Duck and Bubbles Cake

Good Evening!
I hope all is well with everyone! I have been back home from Pinehurst, North Carolina for about three weeks now. It was definitely a readjustment to come back home, in the end of living down in North Carolina I ended up really enjoying myself. When I was down in North Carolina I was used to the quiet, and being alone a good portion of the time. Now living back home I like because it is familiar, but I definitely do miss being on my own and especially weather down in Nc. I was spoiled for months being able to wear flip flops up to about three weeks ago. What I miss most about working at Pinehurst are some of the people I got to see daily and talking to them. I talk to Jessica and Adrian, both of them are some of the sweetest people you'll ever want to talk to. So I definitely plan on visiting both of them this coming year. Plus, Adrian has never been to Pittsburgh so I told him whenever he needs a get away Pittsburgh is always here. But I miss those two like crazy.

Other than that I am currently unemployed. I might be able to get a job working with a friend of mine, it would be temporary until I find another job. I wouldn't mind moving back down to North Carolina, but anywhere along the east coast would be just fine as well. But in the meantime I will be working, and baking.

When I was down in North Carolina I received an email from a friend up in Pittsburgh wanting me to make a baby shower for a friend of hers that was having a little boy. I was quite excited, because I absolutely love to do cakes more than anything, plus it gave me something to think about while down in North Carolina. The cake was for about 45 people...they wanted it to be covered in fondant...nothing to colorful but exciting. When I was think of what to do, I came up with an idea of doing ducks with bubbles. They absolutely loved the idea..so I just went with that!

The cake was white almond cake with a buttercream icing, torted with a strawberry filling.

Here it is.....




I hope everyone likes it!


Here is close up...I used some luster duster to give it some definitely on the bubbles! Luster duster is one of my favorite things to work it...it absolutely helps give you creations an extra kick! You can buy it at any Michaels Arts and Craft..or any baking shop in your area!

Coming up I have some Christmas cookies that I will be baking over the next few weeks...since I'm unemployed I have tons of time on my hands!!!

Keep posted! :D

Good Evening Everyone,
Has anyone ever said to you "there's no place like home???" Well I really didn't believe that until now. I have two weeks until my externship is done, and I am beyond excited to go home!!! I miss everyone...even my brother ;)! Speaking of my brother he no longer lives at home anymore, which will be really hard to get used to. He currently resides with his girlfriend.

It has definitely been an adventure down here, a lot of happened that I didn't think would! The only friend that I did make down here was the lady, she owns her own painting pottery place. She's such an inspiration! I love talking to her I go down to visit her at least once a week and literally stay the entire day! It is definitely going to be difficult to say goodbye to her, but we will definitely have to stay in touch...aka facebook!

Furthermore, I have two cakes I have to do for when I return home! Which I am absolutely ecstatic to do! One is a baby shower cake and the other is an 80th surprise birthday cake! I am going to start up a facebook advertising some of the work that I do so hopefully I can start a little business on the side which would be nice!

The holidays are coming up and I will definitely be doing some baking with my mom so I will have some cute blog posts coming up!! hehe!!

Please stay tuned I know I have not posted anything in a while...but I will be shortly! I promise! I just need to finish these next two weeks!

Apple Cider Floats!!

If you are anything like me fall is your favorite time of year. The leaves are changing...Halloween...kids and their costumes...Pumpkin Pie...and Apple Cider!! I won't be home for October this year which saddens me because I love handing out candy to the kids on Halloween, and where I live their are tons of trees so I get to see the leaves change different colors!

So on one of my many outings to the Local Grocery Stores at Pinehurst...I bought a Rachael Ray Magazine! If you want to know another thing about is, that is I absolutely love Rachael Ray...I want to go to one of her shows sometime in New York! Perfect date if I may say so myself! I came across this awesome recipe for Apple Cider Floats! And since I love RootBeer Floats I had to give the Apple Cider Floats a whirl!!!


To get started All You Need is:


Yup that's right!!!Apple Cider...Canned Whipped Cream...Ground Cinnamon...Vanilla Ice Cream...and of course a glass cup....and if you're making this for kids plastic cups are the best choice!!!



First add your Vanilla Ice Cream!! Add as much as you want! I added two scoops!!!



Add your Apple Cider!!! The Vanilla Ice Cream will float up to the top!!!



See how the Vanilla Ice Cream floats up to the top and the Cider sinks down the the bottom of the glass up!

Then add....




Add your Whipped Cream...and then sprinkle some Cinnamon to spice things up a bit!!!



The finished Product!!!



Enjoy!!!


This recipe takes no longer than a few minutes to make! It is perfect for anynight..and your kids...family..and friends will absolutely love this!!!!

Stay posted for future blogs coming up!!!!

6 weeks already?!?!

Good Afternoon Everyone,
It has been a terribly long time since I have posted anything. I really wish I had something fun, cute, and exciting to post, but unfortunately I do not. I promise that I did not forget about you at all. My internship definitely took over my life. I am doing about 40 hours a week with only a day off. In the beginning I was getting two days off in a row..but we have been ultra busy so I have been doing about 6 days straight.

On a more personal level, I am finding myself missing home. I'm missing being around my friends and family. I really love living on my own, but not out of state. I think I would be happier if I was happier with my internship. I'm just having problems more and more. I feel inadequate there. I really never had any sort of bakery experience or restaurant experience. I was once a hostess in a restaurant, and I did work at a Subway for several years. But that is nothing compared to what I am doing. I havn't done much in the last several weeks that I feel absolutely good about, I miss making and decorating cakes, making pies...everything that I love to do. And I know that I am good at. I am very overwhelmed at work, all I need to do is get through the next 5 to 6 weeks. Then I get to go home!

