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!

Three Purple Wedding Cakes

This past weekend, I created my third purple-themed wedding cake in a row.  I always find it interesting when brides who don't know each other pick a couple of features that on paper sound the same, but when the wedding cake is created, how different they all can be.  Purple was one of the common threads of each wedding cake and also, each bride wanted sugar pearls in the shape of flowers on each of their cakes, using the main color of purple with their respective other color choices. 

Monday Must Have: Fat Daddio Tart Pans

Happy Monday!  After way too long a bit of time off from posting, I'm back with an AWESOME Monday Must Have--the Fat Daddio Oblong Tart Pan! 

Lately I have found that this tart pan is the perfect choice for summer fruit tarts and since it is finally showing signs of summer weather here in Oregon, I have plans to use this pan many times over the next couple of months.

Mission Mill Wedding Cake

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I had a large wedding cake to create and this time it was for a client who was someone I've known since my junior high days.  I was excited to meet with her a few months ago and discuss the details of her wedding cake and to come up with a design. 

One of the advantages of making wedding cakes and delivering them, is I get to see many wedding venues that I wouldn't normally visit or even know about.  This was one of those venues.  The wedding was held at the Mission Mill Museum in Salem, Oregon, which is a historic woolen mill and other buildings on a 5-acre site.  The reception was held in the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill building on the third floor which was called the Spinning Room.  I was relieved to find out that there was an elevator--whew!

Baby Shower Cake

One of the cake orders I had over this past weekend included this sweet baby shower cake for a baby boy who will be named Wyatt.  They requested that the cake be done in soft blues and yellows and have elephants and giraffes on it.

Wedding Season Has Begun!

Wedding season has officially begun for Jillicious Desserts and last Saturday, May 15th I delivered a simple, yet elegant wedding cake and mini cupcakes for the bride's outdoor wedding.  The wedding was held at a venue that I hadn't been to before, called Dancing Deer Mountain.  Although I didn't actually see any deer, let alone a dancing one, it was a very beautiful location and I imagine that from time to time deer are probably seen in this area.

Heavenly Cake Bakers: Gâteau Breton

This past weekend I was busy with Mother's Day cake orders and I wasn't planning on making this cake until...

I read all the rave reviews from other Heavenly Cake Bakers about how DELICIOUS this cake was and also how quick and easy it was to make.  You see, when I glanced at the upcoming month list of cakes, I had already made a mental note of a couple that I was planning to make and especially the free choice at the end of May.  But I quickly made new plans and so last night in between baking cakes for today's orders, I made this FANTASTIC cake.

And The Winner Is...

Last Monday, as part of the Monday Must Have, I said that someone would be chosen to receive their very own Fluted Pastry Wheel and a package of Lemon Stretch Wraps.  I numbered each entry on a piece of paper, folded them up and tossed them in a kitchen bowl (yes, of course it was a kitchen bowl) and pulled out lucky number 6!!

Congratulations to Monica of Sweetbites!! 

P.S.  I have had several requests to post more pictures of cakes, so I have listened and I am happy to share.  This was the birthday cake I made for my Mom last month.  The cake details are listed below:

*Lemon Chiffon Cake [layered w/whipped cream & sliced strawberries; frosted with sweetened whipped cream and decorated with fresh strawberries and white chocolate curls; top tier = 4-inch round, bottom tier = 6-inch round.]

The Garden: From Seeds to Starter Plants

This year we started getting our 2010 garden ready back in mid-February.  We decided to start some of the plants from the seed stage and grow them large enough to be planted in our garden a couple of months later.  By following a chart that lists the planting dates for our area, we were able to plant several types of vegetables as early as February.  There are several types of plants that we can still start from the seed stage now and have them ready to plant when we get our garden planted by the end of May.

Although there are several ways you could organize your planting process, I will share what has worked well for us.  We call it our Planting Map.

