Ganache...broken and revived!

I made chocolate ganache the other night to use as a frosting for some cupcakes. Couple things: 1. ganache is a chocolate/heavy cream mixture that is delicious and is the base for many truffles, and can be used as a filling and frosting.

This is what ganache should look like! Courtsey of Serious Eats

 2. When I bake a cake that is an unusual size, and I have left over batter, I will often make cupcakes and grace my friends or co-workers with these felt over goodies! Now, back to the story...after making cupcakes, I had left over ganache that I planned to use on another cake I made this week. So, I tried to reheat the ganache, since it was solid at this point, and use it. I heated over a double boiler..and as it melted and I began to stir, it broke! Meaning, the fat and solids started to separate, which makes for a yucky mess of a frosting.

This isn't mine; just an example of what it looks like, courtsey of  Cut out and Keep

I was so frustrated, so I immediately looked online for advice and a solution. There were many blogs about it, and one suggestion came up several times on different sites -- divided the broken ganache, and heat one half to 130 degrees and cool the other half in an ice bath to 60 degrees. Then add the heated back to the cool and stir. I did this 3 times! No good...Then I made more ganache, and it broke! I was ready to pull my hair out! So, I looked online one more time, and this time I picked the expert -- Martha Stewart. Good ol' Martha usually knows what she is talking about, so I used her fix -- add water to the broken ganache a tablespoon at a time, and whisk. And it WORKED! I was so relieved! It was perfect for frosting, and all was good. Martha saved the day for sure.

7 Cakes for a wedding...

A few weeks ago, I did my very first cake tasting for Ashley and John. Today was their big day! It was a beautiful, clear, unusually HOT day in the PNW.  It was about 90 degrees in the sun, and the wedding and reception were outdoors! The venue was perfect: outside, next to Puget Sound. The yard had gardens, chickens, and ducks. It was really nice...















Well, I had to make 7 cakes for this event. That was fine, although, I was worried about the heat. But things worked out well; the cakes stood up to heat, and I received a lot of comments and positive reviews. This was a big job, and I felt really good about the cakes, particularly the trickier ones -- the gluten free carrot cake and the vegan-gluten free chocolate.

Vanilla soaked pound cake w/ white chocolate mouse, raspberries, and whipped cream filling

Vegan Dark Chocolate Espresso Cake w/ chocolate frosting

Gluten free Carrot Cake w/ Maple Cream Cheese frosting

Lemon Soaked White cake w/ Vanilla bean buttercream frosting

I look forward to my next opportunity to help a couple celebrate one of the happiest days of their life!

July = Cake month!

I have had the pleasure of making several cakes and cupcakes this month! I'm getting more orders, and recommendations from those who are buying them to their friends. It is such a good feeling and a blessing!

I have a wedding coming up in August that I will be making several cakes for. I'm pretty excited about this. It will be a challenge and an opportunity that I'm looking forward too. I'm hoping to have my website up and running by mid August, and my business licenses by the end of August.

Here are a few cakes that I have done this month.

Chocolate cake w/ caramel gananche and chocolate buttercream

Vegan chocolate cake w/ Caramel ganache and almonds

From L - R: Vanilla soaked pound cake w/ white chocolate mousse and raspberries; GF Vegan Chocolate Cake; Vanilla cake w/ vanilla buttercream frosting; GF Carrot Cake w/ maple cream cheese frosting

Mini cupcakes: Chocolate w/ chocolate buttercream frosting; Red velvet cream cheese frosting; lemon w/ buttercream frosting

Cake weekends!

About a month or so ago, I was talking with a friend about what I should do to get going on making cakes. She suggested I make a goal of making 3 cakes a month. Well, I thought about it, and decided it was a good goal, although I thought it may be a bit overwhelming. Well, in the last 2 weeks, I've made 6 cakes!! Three each weekend. And...it wasn't too overwhelming. In fact it was kinda fun, and a good test of my stamina and ability to plan and get things done. It also gave me a sense of whether I REALLY like baking enough to give up a lot of my weekend, stay up late in a hot kitchen, and get less sleep to do the job. And, as of now, I do!

Banana Creme Cake (Gluten Free)

Lemon scented pound cake w/ whipped cream and berries!

Baby reveal cake -- White (pink) cake w/ whipped cream and strawberry filling; butter cream frosting

I have 2 cakes this weekend, and if this keeps up, I will definitely exceed my goal of 3 cakes a month. Now if I could just get that price list set...

