To call this an overdue post is an understatement...

Where to begin! Well how about the cupcakes I made?

Do you see that?! Do you know what that means? Well...probably not, but I'll tell you!

So a month ago a few really good friends got hitched (YAY!) and I was able to help out a fellow baker and make 275 cupcakes. I will say that again, 275 cupcakes. Can I get that into a bigger font? Let's see, shall we?

275 cupcakes (not big enough yet)

275 cupcakes!!!!

That's about as large as the blogspot fonts will let me use, but anyway! So three days, tons of batter, TONS of frosting and a lot of fun and we had the pumpkin spice, red velvet and vanilla cupcakes for all the enjoy. It was a lot of hard work and totally worth it. I'm featuring the Red Velvet cupcakes because those were kind of "my babies." And that was only a portion of the red velvet. It was a lot and they were, I'm not going to lie, crazy delicious! (Better than Mr. Pibb and Red Vines, seriously...seriously)

So on to the next baking job:

Now this is a coconut cake, second coconut cake I've ever made in my life. And coconut cakes are a lot of fun to make! And SO good to eat.

Let's take a closer look, shall we!?

Yummy yummy yummy!

This was for an order for a lovely woman and her weekly Bible study group. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

The holiday season is upon us and I'm actually about to start working on a few dozen cupcakes for a party this weekend, and I'll most definitely be posting pictures (that's a promise)!! But this also means that there are tons of parties coming up, so instead of purchasing mass produced baked goods from your local grocery store and e-mail me!

And I'll leave this thought with you, I will be trying out Chocolate Sugar cookies with peppermint frosting all in the shape of ornaments. (Is your mouth watering yet!?)

What a weekend

When I get a sizable order, especially for cupcakes, it never seems to be a single order weekend. Case in point last weekend!

Thursday (it was a long weekend) I made 24+ Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. I call the jury to glance at Exhibit A (the picture to your left. But of course I'm not going to simply show you a close up of a few of the said cup cakes. Oh no no no my dear friend.




I give you, exhibit B --->

Camera pulls back for the audience to see stacks and stacks of tasty and perfectly frosted delectables. (Not only do I use legal jargon but I also use script wording to show how versatile I am)


But like I said, it wouldn't be a weekend of orders if I didn't have another large order to follow shortly there after.

Next I present Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes, Bridal Shower style!

So a good friend of mine is getting hitched in the near future. And I was honored to be able to add to the shower festivities by bringing some fun, adorable little Mini Red Velvets.

This being a bridal shower I couldn't simply make mini cupcakes in white paper liner with some cream cheese frosting thrown on the top. I mean, if we're going to go we might as go all out! Being the go big or go home kind of chick when it comes to baking I incorporated the colors to the best of my abilities. The colors being fall colors and red being covered by the simple choice of Red Velvet, I baked the cupcakes in adorable orange and white dotted paper liners with yellow sugar sprinkled on top. I've provided a close up (well closer up than the first picture)




Yeah I don't know if you can tell all that from the pictures, but there you have it. The weekend also included baking three apple pies; two for the shower and another for my best customer, Moe.

So all in all it was a good baking weekend that ended in me eating way too many bite-size, oh so pop-able Red Velvet cupcakes.

So anyone need treats for up coming parties, showers, or Tuesday evenings?! Let me know, I'd be glad to help you out!

I surprised myself!

So over a year ago I was back in good ole Upstate New York and there was this bakery that made Red Velvet cupcakes for a little shin-dig I went to. And they were hands down the best Red Velvet cupcakes I had ever had! I mean moist, rich, soft and just plain tasty. I share this with you for one simple reason, this weekend I made Red Velvet Cupcakes that were better! And I'm not gonna lie, if my baking isn't as good as someone else's (example my Grandma) I would be the first to admit it. So I'm not lying, these cupcakes I made were AMAZING! And not only that but they were filled with cream cheese frosting. You read that right, filled! I'm providing pictures as proof:


































But I didn't stop there in the baking. (I mean, why would I?) Peaches were on sale; I couldn't stop myself and I honestly didn't want to. So I baked a peach pie. My second ever. And it was amazing. I mean I wanted to keep eating it, and for someone who has been eating pie all her life because it's the family default dessert, one piece no matter how good it is, is usually enough. Not this pie! I did good. And of course, there's a picture!


I await your orders :-D

Vampire Cupcakes! They sparkle...

...in the sun, out of the sun, on a platter, in the eyes of a happy Twilight loving youth!

So I made cupcakes for a young man's birthday and he just so happen to be a fan of Miss Alice from Twilight. So of course I had to make cupcakes that are as lovely as her in the sun. The order he received was chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting on one dozen and coconut frosting on the other dozen.




They were well received; I just forgot to take pictures of them. So I made another batch. Only this time it was vanilla cupcakes with either chocolate frosting or vanilla frosting.

