Chaching cake 4/30/10

I made this cake for my mom in law, she loves going to the casino when she has the time and she needs to unwind. So when it was her birthday my hubby decided that we should make her a slot machine cake. WHAT??? I've never made such thing but the artistic side of my hubby kicked in and he pretty much knew what to make. Me, no clue at all. You know I'm the copy cat kind, the one that has to Google everything, yes, including cake, just to see what they look like. Good thing, hubby knew what he was talking about, 'coz I surely didn't.

Anyway, this was a surprise cake for her. She knew we were making her a cake but she didn't know it was a slot machine.

When she saw the cake she was so happy and excited (sorry I have no picture of her with the cake, she doesn't like her picture taken and she asked me before not to post any without her consent). She even called her sisters in Florida, LOL!

Used a 9x13 cake pan and I just hollowed out the part where the money is supposed to come out.

Used buttercream and added some color to make it grey. Candies to surround the number.

Hubby used a huge candy cane, that really works when you pull it. LOL!
❤ clairebakescakes ❤

Filipino Style BBQ on the stick, anyone? RECIPE 4/26/10

Before I start rambling on how good this BBQ is, I want to thank Vanjo from Panlasang Pinoy who inspired me and made me drool when I saw his version of this Filipino BBQ. Since I had my own recipe that I've had for a long time and so used to the taste that I tried his recipe instead. His site is pretty cool too since he's got a video that shows you how to make the BBQ step by step.

I didn't do my own step by step since I followed his direction. I used a tenderloin for this recipe but I've used pretty much whatever kind of pork there is that you can stick on a stick, LOL!

If you want my recipe it's below the pictures somewhere, LOL! If you want Vanjo's recipe it's here.

Here's my recipe:

• 2 lbs. tenderloin (or any pork with no bones) cut in strips about quarter inch thick
• 2 tbsp. minced garlic
• 2 tsp. fresh black pepper
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. ketchup
• 1/2 cup chicken broth or 1/2 cup 7-up
  
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. oil ( I used vegetable oil)
• salt for taste

What to do:

1. Cut up your pork and set aside on a large enough bowl to marinate with the wet ingredients.
   
2. Combine all the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
3. Mix it in with the pork and make sure you mix the whole entire thing. Use your hand if you have to, just make sure you wash it first, LOL! (I used gloves)
4. Cover with saran wrap and marinade for over an hour. I marinade mine overnight and let the flavor soak in.
5. If you're using the bamboo stick, make sure you soak it in water, at least 30 minutes so it doesn't burn when you start to BBQ. You can also use the metal skewers (is that what they're called? LOL!) but be careful they get hot.
6. Get your meat into the skewer and grill on medium - low and just brown. Don't overcook or the meat will dry out and get too tough.
   
7. Serve with warm rice or whatever your heart desires. Well, if you have any BBQ left from eating while grilling :-)

❤ clairebakescakes ❤

Polka dotted Dino 4/22/10

Since I've been slowing down on my post lately, I have been digging my old pictures of the cakes and cupcakes I've made. I'm going to try to post them here until I get to baking new things again.

This one I made for my my BFF's daughter Bryanna. I got the idea from Betty Crocker kitchen. This was a super easy cake and it's fun to do if you have kids. In their site they use their cake mix form the box but I always use my own recipe.

I made some cupcakes as well.

The wafers are mint chocolate and the kisses are almond.
If you want to make your own dino cake, visit here.

Happy 101 Award, YEY!!!

I received an award from a friend who is also food lover and I'm honored that she picked me as one of the bloggers to receive this award. Thank you Manang, make sure you visit her site she's got some amazing recipe's in there.

I am so happy and excited to get this award. This is a fairly new blog so I'm glad I got one :-)
I did receive one before and I do apologize to my friend Jo, who has a great baking site as well, that I didn't have the chance to post it here :-(

Make sure you pass this award onto others who have been making other people inspired and happy.

10 Things that make me happy:
1. Spending time with family always makes me happy. They are my foundation.
2. Talking to my mom everyday.
3. Cooking for my kids, and when they tell me they love it.
4. Bake for my friends and families and when I see that smile in there eyes. It's all I need as a payment.
5. When I get really cute comments in my blog :-)
6. When my babies just comes up to me and hugs me and tell me that they love me.
7. When I win the lottery, LOL! That would definitely make me happy. Then I can just bake cakes all day long and give them away.
8. When I clean the whole entire house top to bottom.
9. When I get praises for my so called baking skills, LOL! I don't take compliments well so please do understand that when I laugh, I'm flattered and I do thank you!
10. Spaghetti, will definitely make me very very happy, LOL!

