Dark Chocolate...hmmm...

Very few birthday cakes are "manly" without looking cheesey.  Yeah, dad likes football, but does he really want a football-shaped cake?  Perhaps.  But I thought I would try something a little more sophisticated and understated for a male friend of the family.  Four wafer thin layers of chocolate sponge, sandwiched between decadent espresso-mascarpone cheese.  Covered in dark chocolate ganache.  Elegantly surrounded by dark and white chocolate-dipped strawberries.  My only regret?  Not taking a better picture! 

Cinco de Mayo! Circa 2007.

My first fondant cake.  Ah...back when I didn't know any better and used (gag!) Wilton's pre-made fondant (gag, gag!)  Thus began my love affair with odd birthday cakes.  I so wish I had a picture of my daughter's chicken leg birthday cake still!

That's no moon, that's a space station!

So much fun to make!  Cake is chocolate with cookies-n-cream icing.  Final result had a second tie fighter dangling above the storm trooper, "flying" in outer space.  Can I put on a resume that I know how to make a 1/2-inch sugar paste gun?

Cupcakes and Tiny Treats!

Various assortment, and no, your eyes do not deceive you...that is a picture of miniature (and fantabulous!) fruit cakes.  I thought portion control would help prevent an all-out gorging this past Christmas...boy was I wrong!  Those little rum-soaked fruit cakes made a wonderful breakfast.  And snack.  And after lunch treat, and...well, you get the idea.

Albert the Alligator

Albert was so much fun to make!  Jelly roll with lemon curd for body.  Butter genoise for all else.  Football in mouth is rice crispy treat, body covered in fondant.  My daughter was glad to see the "scary gador" gone!

Luau Ice Crem Cake

Ten inches of awesome!  Not so awesome on a 94-degree day!  A hot vile mess within thirty minutes of cutting, but once upon a time it was a beautiful, decadent feast: oreo crust, vanilla ice cream, cookie crumbs, oreo and cream layer, cookie crumbs, chocolate ice cream, cookie crumbs, cookies-n-cream ice cream.  Covered  with Italian Meringue Buttercream and fondant hibiscus flowers and seashells.  Grass skirt looked like worms according to some lovely, lovely children at the party.  (The grass skirt here does look a bit like worms, ok, I admit it.  BUT, I fixed it up right before the big reveal as some of it broke off in transit, and I wanted it to look more "grassy"!)  In my defense, only working on the cake for ten minute increments before having to refreeze for thirty was a little tricky.  Back off first graders! 

Sugar Dog!

Dairy-Free American Girl Sugar Dog cake covered in fondant!

Mama Owl! Hooot, Hoooot!

Cupcake Cake

Idea (inspiration) from Disney's Family Fun Magazine.