Wow!
It has really been a year already! How time flies....almost a year ago to the day was when I published my last post. That is really a sign of a bad blogger.
So whats new in a year?
I was busy baking cakes last time this year...and it seems as soon as spring comes along it is that time again...Wedding Season! This weekend I am baking a spectacular blue buttercake layered with delicious blue-berries and buttercream for a very royal blue and silver themed wedding. I
cannot wait to share pictures.
Spring!
I always love Spring! I also love fall and winter, but I mostly love the fragrant smell of the flowers blooming, the cool ocean breeze salt air, and fresh cut grass that come along in Spring. I don't love all the sneezing from the pollen that floats around, but compromise is key, right?
I also love the fact that I get to embrace in all the wedding hoop-la that Spring and Summer bring...because this past March I got engaged! After waiting for what seemed like centuries, I get to bask in the glory of other brides this season as I look for inspiration and ideas to capture a life of whimsical and beauty in my own upcoming 2012 wedding. I cannot tell you how excited I am. Ever since I was a little girl I cut out pictures of brides and weddings, and dresses only to paste them to my stark white bedroom walls (much to my father's demise as the tape over the years peeled off the paint from the wall).
I will try and share all of my great ideas as I prep and prepare and research for my dream wedding, and I hope you will follow and share ideas and maybe keep some of mine!
For now...it's back to the wedding cake! I will leave you with some of the first pictures I took of Spring from my own backyard!
Happy Spring!

Insprired by Beans

I just ate the most delicious breakfast I have had in weeks. You are probably all wondering where I went, and how much I paid so you can all go run there next weekend. But....I made it all myself. During the week I cannot pull myself out of bed early enough to make a decent breakfast so I will often just have a protein shake, an apple, a banana, or something easy enough that I can chow down in the car. This morning after quite the sleep in, so much so that my breakfast should have been called lunch, and while watching Kristy Alley's Big Life- I decided that not eating breakfast was A) not a good option and B) eating the homemade sugar cookies that were left behind by the Easter bunny will not help my cause to looking great on our upcoming trip to Vegas/Cali/San Diego.

So...amongst my condiment fridge I managed to throw together quite the breakfast. The secret to a great breakfast is not using fancy ingredients, it truly is being creative in what you put together along with an immaculate presentation. I know that when food looks better, the portions don't have to be as large...and I take longer to savor the flavours.

And now without further a due, and with much inspiration pulled from C's blogsite The Road to Health I just had to photograph my food journey this morning.
I started with some frozen blueberries stored in the freezer. Organic and from a co-workers farm last year, their little blue heads peeked out at me as plump and delicious. They needed a little livening so I tossed them in the microwave to defrost and added a dallop of crushed pineapple which I had leftover from baking. To that I added some plain eating right yogurt and still not satisfied I tossed on a handful of bee pollen. Bee pollen I discovered last year in an naturalist attempt to curb my spring-time hay fever, summer allergies. To that what bowl of deliciousness is not complete without a drizzle of honey and a shake of cinnamon to sweeten the deal . Yum....this first course to my 'breakfast' was amazing!


As my creativity started to turn in the kitchen I knew my breakfast would not be complete without some hearty protein. So I grabbed a weight watchers English muffin ( they are whole wheat and portion sized) and let the microwave bring my carb friend to life. I then grabbed my favouite egg poacher- the poach pod, to whip myself up a healthy mc kelly's muffin. I added some fresh arugula and a Kraft singles slice with a sprinkle of paprika and s&p and Voila!~


The most delicious breakfast all week.
Made for free.
Eaten in comfort.
No added crap included.


and to top off the home dining experience, enjoyed with a tall wine glass filled with chilled juice.

Suberbe!

Cheers~

Sweet as Pie

Let me just say it's been a very busy month!
Between birthday, work, and preparing for Easter baking I have had little time to myself.

I did however successfully complete my first wedding cake, a gourmet birthday cake, and some spring cupcakes for our family's Easter dinner pot-luck. For those people that don't understand why bakery's charge thousands of dollars for wedding cakes....well let me tell you! Designing a masterpiece is no piece of cake; especially if you are tackling it on your own. Don't get me wrong, I do love to bake...and after I had stressed myself out all turned out well.

I also need to pay gratitude to a great friend who came to the rescue and used her amazing baking skills to help me meet my deadline during power-outages, car accidents, and getting up at the crack of dawn to help me maintain my sanity. Thanks Lamb.

After the wedding cakes were delivered and gone it was time to treat ourselves to some delicious Noodle Box! If you have not tried Noodle Box on 4th DT you MUST go. This little noodle restaurant was started in Victoria and only in the last two years opened shop in Vancouver. They make your curry noodle dish very mild to screaming hot and add delicious toppings for an unforgettable noodle dish. I wish I had a photo...but you will have to go and see for yourself.

So.....as it has been my first opportunity to spend some relaxing time on my "friday" night I will leave you with some pictures of my baking creations as I reach for my glass of merlot.

