Thanks for a happy Fourth of July celebration Debbie and Sy.
So close, colorful and loud!
Tag: cake
Unexpected Spectacular Delight
Look what my daughter-in-law Nataliya found FREE on FB Marketplace Sunday afternoon. Yes, she was browsing through marketplace while she’s in Mexico thousands of miles away from Pittsburgh. Actually (2,893 miles)
Nataliya texted me and alerted me to this fabulous FREE cake being offered and I drove less than a mile to pick it up!
What a lovely pastry chef Marla Mae and her husband Logan who carried it out in a large white box with a window to peer in. Oh my!!!
They brought it out to my car.
Wait.
Let’s get it out of the car and take some pictures!!!
An impromptu party was about to take place.
Drove over to the neighborhood and pulled up to the curb just as my friend Barb was about get into her friend Sonia’s car. I yelled across the street-Baaaarb!!.
Barb and Sonia then changed their plans from going to the movies to see The Sheep Detectives and instead we all went inside Barb’s house.
Barb and Sonia got on their phones and invited a few friends and neighbors to come for a surprise cake tasting. One by one, everyone ooohed and ahhed when they arrived and saw what a fabulous cake awaited tasting!
Here’s a YouTube video of everyone’s responses to the gorgeous cake.
It was so generous that everyone got to take a piece home, too. There were raspberries and fresh strawberries and real pink roses and “The cakesicles are basically just cake pops with a chocolate shell” and raspberry macarons. Chocolate dipped strawberries decorated the numerals. Chocolate cake with raspberry preserves, buttercream. Delicious!
Here’s Marla Maes website.
If you live in Pittsburgh area and need a special cake……
Fruitcake by Candlelight
My friends Linda and Eileen baked a delicious fruitcake and shipped it before Christmas. I guarded it carefully and was waiting for my sister to arrive for a visit. She arrived on the train from NYC Tuesday night. Tonight I unwrapped the liquor soaked muslin and sliced it by candlelight. We each ate a piece, savoring the fruits and nuts that were perfectly delicious.
Do you like fruitcake? Not everyone does. We enjoy it immensely. Thank you Linda and Eileen. Voted Best Fruitcake in the USA!
I baked a Prune Cake
https://youtube.com/shorts/4PVkPXHh-_I?si=dt1lNziF1eVn3X4V
Here’s the Prune cake recipe
I haven’t baked a prune cake in years. I don’t use the 1cup of vegetable oil called for in the recipe but substituted 1stick of unsalted butter and 1/2c applesauce instead. I used 1c of sugar.
And I didn’t add the frosting called for as it’s incredibly sweet, too. I put chopped pecans in one layer and omitted nuts from the second layer.
I bought the prunes from nuts.com thanks Kristin for recommending them
Nine Years Ago- Orange Olive Oil Cake
From 9 years ago
Did some research for a Portuguese dessert and this cake came up in two places. Recipe for Orange-Olive Oil Cake. “This Portuguese orange olive oil cakehas an unforgettably tender crumb and a citrus smack thanks to fruity olive oil, winter navel oranges, and orange zest.”
I went across the Allegheny River to Labriola’s and bought a new Zoe Olive Oil as recommended in the recipe. Fresh eggs. And five navel oranges were five dollars at Whole You-Know-What.
Zested three oranges and squeezed four to get 1 1/2 c of juice.
Used a tube pan as I did not have a light colored bundt pan. Baked it 1 1/4 hours.
Make it at least a day before serving. I did.
Will let you know what the verdict is after Friday night dessert. I usually don’t make a new recipe to share, untested.
January 8 2025- it was absolutely delicious I need to bake it again
I put it on a glass cake stand after it cooled.
Baked by a Friend
What a lovely gift I received today. A homemade almond cake, baked by a dear friend.
Look at the handmade bird ornament with sparkly sequins all hand stitched –
I love almonds and almond cake.
But I need to share with some company so good thing my sister is coming soon.
Thank you Tookie❤️
Holiday Cakes in a Bakery Window
Cookie Cutters
Make a Cake Pittsburgh.
99 Rochester Road.
A supply store for cake and candy making. You should see all the possible colors of sprinkles for sale.
There are hundreds of cookie cutters to choose from.
Been there a couple of times recently for birthday cupcake supplies.
He’s headed to Saint Louis University
Frozen Wind Cake Vincek Bakery
Frozen Wind Cake from Vincek Bakery in Zagreb. Almost every visit I’ve indulged in this treat. The box with six pieces was shared with the family, not just myself.
A Croatian speciality Icy Wind Cake
My 2015 visit photo Frozen Wind/Icy Wind on the left (and a recipe for icy wind cake I found for it online)
I’m Going to Bake a Cake
Reblogged: 1-2-3-4 CAKE RECIPE
HAPPY DAY OR 1-2-3-4 CAKE?
IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE BLOG SINCE THE BEGINNING, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE PHOTOS AND RECIPES.ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I’VE POSTED OUR “GO TO” BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPES.
MY SISTER GOT ME THE ONE SWAN’S DOWN VINTAGE CAKE PAN IN OMAK, WASHINGTON WHEN WERE VISITING OUR BROTHER ONE SUMMER.
I DID MAIL A BIRTHDAY CARD TO MY SISTER. (UNUSUAL FOR ME THAT IT WASN’T BELATED)
IN MY FAMILY, WE’D TRY TO GET IT IN THE OCTAVE,AS MY MOM WOULD CALL IT. ENJOY YOUR DAY!
HAPPY DAY CAKE RECIPE-
For Birthdays it was the 1-2-3-4 Cake recipe or the Happy Day Cake recipe on the back of the Swan’s Down Cake Flour box, frosted with Penuche icing. My mother would put the saucepan into a sink of cold water and then beat it by hand once it cooled. I can hear the ring of the metal loop at the end of the pan’s handle. And as I remember it she added a dash of vanilla extract. My dad would pour milk over a slice and eat it with a spoon. Cake and frosting recipes below photo.
Happy Day Cake
2½ cups sifted cake flour
1½ cups sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
Sift flour with sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir shortening to soften. Add flour mixture, ¾ cup of the milk and vanilla. Mix until all flour is dampened, then beat two minutes at medium speed. Add eggs and remaining ¼ cup milk. Beat one minute longer. Pour into two 9-inch layer pans that have been lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans; remove from pans and cool thoroughly on racks.
This cake also may be baked in three 8-inch layer pans for 25 to 35 minutes, or in a 13- by 9-inch pan for 30 to 35 minutes. Batter may be spooned into 36 medium paper baking cups in muffin pans, filling half full. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
Penuche Frosting Butter is Key
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar, more or less
- hot water, optional
PREPARATION:
In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Add the brown sugar. Bring to a boil and lower heat to medium low and continue to boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually add sifted confectioners’ sugar. Beat until thick enough to spread. If too thick, add a little hot water. Frosts top and sides of a 2-layer cake or a 13×9-inch cake.
————————————–