Sugar Cookies!!!

So, I tested and tested and tested sugar cookie recipes searching for the perfect recipe. I've had to tweak a bit, but found one that stays soft and yummy for days. Here are my latest creations...I've done wedding dresses, birthday cakes, etc...but never had the camera on hand for photos. :( Bummer. So, here begins the official documentation of my sugar cookie fetish! We took these to my friend Mai Mai's house for a summer BBQ earlier today - they got a great new outdoor kitchen that we were fortunate to be invited over to help christen! We had such a great time!

Brody's TWO!

Here are some cupcakes made for Brody's class. I used a yummy chocolate cake recipe I've been working on getting perfect - there were no complaints, but how many two year olds are going to complain about sugar??? Floating in the "water" are Teddy Grahams in Gummi Life Savers - fully inspired by Bakerella - supercute! I didn't have time to detail, but it was still a crowd pleaser!

Butterflies for Teresa

These are some cupcakes I made for my friend Teresa's birthday. She loves yellow cake and chocolate frosting - so...I made the yellow cake and topped them with whipped chocolate ganache. I made the butterflies from royal icing - printed a template from Pretty Party Cakes (Peggy Porschen) that were just the wings - covered it with cellophane, put a thin layer of Crisco down to make sure the icing didn't stick, then piped the butterflies. I let them dry for two days. I used cardstock paper folded in a "M" shape layered with parchment paper to attach the wings to a thin line of royal icing and let dry for 3 hours or so. Once dry, I frosted the cupcakes then placed the butterflies on top - VIOLA!

I wish I had photos of the process - my almost two year old kiddo "ate" our memory card so we're waiting our new one to come in the mail! Yikes!!!

My first attempt...Sept 2006

This was truly my first attempt at cake decorating...and the beginning of my obsession with perfection. I was overwhelmed by the endless world of piping/tips/frosting options - so I dove in and tried to learn all I could.

Now, I'm happy to say that I've come a long way from my eldest son's 2nd birthday cake...but we should never forget where we came from!! So embarrassing as it is, here is the finished product. Everyone loved it - but I don't recommend blue and red frosting at a kid party!!! :)

This was a fun project, but I certainly tackled more than I could handle. Live and learn - and boy did I learn! The mistakes I made on this cake has made me a better decorator - creatively and with my time management.

All right already!

From the urging of some dear friends, it's finally time to start up a blog to share my thoughts, passions, baking successes and not so perfect trials, and of course photos to go along with them!

I've been lurking on a log of cupcake blogs lately and it would be a dream to be able to contribute to the creative community of those who share my passion. My two go-to faves are sugar cookies (iced super-cute of course!) and cupcakes (all flavors, all textures, all colors!). I'm sad to say that I don't have photos of my recent sugar cookie creations - Much to my kids' "dismay", I may have to just re-create them for you to see. *smile*

I look forward to sharing and hope you enjoy!