First Communion Cake

I was hired to make a first communion cake for two girls this weekend. I have to admit I wasn't too sure how it would turn out, but overall I think it was a success. I did have to Google what the rosary beads and communion cup and wafers looked like though! Oh well
 Here are a couple pictures, I had lots of fun making the sugar flowers, I really love doing that, there is something therapeutic about it or something! Anyhow, enjoy...

Parker turns 5!!

My sweet mischeivous, sensitive boy Parker Glen Johnson turned five yesterday! It was a wonderful day celebrating my third born son. He woke up to us singing Happy Birthday to him, enjoyed a breakfast of chocolate chip cookies and played the morning away with his siblings. Once at school Mom and Dad Emery and Carter came and had Lunch with him for his Birthday. Later we did a craft together then he enjoyed the rest of the day at school. He brough volcano cupcakes to share with his class. They were a big hit. For his dinner he requested make your own pizzas. A favorite of my kids, and I love that they will actually eat it since they made it themselves. Once dinner was over we had family time and waited for friends to arrive to enjoy some cake. Then presents and cake time it was! Overall it was a wonderful day and we sure are happy to have him in our family! Here are some facts about Parker: And some pictures

 (Parker in his Ninja Turtle gear he got for his Birthday)

• He loves all things Ninja turtle
• He is starting to be a really good eater, trying everything and not complaining, His favorite foods are Chicken, pineapple, Bacon, pizza, noodles and pretty much anything with sugar in it.
• He is our mischievous one, if it is quiet you need to go find out what Parker is getting into!
• He is our sensitive one, he cries easily and gets emotional. But I think it is because his heart is so big!

(His cake, he requested a Volcano with dinosaurs, too bad you can't buy dry ice in this tiny town or his cake would have been SO much cooler)

• He doesn't like water very much, but is getting much better and hopefully with swimming lessons this summer he will just get better!
• He loves his brothers and sister, he is always telling them he loves them and giving them hugs and kisses.
• He LOVES School, he is excited about starting Kindergarten in the fall, he is very smart and will do awesome in kindergarten. 

• His favorite people are Mom of course! (yes I made it!) His buddy Riggs, and His teacher Tristy!
• He bears his testimony every fast Sunday by himself, we've never gone up there with him and he always bears a wonderful and strong testimony.
• He says he wants to be a Prophet when he gets older.

 

• He is a wonderful listener, and tries really hard to be obedient.
• He loves to smile,
• He loves soccer and riding bikes 

Overall he is an AWESOME Son who we love so very much! Can't believe he is five! He and Porter are the same age for the next two weeks and I wouldn't have it any other way! We love you Buddy!



 

Man it has been awhile since I posted! Life sure has been busy! But I wouldn't have it any other way. Is it sad that the only time I make time to post is when it is a cake? I think maybe it is because I want to have all my cakes for my portfolio book on here. oh well.

Well back around Halloween I donated a certificate for a silent auction for the sixth graders fund raiser for their field trip(it's apparently a big deal this field trip) Anyhow, the certificate was for a cake to serve 100 people, I was bummed because my preference for a starting bid did not get put on there which would have been starting bid of $50. And the cake went for $45 I think. oh well it was for a Good cause and it all worked out because the gal that bought it only wanted cake for 30 people which made me feel alittle better. :)
Anyhow, she asked for a cowgirl cake for her daughter's 8th birthday with teal, pink and purple with Stars on it. It is a simple white cake with strawberry filling, buttercream and marshmellow fondant.

The brim of the hat is made of gum paste. Overall I'm happy with how it turned out. Hopefully the birthday girl like it to!

 

Anyhow, life has been super busy, Darwin has an MRI tomorrow for his back, which might need a possible surgery, hopeful that it won't but we will see. The kids have been sick with the croupy crude and I'm slowly getting bigger with Johnson Baby #6, another boy due July 15th!

Steak Cake

Darwin's Grandpa Glen Johnson turned 80 this pasted weekend. We were able to go back to Burns for the celebration, and I was asked to make him a cake. Darwin's Aunt Sharon came up with the idea of doing a big ole steak, I added the mashed potatoes and corn. It turned out really well! I was really worried about the steak looking cartoony but all in all it turned out pretty good. Everything on the plate is edible. The mashed potatoes, are chocolate cake that I covered in ivory fondant, I didn't want it smooth or pretty as it is suppose to be potatoes, the butter is a yellow starburst complete with Butterscotch "gravy". The corn is cake covered in ivory fondant, then I made three different shades of yellow and hand rolled the kernels. I then colored some sugar black for pepper. The steak is just cake covered in white fondant and then I hand painted it. All it all I think it is one for the portfolio!

