Feelin' OWLY!

I have a list about a MILE LONG of Cake Pops that I want to try. It just seems that I always have more IDEAS than TIME though. So, unless I have an order or special request for a new pop, it can take me awhile to get around to the ones I want to try.

That's why I was SO super excited to get an order for some OWL Cake Pops! I originally saw some in Bakerella's Cake Pops book, and have seen several variations by other FABULOUS poppers online. I LOVE the Cake Pop Community....I find SO much inspiration from my fellow Cake Pop enthusiasts!

So...any-WHO....this is my take on Owl Cake Pops!

The pops were inspired by this ADORABLE invitation designed by Tori Wild, owner of Wild Photography by Tori. Tori designed the invites for her daughter Gabby's Birthday Party and contacted me for treats! I absolutely ADORE the colors she used...and the owl was just TOO cute...not to mention her sweet Gabby!

Finally...I have a little question for you all...my FOLLOWERS! ;)

I love sharing my pop photos with you all...but what do you think about more tutorials? Once you have the basic pop technique down, you can create SO many different designs with slight modifications. Do you all WANT to see the step-by-step instructions...or maybe just a listing of specific ingredients/decorations used?

I WANT to give you what you WANT! LOL! Just thought it was worth asking ;)

Happy Baking!

Audrey

Ahhhh...Fall weddings....

I LOVE that Fall has become such a popular time of year for weddings. Nothing beats a sunny, crisp, Fall day to celebrate and be surrounded by those you love ;)

I had TWO wedding deliveries today. I was lame and forgot my camera at my first drop off...so I'll just have to tell you about it - LOL! I made about 10 cakes-worth of Cake Balls and Pops....Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Caramel Butter Pecan, Oreo Crush, Caramel Apple and, my personal FAVORITE, Pumpkin Spice! I was rollin' and dippin' for the better part of a week working on this order...they turned out GREAT! Hopefully the bride will share photos when she gets them...the reception hall looked AMAZING!

My second delivery of the day included yummy gourmet cupcakes and a small wedding cake for the bridal party. Let me say here...since I get asked A LOT...I don't really DO wedding cakes....I don't consider myself a cake decorator by any means. That being said, a few brides I've met with have really been diggin' on the cake I made for my daughter's 1st Birthday party (you can see the full party post HERE). So...I agreed to give it another GO, and recreate it on a limited basis ;)

This is the thing...cakes STRESS ME OUT! It's one thing to try a fun cake for your family and friends...but for paying customers...well that's another story - LOL! Cake decorating is truly an ART FORM. I would love to have some formal training...but at this point based on my already limited time...I'll stick to online tutorials and tips from fellow bakers (like the one here from i am baker, which was the original inspiration for Harper's Birthday Cake).

Anyways...long story LONG...here are a few pictures of today's yummies...I wish I had taken a picture of the entire dessert table when I DID have my camera...but for some reason I always focus on getting close-ups of the deliciousness ;)

~Audrey

Monkey Business

I know this may shock some of you...but I REALLY did think that becoming a stay-at-home-mommy would give me a little more time in the day for my baking adventures. I don't work on orders when the kids are up and at-it, but I thought that I'd manage to crank out a lot out during naptime...at least.

Feel free to laugh in my general direction...I deserve it.

I've just been SO incredibly busy lately, the good kind of busy....busy playing with the kids, chasing them around, making meals and snacks and going on adventures. I've also had an INSANE baking roster that seems to fill up every spare minute of time....when the kids are napping or in bed for the night. For this I am obviously BEYOND GRATEFUL!

It seriously bums me out (and STRESSES me out) that I haven't been posting regularly. I hope you all will stick with me and stay tuned. At this point, it's going to be scattered at best. It seems as soon as I finish an order I'm packing it up and sending it out the door....no time to photograph, document and post about it! People ask me constantly where I find time to do everything...well...I don't. If we compared the list of things I DON'Tget done next to the list of things I DO...well, let's just say I wouldn't be winning any awards here people!