Daring Bakers: Traditional British Pudding

When I first read what this month's challenge was going to be, I thought hmmmmm...well, ok, this is a new one and something I've never made before and in some varieties, I've actually eaten. But hey, I have a soft spot in my heart for certain British folks and hey, give me that cool British accent on the right guy and it's over! You know the saying, "the way to a man's heart, is through his stomach" and if this type of guy or this type of guy could be the end result, then I say bring it on!

First let me introduce our hostess this month:

The April 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Esther of The Lilac Kitchen. She challenged everyone to make a traditional British pudding using, if possible, a very traditional British ingredient: suet.

Monday Must Have & My One-Year Blog Anniversary

It is Monday.

And being that it is Monday, it's time to feature a new Monday Must Have, since it has been a bit too long since I've had one. AND it just also happens to be the exactly one year ago today, I started Jillicious Discoveries, and I still can't believe how fast the year went. But more on that a little later.

Heavenly Cake Bakers: Whoopie Pies & Banana Cupcakes

Do you ever have the best of intentions to follow a PLAN that you've carefully thought out and scheduled accordingly? And once the PLAN is in place, have you ever had that PLAN completely fall apart or rather be replaced with a new PLAN, because LIFE happened? This is what has happened to me over the last month (some really BIG decisions regarding Jillicious Desserts moving in a new direction) and I'm in the process of finalizing these plans and will share when I know more. But more about that later and in case you noticed (or not) it's been a month since my last post, so today I'm getting back on track, at least in the blogging world.

Today's Heavenly Cake Bakers recipe is: Two Fat Cats Whoopie Pies, named after the Two Fat Cats Bakery in Portland, Maine.

I'm Back! And I Have Pictures....

I'm officially back from vacation and let me just say how great it was to relax and take some time away for myself. But it is also good to be back home and re-energized and re-focused on plans and ideas for the future.

As promised, here are just a FEW highlights from my trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since this was my first time visiting the Rocky Mountain State, well my first time actually stepping foot on Colorado soil (I'm not counting the 10 + times I've had lay overs at the Denver airport)--I did take part in the tourist-role type of things to see and do while being there.

My Monday Must Have: Vacation!

This is proof that spring is right around the corner!

March is here! And it is Monday! Usually this means either the Monday Must Have or Heavenly Bakers, but today is extra special, because Monday, March 1st is the official start of my two week vacation!

I'm so giddy with excitement, I might just be doing the dance of joy right now while typing this post! Where am I going, you ask? I'm traveling somewhere I've never been before and have planned a fun and relaxing vacation. I'm going to visit my best friend who's wedding cake I made last june and I finally get to visit her in her new home state!

So dear blogging friends, I will take tons of pictures to share with you in a couple of weeks and of course I will be checking out the local food scene and take in some bakeries too. And since I will have some extra time while waiting at the airport and during the flight, I will be catching up on this list and will share the highlights later in the month.

Have a great couple of weeks and I will visit your many wonderful blogs when I get back and catch up on your busy lives as well.

A Quick Recap of Chocolate Fantasy 2010

I'm tired. No wait, I'm EXHAUSTED.

After a couple of intense days of baking and decorating about 375 mini chocolate cream pies, plus a regular size pie and on top of that my regular orders for clients, I happy to say that this big weekend event called Chocolate Fantasy is now behind me. It was another great year and as usual, my samples were one of the first to run out, in fact by 7:00 pm they were all gone! Keep in mind this event started at 6:00 pm, so from what I could tell people really loved them.

Chocolate Fantasy 2010

It's been a busy week and I've been getting ready for a wonderful event called Chocolate Fantasy.  The Arts Center in Corvallis hosts this event as part of their annual fundraiser. Click here for more information.  This year is the third year that Jillicious Desserts has been invited to be one of ten chocolatiers who provide 350 samples of a chocolate dessert.   I just wanted to give you a little sneak peak of what I've been creating and I'll post more pictures later in the weekend of how it goes.  Wish us luck!

*Due to February being a busy month, I had to pass on the Daring Bakers' Challenge, but be sure to check out our other members blogs to see their completed challenges!