17 ideas to use up leftover Halloween Pumpkin Jack O’lanterns

Leftover Jack O'Lanterns

Happy Halloween everyone!  Halloween has always been my favorite holiday… why?  I think it had something to do with all the candy!  I also like the fun surrounding it – being creative with pumpkins, and coming up with new treats to use up the leftovers.  Pumpkin is food, and I don’t like to waste it! [...]

Decorated Cupcakes ideas for a Baby Shower: Fondant flowers and Baby Pea in a Pod

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This past weekend, I made cupcakes for my sister-in-law’s baby shower.   I wanted to make something really special for them… and when my sister-in-law requested cupcakes, I figured I would try using fondant to make some cute decorations.  On pinterest, I saw a cute idea for “baby in a pea pod” cupcakes… and thought [...]

Baking 101: The basics of baking (Tips for successful baking)

Baking 101:  Tips for successful baking

When I was learning how to bake, I made A LOT of mistakes.  Neither of my parents had ever baked anything… and I had no one to show me the right way to do things.  So I just did things… a lot… over and over until I got it right.  In the process, I have [...]

Hello Kitty Cake (how to make frosting transfers for easy cake decoration)

A Frosting Transfer of a Hello Kitty image decorates the top of this chocolate peanut butter cake

Cake decorating is always a challenge for me – but I manage to do it even though I have no clue what I’m doing!  To turn out professional looking decorated cakes (with minimal effort and skill) I highly recommend investing in a few jumbo sized star tips (the small ones that come in decorating sets [...]

How to make Fondant Roses, Flowers, and Royal Icing (to decorate cakes, cupcakes, and cookies)

Fondant Roses

I’m always looking for ways to make my food look appealing and visually enticing.  What is the saying?  We eat with our eyes first?  That’s so true… when food is carefully plated, or intricately decorated… I think our brains trick us into thinking the food is better or more special than if it was just [...]