Two Posts for the Price of One: Pan Dulce Recipe

(I can't remember the last time I posted twice in one day! But several of you asked for this recipe!)

Yesterday I made Mexican sweet breads called Pan Dulce (or Conchas).  Growing up my dad would buy these (along with Perquitos, and Empanadas) at a Mexican Bakery. We could count on these treats at least twice a year: at tamale time each winter and summer. The Bakery happened to be right next door to the butcher who supplied all the tamale ingredients.

I lived in Texas for 10 years and these little breads were easily found, but when we moved to NC there wasn't a bakery nearby, so I had to learn to make them on my own. I have used this recipe using both my hands and the "dough cycle" on my bread maker (when I wanted to save some time). Either way, they are worth the effort!

Pan Dulce (dome-shaped sweet rolls)


DOUGH
1 tablespoon dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup water
3 2/3 cups white bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons shortening
5 large eggs, beaten


TOPPING
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


 For Dough: In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water.
 Let stand 6-8 minutes.
 In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups bread flour, salt, sugar and shortening and blend thoroughly.
Add yeast mixture and 2 eggs.
 Mix completely.
Add remaining eggs and mix.
Add remaining bread flour and mix until the dough forms a loose, soft, and elastic dough.
It should be a little sticky but firm enough to shape easily with buttered hands.
Butter the work surface, and press the dough into a 4x6-inch rectangle, 1 1/2 inches thick.
Cut into 16 medium or 24 small squares.
Cover lightly with plastic wrap for 1 to 1 1/2 hours and let dough rise.
Shape each dough square into a dome-shaped circle.
On a lightly greased cookie sheet, place rolls 2 inches apart.


For Topping: 


In a food processor using a metal blade (i also use my KitchenAide with the paddle attachment and mix until it forms a ball), add the butter, shortening, powdered sugar, 1 cup flour and vanilla.
Process/Mix until smooth,  shape into a log.
Chill until ready to use.
Cut off 2 tablespoons of topping from the log and flatten with palms into a circle.
Place topping circle on top of dough circle.
It should completely cover dough.
Use a sharp knife to cut a crisscross or shell design on top.
Let rolls rise again in a warm place for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake 12-15 minutes until lightly browned.

Love and a Chicken Pot Pie

Celebrations.

I love 'em.

Yesterday my dear friend, K2, celebrated her 29th birthday.

Again.

I am just glad she was willing to spend the day with me.

We dined on Homemade Chicken Pot Pie...which is where the title of this post comes in.

I was so excited to show it to you...

And then I forgot to take a picture.

We also had a wonderful salad that was delicious (thanks Becky!) and then we got down to the real reason we had gathered today.

This is the Yellow Cake with Double Chocolate Frosting from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. And it's as good as 4 sticks of butter can be...really, really delish.

Oh it was rich, but the coffee (with a splash of Italian Sweet Creme) cut the sweetness perfectly.

Here we are, looking happy and sweet.

I love to decorate a table. Really love it, but I never know what the table will look like until the day I put it all together. Usually, 30 minutes before the party starts I am scrambling around the house trying to find ways to make the table look pretty. Very, very rarely is it pre-planned.

Late Thursday night I decided we needed a festive birthday banner so I cut scrapbook paper into triangles and sewed them into some double-sided binding. I just zipped them through my sewing machine...didn't use pins or nothin'.

If that isn't living-on-the-edge, I don't know what is.

The Girl was recruited in some paper-flower making while I threw some scrap fabric on the table. A banner, some tulle, some candles and flowers and, voila! A decorated table.

The Girl wanted to sprinkle fine glitter all over the table, but I axed that idea, as good as it was.
Sometimes there really can be too much of a good thing. Plus glitter is tough to get out of the carpet.

So it was a fun little soirée. Looking forward to doing it again soon!

Things I Do to Make Things Better

The office was warm and inviting.

Soft lighting, soothing music.

It felt...expensive.

For those of you who are just checking in today, I had an Endodontist appointment to look over tooth #19. That's dental speak for the big molar on the bottom left that hurts when you eat.

The visit was short and I'll go back next week for the Big Drill.

The good news (cuz y'all know I like some Good News!) is that I don't have an infection, its merely a fractured tooth.

The bad news is that I still need a root canal.

But let's not talk of such things.

Let's talk about how to deal with stress, shall we?

