed to combine both of those loves and the Scotcheroo deer sculpture was born!<br /><br />I had so much fun sculpting this goofy little deer. I everything is made out of Scotcheroos. The antlers are covered in white fondant and are shaded and etched with black food coloring in order to make them look more realistic. The deer head itself is truly a Scotcheroo. The deer is covered completely in chocolate with fondant accents. I hope it was as tasty as it was goofy! <br /> <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE6UdAeII/AAAAAAAAAIs/QpANxBqU7vA/s1600/Deer1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtE6UdAeII/AAAAAAAAAIs/QpANxBqU7vA/s320/Deer1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542599535123003522" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI0bbcuuI/AAAAAAAAAI0/6RfGAW4I72s/s1600/Antler1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI0bbcuuI/AAAAAAAAAI0/6RfGAW4I72s/s320/Antler1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542603831962811106" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI2DjwLWI/AAAAAAAAAJE/UNYwwEfGEmY/s1600/Kevinsdisplay.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI2DjwLWI/AAAAAAAAAJE/UNYwwEfGEmY/s320/Kevinsdisplay.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542603859914927458" /></a><br /><br />My final decorating feat for the week (and boy, what a baking week it was) was little Miss Reagan's baptismal cake. This was a very simple, girly white cake with pink accents. The bow is pink fondant and the bow at the bottom is an actual fabric bow. When I delivered this cake I was so pleased to see Miss Reagan was also decked out in pink and white and had a very similar pink bow in her hair. What a sweetie!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI6BN2ABI/AAAAAAAAAJU/aqVFq7cy6Yw/s1600/Reagan1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOtI6BN2ABI/AAAAAAAAAJU/aqVFq7cy6Yw/s320/Reagan1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542603928005640210" /></a><br /><br /><br />The giveaway is continuing! Don't forget to leave comments and become a blog follower to be entered in the drawing to win the book 'Cupcake'. You can see the book and a description of the book in the previous post!<br /><br />Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! I'm rolling out a BRAND NEW cupcake for my adorable pregnant sister-in-law...stay tuned!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-24614647436568866142010-11-18T08:35:00.001-08:002010-11-18T09:16:39.546-08:00Cupcakes get Cultured!There is actual literature about CUPCAKES!!! Do you believe it? Cupcakes have gone from being delightful little 'lazy man's' food to a gadzillion dollar industry! Apparently cupcakes are soooo popular that the world of children's literature has even joined the cupcake craze! I think having literature written about a food automatically makes it cultured and refined, right? Well, I guess you'd have to exclude the children's book, 'It Was Disgusting and We Ate It', but my two new favorite books are surely refined! <br /><br />The first is 'Cupcake' by Charise Mericle Harper. This is an adorable story of a vanilla cupcake feeling very inadequate next to his more 'foo foo' flavored peers. It's an adorable book about just loving who you are. It's becoming one of Avery's favorites! <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOVeBlNnd1I/AAAAAAAAAH8/f4jEHfQPsNk/s1600/DSC00905.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOVeBlNnd1I/AAAAAAAAAH8/f4jEHfQPsNk/s320/DSC00905.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540938297811367762" /></a><br /><br /><br />The second is 'Tina Cocolina Queen of the Cupcakes' by Pablo Cartaya and Martin Howard. This is another story about finding yourself amongst the crowd and believing in your own individuality. This one has more of a 'pageant' feel, but without the sometimes negative aspects of pageantry. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOVeFkvER3I/AAAAAAAAAIE/X1SGZVrF6-I/s1600/DSC00906.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOVeFkvER3I/AAAAAAAAAIE/X1SGZVrF6-I/s320/DSC00906.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540938366402709362" /></a><br /><br />I highly recommend that you pick up these two books for your favorite guy or gal! Heck, pick up the book, order some cupcakes and voila...you've got a complete birthday gift!