A study in Champage

What once was simply the name of a bubbly toasting drink is now the theme of entire weddings. The warm smooth glow of champagne covers everything from the color of satin and lace to the softest petals and the most delicious cake...





I found the sparkling drink does wonders for Frosting.  Last year, I introduced our champagne buttercream lavished on layers of white chocolate cake with raspberry filling.  It was a hit and destined to be more than a fad... I hope.

So here's a toast on New Year's Day to all planning a wedding in 2016 and beyond...

If you are a simple bride, but want to be anything but boring, try champagne.  Not just in your colors, but in your cake too!

Beautifully Haunted

A haunted glam cake for the most spooktacular birthday party!

The skull and spider were hand carved out of chocolate and covered in edible silver glitter.  

The home was decorated to the hilt for this fun party.  

How fun to have a birthday around Halloween!  

A fabulous candy display surrounded the Kiara buttercream ruffle cake.

Monogrammed pumpkins were all glammed up as party favors!

I loved the theme and the creative decorations.  

I especially loved creating this cake!

Customers like these make me LOVE my job!

Ruffles and Remembrance

From the moment I walked into their home, I loved this family.

Karen treated me like an old friend and I felt welcome immediately.  The house was a whirl of happy activity.  Her children and family were around getting ready for a birthday party for two of her daughters.  Kiara was turning five and Valentina was turning one.

I was so impressed with the creativity and thought that Karen had put into all the decorating and details.  So many DIY projects and much thought and love had gone into everything.  The ruffle cakes I brought looked perfectly at home next to an amazing candy display.  The outside patio beckoned me with bright colors and joyful decorations.

Valentina, turning one, was in her tutu looking sweet and lovely for the party.

And Kiara, celebrating her fifth birthday, melted my heart instantly.  She was sitting by a window and saw me come in with the cake.  Her eyes lit up.   Kiara's siblings were so helpful.  I noticed the family pictures hanging in the main room and I could feel the love that was there.

Later, I watched as Kiara got her hair done, not her favorite part, but the patient working of a loved ones hands arranged her sweet curls into lovely pony tails.

I left with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.

I didn't know... that it would be Kiara's last birthday.  I recently heard the heart breaking news that Kiara passed away just a week later.

I didn't know that my cake would be part of the last celebration her family would have together with her.

What an honor and privilege to have been a part, even a small one, for her day.  What a beautiful party to celebrate this beautiful child.

...What a beautiful memory.

Even though her departure was unexpected, I know that Karen and her family would want you to know that they are so thankful for each day that Kiara was in their lives.

Frosted offers our sincerest sympathy and heartfelt sorrow for their loss.

I will never see buttercream ruffles again without thinking about Kiara. 

So, with the Gilchrist family's permission, our buttercream ruffle cake will be called the Kiara cake  in their daughter's honor.

*Pictures courtesy of the Gilchrist family.

I want to say to the Gilchrist family and to all of our customers,

It is a blessing and a privilege to know you.  Thank you for allowing Frosted to be a part of your lives.

With love,

- Julie

Beautiful People...

...Make beautiful memories.

I first met Lisa when she ordered a cake for a baby shower in 2010.

I love my customers and have been blessed to meet some friendly and wonderful people over the years.  Lisa was no exception.  When she called me to create a special cake for her daughter Sarah's bridal shower, I was glad to do it.  And then she asked me to create something with a vintage look to it.  I was thrilled!

I delivered the cake to the Collonade in Scranton, PA.  This beautiful venue was the perfect backdrop for the cake, served on a vintage stand that I picked up not too long ago and adore.

Here are Lisa and her daughter Sarah.  If I didn't know them, I would have a hard time believing they weren't sisters!  

Best wishes and many blessings to Sarah, Lisa and the entire family.  XOXO

Frosted's Journey to Never-Never Land

“So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!”

- J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”

- J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

I have loved the stories of James Barrie, especially the magical tale of Peter Pan. When my friend, Stephanie, hired me to create a cake for her twin boys, I was thrilled!

Ben and Max turned three and their creative parents went all out to make it memorable for them and their family.

I want to put a plug in for creative Moms. I know not every Mom can, or wants to, take all the time and energy to make decorations, DIY banners and game ideas. And that is fine. Kids are happy with whatever; a slice of pizza, a balloon, and call it a day. But there are those of us who enjoy the process of creating something special and going the extra mile to make moments for our family. I think Steph is one of those. I love all the thought that went into each and every detail. She didn't have to break the bank and hire a real live Tinkerbell. (I think one of her nieces showed up as Tink anyway). Instead, she used the budget she had and a whole lot of ingenuity and fun to make never never land come to life in her backyard! I was so impressed by all the thought that went into it and the fun she created that I had to share it with you.  The pictures were taken by Stephanie or her husband.  With her permission, I am posting her ideas here. 

