Talk about being a HAM

As you know most of my cakes have stories behind them and that is one of the things I find so interesting about making some of these. However, very rarely do I share those stories outside of this blog. This cake however was different. One of my day job co-workers, let's call her Ava, is moving forth to greener professional pastures (in other words she has a new job). Of course, being the wonderful and humble staff that we are we had a little going away social for her. The sunshine committee (that is what we call the group who plans these events) asked if I would make a cake. Like I would ever turn down the opportunity to make a cake. I asked if there was a theme, color, something that everyone thought would be appropriate and they said no they were leaving it up to me (you would think after all of these years they would know better).

So this morning when she said, "I really appreciate this but I have one question. Why a pig?" I couldn't help but grin. I said several suggestions came up including high heels, a horse, coffee, things that represented small portions of you but I did not think captured your essence. Instead the pig was chosen because you were brave and not only wore the Fairweather costume at the fair but because you will always be remembered for telling people around here that they were a hot mess. More recently we believed the moniker of HAM fit Ava, and although I can not spell out what HAM stands for, because this is a family blog, I can say the H stands for hot and the M stands for mess. Ava would not tell everyone what HAM stood for but had to agree the logic for this cake was sound.

It did not take long for us to cut into the cake and get down to some sweet eating. There were a few squeals and maybe some tails curling as they ate the cake and enjoyed our last day with our HAM of a co-worker. We wish Ava all the best in her new position.

It's All About the Cupcake

Sometimes I wonder if my creative gene is just gone a little loopy or gotten lazy. Sometimes it doesn't turn on until a 2 am shower or in the middle of an important conversation. In other words at all the wrong or weird times. A friend asked if I would bake a cake for her daughter who was turning 15. Of course I said yes and asked what they would like. She wasn't sure but said you know my daughter I am sure you will come up with something good. Mind you I am finishing up summer programs at this point and a little loopy anyway so that might not have been the best idea.
15 is a tough age. At 16 you get your drivers license which makes it a lot easier but at 15 it is tough. So I searched my little brain and could come up with nada. Thank goodness for google. I started a google search for divine inspiration and intervention. Guess what, not so much out there for a 15 year old girl. There was one common theme that I kept tripping over and that was cupcakes. Everywhere I looked cupcakes were the big thing. Some were placed in a big design, others had very detailed decorations. It was all about the cupcake. Well knowing this young lady, let's call her Megan, she would like the popular theme but she would like it on a grander scale. Hence the cupcake cake. That's right, this cake is just slightly bigger than your typical two layer cake. It is baked in two pieces and decorated just like a cupcake, but on a larger scale. Megan's favorite colors right now are black and white. However mom did request a few other colors get thrown in for a girly outlook, hence the sprinkles.
Megan knew she was getting a cake but did not know what it was. She seemed thrilled with her trendy yet grand birthday cake and I was a little concerned that her dad might eat it on the way home. I have been assured that it made it home and was enjoyed by the entire family. Now that is a cupcake.