For the sake of time, and because searching Common Ways People Deal With Stress on Google was depressing, I want to tell you how I handle stress.

On the other hand... let's keep things positive. I won't write about the ineffective ways I deal with stress such as worry, fret, over-exercise, hyperventilating, or (occasionally) crying like a baby when no one is around. I'll just assume you have your own variations on those themes.

Instead, I present Five Helpful (and highly effective) Therapies:

1. Medicinal Noodle Therapy -

Specifically Annie Chun noodle bowls (my faves are the Miso and Udon flavors). I have slurped a bowl every day for lunch more times than I am willing to admit this week.

2. Beneficial Baking -

Today's recipe of choice will be Pumpkin Bread and Peanut Butter cookies, both recipes from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. I've borrowed this book so many times from the library that I recognize my own splattered cookie-dough stains in the margins. I should just go get my own copy...especially since no one knows when the need for Beneficial Baking will strike.

3. Curative Cleaning -

This picture, is supposed to show countertop's that "shine like the top of the Chrysler building." Nothing will smooth down my rough edges quicker than a clean, orderly, shiny, kitchen counter top.

4. Re-wearing Remedy- 

In the picture above is the pair of jeans I have now worn for three days in-a-row. Why? Because jeans fresh out of the dryer are not as comforting as jeans that are soft and broken-in. I assure you, they still look and smell great.

5. The Couch and Cover Corrective with a heaping dose of  Sugar is the Solution 

Technically, these are two solutions that can be used as separate therapies, but they work so beautifully together that it seems counteractive to list them otherwise....

This is my spot on the couch with one of my beloved quilts (I have several and hope to collect more.) Have I mentioned I having a great fondness for quilts? They remind me of Psalm 139:5.

Bunny Trail: I want to tell you that my mother gave that quilt to me, but the truth is that it "accidentally" ended up in our suitcase a few years back...those darn kids. I'll have to talk to them about that.)






I enjoy wrapping up, quilted-burrito style, and eating whatever type of sugar is on the coffee table. The jar to the right is usually filled with peanut m&m's, but during seasonal times I try to mix it up.

Just in case we might run out of "sugar in its purest form", I do have a back-up plan: Sugar in its buttery-caramel form. Amazingly enough, its good for you. It says "made with REAL milk" right on the package. 

So there you have it, Five Helpful (and highly effective) Therapies for relieving stress.

I feel better already.

Breaking Bread on this Excellent Day

I had this day filled with plans and purposes.

But nothing has gone according to schedule.

I couldn't be happier.

It started off with a bunny surprise.

When I left early this morning to meet my running friend, all in the home was well. The kids were snoozing and the dog barely looked up at me in that I know you're not taking me out this morning look as I grabbed my keys and headed out.

I had a great run (although my knee hurt quite a bit) and I came home ready to get started with the day.

I hadn't yet made it to the door and I could here Kona the Wondermutt making funny sounds, whining and gruffling a little bit, but when I came to the door she quickly ran outside.

I made my way to the kitchen sink and grabbed a large glass of water. Imagine my surprise when I turned around and saw this hopping into my kitchen:

I knew nobody was awake, so I was trying to figure out how she got out of her cage. (She normally lives in the garage, but its been so hot we've allowed her in the family room for the summer.)

I scooped her up and walked to the family room where I found this:

So much for Italian Bunny Condo's found cheap. The bottom, literally, fell out.

I know that when I left that morning the cage was intact, but I'm uncertain how long she was roaming the house.

I cannot tell you how glad I am that Kona the Wonder Mutt did not eat Penny.

What a disaster that would have been.

The Boy and I jerry-rigged the cage to keep Penny safe, but when The Mister comes home he's gonna see what he can do to ensure the pets, at best, won't run-amuck....  or at worse: to keep our bunny from ever becoming dog-food while we are out of the house.

Since the morning was overcast the kids weren't too excited to go to the pool, so we opted to stay home. I went out and picked veggies and then I've been working on homeschooling stuff and listening to a book on CD...and icing my knee.

Gettin' old ain't for sissies.

I also decided that our impromptu stay at home lent itself to making bread.

I cannot tell you why I adore making yeasty breads and doughs, but I do...

I love the time it takes. I love the smell. I love the way dough feels...and truth be told, I love that impatient feeling of anticipation that happens...the goodness you hope for behind the door of the oven.

