Space Shuttle Retirement Party

Get ready for photo MANIA!

Today the Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetarium held a Shuttle Launch/ Retirement Party. Not only did I lead the kids' activities, but I made the cake. It was my biggest adventure to date. The cake fed close to 300 people! Since it took about a week to make a year off my life due to stress, I took as many pictures as I possibly could. Here is the final product:

At the Planetarium, I am known as Commander Kaet. This is me in my astronaut suit. Fetching, isn't it?!?

The layers were chocolate, white and butter cream vanilla. The astronauts and flag were made from fondant covered sugar cookies. The stars and shuttle were made from a fondant/ gum paste mixture.

I tried to take pictures from all different angles. The fondant fixtures don't taste that good. . .in my opinion. They are mainly marshmallows and sugar. Most adults I know can't stand the taste, but since it's got sugar as the main ingredient kids LOVE them. I saw several kids eating the stars like candy. Kind of grossed me out. . .

This is the "After" shot. I think that means they liked it!!

Burnt Coconut Cake

There's a few cakes I know I make well. One of them is a whipped chocolate cake. The other is a burnt coconut cake. Made with coconut and some rum, I've gotten a lot of compliments on it and already have orders for it as far out as October!
I think these are the same pictures, but I know I took two different ones and they keep coming out the same. Cakes I can do. Apparently, digital photography. . .not so much!

Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday. I love the summer, grilling out, watermelon and fireworks. I tried to get Adam to get married on the fourth, but he passed, so I settled with July 10!

Last year, we were a bit preoccupied on the Fourth of July :) so we didn't do much. I don't even think we watched the fireworks! This year, we went down to Owensboro to hang out with the Barron family for the weekend. I was asked to bring along a cake with me. The bottom layer was chocolate and the top layer was basic white.

I was also commissioned to make a cake for a Fourth of July barbecue picnic that was also a "Meet the Baby" event. So the cake below was to celebrate the Fourth, but more importantly, Miss Emma Rylee Hoffman. It was yellow and chocolate.