Mission Accomplished!

I couldn't ask for a more perfect couple to give me the opportunity to accomplish this goal that I set for myself so long ago... thanks to Leanne & Reed, I finally did it... I made my first wedding "cake!"

I made a variety of cupcake flavors, including Chocolate with Caramel Filling, Vanilla with Strawberry Filling and Banana with Cream Cheese Frosting. For the top of the cupcake tower, I made a small Vanilla Cake with Strawberry filling for the bride & groom to save for their anniversary.

Brian designed the stand for me and had it custom built and I was so impressed with how amazing it turned out. Hopefully, it will grace the receptions of many upcoming weddings!

During the reception, I looked around the room and watched as guests enjoyed their cupcakes. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and accomplishment. Leanne, thank you for your confidence in me, I know that your marriage will be blessed with so much happiness!

Best Sheet Cake In The World

Okay, so I haven't tasted every sheet cake in the world, but I am sure this would still be at the top of my list! You HAVE to try this... you just have to.

The simple peanut butter cake base is fluffy and moist while the topping adds so much flavor and crunch. Trust me, it will rock your world.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 4 Tbsp. room temp butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 and line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper. Combine the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. With an electric mixer, combine the peanut butter, butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs and mix until combined. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients alternately with the milk until combined. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

To make the topping, stir together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup peanut butter, and 2 Tbsp. melted butter. When the mixture is crumbly, stir in 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup peanut butter chips. Sprinkle topping evenly over the cake and bake 30-35 minutes. Cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Buy bigger jeans, you will need them.

Shower for a Baby Girl

Pink and brown. Can you think of a sweeter color combination for a little girl baby shower? I was so excited when Niki enlisted my help for a family baby shower, especially after I received the adorable invitation with a monogram "K" for the new baby's name, Kennedy.

For the shower, I made these adorable onsie sugar cookies packaged in celophane bags and tied with pink & brown bows. The cake was made up of chocolate and vanilla layers with chocolate fudge filling. Handmade fondant was used for the scallop details and baby carriage on top. Yum!

Under the Sea Whimsy

I love baking. It not only brings me personal joy because I love it so much, but it also brings happiness to others' parties and celebrations. My cakes and cupcakes become a sort of celebration centerpiece which makes me indirectly a part of each and every celebration.

When I delivered Hailey's Under the Sea-themed birthday cake, her mommy, Christin, asked me to be in a photo with her sweet baby girl for the scrapbook. In a little way, I feel like I am part of the celebrations where my cakes go. For that, I am grateful.

The two-tier cake was made up of scratch-baked vanilla cake and chocolate cake layers filled with whipped cookies n' cream filling. Hailey's "smash" cake was made up of fresh banana cake, banana pudding filling and cream cheese frosting.

Engagement Celebration

Celebrations just aren't complete without cake... or cupcakes... or cookies... or, okay you get the point. I made this 2-tier cake for an engagement party last weekend. The couple wanted their initials on the cake and wanted it to feature the wedding colors of orange and brown. I love these two colors together!

The cake is made up of chocolate cake layers, raspberry filling and chocolate fudge filling all covered in white chocolate buttercream... yumm!!

Nine Eleven

The Sixth Sense was a scary movie, but I don’t remember much about the plot. It was September 11, 1999… I was sixteen years old and all I could think about was the cute boy holding my hand. It was our first date, and the beginning of our love story.

Our story isn’t perfect, but that is what makes love so beautiful. God brings two completely different people together and makes them one. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know he will be there… making me laugh, encouraging my dreams, strengthening my faith, and leaving the toilet seat up. Over the past decade, Brian and I have created a life together… a life of excitement and passion. I can’t wait to see where God’s plan will take us, I can’t wait to raise a family together and watch my husband become an amazing father, and I can’t wait to wake up next to him every morning for the rest of my life.

September 11th is a bittersweet day for me. I remember the nervous butterflies when he picked me up for our date in 1999 and I remember holding his hand silently watching the news coverage in 2001. Although our story means the world to me, there is a more important story for the world. Life can change in an instant. Be happy, love more, and focus on the gifts that God has given you!

Luscious Lemon

I spent last Saturday in the kitchen, testing and tasting my way through several new recipes. I love days like that, so relaxing and peaceful. The end result was a freezer full of homecooked meals and a batch of delicious lemon cupcakes on my counter... staring at me... teasing me...

I brought the Luscious Lemon Cupcakes to our friends Eric & Jenn later that evening. Whew! Was I ever glad to get those out of my house... I was going to need elastic waitband pants if I continued on that path. Too yummy!

Who took that big bite? Oh yeah, it was me. Definately me.

Lions, Tigers & Bears

I am a big fan of first birthdays... babies and toddlers everywhere, families coming together, and kids covering themselves in frosting and cake. Wouldn't it be great if we could dive into our cake every year and get coated from head to toe in buttercream? I guess that is why the first birthday is so special.

Peyton's mommy planned such a fun jungle-themed party for her little birthday boy. She found the most adorable napkins, plates and decorative animal picks for the cupcakes. I made a Chocolate "smash" cake for Peyton and a mixture of Chocolate, Vanilla and Banana Cupcakes for his friends. Yum!

