A Very MInnie Birthday

Last summer a friend's daughter was turning 2, and she was having a Minnie Mouse birthday party.  She asked if I could make her cake.  Of course I could!  She was really thinking that I would use the Wilton Mickie Mouse cake pan, but I had something slightly different in mind.

The base cake was a white cake with strawberry cream cheese filling, butter cream frosting and fondant decorations.  The mouse hat was chocolate cake covered in fondant.

Since I had the supplies and tend to be an overachiever, I didn't stop there.

I made personalized favors for each of the party guests to take home - sugar cookies covered in fondant.  Then I packaged them nicely for each guest!

Logo Cake

A few weeks back I made a cake for church and recreated the church's logo.  The pastor was so excited!

Easter

I'll get off the topic of babies and toddlers for a little bit, and show you some Easter cakes that I have made.

I made this cake three years ago, I think.  It is a two-tiered carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and fondant tulips.

I believe I made this cake two years ago.  I was trying to make a whipped cream cheese frosting, but the frosting was too soft to hold a basket weave.  Oh well - it still looked and tasted good!

I also made chocolate dipped sugar cookie Easter eggs.  I should really make some more of those!

This was this year's Easter cake.  I baked the cake and made the frosting and flowers at home.  I bought the cross from Cerreta Candy Company.  Then I transported the pieces to San Diego to the in-laws' and put it all together.

First birthdays

First birthdays are always so much fun!  Some babies tentatively poke at the cake while others go face first!  Here are a couple of first birthday treats:

"Pink velvet" and chocolate cake and cupcakes (not mixed, just an assortment of options) {Photo credit: Rhythm Photography}

Monkey and "funky flower" sugar cookies {Photo credit: Rhythm Photography}

 

What's cuter than a toddler digging in to her first birthday cake?   {Photo credit: Rhythm Photography}

Pooh - How Appropriate for a Baby

People often think about Winnie the Pooh for babies.  I think it is quite appropriate (having a toddler of my own)...  My dear friend, Stephanie, was having a baby and asked me to make her baby shower cake.  Here it is:

By the way, if you are in need of a great photographer, check out her work: https://www.facebook.com/RhythmPhotographers?hc_location=stream

It's Official!

On Monday I received my certificate from the Home Baked Goods Program.  I can now legally start making and selling goods.  I am still working on fine tuning and costing out recipes, but I am looking forward to getting started!

Almost Legal

I am almost legal.  I am pretty excited!  I got my food handlers' card today, and filed my registration with the Home Baked and Confectionary Goods Program.  As soon as I get my response of approval, I can be in business.  Next on the agenda, start forming an LLC.

Any Occasion Cakes

Just to get us started, here are some examples of some any occasion cakes that I have made over the past few years:

Double mousse chocolate cake that I made for Valentine's Day

Cake for my daughter's baby dedication

Cake that I made for my friend Cat's graduation

Learning to use fondant a couple of years ago

Wilton course cake

Embarking on a new adventure

Actually, I am embarking on a couple of new adventures...  First, I am no longer going to have a full time (paying) job plus a part time job or two.  I will keep a part time job for a while just to keep some income, but for the first time I am going to be a mostly stay-at-home with a toddler.  That is a scary and exciting thought!

The other adventure is starting a home-based business.  I have had several people over the last few years tell me that I should start a home-based bakery.  Until recently I have been more focused on generating an income.  Now we are going to tighten our budget and trust God to provide!

So, in order to follow the legal steps to form a home-based bakery, I need to obtain a food handlers' card and register with the Home Based and Confectionary Goods Program.  I can't wait to get this process started!