Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday morning after the baking storm...

M Cakes successfully delivered all 5 orders this past week-end.  I was very excited that we were booked solid for the first time.  Here's a quick wrap up of all the cakes:

#1 was a beautiful communion cake.

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#2 was a sweet anniversary cake in Grand Canyon earthy tones to remind our couple of their honeymoon.

#3 was a gorgeous fuchsia cake with bright flowers to celebrate a wonderful woman's 30th bday.  


#4 was an adorable rubber ducky baby shower cake with a sweet stop station.  It was a great baby shower.  Take a look at the happy couple!








#5 concludes the week-end with a great graduation cake for a Panther!  GO FIU!  Congrats!


As for me, this is what I ended my week-end with!



Saturday, April 28, 2012

Working on 4th cake this week-end.....

This was my third, working on my 4th and I still have a 5th tomorrow.....  I love this one though and thought I would share...

Ok, break time is over, back to baking!


2 down, 3 to go!

This is what the table is looking like.  2 cakes are done and ready to be delivered.  One layer for the next cake is cooling, another layer is baking, another layer is being prepared in the mixer.  What a crazy week-end but I am loving the opportunity to make so many things.  Stay tuned for more pictures and updates!


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

M Cakes has its first booked solid week-end!!! WOOT WOOT

I'M SO FLIPPIN' EXCITED!!!! For the very first time, M Cakes is booked solid this week-end!  I have 3 cakes, several cake pop orders and another cake with a sweet stop station for a baby shower!  YAY!  Lots of pics to follow throughout the week-end!  

I sent this through facebook but for those clients that follow the blog, I'm sending you all a mega big, huge, ginormous thank you!  You guys are the best!  :-)

Monday, April 23, 2012

GREAT ORIGINAL MOTHER'S DAY GIFT IDEA!! You gotta take a peek at this!

Hi everyone!!  Look at the pic below, can you guess who I am and who my daughter is?



I'm the little girl on the left!  This picture was taken at my roller skating birthday many years ago.  More than I care to say!  :-)  My daughter is the little girl on the right at her roller skating birthday.  If you're thinking photo shop, you hit it right on the nose!  This was a gift from my sister and she took my old photo and added my daughter to it through photo shop and voila!!  You get an amazingly cool photo where you can be side by side with your child or side by side with your mom, your grandma, and so on and so on.  The possibilities are limitless!  (This is also a great idea for dads and their boys and grandpas too.)

It can be used for birthdays, holidays and you can add more children if that special mommy or great dad has more children.  Add a basket of my cake pops to it and you have one amazingly sweet and beautiful gift for all those special mommies (or dads) out there.

To all hardworking, tired and selfless mommies from this one, for all you do, you are GREAT!!!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Peanut free, egg free, milk free cake! OH MY!

I got a special request order from a client for her daughter's communion.  She sent me an online recipe and asked if I could make this recipe but decorate it to match the theme.  I said "no problem".  Little did I know that I was in for a cake adventure and lesson.  The online recipe calls for a box cake mixture and club soda.  That's it!!  It was a new experience for me because I never use box recipes and I never make egg free cakes.  A challenge.  I'm up for it.

I made three layers for this cake.  When I tried to level the cake, it completely collapsed and fell apart!!  I was devastated.  I decided to experiment with the other two layers and realized there was no way to make a three level cake because the inside of the cake maintains a fallen souffle like texture.  Without any eggs, there are no ingredients to bind the mixture together and give it the structure it needs for layering and definitely not leveling (cutting the top off to make it even and flat).   

On to Plan B for me.  I decided to make two layers so the weight would not cause it to collapse.  I made a milk free buttercream as well.  I prepared my cakes and gently frosted them.  The key word here is gently.  This cake is very delicate.  I made a wavy design on the top to cover the dome shape since I could not level the cake.  I used fondant to make the design around the border that matches the invitation.  Both are pictured below.