October is coming up in about a week. This is definitely one of my favorite months. the leaves are starting to change..I get to start eating Pumpkin Pie...I love watching the little kids dress up for Halloween...I just love everything about this month. I have been wanting to do Cake Pops for a long time now! When I do...they will definitely be Halloween related! And I will be sure to post them on here!!!

Please wish me luck with the rest of my intership! I'm going to need it!

But it won't be another 6 weeks before you hear from me again I promise!

Pinehurst!

Good evening everyone!
I promise I have not forgotten about updating my blog at all! I moved to North Carolina last weekend, the entire time down to NC I hit nothing but horrible rain storms on the road...where as on the highway the normal speed was like 55mph I was going 5mph. It was absolutely insane. But I had it down here safe and sound!

My condo I got with another student that I go to school with is really nice. We live right on a golf course.Which it neat, because every morning you see golfers out there playing golf. Which is really neat to see.

I had internet at the condo when I first arrived and I started writing a blog post but then I got distracted and I put in under drafts...then that same night our wireless internet stopped working. So I have not had internet at my condo for several days now. Which is really annoying and inconvenient because even though I am on externship I still have weekly journal assignments that I need to do...and the internet is quite vital to complete the assignments.

Anyways, I had orientation on Wednesday...it was great! Pinehurst is absolutely beautiful! There are golfers everywhere riding around in their golf carts...then even ride on the roads sometimes it's crazy!

This past Friday was my first day at work...and I was soo nervous because if it was anything like my restaurant practical I would not like working at Pinehurst...but it wasn't it is the complete opposite!The bake shop is really laid back...and the people that work in it are just wonderful..they don't made you feel stupid if you don't understand something.Which I like and it makes it easier to learn and be more comfortable around them.

I am currently working the shift 7am to 3pm...thankfully I only live like 3 minutes away driving which is really nice...less gas I have to use! So far I have baked tons and tons of cookies...muffins...plated some desserts...I do a lot but it is so much fun!I actually look forward going to work, but I have to admit my feet hurt by the end of my shift!

Anyways here are some pictures of the area:


I had to share my rainbow picture that I took while I the passenger of my car on the way down to NC! This was after a huge rain storm!


The front of Pinehurst Resort...but only half of it! This place is absolutely huge and sooo beautiful inside!


My backyard at sunset!


Fruit dipped in Chocolates that I did in the bakeshop!



Guest Amenities...this is one of their options. I did this today...for 6 chocolate covered Strawberries it costs about $35.00 dollars.


A chocolate covered Strawberry with the pinehurst symbol of on! I absolutely love this one! It's one of my favorites!

I hope you enjoyed my photos! Please keep posted...I'm trying to resolve my internet issues so I can do more blog posts! But I DO NOT forget about you guys!

Be safe!

Sarah

Update! Remember My Cake Pop Competition???

Hey everyone! I know I have not updated in a while, it have been absolutely crazy around here! I am just finishing up my last days at Le Cordon Bleu and I am leaving for North Carolina to intern at Pinehurst Golfing Resort for a few months. So I am in the process of getting all of that together! I am quite nervous but really excited...to be in a new town...meet new people and learn different baking techniques! MAYBE expand my horizons and learn how to golf??? maybe....

Here is Pinehurst's website if you want to check it out to see where I am going!

http://www.pinehurst.com/

Furthermore, do you remember my post about my Cake Pop Competition that I did back in March for the students at my school?

Just in case if you do not remember here is the link to that post on my blog
http://sweetasakiss.blogspot.com/2011/03/cake-pops-competition.html

Well I sent the photos in for Bakerella to see, and she told me that the next time she uploads more people to her "Pop Star," collection to her site that she would put out picture on there!

SO SHE DID!! I was so excited I felt like a 5 year old at Christmas! It was great!!!!

Here is the link so you can see our competition members on Bakerella's site!!!!

Bakerella's "Pop Stars" with us in it!!!!! :D

http://www.bakerella.com/pop-stars-sarah-classmates-in-pennsylvania/

Thank-You Bakerella!!!! :D

I hope you enjoyed my small blog post! I wish to have more stuff coming up soon!!!!!

Keep Posted!

Scooby Doo Birthday Sheet Cake

This past week my nephew Timmy turned 7! My sister had me make his birthday cake, she wanted half chocolate and half vanilla. And she wanted a full sheet cake. I have never made a full sheet cake before so I was definitely up for this challenge.


I bought half sheet cake pan a by 2a.m. the cakes were wrapped in saran wrap and chilling in the fridge.

Timmy wanted a Scooby Doo cake, in previous years it was either Sponge Bob or Spider Man...so I was really excited when he wanted Scooby Doo...I was happy because Scooby is just absolutely adorable.

I was not sure about how I wanted Scooby Dooo to look, so I googled Scooby Doo expressions and found a couple of them I really liked. On the cake Scooby Doo's is constructed of Fondant that I colored.

I used a very simple Buttercream for the entire cake.

My Buttercream

4 Sticks of butter-Sweet and Creamy works well
4 cups of Powdered Sugar- keep adding it in until you get the consistency you want
1 Tablespoon of Vanilla
1 Teaspoon of Ultra Pasteurized Heavy Cream

**Mix all together, if it is to thin add more powdered sugar!**
But for my sheet cake I tripled the recipe...at one point I had to go back to the grocery story for more butter.

Here is Timmy's Birthday Cake...............







I hope you like his cake....and I sure hope Timmy does!


Keep posted for upcoming posts!