We've moved...

I know it's been well over a year since I've updated this blog, but I've been busy with Jillicious Desserts and now, I have a brick and mortar retail bakeshop! 

I've decided to continue this blog at a new address and it will be called the Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop Blog.  If there is anyone left that still would like to follow me, come on over to the new blog: 

http://jilliciousdessertsbakeshop.blogspot.com/

Thank you for visiting!

Valentine's Day 2011

Today I delivered the first Jillicious Desserts Wedding Cake of 2011 and also the first Valentine's Wedding Cake that I've ever created.  The clients planned a small, intimate, low-key wedding in their home and since it was on Valentine's Day, the bride said to incorporate the Valentine theme with the Chocolate Raspberry Wedding Cake she had seen on my website.

As appropriate as hearts are for this holiday, I find that there is a fine line that is often crossed from festive to tacky.  I try to stay away from the latter of the two.  I was really pleased with how this cake turned out. 

I created a double chocolate heart topper to display within the chocolate curls and raspberries.  Thanks to the pouring rain we had today here in Oregon and the lovely overcast skies, it was difficult to really show the topper in the dozens of pictures that I took.  The next picture was the first one I took and forgot to take off the flash--ironically, it shows the double chocolate hearts with the gold dust best in what was probably the worst photo I took today.

It almost has a sepia look to it, minus the washed out middle part of the cake.  But at least you get the idea of what it looked like.  I have to say, it looked better in person.

When I finished setting up the cake and decorating it, the bride exclaimed, "It is exactly how I envisioned it to look!"  That is always my favorite thing to hear, especially considering this cake was discussed through several emails and a phone call.  It's always good to be on the same page as the bride.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Valentine Chocolate & Raspberry Wedding Cake Details:

• Both tiers ~ Dark Chocolate Cake w/Raspberry Filling & Vanilla Buttercream Icing
• Top tier = 6-inch  cake / bottom tier = 8-inch cake
• Dark chocolate curls & fresh raspberries
• Dark chocolate fondant heart details & decorations, w/sugar pearl accents

Catching Up & Cherry Blossom Flowers...

I can sum up my life over the past six months since my last post in one word...

WORK.

I finished up August, September, October & November with weddings--only to realize that Thanksgiving came quickly, then Christmas and now it's 2011.  Of course there are always more things going on in my life other than work, but I would have to say that the majority of my focus, time and energy has been spent on my passion and trying to figure out what the next step is for Jillicious Desserts. 

It's time to expand my business and I spent the greater part of last year (starting in March 2010) looking for the right space to open a Jillicious Desserts Bakeshop.  This has been a very long journey, and I'm still in the midst of this idea of creating a retail store front.  I'm a planner and if I had my way, I would have had my Bakeshop open last May or June, but alas, I have discovered that I don't have total control of these things.  So now that the holiday season is completed, I'm reviewing my ideas and options of what I want to do and where this should take place. 

Surprise Birthday Gift Cake (And Yes, A Little More Purple...)

I LOVE creating cakes that will be a BIG surprise for the recipient.

Monday Must Have: Bob's Red Mill Products & A Quinoa Salad Recipe

A few weeks ago I had the AWESOME opportunity to visit the Bob's Red Mill World Headquarters to take a tour of the mill and then do some SERIOUS shopping at the Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Store--and believe me when I say, it was like being in a whole grain heaven!