If it comes from Italy, it must be good!

This week's project is based on the rich and delicious Tiramisu [tirameˈsu], which translates into "pick me up"... {apparently}...  Even though this is a delicious and indulgent confection on its original version, I kind of wanted to give it a twist, and make my very own version of it.  That's why I chose to cake it... that's right... CAKE IT!, because I truly believe that anything caked must be good, right? So, instead of the traditional savoiardi, I used a very moist vanilla cake; and to keep the mascarpone factor, I filled the layers of the cake with mascarpone frosting, topped with some chocolate shavings...

There are two reasons why I chose to make this Italian inspired cake.  One is that we will be celebrating my good friend's birthday, that is the cake part; and as for the Italian part of this project, it is inspired by my friend Giuliana who is leaving Switzerland to start a new life in another country, and who happens to be a true Italian {you know, the kind that always welcomes you at her home with a freshly made cup of good coffee ...grazie mille Giuli!!!..., and has homemade "salsa di pomodoro" in her fridge...}

Have a sweet week everyone!!!

As I said before, I used a traditional vanilla cake recipe, and soaked it in espresso syrup, so I would get that coffee flavour that identifies my muse.. I mean, the tiramisu... 

So, this one goes to you two, Giuli and Sole!!!... LET THE PARTY START!!!

One cookie, two cookies... thirty cookies!... and a Cake!

As a mother of two boys, I should have known that the time would come to work on this kind of project.  Let me explain a bit more...
Manuel, my 5-year-old, has been for some time now, quite "obsessed" with everything Star Wars... but I mean EVERYTHING!  So, as his birthday approached, I had the sinking feeling that his ultimate request for his birthday cake would be... yeap... you got it... Star Wars!
That makes this week's experience kind of "extraterrestrial"... Never, ever, would I have imagined that someday I would have to make precisely these theme cookies and cake. 
Well, the time to venture myself in this intergalactic experience has come, and I must say that I AM TERRIFIED!, because believe me, having to draw the face of this famous dark lord in not one but thirty cookies sounds quite daunting... May the force be with me! 

These little ones are ready to be baked!

This is the final product... my son was over the moon with these sweeties!

There were two birthday boys... my happy son is the one wearing the navy blue t-shirt, and of course, the cake is wearing black!

Happy birthday my sweet boy!!!... I'll love you 4ever!!!

Meeting Peggy Porschen

Some months ago, I got to attend one of Peggy Porschen's Masterclasses, and I had such a great time.  We were 6 people in this beautiful, comfortable and fully equiped kitchen, eager to learn Peggy's best kept secrets to make gorgeous wedding cakes.  I must say that we ended up with much more than that, beacause it was really enlightening to be working with one of the most prestigiuos cake designers ever, and get her input and advises on being succesful in this business.  There are some pictures I would like to share with you guys, enjoy 'em! 

This picture was mandatory for me.  Am I really at Peggy Porschen Parlour????... Dream come true right there!!!... of course, my kids were more interested to see what the next stop was going to be...

...the masking part... tricky, but once I got the hang of it, it really became quite easy.

Marzipan... like, really???... Marzipan + fondant???... I thought this combination would end up too sweet, but it
shocked me to discover that the marzipan really balances the sweetness of the rolled fondant... So, welcome marzipan!!!

Time for a break!!!... these little babies were waiting for us everyday along with a warm cup of tea... =D

Fondant... Checked!

...cakes, waiting to be stacked...

Peggy showing us the best way to get the dowels perfectly arranged and give good support to the cake.

Stacked already

I had to have this picture taken, I mean, she is an icon in the Cake Designing world, right???

Sugar flowers... now this was the real deal!... you need to make like a billion until you really get them to look
like actual flowers... there I am, making my good share of these sugar babes... 

Time to have fun!!!

Say Cheese!!!

Wedding Cake Decoration Masterclass... DONE!

Have a sweet day,

Hello blog!!!

Hey there!, I have been flirting with the idea of having my own blog for a while now, where I could share my baking stories, and let you guys enter my little world.  I surfed the web tirelessly looking for blogs to get ideas and some inspiration as well, but I didn't quite decide how I wanted my blog to look like.  Then I found a terrific blog designer, and it finally happened... I got the blog of my dreams!!! I must say that Michelle, from Shabby Creations , understood perfectly what I wanted, and almost read my mind.  As a result, I got this beautiful and super cute blog, and now I get to work on the fun part: WRITTING!

Have a sweet day!