Saturday, January 31, 2009

A Delicious Break

Now, I'm no cook. In fact, I'm not a baker, either! Aside from the beautiful cheese cups Isa suggested I make for our Amuse Bouche Christmas House tour ... I pretty much stay out of our kitchen. But last week, during a midnight episode of something conducted by Martha Stewart, I watched a (professional) cake decorator make petit fores.

How hard could that be, I thought. So today, with $24.67 of groceries in hand, I started on what would become a delicious break from the stress of putting together my ground floor rooms.


I started with a 12x8 cake pan, and a Duncan Hines box of double chocolate fudge cake. Mmm, yes, I know! :) Then I measured out perfect portions (about 1x1) - yes, perfect and about - in the same sentence. Perhaps they were "nearly" perfect.

The small pieces of delicious, moist cake were placed on a cooling rack atop a second cake pan to catch the icing I would pour over them.

The first batch got a generous (actually a few generous) coatings of milk chocolate frosting. The second got the french vanilla.

Here I sat, 20 cake bites frosted, 18 more still to frost. Of course, I couldn't leave them like they were - so I started to embellish.

(Toppings pictured on the top plate from left to right: A Granny Smith Apple cooked in maple syrup and cinnamon, topped with caramel icing and a dollop of apple zest; A ripe raspberry and almond slices with a tequila dipped lemon wedge; Double Chocolate with raspberry, almond, and coconut almond icing; Chocolate Icing with vanilla icing dyed a gorgeous robins egg blue, topped with York Peppermint Pattie slivers and lemon zest netting.)

I have to say, they're delicious! And for the first time decorating cake(bites), I think I did a pretty good job! Tomorrow I move onto the vanilla cake, which I'll cut into rounds with my new Biscuit Cutters! I think I'll take more of these delicious breaks, and please - feel free to help yourself (the apple caramel are my favorite!). Happy Saturday!

25 comments:

  1. I love this idea! Can't you just imagine making them for Valentines? You can't say you're no baker!!

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  2. You did GREAT!!
    PT is looking at them as we speak, er type, and says, "FAX" ... now, please.
    You need to get in the kitchen more often, Artikins. You're a natural!
    xo Isa

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  3. Oh YUM! Artie, I beg to differ with you... You most certainly ARE A BAKER! They look sooo delicious! Okay, don't forget to take pictures of the vanilla ones too! ♥ Diane

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  4. I love your ideas for decorations! I want to know what recipe you used for the chocolate, please. I haven't made a good chocolate petit four yet and I want to!

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  5. And by chocolate I mean the icing. :-)

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  6. Those look so yummy!! I think you found a new hobby:)

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  7. The caramel apple sounds like a yummy touch! Very good Artie! ~ Robyn

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  8. Ooohhh these look fabulous! You did good Artie. You're a natural - you bake AND decorate!! Way to go - I'm enjoying the one topped with the York Peppermint Pattie slivers and then I must try the tequila dipped lemon wedge.

    Thank you for sharing,
    Kathleen

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  9. ~WOW~ They look good!
    And really pretty too! :)

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  10. I think those look amazing! There is no doubt that they taste delicious either....with all the yummy frosting :-)

    You are quite talented!!

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  11. look delicious and what a fun project to do with a few kids...thanks vickydarnell

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  12. Yum, They look beautiful and delicious! I am looking forward to hosting a tea party for Mother's Day..think I will try my hand at these little gems!

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  13. Your ambition paid off- they look great and so cute! I love the blue icing. Will have to try this sometime!

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  14. Oh yum, they look delicious AND pretty! You did a great job, Artie. Okay honestly... how many are left this morning?

    Justine :o )

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  15. Hi Artie...I hate to be a glutton, but you made these look soooo good, I'd have to have one of each!
    ;-) Bo

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  16. Yum! They look and sound delicious, Artie.

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  17. Apple caramel would get my top vote too ... I have a wedding shower to do something for in the upcoming months and now I know just what I will do! Thanks.

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  18. Artiness, who are you fooling? You're a baker, dearie, and these little cakes look marvelous! How creative you were with the toppings! Yum, I'll have just one, no, maybe a couple! ;)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  19. They look great! You are very creative .

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  20. How pretty and I bet they were yummy too! Good job, Artie! Now you can't say you're not a baker anymore...Christine

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  21. GREAT BALLS OF FIRE, ARTIE...these look so good I am licking my computer screen!! You never, EVER cease to amaze me, fella !!hugs bj

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  22. Oh wow! I've *never* attempted to make these. They turned out wonderfully. Thanks for your comment - I hope the hanging hearts worked out for you. :)

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  23. Being someone who actually really can't bake, I am so impressed!
    Beautiful and yummy.

    xo
    Brooke

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  24. These look DECADENT! I'm sure they taste it too. You can't go wrong with chocolate!

    I'm going to be posting a (simple) tutorial on Napoleons with mascarpone filling, topped with strawberries with a drizzle of choc hazelnut!
    I'll let you know when I do.

    Sweet Wishes,
    Sara

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