Color Me Rad Cake: Happy Dirty 30!

My wonderful sister-in-law just celebrated her 30th birthday! To celebrate, we all decided to run (ok...walk) the "Color Me Rad" 5K run. The weather was perfect, and we had fun getting wild and wacky in the race that throws colors at you while you pass by! After we ended the morning a bit more colorful than we started, we began preparations for a surprise party for Mindy at our house. Being the baker/cake decorator of the family, I wanted to do something fun and colorful to match the theme of our day! So, I decided to decorate the cake JUST like the volunteers decorated us runners (ok, ok...walkers!) What did I do? I threw powdered sugar at the cake! AND IT WAS AWESOME!

 Happy "Dirty 30" Mindy!

I dyed powdered sugar by hand (boy was that a labor of love), let it dry, and then sifted it to remove an extra lumps. I iced the cake in a plain white buttercream, took the whole deal outside, and the lobbed handfuls of colorful sugar on to the cake! IT WAS FUN! I'll be posting a video of my endeavors soon!

The cake was already busy on its own, so I didn't want to add even more by writing on the cake. AND, in keeping with the race theme, I thought it would be fun to make a banner with the written sentiments on it rather than writing in icing! (Like a finish line...get it?) So, I set to work making a little colorful banner. It was easy! Here's how!

Step 1: Cut the number of triangles you need (in the colors you desire) using one triangle as the template for all the others.

   

Step 2: Gather an appropriate surface (I used a bulletin board) to push a push pin in to the top two corners of each triangle. 

 Step 3: Gather string and needle to string the triangles on in the order you desire.

Step 4: Add written sentiment!

 Step 5: Attach ends to bamboo skewers or anything similar, leaving a little room so the banner hangs! 

Step 6: Insert in to cake!

With an outside looking wildly colorful, I knew I couldn't make the inside boring and blah! So, what did I do? I spruced it up a little!

 Ok...maybe a LOT!

 

WHOO! I don't think I've ever seen such a colorful cake!

And it's easy to make such a colorful, tye-dye creation!

Step 1: Make yellow cake according to normal directions.

Step 2: Divide batter evenly in to as many different bowls as you desire colors.

Step 3: Color each bowl with the color of your choice.

Step 4: Layer batter color by color. Pour your first color into the middle of a 9" round pan. Tap pan on the counter a little to spread the batter out. Repeat over and over with various colors until you have rings of color...like this!

 Step 5: Bake according to normal directions! You'll end up with a lovely, colorful cake!

I don't think I've ever had so much fun making a cake! How often does a baker get to throw powdered sugar at a cake? haha

Musical Cookies for Musical Little Ones!

I've had so much fun this summer teaching multiple Music Together classes with Petite Musician. We just finished our last week of classes for the semester and I wanted to give my little ones a fun treat to wrap up the unit! What better than making them some musical cookies to enjoy? I had a blast making these, and by the looks of it, the kids have had a blast eating them! (Frosting faces have erupted mere bites into the treats!)

Cookies for a Softball All-Star!

My cousin (really, my cousin's daughter...I forget what relation that is. 1st cousin once removed?) just graduated from High School and finished an ALL STAR athletic career. Sammie played pretty much every sport available, but killed it when it came to Softball. She was accepted to the All-Star team, so we decided she should celebrate with some cookies! My parents and aunt are on their way to Iowa right now to have a visit with family, so I sent the cookies with them to give to Sammie.

I had fun playing around with different designs. Her team colors were purple and yellow.

A Little Taste of Cold Stone Cakes

While I decorate out of my home, most of my decorating takes place at Cold Stone Creamery. The work I do there is very different from my work at home, mainly because I either follow Signature creation decorations designed by Cold Stone, or I replicate a Deco-Pac toy design rather than coming up with my own originally creation! Regardless, I still have fun. Here are a few samples of my lastest Cold Stone cakes!

Designed from a magazine picture the mom brought in of baby Mickey. Hope they liked it!

My Little Pony, complete with a very unique little girl's name!