These were also well received...by myself and my roommates :-D

So more proof and evidence that birthday parties, themed parties, afternoons when you crave cupcakes, etc are totally on our list of abilities.

So e-mail away and we can work out something to match what you're planning!

And remember every order is for a good cause, making two sisters' dreams come true! That's gotta be worth something!!!

Official level 5 - Business Cards!

You are seeing this right, we now have reached another official, legit level - Business cards! So now when you hear friends, family, co-workers, complete and utter strangers talking about where to get pie for an event, cookies for the family, cupcakes for a party etc etc etc you can hand them on of these handy little things!

So let me know if you want a hand full to help out us sisters and we'll be happy to provide!

*BUSINESS CARDS*

Let there be a logo!

That's right folks, you saw it here...semi-first. But I've finally got around to putting it on the blog. And by the end of the week - BUSINESS CARDS! Just in time for labor day weekend. Again, order pies, cookies, cupcakes etc for this weekend so you'll be the hero of the celebration and no one will be the wiser that you bought it! So as I leave you this evening, I will leave you to dwell on a pretty little icon for Baking Wizards!

Witness exhibit A)

Three Thumbs up!

Here you see a pie created and baked in the presence of the very monarch of perfect pie baking, aka, my Grandma Bea.

Of course you ask, who has three thumbs? Well I baked the pie and then insisted that my Grandma who has been making pies for almost too long, my dad, who has been eating pies for almost just as long, and my step mom all have a piece and grade my work. And I got approval from all three. That's big! They know what it's supposed to taste like and look like and they approved. So if you want a good pie worthy of it's creator, ORDER NOW!

On top of that, I got the recipes from my Grandma as well. I still have to look a bunch of them over, but I know there's blueberry pie, cherry pie, peach pie, banana cream and a few others. I still have to work out cost of those, but if you're not so much an apple fan, I now have many options! (woot woot!!)

SO START ORDERING!!

Cookies, cookies as far as the eye can see!

Well the cookie order has been placed and I met the challenge! And if you place your order when it arrives and you open your box of goodies, here is what you can expect!

And yes that is a half a piece of wheat bread with the cookies. It's something our momma taught us when she baked and stored cookies. It works so well that it turned ginger snaps soft! (No joke!) But there is an explanation that comes in the box.


Yes the picture is blurry, and yes I will type out what it says. Contain yourselves! (sheesh!)

"Why the wheat bread you might ask!?

Well it's not for its nutritional merit! (Though wheat bread is healthy for you!) Actually the piece of bread in your box of freshly made homemade cookies is there to keep the cookies soft and moist! Don't ask us how but it does. So enjoy your cookies knowing they're soft and preservative free!

Yours Sincerely,
Baking Wizards"

Oh! and one more thing!!! Oatmeal Raisin cookies are also on the menu!

Peaches Peaches Peaches!!

So the Cherry Pie experience inspired me to step out in faith, trust my instincts and have a go at a peach pie. My roommates were my guinea pigs, and I can quote them and speak for myself that attempt one was a success with a lesson or two learned!

So we're adding that to the order list! Apple, Cherry and now...PEACH!!!

Order away, you know you're just drooling at the thought

Fondant....cont

So as I perused the aisles of Target I saw in the Easy Bake Aisle (no joke I think the first time I've ever been down this aisle too!) and I see this interesting new little girl baking...thing. It's called Girl Gourmet and whose face is stamped on the nice large box that costs a pretty penny?! CHEF DUFF! This man is becoming an everyday Chef Gusteau or Martha Stewart, if it has to do with fancy baking, he's there. ANYWAY! I see a refill cake and fondant box from Girl Gourmet. Total the refill cost $5 to play around with small amounts of fondant. Well naturally I of course has to try this out I mean even if I mess up horribly, it'll have cost me $5.

Well! I definitely changed a few things up since I didn't have the entire system that Mr. Chef Duff was selling. Instead of the instant cake that was in the box I made brownies; a nice dense but fluffy goodness that can handle fondant. I make a cute little heart brownie cake with more coconut frosting, it looks SO good! Then I start playing around with the fondant. And P.S. adding a "small spoonful" of water is not a valid measurement, especially for fondant. After adding too much water and then adding tons more powdered sugar to the red fondant mixture I finally have something to work with. Next hitch? The brownie cake that was small to begin with turns out to be more cake than I had fondant to cover it.

Needless to say I learned a couple things:

1. Fondant is indeed just like working with play dough
2. Just because I know how to work with play dough/fondant does not mean I know how to make it pretty when I try something difficult
3. Brownies covered in coconut frosting taste AMAZING!!

So my first attempt with fondant? I think it was a success in understanding how to handle it, but complete failure in the prettiness area. Therefore? I will not be posting pictures of the cake, more than anything I just don't want it some how finding its way to cake wrecks because it was just a simple test that I think I would get a C on really. Nothing amazing but the concept was grasped.