Another Cake

It would seem as of late that I'm not cooking any other than cake....I assure you my family is eating regular balanced meals and not just cake. I just haven't blogged about the recipes and really haven't made anything new, lately...other than cakes. So yes this post is about yet another cake.
I made a Birthday cake for my friend Amy's son Dillon and her friend saw it and wanted a cake made for her son's Birthday. Batman was the desired theme. Here is what the cake looked like...

Overall I'm pleased with how it turned out. The little boy was pretty excited about the cake as well. My kids we're bummed because they weren't invited to the birthday party of the kid they don't know.

So I've had lots of people ask me for business cards and I've decided it is time to make my cake business a little more official. So I'm going to order some business cards, but I can not for the life of me come up with a name...any ideas?

Happy Halloween!!

I was asked to make a cake for a silent auction for the sixth graders fundraiser for their annual fieldtrip... They always put on a Halloween carnival and silent auction and it is usually a huge success. I made the cake above for the auction and also gave a gift certificate for a cake order up to 100servings. Not sure what happened but the auction was definately not as successful as it was last year, it seemed there were less people and less bidding. The Halloween cake went for $17... and the certificate for $40. I'm trying to tell myself it is ok and it went to a good cuase, but hurts alittle when I realize I know get to do a large 100 serving cake and the money earned for the school was only .40 a serving.... oh well, at least I can use towards my charitable contributions on my taxes...right? Anyhow, I was pleased with how the cake turned out.

My one and only girl so far Emery Jade turned three yesterday! It seems like yesterday we were welcoming her into our home full of boys! Here are some fun facts about Emery:

• She was born prematurally at 35 weeks, but went home with us right away, just had to be in a car bed cause she was so tiny!
• She is GIRLY!! Which I completely encourage and love! We will see how long it lasts with all these boys!
• She LOVES to eat, her favorites are noodles and chicken, corn and cheese. She is not picky and eats very well!
• She loves babies and playing mommy.
• She LOVES her "boys" she always is asking when her boys will be home, she loves her brothers and is so kind and loving to them.
• She likes to think she is also the mom when it comes to her boys.
• Most pictures of her have the freezed mid word of Cheese grin. As pictured below
• If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up she always replies a Mommy
• She wants to go to Preschool SO bad, and she is ready!
• She loves the Lion King and Mickey Mouse and all things princess.
• Her favorite dress is the one my mom made her for Miranda's wedding because, one it is big like a princess dress and two because Grandma made it.
• She is SO silly, she says the funniest things and does the cutest most silly things!
• She sounds like a cartoon character. 

one year old

And now three...freeze cheese grin!

 

And finally a pretty one. We are so very blessed to have this beautiful daughter in our home. She lights up our home. We are so proud of her and happy for her third Birthday! We love you Emery girl!

My Baby Carter is one!
When did the year fly by?!! It seems like it was just yesterday we were welcoming this little guy into our family.

Facts about Carter Steven Johnson

• He was born 4 weeks early weighing in at 6lbs 7 oz and was 19inches long
• He struggled breathing on his own.
• He took his first airplane ride before he was even 12 hours old
• He was in the NIcu for 10 days, on a ventilator for 24 hours and oxygen the rest of the time, till he could brethe on his own. One of his lungs was under developed.
• I stayed by his side the entire time he was in the NICU. At one point we thought we were going to loose him and it scared me completely, that when we were released and home I had MAJOR anxiety that something was still wrong and literaly didn't sleep for the first three months.
• He is a very calm and mellow boy but he lets you know when he is unhappy and tired.
• He is our chunky monkey, he has so many rolls on his arms that I call them his sleeves cause I can pull them up!
• He loves to eat any and all food, not a huge fan of bananas, but likes most other things.
• He weaned himself.
• He army crawled from 6 months to 9 when he finally decided to get a move on!
• He is our latest walker thus far as he hasn't started walking yet.
• He is a cuddler, he loves to be held, and when you put him down and he doens't want to be he flings his head inbetween his legs and cries or he will flail on to his stomach just like a temper tantrum!
• He is a momma's boy through and through!
• He has the sweetest little smile that brightens my day, he has dimples that are so adorable.
• He has an angry cry which is hillarious and really we need to record it but it is like he is cussing us out in baby talk of course, but it is like someone is crying at the same time as yelling, it really is quiet funny!
• He is our silent observer. He watches everyone intently.

