Eggs and Unflavored Gelatin

Ever run out of eggs while baking? Did you know you can substitute plain unflavored gelatin in place of eggs? (To replace each egg: Dissolve 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin in 1 tablespoon cold water, then add 2 tablespoons boiling water. Beat vigorously until frothy.) Awesome!

Cake Balls

My first attempt at cake balls. Just make cake (any kind) as usual, when it cools, crumble it and add frosting until it makes a thick sticky "dough". Roll into balls (I found it easier to freeze it for a little while so it was a firmer texture for rolling into balls and also made it less sticky). Freeze for 15-20 minutes. Use chocolate candy coating (OR melt milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons Karo syrup/vegetable shorting) in a microwave safe bowl 30 secs, stir and repeat until melted. Remove cake balls from freezer and dip in melted chocolate and place on wax paper, sprinkle with colored sugar or other baking decorations and place in fridge until chocolate coating has hardened. Remove from fridge 15-20 mins before serving.   I tried a bunch of flavors -  mint chocolate, chocolate Heath, chocolate peanut butter, vanilla, cherry, and strawberry.

Not A Creature Was Stirring... Not Even A Mouse...

Our Christmas Eve cookies (themed from Twas The Night Before Christmas book).  The kids love making these, they are easy and it's a "no bake" recipe.

Ingredients: Oreos (twisted apart and the side with icing used), decorative icing, maraschino cherries (with stem), Hershey's kisses, sliced almonds, red hot candies, mini candy "pearls", Baker's dipping chocolate (or any other dipping chocolate that hardens).

Holding (dry) cherry by stem, dip in melted chocolate, then press onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss.

Place cherry and kiss onto the cream filling of the cookie. Let stem extend over the edge.

Make ears for your mouse by placing sliced almonds between the cherry and the kiss (before the chocolate sets).

Place in refrigerator until chocolate sets.

With green decorative gel, pipe holly leaves on white cream of cookie by the mouse, use 3 red hot candies as the holly berries.

Pipe eyes on each chocolate kiss (I also used the candy pearls in the eyes too, but this can be skipped if you don't have them).

Store in airtight container at room temperature.

These are always a big hit at holiday parties so make sure to make extra!

Merry Christmas!!

Cake-tastic!

That's the name of my cake business.  It's just an part-time thing I do from my home when I'm not working at my real job.  It's fun and I love doing it!

Some cakes I've made:

Easter Cake

Just Because

For A Softball Team

Fondant Flowers

Broncos

Mickey Mouse

Fondant Car

Prince Theme

Japanese

Football Jersey

Retirement Cake

Happy Spring

College Graduation

Mother's Day

Mother's Day

I made this as a farewell when I switched from night shift to day shift at Atmel

Happy Birthday to my boss, Nicole Archuleta

Colorado Avalanche