Making bread makes me (and others) happy...if even for a moment.


So I started with a banana bread, to keep the instant-gratification natives quiet. And while it was baking I started what was to be two big loaves of cinnamon bread.

In a flash of clear vision I decided to try something completely off recipe for one of the loaves - instead of cinnamon, I spread Nutella all over the top and quickly rolled it up, as if my secret might be found.

In the words of the Mr and Mrs. Carpoolqueen It did not suck.

So that is what's happening at the LaVida House on this fine, wonderful, bready day.

What are YOU up to?

The "M" Recipes

If your anything like me, the last thing you need is another recipe for sugar filled deliciousness.

But I'm going to give you one (or three) anyway.

Honestly, I am ready and willing to give up the sugar for a day or two...or at least until after lunch.

This girl has been sugarfied.

Before recipes though, I hope you and yours had an awesome Christmas.

The La Vida House had a wonderful Christmas. It was restful and quiet. I spent much of Christmas Eve and Day between silent contentment, and thankful weepiness.

Oh, and I spent 7 hours on Christmas Day (and 5 hours the day after, but who's counting?) helping The Girl put 3500 Lego pieces together, making a house and a medieval market.

This was my first time ever building something with Lego's.

The Mister and both kids are longtime builders.

Lets just say that after I got over my "oh-my-goodness-these-pieces-are-not-in-any-order--and-oh-goodness-it-seems-like-a-big-ole-mess" I really had a great time!

Speaking of builders...When The Mister and I were making our lists and checking them twice, we decided that we would give The Boy (who enjoys making things from wood) his own wood working tools and safety gear, and the Mister would help The Boy make a work bench that was a smaller version of his own.

The Mister had all the supplies ready and waiting, and yesterday he and The Boy built a workbench.

This is a picture of one happy boy:

Our Holy-day was good. Really, really good.

OK, now to give you what you came for:

Marshmallows, Mexican Wedding Cookies and Molasses Cookies:


Marshmallows


2 TBLS Gelatin (unflavored)
1/4 cup cold water
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1TBLS corn syrup
1 TBLS vanilla
powder sugar
corn flour

Dissolve gelatin in 1/4 cup water. Set Aside.

In large saucepan cook sugar, water, syrup to 240 degrees. Occasionally giving a stir with a wooden spoon.

While waiting for sugar to boil up to 240. Take Parchment paper and line a 9x13 cake pan. Then GENEROUSLY sprinkle pwdr sugar and cornflour on parchment. Set aside.

Put gelatin in mixing bowl (use whisk attachment if have a freestanding mixer) Slowly pour sugar mixture into bowl while whisk is on medium speed.

Allow to mix until candy turns white and is doubled in size.

Add vanilla.

Pour over prepared cake pan. Sprinkle GENEROUSLY with more sugar/flour and then carefully use your hands to pat it down into pan.

Wait an hour or so to completely cool and set.

Cut into squares and roll into sugar flour mix left in pan.

Enjoy!

Mexican Wedding Cakes--This is my Mom's signature cookie. I cannot remember a Christmas without them.
1 cup butter (room temp)
2-1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1tsp water
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sifted pwdr sugar.
1/4 tsp salt

Set oven to 325.
Mix butter, sugar, vanilla, water and half the flour.

Add rest of flour. Add Pecans.

Shape into 1 inch balls. and place in oven for 20 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.

Let cookies cool slightly.

Roll them in powder sugar.

Eat them.

Yummy.


Molasses Cookies --This is my mother-in-laws recipe. These are very tasty.
3/4 cup soft shortening
1 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
1 egg unbeaten
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp slat
2 tsp baking soda
1tsp ginger
1 tsp clove
1 tsp cinnamon

combine shortening, sugar, egg. eat til fluffy (have I ever told you I LOVE the word fluffy. I do.)
Add molasses. sift dry ingredients and add to mix (I never sift, I just add) Mix well. Chill dough thouroughly.

Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.

Bake 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Watch them disappear.

All right. I gotta run. Today I am cleaning house and taking names.

And then, if the kids play there attitudes right, I might take them to a movie.

Happy (last) Monday (of the year!)

Cookie Wishes and Orthodontia Dreams

After all the pumpkin talk yesterday I feel a deep responsibility to send you over to Such the Spot for her Iced Pumpkin Cookies Recipe.

