Caramel pecan pie

I picked this recipe up in prison. Through my job I have learned all sorts of interesting things, many of which I cannot relate while in polite company. This pie recipe is thankfully something I can share, you can find it here . My aide that helps me out each night is always copying recipes and mailing them home, and sometimes she shares what she finds with me. She shared this recipe with me, and I made it for Thanksgiving this year.  It was really good, and really easy. 

Wreath Cake

This cake was for a friend's Christmas party. It was a really fun one to make, and I was excited to get to try a new recipe for a spice cake out.

Christmas Goodies

I did these cupcakes for my friend Cindy's pictures with Santa. Check her out on Facebook at stansberry photography.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I have been doing some crafting lately. I think I am so over being hot that thinking about Christmas sounds like a good idea! More pics coming soon.

Happy Easter!

 On friday, we had a birthday party for my friend Elizabeth. Above is a sample of one of the table arrangements that the other Elizabeth and I worked on.

 We had a Derby theme for the party, so of course I had to make a hat shaped cake!

For probably ten years, my parents have hosted an Easter Brunch at their house. This tradition started with a Martha Stewart recipe for grits and greens. What started out as family and a few friends has grown into quite a large party.  I had to take a picture of the table with all the delicious food! 

Happy Valentines (a little late)

Here are some cakes from the last two weeks. This first one was for a friend of a friend. My friend, Laura, had some company in town the weekend before valentines. While her company was here, one of the daughters of the family celebrated her 18th birthday. So here is Rylee's cake complete with my first icing roses. 

 This cake was for the Spalding High School swim team banquet. I made the "water" out of decorating gel, the lane dividers out of sweet tarts, and the starting blocks out of fondant.

 And last but not least, here were my flowers I got for valentines. :)

Happy New Year!

 I hope everyone had a great new years! We had so much fun celebrating with some great friends. Everyone brought a dish to enjoy for dinner. I am lucky to know so many good chefs because dinner was beyond good.

 I got to use my wiggle woggle again. Shannon had these super cool candle holders that we filled with some small garland. They are from Crate and Barrel, and I think I might need to get my own.

 Here are the desserts I did. They were strawberry champagne parfaits with handmade chocolate garnishes.

Merry Christmas!!!

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I am enjoying my first white Christmas, and it has been a great day to be with family and friends! We started out the day watching Christmas Vacation. Then, it was on to the church to help serve meals. I have helped coordinate the Christmas day dinner for the last 3 years, and this was the biggest year yet, we served over 1300 meals to residents of Griffin today. I am so thankful for all my wonderful volunteers! Above is a cake I made for a co-worker to take to a family party, it was red velvet with chocolate ganache filling, and I made my first icing poinsettias.

Above is my table set up from Christmas Eve. Both sides of our families came over for chili after the service . I recently inherited a wiggle woggle from Brian's side of the family. His great- aunt had this made back in the 60s, and along with the piece I have the magazine article that describes how to use it (which I thought was pretty cool). A wiggle woggle is two curved pieces of wood with holes for the candles. I decorated mine with greenery, hydrangeas, fuji mums, button mums, carnations, and roses. I can't wait to use it at other times of the year! I also used the table cloth and napkins that my great-grandmother made to go with her dining room set (which I also inherited).

Cookies for Santa

 A while back, my friend Cindy, who is an amazing photographer, check her out here, asked me to do some goodies for her Santa pictures she is doing this weekend. She wanted cupcakes for the little girls to have cocoa and cupcakes with Mrs. Claus and a wrapped up sugar cookie for each child to take home.

Above is a cake I did for one of my co-workers at Grace. Her son and daughter in law have birthdays that are ten days apart. So, she gives them a joint birthday celebration.

Happy 30th Brookbridge!

Over the July 4th weekend, the neighborhood I grew up in celebrated 30 years. Not only is Brookbridge a neighborhood, but its an airport as well. I used the sign from the entrance as the inspiration for the cake. We had a great time, there were a ton of people there from current neighbors to some of the originals that have since moved on. I have to give a shout out to my dad, who cooked some of the best ribs i have ever tasted!!

Happy Easter!

I have had a great time this Easter weekend. Between cookouts, brunch, and Easter dinner after church, we stayed super busy. Honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way!
I made the mini cheesecakes with chicks for my parents brunch on Saturday. I had a bit of an issue getting the chicks made because I wanted to use marzipan. So I bought marzipan from a certain local store, and when I got it home it was hard as a rock. We took that back, and I ran to Walmart early on Saturday morning. No marzipan there, so I settled for fondant. Brian was a huge help getting these guys made!

Easter Sunday started out with the sunrise service and pancake breakfast at the church. Then we made last minute preparations for both of our families to come over for dinner. I had a great time playing with flowers, and we also had a blast getting everyone together.

table centerpiece

I found pussy willow branches at Sam's, and I used some little Easter ornaments as decorations.

Week 13

Ok I have been slacking on my blogging lately. I promise I will make up for it this weekend.

Here are some bunny butt cupcakes. More to come, and have a great Easter Weekend! If anyone will be up early on Sunday, the First Pres sunrise service is at 7:00 with a pancake breakfast to follow...