<br /><br />I'm feeling lonely and wondering if anyone is out there! I'm giving away one copy of 'Cupcake' to a lucky blog commenter! I'll take names of any of you who make comments between now and Thanksgiving Day. Each comment you make entitles you to an entry into the drawing for the book! Keep me motivated with your terrific comments! Also, become a blog follower and you'll get one DOUBLE entry for the prize!<br /><br />I'm off to bake! This is a BIIIGGG order week!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-8380793664021874342010-11-15T10:58:00.000-08:002010-11-15T11:35:47.572-08:00Baking's a HOOT!First and foremost....I promised you pretzely goodness and you shall receive! This......<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGHk8K5NwI/AAAAAAAAAHs/x3kykQVUk0Y/s1600/Take%2B5"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGHk8K5NwI/AAAAAAAAAHs/x3kykQVUk0Y/s320/Take%2B5" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539858085339281154" /></a><br /><br />is the new 'baby' that joined the Just Like Mom's family this week! This yet-unnamed cup of yummy goodness is chocolate butter cake filled with caramel, topped with peanut butter buttercream and crusted with pretzels. HEAVEN! If you've ever had a Take 5 candy bar and LOVED it this cupcake is FOR YOU! It's the perfect combination of sweet and salty. It's sure to become a fan favorite! <br /><br />I had a hoot of a time baking a first birthday extravaganza for my ADORABLE neighbor, Ryan. She had an owl themed first birthday party that was, hands-down, the most adorable first birthday party I've ever attended! Here are the goodies from her soiree! <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFjm6qrCI/AAAAAAAAAHk/3JHXVnzWQuw/s1600/Ryan%2527s%2Bsmash%2B2"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFjm6qrCI/AAAAAAAAAHk/3JHXVnzWQuw/s320/Ryan%2527s%2Bsmash%2B2" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539855863430949922" /></a><br /><br />This is Ryan's 'smash' cake, or the little cake she got to tear into! Aren't first birthdays awesome! After you turn one no one allows you to just smash your face and fingers into anything! Perhaps we should change that and allow any and all birthday guests of honor to defame their cakes. I'll contact Congress!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFixiSYwI/AAAAAAAAAHc/mXSshSDcs_o/s1600/Ryan%2527s%2Bsmash1"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFixiSYwI/AAAAAAAAAHc/mXSshSDcs_o/s320/Ryan%2527s%2Bsmash1" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539855849101615874" /></a><br /><br />Another view of Ryan's smash cake. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFilts7qI/AAAAAAAAAHU/CcSHMq6W4WQ/s1600/Ryan%2527s%2Bbig%2Bcake"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFilts7qI/AAAAAAAAAHU/CcSHMq6W4WQ/s320/Ryan%2527s%2Bbig%2Bcake" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539855845928267426" /></a><br /><br />This was Ryan's 'big' cake that was used to serve. I am really pleased with the color combinations on this cake. It turned out beahooootiful! <br /><br /><br />This was my favorite part of the entire creative process! I had SO much fun creating these owl cookies. I absolutely love what royal icing allows me to do with cookies. What fun. I'm thinking about just baking these up for myself on some dreary winter afternoon. Don't they just make you feel compelled to smile? <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFiEFUjuI/AAAAAAAAAHM/iJolsfADkUY/s1600/owl%2Bcookies"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFiEFUjuI/AAAAAAAAAHM/iJolsfADkUY/s320/owl%2Bcookies" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539855836900527842" /></a><br /><br />I also got to have some cupcake love for this party. These are simple white cupcakes with fondant owl toppers and pink and pale green frosting. Yum-o!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGKKf__UmI/AAAAAAAAAH0/asNjxFgsuCU/s1600/Owl%2Bcupcake"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGKKf__UmI/AAAAAAAAAH0/asNjxFgsuCU/s320/Owl%2Bcupcake" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539860929635635810" /></a><br /><br />I, of course, had to include a picture of my Avery with her namesake Ryan Avery. Don't you just want to squeeze their cheeks! What cuties! I'm sure someday Avery will be teaching Ryan how to sneak out of the house. For now, at least' we can just revel in their