Chocolate Kisses and Buttercream Dreams

It’s been awhile since my last post due to the crazy holiday goings-on! I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas and New Years and that you are energized and ready to head into 2010 full steam ahead! I want to share a cake I worked on over the holidays.

It’s definitely my new favourite….and my Dad absolutely LOVED it

This was for Dad’s birthday actually, which is right next to mine so we always enjoy a joint celebration. This year we celebrated on December 19th, right in between. Mine is on the 20th and his on the 18th.

Well I must be going for now…….lots of lovely accounting work to get caught up on. It’s that time of year that we have to pay special attention to the books what with tax season right around the corner. Please do stay tuned for updates. I have lots on goodies up my sleeve for the new year so keep checking in for announcements. I also welcome comments on the blog regarding what you would like to see here, cakes you are interested in seeing (I’m always looking for new designs!), and any questions you may have related to baking or really anything kitchen related. I’ll do my best to answer and if I don’t have an answer for you, I’ll find it!

Bakefully Yours,

Shannon

Hi all! It’s been awhile since my last blog entry……it’s just such a busy time of year! In case anyone is still in need of Christmas goodies for a last minute gathering, office party, etc – I am still taking orders for trays. Check out the website for pricing.

I am happy to report that an article is being published about Bella Baked Goods today in one of our local newspapers! Thanks to Shawn Merrithew for a great article! If you are living outside the region and see the article and wonder how you can sample some of my creations, I am now shipping baked goods via Purolator. Contact me for rates. Cakes cannot be shipped at this time. If you would like to check out the article online, the link is; www.nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/gleaner/article/888876

Shannon

Christmas baking is underway! Trays are $45 for 90 pieces and $90 for 108 pieces. Choose from sugar cookies, peanut butter cups, peanut butter balls, spritz cookies, icebox cookies, molasses crinkle cookies, gingersnaps, shortbread wedges. All baked to order with fresh ingredients. Orders can be shipped via Pulolator across Canada.

Today I am receiving my first shipment from my ingredient/packaging supplier, so in a way it’s another little milestone for Bella. It means I have become busy enough for it to make sense for me to buy these things in bulk! I am contemplating ideas as to how to increase business further and I think I will begin shipping across Canada via UPS or Purolator…..of course, not cakes or cupcakes but many items can easily be shipped without being damaged. I appreciate your thoughts/ideas/advice so let me know what you all think! You can comment on this post or on the Facebook page. Thanks!

Quiet day at home today, due to not feeling well…..hopefully back in the kitchen tomorrow. Does anyone out there know where I can get black fondant in 5lb quantities? Or larger? I am so tired of trying to make black by hand…….it’s alot of work!! Any I have found online have been half the size and twice the price of what I normally purchase for my kitchen. I really am considering carrying some of this hard to find stuff for the kitchen/baking on my website…..and shipping across Canada. What do you all think??

See you soon!

So today I finished the monkey cake and made a cute little smash cake to match for the birthday boy! I hope he enjoys digging his little fingers in!

Please note I am accepting Christmas orders at this time but I do need advance notice. Please have your orders in by the first week of December! Trays offer a variety of goodies and come in two sizes.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Shannon

So today I made these cute little monkey faces……taught myself how to make them out of gumpaste. They came out pretty well I think!! They just need some little ears . I also covered a cake and a matching mini cake with green fondant today, this will be a canvas for the monkey cakes I am doing for the weekend. I think they’ll be cute and unique!

Received my latest issue of Martha Stewart Living today – the Christmas issue, so I think I’ll go have a look and maybe get a few giftwrapping, baking and decorating ideas for the holidays!

Sweet Dreams all!

Shannon

Welcome to my new blog, Chocolate Kisses and Buttercream Dreams!  I am soooo excited about it!  I hope you’ll come back often to see what Bella is up to!  I spent most of the day in the kitchen doing some prep work and experimentation for a client order that features cute little climbing monkeys!  I will post pics as soon as it is completed. 

Well, it’s been a long, busy day at the bakery so I will sign off for now and be back tomorrow to talk about upcoming events, plans for the site and maybe even some thoughts on baking topics that I find interesting……and hopefully you will too!  Sweet dreams!