For the Love of Cakes

The vision for this cake creation has been in my thoughts for about three months.  In July we spent a week on the Oregon coast with our dear friends including their soon to be two year old adorable boy.  He was all about the fish.  Fish in the ocean, fish at the aquarium, fish in the souvenir shops, fishy, fishy fishy.  The cake was vanilla with my stand-by favorite buttercream frosting.  All of the embellishments were edible, that is if you like sugar candy!  Super fun cake to make and share.  The two year old's comment? "Whoa...."  "Fishy"

Every cake I have ever made has been, well for the love of cakes and for the love of the person/people I am making the cake for.  People are always surprised when I tell them this is only a hobby and "No, I don't do this for money" I have to admit though, from time to time the thought has crossed my mind.  "Could I sell a cake? Would I want to spend my time making a cake for a stranger?"   A week or so ago I was contacted by an acquaintance, asking just that.  Would I bake a cake for a friend's wedding?  The cake would be for someone completely unknown to me.   Because I have a very difficult time saying no, I immediately said yes, let's talk more about the specifics.  The next day this beautiful gift was delivered to me,  made by one of the family members of a recent cake delivery Lisa's Custom Cakes Birdhouse  (the photo does not credit the immense detailed work of this gorgeous creation!) It was at that ...

This was the second weekend in a row with wedding cake baking on my calendar, and I have to admit, I am feeling like I'm in a bit of a groove.  When someone asks me to make a wedding cake I always feel a little hesitant as there is a bit of pressure to make a cake as expected.  Though I choose my recipients wisely, I never would try to create a perfect cake (I don't think that is possible) but I always KNOW a perfect cake is not expected.  This go round was for a friend's father, whom I know but not extremely well.  The conversation went something like this: Them: "We would love to have you make our wedding cake, however since this is not a traditional wedding we would prefer to not have a traditional layered type wedding cake.  We are estimating about 100 guests."  Me:  "OK, do you have a favorite flavor of cake?"  Them: "Yes, we love yellow cake with chocolate frosting or spice cake" Me (to myself): "A sheet cake? 100 pe...

    A girlfriend of mine was engaged on the weekend of her 30th birthday in November 2015, she asked me to make their wedding cake and visions have been bouncing through my head since that cold run back in January.  While I was responsible for only one small aspect of this party to be she mastered the remaining 104 tasks with ease.  This was one of *the* most organized weddings I have ever attended and while all weddings are fun,  this was one to remember.  The theme was shabby chic loaded with fun games, music and dancing.  Oh yea and a photo booth!  If you asked me, I would say the cake was a small part to a very successful wedding.  Three of the four strawberry cheesecakes awaiting oven time (two days prior to the celebration) Beautiful morning the day of!  (there was some question of rain earlier in the week)   The bride and groom before the toasts  The CAKE! Yes, this was 12+" of strawberry c...

Awhile back, I was asked by the mother of one of my best friends if I could create a cake for two of her children's wedding celebrations, I said sure.  I asked her to decide what she wanted the cake to look like and let me know.  When she called to tell me about the cake design I thought she was crazy.  She said "I just love trees so I thought a cake that looks like an aspen tree would be just perfect.  Well it shouldn't look like an actual tree, just the trunk of the tree."  I politely responded "That sounds great, I am sure I can do that" and when I hung up I shook my head thinking, huh how on earth am I going to do that?  Well you know this little thing called google images?  Yea, just like that I came up with this idea.  I have to admit, it was one of the easiest (and most fun) cakes I have made in awhile!  Thanks Katy for the inspiration. The top layer of the cake (in progress) Assembl...

If you know me well, you know the oven doesn't come on during the sweltering months of summer.  This is one of the Bosworth House Rules, we have very few but I have to admit this is one I mostly agree with.  High temperatures in July can reach well over 100 degrees but July 10, 2016 was a day for the record books, our high was 68!  While I didn't bake a cake the oven did come on for this lovely dinner treat, Surprise Tatin, from my new favorite cookbook titled Plenty. 

  I can hardly believe it is already June, where has the first half of the year gone?  I thought by now I would have many more posts of cakes but I don't and there aren't many more likely to come with weather in the 90-100's.  We have a house rule, well we have several house rules but one that specifically applies to cakes.  No oven time when it is over 90 outside.  Sometimes I have to break this rule as I did on June 4, 2016.  My first "wedding cake" for the season.  This was not only a wedding cake but a graduation cake.  You figure out the imagery on this one :) Graduation meets Marriage   This set of "cakes" at least did not come out of the oven but are sandwich cakes.  My first attempt at these was earlier in the year but this go around I varied the contents, one was smoked salmon, capers, red onion, cucumbers and radishes all sandwiched between bread and a cream cheese/sour cream f...

