And here they are...

So you've been reading this week about my quest leading up to the baby shower for today. 3- 6" cakes that have 2 layers. Last night I got started on them around 9 pm and finished up around 11:30 pm! I was pretty happy with how things went timing wise and was pleased with the finished product as well! Now just waiting to see what the mommy-to-be thinks. And also, what you-- my lovely reader(s)-- thinks!

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing:


Next up, the one I like the best as far as decoration goes. The design is my take on the bedding they picked out for their baby girl. Here's the White Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Icing


And last but definitely not least, polka dots. And the cake is A Little Something For Everyone: one layer chocolate, one layer white, chocolate cream cheese filling, and vanilla buttercream on top!


I also want to give you a picture of how they all look so lovely together; complementing each others' colors and designs-- I think they make a great little team. (I didn't even take this picture up and down-- why is it doing this? Anyone know how to rotate it if it uploads like this?)



So which one is your favorite? Coming up next month are Baby Shower Cake Pops! Have a wonderful weekend!

Wednesday Night: Vanilla Buttercream Icing

Last night I made half of the icing I'll be needing for tonight's big project. I've gotten to where the process of making the icing doesn't take nearly as long as it used to. So I was able to whip up two batches in about 15 minutes. There's 6 cups ready in the fridge at home and I'll be making 4 cups of the chocolate cream cheese icing tonight. I have been mulling ideas around in my head the past few days and bouncing them off of Hubby as to how I will be decorating each cake. He is more of an artist that I, so I appreciate his feedback and help with these cakes immensely! I'm a little nervous because I feel like there's so much to do tonight, but I'm trusting my preparations throughout the week will make it that much easier. So come back tomorrow and I'll plan on having up pictures of the cake. Geranimo!

My speculation of the day: Today I'm wearing a purple dress and leggings to work. Several people have told me today, "Wow, you look so comfortable." Hmm, maybe it's just me, but that's not really the vibe I was going for. I was kind of thinking-- cute, young, nice. I didn't think anything of it at the time because I DO feel comfortable, but still... upon reflection of those statements I wonder if I look nice now. *clink* *clink* Those were my two cents :-)

Tuesday Night: Chocolate Cake Night

Ok, so that just sounds awesome... maybe I should make every Tuesday night "Chocolate Cake Night!!" Especially if I make this cake :-) So last night I worked on cake #2 for the baby shower on Friday. I made a Deeply Chocolate Almond Cake from "The Cake Mix Doctor." And I ate batter... again! But it was SOOOOOOOOOO good, if you had been there you wouldn't have been able to handle the pressure either. I promise! Plus the batter is more of a weakness for me than the baked cake anyway. So here's what I put together to make this a delicious, wonderful cake...
- 1 Devil's Food Cake Mix
- 3 Eggs
- 1/2 c. Vegetable Oil
- 1 c. Buttermilk
- 1 oz. Baker's unsweetened chocolate melted with 1/3 c. water
- 1 tsp. almond extract

And it smelled heavenly *sigh* Again, I baked it in a 6" pan and it made 3 layers. But I'm sorry to say, I accidentally left my camera at work. So no pictures. But I promise to try to get it home tonight so I sure have pictures for tomorrow of the finished product. As for tonight, I'm planning on making two batches of vanilla buttercream icing. Then all I'll have left for tomorrow night is the chocolate cream cheese icing and decorating. I've been trying to think of a signature sign-off. You know like "And that's how the cookie crumbles." or something along those lines. Any ideas? Let me know!

Night One: White Cake

So last night I began my work on the baby shower cakes. I made the white cake. I used a 6" pan and was able to make 3 layers out of one mix. Yes, yes, I am still using box mixes for my cakes, but I'm working on getting out of that mold. Now with the cake I'm making tonight I'm using a recipe from "The Cake Mix Doctor" so I use a cake mix, plus add in other ingredients to make it less "box-like."

