Getting creative with cakes

Confession #3

I used to never cook or bake for that matter.

If someone would ask me about my cooking skills, I'd point to my freezer or a box of cookies. 

Frozen chicken wings were my specialty.

But as soon as my husband proposed, whispers began about how he would starve to death.

_little by little... I started

I made it my mission to learn how to cook, and most importantly, to bake!

I ventured on with dessert books that I'd find at Homesense, 

ran to Bulk Barn for ingredients, 

and Ares for my supplies.

I started off simple. Very simple.

 Toblerone Cheesecake

• 1- 1/2 cups of Orero Baking Crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 3 packages of cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 2 bars (100 g) Toblerone, chopped

Make sure to melt the butter through, then mix is with your crumbs. 

Take a springform pan and press the crumb onto the bottom. Pack it in!

Beat the rest of the ingredients together, leaving 1 Toblerone bar for the topping.

Pour it over the crust and top with the rest of the chocolate bits.

Bake it at 350º for about 30-45 minutes. (I have a gas oven so timing is different).

Shove into the fridge for about 4-5 hours and you`re set.

8/10

Comments:

This dessert is incerdibly easy to make and is always a hit. Perfect for those who have a sweet tooth.

Downfall: not as pretty and glamourized.

_getting creative

I continued making different kinds of cakes: apple crumb, pumpkin pies, tarts, etc.

Then watching all those cake competitions on TLC made me want to start too!

And so I did...

   Vanilla cake, vanilla icing, and graham cracker crumbs
Added tiny gummies as trees for a little surrounding.

 9/10

Comments: Next time, I wouldn't start baking when it's almost midnight.My face almost planted into the cake at 4am when I began piping the grass.

Chocolate cake, vanilla icing and jelly beans. Used a pipecleaner and wrapped it in yarn and ribbon.

6.5/10

Comments: First attempt at basketweave was a total FAIL.

Chocolate cake and chocolate icing
Got a mini teddy bear pan and carved away. I used 2 mints for his eyes and surrounded him with cookies.

9/10

Comments: If I had enough time, I would made my own cookies 

   



Strawberry cake with buttercream icing
Fondant used for all the office supplies

8/10

Comments: I would have added the numbers and characters if I had time!

   
Vanilla and chocolate cake
Icing for the condiments, fondant for lettuce and cheese, and topped with real sesame seeds. This won me my first cake competition!

8.5/10

Comments: looks amazing, but didn't add enough cocoa to the chocolate batter and would have made sure my icing was rich and smooth.

_baking galore

I found myself baking every week. It began a ritual.

And with each occasion, came another cake.

My husband wanted to kill me because the kitchen was a disaster zone.

_big brother's birthday

My brother is a shoe whore.

The amount of shoes he has is really overwhelming. 

Now, if only he would buy me a pair one day.

He never likes to make a fuss for his birthday, but this year, I took the time... 7 hours by the way... to create something special for him.

I can't take all the credit here. My husband really helped me carve out the shoe.

8.5/10

Comments: It was my first attempt at making my own fondant = semi-fail.

Don't know exactly where I went wrong, but couldn't make large pieces without it breaking.

So the box had to decorated only in icing.

_Cacciatore Family Reunion

I started with the base. Strawberry filled with vanilla icing between a vanilla and strawberry layer.

The actual tree was formed using rice krispies then wrapped in fondant and the branches are grape vines dipped in chocolate, then rolled in green dyed rice krispies. I added some chocolate rocks that you can find at Bulk Barn and I added a swing to add capture the sweetness of the entire cake.

10/10

Comments: The flavours really came out and blended nicely.

Downfall: Next time, I'll pipe the Cacciatore Reunion but I was scared it wouldn't turn out nicely. 

Used my Cricut machine unfortunately.

_lesson of the day
we all have to start somewhere.

Keeping it real,

the wife next door.

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Holidays on a budget

Confession #2

The holidays are my favourite time of the year. 

Am I crazy for wanting to put up all my decorations already?

Glitters, sparkles, and festive colours everywhere!

The red wall in my living room is best used at this time of the year!

So if you`re like me and have a mortgage and endless bills to pay,

this gift giving season might put on a little stress.

Why not create your own unique decorations?

Take the time to search on the net for creative ideas that won't burst your wallet!

_see the beauty in nature

Take these simple branches for example. 

Plain and simple... for now.

Buy a can of sparkle paint of your choice,

make sure to cover your workspace properly, then spray away!

Place them in a simple vase
(make sure to use the perfect height).

Got an abundance of pinecones laying in your lawn?

Gather them together and with a spray can,
you can work some magic.

Simple? Yes.

Cheap? Yes.

Unique? Yes.

Gorgeous? Yes.

What more can you ask for?

_diy projects
There are so many things around the house that has more potential!
Now these are projects that I'll just have to find the time to do!
Got empty wine bottles laying around? Put them to use!
Spray paint them with primer,
roll them in epsom salt,
and voilà!
Best part is that you can do this to virtually anything!

And everyone has empty toilet paper rolls!
Look how lovely these snowflakes are.
Imagine a bunch of them hanging on your wall!
You'll need:

• toilet paper rolls
• scissors
• glue
• clothes pins
• spray paint
• glitter

 For step by step directions,
 How to make a snowflake from toilet paper

So there you have it!

Add a special unique touch to your holiday decorations this year.

Keeping it real,

the wife next door.

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Step into my world

I`ve been inspired to write again...

all night, I`ve been tossing and turning trying to see where to let it out.

I`ve found myself here.

so step into my world and get a glimpse of what's on the other side of the fence.

_the one and only

food lover. food explorer. food critic.

fairly newlywed. but together for almost a decade!

dog lover and animal enthusiast

can spot a sale from a mile away

studied in a more professional field but marketing kinda fell into my lap

secretly an old soul

...and a hopeless romantic.

 



 
I loved you yesterday,

I love you still.

I always have,

I always will.

_my world

I'll let you in on...

what's new, what's not so hot, what's cooking in my kitchen, any new projects,

what sales are around, some health tips, great holiday ideas, 

and just about anything and everything on my mind, from drama to people who I admire.

Grab your seat and get comfy. You`re in for a ride...

Confession #1

As much as I love my husband, I want to strangle him when I try to do the laundry.

His socks are always scrunched up into a ball.

Does it look like I want to put my fingers deep into that dirty sock?

Ladies, who's with me?

I'd post a picture of my hubby's lovely sock, but I'll spare you this time.

Keeping it real,

the wife next door.

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