The food carried the Never Land theme:

I loved the 'ship' they created in the yard for the children to play in.

“Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning. ”

- J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Tinkerbell in a jar as part of the decorations.

“When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.”

- J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

There was a treasure-box pinata! And a ball pit that the kids 'walked the plank' to jump into. (Fun!) Several of the kids (and adults) were in costume which only added to the magical feel of the day.

“To live will be an awfully big adventure.”

- J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

I was greeted at the driveway by an adult Pirate! (Which helped in identifying which house I was going to!) LOL

I delivered Captain Hook's pirate ship (Figures were not edible, but were plastic play figures provided by Ben and Max's Mom Stephanie).

*Cake and photo by Frosted.

“You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting.”

- J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Happy Birthday, Ben and Max!

Sweet Peaches

I've been a bad, bad, blogger. I am hopeful that I can do better in the future, and to make it up to all my readers (all five of you?), I am giving you a recipe!

I created this recipe out of necessity for something healthy but yummy. I admit, it was also due to my recent craving for peaches. :)

Enjoy!

Peach Coffee Cake

3 cups organic whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 cups organic pure cane, all-purpose sugar
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 cup (2 sticks) organic butter, room temp.
1 cup organic buttermilk (if not available use organic milk and 1 tbsp. vinegar)
1 organic (free range) egg, beaten
1 bag sliced organic frozen peaches (or 3 organic peaches, peeled, cored and sliced.
1/4 cup organic whole wheat pastry flour (to be mixed with Peaches)

Heat oven to 370. Grease a 9 x 13 pan. Mix first seven (dry) ingredients with a wooden spoon in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Cut in butter and then using a pastry tool or your hands, blend until mixture looks crumbly. Set aside 1 1/2 cups for topping.




Add buttermilk and egg to mixture and stir with wooden spoon until mixed well. Toss frozen peach slices with 1/4 cup flour in a separate bowl. Spread batter in greased pan and then evenly lay peaches on top, allowing them to sink slightly into batter.





Cover the top evenly with crumble reserve mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack before cutting. Serve and Enjoy!





This recipe can easily be converted to non organic, using white, all purpose flour and regular granulated sugar etc. Although I highly recommend this organic, healthier version. It will surprise you and tastes great with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea.

ordinary people...extraordinary moments

I meet all kinds of people in this business. So far, Frosted customers have been the BEST! :) Celebrating Thanksgiving with my own family yesterday was one more chance for me to reflect on all I am thankful for. I am certainly grateful for my customers.

A few months ago, a very pleasant woman ordered a cake for her daughter's baby shower. I enjoyed chatting with her and couldn't wait to create something special and personal for her daughter and the little boy they were all waiting for.

I got a little lost going to her home but soon I was on the phone with my client. She patiently directed me and stayed on the phone until I made it to their driveway. I hung up and made my way up a birch lined drive.

The grandest house I have ever seen welcomed me at the end. A stunning woman who I found out was the face behind the voice I had talked to, walked out to greet me and welcomed me graciously into her home. Her son helped carry in some of my things and I chatted with the housekeeper and friends of the family as I set up everything in their state of the art kitchen.

The Mom to Be was gorgeous and so kind. I left their home a little at loss for words.

I guess I have been a little judging of people who have money. I considered them to be snobbish and rude. This family has blown that opinion away. They are not only kind, but generous and hospitable people. I was so honored to be able to make this cake and be a part of their celebration of this little life. He will be a very blessed child, not because of WHAT he has in his life, but WHO.

I also have received calls in the past couple weeks from two husbands who wanted to surprise their wives with cakes. They were so specific and each wanted to be sure that I matched their wives 'style'. I love being part of something like that. Something personal and special.

I've made cakes for weddings that come attached to grand love stories, cakes to celebrate 50th wedding anniversaries, cakes that recognize the birth or adoption of a child that has been wanted and long prayed for, and cakes for a life that has seen 80 birthdays... each one is so special and meaningful.

I am thankful that at Frosted, I don't just supply my customers with a service, but I offer a unique way for you to celebrate the moments and the people that mean the most to you.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with those moments and the people you love.