Something new....Something small....Something easy??!

So have you ever seen something so cute? These are the new fad "Cake Pops". They are bite size cake in many shapes and colors. The one above is a wonderful creation from "Bakerella", she has been seen on Martha Stewart for her tasty and sight entising cake pops. More of her edible art can be seen on http://www.bakerella.com/ . Anyway I searched to find an easy recipe to try and trust me there were many to choose from, so the decision was a little harder than I had presumed. I eventually decided to just use the Wilton videos from Youtube and put my own twist to it. I decided to make chocolate pops. I started with my own homemade cake batter and used Nutella instead of frosting to form the shapes. I must say when I first shaped them they didn't look very appealing.

But I kept working on them I know in the end they were going to be one of two things, tasty or beautiful, and well by the looks of things I sure hope tasty! Well I have learned if you don't follow the instructions, everything they tell you it may NOT end well. My first mistake was the type of stick I used to make the pops. I did not take the time to purchase lollipop sticks, instead I decided to maintain my frugal-ness and use skewers. Well they don't hold up very well, the cake rounds just kinda slipped down the stick. It seemed that that was the begining of my issues. I had noting to hold up the pops after inserting the stick so that I could decorate them. Next mistake is marshmallo fluff! Well I did know that fluff doesn't harden like regular marshmallow. That was a mess trying to dip and watching it drip.

As you can see I tried to use a deep fryer pan to hold up the pops, this is when I learned the fall off the sticks for being too long. So I chopped down the sticks and dipped them in chocolate, my oh my did they look much better.I was afraid that the chocolate was not going to harden like I wanted them to but alas it looked much better, by the time I finished dipping the last pop the first one had already began to harden. This time I used some styrofoam that came from my new laptop box. Worked wonders for me. 

Well I got my icing, tried a couple different tips to decorate and went to work. I have to work on maintaing a steady hand but I guess I will learn that when I finally take a decorating class. Until then I will keep playing around to perfect my home made recipes. But I hope you like the photos below. I must say I knew they were tasty, shucks, pretty much anything made with Nutella is going to be good. But I am glad they came out just as beautiful.

In the end the recipe was quite easy but you must always follow directions and much easier if I had the correct tools.

Crafts

Well thanks to allfreesewing.com I am learing to sew(a little) and have been abke to do minor crafts through hand stitching. I currently own a Janome sewing machine and have been practicing the very basics. I leared how to break the machine down and clean it. I have learned how to properly thread it and can some what sew a straight line. The peddle is still a little tricky and I have to adjust the pressure of my foot depending on the type of shoe I am wearing at that time.
Now because i struggle with it and waiting to get into an evening or weekend sewing class to learn I am sticking with hand sewing. All Free Sewing has so man tutorials, patterns ideas, and ebooks for me to learn from. One of the videos I watched was very basic, it taught how to thread a needle, an easy way to knot the ends, I learned two basic hand stitches all with out a condesending tone from the teachers. I do not plan to be a clothing designer or anything, but i would like to be able to create from patterns, for my children. Or make a couple things for myself!

So the first thing I have tried was a fabric flower. I can use it as a brooch, a hair accessory or just simply add it to pretty much anything to add flair. They were extremely easy to make and can be any size for any project. Check out the photo, and tell me what you think.

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Retirement ceremony

Much appreciation to my, now retired, ITC Hickman for allowing me to be a part of one of the most honorable ceremonies of Navy traditions.

I was blessed to showcase my beggining baking skills and baked a delicious sheet cake. It was half strawberry and have cannoli cake, just like his farewell party. I sculpted to Navy covets, the dixie cap and the chief cover, and placed it on top the cake. I have only heard good reviews on my cake and aspire to only get better.

I was also given the honor of being a presenter during the ceremony. Althought it may not sound important, to me it is an honor to sit in the same area as the guest speaker, the retiree and the presiding officer. My job was simple hand the presiding officer and the command master chief the honors being awarded to either Chief or to his family.

It was also a great privilidge to meet his family and not be limited to small talk. Once again Chief if you are reading this thank you for all that you have done for me to keep my head above water and the maintain the joy of soon becoming a professional baker. You have a wonderful family and hope to work with you in the civilian world.

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