first things first

Let's talk about fondant--or my attempt to decorate with fondant for the first time. Teach this horse how to find water and I'll drink for years--I'm the queen of jumping online and finding a tutorial for just about anything. Enter stage left: cake decorating. My daughter celebrated her first birthday in May and I had determined from December that I was making a cake covered with fondant. It was a bit daunting, but I sat for hours and sketched a cake I thought my daughter could look back on one day and say, 'what'd you do all that for--I didn't know a cake from a door knob.' I studied (seriously) tutorials on youtube, and watched Ace of Cakes constantly. (Not that I'm even in the same hemisphere with those people; their cakes are ridiculous). After several trips to Michael's and my new favorite how-to book, Celebrate with Fondant the cake was a success. The top tier is french vanilla and the bottom tier is layered french vanilla and marble cake. Both tiers were iced/filled with chocolate buttercream icing. The dots and flowers are also fondant. Ah, my first fondant covered cake for my first child's first birthday...I hope, one day, she'll love it.

what's in a name?

I never thought I'd do it, but, here I am...with a blog. What a strange, little, four-letter word. Say it three times and it sounds like...well, it could never sound like praying. More like a fog horn or a serious head cold or sinusitis. But I digress--I'm here and I'm blogging, and about my newest obession: cake decorating! Actually, cakes, cupcakes, cookies and a general love of desserts all around. It's not that I love baking so much, but I do love projects and pretty things, and there's just nothing prettier than an iced cake or plated dessert. (Although, some peep-toe pumps are enough to make me salavate--ooh! or the perfect oversized handbag). Last night was my first attempt at a strawberry shortcake, courtesy of Martha Stewart . The shortcake was a little crumbly but I don't think I let it cool long enough. I also prepared the dough in a blender because I don't have a food processor. Not the smartest move because now, someone has to clean this, and honey, dirty dishes and I just do not get along. I didn't have a lemon so I used a little bit of orange juice to bring out the flavor in the strawberries. In the end, it was all well worth the mess in my kitchen; the recipe turned out pretty fantastic and makes a great, light, summer dessert. Mmm, strawberries and cream...now that sounds like praying.