Birthday Treats

This is a cake I made for my roommate's birthday a couple weeks ago.  Sadly, I didn't get a picture of the inside once we cut it - what was I thinking?!?!  I obviously wasn't, but at least I can show you what it looked like before it was devoured.

It was a chocolate cake with a chocolate-cream cheese icing - YUM.  I recently got several different decorating "tools" so this was one of my first experiments with them.  I obviously need to work on my icing penmanship, but that will come with practice. : )  Other than that, I was really pleased with how it came out.

So if you've got a birthday or special event coming up, let me know and you could get a delightful treat just for you!

Blessings-
LC

Choconut

I will admit that I usually only bake things that I like - that's a little selfish I know!  And since I've never really liked coconut, that means I don't make things with coconut very often.  Well, these black-bottomed coconut bars are an exception.

A friend of mine recently had a birthday, and I happened to know they were a fan of chocolate-coconut combinations.  So these chewy bars were the natural choice.  Rich brownie-like bottom, sweet coconut topping.  I'm told they were fantastic - if you like coconut that is. ; )

Blessings-
LC

Business and Blueberries

I've had several inquiries lately about my budding baking business.  And I must say that I'm really enjoying taking my "hobby" to the next level.  I started this blog just for fun, and I've gotten so many kind and encouraging comments - so thank you to all of you who have and continue to support me!

There has also been interest in purchasing some of the delightful treats that I post on this blog, and yes, you can!!! : )  If you live in the DC-metro area, I'd be happy and honored to bake something for your next birthday, holiday, or special gathering.  I've already been getting some great business by word of mouth, so if you know me, feel free to put in your order!  And if you're in the DC-metro area and would like to order something, just email me at delightfultreatsbylc@gmail.com and I'd love to do business with you!

I'll leave you today with my all-time favorite blueberry muffins.  This is a recipe I got from my mom, and in my opinion, there's just nothing better than those family recipes passed down through the generations.  These muffins not only have blueberries, but also oats and buttermilk, which really had a moist and tangy quality to these to die for muffins.  Plus with the oats, it makes them more healthy, right? ; )

Blessings-
LC

Grandma's Lemon Bars

Ironically, both of my grandmas love lemon bars... and I must admit that I do as well!  There's just something about the tartness of the lemon against the sweet creaminess of these bars that I just love - especially if they're chilled in the refrigerator first.  The creamy lemon filling is baked on top of a buttery cookie bottom, so they hold up very nicely when you eat them with your fingers - or shove them in your mouth by the fistful, you'll find no judgment here. ; )

So over the Christmas holiday, I made sure to make these luscious lemon bars for my grandma's Christmas open house.  I know they're not typically a winter-type of treat, but honestly, who really likes to follow seasonal baking guidelines anyways, right?

Blessings-
LC

Red Delicious

As I have previously admitted, I'm a cake kinda girl.  I know I already featured red velvet in a post a while back, but those were cupcakes, and this is cake, and I love red velvet.  So that's a good enough reason for me!

I think red velvet cake is a very southern desert, and not being from the South, it wasn't really that common where I grew up.  But about 3 years ago, I decided to try it, and I knew I had found the one.  The slight hint of cocoa, the rich cream cheese frosting (which is the best part anyways, right?), and it's just the perfect balance and combination.  Just scoop on some vanilla ice cream and it doesn't get any better than that!

I made this red velvet cake for my roommate's birthday (who to my delight also loves red velvet!).  Unfortunately I didn't get a very good picture of it once we cut it, but you get the idea.  I warned you when I started with this blog that photography wasn't exactly my strong point, so you'll just have to deal with it this time! : )

Blessings-
LC

The Big Day

Well, the whole reason I started this blog was to advertise my services in the hopes of having a little baking side business.  And the event that started it all, was my roommate's wedding this past summer.  I had always wanted to make a wedding cake, but thought it was an unachievable dream.  But when my roommate asked me if I'd make her cake, I jumped at the chance - what a great opportunity!  I also made around 100 cupcakes for her wedding, but those are less exciting to look at. : )

So today I present to you the first ever wedding cake I made.  I didn't have some of the proper tools or techniques for decorating, so that's something I am going to work on.  I got a bunch of great decorating tools from Santa this Christmas, and am looking at taking some professional decorating classes in the near future.  Making my roommate's wedding cake was very stressful, because it was my first one.  But I must admit, that once it was finished, it was one of the proudest moments of my life.  I don't think I want to be a full-time maker of wedding cakes, but they are fun and challenging and such a special thing to be able to do for others.

Blessings-
LC