Here's the batter in the bowl, something I'm just sure you've never seen before:


Layer Number One (The Kitchen was already starting to smell so good...)


Layer Number Two-- Just out of the Oven


Yum! I went to bed wanting cake because the smell had wafted into our bedroom. Although my stomach didn't want any... I had eaten a bit too much of the extra batter in the bowl **blush**

And one more for the road, I was happy with how my tiramisu turned out over the weekend. It tasted wonderful, looked even better (I sifted the cocoa powder on top), and I found the perfect sized dish to put it in! Bon Appetit!

Baby Shower Cake

This week I'm going to try something a little different. My cake project of the week is for a girl baby shower on Friday. My evenings are usually pretty busy and this Thursday is Metochai, so I'll be exceptionally so. I've read in many cake books and in various blogs that freezing cakes is an ok option. I have never tried it before because I always like my cakes to be as fresh as possible. But knowing what I'm up against on Thursday night, I've decided to spread the project out over the week. I will update you on what I worked on each night and see how the finished project turns out.

What I'm making: 3- 6", 2 layer cakes; one white, one chocolate, and one a mixture
I'm pretty excited because I've never made a 6" cake before, it's such a cute little pan that I just recently bought for this project. So I'm looking foward to seeing how it turns out.

My plan: Monday night-- White Cake; Tuesday night-- Chocolate Cake; Wednesday night--Buttercream Icing; Thursday Night-- Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing, Assembly, and Decorating!

Come back tomorrow to see how things started off...

It's Friday!

Well I promised to update more often, so here I am. First things first: Hubby is a working man again!



We are so thankful he was able to find a job. And I started reading Dave Ramsey's book "The Total Money Makeover" last week and was excited and had set up some goals for this year when... what do you know? The fuel pump went out on our dear, poor, little car...



BUT it's getting fixed today and we are going to just roll with the punches. We still have a plan, it's just modified!

And I was realizing today that I really haven't made many posts about food/baking/sweets & treats, so I apologize for not doing well in that aspect. I really haven't had much going on in that category recently. But coming up soon is a baby shower cake and some cake pops. And this weekend I'm making tiramisu again! So I will try to do a few more posts about such things since my header is "Shortcake's Sweet Tooth". Or if you have any requests of something you'd like me to make or a recipe to share, just let me know and I'd be happy to oblige. Have a great weekend! I don't know about you... but it's supposed to be 71 and sunny here today! In January! And a bit of ridiculousness for all of you up north-- they had the air on here yesterday. WHAT?!? Are you kidding me?!? Yeah it was crazy, and cold, and I had to put on a jacket inside--RIDICULOUS!

FINE

"How are you today?" "Fine." The reply given by many. But you know what they say that means on the Italian Job right? F-Freaked Out, I-Insecure, N-Neurotic, and E-Emotional. That's me today. If you asked me how I was today, I'd say fine and mean the above. I'm a worrier and I worry about being a worrier because I know I'm not supposed to worry-- "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:34; "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:11-- and some days hit me harder than others. Hubby doesn't have a job and I struggle with believing that things are going to turn out ok for us. I question everything-- have I not done enough? Do I need to get another job to help out? Have I not been wise enough with our money? What can we cut out now? How are we going to make this work? What do I do know? So today I've been spinning like this and you know what I decided?? God is the source of my comfort and is our provider, so what better way to find confidence and comfort then turn to Scripture? I have a little notecard sized book that I brought again to my office today and it's full of great verses that I read through this morning and felt renewed, refreshed, resolved, and reassured. I'm going to share some of these with you now...

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light." Micah 7:7-8

"All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time." Proverbs 12:11

"Worry weighs a person down; en encouraging word cheers a person up." Proverbs 12:25

"Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night." Romans 12:11-13

"They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten. They will have influence and honor." Psalm 112:7-9

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

I will say it over and over until my heart believes nothing else-- Jehovah Jireh! The Lord provides.