cuteness! <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGEJZviDWI/AAAAAAAAAGc/REmeamilCvs/s1600/avery%2Band%2Bryan"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGEJZviDWI/AAAAAAAAAGc/REmeamilCvs/s320/avery%2Band%2Bryan" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539854313706360162" /></a><br /><br /><br />Another birthday boy, Merritt, celebrated his 16th birthday this week with a Butterfinger themed cupcake. The 'Nobody Betta Lay a Finga' cupcake is dedicated to Mr. Merritt! This cupcake is a chocolate buttercake filled with Butterfinger filling and topped with ganache and a Butterfinger bar! <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFh2n3W-I/AAAAAAAAAHE/bWQkcpZr5q8/s1600/nobody%2Bbetta%2Blay%2Ba%2Bfinga"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGFh2n3W-I/AAAAAAAAAHE/bWQkcpZr5q8/s320/nobody%2Bbetta%2Blay%2Ba%2Bfinga" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539855833287318498" /></a><br /><br />I thought I'd take a picture of the inside so you can see just how far the cupcakes are filled. None of this frilly 1/2 full stuff! These are cupcakes for REAL people! Fill 'em up! <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGEKPjjD5I/AAAAAAAAAGs/1PR2eS88F3s/s1600/inside%2Bnobody%2Bbetta%2Blay"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGEKPjjD5I/AAAAAAAAAGs/1PR2eS88F3s/s320/inside%2Bnobody%2Bbetta%2Blay" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539854328151609234" /></a><br /><br /><br />Finally, Miss Bailey was also celebrating her 16th birthday! She requested 'girlie' pink Pride O' The Bride cupcakes and some fun basketball cookies for her fellow Spoofhounds (hence the pawprint on each basketball).<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGEJqB_6kI/AAAAAAAAAGk/mRfCF6ihkRA/s1600/basketball%2Bcookies"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TOGEJqB_6kI/AAAAAAAAAGk/mRfCF6ihkRA/s320/basketball%2Bcookies" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539854318078782018" /></a><br /><br /><br />This week will be a baking frenzy. I have 600 cupcakes to make, one scotcharoo sculpture, and at least 200 cookies. Whew! Luckily my mom has agreed to come in and act as a reinforcement sous chef. I'm thinking that the payment will be in wine!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-6702681332537105192010-11-10T09:52:00.001-08:002010-11-10T11:15:51.291-08:00All this baking is getting in the way of my blogging!!Really? No blog post since October 27? YIKES! I suppose too much baking and not enough blogging is the sort of balance I should be hoping for!<br /><br />I have had so much fun in the last couple of weeks with new cake and cupcake creations. I've been asked many times recently if I have recipes I follow or a book I get my ideas out of. The truth is an absolute NO to both questions. I probably should have recipes, but I prefer to just tinker around with flavors and different combinations until something yummy comes out! I take much of my inspiration from conversations I have with friends and family about the types of flavors they enjoy. I had a friend mention that she really loves Oreo cookies, so an Oreo flavor was born. My mom adores carrot cake and applesauce spice cake, so those cupcakes were born! I'm most thrilled about a flavor I'm working on that involves pretzels! I won't give any more away than that! But be looking for that flavor to be revealed soon!<br /><br /><br />Last week I had the opportunity to create a chocolate buttercream cake for a dear friend's mother-in-law's 80th birthday. There were going to be lots and lots of children celebrating with this lucky grandmother, so I opted to do buttercream rather than a full fondant covering. I have been experimenting with a new buttercream smoothing technique, so this was a good place to try it out. It wasn't 100% perfect, but I loved the way the remainder of the cake turned out! The cake was chocolate butter cake with truffle filling and deep chocolate buttercream icing! YUM-O!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TNrjJ6QkQNI/AAAAAAAAAGM/wc9MEIEgoBY/s1600/DSC00846.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TNrjJ6QkQNI/AAAAAAAAAGM/wc9MEIEgoBY/s320/DSC00846.