Wanna Rock 'n Roll

What's better for an AC|DC singing, rock 'n rolling 17 year old's birthday?  An electric guitar of course!  So why not one you can eat?  For my brother's 17th birthday I already had the hard rocking design in mind, but still needed a flavor.  When I asked him, the last thing I was expecting was the answer I got -- strawberry and chocolate?!  Not exactly a rock and roll flavor, but one of the most delicious cakes I've ever made!

Fresh strawberries are the key to this recipe - there were over two cups of chopped, super fresh berries in this cake.  Using a template I created out of cardstock, I carved each layer of cake into the guitar, using the leftover pieces to build the rest of the cake.

The whole cake was frosted with a vanilla buttercream (since the birthday boy doesn't like fondant).  In between the layers was a delicious chocolate chip fudge filling.

I did manage to use some of Wilton's new sugar sheets (the blue) for decoration in lieu of fondant in some places, but didn't have enough to do the whole thing! And I'm a convert,these sugar sheets are just about the easiest things to use in the world!  All of the knobs and buttons and whatever else they are called were molded out of  mini Tootsie Rolls.  The strings were simple gel frosting, though I would have liked to use black licorice strings.  Who would have thought those would be difficult to find?  An FYI, Safeway (at least my local one) doesn't carry them so plan ahead!

What I love the most about this cake was how easy it really was from start to finish.  A basic recipe gets a fresh twist with berries and the cake was insanely easy to assemble.  Next time I'll use fondant for a more polished look and make sure I have those black licorice strings on hand!

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The Lollipop Guild

"We represent the Lollipop Guild

The Lollipop Guild, the Lollipop Guild

And in the name of the Lollipop Guild

We wish to welcome you to Munchkin Land

Tra la la la la la la la la la la la"

Plain and simple, I adore this movie.  So thank the lord today is National Lollipop Day in America because that just gives me a reason to sing all of the music to the Wizard of Oz! 

The idea of candy on a stick has been around since the Dark Ages so it is no wonder that no one really knows who invented them or when they first graced the sticky fingers of children.  Some believe that the candy has been floating around since the early 1800s while others claim it was during the Civil War.  The most common theory is that the owner of a small American candy shop named George Smith first named the candy after his favorite race horse "Lolly Pop" in 1908.

One more interesting tidbit is how the term lollipop was actually originally coined.  Wikipedia claims 

"The word "lolly pop" dates to 1784, but initially referred to soft, rather than hard candy. The term may have derived from the term "lolly" (tongue) and "pop" (slap)."

So have a tongue slapping good time while making this lollipop inspired cupcake for your next spring or summer time party!

(Pardon the camera phone photo, that was the only option I had!)

These sweet cupcakes were made for Krystal's birthday at the office and delighted the adults and children alike.  Simple vanilla cake with mint flavored (and colored!) buttercream.  I had a hard time finding pastel colored lollipops, but any kind will be sure to please!

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A Transit Nerd's Birthday

I would like to start this post by saying that this is hands down the nerdiest cake (or really anything) I've ever made in my entire life.  But honestly, for a guy who loves one thing above all else - buses and transit - how could it not be nerdy?  This particular fellow is the nerdiest of them all - he works in transportation policy, doesn't own a car, loves his bike and his bus pass beyond what is normal, and frequently tweets pictures of buses.  If you must know, this nerd is Andrew and the present I got him for Christmas was a Lego Transit set that included a bus, a light rail train, stations, bikes and everything else.  

I knew his birthday cake had to be just as nerdy as he is, but with limited time to plan and create it was going to be tricky.  We returned home from Maui one and a half days before his birthday so it had to be something that I could craft quickly.  Several ideas had to be thrown out the window due to time constraints (but I'm not telling because odds are, they will be recycled for next year!), but in the end the cake that had the candles was perfect.

In case you don't live in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, let me give you a little bit of background.  While we have many different transit agencies that operate bus service, light rail and trains, most of them in the immediate Puget Sound area accept one type of bus pass.  Our ORCA card makes it easy to transfer between these agencies without having to pay each time.  You simply tap your card against one of these reader machines and you've paid.  It's pretty great, but not the most exciting thing in the world (unless you happen to be named Andrew).  

You can probably guess where I'm heading with this...

Birthday boy proudly shows off his nerdy cake!

