Cakes, too!

So here's the beauty I was working on last night for this morning's delivery. There are some who think I am only doing cupcakes BUT yes, I enjoy making cakes as well! 
Provided they don't involve fondant ( just not my favorite), since I think the whole thing needs to be deliciously edible. Provided it doesn't need to look like a cookie cutter of an earlier generation. As long as all the ingredients are there, and the whole things tastes great...I like that it can be a creative outlet for me...on how and what I pipe and how I decorate the whole thing- since I like to think that each cake is a gift to you.

What did your family have for Thanksgiving?

Happy after Thanksgiving to all and to all- I hope you had good desserts! Several of you have asked what did your family have for dessert after the fabulous turkey dinner? After baking on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday...I have to admit that I don't have recipes that only bake a dozen at a time...my recipes are usually 18-24 per batch. My family reaped the benefits of the extra "blanks", seen here.

From the left you see, dark chocolate cake filled with raspberry puree, topped with chocolate silk frosting. Pumpkin cake with pecan creme filling, topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting- some with chopped pecans, some with a leaf shaped sables cookies. There are a few coconut cake with rum custard with a coco vanilla meringue buttercream, as well as brown sugar pound cake filled with chocolate custard with Godiva liqueur, topped with vanilla meringue buttercream and Dutch chocolate sprinkles. There are carrot cupcakes with pecan creme filling, topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting AND pumpkin cakes fllled with chocolate custard, topped with coconut meringue buttercream with toasted coconut. 

They were loved by all and quickly devoured, and some made it in care packages on to go paper plates.

I have a week to breathe and then it's time to think about December! Stay tuned for those Holiday ideas for the JujyCakes Holiday menu!

How much do I love these...sables!

I REALLY, REALLY LOVE a wonderful butter cookie! There is nothing more delicious than butter, sugar, flour and a bit of salt. I have tried nearly everyone's recipe for butter cookies or sable. I tried the recipe in Paris Sweets and countless others. BUT I recently acquired PASTRY by Michel Roux over the summer and was intrigued by his recipe and technique. The technique is as if you were making pasta. Your fingers literally learn about the texture and feel as the fingertips gently, yet firmly massage the butter into the flour/ sugar mixture.

I have always done the "sanding" in my food processor, but I think from now on I will do the sabler by hand. It's a wonderful tactile experience.

It's time to snack on a few extras that aren't needed for a recipe...yum.

A reason to be Thankful

A friend of mine has been searching for a lost greyhound that was rescued by a lovely 70 w/o woman. With the temperatures in the mid 30's the last few evenings, Greyhound friends have been setting "live" traps in an effort to find the 13 y/o dog. The group of rescuers are worried that they may find the dog too late since the area includes a huge 6 lane highway. I hope that the rescue goes well and that the dog will be found soon- it's been a week so far.

On another note, another friend who recently had major surgery is healing and getting stronger everyday! She is now completely cancer free! THAT Is something to be very thankful for! 

YUMMY, warm Apple Cranberry Tart goodness

Wow, it's 13 days till Thanksgiving! Here's close up of an Apple Cranberry frangipane tart...it's still warm, and I'm not sure if I want to brulee the apples or leave the beautiful contrast of the Gala apple skins and flesh with the cranberries. It's cloudy here today, so I'm still getting the hang of the tungsten lighting and metered flash that my brother was so kind enough to leave with me to practice.

I am so grateful for all the orders I have coming up for the holiday. I have 5 orders due on Tues and 5 orders due on Weds before the holiday so far. All JujyCakes friends have menus and know that the deadline for goodies is Thursday , the 19th- since my production schedule is limited. There is only one of me! Though I was thinking that I could prep weighing all the ingredients per recipe at least in the dry parts.

Anyhow, one day of rest till 3 orders for Sunday, that need to be delivered to Jersey City, NJ. It's a special favor to a friend and business acquaintance who spent 3 weeks with me in Morocco so many years ago. I'm really looking forward to seeing her and catching up.

Keep dry in this Nor'easter...can you imagine if it was all SNOW???

Here turkey, turkey, turkey...

Thanks again to Rachel, Nichelle, Stacie et al at Cupcakes Take the Cake for the spot light of my turkey cupcakes!!! It is so exciting to see my work shared with others who share the creative passion in baking.

Please take a look at what everyone else is doing in the cupcake world. http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2009/11/5-turkey-cupcakes-for-thanksgiving.html

Happy Fall!!!

PS. Please send good karma, thoughts and prayers to my close friend who had major surgery and is now cancer FREE! She loves cupcakes and all things chocolate, too!