A LOT to catch up on - hope you enjoy the pics

There are a bunch of pics that I need to catch up on.  I hope you enjoy the newest pics of cakes and stuff that I have made.  :)  Some I am happier with than others, lol.

This was for my nephew, Tyler's, birthday. He plays little league and so this was very fitting.

 Baby Shower #1

 I loved making this cake.  This one was for my husband, Josh, who loves golf. :)

 Baby Buggy Cookies from Shower #2

 Josh's uncle takes pics for the Indy 500 every year so I made him this for his birthday.

 Baby Shower #2 - my best friend here in Indy is expecting and the baby's name is going to be JB.  I am so excited for her!!! She loved this cake. :)

 I absolutely LOVE the daisys on this cake.

 This is the production from my bread class final exam.  There is ciabatta, challah, baguette, and croissants.

 I made cupcakes for my bestie to do a food photo shoot for her class.

 First cake done in Advanced Patisserie class this quarter.  I did orange because my daughter LOVES orange, and the reason I put welcome Katy is because she is moving up here in a few days and I am excited to have her finally here.

 I was practicing for a wedding cake that I am going to be doing in October.  She wanted the brown and burnt orange, with ribbon and dots.  The daisies were a surprise, and the surprise is on me, because now she wants them on her wedding cake, lol.

 I was part of a demo at Michaels for a Wilton class and I made and decorated this cake.  I fell in love with the fondant/gumpaste calla lilies. :)

 This was my chocolates class final exam application layout. :)

 Raspberry Ganache Marshmallow Puffs, Chocolate Dipped Pralines, and Turtle Truffles

 Chocolate dipped pralines

 Raspberry ganache marshmallow puffs

 Turtle truffles

 Cupcakes (regular and LARGE) for a birthday party for a beautiful 1 year old boy.

 Grandma Rose's 80th Birthday - Cake #1

 Grandma Rose's cake #2

 This is my first cake from European Cakes and Tortes class this quarter: Sacher Torte

 This one looks a little "busy" in my opinion, but it was for a demo on how to do all those decorations, lol.

Wilton Class 3, and a King Cake

I finished the Wilton Class 3 which was learning some of the flowers and working with cupcakes. I really enjoyed the way these turned out.  This was the first time that I had ever done anything to cupcakes other than just putting icing on them.  The King Cake was a huge hit.  Being from New Orleans, I miss the foods of "home" and with it being Mardi Gras season, I really miss being able to have a king cake at my disposal.  However, since I "AM" in the bakery & pastry chef field I figured that I might as well try to make one myself, and see how it turns out.  I am very happy with the turnout and plan to make this again.  :)

Playing with Cupcakes - Shaggy Mums, Rosettes, drop flowers, and stars toppings

 This was so good!!!! Pretty King Cake

Crystalline Confections - Fudges

I absolutely loved this week.  I enjoy making fudges and I found a new favorite: Pumpkin Fudge.  Not only was it easy to make, but it was so delicious.  Everyone that was able to try it was really amazed at how good it tasted.  I will definitely be making that one again.  :)

 Pumpkin Fudge

 Chocolate Fudge

 Peanut Butter Fudge 

 Chocolate Peanut Butter Marbled Fudge

Penuche - sort of like a praline fudge

 Sample platter

Playing with decorating - pretty stuff

Ok, so I decided to take the Wilton Cake Decorating Class to be able to get some practice with the basics.  So far, even after only two classes I am very impressed with the higher level that I am decorating at.  Here are pictures of items that I made.  The first three were done first class, the next one done at home before the 2nd class, and then one done during the 2nd class.  I can see the improvement that I have made in the process, even though I still need more practice, :)

Chocolates, Aerated Candy, and Fudges - YUM!

This chocolates class is really turning out to be a LOT of fun.  I am really enjoying making these candies.  However, I really have to say that I do not want to do this as a full time chocolatier, lol.  A little here and there would be great, but full time would be way too much candy and chocolate for me.  :) Anyway, here are the newest candy pics.  There are notes with some of the pics below.  Enjoy!!!

Marshmallows

 Pistachio and Almond Nougat

 Nougat that's chocolate dipped

 Pecan Divinity

 Hot Chocolates - these are layers of cinnamon marshmallow, stiff chocolate ganache, a dark chocolate foot, and then enrobed in dark chocolate

 These are sleeping beauties.  They are layers of soft caramel, chocolate nougat, chocolate foot, and then enrobed in dark chocolate.

 OMG, my ultimate favorite: Pumpkin Fudge.  If I could make anything day after day it would be this one.

 Chocolate Fudge

 Peanut Butter Fudge

 Marbled chocolate and peanut butter fudge

 This one is called Penuche - it is sort of a praline type fudge - very good stuff

Sampling platter of the fudges.

Ah - Sourdoughs

I absolutely love sourdough bread.  I not only like to eat it, I love baking it.  Here are the breads we made with sourdoughs.  My favorite was the regular sourdough bread and the sourdough cheese bread. 

Me with the Sourdough Bread

 Sourdough Olive Bread

 A baby loaf of the sourdough cheese bread

 Sourdough cheese bread - a boule

 Sourdough Cheese Bread - batard shape and scored down the length.

 The sliced sourdough bread

 Sourdough bread - batard shaped

 Ah, Sourdoughs