It was a great learning experience for me and for mommies out there that need this type of recipe, you can go to this link to see it.  http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/hungry-girl-club-soda-chocolate-cake

Happy Baking!  :-)



Friday, April 20, 2012

M's quick guide to cake popping - how to make perfect cake pops!

I've been asked a hundred times how I make those cute little round cake pops that everyone is in love with.  Yesterday I had an order for 145 - that's some serious cake popping!!  I thought why not post some step by step pictures and try to help others out there that may be interested in cake popping.  So here's my best attempt and I promise to keep it short so you don't get bored and nod off.....

Hey, wake up, I haven't even started yet!!  :-)

First you have to make your cake.  Pick whichever cake recipe you love.  My order called for red velvet, vanilla and chocolate so I made my cakes.  Instead of using round cake pans, I like to use a large rectangle shaped Pyrex so it's easier to take out and crumble.  You can see the hole I make in the middle with a tooth pick to make sure the cake is cooked through.  LOL


Let the cakes cool completely and then take them out and place them into a large bowl.  You'll need the space to crumble the cake.  I like to wear gloves whenever I make anything and I have found that the Playtex disposables for cooking are great!!  Here's a pic in case you want to buy them.  You can get them at any local grocery store.  Crumble the cake until there are no large pieces.  You can use a mixer to do this but I find using your hands is much better when you get to the next step.    


Now it's time to add your buttercream.  You can use regular icing sold at your food markets.  I find that making fresh buttercream is much yummier and my goal is to make the yummiest cake pops!  Mix thoroughly.  I prefer mixing by hand because the mixer paddle will get full of cake stuck to it and it's a pain!!  You should add enough buttercream to the mixture so it resembles cookie dough at the end.           




Place it in the fridge and let it cool for at least a few hours.  Take it out and make the balls that will become cake pops.  I use an ice cream scoop (small or medium).  You can measure it yourself in your hands but I find this method faster and with all the cake popping I do, I have to keep it as quick as possible.  Thinking of giving it up yet?  Stick with me.  Only a few more short steps till the end and you'll know how to make your very own cake pops.    


Once you make the first set, then you need to roll them into perfect little circles like the picture below.  You want to have pretty round circles, not lop sided orbs!  :-)


Temper your chocolate (or candy melts) carefully!  What a major, massive headache for me in the beginning.  Melt it too fast and it will get overheated and it will not work as you need it to.  It feels like the chocolate is laughing at you as you wait for it to set.  TAKES FOREVER TO HARDEN!  Leave it too cool and it will not cover as you need it to and it will be clumpy and mock you once again.  Unfortunately, there's no secret or perfect way to do it.  Practice will make perfect!  I use a microwaveable measuring cup so it's deep enough to dip the cake pop into.  You can see the chocolate chips still melting in my pic.    


Now place the lollipop stick tip into your chocolate and then into your cake pop ball and let it set well.


You're finally ready to dip your cake pops into the chocolate.  Tap it a few times against the rim of your cup to remove any excess chocolate.  Don't tap too hard or you will find yourself cursing the little cake pop ball you gave so much love to as it disappears into your chocolate after falling off your lollipop stick.  If you want to add sprinkles, do it before your chocolate hardens or they won't stick.  If you are doing other types of decorations, set your cake pop aside and let it harden.  I use foam blocks so I can stand them upright while they dry.  




You can see the foam blocks in this last picture but most of all, you can see the beautiful cake pops!  This was a huge order and not all 145 fit in the picture.  It took several hours.  They are tedious and time consuming so make sure you have time to make them when you're going to give it a try.


If you made it this far, you didn't fall asleep and that means my guide wasn't too long.  YAY!  

GOOD LUCK!!  

If you have any questions or comments, please share!!



Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Teacher Appreciation Week is back! 15% OFF!!!!

Teacher Appreciation Week begins Monday, May 7, 2012, and ends Friday, May 11, 2012!  Back in January 2012, I held an early teacher appreciation week where teachers received 15% off their orders as a thank you for all they do.  Guess what?  It's back!!  From now until May 11, 2012, teachers will get 15% off their orders (even if delivery is past May 11th).  THANK YOU TEACHERS!!!