So that's my disclaimer...and I don't want to have to start every future post with a guilt-ridden apology about why I haven't been posting...so consider this my lame blanket statement - LOL!

The REAL reason for this post...today I'm sharing my most recent Cake Pop creation! They'll be heading out of state for a baby shower this weekend and I was determined to get pictures...so BEHOLD...my take on SOCK MONKEY CAKE POPS!

Now I've got to get back to business!
Happy Baking everyone!
~Audrey

 

Movin' & A-Shakin'

When I started Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats last year, I had no way of knowing what to expect. I truly didn't know if I'd even have enough orders to keep me busy. Either way, I thought it would at least give me an excuse to get in the kitchen more often, to try recipes and techniques I'd been wanting to for a long time! This venture has become SO much more than that!

The absolute BIGGEST (and BEST) surprise for me has been meeting SO many amazing people! Through my blog, my FB page, through referrals, emails...you name it...the support and following I have never ceases to AMAZE me! I appreciate EACH ONE OF YOU!

I know that not everyone wants to order cupcakes 1 dozen at a time ;) I have a couple of things in-the-works that I'm hoping will give those of you who have followed my baking online a chance to sample some of my deliciousness!

So here's what I've got cookin!

Downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers' Market: 9/3

I'll have a Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats booth set-up at the Cedar Rapids Downtown District's Farmers' Market THIS Saturday, September 3rd! My booth (#68) is very close to the corner of 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue.

I plan on offering individual Cupcakes and Cake Pops...flavors to-be-decided! But I will reveal one flavor: FRENCH TOAST CUPCAKES! The newest flavor in my cupcake line-up will be making a GRAND DEBUT at the Farmer's Market this weekend! I developed this recipe with the Market in-mind. I wanted something fun and breakfasty since the early birds arrive to shop at 7:30am! Personally, it's one of my new FAVORITE flavors...but you'll have to try one for yourself and be the judge ;)

I'll also have a SPECIAL OFFER available to any patrons at the Farmers' Market: BUY 5 CUPCAKES, GET 1 FREE!

French Toast Cupcakes!
A Cinnamony-Sugary Cake baked with Pure Maple Syrup,
topped with a Cinnamon Maple Buttercream Frosting.

Brickside Cafe: Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats' CUPCAKES ARRIVING 9/6!

I recently had my home kitchen inspected as part of the application process for a Home Food License. My application WAS APPROVED! Which means...I can now sell my goodies to other businesses!

I will start delivering YUMMY Sweet Cheeks Cupcakes to Brickside Cafe in Hiawatha on Tuesday, September 6th!

Brickside Cafe is located at 1705 Boyson Road in Hiawatha, IA.

I am SO unbelievably excited about this venture! As of right now, I'll be bringing in an assortment of flavors in every other day!

So stop in, have some of their BEYOND AMAZING brick oven pizza...and then for dessert...well you know :)

That's ALL for now!
I look forward to MEETING those of you that stop by at the Farmers' Market this weekend!
~Audrey

Saturday Night Sugar High #5

Halloween is right around the corner...HONESTLY! I feel like I'm already behind...I don't have the kids' costumes picked out, I haven't done any detail work on our Merry NOT Scary Costume Party, THE CLOCK IS TICKING!

I was looking back through some of my treats from LAST Halloween for inspiration...always a good place to start right?

So here's a little ROUND-UP of some Halloween goodies courtesy of yours truly ;)

Witch Hat Cupcake Skewers! I entered and WON the Cupcake Skewer Contest hosted by Pizzazzerie last Fall!



Caramel Apple Cupcake Skewers! This was my 2nd entry in the Cupcake Skewer Contest...let me tell you, these things are SO tasty!!!



Ogre Toes! These are made using Circus Peanuts ;)
Here's a TUTORIAL if you're so inclined!

Witch Finger Cookies! I've been making these for YEARS and they're always a BIG hit!
We like to serve them with some whipped topping sprinkled with cinnamon for dipping ;)

Frankenstein Pops! Dipped & decorated Marshmallows, super cute and FUN!