Bananas & Brownies

Last week I celebrated my 26th birthday surrounded by people that I love, playing with my two nephews, and soaking up the sun at the beach... what more could a girl wish for? Here's a quick post to catch you up on some yummy goodies that have been coming out of my kitchen...

I made this Roasted Banana Sheet Cake on a lazy Sunday afternoon and brought it to my in-laws for an after dinner treat. This has to be one of the most delicious and simple sheet cakes I have ever made! Just look at that vanilla glaze on top... yum!

I made these Homemade Double-Chocolate Brownies for a dinner party with some friends from church. I topped the brownies with a dollop of peanut butter frosting. Can't beat that sweet and salty taste!

Coming Soon - I have several cute cupcakes & cookies on the books. Stay tuned to see pictures of my Jungle-Theme Cupcakes, Baby Shower Cookies, and even an Armadillo Groom's cake!

Mint-Chocolate Cupcakes

I am a girl who knows what she likes. Some people prefer the frosting, some people prefer the cake. I prefer to taste a little of both! This cupcake is proof of why mint and chocolate make a great team.

I was asked to bring in something yummy for a birthday in the office, and these were a big hit! The frosting was filled with minty-goodness and the chocolate cake below was moist and flavorful. WOW!

Eleven Layers of Love

How can I even begin to explain how amazing my mom is? She encourages me, supports me, challenges me and loves me. Yesterday was her birthday, and I wanted to make something special. I didn't want to just throw together another cake. This cake took time. It took love. For mom, I made an 11-layer Chocolate Stripe Cake... and boy was it yummy!

In honor of her birthday (and the 11 layers of goodness pictured below), I decided to recap 11 of my favorites memories with my mom...

11. When she made the turkey "dance" each Thanksgiving
10. Our trip to NYC two summers ago - Legally Blonde!
9. When her front tooth fell out in Panera Bread. Still laughing...
8. Her first glimse of me in my wedding dress
7. When her snow tube came unhooked from the lift. She gracefully slid down the mountain, laughing all the way down.

6. Baking large batches of chocolate chip cookies at Christmas
5. "Momma Schell's Crew" - No decription needed.
4. Watching her spray my childhood bedroom with "monster spray"
3. When she put on my rollerblades and took a trip down the driveway... laughing as she bit the dust.
2. When she acted in my 10th Grade English project video about Edgar Allen Poe
1. When she left a pot of boiling eggs on the stove all day.

Cookies & A Cookie Baker

Just the word "cookie" makes my heart skip a beat. I have never met a cookie that I didn't like, but Chocolate Chip cookies have to be my ultimate top-of-the-list favorite. Take a look at these beautiful thick and chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies and enjoy some fun facts that you may not know about me...

Ten Things About ME...

# 10 - I take 2 Finstones chewable vitamins every day, but I refuse to take 2 of the same color.

# 9 - I can wiggle my ears on command

# 8 - When I am home alone, I pretend to host my own cooking show.

# 7 - I don't eat condiments - NO ketchup, mustard, cream cheese...

# 6 - I absolutely love my in-laws, which I hear is pretty rare.

# 5 - I am scared to death of getting my wisdom teeth removed.

# 4 - In college, I ate quesadillas from Moe's four times a week

# 3 - I was once stuck in an elevator with 12 Hungarian people.

# 2 - I have kept every card that Brian gave me while we were dating. Three birthday cards in a row were identical. When asked why he bought the same card three times, he said "it must be a good card."

# 1 - I love breakfast for dinner (especially pancakes)

Moose Pie

What can you make with half of a container of Cool Whip and some chocolate? Try this yummy Moose Pie (also known as "mousse" but I prefer the latter). It is super simple and tastes really yummy on a hot summer day. Enjoy!


Ingredients:
4 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/8 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 tub Cool Whip, thawed
1 box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 cups whole milk
Graham cracker pie crust

Directions:
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl until smooth. Stir in 1/8 cup milk and let the chocolate mixture cool to room temperature. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture and then fold in the Cool Whip until combined. Spread the chocolate mixture into the bottom of the graham cracker pie crust.

In a separate bowl, combine the instant pudding mix with 1 1/2 cups cold milk and whisk until the lumps are gone. Pour on top of the chocolate mousse and refrigerate the pie at least 4 hours before serving. Top with shaved chocolate and enjoy!

Let Freedom Ring!

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. What could be better than fireworks, family and summertime!? For the past 4 years, Brian and I have gone to Anna Maria Island for the weekend to watch fireworks on the beach and spend time with people that we love! It is such a fun tradition and I look forward to going every summer.

I wanted to bake something special in honor of the holiday, so I decided to bake something red, white and blue... homemade Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting topped with appropriately colored sprinkles, of course.

A Naked Cupcake...

Cookies N' Cream Dream

I love first birthday parties... friends, grilled hot dogs, adorable kids, and of course CAKE! Last week, Brody turned the big 1 and his mom and dad celebrated with a traditional summertime gathering. Although he napped through the first half of the party, I think Brody really had fun opening presents and eating cake!

For the party, I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookies & Cream Frosting and Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

I love this picture of the birthday boy... he was digging into the mini cake that Jenny made for him and quickly began to fade. He ate more frosting than I have ever seen a child consume. It was like watching a sugar coma take place. So FUNNY! Stacy and Neal, your little one is just too cute words. I love you guys!