Fear and Faith

A month ago, I was on a cruise with my mom, sailing down the Pacific Ocean, preparing to travel through the Panama Canal. That experience was so amazing! But, while on this cruise, I had a lot of time to think...about a lot of things, including what I wanted to do about this baking thing. I thought a lot about what I had to do to get my business licenses and to move forward in getting more clients. I constantly have been using money and time as the reason why I couldn't do this or that, but I realized that it was fear. Fear of failing, of not being good enough, and, again, of failing. My family and friends have asked me what is the worse that can happen -- I try, it may or may not work out, and then I move on. But the biggest thing is to try! TRY and see...

This is where faith comes in for me. My fear has clouded my ability to have faith that God is all knowing, and no matter what happens, He will provide what is needed, even if it's something I didn't know I needed. And faith in myself and in my abilities...I spend a lot of time thinking that I may fail, instead of having the faith in myself that if I do fail, I will be able to move on, and keep going. It won't be the end of the world if I fail. And, that there is chance that I won't fail, and that I will be successful making cakes and creating a business. But, I will never know this if I don't try.

I'm ready to really try. I'm ready to push the fear aside, and go forward, having faith that my prayers will be heard and answered. Faith that I am a great baker, and that with hard work and dedication,"I can do anything through Christ, who strengthens me." Philipians 4:13.

At Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego, CA

My efforts to move forward were reinvigorated yesterday when my friend Karen sent me a link to on of Seattle's local newspapers. The state passed the "Cottage Food Act", last year, which permits small business owners to sell baked goods (CAKES!) and jams, etc, commercially out of their homes!! That was a huge push forward for me, as I had been struggling to find a commercial kitchen to rent, in order to make cakes that could be sold commercially! This law opens MANY doors for me! And, I'm going leave my fears behind, cover myself in faith, and walk right through that door!

It's been a while, I know...

Yes, I know...it has been about 2 months since my last post, but I'm back. I didn't have that many cakes to make in the last couple of months, and took a break from my obsession w/ perfecting the French macaron. I also went on an awesome cruise with my mom for 15 days. But, it is May, and I have several cakes coming up in the next month or so. I also have a wedding cake tasting coming up in July, and a wedding cake in August! I am excited for my busy cake baking summer!

So, things that I need to get done are still not quite done, but are progressing. I will say that after my vacation, I've been feeling rejuvenated and refreshed, and more positive about this baking journey. I also got to visit my favorite dessert restaurant, Extraordinary Desserts, in San Diego, which was a rejuvenating inspiration for me. And, tasting the Ivorie Royale (yes, I did get a slice..well two actually), it was so amazing!

Yummy deliciousness!

I'm feeling much clearer about what I want, and know it will take a lot of work to get there.

Chocolate cake w/ chocolate ganache frosting

I completed two cakes this weekend - a birthday cake, and a bridal shower cake. It was great to bake again. I tried a new recipe for one cake, and tried to up my decorating standards a bit. I think they came out pretty well.

Lemon Ricotta Cake w/ whipped cream , strawberries, and blueberry filling. Buttercream frosting

The Macaron dilemma and what needs to get done!

It has been a few weeks since my last post. I think I have made 3 cakes, one batch of cookies, and one batch of macarons since then. The good news is, my cakes have been consistent and I have been getting better with planning the right amount of time to bake and decorate. Now for the bad news...well, actually there really isn't any bad news. I made some macarons this weekend. My Zumba teacher ordered some, which is great! So, I finally got this book, "Les Petite Macarons" from the library. Umm, it's kinda like the macaron bible! The author, who is a pastry chef, give very clear details as far as the recipe goes. She has a trouble shooting section as well, which is very helpful. I read this cookbook at night before bed...that's how much I love it!

Macaron bible!

 Anyway, I made the macarons this weekend. For the most part, they came out pretty well. Well, the first batch did. Which is fine, because that was all I needed for my Zumba teacher. The second batch did not come out as well, BUT, I think I know what went wrong, which is very helpful. The only thing I can do is keep trying...and figure out how to get almond flour in bulk, so I don't feel so bad when the don't turn out, and I have to toss them (although, the cookbook also has ideas of what to do with the less-than-perfect macarons). So, maybe it isn't really a dilemma as much as a quest to making the best, and most consistent macarons I can!

One of my recent cakes; chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.

Now, for what needs to get done. People are buying my baked goods. I sometimes can't believe it; I'm still learning to be confident and know that what I make is good, and people are not just telling me that to be nice. Anyway, I need to get a business license. It has been on my to do list now for 3 months, and I'm going to have to bite the bullet, write a business plan and get a licenses. That's it. Now you all know! I also need to get real business cards made. I made some, but they look like I made them! Once again, bite the bullet and do it! I know, I can get like 250 cards for cheap online. Well, I guess I better get 250 cards online for cheap...