I scoffed at this order! They brought in this picture of Iron Man and wanted me to recreate it WITH FROSTING!

Needless to say, THAT wasn't going to happen, but I did manage to free-hand this. So, I hope they aren't disappointed. Then again, it's not like a 3-year-old is going to have this cake emblazoned on his memory for years to come. Parents are ridiculous sometimes!

 One of my favorites! Spongebob! It's so colorful, fun, and easy to do! All that's missing from these pictures are the little Spongebob, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs toys that sit in the middle of each starfish!

 

Avalanche Bark...Oh My!

Read at your own risk. Once you read this recipe, you will never be the same.

Those who know me know I have an unhealthy obsession with anything peanut butter. Give me a dessert with peanut butter and I'm a happy, HAPPY girl. Those who know me also know I'm obsessed with sweets and constantly have the hankering to whip something up on any given night. Well, lately, Colorado has been hotter than blazes, so the thought of turning the oven on is a big No-No in this house! So, what's a girl to do who is itchin' to whip up something sweet who can't turn the oven on?

Look no further! I google searched everything my pallet was craving one night...my search consisted of "white chocolate peanut butter rice crispy" and MAGIC happened. I've had Avalanche Bark before...at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, I believe...but that was years ago. However, it was such a delectable treat that my taste buds remembered the heavenly combination and yearned for more. So I whipped up this recipe in no time and my family has been devouring pan after pan for the last couple of days (that's no exaggeration. We're literally on our 3rd batch of the stuff in 3 days. Oops)

It's easy. It's quick. And it's heat-free!

• 1 (12 ounce) bag white chocolate chips (or vanilla candy coating)
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (the recipe calls for creamy...I prefer to use crunchy. More texture!)
• 3 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chip (I don't measure. I just toss some in since I have to limit my chocolate in take. I just use a splash)
• 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows (for my first two batches, I didn't have any mini mallows on hand, so I laboriously cut up large marshmallows in half and then in quarters. It worked, but man was it gooey! Using mini mallows is MUCH easier!) 

Directions:

1. Melt white chips in a microwave safe bowl. Make sure to stir about every 30 seconds and nuke at half power. Don't burn the chips!

2. Stir in peanut butter

3. Pour white chocolate/peanut butter heavenly concoction over rice crispy cereal

4. Stir well

5. Recipes always say to let this mixture come to room temperature before adding marshmallows...I say FORGET THAT! I like my mallows to be a little gooey and melted in the mix, so I dump them in now and stir!

6. Let cool a BIT if you don't want melted chocolate chips...but if not, dump them in right away, too

7. Add mini chocolate chips, give a slight stir

8. Pour mixture into a slightly greased pan (8X8 can work...I've been using a 6X9ish pan and it works well)

9. Pop that bad boy in the fridge if you want to enjoy it sooner rather than later. If not, let is stand on the counter top until solid. 

10. ENJOY! I promise...you'll have one taste and then continually cut yourself another bit to munch on. It's ADDICTING!

YUMMMMM! Marshmallows all gooey inside!

Deliciousness!!!

4th of July Cookies!

I had some fun decorating some festive Fourth of July cookies for my cousin and her kids! It was fun experimenting and coming up with these!

I wanted to create different layers of texture with the stars. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Good old American flags!

And the Liberty Bell, complete with sprinkles!

Happy 4th of July! 

Enjoy the holiday and our country!

Tips and Tricks! Time { and Sanity } Saver!

I love love LOVE when I come across tips and tricks on baking blogs that I never would have thought of on my own. Today was one of those days! I am a decorator who LOVES the act of decorating, but I hate the prep and the clean up. What a nightmare! I was hunting around for some royal icing recipes and hints, and as I browsed one of my favorite blogs, The Sweet Adventures of Sugar Belle, I stumbled upon a little trick that blew my mind! She discovered the tip from Karen's Cookie Blog, and I now owe my sanity to Karen since I won't go bonkers in the kitchen while trying to clean up a zillion decorating bags! Hallelujah!

Check out how to keep decorating bags clean for the easiest clean up EVER!