Roxy's Wedding Cake

Here's the cake I finished for my cousin's wedding.  I love pink and brown anything, so of course I loved this cake.   I finished another cake/cookie and cupcake order all on the same day, but was so busy I forgot to take a picture.  I am crossing my fingers that I will get a picture from my client so I can post it.

Older Than Dirt Cake

Here's a fun last minute cake I just finished.  It was for an 80 year old man who was a barber for years - kept bee's - could fix anything -good ole cowboy - jack of all trades type of guy.  Here's how you put all that into a cake.  Shwew!

Ragnar Rundown

Oh what a fun weekend!!!  Bear with me as I post a bunch of random pictures from the Ragnar Relay LA!  Here we all are at the finish line at Dana Point.  Yippeee!!

Check out our cool team shirts that me and Wendi made!

(We all live in the "Villages" community,  thus - The Village People).

Here's Jeff handing off to me at exchange 36.  

Could you ask for a better view while running?

My husband had to be funny and wear short running shorts and spandex just to make us all laugh.   He kept us laughing the entire time!

Here we are at the start line full of nerves and excitement.  It was cold in Santa Barbara!  BRrrrr!

Here we are handing off again!

Van 2 waiting for the handoff.

Here's the whole team crossing the finish line together!!!

Here we are tanking up getting ready for our next run.

Good times.... good times!!!

The Best Email Ever!

I received the sweetest email from a mother in Texas who actually made my cornflake ball recipe with her children.  They loved them and she even sent me pictures of her cute kids and all the gooey fun!  I just had to post them.  When I blog, I do it for me - to record things I have done and yummy things I have made.  It just tickles me pink to think someone else is enjoying these things as well.  Thanks again Clyde from Texas!

The Neverending To Do List

I am leaving for Santa Barbara in the morning - Ragnar Relay LA!!

Do you ever feel like the stress of getting ready to go out of town is so high, it just might not be worth going?  That's how I am feeling today.  The list is big my friends - it's BIG!

Ah - but what am I complaining about?  I get to go and run 18 miles on Friday.  I should be jumping for joy.  (yes, I am being sarcastic).  It sounded like such a good idea a month ago.

Alrighty then.  Wish me luck and off I go to get something done.  Be back Monday with some sore muscles.  Yup - good and sore.

Grandma Junie's Cornflake Balls

Jeff's grandma used to always make these yummy cornflake balls.  I love anything with dry cereal in it.  These are so yummy and simple.  Here's the recipe the way grandma used to make them, and then I posted the way I make them because I am a health freak.  You can decide which one to use but I will vouch for both of them that they are equally delicious.  My kids didn't even know that I changed them up.  

Grandma Junie's 

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 6 cups cornflakes

In a microwave safe dish mix the first 4 ingredients together and microwave just until bubbly.  Pour over cornflakes and mix together.  Drop balls onto wax paper or tin foil.  Let cool and enjoy.

Melissa Recipe

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown rice syrup
• 1 1/2 cups natural crunchy peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 6 cups organic or non-genetically modified corn flakes

Follow the same instructions.  (I am not a big fan of anything with corn in it - especially corn syrup.  And I only eat natural peanut butter - the Skippy stuff is made with partially hydrogenated oil - not good for you).

Chocolate Swirl

My daughter thought the chocolate swirl on her cupcake looked like poop, so she put it in the grass and snapped a picture. (It does look like poop - doesn't it?)  Ewwh.     

Buttermilk Oatmeal Muffins

I made these this weekend and they were sooooooo good.  (Did I mention they were easy too?)

Here you go...

• 2 cups oats
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup melted butter or oil
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup white flour (can use all whole wheat)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt

In a bowl, soak the oats in buttermilk for 15 minutes.  Stir in eggs, sugars, and butter (or oil).  In another bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Stir into oat mixture just until moistened. (don't over mix)  Fill paper lined muffin cups 1/2 to 3/4 full.  Bake at *400 for 12-14 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.

Top with a pat of butter and enjoy.  I like using all whole wheat flour - I just like it a little heavier.  

Wedding Cake for Sarah

Here's a picture of another wedding cake I did last week.  Super cute!

Mickey Mouse Wedding Cake

Here's a cake I just delivered.  It was for a Mickey Mouse themed wedding.  I liked that it wasn't really a Mickey cake - just a Minney Mouse bow on top.

Rusty the Egg Snatcher!

We just finished dying Easter eggs today. 

The girls were having a fun game of keep the egg away from Rusty - that is until he stole the egg and swallowed it shell and all!  

That can't be good for a hound dogs belly.

Zebra Purse Cake

I am so proud of this cake!  It turned out better than I thought it would.
I dreaded doing a purse cake because I didn't want to have to sculpt it.  But my hubby volunteered with the electric knife in hand and - Wallah!  A purse cake!

I LOVE the zipper!

Kindness

This week, I feel blessed.  I was busy.  I was stressed.  I am sick.

• My mom dropped everything to run to Walmart for me and pick up some silver polish - came over to my house and polished my cake stand - just because I needed her to.  Then she dropped off some school supplies my daughter forgot to take with her when she left for school that morning.
  
• My friend Penny drove all the way to Phoenix to pick me up some extra fondant because I didn't measure right and needed - okay - like 10 more pounds to cover the monster wedding cake I was working on.  Seriously - all the way to Phoenix!!
• My husband has been so patient this week.  The house is sticky.  I have strep and a fever.  Tonight I just developed a cold sore.  I have two more cakes and a cookie bouquet due this week.  He is a good man.
• My friend Jen directed the choir for me today because I still feel sick.  (She is better at it than I am anyway).  She didn't even bat an eye when I asked her, (I called her on the phone) she immediately answered "yes" and took over.    What a nice friend.
• A very kind "mystery man" carried the 5 tier wedding cake down 2 sets of stairs because I had a temperature of 101, and thought I was going to drop it.  (Imagine if he dropped it!)

As you can see, I have been the recipient of much kindness this week.  I feel very blessed to have such good people in my life.

Thank you. 

Brown and Yellow Wedding Cake

Here are some pictures of the monster wedding cake I finished this weekend.  I am bummed I didn't get a better picture - I couldn't put it all together until I got to the reception because it was to tall for my car.   It was huge!!!!!!
I hand piped all the floral work on the 3 tiers, and the horizontal stripes - not as easy as it looks!
I was so stressed about this cake because I had never done one quite like this before.  Shwew!!!!

Glad that is over.

Pink 'n Brown Cake

I finished this baby shower cake yesterday and worked on a wedding cake all day today.  I am sooooooo tired.   I will be working on said wedding cake all day tomorrow as well.  I can't wait until it's done and I can clean my kitchen and pay attention to my kids.  They miss me.