Happy Halloween!

First up....this is the cake I did for the pumpkin auction this year. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!This is the pumpkin my daughter picked out at the pumpkin patch....I couldn't bring myself to carve it.

Here is my daughter the cookie with her cousin the milk :) Everybody LOVED these costumes!

Here they are with my son the soldier in action.

and my other son the devil...if you know him, you know this is a totally appropriate costume for him!

Molly got tired and crabby by the time we walked around the block so she chilled on the porch and handed out candy. She was a bit picky about who got what...we had a line of trick or treaters all the way down the stairs to the driveway....maybe she has OCD or something?
My sister and I also chilled on the porch and enjoyed some frosty beverages. So, check this out...at HyVee, you can build your own 6-pack. I had been wanting to try some pumpkin beer and what better day to do it than on Halloween. Only one out of six was worth the effort of going to the store and getting it. There was no name brand on it but the label was plain black with an orange jack-o-lantern on it...the others....ew.

Here we are...sisters up to no good!

and oh yea, when the kids went to bed....momma went out. Bow chicka wow wow!

Whispers by Dean Koontz

FINALLY...a book that isn't predictable! I admit that the beginning of the book was a little lacking in action but it certainly picked up speed as I read. I just finished this while my daughter was playing at McDonalds and my heart was racing! It was funny cuz my leg was crossed and I was just shaking my foot like I had ADHD or something. Good book. If you are into scary stuff, this is the book for you. A little sick and twisted but ....well, it makes for a good story. Also, if you are into psychology or psychiatry...you'll like it.

3 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

I haven't tried this but it sure sounds great! 3 MINUTES!!!!!

3 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

Some nuts (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well . Add the egg and mix thoroughly.Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share!)

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

My NFL debut

I talked about my Tennessee Titans cake in last weekends post but look here, the mommy was nice enough to send me a pic of them with my cake! :) This is Jennifer and Daniel Loper with their baby cake at Bentons Chop House. Thanks Jennifer and congratulations!

The Runaway Mistress

Just your garden variety mystery. Pretty predictable but entertaining. This beautiful girl grows up poor, has a chance to get a really rich, old boyfriend, takes the chance, gets used to the lifestyle, hooks up with a mob-type guy, catches him kill his wife, runs away.....you'll have to read it to see how it ends! :)

10/25/08

I told you guys this was a crazy week! I even forgot to take a pic of two of my birthday cakes....to start off with we have a picture that for whatever reason will not upload in the right direction....oh well, it's an Iowa Hawkeye grooms cake, peanut butter with chocolate ganache iced in buttercream with fondant accents.
A Led Zeppelin grooms cake to represent the grooms favorite t-shirt, marble cake with buttercream icing. I chose to omit the genitalia since the reception was at the church! Oh, and you shoulda seen the pastors face when he saw the cake....he said "Maybe you could place the cross over here by the demon." **shrinking into a corner**
An Arkansas Razorback grooms cake also peanut butter with chocolate ganache

A baby shower with a classic Pooh theme..mommy chose this Tigger cake. White cake with buttercream icing and fondant Tigger.

For the last volleyball game of the year, Lady Pirates thought they should recognize the outgoing seniors.
This cute little caterpillar cake was for a little boy having a bug themed birthday party.
A traditional wedding cake for an older couple (not old...just not 20ish like most couples I bake for) Three tiers, all white cake with buttercream and buttercream roses.

Four tiers iced in buttercream. White cake, strawberry cake, lemon cake and chocolate cake adorned with satin ribbon and fresh flowers from Beco Flowers. This reception was also at Deer Creek Golf Club in Overland Park, KS.
This cake was at Heritage Center in Olathe, KS. Four tiers, alternating shapes, all iced in buttercream in chocolate scrollwork. We decided the cake was busy enough that we didn't need a topper.
Three tiers iced in buttercream with fondant balls.

Three tiers iced in champagne buttercream with chocolate accents at Mission Hills Country Club

And I saved the most exciting for last. Yea, yea, I know the cake's really not all that special but the story is. See, this lady called last week and said, "I am calling from Tennessee and we are going to be in Kansas City this weekend and would like to announce to our families at dinner that we are pregnant." Well, turns out they were going to be in town because her husband plays for the Tennessee Titans! So, I did a onesie shaped cake decorated like the daddy's jersey and added baby blocks.....schweet huh? White cake with strawberry mousse filling, iced in buttercream with fondant accents.

PS- I have to confess that I'm really not a football fan....I love my baseball. So, when I got off the phone with the mommy, I was telling Steve that "her husband plays for the Titan's or something?" and Steve pops up off the couch and gets all excited. "Are you freakin' kidding me?" he says...."That's an NFL team!" Ok, then I got excited...sorry, didn't know! :)

10/11/08

I'm a little late posting this but this past week has been CRAZY! (me likey!)

This cake was at Deer Creek Golf Club in Overland Park. Three tiers stacked, offset with buttercream icing and monogram topper.
Grooms cake was Pitt State Gorillas. Peanut butter cake with chocolate ganache...yum!
Cupcake tree at the brides church in Leawood. All white cake with whipped icing and fresh strawberries and blueberries
Another cupcake tree at Starkers on the Plaza. Cupcakes were red velvet with cream cheese and pumpkin with cream cheese. I think at first the bride may have been shy to ask, but they wanted me to use the grooms deceased grandpas pumpkin cupcake recipe. Of course, I didn't mind and let me tell ya, the recipe was GREAT! Flowers by Jennifer Techau.
And just for kicks, thought I'd let you know what 3 year olds do for fun when your back is turned. Just before pre-school pictures and our family pics with the great Solars...Molly manages to chop every single bang off her head. Great.........