Italian Birthday Cake -First Prize Kaf Cake Contest 2009
I created this recipe out of necessity! My Italian husband traditionally received a birthday cake each year as a child growing up in NY. Living in the Florida Keys, I contacted every bakery and restaurant that offered pastries to get someone to make him one, to no avail. The chefs knew how to make them, but said they were too time consuming for them to make and sell. So after trial and error, I was pleased to present this cake to my husband. Yellow pound cake torte layer soaked in rum, layered with cheesecake flavor pudding and mini chocolate chips, covered in stabilized whipped cream, I entered this in the King Arthur Flour Cake Contest at the Jacksonville (FL) fair in 2009 and came away with first place! One of the judges later told me she remembered these cakes as a child and I "nailed" it. Quite impressive, even to myself, as I am of Polish and German decent! Seven layers of decadence, my husband nicknamed this "the cake on steroids".
SammiD
My Class Project For Wilton Gum Paste & Fondant Class
I got an A+ for this "cake". Actually a styrofoam form with rolled fondant and gum paste ribbon accents and carnations tipped in pink by painting the flower edges with pink pearl dust mixed with vodka (clear alcohol). This was fun to make and we used the cake several times as a gag (it is hard as a rock when people tried to cut into it for a slice). I had never taken any type of class before this one, even the instructor was impressed.
SammiD
My First Cake For An Outdoor Wedding
This is the first time I made a cake around the fresh flower cake top colors, featured at an outdoor wedding high in the hills of Naples, NY. It was a windy day with the cake and favor tables under a large tent in the hot summer days of July. My sister who helped deliver this cake 40 miles from my kitchen to it's destination chain-smoked the entire way. Thankfully, she has since quit! Assembling the tier to accomodate the flower arrangement underneath the top layer proved to be tricky, as the breeze would cause it to sway. Made with buttercream icing, I'm glad it wasn't a particularly humid day, and all was intact as the bride and groom finally cut into it. I am self taught, so this was hand piped without any templates, early on in my cake decorating endeavors, so you will see some of the design imperfections. I was still learning, so I did not charge any money for this cake, it was for friends who enjoyed every bite!
SammiD
Sand Pail Dirt Cake
Dirt Cake recipe with layered crushed Oreo brand creme cookies, instant chocolate pudding,whipped cream, crushed Golden Oreo Brand creme cookies, instant cheesecake flavor pudding, whipped cream topped with crushed Golden Oreos and accented with molded chocolate sea shells, sea horses, sand dollars all "painted" in gold and white pearl dust mixed with clear vanilla extract for that extra shimmer. Sand pail shovel to serve (instead of the trowel used in regular dirt cakes, this was a hit at the beach themed baby shower!
SammiD
Sand Castle Baby Shower Cake
Mother-to-Be requested Sand Castle Cake. Used Nordic Ware castle bundt pan accented with turrets from Wilton Castle pieces. Used a combination of crushed Golden Oreo cookies and walnuts for the sand... suggestions of using brown sugar were just too sweet! Accented with molded chocolate sea shells, sand dollars and sea horses painted in gold and white pearl dust mixed with clear vanilla extract for extra shimmer. I made the Dirt Cake in sand pail as side dessert for the shower. A huge hit! Surfing boys depict the twin boys she was expecting!

