Rockin' the Roundhouse at WSU

We had a great time last night at Wichita State's Rockin' the Roundhouse, the annual fundraiser for the athletic department.  If you haven't been before it is where you get to walk around and sample lots of different foods from various Wichita restaurants. 

We sampled our pies, cut-out cookies, drop cookies and our new cupcakes.

The cupcakes got rave reviews. We served lots of different flavors.

And, I think my girls had a good time too!

Trip to the International Bakery Industry Expo in Las Vegas

I just got back from a convention in Las Vegas and wanted to share my trip with you.  It was a huge convention, one of the biggest I have ever attended. There were suppliers for equipment, ingredients, packaging and decorating supplies. I also attended some great seminars and workshops. These trips are invaluable to me. I gather so much industry information and come back excited and energized.
  

 Here are decorators who have competed on the food channel.  This is Courtney Clark demonstrating a fun topsy turvy cake set-up that I can't wait to try...Lowes, here I come!

A couple more decorators I have seen competing on TV.  I can't remember the one on the left...but Marina Sousa in on the right. She always wins her cake contests. 

 Various shots from different booths...

There were also a couple of competitions being filmed by the Food Network.  This is a chocolate challenge...the pieces they were building looked amazing.

 

 This was a baking competition...

The United States Entry

A closer view...it is all out of bread!

One of the best things about these trips is seeing my bakery owner friends.  I don't get to see them very often with the hours that we all work, and the couples above both own bakeries in Texas. But it is so great to see them at least once a year to catch up!

New Chocolate Peanut butter Dessert Cake

Chocolate Peanut butter Dessert Cake

Our love of all things chocolate & peanut butter got us thinking of a new dessert cake and this is what we came up with. It is our moist, rich chocolate cake split & filled with a peanut butter cream filling, iced with peanut butter buttercream and finished with chocolate ganache & peanut butter candy. This is definitely my new favorite cake...is your mouth watering yet??

3-D Cakes

 

I hear all the time from customers how much they enjoy watching the cake shows on television. And, you know, my staff and I love watching them too. It is so much fun to see the crazy and extreme cake designs.  That's why we love it when some one comes in to ask for something other than a typical sheet cake.   

Cake Artist Kristal working on sculpted dog

I have a talented team of cake decorators that are ready to bring your idea to life in cake. Stop by and let's brain storm something extra special your next occasion!  There isn't anything I've seen on those shows that my staff & I couldn't do. 

We do dream in sugar, you know!

CUPCAKE CRAZE!

What is all this talk here in Wichita about cupcakes lately??! We have been making decadent cupcakes for a long time! 

 Check out all of our fabulous flavors of cupcakes. Bet you can't eat just one!

BRYN'S 12TH BIRTHDAY

I can't believe my baby is 12! Bryn came to the bakery last week to work on her birthday cake. Her design this year was from the movie, UP. She loves that movie and designed this cake all by herself.

 

The cake was iced in buttercream, then a cloud background was airbrushed on the sides.

Bryn searched the internet for the right pictures of the characters and then we printed them onto edible paper.

The back of this cake even had a design from the movie. She put Paradise Falls here and the topper was the house, of course.

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY BRYN!

Today's Demo on the Kansas CW

I hope some of you got to watch my demo this morning with Mark Larson on the Kansas CW. I decided on a cool dessert that you can make ahead. It is very impressive for your guests. I hope you give it a try!


STRAWBERRIES & CREAM TRIFLE

• 1-1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 package (1 ounce) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 cup (8 ounces) vanilla yogurt
• 6 ounces cream cheese, cubed
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
• 1 prepared white cake, 9x13, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 1/2 quarts strawberries, cleaned and sliced

Directions

• In a small bowl, whisk the milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.
• In a large bowl, beat the yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream and vanilla until smooth. Fold in pudding mixture and 1 cup whipped topping.
• Place a third of the cake cubes in a 4-qt. trifle bowl. Top with a third of the pudding mixture, a third of the berries and half of the remaining whipped topping. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining cake, pudding and berries. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Yield: 14 servings.