New Blog!

I have made a few changes and future posts will be on the new blog.  Please visit at us there!

The Icing on the Cake

Over the years I've noticed that when it comes to cake there are two kinds of people: Cake People and Frosting People (Yes, I realize there is a third type that doesn't like cake at all, or even dessert for that matter, but frankly I just don't get you.)  Personally, I am a cake person.  I will eat the icing, but often leave most of it on the plate.  Especially when said icing is too sweet.  Super sugary icing can ruin a cake.  This is often the problem with store-bought cakes and can frosting.  I'm all for using box cake mix, but when you go to frost it leave the can on the shelf and make your own!  It's so simple.  Here are a couple of icing recipes with a few helpful tips:

Basic White Icing
*This recipe will frost an entire 2 layer 8 inch round cake.

1 lb butter (or 4 sticks)
1 lb shortening (same as one small can of Crisco)
2 lb bag of powdered sugar

1. Put room temperature butter in mixer and whip on high until pale in color.  (If you don't have a stand mixer you can do this with a hand mixer, it will just take a little longer.)
2. Scrape down sides.
3. Add shortening and whip to combine.
4. Scrape down sides.
5. Turn mixer to its lowest setting and very slowly add powdered sugar.  
6. Mix on low until smooth and slightly shiny.  This could take up to 15 minutes, your patience will be rewarded.

Tips:
-If you can find it, use European style butter.  It contains less water than American butter, so your icing will have a stiffer consistency which is better for decorating.
-Use gel or powder food coloring as it will not change the consistency of your icing.  It is also more potent so you can use less.
-Extra icing should be stored in air-tight containers in the refrigerator.  When you need to use it again, simply place it back in the mixer and whip for a few seconds.

Cream Cheese Icing

8 oz cream cheese
2 sticks or 1 cup of butter
2 cups powdered sugar

1. Add room temperature butter and cream cheese to mixer and whip on high.  
2. Scrape down sides.
3. Slowly add powdered sugar.
4. Mix until well blended.

Tips:
-It is unnecessary to use European butter for this recipe.
-Cream Cheese Icing will not absorb food coloring the same as the Basic White Icing.  Keep this in mind when using it to decorate.

Variations:
-Use strawberry cream cheese for a great flavor addition to an ordinary box cake.
-Fold in homemade whipped cream or Cool Whip for a lighter texture.

Suggested Recipes:
Strawberry Delight 

Quick Chocolate Fix

As a new mom, I'm stuck with the same daunting task as every other new mom: losing the baby weight.  I was not one of those lucky few that magically bounced back.  One of the ways I've tried to help keep the weight loss on track is eliminating dessert.  The key word here is "tried". 
The other day I was having a weak moment and a serious craving for chocolate.  There were chocolate chips in the pantry, but I didn't want them just plain out of the bag.  I wasn't that desperate (yet).  We didn't have any butter or eggs, so I was trying to figure out what I could make when I came up with this recipe*:

Chocolate Peanut Bark

12 oz bag of chocolate chips (I use semisweet, but any chocolate chips will work)
1 cup salted peanuts (could use salted almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pretty much anything)

-Place a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet, and set aside.
-Slowly melt the chocolate chips.  You can do this either in a double boiler** or in the microwave, which is what I did.  If you use the microwave I would suggest 10 to 20 seconds at a time, stirring between each.  It seems tedious, but you don't want to burn the chocolate.
-Stir peanuts into the melted chocolate.  The salted peanuts create that perfect salty/sweet balance. 
-Immediately pour onto wax paper and spread as flat as possible.
-Refrigerate for about two hours, or until chocolate has hardened.
-Break chocolate into pieces however large or small you would like.
-Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

I would post a picture of the final product on here, but....its all gone.


*I use that term loosely as there are only two ingredients.
**Heat-proof bowl set over a sauce pan with about 1 inch of simmering water.

Back From Oblivion

So you may have noticed I haven't posted in awhile.  Some stuff happened: had a baby, bought a house.  I've been a little busy.  I figured since everything else in my life has changed, might as well change the blog too. 
I am leaving the menus up, but will slow down on orders.  Instead, the focus of this site will lean more toward sharing recipes, tutorials on cake decorating and any other crafty projects I might have going on.
That's all for now, I need some dessert.

Happy Birthday Pirate Boy!

This cake was for the son of one of my "regulars" (strange to think I have a regular customer, but I do!).  The plastic can be ordered online and comes with instructions on how to create the cake and assemble everything.  This is something I believe anyone could tackle if you follow a few basic, helpful hints:
1. If you don't already have one, get a flat icing spatula.
2. Be generous with the icing when starting out.  You can always take some off, its much more frustrating to try and add icing.
3. Freeze the cake.  Bake that evening, let it cool, wrap with plastic wrap and freeze it over night, that's enough time.  You just want the cake to be easy to cut into the desired shape.  It also helps minimize crumbs while icing.  Trust me, the short freezing time will not ruin the flavor or texture of your cake.
4. And last, don't be afraid of a piping bag.  It doesn't have to be perfect, this is food...its going to be eaten.  And since this particular cake is for kids, its a great idea to get the basic cake frosted and then let the kids decorate the ship!

Happy Valentine's Day

These little mini's are the perfect treat for your sweetheart!

Let Them Eat Cake is...

...having a baby!  I was getting pretty good at the cake thing so I figured I'd change it up a little.

I have been terrible about keeping this blog up to do date.  I am hoping to do better in the next months.  We are still taking orders, but that could be subject to change in the next few months as my hands will be full with a tiny new person.