I made him a train cake for his Birthday, he seemed very confused all day on his Birthday, and seemed to be wondering what the big deal was. He did enjoy the cake and prestents. I can't believe he is one! We are so happy for him to be in our family and so blessed by his beautiful sweet Spirit! We love you Carter!

My younger sister got married!!!

Just got back from a wonderful vacation to Colorado. It had been over 2 years since I had been home to visit my family and if it weren't for my sister getting married we probably wouldn't have made it out.
I still can't believe she is married! It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding and I'm so honored to have been able to make her wedding cake for her. She had a vintage themed wedding and it was gorgeous! My dear sweet mother spent day after day at her sewing machine making all the dresses and ties and vest and bow ties, she made all the flowers and accesories as well. it was gorgeous! I was so happy to be able to be there and make the cake, I am so proud of my sister as well as making the choice to get married in the Temple, for time and all eternity.

The cake was a four teired marbled cake with a creamed raspberry filling, butter cream and ivory marshmellow fondant. It turned out beautiful!

 The cake was decorated with Lace and fondant pearls, an antique crystal dish, flowers and pearls from our mother and grandmother.

She sure was a beautiful bride! Congrats Miranda and Marshall we are so blessed to have been part of your special day!

Happy Birthday to My first Born
Denver!

Holy cow when did you get to be so big! I can't believe he turned seven!!

He wanted a baseball cake, unfortunately he little brother Carter was really sick and I was up ALL night the night before, so the cake was definately NOT my best work... But he was happy and that is what mattered.

Facts about Denver:

• He is the most kind and loving brother, he always shares so nicely with others without us even having to ask him to. He will always remember his siblings and bring them home things and share.
• He has lost six teeth, the most recently on his birthday! so fun!
• He loves ALL sports, currently his favorites are baseball and hockey. He is very athletic and is doing very well in swimming lessons.
• He LOVES being a brother. He is always willing and wanting to help me and loves babies, he is always asking me when will I have another baby because Emery needs a sister or he could use another brother!
• He is learning to read and is doing so well! He is very interested in learning and is excited about reading and being in the first grade next year.
• He taught himself to ride a bike with out training wheels. One day he just all of the sudden could do it, we never once held the back of the seat and ran along side...sad I know.
• He is very sensitive, he has a tender heart and really feels the pain of others.
• He loves to watch movies and just hang out as a family.
• His favorite foods are crab, sweet and sour chicken, chicken enchiladas, german pancakes and all things breakfast. He is getting to be quiet the eater and not picky, which I love! I'm scared for the up coming days where I'm sure he will eat us out of a home!
• He is looking forward to being baptised in a year and is using this year to prepare(his words not mine!)
• He loves to vacuum! Which works for me!
• He likes to change his clothes...seriously he changes clothes a couple times each day which DRIVES ME NUTS! but man do we love him anyways!

We are so truely blessed to have him in our family, he is a wonderful example to his siblings and a helper to me! I love how he teaches me and how he loves completely! Happy Birthday Denver! We love you!!

He also got a pretty cool birthday gift of having a cousin born on the same day! He thinks it is pretty darn cool!

Forest Waterfall Cake

So about a week ago I was asked to do some sketches for some cakes for an event here in town. The Forest Service was celebrating their 40th year of volunteers, so I drew up several sketches along with prices and they picked from them. They were on a budget so I was only gonna do one layer of cake on each teir rather than the normal two, which would be more on point for the servings they wanted and the price... however once I got making it...it just wouldn't have looked right with only one layer of cake, so needless to say they got a steal. It was lots of work but lots of fun, however it was hard because I got sick along with the kids...no fun, My hands are raw from washing them so much! But it was worth it!




the front, everything is edible except the stump :) If I were to do anything differently I would listen to Darwin and do the fondant under the water fall blue rather than white as the "water" did kind of run off the edges and you could see the white underneath. over all it was a success!

The back side of the cake, I used a chocolate marshmellow fondnat recipe that I'd never worked with before and it cracked like crazy but I left it for this cake as it was rustic and dirt/bark like.

Now I'm going to bed!

Here is the most Recent of my cakes. This was for Darwin's cousin reception that was in Burns last weekend. It is a walnut carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. The carrot cake was a HUGE hit...it is a really tasty recipe so I thought what better place to share than on my blog :) So here it is....


