Matt Cooking, Cooking Stuff, Food, Friends, Learning, My Adventures

THE CAKE CONVENTION

I have a friend from high school, Lynne, who has been making cakes and cupcakes on the side lately. Cupcakes that look like Elmo and Thomas the Train cakes and cakes using marshmallow fondant. My mom used to make and decorate cakes a lot a long time ago. The fancy cakes with frosting roses and basket weave patterns, etc. She still does them, just not as frequently. So one day my mom offered to show Lynne her skills and Lynne offered to show my mom her tricks with the fondant and all that stuff. So what does this have to do with me? Well, I have a unique set of culinary skills sought by many in the baking world. I am an expert in the art of cakeball making. And because of this, my presence was requested at this cake convention.

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Matt Cooking, Cooking Stuff, Food, Friends

CAKEBALLS, HORMONES, AND THE SOIREE

Every year Aya has a Valentine’s Day party that’s not on or near Valentine’s Day. Tons of women come over and fill the house with scents of perfume and fancy shampoo while they indulge in foods and talk about their feelings. What makes this year so special is that Aya decided she wanted to announce the pregnancy to her friends at the party. So not only were Aya’s emotions high, but so were her hormones, making the day-before party prepping very eventful.

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Matt Cooking, Food, My Adventures

CAKEBALLS REVISITED

Aya had plans to go visit our friends who are moving to Japan very soon. Since Ellie and I couldn’t join in the farewell festivities, I decided to make a batch of cakeballs for Aya to deliver to them to say “Goodbye.” You’re probably thinking, “Cakeballs? Aren’t you on a No Sweets Challenge?” Yes, yes I am. And that would be the tricky part. I was making cakeballs, but I could not eat them. I was going to test my willpower so my friends could enjoy this tasty American treat before moving to Japan. That’s just the kind of friend I am.

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Matt Cooking, Cooking Stuff, Food, My Adventures

CAKEBALLS: A TRUE STORY

My goal was to make Totoro cake balls for Ellie’s birthday. But after my first attempt, I knew the cake pop maker wasn’t going to work. It was a disaster. I learned a few things along the way though. I received many suggestions and they all pointed to one method. Mixing cake with frosting. I knew then if I was going to pull this off as a cakeball rookie, I needed to listen.

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Matt At Home, Cooking, Cooking Stuff, Food

CAKEBALLS!

When I started thinking about my Holiday baking this year, I kept hearing about cake pops. I really didn’t know too much about them or how they were made. But when a friend informed me of a cakepop maker on sale (one day only!) at Macy’s for $17.99 (regularly $39.99) I jumped at the chance to be a part of the cakepop scene.

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