12 Days Of Cake

I have had the pleasure of creating the 12 Days of Christmas in cake for Staci Matthews from KS95. The 12 Days of Christmas are the days of feasting that begin on Christmas Day and culminate on January 6, the beginning of Epiphany on the Church calendar. The practice began in the Middle Ages, changes have been made to the traditions through the centuries, but Staci and I are all about playing with cake.

Our 12 Days of Cake will be ending next week instead of today so there is still fun to be had. Everday is a different flavor of cake and buttercream. After the 4 Colly Birds(some have interpreted this as Calling Birds), I had to stop making the number of items per day so that there could be actual cake to eat and not just fondant and decorative items. This has been a fun project and I will be sad when it is over.

I have taken pictures everyday and I know that Staci has blogged and photographed her treats everyday as well. Here are day 6 and 8, all tied up with a bow.

Happy New Year

Each November I always believe that the upcoming January will be a quiet, expectant, pre-season period for planning, not to mention a time for relaxing after the flurry of the Holidays and the last of the wedding season. For me, 2009 started with a bang.

I rang in the New Year with a wedding on New Year's Day with 3 more events to round out the weekend. Add in some tasting appointments and a couple of last minute parties, and life is good. And, my first new product order went out. Whoo Hoo!

Which brings me to the best news. The end of 2008 ushered in many changes to Jessica's Cakes. A new logo and ad to update and freshen the look. The website, still emerging, was completely overhauled. This task was long overdue and we still have a page or two to finish. I also added cupcakes, cameo cakes and sweet table offerings to the menu to compliment the tiered wedding cakes and table cakes. I am so happy to say orders for groom's cakes increased by an amazing number over the past year. It's exciting because they are so fun to make!

There are many challenges left for everyone thanks to 2008, but it's not difficult to be optimistic when we take a moment to look at all we've been given, not what's been taken away. So, goodbye 2008 and Happy New Year!

BRING THEM, OR ELSE

There is a tradition or a food that everyone links with a particular holiday or celebration. With my family, it's Rum Torte and Kipfels at Christmas. Recipes handed down from my grandmother Stella, they are forever linked with our celebration. So much so that, if I don't make them, I should just stay home. It's been said jokingly, but I am not going to test that theory.

The Rum Torte isn't fancy, just a rum soaked pound cake sliced very thinly and spread with even thinner layers of chocolate ganache boosted with yet more rum. There have been a couple of years where it is best not to let the kids have a slice.This cake improves with age, so I bake it a week before Christmas, allow it to sit at room temperature for a couple of days, then frost at least 3 days before we celebrate. Every year the question is asked," How many layers?" The most has been 17, this year just 14. I must be slipping. One year, when Grandma was still alive we each made one to see who was better at slicing thinly! I think she won, maybe I did, there was definitely a debate of what counted as a "layer" of cake.

Kipfels are a rustic cookie made from an unsweetened yeast dough rolled out with sugar and filled with a dollop of apple butter. My one regret is that I didn't get the apple butter recipe from Grandma before she was stricken with Alzheimer's. I do my best with a purchased product from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. It's almost as good as hers.

This is how we remember our family members, by reproducing their recipes. Bring them, or else!

WILLIE WONKA

I am watching Tim Burton's version of WIllie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. As much as I can like Johnny Depp as an actor, I much prefer Gene Wilder as Willie Wonka. And the Oompah Loompah and their songs? Don't leave me humming this time around. Since I am already finding fault with this remake, where are the close ups of the candy? Not nearly enough in my opinion, and I don't feel like snacking on any of the special effects! So, are there films about food that I do like? Absolutely. My all-time favorite is Mostly Martha, a german film found in the foreign film aisle of my local video store. You have to be willing to read sub-titles, but the kitchen scenes were realistic and they made me hungry. That is a definite sign of approval in my book. I also liked Ratatouille. Now, while I appreciated the excellent technical accuracy of the culinary aspects of this animated film, I found the rats a bit too well done. Insert shudder here. My hat is off to the animators, but perhaps they could have been a little less skilled at their jobs? Hmm, I suppose not.
Since I am now humming the original Oompah Loompah song and have no interest in watching the rest of the remake, it is time to end this unsolicited film review and find myself something sweet to eat. Thanks Willie Wonka. I'm off to find the chocolate.

A Time to Celebrate

There may not be as many weddings at this time of year, but everyone still loves a party, and I have a couple of favorites right now. Late in November I had the honor of creating a cake that included the patches, wings and camouflage(circa Viet Nam) for a group of Airborne vets. A military history book of the war provided the appropriate patch and wing colors/design, a hat provided the camouflage pattern. For me it is vital I have it perfect when asked to do a military cake. There is no room for error when working with insignia.

My other favorite was just this past weekend. It was a thank you holiday party for the staff of Shriner's Hospital for Children. The idea was to make it big, bright and happy for this hardworking group, and we acheived all three! It brought back memories of my grandfather. He was a shriner and my family attended lots of Shriner Christmas parties when I was a girl. I still have the photos with me on Santas lap.
Two different parties celebrating the season.

Thank you....

People like to be appreciated, and a simple thank you goes a long way. A couple of weeks ago Lisa Marie of Allianz Life charged me with creating an edible note of thanks for two of her clients. I was just the messenger, but the smiles I received when I dropped of the cookie box trios was wonderful.
So now it's my turn to say thank you to Katrina of Studio Laguna Photography. She has made my two recent photo shoots enjoyable of nearly stress free. I am glad you enjoyed the treats.

Big Things, Little Packages

I had tea with Sylvia Weinstock. What a gracious lady. A huge amount of talent and experience in such a tiny package! And so beautifully presented in her book of past events. No time for photo shoots she says!

The tea reception, hosted by TCBA’s Wedding Guys, was held just prior to a larger event where she would be speaking to the local chapters of NACE and ISES. Those attending were presented with her new book- personally inscripted, had a picture taken,and could chat one-on-one or in small groups with this amazing woman as we sipped vodka-infused tea and nibbled on sandwiches and scones.

When I was assistant pastry chef at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead, Sylvia was flown in with one of her masterpieces. After re-introducing myself to her at the reception and mentioning a few details, she recalled everything about the bride and the wedding as if it had just happened last week. Did I mention this was 17 years ago? What a head for details.

Time passed quickly, but she chatted with everyone, shared some favorite cakes from her book and gave freely of opinions, advice and her experience. She is practical, forthright, and will never give less than her absolute best.

Big things, little packages, the book is more than it’s cover.