June – July Highlights, Featuring Fresh Cake and Fresh Water Pearls
I know it’s technically “ruby season”, but can we take a minute to appreciate these pink and mauve freshwater pearls? This set (shown above) was thoughtfully gifted to me for my birthday, and meticulously crafted by Leah Alexandra Jewelry. If this name sounds familiar, you’re likely thinking of the original “Spark Studio”, owned by local Vancouver designer, Leah Alexandra, who is well known for her more permanent jewelry pieces, many of which have been featured in magazines such as Elle, Vogue, and InStyle. Need I say more? I mean, we all know I’m going to say more anyway, so let’s get into all the pretty little details of this set . . .
Mini Egg Icebox Cake
This week, I decided to do some “Spring Cleaning” in my fridge, and in the process, discovered an unopened bag of mini eggs. While my stomach told me to run to the pantry (or any corner of the house where my kids can’t see) and devour them in one sitting, my heart told me I should probably share them. Well, I’m happy to report that I followed my heart, and not only did I share them with my kids, but I’ll be sharing them with all of you (in recipe form). That’s right, the recipe I’m sharing today is a take on my mom’s traditional Cocoa Dusted Icebox Cake, with the addition of crushed mini eggs on top . . .
Vanilla (Daisy) Glazed Bundt Cake
Does anyone else find themselves developing new recipes as the colder seasons begin to develop? To be honest, the most difficult part about adjusting to the cold (for me) is the initial transition from Summer to Autumn. Warm cake seems to help with the adjustment though. I mean, what doesn’t cake help with? . . .
“Ballerina Fairy” Cake with Classic Vanilla Buttercream
As some of you may remember, the very first recipe I ever shared on my blog was Hand Whipped Vanilla Buttercream, but after eating it by about the 10th spoonful, I figured I should probably post a cake recipe to go with it. That’s when my Classic Vanilla Cake recipe dropped for the first time, and I’m pleased to say it’s held up quite well over the years and is still my go-to for birthday occasions. As for the cake shown above, well, I can’t say it held up well in the beginning, considering one of the layers fell apart. However, thanks to the thickness of the buttercream, I was able to fix it up without any further issues . . .
Sweet Almond Cake with Layered Almond Buttercream
You ever go back for a second slice of cake and end up with a third? Because same. That’s the line I used for my current pregnancy announcement, as we patiently wait for baby number 3’s arrival. I just entered the third trimester, and I’m feeling all the baby kicks, while all the pregnancy cravings kick in. And of course, as the baby develops, so do the (cake) recipes. This week’s craving(s): (decaf) coffee + sweet almond cake . . .
Classic Vanilla Cake
Today I turned 30 and I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. My stomach, however, felt that I should share this cake with you all and help myself to a second slice to go with my second cup of coffee. I’m not going to argue. In my last blog post, I shared a buttercream recipe while happily eating it by the spoonful, but after about the 10th spoon, I thought to myself, “What is frosting without the cake?” Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for frosting with or without cake, but it just doesn’t feel complete without that set foundation . . .