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537988451202515154" /></a><br /><br />My darling little friend, Eliana, was on hand to help me with this cake. She arrived at my house dressed in her CUPCAKE outfit and it was even BROWN AND BLUE! She's such a themey little helper! I couldn't avoid the picture! <br /><br />A new cupcake was also created this week! The 'Tracy's Tasty' joined the Just Like Mom's family! This cupcake is named after Matt's Aunt Tracy who makes a family-famous chocolate mint cookie. We adore the flavor combination and I knew a cupcake version was a must. The cupcake is chocolate butter cake with a chocolate mint ganache filling topped with whipped ganache and diced Andes mints! Don't you think you need some for your holiday parties?<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TNrjKvUgK1I/AAAAAAAAAGU/JTMIpm2pUFc/s1600/DSC00868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TNrjKvUgK1I/AAAAAAAAAGU/JTMIpm2pUFc/s320/DSC00868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537988465446103890" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've also had many people ask me lately why I decided to start my business. Truly it's all because of this.....<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TNrdEghalMI/AAAAAAAAAF8/4gxBWkP9saY/s1600/DSC00851.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TNrdEghalMI/AAAAAAAAAF8/4gxBWkP9saY/s320/DSC00851.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537981761324750018" /></a><br /><br />...this is truly the cookie that started it all. I have always made a pretty killer chocolate chip cookie. I've been told time and time again that I should sell them. I have several secret ingredients that I use in my cookies that make them work. After realizing that I bake approximately six dozen chocolate chip cookies in an average week, I thought "what the heck?" and the business was born. <br /><br /><br />Finally, I'm an obsessed organizer. In fact, I probably have an unnatural attachment to my label maker. However, after years of digging through a Rubbermaid container each time I wanted to locate a cookie cutter, I had had enough and off to the hardware store I went! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TNrdFD9zH_I/AAAAAAAAAGE/wrILN2YuU0Y/s1600/DSC00854.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TNrdFD9zH_I/AAAAAAAAAGE/wrILN2YuU0Y/s320/DSC00854.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537981770839039986" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the cookie cutter organizational wall in progress. I LOVE pegboard and all it can do. It's hard for me to leave open space for the cutters that will continue to join my collection, but I suppose it does give me permission to add! If you come across any funky cookie cutters, shoot me a message with where I can find them! My current favorite 'weird' cutter is a buffalo! You never know when someone will call and ask for a buffalo cookie!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-22088160465306978362010-10-27T18:59:00.001-07:002010-10-27T19:35:38.529-07:00A new blogging view....Wow. What creative and amazing friends I have. I have just spent the better part of the day with my dear friend, Amy, doing a redesign on my den. WOW, WOW, WOW!! I tell my uber creative friends, Sonja and Amy, repeatedly that I'm their go-to girl for food art, but when it comes to the nitty gritty of making my home look beautiful it's up to them! I generally have pretty decent 'Pottery Barn-meets yard sale- meets Target' styling ability, but those little design touches that make a room fantastic have to come from my lovely decorator friends! Amy got the 'privilege' of doing this re-design and Sonja will be called upon next week for the re-working of a wall in the living room! How great is my life that I GET to alternate between two such amazing people! <br /><br /><br />It's amazing how people like Amy and Sonja can take things I already have, rearrange them, and make them look lovely. I have LOVED my red walls (red is my very favorite color) since we painted them two years ago, but I didn't think my arrangement of furniture did the color justice. Now, I love it even more. The only things I added to this room were Sonja's cast-off black computer armoire, a few plants, two floating shelves, and cubbies for the business