A Wolf in Groom's Clothing

I am a few weeks behind on posting this but I owe my beautiful friend Elizabeth LaVigne a post about her husband's cake.  Let's give a little back story.  Elizabeth and I were in the same sorority in college but were not really friends until I moved to Charlotte.  We are actually more than just friends, we are birthday buddies as we were both born on May 29, 1984 (and this is the first time in many years that I will not be celebrating with her).  I truly feel lucky to have found her as a friend and to be perfectly honest, I didn't realize how lucky I was until I was leaving Charlotte last December.  I have always known that she is loads of fun and that she is always so happy.  I knew that she was a good friend but when my girl friends threw me a going away party last Christmas, I realized just how well she knew me and just how much she thought of me.  At our Christmas party, everyone, thoughtfully, put together a going away basket with items that reminded them of me.  I was so overwhelmed by all of them but I was most touched by Liz.  She really put so much thought into every item and expressed so much excitement every time I opened one of her items.  She got me a book of political jokes because I like politics and some book mark post its because I like to take notes when I read.  I was the last to catch on to the "that's what she said" jokes so she got me an entire book of those (which I crack up at from time to time).  There were a few other sweet, thoughtful items but the one that probably meant the most was the little cake ornament from her because baking cakes is something that has become so special to me.  And then when she asked me to make the groom's cake for her wedding, I was so honored, mainly because Elizabeth has such amazing taste and she had put so much trust in me to give her husband a cake that he would love.  And while I am speaking of the groom, it may be a good time to bring up her special man, Adam.  Adam is most certainly what I would call a unique individual.  He is sarcastic and southern (NASCAR fan and all) and he is really very funny but most importantly, he loves my friend Elizabeth.  So it really was such a pleasure to make a this red velvet delight for them.  There were some challenges since I was making the cake in North Carolina while all of my tools were in Colorado.  With that being said, I have to give a special shout out to Kristen Genett for helping me make sure that this cake was as spectacular as a 2500 mile cake could be.  And I have to thank Elizabeth LaVigne for putting so much faith in me and allowing me to be a tasty part of her special weekend.  I miss having her in my life more regularly but I like knowing that she will always be a dear friend, no matter the number of miles between us. 



Setting the Bar High

I feel kind of horrible that it has taken me this long to write this post because it is for my husband, who I am so absolutely proud of.  Last month, Bryant was promoted to Captain in the United States Army JAG Corp.  I should probably take a minute to explain what the JAG Corp is but first I should give you an explanation of the alphabet soup- JAG stands for Judge Advocate General.   This simply means that Bryant is an attorney for the Army, a job that he seems to absolutely love.  Bryant is the type of person that takes his responsibilities very seriously and when he loves something, he loves whole-heartedly.  I can attest to this because I am someone that he loves. And I can tell, in his actions, that he loves his career with the Army.   I watch the way that he shows his committment to his job but it is so much more than that; he is proud of his work, even if that means helping soldiers write their wills.  And everyone that he works with seems to like him very much but more than anything they seem to respect his work.  He has made a family at his office and I feel very fortunate that they often let me in on their little group. With all of that being said, I was a very proud wife on February 6, 2012, when I got to "punch" his new rank on him and hear him be called "Captain Morrison."  So, may I present the new "Bars" that my husband is priviledged to wear.  Also, I am leaving you a recipe to try. 

Banana Chocolate Cake

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 plus 1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 extra large eggs

1 cup flour

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 medium ripe banana, mashed (I used 1 1/2)

4 tbsp buttermilk

(need trick to make buttermilk, if you don't have it- pour 1 tbsp of lemon juice into a measuring cup and fill the rest of the cup with milk)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put butter, sugar, and vanilla extract in bowl and whisk until fluffy.  Gradually add eggs and whisk well.  Sift in the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda, fold in, and then stir in the banana and buttermilk.  Pour into baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Now, I made this with vanilla buttercream but here is a good recipe for those without peanut allergies.