In the meantime I have decided to continue the blog, but topics might expand a bit beyond cake. 

Happy Anniversary!

   Marriage isn't always easy, therefore reaching those big milestone anniversaries (10th, 25th, etc) is truly an achievement.  Often, going back to the beginning, remembering what brought you together, is a great way to celebrate, to look back on all that you've experience (and survived) together.  Well, I would like to add my contribution to this party: re-create your wedding cake!

   Okay, maybe not the whole thing, you're probably not having 250 people over for an anniversary celebration.  We did the wedding, it was stressful.  Let's not go back to caterers and DJ's and flower arrangements.  This is a no-stress, fun-only situation.
    A cake inspired by your wedding day and wedding cake can really bring back those memories, reminisce for a day, share all those hectic wedding day stories with your kids and look back on the happy life you've shared.

 

Birthday in a Box

Sometimes one simple gift is just right for a birthday.  But what if that one simple gift was actually filled with a variety of tasty treats!  Even better, right?  Well I've got you covered, with...

The Birthday Box!

     One box is $15, you choose up to three items off the menu (cookies, cupcakes, brownies, truffles, you name it) and I will deliver your personalized box right to you!  Of course, this isn't restricted to birthdays, it could be an Anniversary Box, a Get Well Box, a Thank You Box...or even an I'm Sorry Box (it'll work, cookies make everyone happy).

Back from under my rock

I have been negligent in updating this page. My apologies. However I am back and ready to go! This weekend I am packaging up cookies and other requested goodies to send to my sister on the USS Kearsarge. I will also be updating the menu! And maybe even some pictures, we'll see.

Cake Party!

 Fact: Kids love sugar.

Fact: Kids love presents.

Fact: Kids love making a mess.

Solution: Host a birthday party with Let Them Eat Cake!

We will provide cookies, cupcakes or small round cakes for each child to decorate, as well as piping bags of icing in different colors.  We will be available for the duration of the decorating as well as the set up beforehand and clean up afterward.  

Chef hats will be provided for all the children as a party favor.

Feline Friends

I just had to post a picture of this cake for all my cat-loving friends (and family).  This was for a co-worker's birthday.  She has two "furry children" named Bonnie and Clyde.

Multiple Personalities

I come from a big family and for some reason half of my family was born in September.  I complicated matters by marrying someone whose birthday is in September (just another reason he fits in so well!)  So, for me, birthdays can seem to pile up.  

Most people tend to take the easy way out and have one big party for everybody.  This happens most often in the work place.  All the month's birthdays are thrown together on one day.  So how do you make each birthday boy/girl feel special?  With cake of course!

Recently we celebrated several birthdays where I work.  Instead of just doing one generic "Happy Birthday" sheet cake, I made a tiered cake with different flavors and decorations on each tier.  

Next time you're doing a group celebration let the cake personalize it!

It's Not Over Til You've Had Dessert

     I have this need to have dessert with every dinner.  My taste buds seem to require that they end on a sweet note.  If I could get away with it, I would create a dessert for every meal of the day, 365 days a year, but my husband has been doing some research on the subject.  He tells me sugar and butter are apparently high in calories and fat and therefore unhealthy; these health nuts and their crazy ideas.  So he is trying to hold me to one dessert a day, for both our sakes.
     The problem, of course, is that I don't always have everything on hand to make a recipe.  I really need that sweet bite before I go to sleep (I've been conditioned), but I'm too lazy to go to the store (across the street).  So I must get inventive with dessert.
     Apparently, this has rubbed off on my husband, Nick.  I went into the kitchen the other night and he had all this stuff lined up: hot fudge, peanut butter, pecans, coconut, chocolate chips and he was toasting one of the cracker thin pizza crusts from the freezer.
"What are you going?"
"Making dessert pizza."
After discussing the battle plan for the troops, all lined up and ready to go, I suggested he add whipped cream.
"How do I do that?"
Oh buddy, it's so simple!

Whipped Cream

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream

1 tbsp Powdered Sugar*

Drop of vanilla (or flavor of your choice)

Whisk until stiff peaks form.

You can use an electric mixture.  

This is especially useful for larger batches.

*Sweetness can be adjusted to your taste.

Leftovers will last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for...

well I don't know.  We've never had leftovers.

According to Nick, its dangerous to know how to make whipped cream.

     The pizza turned out pretty good.  We dubbed it "Belly-Ache on a Pizza" in honor of my sister, Amanda, who created the ice cream sensation "Belly-Ache in a Bowl" (with Grandpa's help, I'm sure).

She'll eat anything.

Bedtime Desserts

   My sweet tooth comes naturally.  Nearly everything on the menu is a family recipe.  My family is from Iowa, my great grandparents were farmers, so its no surprised that my favorite desserts are rustic, homemade and full of butter.  Yum.
   They say whenever more than two or three people began to gather around Great Grandma Dietz’s kitchen table, she would start putting food on it – pies, bread, cakes, you name it.  My grandpa, having grown up with this and continued by my grandma’s good cookin’, developed quite the sweet tooth.
  Bedtime Dessert became a tradition.  Whether it was ice cream, or pie (with ice cream) or cookies (probably with ice cream), you always got something sweet before bed when you stayed with grandma and grandpa.  It made for very sweet dreams and even sweeter memories.
                  Thank you, Grandpa, for my sweet tooth.

Updates!

New items and photos have been added to the menus.  Check it out!

Mmmm....Donuts

Homemade donut, anyone?

Cakes and Desserts