Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Aging Gracefully... Update


A few weeks back I was lucky to have made, Grammy nominated singer Adele's 21st birthday cake. It was presented to her on stage at Roseland in NYC. See Aging Gracefully...

So often I send cakes out the door and have no idea what happens to them. Usually this is better than actually being at the party, only to come back to see the brand new finger poke holes that have spontaneously appeared!

But this time is a little different... Thanks so much to Heather Barney for capturing the absolutely best moment of a cake's life... when the guest of honor sees it for the first time and just knows its all for them! And what great seats you had Heather!

And my sincere thanks to Adele for translating this moment in her own special way! What a great way to mark your 21st! Sugar Couture was thrilled to have been a small part of that!
Happy Birthday Adele!

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Friday, May 15, 2009

Didn't Make the Cut... V2

There are still so many fun cakes to share!




Finally, a different version of my standard suitcase cake, for a woman with a need for travel and a taste for the good things in life!



This cake was a replica of a loving couples bed, made to celebrate 25 years together. Five cats, one dog, no space in the bed but lots of love!



Spade flush!

A full Clarinet set... A celebration for a musical genius!

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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Aging Gracefully...


Its official... I must be old. When Sony music called a while back and asked me to create a 21st birthday cake for their Grammy nominated artist Adele, I had no idea who she was! Even if I'm not old, that sure made me feel like I was.

Since then I've fallen in love with her music, and it was that music that inspired this 3 foot tall mod birthday cake...

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Monday, May 4, 2009

Cupcakes...


The highlight of an otherwise gloomy, rainy Sunday, was the last class of the Spring 09 Season. The heat of the ovens warmed us all as we worked on cupcake masterpieces! Can't wait to start dreaming up the new fall projects...


Here is the basic buttercream recipe used in class...

7 fluid ounces egg whites
14 ounces sugar
1 1/2 pounds unsalted butter

Combine sugar and egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer. Heat over a double boiler, stirring constantly until very hot to the touch and all sugar has dissolved.

-Put bowl on the mixer with the whisk attachment. Whip whites until stiff peaks have formed.

-Change to the paddle and add butter, in small pieces, waiting for one to beat in before adding the other. Once all butter is added, beat an extra 10 minutes for smoothness.

** You can flavor this anyway you like using:
chocolate
liquors
citrus curd
extracts
reduced fruit purees
spices…
or anything you can think of!




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Saturday, May 2, 2009

Art Inspired


Last year about this time, Veruschka, a student and lover of art, came to Sugar Couture, with an original request. She wanted a recreation of an ancient Greek vase in honor of one of her art instructors. This year, the lucky recipient was her portraiture instructor. Must be some incredible teachers! Sugar Couture created this replica of a painting that was done of the instructor and her daughter, but this cake/canvas was mounted on an easel!

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