Give Away - Hot Drinks

Yey! My first blog giveaway just in time for cool  (I mean cold) weather.  Hot Drinks by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss.

Nothing warms up frigid fingers and toes like a mug of spicy mulled cider or creamy hot chocolate. HOT DRINKS presents 50 original recipes for mixed coffees, teas, punches, cocoas, ciders, and cocktails perfectly suited for cozying up by the fire or heating up holiday family get-togethers.
 
RULES
This giveaway is available to residents of the Canada and U.S. ONLY. I will mail a copy of the book to the winner, so please make sure that I have a way to reach you by including your email address if it is not in your profile.

How to Enter
- Question: What is your favourite cake flavour that I baked? Search my blog and leave me the answer in the comments with a copy of the link to the post.

- Earn an extra entry by tweeting about the giveaway on twitter - include a link to THIS post. I will need a link of your tweet. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

LIMIT 2 ENTRIES PER PERSON
The giveaway ends on Monday December 20th at Midnight PST. One winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Wednesday December 22th on my blog.

A BIG thank you to all! Good luck everyone!

Coach Bag

Thank you to Sharon for requesting a cake for her sister Sophia.

The theme?  A Coach Bag.  Since Sharon would be transporting this after delivery, she asked if I could decorate this cake flat on a cake board.  Sharon is a fan of Pumpkin Spice... So Pumpkin Spice it was.  She also wanted it in turquoise and yellow.

I have posted this recipe in January of this year.  Here is a tip if you want to bake an eggless cake.  Replace your eggs and water in this recipe with a can of club soda.

Here are some pictures of the process.

Turquoise butter cream icing on the first layer.

Time to icing the top layer.

Crumb coat complete!

Let's add that icing again.

Fondant is placed over cake.

Oops.... I forgot to cake more pictures in between.  I did use two round cookie cutters to make the letter C.  One large one and a smaller one to cut out a hole in the middle.  I will add an update of this cake sliced, once Sophia has cut into it.

Chocolate Shopaholic

A birthday cake for Jena. She may be only 10 years old, but she still had some definite, yet simple requests. Make her a chocolate cake --- and surprise her.

If you knew Jena, you would know that her request would not be as easy as it sounded. So I sat down thought about it, and remembered what makes Jena... Jena. Shopping on the town is what this girl does best!

Visit my Facebook Fan Page to view the comments.

What the Flip Flop (Cake)!

It's summer time so I had to create a cake to celebrate the occasion. A flip flop cake. I baked a 2 layer white cake and decorated it with buttercream icing and fondant.

I baked the cake in a two 9"x13" pan, spread frosting on the top of one and placed the other on top. I took an 8"x11" sheet of paper, folded it in half and using free hand, drew the shape of my flip flops. I then cut it out and I now had two cut outs --- one right, one left. Side by side, I placed them on the top of my cake, and cut out the shape with a knife.

I then wrapped them and put them in the freezer. While waiting for the cakes to freeze, I cut four strips of fondant and flowers. The four strips were placed over a rolling pin, so it would dry in a curved formations. These would act as the thong part of the sandal. I took them out hours later and applied a crumb coat on each shoe. I continued to apply more buttercream icing in bright summer colours.

They were really fun to make.

Vacationing in Jamaica

I am trying to do maintain this blog on a regular basis. I am currently in Jamaica for my (sort of) three year anniversary with my husband and I have just come across some WiFi. We actually got married on May 20Th, but we arrived here a bit early because flights were pretty inexpensive.

We come out to Negril Beach on a yearly basis no matter what. Last year, we had a family tragedy and Jamaica was an escape for us. This year, we are using this trip to symbolize a new beginning. I am also using it as a time to totally relax, and rejuvenate.

It is my hope to return to Toronto, with fresh ideas on how to grow and establish my venture The Sweet Tooth Fashionista.

First of all I would like to thank you for visiting my blog (whether this is your first time or if you are a follower). Also thanks to my Facebook Fans for joining my FANPage. I am at 139 members. Because you have been following my adventures, I feel accountable. There are many businesses out there that people start-- however many of them are not followed through. When you stop by to read my blog, follow me on Facebook, or choose to post comments, it gives me the power to take ownership of my goals and aspirations. Thank you to family members, friends and co-workers who have placed orders with me or sent referrals my way.

So yes. I am on vacation in hot and sunny Jamaica, but I am figuring out my next creation. Ya mon! I have decided to maintain the theme of this island. My next cake when I return, will incorporate a little bit of rum. After all, Jamaica is known for its famous rum punch. So invite you to return next week, to view my take on a rum cake.

Til then.... Stay Sweet!

Registered!

Ok.... So I neglected to mention that a week and a half ago, I registered my name "Sweet Tooth Fashionista". I just figured that it was a really cool and catchy name.

I guess I tend to venture on the positive side. I thought that if my blog caught on, then maybe another Sweet Tooth Fashionista would pop up.

This could also be a form of postive reinforcement for me. You know... If I am Legally what I envision myself to be --- Then I can be who I want to be.

So, I am just about ready to send out my chocolate samples to my FaceBook Group winners. I will drop them in the mail on Thursday this week. I can definitely say that I have the basic concept of preparing chocolates from molds. I was going to step up to bonbons, but when I read a recipe, I become a bit overwhlemed. I have decided to create chocolate truffles. I have finally obtained a fairly easy recipe, that has a shelf life of a month. A long shelf life is important to me right now, in case someone wanted me to ship an order to them.

Sample Chocolates FOR REAL

Well it has been almost one month since I took my first Confections Workshop. I would say I have come a long way.

Dec. 6/09 - Completed my Chocolatier Workshop
- My Sister-in-law tasted a few, and commented that she would like to take a few home
- My Husband had about 3, and I had to hide the rest

Dec. 7/09 -I promised some to my co-worker Jinette. She praised my confections to some of our friends on FaceBook
- I brought a few of my chocolate treats to my co-worker Sukhi, she emailed me that evening, and said her family thought they were scrumptious
- I gave a couple to my husband, and hid the balance

Dec. 8/09 - Sukhi asked if I would visit her home to give she and her a daughter a Chocolate making class (in her kitchen)

Dec. 12/09 - I got ambitious, and decided that I would make chocolate treats for my department's potluck at work
- I am enjoying obtaining more information of my new found love. I have even visited the establishment where I took lessons
- By now, I have figured that I would like to research this as a new career path
- I decided that I would start this blog, where I could journal my pathway to my new career

Dec. 17/09
- I made a tray of 75 pieces of chocolate, in various Christmas themes. They are a hit, and they all disappear
- I visit the Lindt Chocolate Outlet, and invest in some Couveture chocolate...because I'm gonna allow more people to taste, and share the views on my sweet endeavour

Dec. 20/09
- I launch my FaceBook Group
- BTW, I am Tweeting now

Dec. 23/09
- I have held my first Chocolatier workshop at Sukhi's
Dec. 29/09
- I have enrolled in a cake decorating course at Flour Confections in Ajax

Jan. 2/2010- I am putting sample chocolates together for some of my FaceBook Group friends, who joined my Group
- I am creating a white Couveture chocolate bar, with Merckens dark chocolate hearts
- I Feel I am on my way!

Looking For A Logo

This post will constantly be updated. I am trying to create a logo for Sweet Tooth Fashionista. Would appreciate your constructive critism. Thank you.

Not too sure if this is to busy. I tend to teeter towards the flamboyant side. So maybe this logo touches on my personality?