Plans for Summer and Testing my New Stuff!

I HAVE A JOB! I'm going to be working in the Hannaford Bakery in Maine and staying with my Gram in her summer trailer. The accommodations are cramped but the weather is beautiful, the people are happy, and life will be swell. My only reservations about the job are baking-related; my favorite part of the game is making the cake and buttercream, and grocery stores can't afford to play that game.

So, IF I get the cake decorating shift, I'll have to clock a 7-minute cake. That's bare cake to completion, maybe a little time extra for personalization. It seems I'll have to collect my creative spare change in a jar for my spare time. I'm thinking of using it for honing my painting skills and painting scenes of the town in Maine I'll be in. Seems like a fun summer project.

But, anyways, onto the fun stuff! I got home and found my beautiful second mixer bowl (which is still in the box because I really have no used for it right now... oops) and the 11 WIRE WHIP! (Yep, that's the name, it seems to me it should be called the "wire whisk") Here is the 'whip' compared to my old one:

I was going to whip up some cupcakes so I could test out the new whisk but decided not to, instead we picked up heavy cream and made some whipped cream. It didn't take any time at all.

Oh! I made a sale on etsy, here is the finished product:

I'm Making a WEDDING CAKE!!!

It was luck that I found this opportunity and she found me. This week I worked on developing a cake and buttercream recipe with her unique flavors. I made a small 6-inch tester cake and met with the couple. The wedding is in August, a long ways from now, but I am still excited.

I am also taking this as an opportunity to buy two things I've been desiring for a long time: a second bowl for my KitchenAid and the 11 Wire Whip.

"This stainless steel whip's 11-wire design ensures that you'll get maximum volume in less time, for lighter, fluffier whipped cream, egg whites and cake batters." (Whip description)

 The second bowl will come in handy with nearly all my cake batter recipes. They work on a two part system where the egg yolks are combined with the butter/sugar mixture and the egg whites are whipped separately. Before having the second bowl, I would have to scoop out the batter into another bowl and clean the bowl thoroughly to whip the egg whites. Then I would fold the egg whites into the batter that was set aside. Now I can leave the batter in the bowl and mix the whites in another bowl, which saves time and lets me mix up the batter once more before I incorporate the egg whites.

I would have really loved to invest in a second 6qt KitchenAid, but that's really not necessary.

I dream of the floor bolted Hobart mixers...

...drool...

Await fun cake to come! 

Baby Shower Cake and Cupcakes

This happened a while ago and it's taken me a few months to remember to put it up! The cake was half chocolate and half vanilla with vanilla meringue buttercream. The cupcakes were the same, and they were decorated in green, lavender, and purple with baby booties.  This cake was delivered March 11, 2012.