Thursday, April 12, 2012

"Sweet Stop Station" - Miami Science Museum Charity Event

I finally came up with a name for my table!  The "SWEET STOP STATION".  LOVE IT!!

I prepared my first dessert table for a charity event held at the Miami Science Museum.  I'm sure you saw me posting about it on the blog and on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mcakesdesigns).

Here are a few pics from the event.  It was SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET, just like all the treats that I made!  :-)









Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Dessert table continues...... And I'm missing a name for it!

I had no idea that putting on a dessert table could be this much work!  GOODNESS!!!  About 12 hours into the making, I have everything done and decorated!  I still have some cake popping to go tomorrow morning but this baker needed a break....  and dinner!

I also need a name for my table so I can promote it with my logo.....  I've heard dessert table, tablescape, dessert buffet, candy table, cake table.  I have to give this some thought.

In the end, whatever I call it will be fine and it's going to look lovely!  I can't wait till tomorrow afternoon!

Take a peek back here tomorrow late at night for pictures!  I'm sure I'm going to take a ton of them!

Dessert table continues..........

I've been baking since 8am this morning!!  WHEW!!!!  


So far I have:
Red velvet w/cream cheese frosting, chocolate w/ganache frosting, chocolate stout w/Baileys frosting, vanilla stuffed w/ dulce de leche w/ dulce de leche frosting and vanilla stuffed with guava w/cream cheese frosting...... and that doesn't include the cake pops!! The baking continues....... 
:-)


Can't wait till tomorrow!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Planning my first dessert table!

I've been preparing this week to host my first dessert table at an event!  I went ahead and asked on Facebook for people to name their favorite flavors in cupcakes.  Red velvet is a must and my favorite, CHOCOLATE!  I will definitely include both!

If you have any other favorites, go ahead and comment and let me know.  VERY EXCITED!  The event will be held this Thursday night.  Stay tuned for pictures....  YAY!!!!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Easter winners!

Here are two of our Easter basket winners enjoying their pops.  It was a great contest and I enjoyed making the treats for these cuties!  May everyone have had a wonderful Easter!






Friday, April 6, 2012

Soooooooooooo ready for Easter!!

Spent all night cake popping and getting orders ready for delivery tomorrow.  I have a few more cake pops to go for the winners of our Easter raffle and I'll finish those up tomorrow.  I can't wait!  I love Easter!  LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!





Thursday, April 5, 2012

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SUPER CAKE!! (Superman cake for dad)

This SUPER DAD cake was ordered by a loving wife for her special man. He's a super husband, a super dad and a super friend!!! Happy Birthday to him!!
This is a great idea for Father's Day!!!!  Don't you agree??  I think I'll be making one for my husband!  




Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Charming baby shower cake.

A wonderful client ordered a cake for a very special co-worker/friend who is expecting a precious little baby girl.  The cake was inspired by a web pic and I put a lot of extra love into making it to get this happy and colorful baby shower cake! :-)





Tuesday, April 3, 2012

More cake popping!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you guess what I was doing all night? Cake popping!  Here are a few shots.  Loving the bright colors!  My clients keep me busy and that's why you guys are the BEST!! Tomorrow a baby shower cake! FUN!



Monday, April 2, 2012

What's cake popping? - How to make a perfect cake pop.


I sat down tired as my husband got home late form work and he asked "What were you doing?" and I said "Cake popping!".....  It's my new term for making cake pops, cake pops, caaaaaaaaaaaaaaake pooooooooooooooooops leading to my cake pop overload!!!!!!!!  Finished 60 today and had to make another 50 for my daughter who begged me for her classmates with her beautiful puppy dog eyes....  Couldn't say no!  Done.....  But that's just for today.....  Tomorrow, I'm cake popping again for my awesome clients!  You guys ROCK!

Good (cake pops) Night (cake pops)........