Fancy cake...minus fondant

So this weekend also saw the first attempt at a fancy cake. I was aiming to go for broke and have a fondant finish, but I sometimes neglect to read the label of what I am purchasing (long story)

But here is the first layer of an almond cake with coconut butter cream frosting and topped with strawberries. (it's ok to drool, no one will judge)









This is the top view of the first layer












So the second layer is on and the entire thing is covered in coconut butter cream frosting. It was ready and waiting for fondant when I discovered I had bought icing and not fondant...I'm a winner...









This last photo is the cake again from a bird's eye view. And P.S. it was a really good cake! Next time, there will be fondant!!

The fourth of July has come and gone

Hopefully each you had a blessed holiday weekend and celebrated our beloved country's birthday in style. This weekend for Baking Wizards was a busy one. And looking back with 7 pies and a fancy cake down, it wasn't too bad! Of course good ole' America called for nothing less than a fair amount of apple pies that of course didn't fail to impress. But of course this post has to include news and the news is: Cherry pie!!


So here we have the a cherry pie. So pretty and I believe up to par with the apple pies. I'm still waiting for feedback from the customer. Possible next venture? Peach pie!

Just a reminder

So with the 4th of July celebrations upon us, I thought I would take time to just remind everyone that Baking Wizards does take orders for Holidays, Birthdays, Showers, Parties, Celebrations, Family Dinner, Office Moral boosting, and the list in fact goes on and on and on.

So as you run around this 4th of July wondering where a perfect apple pie can be purchased, feel free to shoot us an e-mail or give us a ring a ding ding and I'm sure something can be worked out.

Anyway Happy Birthday America! Know on your 234th birthday you don't look a day over 100, with a few modernized touches here and there.

Upcoming orders that have been place!!

Mrs. Christine is about to rock the world of some kid in Buffalo by presenting Lady Bug Cupcakes. (again you read that right) As soon as there are pictures they'll be posted to rock your world and to give you more ideas of everything you could possibly want to order from us.

Miss Laura is about to enter the world of Fondant for 2...make that 3 amazing reasons.

1. Her beautiful and lovely roommate is adding another year of wisdom to her life count
2. It's the only way to convince Momma Baking Wizard and Aunty Lisa that Baking Wizards should take the order for the August 13th wedding
3. Who wouldn't want to get into the world of fondant and show Chef Duff up once the world realizes the greatness that is "Baking Wizards"?!

So that the heads up for what pictures you can expect to see soon. We're taking orders, baking like crazy people and making the world that much more delicious. So order now!!

Red Velvet Fanciness

Pictures have surfaced of the first official order of Red Velvet Cupcakes with this CRAZY amazing cream cheese whipped frosting (you read that right!). Hurry up and place your orders before the rush, and I promise you won't be disappointed. And just to feed your curiosity, there's another picture.


*pictures provided by baker, Miss Laura*

Let there be chocolate!

The first official order of Chocolate Cupcakes on the west coast has been placed and fulfilled. Check them out!! Obviously choice of frosting is up to you, default being chocolate. Both the cakes and frosting are made from scratch. I know you're drooling as you read this, place your order and we can solve this issue of coveting delicious baked goods.

First Apple Pie Sold!

So the first apple pie has been sold (Yay!) and here's a picture of what you yourself can purchase. So tasty and so perfect. So if you live in Los Angeles, CA area and want this amazing pie start placing your orders!

The On Going Bake Sale for the Walker Sisters’ Trek to Harry Potter World

We're up and running!! Now taking orders!!!

The Walker sisters are going to Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the end of January 2011! We've been waiting since the first announcement that was made in April 2007 (You heard us right, APRIL 2007) But we poor sisters need a little help, so we’re having a bake sale! We will be offering baked goods on an on going basis until December. (Possibly continuing on, who knows!) Just let us know what you want and we’ll deliver! (Depending on the amount of orders, the turn over time can vary by a couple days to a week. If you need your order by a specific date please specify. If you want your order by a holiday please specify no later than a week before the holiday.)

Here's an idea of what we're selling:

For $7:

6 Vanilla Cupcakes, frosted
6 Chocolate Cupcakes, frosted

For $12:

Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie (Available from October through December)
1 Dozen Vanilla Cupcakes, frosted
1 Dozen chocolate cupcakes, frosted
6 Red Velvet Cupcakes, frosted
6 Pumpkin Cupcakes, frosted
4 Cupcakes on a Stick (When ordering from Christine)

For $17:

2 Dozen Chocolate Sugar Cookies
2 Dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies

For $22:
1 dozen Red Velvet Cupcakes, frosted
1 Dozen Pumpkin Cupcakes (October & November)

We do take special/custom orders. So if you're thinking about something we'll talk it over and make it happen!!