Extra Cheese Please!

My husband and I have been married for nine years. Marriage is interesting growing up you believe in the tv/ movie version...trips to exotic locales, two kids perfectly clean and well behaved, family dinners on the table every night...you know the drill. Then there is reality. Yes my husband and I both have successful careers, we have an amazing daughter who lights up our life on a daily basis but in the past nine years we have had two parents battle and beat cancer cancer, our daughter has been diagnosed with Autism, we both have been committed our careers---we have had a lot piled on our plates that has been our doing. Before we knew it we quickly realized we were becoming yes men and losing track of what allowed us to accomplish everything- each other. Who do we say no to- our daughter, our spouse, our daughters school or her therapies, our work- it took us a long time to learn to prioritize what is truly important. We are still working on it.

My husband and I are the perfect match- like a great Cabernet and chocolate, the Masters in April, Brie and french bread, Mac and cheese! One is always made better by the other. To celebrate our 9th anniversary we renewed our vows. This was the one of the most nerve racking cakes I have ever made- partly because it was an expression of my love for my husband, but it was really artistic. My husband truly is the cheese to my Mac- we make the perfect macaroni and cheese.

The cake was delicious. Chocolate chi pound cake with bittersweet Buttercream. I only wish we could have eaten more of it. Here is to many more years to the perfect pair!

Vegan Can Be Good, No Mint Please

When I take an accounting of my immediate family and close friends it is amazing how many dietary restrictions there are. There is my dad, brother, mother-in-law, step sister, cousin, and god mother. My daughter was part of the reason I started to do cakes. My daughter who is GFCF (gluten free dairy free) could not get a birthday cake that would taste good let alone appeal to someone in under 60 set. Everyone assumes vegan means cardboard. Not so- it can be full of rich flavors and fresh ingredients.

I was so excited to do a cake for my long time friend and my daughters god mother- a vegan. She has an amazing sense of style with an exotic twist. Chocolate cake with fresh raspberries and chocolate Buttercream.

We gave it to the restaurant to bring out. It was a beautiful cake with hand painted gold accents- it had an exotic Indian vibe with rich teals and deep purples. The cake stood on it's own. But to my dismay when the restaurant brought out the cake they had added mint sprigs to the cake. Not just laying on the plate but sticking out of the top of the cake like antennas. I was horrified, but tried to roll with it. People were more in shock the cake was vegan than by the mint sprigs.

It was delicious- it even won over to two men at the birthday dinner.

Handed The Reins

I have been asked, "what do you do?". I have never had an answer when it came to my cakes. It was time I had an answer.

I make cakes that encompass a strong flavor profile with a modern sensibility. I do not want want to be given someone else's idea that I need to duplicate-- that has already been done. In a nut shell: a cake must taste as good as it looks.

I was was asked to do a cake- with little to no direction: whatever you want to do, the party colors are orange and green. The only direction was given on flavors: How about vanilla cake with chocolate. That is what I don't do: vanilla- boring. Flavors should be rich--maybe Tahitian vanilla bean with bittersweet chocolate. I asked the client to trust me- stretch. Chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream with fresh raspberries. Vanilla cake with Expresso syrup and chocolate Buttercream.

I still had to tackle the orange and green- this was tough- green or orange is not exactly an appealing fondant color. I talked it over with my trusted assistant- my daughter. Monarchs she said. That was it. A cascade of monarchs trailing down a beautiful Kelly green cake. The cake tasted as good as it looked. By the way, the client called and said: "the chocolate cake with the raspberries was the hit."

Simple Joy

Do you remember your favorite toy as a child? Mine was a stuffed horse named smoky, who a would drag around with these long legs. Now as adults we can all look back to those toys and long for the simple joy that those toys brought us in contrast to the craziness of our everyday lives.

A friend asked me if I would do a cake for her son, after his favorite toy. An airplane. He dragged this cartoon like airplane everywhere. I was thrilled, inspired.

The cake was simple- chocolate chip pound cake with chocolate Buttercream. 100% edible.

I dropped the cake off with my daughter- she asked, "if the cake could fly?" I thought about it for a second- "no, this one is for eating."

They loved the cake. He looked at the cake- looked at his toy and screamed, "plane!". This is why I do cakes- to bring wonder to people.

Wedding Cakes: A Lesson Learned

When I started doing cakes I swore that I would never do wedding cakes. Maybe that was because I was looking back at my own experience at a bride when I was 25 with my exacting standards, once asking my husband if he liked the 1/4 ribbon to the 1/2 inch ribbon. That was all before the slew of bridal shows on tv which now turn weddings into spectacles. Not once when my husband and I have a disagreement do I look back and say- we can stop arguing because we had the two poached salmons at our wedding. A poached salmon station does not help you in future Geneva discussions with your husband. What will help is the foundation of the marriage- my marriage foundation is not based on smoked salmon, a carving station, canapés, or a towering cake. It is based on trust, mutual respect, and love.

That leads me to the cake, after my brothers cake I said that would be my one and only. Then at a dinner party at my mothers- she casually said- "Jennie does amazing cakes, you have to see them," next thing I know I am doing a wedding cake with very specific requirements. Carrot cake, three tiers separated by a white antique cake stand, decorated with flowers. I was emailed a several pictures. Not exactly my aesthetic but the train was now rolling down the tracks. In cake terms this was a fairly simple cake to construct- but it was not inspired because I was not inspired- it was so far away from the koi fish experience which I delivered on the same weekend.

I learned that weddings often become an outward expression of what the couple wants their relationship to be or hopes it will be- the cake is part of that, but it is their vision not mine. Translation of that vision is all in the details.

Just Because

I found my niche- when I am inspired by someone or something the cakes just come- much like great art. Isn't that true in life- people always say when you fine something you love or your passion it will be so enjoyable. That is true about cakes where the subject inspires me.

My dad recently became a vegan for health reasons. I really applaud his efforts to changes his diet. This was a challenge I was ready to take on. I had done gluten free/ dairy free, but taking away the eggs was another story. He had already been the recipient of the now infamous guitar cake- how could I go vegan? What symbol would represent my Dad? A Japanese Koi fish. Symbolic with swimming up stream and over coming life's adversity.
Besides the fact that his granddaughter loved koi fish and could spend hours looking at them. My daughter had picked out a specific fish that reminded her of grandpa- it was a beautiful white and orange fish with touches of black.

Had I done vegan- no. This was only my third sculpted cake. But it was so clear in my head. Then life kicked in- "carmageten" occurred-- they shut the 405 freeway down so I had to transport the cake on the train, I blew my knee out, and I was hired to do a wedding cake in the same weekend. More to follow on the wedding cake. I was a bit crazed but I was so in love with this cake I made it through.

The cake turned out amazing- the fish was swimming in the air- he loved it and it tasted good. I think it is my best cake to date.