Lemon Drop Cake

We have a Winner!

Lemon Cake with Lemon Curd Filling and Lemon Buttercream. Soft lemon hints in the cake and frosting. Bright lemon filling really brings the flavor.

I agree this will be the best cake of the three to construct a wedding cake.

Champagne Cake with Champagne Custard Filling and Champagne Whipped Cream Frosting

First runner up.

Very delicate cake. Frosting was a light whipped cream. Champagne brought its own unique flavor. Custard helped to keep the cake very moist.

Fluffy Yellow Cake with Vanilla Buttercream

This was the third runner up.

Fluffy yellow cake filled and frosted with vanilla buttercream.

Cake Tasting

My cousin is getting married this March and I've been tasked with making my first wedding cake. I am honored to make such a special cake and touched of my family's trust in my growing skill.

Step 1: Deciding on cake flavors. Lots of fun!

Citrusy Angel Food Cake

I've been inspired by my sister and this is the first bake of that inspiration. She sent me an article regarding how to improve your baking skills without going to pastry school. The advice was to simply bake something new once a month and a list was provided with a variety of different cakes.

The cake itself wasn't as citrusy as I would have liked, but the glaze more than made up for it. I think it was a thumbs up at the office. It was gone within a couple hours.

New Year, New Cakes!

I've decided to bring new life to my blog this year. I wanted to have a place of my own to document my adventures in baking. There are so many new things I have on my baking wish list. Tune in to see updates. First cake of the year is coming soon!

Garden Week 4

I wrestled cages onto my tomato plants this week. I'm assuming it would be much easier if either the plants were smaller or I had some assistance. Such is my luck as a lonesome beginner gardner.

Another garden event this week...there was a big thunderstorm that produced hail. I came to my plants rescue and pulled them under cover (after getting advice from Mom). But I wasn't quick enough, some plants had perfect little holes in their leaves from the hail.

The beginnings of my first banana pepper.

More banana peppers to come.

First inclining of a jalapeno. Can't wait to make salsa!

Cages from above.

Herbs and Peppers from above.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

We spent the evening at Gale's house as she is recovering from ankle surgery.

Maya is reading a book to Gale (aka Gigi) and Sol.

My Mother's Day gift was a homemade dinner.

Red Leaf Lettuce with Shallot Dijon Vinaigrette and Balsamic Red Onions

In my opinion, the onions were the best part of the whole meal!

Penne with Five Cheeses hot out of the oven.

(aka Macaroni and Cheese with Ketchup for Maya)

Stewed Pineapple, Raspberries, and Blueberries and Vanilla Ice Cream

The family minus me.

There I am!

Garden Week 3

Week 3

Tomato Plants

German Johnson

Lonely Jalapeno

Herbs and Peppers

Top View: Peppers are on the move!

Bun Run

My fellow FNP school buddies and I ran our buns off in the Bun Run 5K. I brought up the rear, but finished!

Olivia, Lisa, Alicia, Ellyn

Garden Week 2

Week 2

Tomatoes are getting tall.

Had to stake the basil. The wind was taking a toll on the taller plants.

View from above.

It's hard to see, but there's a blossom for my hot banana peppers.

Elsie helping herself to some basil.

Amanda's Wedding

I was lucky enough to be Allison's date to her cousin Amanda's wedding at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Sorry you couldn't be there Ryan.

The table assignments and place cards were in small plantings of succulent, which were also the favor. I loved them!

I collected several succulents from out-of-towners that couldn't take their favor with them. They are my new kitchen babies.

German Johnsons and the Pink Girls Week 1

Week 1

My plants are on the move.

I am very excited. All the produce has been staked.

Herbs and Peppers

To-maters

Happy Birthday to Me!

My parents took me out to dinner for my birthday.

We went to TRIO at the Four Seasons.

I requested a very complex coconut birthday cake. Thanks go to Bobby Flay and my mom.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday Dear Ellyn!

Cake and filling was my favorite part. So yummy!

Ellyn's Green Thumb

I started by birthday weekend by planting my summer garden!

I had lots of help from Momma Scholz. She's moistening soil and then I moved it to the earth boxes.

Earth boxes in transition.

It was a beautiful spring day. Elsie had her first afternoon of patio time. We were making a planting plan, where to put which plants.

Top row left to right: Sweet Basil, Jalapeno, Cilantro

Bottom row left to right: Cinnamon Basil, Hot Banana Peppers, Dill

Tomatoes

Left: German Johnsons

Right: Pink Girls

Both are varieties of heirloom pink.

My finished garden. Thank you Mom for all your help! So excited for my new babies to start growing. Stay tuned for garden updates.