Wednesday the 13th is the new Friday the 13th

This is my friend Steve:

He was born on October the 13th, and chances are that he's done way more cool shit than you.

The first time I met Steve he was wearing a breakdancing Fat Bald Men t-shirt, a brown UPS hat, and he had a pony tail. True story. Steve worked for my dad at my family's store in Ithaca, NY. About 10 years later Steve would be helping my dad and some friends and I move a piano into my house and, while carrying a too heavy thing down too many stairs, confess to my father that many of the hours he spent "working" for my dad were actually comprised of talking shit with my cousin and sneaking Strawberry Quick in the beer cooler.

Steve and I share stories of misadventure that span the country a few times over and could easily fill a lengthy novel. We've disagreed as many times as we've come to one another's rescue, and we've shown up with as much unconditional love and compassion as we've been cranky, bratty and mean to each other.

I have learned through Steve Crandall the true meaning of friendship, and am grateful and glad every single day for his presence in my life.

In honor of Steve - because I'm totally glad he was born, and because I can't be there to make him chocolate cake in person, I'm sharing with the world a list that I shared with him a little while back.

Ten important things I learned from Steve Crandall

10) Cops, meter maids, and tow truck drivers should not be trusted.

9) Almost anything is possible, or at least worth a shot, if it turns out to be impossible move on to the next thing.

8) Gnomes love to loiter.
7) When you're about to fight, hand someone you know your glasses and your wallet.
6) Life's a beach.
5) Occasionally it's important to take the local roads instead of the highway.

4) , 5, 6 wins. Always.

3) Strawberry Quick is awesome, but if you drink too much of it your stomach will hurt.

2) If you go streaking wearing only a cape and a mask you will get arrested.

1) Have fun every day.

Steve is someone that I admire and respect, someone who's life and advice I consider when making major decisions in my own. If you would have told me in 1993 that I would be learning some of the most important lessons of my life from the dude with a ponytail sneaking Strawberry Quick in the cooler, I never would have believed you. I guess that's just how life goes.

Love you Steve. Happy Birthday, and thanks for all of the good times!

Weddings, funerals, cookies and an emotional readjustment

Last week I traveled to South Carolina to spend time with my amazing family and attend an amazing wedding with them in North Carolina. While I was there I made a wedding cake for 100 people, had the opportunity to drive through a beautiful mountain range in the Nantahala National Forest, and ate a few too many of my Uncle David's pecan chocolate chip cookies.

Life has been showing up in extremes the past few weeks (a wedding, a death, a pregnancy, an illness, and lots of transition) and after the wedding last weekend my extended family traveled back to Ithaca with my mother and I to spend some unexpectedly extended time together. Friday afternoon when the last of my family left I was feeling sad and lonely.

I decided this morning to try my hand at some pecan chocolate chip cookies. Partly because baking relaxes me and partly because thinking about these cookies is a fond reminder of how much I enjoy my family and am grateful for them no matter what the circumstance. My cookies were good but not nearly as good as my Uncle David's. What can I say, I think I'm at a pecan disadvantage up here in NY, plus he's had a lot more practice.

Baking for art's sake

Some of my friend Phil's illustrations are on display at Homegrown this month. The illustrations are amazing and you should go look at them in person. There was an opening reception for the show at the end of last week and I baked cookies. A little sugar to accompany cheap wine and PBR seemed in order. Right? Right!

It's fun baking for events and people that I like. Phil and I met up a week or two before the show to talk about the work he was hanging and what kind of sweets he might want. He basically told me I could make whatever I wanted while also mentioning that he likes cut out cookies. I decided on apple shaped sugar cookies with salty sweet buttercream frosting (of the green variety).

I thought the apple would be funny because apples symbolize so many different things: youth; love; immortality (forbidden fruit); health (an apple a day...); cities; computers. So why not a cookie at an art opening. They were really fun to make, and sugar cookies in fun shapes are always fun to eat. So it was pretty much a win - win situation in the end.

I told Phil I made 100 cookies but I really made a 115. No telling where the 15 that didn't make it to the art show went.

Hoping for easy like Sunday morning

I spent my early Friday morning hours finishing a sheet cake (and a few bonus cupcakes) for a lunch time party at a school in my neighborhood. Chocolate congratulations.

Waiting for butter cream to set at an ungodly morning hour gave my head a little time to run back through last weekend's projects. And y'know what? My mornings last weekend were absolutely lovely. Baking in early light, coffee break and dog walk around 8am, frost-finish-deliver by 10. Accomplishment. Whatever happens the rest of the doesn't even matter. What a luxury.

I already posted some photos and information about Saturday here. Sunday's cake was a raspberry filled vanilla bean cake, modeled to look after a cake from the year the bride and groom were wed - 1950.

A 60th anniversary!

I'm imagining this weekend will involve less cake, more soup, lots of music and at least one special all-out breakfast. Hopefully some quality studio time too.

Oh Baby Baby

My Saturday morning assignment was a woodland themed baby shower cake to serve 50 plus people.

Woodland themed? ...Yes!

Baking is a glorious way to spend any morning and I had so much fun making this cake.

Inside, the hexagon was a vanilla bean butter cake filled with mocha buttercreme. The outside was covered in espresso and semi-sweet chocolate ganache (and woodland critters, of course).

C'mon. Those little critters are CUTE.

VD: Welcome Back

So my Valentines Day posts trend on the late side, this year's being much more belated than last.

My excuse is that Chinese New Year fell on the same day as St. Valentine's this year, and the Tiger came in with such gusto that I've been having just a little trouble catching up.

The theme of this year's box was "say no to VD". In addition to the regularly scheduled whoopie pies, broken hearts and mini bundts were also featured.

xox

Sunday Soup

I was temped to title this post Souperbowl Sunday, which was followed by an immediate sense of discomfort that not only could such a thought pass through my brain but that I'd actually entertain it. So, no. I will not be starting every new post with a shitty pun. I'll just think about it in silence and then hang my head in shame.

Two things that I started doing recently:

1. Buying dried beans and then soaking them before making what ever it is I'm going to make with them. It's awesome. Not only is it cheaper than buying canned beans, but the beans hold up much better and have a better texture. Sure, it requires planning ahead a little bit, but don't we all feel better when we're planning wholesome meals ahead of time that we make from scratch with oh so much love and attention? We do. Which brings me to number
2. Sunday soup. Generally, if I eat well I feel well (save the occasional chili cheese dog with mustard and onions). Since weeks seem to get crazier and crazier, and available minutes seem fewer and fewer, and I have this job that I go to so I can't actually just sit around my house staring at soaking beans, I've become fond of making a big pot of soup on Sunday nights. This gives me solid lunch and dinner options for the week so I'm not skipping meals and getting cranky, or constantly snacking on crap.

Ok, back to Souperbowl Sunday. I was actually invited to a Superbowl Party. I'm not much into football. If you're looking for a sporting event to bring me to, or invite me to watch at your home, I like basketball. Now you know. Anyway, I'm not into football but I am into cupcakes, and while Sunday soup was simmering I made a few dozen cupcakes.

These little guys will be accompanying me to the party. Because although I don't really care about the superbowl, I do like to party, and no party is complete with out a cupcake.