Barter for cupcakes!

If you know me, I am a foodie. Have been for as long as I can remember. I do like cooking and tasting foods from all cultures. I am a good baker and I really truly love to do it but there are lots of things I enjoy but not so much the process. I enjoy eating cookies but not baking cookies. I get requests for cookies sometimes and I really like to leave the cookie baking to someone else, anyone else.
My neighbor, Mary offered to bake rainbow cookies and I'd bake her a dozen cupcakes. It was a deal we made and I for one was thrilled!!! The rainbow cookies were not cooperative and poor Mary was frustrated and after many attempts and much money spent, they were not meant to be. So she made me rice balls instead. I told Bobby and he was delighted! The rice balls were delivered and devoured. Yummo! I now need the recipe and keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to prepare these personally.
I delivered these cupcakes to Mary and hoping her family is enjoying them.
Have I mentioned how much I love my neighborhood? Merry Christmas Pergola Family!

Merry Christmas Rozzo Family!

The Rozzo family are my friends and also repeat customers! Here are their Christmas cupcakes. The red velvet minis are for the adults (you know you just can't eat one!!) and the Christmas themed ones are for the kiddies.
Merry Christmas Rozzo Family! I love you all and hope your family gathering was very special!

Merry Christmas !

A great friend of mine, Suzanne, asked me to bake for her daughter, Katie's class. She ordered traditional vanilla and when I asked for specific ideas on the fondant toppers, she said what only a handful of clients have said....."Whatever you want." I love when I get the green light to try out a new design!
As you see here, there is the gingerbread man, "Joy," and Santa's mailbox. I was inspired by Edible Details fondant creations and Lynlee's Petite Cakes. I love their designs and urge everyone to see their work!
I know Suzanne a long time and love that she is in such a good place in her life. Her family deserves all the happiness in the world. She is a generous, hard working Mom who is always looking for ways to make her daughters happy. I get a great feeling each and everytime I see or speak to her.
I hope that Katie and her class will enjoy the cupcakes on the last school day of 2011!

Mathew's Christmas Party!

My friend, Olimpia, rec'd one of her Christmas gifts early this year. She had her little daughter Isla last month and is adjusting to having two little ones. It was so great to hear from her when she contacted me to place this order for big brother Mathew at his preschool.
It was great to have new options for this time of year. So here you see a gingerbread man, a Christmas tree and Santa! First time making those and got my inspiration online from Edible Details fondant creations. Also baked the top three requested flavors. Traditional vanilla, chocolate and chocolate chip.
Thank you 'Limpy!" God Bless your growing family!

Christmas Shower!!

Jennifer contacted me and ultimately wanted Christmas themed cupcakes for her sister's bridal shower. After discussing several designs, she decided on the white chocolate snowflakes with red and green colors throughout and the girl/boy reindeer that are just smitten! Design for the reindeer was slightly altered but credit goes to Bakerella.
This order definitely put me in the Christmas spirit!!
Best wishes to your family Jennifer!

Holidays Around the World

My best friend's son, Lucas, had an event at his school covering many holidays celebrated at this time of year around the world. I tried to represent many of the various holidays. Kwanzaa, Hanukah, Christmas, New Year's and Three Kings Day. It was great to see so many designs together as many of my orders are typically consist of just one or two designs. It's great knowing that the cupcakes made Lucas and his friends at school very happy! So when you hear Tis the season, remember there's many who are celebrating in their own different way!

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Independence Day (and Happy 100th post on my blog!)2010! Very happy to have been able to bake cupcakes for our friends, Michele and Ed. They hosted an engagement/independence day party at their beautiful home and it was great to combine both occasions into these batches. Michele sent me ideas for both the patriotic and those symbolizing amor. Lots to celebrate and lots of variety to suit anyone's taste!

Just Hatched!

These chocolate cupcakes are for a great friend Michele.  She is all about family and this past year, her neice had a little baby boy and she had him in mind when requesting Easter cupcakes.  Also some "firsts" for me...I made the homemade fondant "chicks" blue instead of yellow to add the boyish touch and the banners have the traditional ones.  It was the first time using the tip that makes the icing resemble grass and love the way they look.  Also my first try at making any kind of fondant animal and although I need practice, not too shabby.

Happy First Easter Nicholas!

Mary needs no Luck!

This lucky batch was baked for our friend Mary.  Mary was born in Ireland and caring for kids since she was a kid herself.  She cared for both of my children when I was working full time and taught me so much, loved my children as she did her own and made us all feel like extended family.  Pat (her husband) and Mary are angels here on earth to us.  Mary is the most positive person I have ever met and her kindness needed some recognition.  I made these with her family in mind and hope all this homemade marshmellow fondant is not too sweet. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Thank you to Julie from Indiana for this inspiration!

Baker's Dozens!!

My biggest order to date (until tomorrow!).  I just baked and decorated 5 dozen holiday cupcakes for Abbey Lane School in Levittown and tomorrow will be baking and decorating 6 dozen for other customers!  I am thoroughly enjoying the work cause so far feels like more fun than work.  I prep like crazy and Bobby entertains the kids for a chunk of time and it's been working out great.  Just had to add this shot to the blog cause I am pretty proud of how Babycakes is starting to take shape.  My hands are tired so gotta give my legs some walking out in the brisk December air, enjoy the house lights with the dog.  Goodnight!!

The holidays are my favorite time of year and with my kids growing, I know how special it will be for them looking forward to fun delicious treats at home. These are my samples for two schools that I'll be delivering to shortly and hoping for the orders to follow but honestly, the fun in baking and decorating these couldn't be described. I kept smiling the whole time and just know some teachers will be smiling in Levittown and Long Beach today!!

Credit to Karen Tack for her design but probably the most fun to make out of the holiday sample batch! Love these guys!!

First try makin these trees and had a problem getting them to fit into my boxes so only two are taller, had to trim my baby ice cream cones (that what's under that thick layer of green colored chocolate) to remedy that obstacle but think maybe colored lights for any future batches would look better. Learning as I go..........