Happy Birthday Emma!

Last weekend, a birthday cake was made for a very special 9 year old. Her name is Emma Suzanne McDermott. You would look at her, and say, what makes her so special? Well, the fact that last year, we were not sure that her 9th birthday would even occur.

About 2 weeks before my wedding (married on 10/31/09), I received a call stating that Emma had been taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital. The squad had just beaten me to the ER. When they took me back, I could not believe my eyes. This tiny creature had been hooked up to every machine imaginable. We told her how brave she was, and that we were going to take her out for ice cream after the doctors looked her over. We told her how beautiful she was going to look as a flower girl in my wedding. Then the anesthesia kicked in and she was out. I would not hear her voice for a few weeks. Then various organs started shutting down. They put her on dialysis. We were told she wold be there for a while. The doctor sat us all down and said it would be a tough battle. She had an unknown infection and H1N1. He went on to say that as tough as it would be, as long as her brain was still communicating with the medical team, they could fix her, she would get thru this. Even with this, we still had that lingering voice in the back of all our heads. What if the unthinkable happened? We were told not to think this way, but it was pretty hard not to let that thought wander in that first week.  She was in PICU a few more weeks.

Then, she woke up....she was home before Christmas. What can I say, she was determined to see Santa.

Fast forward to last week. She was turning 9. She is a typical girl, and she is obsessed with Pokemon. So I made her this...

Chocolate cake with nutella buttercream. It was delightful, as was her party. That little girl means a lot to me. I will never let her forget that.
















Happy Birthday my love. Remember, as you get older, I hug harder.

It's been a while...

Oh my it has been a few weeks!

We have been keeping as busy as possible over here at i love cake. But, not busy enough to appreciate the beautiful weather here in Central Ohio. Although it has been pretty hot over the last few months (like, Texas hot), and over the last week it has cooled down so much, we could turn off the A/C. I think I see the leaves starting to change (*wishful thinking*). Fall is most assuredly on its way! I wanted to finally post the pictures of the cupcakes I made for Jake's birthday...I was told the birthday boy scarfed these down leaving nothing in his wake...could not have asked for a better compliment!

2 dzn cupcakes were made. Half were vanilla and the other half were lemon. All were covered with Swiss Meriunge Buttercream.

Thanks again Mandy and fam. 

Happy Birthday Jake!

On Sunday I delivered cupcakes for a very special Birthday Boy! Jake is the son of my wedding florist, Mandy. She is one of the most bubbly people I know. She is immensely talented and is very passionate about what she does. If you want to check out her work, head on over to Manor House Flowers, you will not be sorry!

Jake had a Dr Seuss theme birthday party. I wish I would have taken a picture of his play room. Horton, the Lorax, Blue Fish, Sam I Am...the list goes on and on. All painted around his room. It is just wonderful!!

Now on to the food (which I have no pictures of due to the fact that I baked at my parents house and forgot my camera Do'h!) I made 2 dozen cupcakes. 12 lemon, 12 vanilla, all with Swiss Meringue Buttercream (which I have to say, Martha Stewart screwed me again!! More on that in a later post). The buttercream was colored sky blue, red and some remained white. They were sprinkled with colorful disk sprinkles (who does not like sprinkles?!?). I tried a new lemon emulsion instead of extract for the lemon ones, I thought it was pretty tasty! I will have to wait for the official interpretation from Jakes parents.

Thank you Jake (and family!), I loved making the cupcakes and I hope you enjoyed eating them...or smashing them into your face...whichever came first!

I will have pictures as soon as I snag my parents camera and download them.

Happy Birthday Mark!

Yesterday I made the birthday cake for my good friend Bernie's husband, Mark. When I asked her what he liked the best, she said, Beer. Thus, I give you the keg. This was my first foray, if you will, into what I call imitation cakes. Cakes that are made to look like something else other than cake. I think it is a good first effort, and I learned some things from this cake.

It is 3 layers of Mexican Vanilla Bean cake with custard filling and chocolate buttercream (Bernie can really pick good flavors!) all is covered and decorated in homemade fondant. I have been tinkering with some new buttercream recipes, and i think I hit on a good one with this cake. I will have to wait to the final verdict from Bernie and Mark's 3 boys.


Thank you guys for letting me make this cake for you guys. I really hope you liked it!!