Candy/Gumball Machine Giant Cupcake

I love YouTube and I love My Cupcake Addictions (I forget her name), but this was inspired by her video and I HAD to try it! She used gumballs which seems to not exist where I am, so I substituted with M&M's! The base is a German's Chocolate Cake, and the outer part is Wilton's red candy melts, melted and placed in the base of my giant cupcake mold to obtain the baking cup (aka cupcake liner) shape. The remainder of the decor (except the jar & ribbon) was made out of fondant, and I airbrushed the cake circle red. 

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

I made these for a vendor show that I participated in and had soooo much stuff left over (angry face)! But anyway the folks @ work loved the leftovers (happy face). This wasn't all of the designs I made, as I did distribute some at the show. The pretzels that are sprinkled have either almonds, sprinkles or graham crackers (just incase you're wondering).

I Have AWESOME Buttercream

I finally received and used my CK high ratio shortening....it's awwweeesooommmeee! Check it out...

It's so fluffy, creamy, and smooth looking! It taste better than using regular vegetable shortening, but I still dislike the taste of buttercream...lol!

Cupcakes!!!

Someone I know wanted me to make cupcakes for their birthday. The request was for a dozen, 6 chocolate and 6 vanilla. The vanilla was to be this glittery purple and I'm so against putting anything that's not edible on pastries so I had to improvise. And the chocolate was my scotch-whiskey cupcakes. I'm going to post a pic of my cupcakes and then the one I attempted to duplicate. 

My design

What I tried to duplicate 

My scotch-whiskey cupcakes 

All Butter Buttercream?!?!

I'm a researcher, that is probably why I use to be, and loved being an Anaylst until I got laid off in June 2012. Forever now I've noticed that my buttercream looks...slightly grainy? Not beat well? Not enough liquid? Regardless of what it was I knew it wasn't my fault. I remember reading about high ratio shortening but never took time to really understand what it was. But yesterday I did, I read and I understood. And I made the decision to purchase a $25 container of CK high ratio shortening. In simple terms, regular vegetable shortening has no trans fats and another word that begins with the letter "E". And guess what, that's what buttercream needs to be smooth, creamy, fluffy and awesome. Yesterday I baked a cake for someone and used only butter in the buttercream. The pic will show the shininess from the butter, it was still a little warm in my place from the oven but the cake was completely cooled. Either way I enjoyed the creaminess and will stop using vegetable shortening until I get the one that I ordered. But I'll have to wait until my place has completely cooled down before decorating. My roses look a little tired...lol. 

It's been a long time coming...

I was looking for some information on my flash drive and noticed that I had a document saved under the name Pastry Business, dated May 2011. I paused and said to myself, wow! Have I really been trying to start my pastry business for that long? I had no idea! Well I knew, but it's different when you actually see a date. It's been about 4 years, as I'm sure I was trying before May. Well all in all, through God, faith and persistence, it's finally happening, I'm on my way to fulfilling my dream! I'm so thankful to God for everything, without God none of this would be possible.

Guess What?!?!?!

I HAVE A LOGO!

Well enough said, check it out on my website at www.tastypastriesshop.com

And a big thanks to Anita at Anita's Designs & Events (www.anitasdesigns-events.com) for designing the perfect logo for me!