files....voila! <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjec0z9VeI/AAAAAAAAAE8/ZOPJQxcJmb8/s1600/Den+Kitchen"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjec0z9VeI/AAAAAAAAAE8/ZOPJQxcJmb8/s320/Den+Kitchen" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532916729018930658" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjeJ4f0FpI/AAAAAAAAAE0/1i-y1w0V8YA/s1600/Den+Entryway"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjeJ4f0FpI/AAAAAAAAAE0/1i-y1w0V8YA/s320/Den+Entryway" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532916403590665874" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjevxtCCsI/AAAAAAAAAFE/-xRlGT1zlKc/s1600/Den+Northeast"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjevxtCCsI/AAAAAAAAAFE/-xRlGT1zlKc/s320/Den+Northeast" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532917054602087106" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjfFsk50WI/AAAAAAAAAFM/9cZ3GeRGMbY/s1600/Den+South"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjfFsk50WI/AAAAAAAAAFM/9cZ3GeRGMbY/s320/Den+South" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532917431182938466" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjfsNPBMZI/AAAAAAAAAFU/7XuxU6HEaZc/s1600/Den+West"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjfsNPBMZI/AAAAAAAAAFU/7XuxU6HEaZc/s320/Den+West" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532918092784546194" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjgOTJlCLI/AAAAAAAAAFc/PS_E_YKBMUA/s1600/Den+Window"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjgOTJlCLI/AAAAAAAAAFc/PS_E_YKBMUA/s320/Den+Window" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532918678487894194" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjhGgL10zI/AAAAAAAAAFk/wrxIBizvhLk/s1600/Den+North"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMjhGgL10zI/AAAAAAAAAFk/wrxIBizvhLk/s320/Den+North" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532919644059718450" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I am happy to report that I can now use my laptop at my den desk rather than having the desktop computer take up the desk. It's a much more inspiring view to work in a beautiful room, surrounded by lovely things, than it is to blog on the kitchen counter (not that that's not an inspiration in itself), or hunched over the laptop in bed (again, not the kind of inspiration I probably want in the bedroom!)<br /><br />So, perhaps the posts will come more frequently when typed from my new view and perhaps they'll even be more well-written and witty than they have been in the past! <br /><br />Tomorrow I'm going to show you some fantastic pictures of Halloween cookies that I'm creating for my 'special' trick or treaters! <br /><br />For now....<br /><br />Good eats,<br />Jill <br /><br />PS...Not sure Super Husband was thrilled about being photographed in his exercise clothes, but as long as I wasn't disturbing the reading of Flying magazine, all was good!Jill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-18447232373464666392010-10-24T19:43:00.000-07:002010-10-25T06:24:19.993-07:00108 Cupcakes, 79 cookies, 2 cakes....all in a week's work!Wow. I can't believe it's actually been 18 days since my last post. I have been feverishly baking. Just last week, alone, I baked, frosted, filled, and delivered 108 cupcakes, 79 cookies, and two cakes. WHEW! I'm not sure my oven was off at any time except for when we were all asleep! It was FANTASTIC!!!! I cannot believe how joyful it feels to be baking and creating. There is nothing more satisfying than making people smile as beautiful baked creations are delivered to their special event. It's truly the most fun job in the world!! <br /><br />This week I had the pure enjoyment of taking goodies to three birthday parties! What fun! Birthdays are such fun. There are never ending possibilities for cake creations. The first birthday party was for a very fashionable young lady with a passion for zebra print and hot pink! She requested a zebra cake with Oreo filling-YUM-O!! I created a classic white cake with an Oreo buttercream filling. The cake was so darned cute! I just wish I'd have taken a picture with my camera! Instead, I took one with my cell and I absolutely cannot figure out how to download the picture!! However, later in the week this great little gal requested zebra cupcakes for her 'friend' party. I had a very fun time creating these yummy Oreo-filled cupcakes decorated to resemble zebra print. <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT-D-jGgII/AAAAAAAAAEs/m53DbtqINXM/s1600/ZEN+ZEBRA.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT-D-jGgII/AAAAAAAAAEs/m53DbtqINXM/s320/ZEN+ZEBRA.