Carrot Cake:

2 cups Sugar

1 ½ cups Oil

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

2 cups flour

2 tsp cinnamon

3 cups grated carrots (sometimes up to 5 cups)

1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream sugar and oil until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat well. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Mix on low speed just until moist. Fold in carrots and nuts. Bake at 350' for 50-60 minutes in greased and floured pan.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 stick of butter . softened

16 oz box of powdered sugar

8 oz package softened cream cheese

½ tsp vanilla

½ tsp lemon juice

Mix butter and cream cheese. Add powder sugar and beat well. Add vanilla and lemon juice and mix it in. Frost cake when cool

And here is one more recipe for kicks... so like the recipe says you should grease and flour your pans...this is kindof a pain and you are always wondering anxiously...did I grease and flour it enough...will the cake come out. Until alas, you flip that pan over and nothing happens.... well us cake people that do lots of cakes use something called cake release...

it is an 8 oz bottle and usually goes for about $5.00...now that can get pretty spending if you use it alot like I do....so I did alittle googling and found a homemade version and man oh man I'll never buy that kind again!

 So here it is for you all...

Cake Release

1 part veg oil

1 part shortnening

1 part flour

 whipped till combined and smooth Store in air tight container stir if necessary before use. I store it in a mason jar.

Happy Easter! Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday, we had great fun filled with Esater egg hunts, good food, friends and great lessons about the resurection. I did the resurection egg lesson that I do every year and started crying as my kids knew exactly what item represented before I had a chance to tell them or read the scriptures. I was so proud of them and it reassured me that we were doing a good job teaching them the things they need to know. I'm doing yet another wedding cake this weekend and it is going to be carrot cake. The bride really wanted to use her mom's recipe and I thought I better do a test run to check the recipe. So I made an Easter cake. Great Fun! Now I'm trying to unclog my kitchen sink so I can get all the prep done for the wedding cake! And I really Don't want to call a plumber!! AHHHHH! Pictures of the wedding cake will come soon!

Here is Porter with his Stars wars cake! I had to laugh because my kids like me have never really seen Star wars, but it was all he wanted and all he could talk about. He loved it but was bummed that the legs didn't move... Sorry son I'm not going to get in to mechanical cakes!

I can't believe he is five! Here are some facts and things we LOVE about Porter:

• I think he is going to one day legally change his name to Porter Cowboy, he loves everything  and when asked his name Porter Cowboy is what you get.
• We thought we were going to loose him at six months old, when he had his Craniosynostosis surgery. One of the scariest things I've ever experienced. We have been so blessed that he did so well and continues to do well.
• If you ask him about his scar on his head he will tell you a long story about how Parker hit him in the head with a hockey stick and gave him that scar....?
• He loves to play independently, he will find one thing whether it is cars or his soldiers and play by himself for hours.
• Some of his favorite toys are cars, his little green soldiers, his horses and cowboy things of course, dinasours, and his fighter jets.
• He loves all sports, but is really good at basketball. He is excited to start T-ball here in a few weeks.
• He has inherited some of his father's OCD... it really is quiet annoying. He likes things a certain way and doesn't handle change well. For example when he is coloring all of the crayons have to be in a certain order and in a line, if someone needs a color he has, he can't handle it... thus we have a huge bucket of crayon in our house to eliminate any fighting over the yellow crayon. :)
• His favorite color is green.
• some of his favorite foods are, cheese roll ups, any and all things breakfast, steak and green beans and broccoli.
• He is our story teller and comedian, for a kid who didn't say anything other than screams till he was almost three we sure can't seem to get him to be quiet now!!
• He loves to sing and be silly, he loves to give hugs and kisses.
• He loves babies, and there is rarely a prayer that is said by him in which he doesn't pray for more siblings....(his Dad is so proud)
• He is our tough guy, he is always trying to wrestle or box his siblings and he is the one that if he gets hurt he most often just shruggs it off.

We are so very blessed to have Porter part of our family, he brings joy and comedy into it daily. He is such a character and wesure do love him and hope he had a wonderful birthday and felt how much we love him!

My Dear sweet son Parker turned 4 yesterday! it is crazy to think he is four already! Even more crazy to realize he and Porter are the same age now! Even though it is only for 2 weeks! He wanted a ninja turtle cake so a sculpting I went! It turned out pretty good except for as I went to place the fourth ninja turtle on the cake it slip and fell to ground and shattered...ooops.. oh well he still was happy with the cake.

Parker is such a joy to have in our home! He has blessed our family so very much. Facts about Parker....

