Top 5 Things I Can't Live Without in the Kitchen

Number one...

KitchenAid Stand Mixer
This is an absolute must in the kitchen. The one I have is actually a lovely Lavender color, but I could not find a picture of it online.




Number two...




Bamboo Spoons
These are the only spoons I use. No plastic or metal in my kitchen.





Number three...

Icing Spatulas
You can get these just about anywhere. The different sizes are important. Obviously for when you size something as big as a four layer cake to something as small as mini cupcakes.






Number four...



Cupcake Courier
This Cupcake Courier (www.cupcakecourier.com/) is a handy little thing. It has three removable and stackable trays that can hold 12 cupcakes/muffins each. So it can either hold 36 cupcakes or you can remove the three trays and it doubles as a cake courier!




Number five.. and perhaps the most important!

Gus!
My trusty assistant.






Happy Monday Everyone!

Southern Desserts Anyone?

My family tends to fix the same desserts everytime we get together, and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure I ever want that to change! Whether it's a holiday or just a cookout, it seems we have established our favorites, and there is no need to branch out. My families' most fav desserts include, but are not limited too...


Chess Pie



Mince Meat Pie ( which I will NOT show a picture of, but it's my Papaw's favorite, so I can't NOT mention it)




Chocolate Covered Ritz Peanut Butter & Crackers (And Yes! It is that simple)






Fudge Pie
(Check out Darby's blog for this easy recipe)

These are just a few, and I know my family will email me immediately with all the ones I did forget..
I want to know what your families' most favorite desserts are!
Post a comment or email me. I'd love to hear from you!

Love from B'ham,

Sum-sum-summa-time!

Hi my lovely readers- who were probably convinced I'd dropped off the face of the Earth! Let's not waste time dicussing exactly HOW long it's been since my last post, but instead move on to better topics.

One-It's SUMMERTIME,and I wanted to post a light and fresh dessert that would be great for any party, shower or just hanging out with your girlfriends. When i think of summer, I think fresh fruit tarts, strawberry shortcakes, angel food cake, ice cream and key lime pies (such as Lime Melt-Aways recipe). This is an awesome recipe (below) that i love to make into tiny strawberry shortcakes with berries and some fresh whipped cream!

Shortcake Biscuits

16 ounces All purpose flour
6 ounces shortening
3/4 ounce baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 ounces sugar
2 Tablespoons fresh orange zest
4 fluid ounces whole milk
4 fluid ounces water
1 egg
8 ounces chocolate chips

Egg wash:
1 egg
2 Tablespoons water

**You dont even have to have a mixer for this one just a big bowl and your hands

* Sift all dry ingredients together then add orange zest and mix shortening in with hands and mix just until it is mealy and crumbly
* Whisk together egg, milk and water. then add to dry ingredients and mix with hands just until combined.
* Scoop out desired size biscuits on a lightly sprayed sheet pan and brush with egg wash and sprinkle tops with sugar and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15- 20 mins just until starts to get brown
* Serve with fresh whipped cream and fresh berries!!!

Enjoy!

I moved!!!

Sorry for the delay in posts. I have been so terrible lately, but hopefully that can stop now. I got a great new job and have recently moved to Birmingham.
I promise to do my best to post more!


For now I'll just leave you with a picture of Gus. He was upset he hasn"t had more face time on the blog. I told him if he would pitch in a little more and actually bake something then we could talk...





Happy Thursday!

First birthdays are the best!

This cutie pie smashed his "smash cake" to bits, leaving only half the cake left!
His mommy said he loves chocolate, so that's exactly what what he got. I had a great time making these cakes, and I hope Jaxon's family enjoyed them as much as he did!
Happy 1st Birthday Jaxon!

Lime Melt-aways

Good morning!
I have a light, yet tart & super sweet recipe for you to try out!
This cookies are very easy and something different to take to that party, shower or potluck. Please feel free to leave comments or email me with any questions :)

Lime Meltaways

3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 cup of powered sugar
zest of 3 limes
3 Tablespoons lime juice (fresh squeezed from the 3 limes above)
4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Then add juice, zest and extract,
2. Sift dry ingredients together and then add to butter mixture.
3. Divide dough in two. Roll each piece of dough into logs just over about a inch in diameter.
4. Refrigerate dough until firm about 1 hour.
5. Slice cookie dough about 1/4 inch thick and place on a cookie sheet.
6. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 12 minutes just until barely golden brown.
7. Let cookies cool about 5 to 10 minutes and then gently completely cover each cookie with powdered sugar.
8. Enjoy!!!!

All in a days work..

Key Lime Tart

Walnut Fudge Brownies

Cream Cheese Brownies

One can never have too many cake stands...

Hello all!
And by all I mean my 10 or 11 faithful readers..jk!
I know I always start out saying how busy I am, but really....I AM! I have so many orders coming in at work that I am super tired to blog about my orders coming in off my blog! I am getting some super super sweet clients here lately and I am so thankful for all of my referrals!
This post is mainly to dream out loud...not too many people know about my beginning collection of cake plates and stands, but I am determined to collect at least a few a year in order to get as many colors! patterns! (and hopefully vintage)style cake stands as I can. Right now the collection is very slim (so slim it is almost not worth posting what I currently have. However! I do enjoy browsing for ones I long to display in my china buffet. I couldn't resist posting a few I am currently drooling over...maybe I can throw these out as a birthday gift idea(hint hint).
If anybody has some beautiful cake stands in their collection, please feel free to send a pic! I would love to see them!

Just another day's work...

Happy Wednesday! Posting a couple of cakes ordered for today...fudge chocolate fudge cake and carrot cake. Can't go wrong with either of these!

Samantha

Happy 4th Birthday Skyler!

Birthday cakes are my favorite cakes to make! A great cake can make a birthday that much more special.I had the pleasure of making this oh-so-grand cake for an adorable little boy, er I mean awesomely cool BIG BOY! Skyler seemed really happy with his cake! Thanks to him and his parents for letting me be part of his big day!

Samantha

Baby Shower Cake

Valentine's Day is almost here..

I Love ETSY!

If anybody reading this has never been to etsy.com you are missing out!
The different shops on this site are incredible. Mostly everything is handmade from jewelry, clothes, and art. The vintage items for sale are to die for, I have made a list for my birthday and Christmas already!
My sister sent me these ADORABLE prints for my kitchen. Cute Cute!
They can be found on artgirl69's shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/artgirl69
Check out her other prints
Have a great weekend!
Samantha

S'more Cupcakes Please!

Here is a recipe that I just could not resist posting. Head on over to the Bakerella for full recipe of these delicious cupcakes!

www.bakerella.com

If anybody does make them, please let me know how it turns out! I think I will be making them for my fam very soon!

Samantha