I will post more photos on this one when we get some photos back on it, but I love all these new trends. This is for an Edgar Allen Poe photo shoot at a new estate in Penryn, California called the Grace Restored Estate. I cannot wait to see how this will turn out! I love how all the rules have changed and yet somehow this cake still looks traditional. The photo shoot is called Edgar Allen Poe…..
Black Wedding Cake with Rustic Ivory Lace
Warning: This one is not gluten free unless you use gluten free bread and contains diary and eggs. You can easily make your substitutions and I find the flavor is still amazing!. At this time of year, I am always running to an event at church, work or charity. I was raised with the firm belief system that it is rude to arrive anywhere empty handed!! So this recipe is wonderful if you have no time and want to bake something yummy that will please seems to please a large crowd. Making it the night before seems to give it a more pudding like consistency but I find even a hour soak is fine if you are in a rush. Just remember to preheat the oven. A couple of tips:
1.) Cut the crust off to make a more pudding like consistency. You can really use sweet potato puree as I did in this recipe, but pumpkin or even pumpkin pie filling will work. The pie filling is not as viscous (thick) and it will produce a more pudding like consistency.
2.) The bread: Good choice are a thick white, Sourdough, Brioche, I have even made this with Rye or Brown breads and it gave it a wonderful salty taste! I found that if you use actual pumpkin bread, it becomes overly sweet.
3.) Topping you can omit the nuts or add some steel cut oats, make a streusel topping, drizzle with maple bourbon syrup, brown sugar, bacon, walnuts.
4.) The longer it soaks the better it is. I have also added little pockets of goat cheese, cream cheese or even brie a few times sprinkled in to give it a new twist.
5.) This recipe is double for a deep casserole dish measuring 4″ deep. You may not use all of the bread or you can put this into two shallow casseroles depending on the thickness of your bread.
6.) Salt and pepper are optional, but I do find it brings out a little more flavor. Also you may of course use fresh purees and fresh ground spices, but watch your quantities as they will be more pungent in taste especially the ginger.
PUMPKIN BREAD PUDDING OR SWEET POTATO BREAD PUDDING
(DOUBLE BATCH)
Casserole dish (approx. 9 x 13- deep dish) or two smaller ones
Non-stick cooking spray or oil of choice
20 slices of bread (Stale if possible, but not required), gluten free works well too
2 cans (15 ounces each) of pumpkin or sweet potato puree or fresh puree
1 and 1/3 cup of sugar (note: you can use any kind here, but the larger granulated may not dissolve completely, you can also add a little more or less to taste)
2 tsp Ground Cinnamon (note if grating fresh sticks, this may be more pungent so add a little at first, then more to taste)
1 tsp Ground Ginger (Again if grating fresh, use sparingly to taste)
1 tsp ground nutmeg (same thing if grating fresh)
NOTE: IF YOU ARE IN A RUSH PUMPKIN PIE SPICE HAS ALL OF THIS IN THERE AND YOU CAN ADD TWO TBSP OR MORE TO TASTE.
1/4 tsp salt (try not to use iodized) – optional
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper (black if possible) – optional
12 eggs – For this recipe I used large Grade A but if using fresh or organic you may need an egg or two extra. Beat well before adding
2 cups of milk – I use whole fat but any milk will do even goats milk, almond or soy
2 cans (14 ounces each) of evap milk – if using substitutions, you can just add more milk
Toppings: On this recipe I used chopped pecans and brown sugar, but see above notes you can use anything.
Instructions:
Spray you cooking sheet with non-stick baking spray or oil of choice (Canola works well and won’t impart any flavors. Cut bread into cubes of size of your choice and place in the pan (don’t mound them , you want this nice and level). If adding nuts and you want them evenly sprinkled in, add them in as you ad in the bread crumbs so they will be evenly distributed in the dish. Mix all ingredients well and soak at least and hour if possible but overnight will yield the best results. Cover with plastic wrap if using overnight and as it has eggs while it is soaking always refrigerate.
If you want it steamier, then put it covered with alum foil in a pre-heated 350 degree (Fahrenheit) oven. Bake for approx. 45 minutes to one hour. If baking with a very cold dish, it may take longer in the oven. Take off the Alum foil for the last 15-20 minute to give it a toasty brown topping. If checking for temp, it should reach an internal temp of 160 degree (Fahrenheit) and check in a few places if a deep dish.
Serve with Crème Anglaise, Bourbon Maple Glaze, Crumbled Bacon, whatever make you happy!! I will post my Creme Anglaise recipe shortly as well as Maple Bourbon Glaze or serving sauce. Enjoy! Pictures shortly but I have to race this over to church!!
