Baking for a Cause

I stumbled upon this: Baking GALS.

It is a group who sends baked goods to our troops to show them support. Here is what they say about themselves "Baking GALS (GALS stands for Give A Little Support) is a group of volunteer bakers from around the country who bake and ship homemade goodies to our heroic military men and women who are currently deployed in a war zone. Our goal is to show our support and send a little bit of home to remind them that we appreciate all that they do for our freedom."

I am hoping to jump in for this round! What a great way to share my love and passion for baking. I am so excited to help support the troops in this way!

Visit their website if you would like to participate!

Happy 2nd Birthday Hadlie!

Last year I helped my Sister in Law with my nieces first birthday cake, a lady bug on a bed of grass. It was pretty darn cute! But Hadlie, my niece, wanted nothing to do with her first birthday cake. In fact, she cried. I knew I couldn't take it personally, after all, I did make her first chocolate chip cookie, and she LOVED it!

So, I was asked to make the cake for this years birthday. A purse cake. It had to be pink, inside and out. So I made a strawberry cake, and white chocolate butter cream icing from Wilton. I was so happy with the flavor, unlike my Valentines Day cupcakes. But the recipe says to melt the chocolate with the milk, I did that. It smelled awful. So I tried again, and just mixed it in with the melted white chocolate...much better! Anyways, I made a 2 buckle with pink candy melts, and the handle out of white fondant. Yup, I used fondant. Ok, just a tiny bit of the pre-made stuff, but I was so happy with how easy it was to use!

The purse was more challenging than I thought..but that is because I didn't crumb coat it...what was I thinking?

Well, Hadlie didn't even want to TRY the purse cake. No bright pink frosting. No pink cake. Nothing. Just shook her head at it.

BUT! I had made some cupcakes with the extra cake batter. And well...Hadlie liked that! Especially the frosting.

I am happy that my first Purse cake turned out so well...despite a few setbacks!



I think she was a little unsure...


"CHEESE"

Cinnamon Rolls

I love Cinnamon Rolls. They are one of my favorite things, especially for breakfast!

I make breakfast for my husband's work once a month, and I decided to make these. Homemade totally from scratch Cinnamon Rolls. I was a bit intimidated. Ok a lot intimidated. But I was so happy with them. They rose when they were supposed to. And I didn't burn them.

I am not sure anymore the recipe I used...but when I find it, I will put it on here.

Valentines Day...a bit late!

I have finally loaded up my pictures from my Valentines Day goodies!

I made Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing, and Strawberry Cupcakes with a white chocolate icing. I had a very difficult time with this recipe...but they were a hit, I think because they were minis!

Easter Carrots

This year for Easter, I made carrots.

Carrot Cookies that is.

Carrot SHAPED Cookies to be exact.

I so love using Royal Icing. It is so fun, and you can do so much with it!

Happy (late) Easter!

Wedding Cupcakes

I was asked by my friend Keri if I would make the cupcakes for her wedding! Of course, I said yes!

I made vanilla and chocolate with vanilla butter cream icing. I tinted the icing Tiffany blue. I was so happy with the outcome. I had a great time, and I can't wait for my next wedding...whenever that may be!





The cupcakes with the cake...which I did not make, but the colors matched well!


Of course, I needed a picture with the bride and groom, and a cupcake!

Gluten Free Cupcakes

A little over a year ago my Mom was diagnosed with Celiacs. She is allergic to wheat, barley, and gluten. This was only two months before her 50th birthday. Two months before her big surprise party, with chocolate cake, her favorite.

My mind began to race. My mom HAD to have chocolate cake on her birthday. So I made her chocolate cupcakes, Gluten Free of course. I used the Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Cake mix, and added applesauce to help moisten it. I don't remember the exact recipe I used...but they turned out alright. I must say, I wasn't a fan of the applesauce, or the aroma it left in my mixer (weird huh?).

Anyways, I wanted to share these with you, even though they are from a year ago! :)