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531825586601099394" /></a><br /><br />The second birthday was for one of my favorite 22 year-old people! Miss Lindsay also wanted the zebra/Oreo combination. Once, again, I realized too late that my camera battery was dead! UGH! So...no picture, currently, but Lindsay's mom assures me that there is a picture forthcoming! It was so fun to 'repeat' the zebra cake from the previous day. I learned so much about how to contour the black fondant so that the zebra print would be just enough to make the cake look 'zebraish' and not 'zebra tacky'. Hee hee! I had an absolute ball making both of these cakes. They were small cakes which allowed for lots of time to really attend to detail and enjoy the process. Thanks, Lindsay and Claire, for allowing me to be a part of your celebrations!<br /><br />I also got to be a part of my favorite Husker's birthday. Mr. Carson was turning seven and really wanted to celebrate with a Nebraska Cornhusker cupcake. (Did I mention that I LOVE this kid???) Carson requested strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate cupcakes. I wanted to kick it up a little, so I also created some sugar cookie footballs to place on top of the cupcakes. Each kiddo at the party received a 'two for one'...a cupcake AND a cookie!! Sorry parents, the kids were probably very highly sugared when they left the party! I had so much fun working on these cupcakes...especially since I got to make 24 bright red letter Ns! WHOO HOO!! <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT6XEV8GBI/AAAAAAAAAEk/veN60u-UgEI/s1600/NEBRASKA+COOKIE+CUPCAKE.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT6XEV8GBI/AAAAAAAAAEk/veN60u-UgEI/s320/NEBRASKA+COOKIE+CUPCAKE.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531821516527507474" /></a><br /><br /><br />The third, and final, birthday celebration of the week was for sweet Morgan. Morgan is a freak of nature in that she doesn't love chocolate. WHAT is up with that??? Just kidding, Morgie! Morgan is a hip, cool cat of a kid who was having a huge bonfire party for her 17th birthday, and asked me to be a part of the festivities. I created three new flavors for her party. <br /><br />The 'Holy Heath' was born out of Super Husband's love of Heath candy bars AND out of his very direct request for a cupcake with caramel filling. So, the Holy Heath was born! This cupcake is a chocolate butter cake base with caramel filling, topped with whipped chocolate ganache, toffee bits, and a miniature Heath candy bar. YUM!! <br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT4f9Cqi7I/AAAAAAAAAEM/btd1oQt3pqE/s1600/HOLY+HEATH.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT4f9Cqi7I/AAAAAAAAAEM/btd1oQt3pqE/s320/HOLY+HEATH.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531819470163184562" /></a><br /><br /><br />The second flavor I created was per Miss Morgan's request. Morgan wanted something 'cheesecaky'. I thought strawberries and cheesecake sounded fabulous together, so the 'Strawberry Fields Forever' (thanks Beatles) was born! This cupcake is a strawberry cake base, filled with cheesecake and topped with vanilla buttercream. It is soooo rich, but so pretty to look at! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT5PoiLMqI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ki46iHlyBRY/s1600/STRAWBERRY+FIELDS+FOREVER.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT5PoiLMqI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ki46iHlyBRY/s320/STRAWBERRY+FIELDS+FOREVER.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531820289291924130" /></a><br /><br /><br />Finally, I wanted to replicate one of my favorite summer drinks in a cupcake. I absolutely love Raspberry lemonades from Sonic. The 'Raspberry Beret' is a lemon cupcake with raspberry buttercream icing. It's tangy and tart, sweet and sassy, but unlike it's Sonic relative CANNOT be delivered on rollerskates!! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT5p9cCqaI/AAAAAAAAAEc/CpqbHeOx5YM/s1600/RASPBERRY+BERET.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT5p9cCqaI/AAAAAAAAAEc/CpqbHeOx5YM/s320/RASPBERRY+BERET.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531820741579942306" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've had lots of fun perfecting Royal icing for cookies this week, and can't wait to try out my new Halloween cookie cutters tomorrow. I created some fun Bearcat football cookies for a trip to an away Bearcat game this week. They were gobbled up quite quickly! I was lucky to get a few shots before my 14 year-old nephew absconded with the goods!