Frankenstien S'mores!

Ogre Eyes! Decorated Cake Balls ;)



Black Magic Cupcakes! These were a FAVORITE of the Cupcake of the Month Club Members last year.
Devil's Food Cupcake topped with Blackberry Buttercream Frosting...YUMMY!




Monster Cake Pops! From our Merry Not Scary Costume Party.
Photo by KV Photography.

 

Pumpkin Roll! This is a picture of my 1st attempt making any kind of cake roll!
I was immediately hooked and made several different flavor combinations last Fall...
but Pumpkin was always my FAVE!

 Enjoy!
~Audrey

Saturday Night Sugar High #4

This week I was ON-THE-HUNT for new ways to use up the brown and spotty bananas we always end-up with toward the end of the week!

I have a few GO-TO banana-based recipes that I use on a regular basis. Number 1 on the list is Grandma Deanna's Banana Bread....simple & sweet!  I LOVE letting the kids' help me with this one because it's one of the FIRST recipes I remember baking when I was a youngster ;)

Another Family-favorite around here is Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pudding! It's AMAZING served hot, when the chocolate is all melty-schmelty right out of the oven...and it's just as delicious served cold the next day!

Recipe photo from Allrecipes.com http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-banana-bread-pudding/detail.aspx

Here are a few new ones I found that we'll be giving a go!

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies
from This Chick Cooks...ummm...YES please!



Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Bites
from Tidy Mom...I know my kidlets will go NUTS over these...plus it's the perfect recipe that they can help with!


Banana Split Cupcakes
from Bakers Royale...these have been on my MUST-BAKE list for awhile now...it's only a matter of time people!



Banana Boats
from Lick My Spoon....we've made these for YEARS! They are SO flippin' good...perfect for camp-outs or even just as dessert on Grill Night!



Peanut Butter Banana Sushi
from Domestic Charm...another FUN one for the kiddos!



Enjoy!
~Audrey

Our Library: Raingutter Bookshelves!

Obviously this isn't a treat-related post...but it's still SUPER SWEET! I received SO many comments and inquiries in response to the picture I posted of our kiddos' library on my FB page, that I felt I really should dedicate a full post to the subject ;)

We finished our basement this past spring and resolved to make a big part of the open area a playroom. I've been dreaming of reclaiming my livingroom for about 3 years now...so I was BEYOND excited when the space was finally finished!

I wanted to have a fun way to organize the kids' toys and make it extra special for them too! One of the first things to accomplish was figuring out a fun way to display their books. I'm a bit of a book fiend and buy them ALL the time...we've also had library-growing parties (where all the guests bring a gift-book) for each of the kiddos' 1st Birthday Parties...so needless to say, we have books coming out the WAZOO here ;)



I really loved the idea of shelving that allows the covers of the books to be visible. The idea is, if the kids see the covers they're more likely to pick one (or 10) off the shelf and take a look. So that's how I happened upon the Raingutter Bookshelves in the first place! There is a GREAT (as-in super informative and easy to follow) tutorial over at Raising Olives! That's what we used for our library wall reference.

I did have to spend a little time convincing my hubby that raingutters mounted to our wall would look nice...and not "hillbilly" as he kept implying....and that he should just trust my vision...in the end even he came around...which was good since he had to do the actual "work" involved ;)

Once the shelves were installed we finished the look with a custom vinyl wall quote from It's Written on the Wall! It TOTALLY took our library into over-the-top-cute territory. BONUS: the quote we used has been added to their Etsy shop so, if you're so inclined, you can snag one yourself! 



Check out the post It's Written on the Wall devoted to Raingutter Bookshelves for more inspiration photos!

I'm IN-LOVE with this one from Home Stories A2Z! I already had plans to add some more of these shelves to the kids' bedrooms and now I know exactly how I want to proceed!

fun...if any of you attempt these and want to post your photos on my Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats FB page please DO! I'd love to see what you all come up with ;)