Here is the winning cake design!  An ORCA card reader.  Yep.  NERDIEST cake I've ever made or dreamed up.  The cake followed family tradition and was made of a chocolate chip cake recipe that Andrew's mom has used since he was a kid.  The filling was a birthday boy request of peanut butter.  Since Andrew despises fondant, the cake is covered with traditional buttercream.

I did manage to get away with using fondant for the screen, which reads "Happy Bday Andrew" and shows his fare paid is 27 years.  That's a pretty expensive bus or light rail ride!

Andrew shows off his real ORCA card on the left with his edible version on the right.

 The ORCA card was made out of two blue raspberry Air Heads and I used food writer pens for the decorations.  Much tastier but probably doesn't have any money on it to pay for a bus ride!

Yep, this kid definitely loves his buses and trains.  Thankfully this ORCA card reader tasted much better than I imagine its plastic counterpart does.

I'd love to know what the dorkiest, nerdiest, most uncool cake you've ever made or had an idea for is!

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Cascadia Cuppies

The bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle 

And the hills the greenest green, in Seattle 

Like a beautiful child, growing up, free an’ wild 
Full of hopes an’ full of fears, full of laughter, full of tears 
Full of dreams to last the years, in Seattle. . . in Seattle!

This past weekend was the Seattle Sounders second game in the Cascadia Derby against rival the Portland Timbers.  You can read all about the match here but the gist of what went down on Sunday is the Sounders once again proved their innate superiority over the Portland Timbers (not that I'm biased at all).  

These cupcakes are a necessity at any Cascadia Derby party (but are easily adaptable to any sporting event!) and once you try them, you'll agree with me. :)

Our pitch was once again crafted out of the delicious Irish Carbomb cupcakes.  Guiness chocolate cake batter, Jameson chocolate ganache, and grass made up of green Bailey's buttercream.  Sounders logo and scarves made of fondant are the perfect finishing touches!

Now, whether Portland and Seattle will meet again in the playoffs this year is still to be determined, but I think it's safe to say that Seattle has the best fans (and the tastiest treats)!  And that is why...

I’m Sounders ‘til I die

I’m Sounders ‘til I die

I know I am, I’m sure I am

I’m Sounders ‘til I die

Freddy Montero after scoring his first of two goals
against the Portland Timbers, July 10, 2011.

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Oh Lei!

I returned from the sunny shores of Maui to the grey skies of Seattle today and all I can think about is how much I already miss the sand, the surf, and the fresh flowers, fruit and fish.  Nothing like the sound of the waves crashing on the beach to create instant relaxation!

One of my favorite Hawaiian customs is the giving of a lei.  They are given with affection to mark an occasion or to just celebrate the person receiving it.  You will find leis made out of everything from flowers and greenery, to shells and plastic imitations, but the most beautiful ones are of course the fragrant fresh Hawaiian flowers.  

Why not impart the same 'aloha spirit' with some tasty, flowering cupcakes?

Snickerdoodle with cinnamon buttercream and chocolate peanut butter with cocoa buttercream cupcakes for a thricely nice birthday!  The birthday girls Jenn, Sandy and Anneke were turning 40, 60 and 50 yet threw a bash like they were turning 20!

Groovy yellow cake with buttercream and fondant daisies for Krystal's birthday!  Yellow sugar and royal icing glaze the center of each flower - each one sparkled like the birthday girl herself.

Vanilla cake with Bailey's Irish Cream buttercream topping.  Sweet flowers adorned these cupcakes for my Mom's birthday.  Quite perfect for an early spring dinner!

A hui hou kakou (until we meet again) Hawaii!

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Baby You're a Firework

Happy Fourth of July!

Fireworks over Lake Union in Seattle
(2009, photo credit goes to Dad!)



Since I'm writing you from the sunny shores of Maui, Hawaii, I'm not spending my day baking sweet treats.  Not only is it vacation, but it's just too hot to turn the oven on!  Instead I thought I would post some past patriotic confections while I take a quick break from the sunshine.

First up we've got red velvet cupcakes, cream cheese frosting, topped with blueberries and blackberries and edged with strawberry Pop Rocks.  It was quite the firecracker in your mouth!  And delicious as well :) 

Next on the menu are mini cheesecakes!  A bottom crust of Oreo cookie, filled up with yummy cheesecake and swirled with blackberry or strawberry stars.  All that's needed are the broad stripes to go with those bright stars!

I hope everyone out there is having a fun, happy and safe Independence Day!  

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