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT3scQY_8I/AAAAAAAAAD8/rb1lbln8gGw/s1600/BEARCAT+COOKIE+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT3scQY_8I/AAAAAAAAAD8/rb1lbln8gGw/s320/BEARCAT+COOKIE+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531818585189056450" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT4NtcYldI/AAAAAAAAAEE/lJvmo7d_vS4/s1600/BEARCAT+COOKIES.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT4NtcYldI/AAAAAAAAAEE/lJvmo7d_vS4/s320/BEARCAT+COOKIES.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531819156738446802" /></a><br /><br /><br />I had one more fun flavor experiment this week. I am very intrigued with the combination of regular cake batter and the infusion of fresh fruit. I had a blast creating 'The Great Berry' (named after Matt's uncle, Barry, who is affectionately referred to as Great Barry). The Great Berry is a true berry cupcake infused with raspberries and strawberries and topped with vanilla buttercream. It's a pretty little cupcake with a refreshing and light taste and texture.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT3UlDCmmI/AAAAAAAAAD0/Kpe1gmkpyMw/s1600/GREAT+BERRY.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TMT3UlDCmmI/AAAAAAAAAD0/Kpe1gmkpyMw/s320/GREAT+BERRY.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531818175232121442" /></a><br /><br /><br />I am SOOOO excited that I can now deliver my little pieces of art in artful and funky packages. I found a wholesaler for my fun pink polka dotted boxes. I love the way they look and create a very professional presentation. You can see them behind several of the cupcakes in the pictures!<br /><br />Be looking for a Facebook page for Just Like Mom's launching on Tuesday of this week. Become a fan and receive 10% off your order!!<br /><br /><br />It's off to bed now. I can't wait to share more creations with you in a few days!!<br /><br />Good eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222413279215704261.post-74166551112789687652010-10-07T09:26:00.001-07:002010-10-07T10:18:29.558-07:00Oh blog, how I've missed you!!I'm back in the blogging swing after two weeks of utter chaos and craziness! <br /><br />The trip to the orchard yielded a peck of apples perfect for pies (Super Husband's fave!) and crisps! My dear friend, Cris, absconded with my Pampered Chef apple peeler/corer/slicer for a few weeks and made merry with her stash from the orchard. She inspired me to do the same and even returned the apple tool with a FABULOUS apple crisp recipe! The recipe includes orange juice. It was SOOO delish! The fam ate it for dessert and breakfast for one day and- poof- 'twas gone! I also taught my sous chef, Avery, how to make an apple pie. Some of my fondest memories are of making small apple pies in the kitchen with my mom when I was five or six. However, I think her crusts probably didn't come from a box labeled 'pie crust' but it was a weeknight and a pre-made crust was the best I could do! <br /><br />We're still devouring the pie (well...THEY are, I'm NOT a pie fan) and all reports point to it being a hit. I'm working on creating an apple cupcake as a fall-inspired flavor! I'll let you know what I come up with!<br /><br />I had a very large cupcake catering gig this week for my friend Amy's open house at another friend, Kathy's, house. Kathy has a to die for kitchen, so the cupcakes displayed oh so very nicely! Amy's product, Willow House, has some amazing pieces that we used for display as well as many versatile pieces that can be used as stands. I think much of the cupcake profit will be going toward the purchase of lots of amazing things from Willow House! You can check out Amy's website at www.amyschreck.willowhouse.com. It's gorgeous!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK4An1Z3EGI/AAAAAAAAADs/V34ZWEx97gc/s1600/larger+display.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK4An1Z3EGI/AAAAAAAAADs/V34ZWEx97gc/s320/larger+display.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525354477180620898" /></a><br /><br /><br />I had four flavor choices for this particular event. I resurrected the old stand-by, Pride O' The Bride and topped the cakes with tempered chocolate decorations and coarse, crystalline sugar. I LOVE the way this coarse sugar sparkles and mimics the crystals often used on bridal gowns. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK39Dtjf3BI/AAAAAAAAACk/xBopaz2PhQM/s1600/POB+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK39Dtjf3BI/AAAAAAAAACk/xBopaz2PhQM/s320/POB+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525350558063385618" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK39bjbtW0I/AAAAAAAAACs/r4khyiBOhbU/s1600/pob+with+sign.