In the words of the CarpoolQueen, I may, or may have not eaten several a couple of these this morning with for my breakfast.

In other news, I have crossed a line in parenting that may have rendered me officially "grown up."

As if owning a mini-van, wearing velour tracksuits, and being a mama-blogger didn't scream Suburban Housewife loud enough, the events of yesterday added the piece de resistance.

We've been referred to an orthodontist.

It's just weird.

And apparently very expensive.

So I did what any good suburban housewife would do in the face of adversity.

I made cookies  calmly came home and told my husband that I may be opening my Etsy shop back up again.

I tried this almost a year ago and didn't have much success....as a matter of fact I ended up giving away everything I listed. So, I'm thinking about it...a lot. We'll see.

All right. I'm guessing that this orthodontia paying, cookie making, minivan driving, coffee drinking, blogger better go put on her mean-teacher hat...cuz school ain't gonna teach itself.

I suppose we'll start with English.

Pumpkin Crises: Defeated

Last week (or so) I received a Tweet from Meredith regarding a lack of canned pumpkin in her grocery store.

I had decided that since it'd been snowing in her little corner of Colorado since last April, it was a simple case of canned pumpkin blocked by blizzards of snow.

All jokes aside--after all, lack of pumpkin at this time of year is no laughing matter-- I assumed I wouldn't be affected by such troubling times. The pumpkin crises certainly wouldn't hit close to home. It was just so....inconceivable.

Until....

I was in the isle this morning to get pumpkin for a batch of Chocolate Chip Pumpkin muffins (sweetly pictured above), only to find the shelves empty.

I had to go to three different stores before I found the elusive Libby can. I quickly bought 5 (29 oz)cans.

I would have bought more but it was all my arms could hold.

I immediately came home and Googled the issue at hand and sure enough there is a canned pumpkin shortage, people!

And, apparently, this is old news:

Check here, here, here, and here.

I wouldn't panic, the word around the net is that the Libby people are churning out more pumpkin as I type, but really, as you might've noticed by my stock piling philosophy, I'm inclined to panic.

If you're a baker, and enjoy all things pumpkin, you better get it while you "can".

BTW: Last year I tried my hand at using fresh puree from baking pumpkins and it was fairly simple. Just not as simple as opening up a can. And really @ $1.89 for a 29 oz can, you can't beat Libby!

Well, I gotta run...the muffins kids are calling me.

Cake Reality...Just So You Know

It wasn't a three-layer like I wanted, and the fondant was weird: dry, and yet sticky.

Oh, and also, in an attempt to be "all cakes for all people," I had made a tier of vanilla, a tier of chocolate, and a tier of chocolate-vanilla swirl.


I hadn't even thought of how hard it would be to keep chocolate-brown crumbs out of snow white frosting and fondant.

There was 30 minutes of time when I seriously debated scrapping it all to the garbage can and going to Costco for a cake.

I didn't, but I wanted to...

Anyway, the bottom layer of cake was all wonky (it had cracked a bit when I pulled it out of the pan), and it couldn't hold the weight of the top two tiers. It was slowly leaning more and more to the left as gravity played its hand.

There was a moment when I looked at that crazy, imperfect, sinking ship of a cake, and said to The Mister, "None of my ideas ever work out the way I want them to."

He set his eyes on me with a look I couldn't read.

I wasn't sure if he was going to laugh, or send me to my room.

Calmly he said, "That is the most ridiculous thing that has ever come out of your mouth."

I sat with my arms crossed and my mind in the pit.

He sat with me.

Our eyes both intently focused on that lopsided, fondant covered, heavily weighted, "failure" of a cake.

He said, "You know the top two layers aren't bad, don't scrap the whole thing, see what you can do with those."

And he left.

Of course, in my head I had all sorts of excuses as to why it would be impossible.

It would never work.

What does he know about cakes?

What do I know about cakes?


Why did you think you were able to do any of this?


Then the real punch in the gut. The Girl walked through the kitchen and said,

"Mom, it doesn't have to be perfect."

Ugh.

Yes it does. She's right, it really doesn't.

So I made my one-less-than-than-three-tier cake, thanks to the encouragement of The Mister, and words from a nine year old that brought me back to reality.

The lesson learned in the making was bigger than I anticipated.

And yet, it was still the same old lesson: The outward appearance is often not what it seems. 