Cake doesn't begin with a P however it did start the evening.  17 women gathered together to share poetry, prosecco and pajamas making a perfect sleepover!  (and a wonderful night)  We began with cake; as the host stated:  "Life is short, we should start with dessert".    Not just one cake, but two!   Only these weren't sweet cakes, they were appetizer cakes, a fun twist to an old favorite.  One was vegetarian - layers of boiled egg, cucumber, radishes, red onion, capers and dill. The other smoked salmon, dill, cucumbers, radishes, red onion and capers.  All topped with a cream cheese/sour cream frosting...YUM!   Before the first course was over, the cake was devoured and we were on to more prosecco.  What a delicious and fun evening!! Ladies in PJ's enjoying bubbles, conversation and a great house! 

We were invited to friend's for a last minute BBQ and since it has been awhile since I have baked a cake, let alone posted about one I thought I would do an easy, not fancy cake.  You know, an eating cake.  Cake of choice?  Tres Leches - recipe can be found here http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/tres-leches-cake   it was delicious and hit the spot.  One addition, I did top it with whipped cream.....making it I suppose a quarto leches cake??  enjoy!  ps no pictures as this was an eating cake, not a fancy photo cake

As I recently posted, March was a barren month for cakes so I had resolved to do better in April and what better than to start out with an April Fool's cake?  We were headed to the Crawfute's (Angie Crawf ord and Charles St ute's) for dinner and I had volunteered to bring dessert.  I had told Charles I would bring a huckleberry cheesecake.  I want to get some practice in for a wedding cake I will be making this fall so this would be the perfect opportunity.  On Friday, April 1 I told him I had run out of time and would be bringing brownies instead....... Surprise!  April Fool's........  As the evening progressed the conversation moved towards summer plans when Charles said, "we might need a cake".  When someone says that to me it only means one thing!  WHAT??  You're getting married???  Angie's response?  Were not getting married....WHAT??  you ARE married???  When did this happen?? Wait, it's April Fool's...

without one cake creation, which is ironic because I have more friends who have birthday's in March than any other month.  My own birthday is in March.  I promise April to be better!  Stay tuned.....

The only three ingredients in this cake I made this for Bill, for Valentine's Day Dinner but then shared it with nearly everyone we know! This was by far the easiest cake recipe I have ever made, three ingredients, three things I always have on hand.  Easy, Peasy, Lemon Squeezy and boy was it delicious!  Dense and chocolatey just as the title implies:  Chocolate Oblivion Truffle Torte.  While this article http://food52.com/blog/15895-the-magic-of-the-3-ingredient-chocolate-oblivion-truffle-torte-as-told-by-rose-levy-beranbaum  states the original recipe can be found in Rose's book titled Cake Bible I couldn't find it in my copy?  I will certainly make this recipe again and most likely won't wait until Valentine's Day! 

I don't remember my mom ever making a bundt cake, let alone a tunnel of love cake so when a good friend of mine requested this cake for her birthday celebration I had to do some reading.  WOW, who knew there were so many variations and with such crappy ingredients?  Many recipes called for cake mixes with pudding mixes added in.....I just can't in good conscience bake a cake like that.  I finally found what sounded like a reasonable (from scratch) alternative.  You can find the recipe here if you are interested http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-09/features/ct-food-0201-simple-bundt-20120201_1_fudge-cake-chocolate-cake-bittersweet-chocolate   The element that I would not omit was the cacao nibs, they were surprising and delicious!  I also thought this one sounded good  http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2010/05/04/tunnel-of-love/#.VqYqOKwHefk.gmail Maybe another day.  Nibs and the cocoa/flour mix   A good example of why you ...

Invite me to a dinner party and I might make you one of these..... Blood Orange Almond Ricotta Cake Unexpected dinner guests, I might also make you some of these!   This recipe came directly from Smitten Kitchen's most recent post.  I made the cake as she suggested in the headliner notes, with 100% almond meal.  Next time I want to try mascarpone cheese (for a smoother texture?) and meyer lemons.  The cake was raved over by everyone who had a piece, and yes it might have been better than chocolate! 

A cake for a surprise 40th birthday party, the first one of 2016 Beginnings of Salted Caramel Sauce Finished Sauce Cake being assembled Finished Cake Since there will be 40+ people at the party we will likely need a few cupcakes Inspired by the guest of honor's favorite ice cream, Karamel Sutra, I used my favorite chocolate cake recipe, Fudgy Chocolate Layer Cake (Food and Wine December 2005). The frosting a chocolate buttercream modified from "Triple Chocolate Cake" ( Call me Cupcake) and the filling/decoration a combination of "Salted Caramel Sauce" (Two Peas and Their Pod), caramel candy bars (left over from Christmas, a re-gift if you will) and chocolate squares.