Day 4: fun!

I'm doing this Photo-A-Day Challenge on Instagram and I'm having so much fun so far in doing some of the daily photo projects. For Day 4, I did some baking for a friends' daughter's 2nd birthday. Her party was pink lemonade themed. Here are some of our photos on Instagram. Love, love, love! Beautiful pink lemonade cake by The Caketress.

Red velvet brownies = Love!

Why give in to commercializing this day when homemade baked goods mean so much more?? =) Here's a really simple and easy Red Velvet Brownie recipe for all of you!

Red Velvet Brownies

ingredients:

Brownies:
1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter
3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1-1/2 c. sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 oz. liquid red food coloring
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
4 T. butter, at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar

directions:

Preheat oven to 325°. Line a 9x9 baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang so you can lift out the brownies when they're done. Spray foil with nonstick spray.

In a large saucepan over low heat, stir together butter and chocolate until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar and eggs. Stir in the vanilla, salt, and food coloring. Sift flour and baking powder over mixture and stir to blend well. Transfer batter to prepared pan.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top springs back when touched and a tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs. Cool completely in pan on rack.

For the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and powdered sugar. Remove the brownies from the pan using the foil and cover with the frosting. Cut into bite size squares to serve.

from A Farm Girl's Dabbles

 I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter  for the shape and cream cheese frosting on top 

My Instagram collage. Love, love, love!

Vendor Review: Cake Rolls

In December, we were commissioned to take cake pictures for my bestfriend's cake shop. Here are some of her creations. 

 We grew up loving different kinds of cake rolls which was a popular party food in the Philippines.

 This bake shop was a dream come true for Rowena. It was a long time coming but I never doubted that she would one day carry out this dream of starting her own cake shop. I'm so proud of her!

Visit them at Cakerolls.ca

5487 Dundas Street West #3 

Toronto, ON 

M9B 1B5 

Phone: 416 231 1292

holiday baking

I've been doing quite a bit of baking lately. Some for birthdays and some holiday themed. At least the warmth of my oven is keeping me at home and not the warmth of shopping mall crowds hehe. Not that shopping wouldn't be awesome this time of the year =)

 Football themed

 For a Christmas party/Thomas the tank engine themed birthday party

This is supposed to be the little mermaid. Don't make fun haha =)

new: pink loves chocolate handmade cards!

pink loves chocolate handmade cards are making a comeback! Our dear friend's much awaited cake shop is opening soon, and these cards will be available for sale at her store. Check these out!

Cake Rolls scheduled "soft" opening is November 12, with a grand opening tentatively scheduled on November 19. Visit her soon at the corner of Shaver and Dundas Street in Etobicoke!

rainbow cake and pinwheels cupcakes :)

Haven't had a food update in a while....so today, I whipped something up, just for you =)

Ever since I saw Martha Stewart's Rainbow Cake recipe, I knew I had to try it someday. And boy how happy it made me =)

If you want to do this the easy way, (like I did) use white cake mix and Williams Sonoma's decorating pastes in primary colours. 

 I used a tiny 4inch cake pan and sliced them into two halves, which in the end yield two tiny cakes.

 My uneven layers haha but still, how much do you love these layers????

Excuse my messed up icing job, I ran out of icing for ambitiously thinking I can use one batch for two cakes! I love this rainbow cake!

love, love, love!

Click for Martha Stewart's recipe! Although, as I said, I used a white cake mix with homemade cream cheese icing. I also made these cupcakes today for a gender neutral baby shower. I love pinwheels =)

Featured Artist: Rowena Abat

A lot of people who've ordered cupcakes or are planning to order cupcakes have asked me if I make bigger cakes and my answer was always "No". The truth is, even after baking for awhile, without formal training, I still feel somewhat unsure. My best friend however, has turned her passion into beautifully crafted and artful cakes. What started out as a love for baking has turned into her quest to learn more and create the most amazing cakes. She's also dedicated herself in training to improve her love for handcrafting these beautiful cakes. Very Cake Boss indeed!

From the very first cake we made together....(by the way, she did all the baking and fondant covering...I just helped with decorating)

to this....

a barbecue cake for your summer parties!

 beautiful wedding cakes!

 just WOW!

shower cakes!

 birthday cakes!

my favorite ruffle cake! A joint effort! Cake by Rowena, paper decorations by yours truly!

and even character cakes!

photos taken from Rowena's Facebook page except Coraline taken by J. Perlas. 

photo credits: Rowena and Edsel Abat

So lucky to be surrounded by such talent! Couldn't be more proud of my bestfriend! For contact info, visit her Facebook page, or message me to get her email address. Order your custom cakes now!