• He is very mischievous and I swear the wheels are always turning in his head planning his next move or plan of attack.
•  He is our pickiest eater, some of his favorites are chicken nuggets(so much that he asked Santa for a bag for Christmas!) hot dogs, pretty much any type of meat and shrimp, french fries and pancakes.
• He likes to chew on things (I blame this on the fact that as a baby he would NOT take a binky or bottle...but that is just my theory) So if it is nerf or plastic, rubber or fabric beware. He once ate an entire nerf football...no joke it is strange and disturbing.
• He loves to hug and kiss his brothers and sister, he is so sweet and kind and always worried when one of them is crying or hurt.
• He has a sweet spirit and is already a little missionary. He always remembers to pray at meal times even if he is at school he will bless his lunch. He bore his testimony at Church for the first time and it consisted of him singing a primary song over the pulpit.
• He is very athletic like all my boys and is very excited to get to play T-ball here in a couple of weeks.
• He is very very smart. He can spell and write correctly each of his family members names and can repeat words of a song after hearing them only once. I wonder if his memory is almost photographic or something.
• His favorite things to play with are his Dinosaur World and dinosaur tail, pretty much anything dress up even if it is his sisters princess costumes, and he loves to color.
• He is soft spoken and very obedient.
• Most recently he figured out how to climb on top of the refrigerator...something mom is not happy about. Hopefully our chat about safety will stick!

We love him so very much and we are so blessed to have him in our eternal family! Hope that he had a wonderful day full of fun, love, presents and cake! Love you Parker!

I've been a slacker and not posted in quiet a while... I will blame the busy holidays! Here is a cake I did today for some people in our ward. It was a white almond cake with a cream cheese raspberry chocolate chunk filling. it was tasty and coinsidering I'm dealing with my second case of Mastitis with in two months...it turned out well. The cake topper was made by the aunt of the bride.

Denver's Birthday

So my next post was gonna be on a friend..but she has yet to give me a recipe she wants posted so... I'll move on to other events in our lives. Denver my first born and oldest son is HOLY COW six! No way where did the time go? We went to the Oregon coast for his birthday because he wanted to be on the beach for his birthday so we went. It was a fast but fun trip... for the cake oh the cake... ugh he wanted Buzz lightyear. So about a week before we left I shaped and carved Buzz out of rice krispies thinking that'd be the best way to do it and then we would just do the Alein Cupcakes there for the cake part... hahaha, well the day before we leave I'm working on Buzz putting the fondant on him and I have to go and rescue a screaming child...Emery I believe. I return to the kitchen to find Buzz on the floor demolished and Parker looking guilty. He swears he didn't touch him and that he just fell... Oh well so I frantically start thinking what to do. I baked an extra cake and made half of Buzz out of cupcakes, and packed up everythign else for the road trip... well cake doesn't travel well and it was rough, but overall it turned out okay and the six year old LOVED it which lets face it is all that matters!

Mario Cake

Denver's best buddie Luke celebrated his 6th Birthday today. Luke came over when we celebrated Porter and Parker's Birthdays and all he could talk about was the marshmellow frosting! His mother asked me if I would make a cake for him using the marshmellow fondant. I was happy to. However I had to summon my inner video gamer, which I soon found out there isn't an inner one of those in me, so I googles alot. His theme was Mario. The cake turned out cute and it was a huge hit!

Orchid Cake

The gum paste orchid cake... I think it turned out good. The picture I was given orginally had A satin ribbon and a string of pearls and real orchids on it. The Bride (Darwin's Cousin wanted everything edible) Which added up to ALOT of work for me, but I'm very pleased with the outcome. The only thing other than the dowels and cake boards that was NOT edible on the cake was the wires on the flowers that held them together. The bride loved it and it seemes as everyone else did as well.

 This is the top view of the orchids on the top teir.

Me with my master piece. I really enjoyed doing this cake, and I'm really proud of how it turned out. I always have to mentally prepare myself for when they cut into the cake, because I see all the hard work and it disappearing so fastly... I wasn't quiet ready when they cut into this cake and quinged a little bit! Oh well, it looked great and tasted great and now all I have left is pictures!

More cake...

I'm making the wedding cake for Darwin's cousin this weekend and she wanted everything edible. So I've been busy making these:

They are gum paste cymbidium orchids. The actually are a very pretty red, not the brown they look in the photo...poor lighting I guess! The cake is 4 round teirs, chocolate cake with mint filling, white cake with vanilla bavarian filling, chocolate cake with chocolate filling and lemon cake with raspberry filling, all cover with buttersream and marshmellow fondant. Lots of work. Photos will be coming soon!