Friday, February 29, 2008

No Bread Here!

Unfortunately, I was unable to participate in this month's Daring Bakers challenge. I was SO looking forward to really sinking my teeth into Julia Child's recipe for French bread, however, my weekends this month were solely devoted to remodeling our house (to get it ready to rent in July) and making my mom's birthday cake for her 50th birthday. I was so disappointed, but check out the other Daring Bakers' results (in the blogroll), a lot of them are quite beautiful.

And welcome to all the new members to the Daring Bakers! We're growing SO FAST!!

~Mehgan~

P.S. I promise to post mom's cake this weekend. I was having uploading issues this week, that's why you haven't seen them yet.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Mom's Birthday Cake- Take #2

Hello, ladies and gents! So, I've decided to go with Jenn's recipe from ...and the eggs, it just looks so yummy and irresistable! (recipe: http://www.andtheeggs.net/2008/01/old-fashioned-chocolate-layer-cake.html) I was in a bit of a rush yesterday when I started pulling out the ingredients for this, and didn't realize that the recipe makes two cakes (my intentions were to make two cakes anyway), so I doubled the recipe. That was insane! TONS of batter! But, now that I have four cakes to work with, I'll be able to make two layer cakes that have room to trim if I need to.

Instead of a standard chocolate frosting, my mom special requested a chocolate ganache with edible flowers as decoration (yeah, going to find those today after work). I have naked cakes sitting at home, just waiting to be frosted! I stopped by Michael's yesterday after work and picked up some cake circles and cake boxes to transport them in. Mom's birthday party is going to be held at the Black Forest Steakhouse in Everson, WA, which is just about 2 hours from my house. I'm praying that the interior of my car doesn't get too hot from the sun, because I have a my niece's birthday party earlier that day in Mount Vernon (just over an hour from my house). Craziness! Will post update/progress photos tonight.

How exciting!!
~Mehgan~

Update: It's just after 10pm, and I'm too tired to edit and upload pics right now, sorry! I will tell you that the cakes turned out gorgeous, I even sent my sister a sneak peak via camera phone, and she says they look fab. I used real flowers to decorate, and I think that really made the cakes look finished. And it was such a good idea to get boxes for them, they fit perfectly. After Mom's party tomorrow night, I'll have LOADS of fun pics to show off my "first cake order". Boo yah!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Mom's Birthday Cake- Take #1

Hello people!

My dear Mom's 50th birthday is coming up on the 26th, and I have been put in charge of the cake. We're having a nice intimate dinner with friends and family at this lovely German place called the Black Forest Cafe, which I am so looking forward to. There's stuff on the menu I've never heard of, which I'm always game for!

But, here's the thing: I am panicking. I've never decorated a cake, besides cupcakes that I've just slathered a bit of icing on and called it good. I've only used an icing bag a half dozen times, and I know that with practice I'll be ok.

I'm just worried that I'll work super hard on this cake, only to have people think it looks less fabulous than it looks to me. I'm planning on practicing tons between now and then, so I'm pretty sure I'll be alright in the decorating department.

She says she wants chocolate everything: cake, filling and frosting. Here's where you come in, fellow foodies. I need the yummiest, tastiest, most decadent chocolate cake recipe you can find. This is your challenge.

I will be popping by between now and then to fill in you in on the progress of the birthday cake and to post the final results. I'm so nervous, but really excited!! Thanks everyone!!