Butterfly Cake + Cupcakes

A birthday in the family was coming up and that means time for cake. Family members are the best, because they serve as double duty by giving me (or anyone wanting to make cakes) an opportunity to make cakes and/or cupcakes and they also serve as the guinea pigs by testing them and giving feedback. Awesome, right? That's what family is for; helping and helping and helping... well, you get it!

I was told that the colors were to be purple, pink and green and the decor had butterflies included. With this in mind I came up with this simple, but so pretty cake. As clean as I could. Almond Sour Cream cake with Choco-Coco Filling and covered with Vanilla Buttercream. I also made Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting colored in purple.

Everything had butterflies, the cake and each one of the cupcakes. The butterflies were made out of fondant in the colors requested by the birthday girl. Plus I added small silly flowers and smaller butterflies around the bottom of the cake to make it more girly and whimsical. Isn't it pretty?

Bridal Show 2010

Guess who? Yes, me!

I went to my first Bridal Show... ever! My sister-in-law is getting married and she has turned to me to make her wedding cake. One of two things or they have a tight budget or they truly trust me.... or maybe is both of them.

This great Bridal Show was taking place in Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fl. It was so much fun, I had never ever been to a bridal show and it was over whelming. Didn't expect to see so many brides, because it was pretty cold outside (below the 40's and that is a cold and not expected weather in Florida). A couple of the grooms were there too.

We managed to get our hands into some magazines like The Knot and Brides Florida, we did see more magazines but couldn't get to them soon enough. It was a little difficult to stand in front of any both in the place, specially the ones with cake displays and cake tastings (plus there were those booths that had cupcakes just to catch the brides attention, smart).

Here are some pictures so you can see some of the talented people that loves what I love... cupcakes, cakes and everything sweet. The truth is that my camera is very old (it's a 3.2 mega pixels) so please bear with me. I want to think that I managed to take some pictures to share with all of you sweet readers and to look at and remember the making of my sister-in-law's wedding.

Enjoy and if you ever get a chance do go to a Bridal Show, they are lots of fun!

Some of the vendors:
Crazy Cupcakes
Sprinkles Custom Cakes
Muse Gelato
Events of Elegance
and many, many more...
Plus I added a picture of an arrangement that caught my eyes attention.

Caramel Brownie Bars

Last month, which in fact was last year too, was the last Ladies Breakfast at my church. I wanted to bring something along for the ladies to win and enjoy. I had to come up with something sweet and nice for the holidays, but I didn't want it to be cupcakes. That was a challenge, because cupcakes is mostly what I do. Well, I guess this new year more sweet treats are coming my way. Let it come to me, cause I am more than ready to take on new challenges. I can do it!

Anyways, let me focus on the subject, going back to the treats for the beautiful ladies at my church and the last breakfast of the year. Everything you read or see on TV is about cookie swaps, but I didn't want to get them cookies (a good reason being is that I still haven't mastered the art of decorated sugar cookies). Being a big fan and lover of chocolate and brownies, and the fact that my husband came home a nice gift, the Perfect Brownie Pan. And that is when it finally clicked, bars was the magic word for me.

After making a search in the internet and reviewing lots of recipes I picked two. One had to had chocolate in it and for the other something fruity was ideal to contrast and complement each other. Get it?

Bars:
Oatmeal Berry Bar
Caramel Brownie Bar (I added walnuts, which is optional)

Found nice tins in a craft store and brought some tins full of delicious sweet bars. Just what the holidays ordered and a special Happy Holidays to all the great ladies (friends) that gets together to share and have fun!