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK39bjbtW0I/AAAAAAAAACs/r4khyiBOhbU/s320/pob+with+sign.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525350967663221570" /></a><br /><br />I love to ask friends about their favorite cake flavors and then create cupcakes tailored to them. My dear friends, Tim and Jenny both love chocolate and raspberries and after telling Tim W(who has a vocabulary like Shakespeare and a wit like David Letterman) about my 'Ben and Jerry's' approach to naming the cupcakes he emerged with the name, Jen and Harry for the chocolate raspberry cupcake. You see, Jenny is an absolutely adorable girl married to a 6-foot something handsome guy with TONS of long, curly blonde hair! So, the name was quite appropriate...Jen and HARRY! Here's their namesake! <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK393T-nqEI/AAAAAAAAAC0/aL-YWF4KJUM/s1600/Jen+and+Harry+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK393T-nqEI/AAAAAAAAAC0/aL-YWF4KJUM/s320/Jen+and+Harry+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525351444551018562" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3-M8w3gjI/AAAAAAAAAC8/zlCLu9zKSQk/s1600/Jen+and+Harry.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3-M8w3gjI/AAAAAAAAAC8/zlCLu9zKSQk/s320/Jen+and+Harry.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525351816276443698" /></a><br /><br /><br />I have a sickness for all things lemon. Ask anyone who has ever gone to dinner with me and they'll tell you that I always order water with "lots of lemon". I love lemon chicken, lemon cookies, lemon cake, lemon pudding....you name it. I'm kind of the 'Bubba Gump' of lemon. It was only natural to take this lemon obsession and put it into a cupcake. Hence, the lemon drop was created. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3-kEATQZI/AAAAAAAAADE/3ajexFxsrmU/s1600/lemon+drop+with+sign.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3-kEATQZI/AAAAAAAAADE/3ajexFxsrmU/s320/lemon+drop+with+sign.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525352213357216146" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3-72Z87lI/AAAAAAAAADM/xVdMTfw64C4/s1600/lemon+drop.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3-72Z87lI/AAAAAAAAADM/xVdMTfw64C4/s320/lemon+drop.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525352622023568978" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Fall is my very favorite season, hands down, so a fallish cupcake was a must. This is a very simple pumpkin spice cupcake with decadent cream cheese frosting and shaved cinnamon on top. It was hard for me to come up with a pumpkin-sounding name, but Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater kept running through my mind- and stuck!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3_Xlq4qNI/AAAAAAAAADU/ABjgoY4qO3M/s1600/peterpeter.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3_Xlq4qNI/AAAAAAAAADU/ABjgoY4qO3M/s320/peterpeter.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525353098567526610" /></a><br /><br /><br />I was able to roll out business cards and price sheets, as well! I can see a new laptop and printer in the business's future....my archaic printer doesn't even recognize Avery label products, so this run of the price sheets and the cards was a wee-bit rough. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3_pwFc7zI/AAAAAAAAADc/nSpCCV0ZAZU/s1600/pricing+and+info+sheets.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3_pwFc7zI/AAAAAAAAADc/nSpCCV0ZAZU/s320/pricing+and+info+sheets.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525353410600955698" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3_73smbMI/AAAAAAAAADk/Ui-Nrg5vJBg/s1600/business+cards.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ABEQ3yTxOFk/TK3_73smbMI/AAAAAAAAADk/Ui-Nrg5vJBg/s320/business+cards.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525353721881849026" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've got two more cupcake orders to fulfill this week PLUS friends to fill full of cupcakes tonight as the FANTASTIC Nebraska Cornhuskers take on those boys from the land of Oz. It's a house divided for us tonight!<br /><br />Good Eats,<br />JillJill Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09785694125438759771noreply@blogger.com4