Gluten Free + Nut Free + Butterfly Cake

Gluten Free baking was a challenge for me in the beginning but I never dreamed there would be so many variations for so many different customers.  I have been challenged with dairy free, vegan, rice free, corn free and nut free requests.  Combine these with gluten free and you get one complicated combination.  A new flour combination and a  double check of all ingredients was necessary to make sure that this family got a wonderful, gluten free, nut free cake for their whole family to enjoy.  This cake was planned to feed 30 people, and leftovers were welcomed. I piped the butterflies with royal icing so the entire cake was edible.  Filled with Vanilla cake and fresh raspberries. The little flowers were all dusted with silver and pink edible glitter. This was one of my favorite cakes to make, the vines and leaves reminded me so much of the details my Grandmother put on her cakes.

25 Days of Christmas Giveaways+ Gluten Free Frenzy

25 days of Christmas Giveaways
Don't miss Gluten Free Frenzy's 25 days of Christmas Giveaways!  Yummy GF goodies and so much more.  I am lucky enough to be one of the vendors this year in this event.  I will be giving away cupcakes in a jar to two lucky GF people around the country, and for two lucky locals, 50% off a custom cake!  So get yourself over to Gluten Free Frenzy and start entering to win, there's only 25 days to win, so HURRY!

Arizona Midday Feature + Channel 12

This feature was on Channel 12 this month and it was so much fun, mainly because the host, Jean is actually recently Gluten Free.  She told us her sister and kids had recently gone gluten free, and she was determined to follow.  She said it just simply makes her feel better!

I had the opportunity to show a gorgeous Christmas dessert table and one of my favorite new products, a cake push pop.  Just like the Orange and Vanilla Push Pops from when I was a kid, but filled with yummy cake, frosting, and layered with fresh fruit.

Glam + Red+ White + Black Christmas Party

 I love dinner parties.  An intimate dinner with friends or family, or even a group of girlfriends after an afternoon of shopping.  This suite was designed by the totally chic and creative Jennifer at Bella Grey Designs.  I had the pleasure of designing a chic, glamorous Christmas dinner party around the leopard print invitation.   The use of white, red and black gives this holiday celebration a sophisticated edge that is complimented by the leopard pattern and whimsical red rick-rack used throughout the paper elements. The addition of red rhinestones adds a fun and glitzy surprise that I love.

Rhinestones by the yard made it really easy to embellish the adorable place cards which were hung from champagne glasses.The leopard print napkin rings are punched with holes and embellished with an extra hot little ribbon which features metallic studs and stitching.

Get your order in now, as Bella Grey will only be doing a limited number of these before the holiday is over!  HURRY!

I gave Jennifer my choices for the luscious desserts and the folded label cards were perfect for my dessert buffet. Featuring a twist on holiday classics, the leopard cupcake picks were right at home in the peppermint topped cupcakes (just flavor and swirl the frosting together in the same piping bag). I loved the cupcake holders, this is the first time I have really used them and I was delighted! I am always very conscious of the not so pretty paper showing on my cupcakes. I would compare them to “fashion” for my cupcakes, love them

Last, check out these gorgeous chair wraps that double as a cozy gift for the guests.  These were so easy to create from a length of fleece fabric and some glamorous hairpins.  Just cut to size, cut strips in the ends and pull to curl them! 

Get your order in now, as Bella Grey will only be doing a limited number of these before the holiday is over!  HURRY!

Gluten Free Holiday Pies + Cakes

Thanksgiving is behind us now and Christmas is only weeks away.  I can't believe this year has gone by so quickly!  The past few weeks have been a blur.  Cakes and Pies were flying out the door for holiday parties and birthdays, so I finally took a breath and took some pictures for listing on Etsy..  The crust is flaky and incredibly delicious.  My family fell in love with all the flavors at my own Thanksgiving celebration.  We had Pecan, Pumpkin, Cherry, little Peach Tarts, Apple, and even some mini cupcakes.  Please place your orders early for Christmas parties and dinners, as we will limit the number of orders we take.  Thanks to everyone who sent wonderful emails about how much they love these pies!  We are also offering frozen crusts, for those of you who like to fill them yourself.

 All the flavors are also available in mini pies as well, just a bite or two (2") with the same yummy crusts and fillings.  9" pies are $20.00 plus $5.00 delivery in Metro Phoenix area, tarts are $2.00 each with a minimum one dozen order plus $5.00 delivery, Frozen 9" crusts are $7.50 each or $10.00 for two plus delivery.  All of these can be picked up at two different locations in the Northwest Valley.

A gorgeous Christmas Present Cake will be featured on Chanel 12 (Arizona Midday) on thursday December 1st., on a cute Christmas dessert table (more pics to come) Order yours now, as a limited number of these will be custom made.   $125.00 plus delivery.

These adorable little mini cakes are $5.00 each with a minimum one dozen order plus delivery. All of these can be custom designed for your celebration, change color, cutouts and bows!

Happy Gluten Free Holidays!

Phoenix Support Group + Thanksgiving Dessert Table

Nina Spitzer founded the Central Phoenix Celiac Disease Foundation Support Group more than 11 years ago.  I was honored to be invited to provide the dessert table for the Thanksgiving Feast on November 12th, 2011.   Mini Pumpkin pies, and the cutest little Apple pies with little hearts made out of the flakiest, buttery crust you've ever tasted graced the table.  But the biggest hit was the Hand Pies filled with gooey cherry filling and sprinkled with Cane Sugar for a sweet little crunch.  Fresh real whipped cream topped off the evening along with good company and lots of gluten free, delicious food.

My favorite part of this table are the gorgeous velvet pumpkins I found at the Believe Boutique a few weeks ago.  From oohpumpkins, they are adorable little velvet bundles with real pumpkin stems attached.  The vintage step ladder was a surprise centerpiece that gave the table some height and curiosity.  The linen is custom made from a Laura Ashley pattern.  Nina actually took this picture and I would like to thank her for her support which has meant so much to me over the last year.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Angry Birds Cake

Last December my husband and I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to see my son Chris, his wife Trista, and our grandsons, Carter and Garrett. The weather was COLD!  It sleeted, snowed and we didn't leave their house for several days.  Angry birds and lots of toys saved the day.  So, when I was asked to make an Angry Birds cake I was happy to relive our visit with the boys. Have a sweet day!

Red Dessert Table + Banana Cream Pie

I had the distinct pleasure of designing a dessert table for an incredible woman and an open house for her wonderful business.  I met Crystal almost 2 years ago after my mother was involved in a serious car accident.  She has taken such good care of my mother, her records, attends Dr's appointments with her, and basically has saved my life on a regular basis. Her service is amazing, and I recommend her all the time.  So, it was truly an honor when she asked me to cater the desserts for her open house event.

Four mini desserts, four delicious, decadent flavors tickled the lips of 80 guests. Espresso Cupcakes, (double chocolate cake topped with an espresso simple syrup, chocolate ganache and a chocolate coffee butter cream)   Banana Cream Pies (Caramelized Bananas on top), Red Velvet cupcakes, and traditional Pumpkin Pies with fresh, sweetened Whipped Cream.

Jennifer's Catering provided the delicious cuisine for the evening, and everyone was talking about how delicious everything was.  The event was a huge success for Crystal and her staff at Geriatric Resources and I am just so glad that I could be a part of it.