Teddy Bears.....

This is a cake I made last month for my Great-Grandmother's 90th Birthday party. It was a real hit.
I am trying to update my blog a bit so I am adding random pictures of baked goods I've made recently (and some before I started the blog) so "bear" with me while I do some updating :)

The white plastic "things" in the back are dowels used to hold the second tier into place and keep the bottom cake from collapsing.

The theme was Tea Cups and Teddy Bears. I made the tea cup, saucers, and tea pot from hand molded fondant. It was difficult but I think it turned out nice. 

The bear.

Birthday Cake Extravaganza!

I made two birthday cakes today. One was for my mom, she got a hole in one at Old Mill golf course this year on her womens golf leauge so my step-dad asked me to make a cake celebrating that for her. Hers was a devils food chocolate cake and my uncles was just your basic yellow cake.

The other was for my uncle (my mom and uncle's birthday's are two days apart) he likes to play poker... So here are their cakes. They both really liked their cakes, and I had a good time making them.

The golf ball and tee were made of fondant. I just took a piece of white fondant, rolled into a ball and then used the end of a small paint brush to make the indents. I think it turned out nice.

The poker chips were made of black and red fondant, and I cut out little pieces of white fondant for the lines. These were time consuming, but well worth it.

That's the end of that cake...... it always makes me a little sad when they get cut up to eat.

It's that time of year...

.... for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. This is an egg free recipe I have been using for several years.  I really love the way these come out.  I also love that this recipe makes A LOT of cookies... just more to enjoy.

Here's the recipe. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1 can (15oz) pumpkin

2 cups white sugar

1 cup shortening

2 tsp vanilla extract (I made my own vanilla extract with whole vanilla beans and vodka, let sit for several months before using. It's amazing.)

4 cups of flour (all purpose works fine, but this time I used whole wheat pastry flour)

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg (I prefer to buy whole nutmeg and use a fine grater)

2 tsp baking soda

12 oz bag of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375

*Cream together the sugar, pumpkin, shortening and vanilla

* Sift the Flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda until well combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet until fully combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoons (or use an ice cream scoop, I have a mini one I always use) onto and un-greased cookie sheet bake for 12-15 minutes.

ENJOY!