Peanut Butter Crunch Icing
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
5 1/2 tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 plus 2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp milk

 

The family that plays together, stays together

I absolutely love the title of this post, for two reasons:
1. The theme of this groom's cake was cornhole, thus the family (wedding) and plays (cornhole).  A bit of overexplaining but I tend to do that so oh well.
2.  This couple is so cute to me.  They really are very much in synch with one another. 
The best example that I can think of is when we were at another couple's wedding shower.  We played several games, with the theme of each game being very different from the others.  Kevin and Julie must have won every game and it was really cute to watch them play together.  I know that this is a cheesy example but it really was cute because they would feed off of the other one's answer and they would discuss everything until they agreed.  On the other hand, Bryant and I did terrible because we spent most of the time arguing over who was right (typical). 

Then, to see this couple on the day before their wedding was sweet.  Julie is a perfectionist.  I don't know her as well as some in this close circle of friends but I can tell that she strives for perfection and has high expectations for herself.  I admire her for this.  Their wedding was beautiful and very well thought out and I could tell that she had a hand in all of the decisions because everything was just right.  And then there is Kevin (one of my favorites of Bryant's friends).  He has a very calming effect on people.  Well, maybe not all people but he definitely has one on me so I believe that he must be that way with most, including Julie.  I feel like they compliment each other very well and they seem like the best of friends.  That is what I think is most important in a marriage, is to be your other half's best friend.  Kevin and Julie- I wish you a happy and fulfilling life together. 

I was honored to be asked to make the groom's cake for this lovely couple (and Dexter, their dog, too)...may you have many a game of cornhole in your future.  :)

(P.S.- I have to thank my pappy for making the cake boards and my husband for painting them for me)



My favorite nephew

For today's blog (which is long overdue), I am going to write about a special little man that I miss dearly.  I have previously written about this little guy but it was before he came into the world so as much as I loved him then, it changed when I got to meet him.  I am talking about my friend Kristen's little boy, Mason.
Last September, some very kind ladies in my Charlotte group of friends, threw a Sip and See shower for Kristen and baby Mason.  If you aren't familiar with what a Sip and See is, it is a baby shower AFTER the baby is born so that everyone can give the new mom some gifts that she needs, meet the new baby and give the new mom's arms a rest because, lets face it, a room full of girls and one baby...fights will ensue over who holds him next. 
Anyway, the shower was lovely and hosts did a wonderful job but the main focus that day was on Kristen's little guy who is sweet as a button.  I have a laundry list of reasons why I adore him but I think, for me, the absolute best thing about him is his laugh.  It is hard, now that I live in Colorado, to get to be the one to make him laugh but I love when we are on facetime because Kristen or Matt (his dad) will get him to laugh and then you just sit back and watch because he will go at it for the next ten minutes.  It was my favorite thing!! My husband, Bryant, says that babies are the only ones that laugh at me so I have to take it every chance I can get.  He is just such a happy, smiling baby!!  I thank god every day for technology because it would really stink to not get to hear that laugh every once in a while. 

So, for this little munkin, I made the Sip and See cupcakes with a little baby booty on them that, I hope, gives you a little laugh (or atleast a smile) today.

Raised by a village

It has been forever since I have posted and this particular post is long over due but here is a post for my friend Alyson, her husband, Chris and their newest addition Walker David.

I want to start this post with a story dated to Christmas of last year when I had a lunch date with Alyson and our friend Laura.  At this lunch we talked about married life and our futures and most importantly, the possibly of babies in the near future.  At that time, Alyson said that she thought that she and her husband would wait just a little while longer before starting a family.  Then....three months later, my good friend Alyson called me to tell me that she was 3 months pregnant.  I was so very excited for them. 
Alyson expressed to me one time a worry about being prepared to be a mother but I must say that I have no worries at all.  Alyson will be such an amazing mom because she has some very great qualities that anyone would be lucky to inherit.  Over the years, Alyson and I have gone through phases when we didn't talk as much and other times when we talked a lot but she is one of those people that I know I could go 10 years without talking to and feel as though the conversation never ended when we were together again.  She is one of the most honest individuals that I have ever met but still sweet.  She is easy to talk to which will be such a great thing for her new little man.   She is also very openminded and good.  I know that good is such a weird adjective to use and perhaps pure would be better but it isn't hard to understand what I mean by good if you know her.  She has the most pure of intentions and there is not a cynical bone in her body.  I hope that Walker inherits that quality from her.  But the best quality about Alyson is her loyalty and devotion to family.  She and her husband are both so very close to family and it is really such an amazing thing to see.  The day of her baby shower, I was astounded at the number of family members that came from near and far to share in Alyson and Chris' special news.  I love being around their family because you get a real sense of how Walker will be raised by the "whole village."  I felt very fortunate to be apart of that village on that day.  He is certainly one very special little person.  I very much look forward to meeting him.  So without further ado, here is my present to Walker David Clark, born September 18, 2011 at 6 lbs 15 oz.

