Playing Catch up Part 2

After having some technical difficulties with this blog (read: human error on my part), I have been updating my Facebook page more frequently.  However, I think I am back on track with technology and will be updating both!  Some more recent goodies: 

Local contest with my lemon-blueberry cupcakes; I won first place and was able to help a wonderful organization

Sugar cookies with buttercream rosettes for a birthday

"Welcome Spring!" sugar cookies with royal icing

Sugar cookies with royal icing and chocolate decoration; for a music-themed children's event

I.M. Healthy Soynut Butter

I was approached by I.M. Healthy Soynut Butter to create recipes for them a couple of times a month. I was so excited for this opportunity and accepted with great excitement. I have dear friends who have allergies, and the Soynut Butter company provides foods that enable them to still enjoy some of their favorite goodies. Find out more about them and get the recipes on their website: www.soynutbutter.com or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PeanutButterSubstitute.

Soynut butter and brown sugar dip

Soynut butter Easter Eggs (a take off of Reese's Eggs; adapted from Brown Eyed Baker)

Avocado and Soynut Butter smoothie

Thanksgiving Turkeys

I am really starting to enjoy making decorated sugar cookies.  There are so many possibilities for techniques and designs!  These were especially fun because they were for our Thanksgiving celebration.  Originally, I planned to put each person's name on the turkeys as place cards, but decided not to risk it and that simple was best.  They were a huge hit, and now it's time to start thinking about Christmas cookies!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween Cake Pops

Although I've been doing cake bites for some time now, cake pops, especially decorated cake pops, are on a whole different level for me.  This past week, I had the opportunity to make 150 Halloween themed cake pops.  One was for a party, and the other for an Elementary School class party.  These were so much fun to do!  I hope the customers were as happy as I am.

For the larger Halloween Party, there were a grouping of four different characters: Candy Corn; a ghost; a Witch; and Frankenstein. Each was a different flavor: Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting; Pound Cake with a Cool Whip/Cream Cheese/Cheesecake icing; Chocolate Cake with Mint icing and Andes mints; and Apple Cider Cake with Apple Cider Frosting.

For the school party, the Frankenstein pops were Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Icing, and the test tubes were Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Frosting.  Kid-Friendly flavors, but so much fun!  These test tubes were fun to "experiment" with (ha).  I really had no idea how to go about developing them, but I think they turned out well!  Notice the "liquid" on the bottom, how it swirls, and how the test tubes are "bubbling over".  Happy Halloween!!

Valentine treats

When you want to show someone in your life how special they are, why not do so with some yummy treats?
 

Peanut butter and strawberry jam thumbprints

Sugar cookies with white chocolate chips and crushed honey roasted peanuts; a request from my husband.  Surprisingly good, and an example of a personalized treat!

Sugar cookies!

Who doesn't love sugar cookies?

A few holiday treats.

Due to lack of time and energy this holiday season, I was not able to bake nearly as much as I wanted to.  However, I was able to make a couple of fun, good treats that were thoroughly enjoyed.

Sugar cookies with a thin, almond-flavored icing.  I liked the "whimsical" look of the icing on these drop cookies rather than the royal icing I normally use.

Pretty and simple decorations, made from melting chocolate.

Happy 2011!  Numbers made from melting chocolate and decorated with sprinkles.

Very rich  but good parfait: Brownie bits, chocolate pudding, vanilla pudding with mini chocolate chips mixed in, and whipped cream.

Oldies but goodies

Before I started my blog, I enjoyed taking pictures of my food.  My photography skills have definitely improved (thanks to the Nikon my husband got me as a gift), but these are some "oldies but goodies".  Good for holiday celebrations, get togethers, or just a yummy treat to have around the house.

Snickerdoodle cookies for a shower

Whole wheat pumpkin apple muffins.  Very healthy, and very good!

Peach muffin with a pecan and brown sugar topping.

An amazing addition to brunch, or a snack.

Harvest cheesecake: All the flavors of fall!  Apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, pecans on a delicious pecan and graham cracker crust.

Side view of the yumminess.

Inside view of my most requested cupcake (lemon cupcake with blueberry filling, lemon cream cheese icing)

I accidentally spilled the sprinkles on this cake...at least it wasn't over the floor!  I just went with it.  Luckily, it was just for us and some friends.

Vanilla and almond scented cake, buttercream frosting, blueberry preserves filling and (homemade) lemon curd filling. I had a bunch of leftover filling/cake/icing from an order, so this is what happened!