I will post the recipes tonight but the light spice flavor is perfect as the weather finally starts to cool for fall. The trick with the recipe is the freshness of your spice. If you like it very spicy use fresh cinnamon stick, ground your nutmeg fresh as fresh ginger will make your mouth sing. If you are feeding this to the kids, then I would scale back and used dried, pre-ground spice. Crème Cheese frosting/filling for this can be done by brewing strong tea (recipe to follow on recipe page this weekend) or my steeping them in milk. If its for the kids, then I would recommend just standard cream cheese recipe. 
The term mousse is French and loosely translated means foam. This particular mousse is one of my favorites especially at this time of year when the fruit is fresh and sweet. The Ombre effect you see is achieved by either use of colorants or by adding in more or less mousse puree to the separate batches ( you may need to add more gelatin/agar and more yogurt). Cherry or Raspberry Mousse with Vegan substitions
I love it when my clients bring me something fun and whimsical. The thought behind the cake is the Lego world is busting out! The Batman and Robin figures are available on Amazon. The Cake inside is my Triple Threat Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Whipped Crème filling topped with Chocolate Italian Meringue Buttercream. Everything is Awesome Batman!
Many of my friends are going Vegan or Gluten Free these days. If you knew what goes into your food, you might too. Especially popular among my parents are Vegan and Gluten Free Cakes. They are a specialty of mine. However, telling your kids to avoid the bright colors that use red dye #40 is nearly impossible. What I do is make the organic, healthy, no preservative desserts, then cover or accessorize with Chocolate, Tuillle, fruit, gum paste or fondant décor as seen here. The kids get the look they want and you get the more healthy option. When serving, you can simply push aside the chemicals you don’t want to ingest and enjoy something a little more healthy than that cake that’s been on the shelf for two weeks filled with chemicals!.
Vegan Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Cupcakes – Banana Cake with Cinnamon Frosting
These cupcakes are $1.25 each and the matching smash cake is $19.99 (6″ round) for a special friend. Vegan Banana Bread with Organic Cinnamon Frosting, the mouse ears and bows are simple gum paste and removed easily by hungry fingers.
This recipe makes great smoothies, popsicles and sorbet. I used a silicone mold for this and it froze in an hour. I highly recommend a squeeze of your favorite citrus to really make it pop, but it may cause some separation of the fats in the coconut milk. It also is great for your favorite adult beverage and couldn’t be any easier.
Carrot Coconut Pineapple Sorbet with Banana
Equipment:
Blender or Vita Mix
Ice cream maker or Molds (be sure your ice cream drum is in the freezer for at least 24 hours prior)
Willing victims or grateful neighbors (fellow church members or good friends are also good, in a pinch you can use them to con the kids into doing chores
Spatula
Make sure you clear room on the top shelf in your freezer now and don’t put anything near it that can fall on your precious sorbet.
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh pineapple (cut and cored in 1 inch cubes , frozen or at least chilled
1 can Coconut milk (cream of coconut is also good)
2 cups steamed carrots (al dente or slightly more – you can use reserve water in this also)
2 ripe bananas or for less sugar use 2 cups fresh mango
A few ice cubes
Shake the can of coconut milk just before opening . Blend until desired consistency using spatula to scrape bottoms and sides. Now you can enjoy now or freeze according to your ice cream makers instructions or pour into molds. Be sure to leave a little extra space for expansion as it freezes. Serve and enjoy nicely garnished with mint or fresh citrus zest as seen here.
I do a lot of kids cakes these days and doing one for a very special family is my joy. The Bubble Guppies is a copyrighted image and this is the only one available, it is a removable sugar sheet. While it is edible, I don’t recommend eating them. I can, however, create modeling in 2D or 3D images in gumpaste or white chocolate……always fun to get those creative juices flowing. Fruit Basket Cake is a simple Vanilla Buttermilk based cake with berries in season (this year is strawberry, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry mascerated in a simple syrup. Happy Birthday Karlee and Annalisa!
Aloha! We Later added wood buttons and set it on top of some banana leaves. This Aloha shirt cake says Mahalo!. I can recreate the ugliest of Hawaiian Shirts and I always found it makes a great Retirement Cake. I have a friend who is taking a much deserved break in Hawaii, so this goes out to her! As always, everything made from fresh pure ingredients, my favorite part of this cake was the mango mousse! 
I loved this couple so much. To pay honor to their family, the brought her Grandmother’s handkerchief that she carried over when she immigrated into America. They wanted to pay homage to her and the sacrifices they made to live the American dream. The cake is called a “Reforma Torta” or a modified Walnut Sponge Cake with Chocolate Creamy filling. The original recipe is modified so the cake will hold weight. Beautiful outdoor picnic setting for the start of a wonderful life together.
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