Why am I telling you this?

Because its important.

When eighteen people on the blog, and many others who saw the cake in-real-life, comment on how amazing it is, and how "crafty" you are, and compare you to the likes of Martha Stewart (even in jest), I want you to know the truth.

I struggle.

This weekend it was about cake, but often its more than cake. Its about life. From body image to child rearing, and all things in between, I struggle.

I want you to believe that my life looks as rosy as this cake... I want you to think I have all my ducks in a row. That I am "good" in all I do!

But reality doesn't often look the way I think it should look, or the way I want it to look, and sometimes I don't handle it well. Even when the outside looks all-right, the inside might be all wonky.  It might be sinking under the weight of a fruitless chase for "perfection."

I often need Truth tellers in my life.

I know you need that too.

I brought that wonky third-layer to the shower, and put it in the fridge, in case we needed more cake to serve.

No one ever saw it, but I knew it was there. A sweet reminder that I might be able to hide my imperfect ways, but if I throw them out, I'll never learn to overcome the things that hinder me...

~Kellie

PS: I read this post last week, which came to my mind while writing this post.

PPS: To The Mister...Thank you for being a Truth teller. You have sat with me at many "tables" in our life, and helped me sort through things much bigger than cake. Things much more difficult, and much more important....and yet, you offer truth all the same. I appreciate you. xoxox

Of Roses and Fridays

Did you hear that great sigh of relief last night around 8:30pm Eastern time?

That was me finishing the last stitch on the embroidery for the Chuppah!

Oh, I am so relieved.  Next week I have some friends coming over to help sew the main pieces all together (they also must be done by hand in order to preserve the old materials). I may have to make one more quilt square, but that part is relatively easier than hand monogramming!

I hope I don't sounds as if I am complaining. I've enjoyed every stitch. Its probably the most extensive project I have ever done, so I am just really, well, proud of it. I think the bride and her family will be happy with the results. I'll be sure to post a picture as soon as its entirely finished!

However, early yesterday morning I needed to get started on the cake I am making for the bridal shower on Sunday.

I wanted to have the fondant made before the kids got up and I had to teach school.

The Boy actually got up and decided that he would take pictures. "For the blog", he said.

And although I was void of make-up and contact lenses, and still in workout clothes and an apron, I decided to let him. Plus, my hands were covered in fondant so, really, what could I do?

We laughed together when he showed me these photos. He said he was gonna call this set "Concentration" based on this photo.

He's a funny guy, that kid.

I mixed white fondant for the cake, and tinted some to make leaves and roses, but I wasn't in love with the texture for the roses. I had heard (primarily in my fave show The Cake Boss ), that gum paste would be a better medium for flowers, but I have always been to afraid to try.

Yesterday, I was brave.

I mixed up some gum paste, tinted it pink and started to make flowers.

Oh! I will never go back to fondant flowers. I like the leaves in fondant because they keep malleable and I will be able to bend them a bit when I decorate the cake....but really, if you have been avoiding gum paste, don't. You'll be addicted to all the cool things you can make!

Happy Friday!

Are You Sitting Down?

 .....Because I am about to give you something that will simultaneously make you love, and hate, me.

I am going to share my Cinnamon Chocolate Swirl Bread Recipe.

Actually, you probably have this recipe hidden in that Better Homes and Garden: New Cook Book, circa. 1989, that you stole from your mother when you when you moved out and were desperately trying to makes dinners for your new husband.  

Not that I'd know anything about that, but what I am trying to say is, I have been using this cookbook for at least 14 years and I just now found this recipe. 

To make up for the lost time I made this recipe twice this week. Once when the CarpoolQueen came over ('cuz I heard that her love language was bread), and again because I realized that I didn't exactly follow the recipe the first time, so I wanted to do it exactly as written.

Unfortunately, it turns out that I don't EVER follow recipes exactly. A trait that tends to annoy me in other cooks/bakers, especially when they make things by adding a little of this and a little of that, when what I really want to know is, how can I make that at home and make it taste as good as you made it?

The truth is I'm a rule follower until it comes to baking/cooking and then I am reckless; an absolute rebel. 

Apparently a very word-y rebel. Could we get to the point of this post?

