Tale of Two Cakes

This morning I put the finishing touches on the last cake of the weekend.  This cake is for my friend Beth.  Her husband Pat called me Thursday to ask me if there was any way I could bake a cake for the next night, and also one for today (Sunday).  Beth deserves a double helping of birthday wishes, so I was happy to say yes to Pat's request.  Pat said the cakes could be the same, that he would be fine with whatever I came up with.  So, I baked two black-and-white marble cakes.  The first became a buttercream frosted layer cake with fondant calla lilies, since I am enjoying learning how to make flowers.  I thought, though, that I could do something very different with cake #2.  I decided to go whimsical and make a very traditional and festive cake that screams "Happy Birthday!" in appearance. 

Cake One

Today, I made fudge frosting (recipe on the back of the Hershey cocoa tin) and decorated it very simply, with fudge florets and sprinkles (jimmies to some of you, depending on where you live). 

Cake Two

Pat sent me an email message after they enjoyed Friday's cake, stating, simpy, "AWESOME!"  I love hearing that my cake contributed to a happy celebration.  Let the partying continue, and the happiest of extended birthday wishes to you, my friend BBK!!!!

Celebrate!

This past weekend was one of celebration.  I spent the weekend with the Ebbets family at Keegan's graduation from Ithaca College.  Keegan is my boyfriend Russ's nephew, and I've known him since he was 7 years old.  He's a great guy and it was so much fun to spend time with his family and friends.  Here are a few photos of from graduation weekend:

Me, Keegan, and my handsome b'friend Russ!

Jan Ebbets and her son Keegan, the graduate!

L-R: Jan, Logan, Jeannie, Russ,
John, Patty, Keegan, and Al
Dinner at The Antlers in Ithaca

Before I left for Ithaca, I baked a special bridal shower cake for Erin Stevens, daughter of my good friend Nancy Hinckley Stevens and her husband Tim.  Nancy and Tim were highschool classmates of mine.  Nancy asked for a cake with calla lilies, and told me the shower colors were pink and white.  She chose a half-vanilla/half-dark chocolate cake, and I was on my own from there.  I'd never made calla lilies before, but I went on-line and found a number of how-to videos that made the challenge much less intimidating.  I actually had a good time playing with fondant and creating these pretty (if not amateur) flowers, and look forward to the next time I can attempt to create something that reflects the beauty of a real flower.  Here are some photos of the cake, as it came together:

Hope you enjoy this little photo journal of the creation of Erin's cake.  I had a good time making it, and I hear it was very happily received.  I wish Erin and Zach all the happiness in the world!

Best wishes and happy new beginnings to Erin and Zach, and to my buddy Keegan!