Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial BAKE

Once in awhile a girl just needs her mom. And since that can't physically happen, I try to find ways to connect with her. I have such wonderful memories of her. She was beautiful and funny. And she always knew the right things to say when I was sad.

Today, I had one of those mornings where nothing was going right. I was frustrated and I just wanted to yell out "I want my Mommy"!

I felt like beating something. Eggs and lard? Yep, that would work! So I went to the recipe box and picked out a recipe...it was time to BAKE.

My mom's Peanut Butter cookie recipe. I have not BAKED her PB cookie recipe in years. I had everything I needed to make the cookies right then and there. No making a list. No running to the grocery store. It was "a sign from above" that I should just BAKE the Peanut Butter cookies.

What a great connection! She loved to BAKE and I love to BAKE.




See the recipe in the picture? Well, a funny thing happened after that picture was taken...the recipe disappeared into thin air. Poof! It was gone! I looked everywhere. Top of the frig. Looked under the stove and in the oven. I went through the trash, twice. Retraced every step. Was I crazy? What happened to the recipe?

I looked up towards heaven and said "Mom, are you serious?" I even asked "where did you put the recipe, Mom?" I just knew she was looking down and laughing at me!

Then I remembered the picture! I turned to get the camera, turned back to write down the recipe and saw this...


Sticking out of the drawer was the beautiful recipe...I burst into tears!

So I mixed up the cookie batter, the whole time wondering how in the world did that recipe card get in that drawer which was 3 feet from the spot it was photographed. I laughed that I cried. I BAKED those cookies. They are exactly the way I remember them. I think I did my mom proud. I loved that I felt her with me as I BAKED today. On Memorial Day.


I loved that I could share the cookies that I BAKED with my niece and nephew at Como Zoo today.


As a kid I loved the Zoo. My mom took my sister, brother and I there all the time. Como Zoo was, and still is, a free zoo except for the rides. So, for a widow with 3 kids, it was inexpensive.

We loved the Zoo. I loved the Carousal. My brother loved the boats and my sister loved the Tilt-o-Whirl.

Today, I rode the Carousal and it seemed to go alot faster than 40 years ago!

I know what the true meaning of Memorial Day is, but on this Memorial Day, I remembered my mom and how she loved to take us to the Zoo.

I remembered that she loved to BAKE and that the cookies she BAKED and the recipes she left me stand the test of time. It felt really good to feel her with me today. Memorial Day.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Wedding BAKE

I love weddings.

My own wedding...A grand affair. Fancy hall,catered sit down meal of chicken and beef roast,live band,25+ people in the wedding party and best of all, a 5 tiered wedding cake from the bakery in the neighborhood of our 3rd floor walk up. All planned down to the very last detail...A dream wedding.

For reasons, that now seem so silly, it never happened.

Instead,we eloped. And then couple weeks later we had a party.
I BAKED the cake. Marble with Buttercream in the shape of wedding bells. It was perfect. It was the most stressful thing I had to do. I had BAKED my own wedding cake! I think I still have the wedding bell mold. Never made another cake in it, I think once I might have used it for a Jello mold at Christmas...too funny.



I know this is the reason why I love weddings so much.I love all the planning and shopping that goes along with weddings. It's about get-togethers. Getting together to pick out dresses. Getting together for tastings of Champagne Chicken and Pot Roast. And of course, getting together to shop for and taste the Cake.

To the Bride and Groom, the wedding cake will be forever in their memories and in pictures. The cake has got to stand the test of time. It can't be anything but perfect.

I have heard all the bad wedding cake stories. Dry overBAKED cake. UnderBAKED cake. No flavor in the cake. Frosting tasted like chemicals. I would be absolutely mortified if something I BAKED was the subject of such conversation!

When my people have asked me to BAKE for them, inevitably there is the question "Do you BAKE wedding cakes? Because I know someone who is getting married." I have always said "no". I will BAKE you cupcakes,cookies,bars or even 21 cheesecakes,but not a wedding cake. It's just too darn much responsiblity.

Until yesterday...I BAKED a cake for Molly and Aaron.


But here's the thing, here's the skinny, here's the story...There was a horrible accident with this cake in transport...it slid off it's base while I was driving. I had followed the rules of cake BAKING..I had secured it with buttercream to prevent sliding, but the warmth in the car(it was pouring rain,so defrosters were needed)turned the buttercream into glaze! I freaked out as I watched it slowly happen. OMG! I pulled over, got out of my car, walked back to the car behind me, my sister's, my "assistant" for the day, screamed as many bad words I could think of at the time and then said "I am so glad I brought that extra frosting". Turned, got back in my car and with the A/C blasting, calmly drove the rest of the way to the wedding venue. I fixed it. Don't even want to guess what my blood pressure was!



This is why I don't BAKE wedding cakes. You get one shot. I took it. And, well..

This is the forever...

Congratulations
again to
Molly and Aaron
and to their
families!
All of the planning and get togethers had finally paid off...A Northstar married a Lonestar.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Spring BAKE

In case you haven't heard, the weather here in Minnesota stinks. Spring has yet to arrive. Everyone is tired of winter. Enough is enough.

I have decided that I am going to make some sunshine for me and anybody else who wants some...it's time for Spring BAKE! There are so many good reasons to start Spring BAKE. Grad parties, Baby and Bridal Showers and even a Wedding or two.

I have my grocery list prepared. I have created some new recipes. I have planned how to BAKE 150 cupcakes in my galley kitchen. Yes, you read it right-150! (More on that later this week!)
I am ready...Bring on Spring BAKE!

First to be BAKED for is Jenny. She's a wonderful mom and a gifted artist. And now a college graduate!  She is my #1 fan of Sweetchericakes and  Confections. I love to BAKE for Jenny. She is the "best billboard" I could ask for!

A while back, I was discussing some new cupcake recipes and the idea of something with peaches came up...maybe a Peach Buttercream? Jenny says "Peaches are my favorite." I BAKED this cupcake for her grad night celebration. 
Peachy Keens

Remember Jello Poke Cake? First, BAKE a batch of vanilla cupcakes either from scratch, I used Amy Sedaris' Vanilla Cupcake recipe or a box mix. Mix up a small box of Jello per package instructions. When the cupcakes come out of the oven "poke" them with a fork and drizzle the Jello over the warm cupcakes. Top with a Peach Buttercream...they are just peachy.

Jenny posted this on Sweetchericakes FB page yesterday...i had a sweet chericake - peachy keen for my mother's day breakfast. totally appropriate =) started my day off sooooo sweet!

Again, congrats to Jenny on her graduation. I am proud of her many accomplishments. One of which is launching her own business...take a look!

I love that Jenny was the first of many reasons to get out of the "Minnesota Winter Funk" and start Spring BAKE. Thanks, my friend!

PS...In this post I gave you all "my" vanilla cupcake recipe.







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