This cake was a hole in one

So for today's blog, I am going to introduce you to some very special people in my life.  And how fitting that I am posting this blog on Father's day because this tale is about my best friend and her husband who are about to be new parents. 
I have known Kristen since our freshman year in college and we have really been great friends since the very first moment that we have met.  In the nine years that we have been friends, I can not recall a single fight or disagreement between us.  Now that isn't to say that we did not get under each other's skin every once in a while but our friendship has been one of the easier things in life.  In the past nine years, we have been through break ups and make ups, countless road trips, weddings and funerals and even a few cocktails every once in a while.  But from the very moment that I met her, I knew that she was going to make the most incredible mother.  In fact, she was often my surrogate mother in college or maybe more accurately, she was my Jiminy Cricket.  She is kind and happy and fun and she has the most amazing heart so when I found out that she was pregnant, everything inside of me knew that her child would be supremely loved.  I know that she and her husband had been trying for a little while and it was breaking my heart to see that two people so deserving were not getting the one thing that they most wanted so when she told me about baby G in November, I could not help but well up with tears for these two special people.  And Matt, who I do not often compliment(we don't want his head to get too big), is going to be an amazing father.  He has time and time again shown how great he is with other people's children that I can not imagine how wonderful he will be with his own. 
With all of this being said, yesterday was Kristen's baby shower and it was such a great day!!  She is very blessed with some amazing people in her life that came and shared the day with us and other's that could not, sent along some wonderful gifts for baby G.  She was absolutely glowing with joy over this precious gift that she has been given and as her other 1/3, I couldn't help but feel so happy for her and her new family.  Now, just to fill you in on my back story, Kristen would leave me notes in college telling me to have a great day and would sign them "Love, your other 1/2"  which may sound strange but we were pretty inseperable in college and it was a little joke between us.  Then, when she got married, in my toast to her, I gave my other 1/2 title to Matt but then Kristen informed me that I would just become her other 1/3.  Well, in about 5 weeks, I will be turning my title over again but I will give away my title as the other 1/3 with all the happiness and joy in the world because I know that I will be giving it away to someone much more special than me...the title of other 1/3 will go to baby G.

So, on this special father's day, may I present a cake dedicated to Kristen, Baby G and especially Matt.  This cake was meant for a little boy who will grow up to be the best darn golfer in our group!

the Mommy-to-be

Picture is worth a thousand words

So I just realized that there are quite a few cakes that I have not shared with you.  Some will forever remain a secret because they aren't really worth showing but some are pretty fun so I want to share them with you.  I have been pleasantly surprised with the number of people who have contacted me recently about my cakes.  Everyone has been so incredibly kind and I am really thrilled every time someone says something to me.  Tonight was the icing on the cake when my roommate from college, Caroline, complimented me on my "talent."  I say quote, unquote talent because I don't really consider it a talent.  I am by no means the best and actually feel as though there is much room for improvement but I do love when people call it my "talent."  So, with the risk of sounding arrogant, I just thought that I would share my "talent" with all of you.  Thank you all so much for encouraging me to keep baking!  It really does mean a lot!

Kristen's baby cake...the next baby cake will be for Kristen's little guy!

Ma Duke's birthday cake...I took her to the beach!

Part 1 of Kristen's Cravings birthday cake

Part 2 of Kristen's Cravings Birthday cake

Dr. Seuss Christmas cake