On a side note....my gf's and I had some fun creating a "breakfast in bed" dish for our friend Quatchi after a long day of baking. His delectabe meal was made with leftover fondant and sugar paste...all edible- if only Quatchi could digest things properly.

Enjoy the weekend!
~Cheers
Kelly in the Deli

This is the first wedding Cake I have made. It's covered in crusting buttercream and decorated with fondant flowers.

This cake, Chocolate and Vanilla layers with buttercream and chocolate ganache was made for Britt's 17th birthday!

Quatchi enjoying his Green Egg and Ham-bacon along with S&P Hashbrowns and buttered toast! MMmm

Thrusday Treats

I love to bake. I hope you already know that.
Today is also scrapbook Thursday and I can't wait to go!

Having been so busy with life and the Olympics I have neglected two passions of mine. Baking and spending time at Amanda's Stampin' Up classes- Scrapbooking and Card Class. So today I get to indulge in both!

For the special occasion I decided to use what I had and whip up some delicious cupcakes! I must say for a first time recipe they turned out fantastic!!! I will let you know how they get reviewed after class tonight!

So....I leave you with these mouth watering photos of my latest baking creation: Butter Pecan Cupcakes topped with Buttercream frosting and a Chocolate Brandy Ganache!

Enjoy~

Breaking up is never Easy

Wow!

Go Canada Go!

You have made me very proud these past two weeks. We have come together, shared our spirit and showed that WE Believe!

I am very sad that you have come and gone so fast. I was a little weary of the relationship that I was going to be entering into before you arrived, and then you came and blew my mind! I really wish that you could have stayed longer. You ignited my internal flame of Canadian pride and even though I still have hopes that you could stay longer I will forever cherish our relationship that set Golden on the skies of Vancouver this evening.

Although you may have taken the fire with you, the flame you have ignited in my heart will forever be unchanged.



Go Canada Go!

Congratulations to all athletes, volunteers, sponsors, friends and Canadians alike who helped to make this one event I will never forget!

2010 You have high expectations to live up to!
Bring it On!

I ♥ Cakes and Canada!

Let it be known...I LOVE CAKES....Just as much as I love Canada!!!

Four days off seems to fly by when you are having fun!!
And what more fun could a girl ask for when she gets to spend a weekend in her Canadian gear wandering the streets in the golden sunshine! Gold, because Canada now has their first ever 3 gold medals on Canadian soil! Pretty Cool if you ask me!

Acutally the feeling of nationalism is so thick you go downtown and it's hard not to catch our Canadian Fever. Scrap all the H1N1 talk, we Canadians have a fever that can't be cured! There have been flash mob's dancing down at Robson Square, people everywhere suddenly bursting into song and dance to O'Canada! And of course, Red Mittens, Hi 5's and Free Hugs at each street corner! I love where I live!

Last night I also got to experience my first Japadog! What is a Japadog?? Well if you have not heard its the latest and greatest hotdog! You can get a beef edamame dog, or a kobe beef dog, all topped with great toppings straight out of your local japanese restraunt. Last night I induldged in a Spicy Terimayo Cheese Japadog! The watering of my mouth after the first bite was well worth the wait,..and the chance to share some of my wassabi peas with my two new found friends also waiting in line for their first Japadog!


To finish off by busy four days off I am proud to say I completed my very first two official cake orders! I was definatley a little nervous to be making cakes for two very special occasions, but in the end they both worked out and look fantastic! I hope the birthday boy and girl will love their cakes this weekend!


So....off I go! Time to get ready to once again head on on our public transit system to go and see our first Official Olympic event of 2010. Pairs Ice Dancing! It's going to be great!!

Cheers~ to a weekend, taken during the week!

Positively Canadian

With all eyes on BC and Canada it can be difficult not to get wrapped up in some not so positive news surrounding the 2010 Olympics.
There have been protesters with posters, fatal practice runs, and technical difficulties seen upon a backdrop of mild temperate weather that still eludes us (last year we were in snow-survival mode this time wondering how we would make it up the road and out of the cul-de-sac just to get to work).



But I am taking stand! Today as a proud Canadian I am taking a stand to eat, breathe and speak only the positive aspects of the 2010 Olympics! This is a time in my life that I will never forget, so why not make it the happiest time! Protesters and negative news stories you will not get my spirits down! Keep your negativity away from my shield of roses! For these two weeks will no doubt be amazing, so let it be my duty to all my fellow Canadians, and the world to show you a truly positive Canadian Olympics!



Join me as we cheer for all past torch bearers who brought the communities surrounding us together if only for a brief moment to cheer on the flame. Feel warm and fuzzy when you see our furry mascot friends, who don't speak our language but can unite any 2010 Vancouverite with the sound of a cowbell ringing around their neck. Be polite, and offer to take a picture for your fellow photographer...because we all love pictures we can be in together. Last but not least SMILE as you smell the scent of spring in the air! It is not every year the world gets to come to your backyard to cheer on athletes, family and friends alike.




As my mom used to tell me "Smile and the World Smiles with you, Frown and you Frown alone!"

Go Canada Go!
(for Gold of course)