June Daley

March 15, 2009

Miss four finger’s pink pony

I can hardly believe that my youngest turns four today. That happened in the blink of a pink pony. Speaking of which, she had a really hard time deciding on a cake this year. First, she wanted last years cake. Then there was a stream of other ideas, finally deciding that the cake should indeed be a pony. I made the pony pink while she napped because everybody knows that a pony is pretty great, but a pink anything is 10 times better.

This is how the pony came together. Nothing too complicated…just a cake baked in a 9″ x 13″ pan…cut and pieced like so. I used different colors of butter cream icing and a variety of decorating tips to make things a little fancy, but I certainly don’t claim professional. Plus a four-year-old only naps for so long.

She practiced her new fingers today. All ready for someone to ask how old she is. Four fingers is much easier to hold up than three…go figure. Happy birthday sweetie. Enjoy your fourth year in which the best things are always pink.

Filed Under: baking, kids

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January 21, 2009

Seven You Are

After Brendan and I had our annual birthday cake consultation, we decided that Yoda would be appropriate for year seven. This is what I came up with. I designed it much like the puppy cake from a couple of weeks ago. Two round cakes…one for the head with the second cut to form Yoda’s ears (I think they’re ears?) I called upon the force several times hoping that Yoda would look like Yoda rather than a scary green monster.

The most important critic was thrilled with his cake grinning ear-to-ear when he saw it. He commented on how he didn’t know I could make a Yoda cake. I used that opportunity to rant off my creativity speech including how artists never really know how the end product will turn out and often question whether it will fulfill their vision. I went on to reinforce that attempting new things is what makes one grow as an artist. His response to that inspired burst of eloquence was, “It looks hard.”

Yoda strikes me as a guy who is green all the way through so my sense of humor took great delight in making a green cake with a bit of food coloring. Brendan’s out-of-town grandma asked him over the phone what flavor cake he had. He responded, “Green”. She said, “No honey, I mean yellow, white or chocolate.” Again Brendan correctly replied, “Green.” We like to keep her guessing. ; )

In addition to the Yoda cake, you’re looking at another first. I never ever thought I’d have a birthday party here. Brendan, this is proof that I love you very, VERY much.

Filed Under: baking, kids

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January 4, 2009

A sweet puppy

My first born turned ten a few days ago and oh how she wants a puppy. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad aren’t ready to add the live kind to our household just yet so a sugary one had to suffice. Around here, as I’ve mentioned before, a homemade cake happens for every birthday in the shape of whatever the birthday child dreams up (that’s within reason…this isn’t Ace of Cakes.) Sometimes, I’ll surf the Internet for inspiration and other times I’ll just wing it. This time I was winging it.

Here’s a very easy cake pattern if by chance there’s a puppy lover with a birthday at your house. I used two cake mixes …one filled the 10 inch cake pan and the other filled a 9 inch with batter left over (the leftover made extra cupcakes.) A furry cake is pretty easy to decorate since the icing doesn’t need to be all perfect. I gobbed it on and swirled it this way and that to get the furry doggie effect. I used a lighter color of the fur icing to make the snout area and then used pink icing for the collar. The dogs eyes and nose (nose cut into proper shape) are peppermint patties. White chocolate chips decorate the collar. Finally, I did some very basic piping with black and white icing, but candy (licorice, etc) would also work to get a similar effect.

It’s officially birthday season around here, so they’ll be two more kids cakes happening between now and March. I’m not sure what shape those will take on yet…but I’ll keep ya posted.

Filed Under: baking, kids

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December 16, 2008

Eye candy

I managed to hold myself back and only produce six varieties this year…that being from top left, peppermint crunch, bear claws, caramel swirl pretzel rods, toffee bars, monogrammed chocolate D’s and chocolate covered Oreos. yummmmm…

These little chocolates were new for me this year. I was at the counter, ready to purchase all of my candy making supplies, when I spotted the monogram candy molds. I’m a sucker (catch that candy pun?!) for type so the D mold quickly found itself in my cart. The helpful candy lady, sensing my enthusiasm about the prospect of making initial chocolates, pointed out the little foil wrappers in aisle three. She explained how to wrap the hardened chocolate and then lightly rub the front of the candy to make the D show through the foil. How cool is that?

Dare I say, I got a bit carried away? Although easy enough to make, wrapping all of these little guys took some time. I caught my hubby rolling his eyes once or twice at my idea of “scaled back” candy making. Worth it in the end, the red foil D’s were the perfect bits of sparkle to pull the whole candy box presentation together.