Now, here's what you have to do:
1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog (or hyperlink).
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know about the award.

I am now passing this award to:
1. Jo of http://blissfulnibbles.blogspot.com/
2. Veronica of http://veronicaskitchen.multiply.com/
3. Anna of http://annabananna72.multiply.com/
4. Kate of http://bewitchedkate.multiply.com/

❤ clairebakescakes ❤

Deceiving DONUTS! 4/19/10

Ok, this was not my idea but I've seen it. I didn't know who it was and all I saw were pictures of the cake ball / donut and a quarter next to it to show how small it really is. She didn't show how to make it or anything so I had to try and make my own. When I first saw it, I really thought it was a donut but when I saw the quarter next to it, I just couldn't believe my eyes.

I had to try it right away, good thing I already had some cake ready for the cake balls I had to make for a friend. So I made my own cake ball / donut.

When you have all the cake mixed with the frosting. You can flatten them out in a wax paper about 1/2 thick and use any round cutter you have that's about an inch in diameter. I don't have such cutter so I used my big wilton tip.
Cut up a bunch and place them in the side or in a wax paper.
See how pretty they are already.
I then took another wilton tip and use the bottom to cut put the middle part. Make sure you save the middle part and place it back in with the other cake mix.
I got tired of making the donut shape so I just flattened some. Dip them in any colored chocolate you want and re-dip the half part. I used peanut butter for the half part to make it look like the real donut dipped in caramel. Then sprinkle any kind you want.
Don't they look like donuts?
If you didn't believe me, then see how tiny they are? I had to use my hand 'coz I didn't want to put it next to a quarter.
I drizzled some with chocolate.
Sprinkles!
The rest of the cake mix I turned into regular cake balls drizzled with melted peanut butter wafer.
Mini cakeball / donut treats
Chocolate too!
This one wanted to drizzled so they got drizzled, LOL!
See how tiny they are, next to the cake balls?

Let me know if you make one and make sure you come visit my facebook page and post your own creations there.

❤ clairebakescakes ❤

Mango cake FLOP :-( 4/18/10

Sorry to say but this is not a post about my mango cake that I made. Oh, yes! I made it but I don't have the pictures. As you can see I'm posting strawberry picking pictures from last summer. I was going to post about my mango cake, which was so good, but when I uploaded the photos, I accidentally just clicked on 1 picture to upload and stupid me didn't check before deleting the photos in the camera. So when I checked the iPHOTO there was only 1 picture there. Ohh, I was so mad, grrr!!!

So the lesson of my stupidity is don't delete it before checking if the photos did upload right. Anyway, enjoy my little man picking strawberries with daddy. He's not really picking he was eating, more than picking. LOL!
❤ clairebakescakes ❤

Where have I have been? 4/15/10

WOW!!! It has been a while since I've been here last. You all have probably been wondering if I'm ever coming back to post again. I have been so busy lately at home and just doing things around the house that I haven't had the chance to bake. The hubby has been dieting as well (not so happy about that) I mean, I'm not happy 'coz I can't bake as much, I am happy that he's trying to lose weight :-)

The last thing I made was some cake balls for a Firemen's Banquet I was giving away as a door prize. There was a lot of disappointed faces that night, those who didn't win :-( I felt bad.

So I made a mini plate with 2 dozen cake balls.

I also made 3 boxes with 8 cake balls.

It was a hit and everyone loved it, well to those who actually had some. LOL!

❤ clairebakescakes ❤

Smooth cake ball (VIDEO) 4/3/10

Hi everyone!

I have a few of you that have asked on how to get a smooth cake ball when you dip them in chocolate.

I'm no expert on cake balls but I have done a few already that I have managed to figure out on how to dip mine fast and smooth. The key too is have a nice smooth and satiny texture on your chocolate before you start dipping. It has a lot to do with the chocolate you use too and how you melt them. I use the microwave a lot and it's the best way for me to melt my chocolate. Also what kind of chocolate melts do you have available? Another thing, heat is another factor on how to melt. If you melt it too high you actually cook the chocolate and it will get lumpy. Microwaving it for 30 seconds interval is how I do mine. Also you can add a solid vegetable shortening (I use crisco) to thin out the chocolate.

Be a fan at my Facebook page :-)

Hope this helps a bit and just send me a message.