Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to everyone! I just had to try out the new mixer and sugar cookies seemed like the perfect way to do that. My mom taught me how to use royal icing at a young age when we made our own Easter Cookies. I hope I'm making her proud today in my own kitchen. Have a warm and happy day today and enjoy!

RIP Hand Mixer

It must have been karma... I was thinking just the other night, about how many great memories I have had with my hand mixer. Silly as it seems, my little Hamilton Beach Bowl Rest Model has helped me create all of the cakes and cupcakes that have led me to this point. I bought it right before I moved into my first JMU apartment in 2007. If my math serves me correctly, it's mixed over thousands of cupcakes, close to 50 different tiers, and at least 100 batches of buttercream frosting. That's a lot for its tiny motor!


It was Thursday night that the motor stopped, the night before a wedding cake was due. Luckily there's a spare in our apartment here, but if you think that creating 7 tiers of cake with a hand mixer is hard, this "other mixer" sure didn't help. It only has one speed: turbo. Adding confectioners sugar turn after turn for the buttercream was a nightmare. I was covered by the time I stopped. It also makes a very audible screeching noise when it's turned on. It was a recipe for a headache to say the least.


My combination of upcoming cake events, a hefty tax return check, and a childhood dream led me right into the doors of Williams Sonoma this afternoon. I hoped to do some price comparing, a bit of note taking... I never thought I'd come out the proud owner of my very own KitchenAid! It's a "Professional 610 model" in Nickel Pearl, with a bowl lift. You should hear the motor on this thing! The best part is, I got a great deal AND a rebate for a free ice cream maker attachment. Anyone who's interested in coming by this spring/summer for sundaes, just let me know. My hand mixer will certainly be missed, but this is one professional step I am happy I've taken. Bring on the double batches!

Cayce and Kyle's Wedding

Now that the marathon month is coming to a close, I have time to add a few snapshots from Cayce and Kyle's wedding! Cayce is someone who heard about me from a friend, and after finding out how many people we knew in common, I'm surprised our paths haven't crossed sooner! She was so much fun to work with, and her flexibility made the 250 cupcakes for her wedding a breeze. From a drop off tasting, they narrowed her flavors down to the following:

Chocolate with espresso chip frosting





Almond with vanilla buttercream





lemon with a raspberry filling and buttercream (my favorite!)





Their wedding was held at one of my favorite places in Harrisonburg, Cross Keys Vineyard. I was the most excited because I was able to try out my new cupcake stand. Thanks Cayce and Kyle for giving me such a fun project!