Oh yes, the recipe, and the rules I broke:

1. The first time I substituted 2% milk for the evap. milk in the dough (but not the filling). I actually liked the consistency of the dough better that way, it was way more elastic and pliable, and the finished (baked) product less dense. I am sure this is because evap. milk has less water content, for all you baking scientists out there. 

2. The recipe said to make the dough 24 hours in advance, place in the fridge, and take it out of fridge 45 minutes before shaping.  I didn't have that kind of patience time, so I opted for letting the dough rise for 45 minutes to an hour.

Moving on....

Let's start with ingredients:

4-5 cups of flour

2 pckgs

active dry yeast

3/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup water

1/2 cup margerine or butter

1/2 tsp salt

1  5-oz can (2/3 cup) evaporated milk (divided)

2 eggs

Filling:

1 cup chocolate chip (semi-sweet

2 TBLS sugar

14/-1/2 tsp cinnamon 

Struesal Topping

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 butter (better if slightly cool)

A handful of chocolate chips- more or less dependent on your liking.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Place 3/4 sugar, 1/3 cup evap. milk, salt, and butter in a microwave dish. I like to cut up  my butter for control issues so that it melts evenly without getting the mixture too hot (which will kill the yeast). I zap my mixture for about a minute...or until the butter is melted, but not completely. Like this:

Take 2 cups of flour and place it in the bowl with the yeast. Add eggs. Pour in milk mixture and mix on medium speed with a dough hook. You'll need to scrape the sides.

If you don't have a Kitchen Aide mixer you could do this next part by hand, but before you get your hands dirty, go put a Kitchen Aide mixer on your Christmas list. They are worth every dime.

Begin to mix in the rest of the flour. Be careful sometimes you need more flour, sometimes less.

This is the point that I don't mind getting my hands dirty.

When your dough looks like the picture above, I take it out and start to knead by hand. It doesn't take a lot of kneading since the machine has done most of the work. The reason I do this is I like the dough to look like this:

 Place plastic wrap over it and set it aside to double in size. About 45 minutes. Meanwhile.....Take the ingredients for the filling and place them in a sauce pan. Over medium heat, constantly stir until melted... chocolate scorches quickly so don't place the heat too high.

Now go check on your dough.

 There it is all yeasty and puffy.

This recipe calls for one large loaf of bread.  I don't have a loaf pan that is big enough so I recommend cutting this mound in half.

Roll each half out into a rectangle of sorts...

Pour half the chocolate mixture....

Roll it up and put it in a pan. 

Repeat with second half. 

Only, this half we'll make into rolls...

For those of you who don't already know this trick, let me share a roll cutting tip my grandmother gave to me. Take a piece of thread, slide it under the place where you want to make a cut, cross the string over on them selves, and pull. You will have perfectly cut rolls every time!

Place the ingredients for the Streusel Topping in the mixer and use the paddle to mix. When it begins to look crumbly be sure to stop, other-wise you will soon have a paste instead of crumbs. 

Sprinkle on top. 

Cinnamon rolls cook for about 20 minutes, leave the bread in for 15-20 minutes more.

This sounds way more complicated than the actual process so don't be scared...

...or, well, on second thought, maybe you should be.

 

Baby Shower Fun

I have been a delinquent blog writer (and reader) this week. I have been hard at work preparing for a baby shower for a sweet gal at church. I love parties! And I am especially grateful for the ladies at my church...

As people around town heard about the shower, the guest list grew. Which is really fun, but required the shower to be moved to a different location...one that could accommodate more than 30 people. 

NC Mama gladly offered her home.

Which turns out to be am even BIGGER blessing, as the people in this house are dropping like flies with a nasty head cold.

Then, the ladies at church began to ask what food they could bring. So I showed them my menu, and six ladies took the list and are bringing the food!

Which completely opened up time for me to play with the cake! My inspiration was the pink/brown polka dot invitation that was sent out. Here is a picture of my first try with marshmallow fondant:

Listen, if you have thought about using fondant but haven't because it looks scary, forget it! I used this recipe and tutorial, and it was as easy as pie cake!  I also used this video on how to make bows. 

The roses were made to cover up an accident. Remember last year when I decided to make paper flowers...well, you can use that same technique when making fondant roses. Only when it doesn't turn out just like you want it, you just roll the fondant up, and out, and start all over again!

I cannot wait for The Girls birthday party in February. She is having a Tropical Paradise theme and I am certain I will be making another fondant cake!

La Vida Dulce!