Up Late Cakes

visit me at little eyecatchers...

2011-01-25T06:54:00.000-08:00

new type of blog. no longer posting the mommy/housewife Steph but about me & what catches my eye.

I hope you like it!

Stay tuned...

2011-01-13T06:54:00.001-08:00

new blog coming soon!

Joyeux Anniversaire, Mia!

2010-02-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

French theme, cake decorating, handmade & hand-stenciled aprons, and a happy day for my little one.

Home for the Holidays

2009-12-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Gingerbread Houses. Made these for a dinner party with friends.

First Snow

2009-12-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

I secretly wish we could be snowed in for a week!

5k & Cupcakes

2009-11-14T10:19:00.001-08:00

My girls, my mother and I ran the Girls on the Run 5k this morning! They even had a cupcake contest after. (Yes, look at all that grey hair!)

Met Martha Stewart

2009-11-01T10:16:00.000-08:00

My mom & I went to the Williams-Sonoma at the King of Prussia mall to meet Martha. She was really sweet. As she signed my book, she thanked me for waiting in such a long line.

Our 11th Anniversary

2009-09-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

September 26th, 2009

Harumi, Karen & Me!

2009-09-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

So happy to meet Harumi Kurihara and Karen Bussen at a lecture at the Japan Society.

Nothing but the best...

2009-08-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

for Mia. I made this for the opening of House's Show in Philly. Ava did NOT want a skirt, so I customized a House tote bag for her.

Margarita-Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak with Tomatillo Salsa

2009-07-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

...thank you Fine Cooking.

Japanese Sweets

2009-06-20T07:27:00.001-07:00

We took a day trip to N.Y. to browse our favorite japanese shops and the American Girl store. These little guys are from Minamoto Kitchoan, a japanese bakery. Our trip wouldn't be complete without a yummy bowl of udon noodle from Chiyoda.

Never too late for tea....

2009-06-17T07:57:00.001-07:00

I found a few lost photos from Mia's Japanese Tea Ceremony birthday party.

I ♥ Vintage Fabric

2009-05-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

Ava is my new thrifting companion. She spotted this fabric before I did!!

Pane Di Pasqua

2009-04-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

The girls and I made Italian Easter bread for family and friends.

Green Tea Cupcakes

2009-03-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

for Mia's Japanese Tea Ceremony Birthday party.

Culinary Crafts

2008-09-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

My friend Lori & I have an after-school craft class at our daughters' school. The planning was a breeze, although eight weeks of 24 girls + 3 boys, every Thursday was exhausting..but fun.

Culinary Crafts: make a snack + make a craft to go along with a "kitchen/cooking" theme.

Apple printing + apples & caramel

Origami + candy sushi

Decorate aprons + decorate cupcakes

happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy...

2008-09-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

My favorite card...ever!

Honey Crisp

2008-09-17T20:49:00.001-07:00

We spent the afternoon picking honey crisp apples, raspberries, blackberries and grapes.

Tiki Party

2008-07-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

Used the Gocco to customize our semi-annual Tiki Party napkins & invites.

Skating Party Goodie Bags

2008-07-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

My daughter’s 9th birthday was held at the local roller rink (70s theme, natch) and I refuse to go the party store route for the goodie bag & favors.

For the girls, I made ultra-suede bags, tri-feathered roach clips (hair accessories, of course) and a custom leather ID bracelet. Try kerning that type with a hammer and tap. Ugh, I left that to my husband. That crazy Tuscan leathersmith type is pretty cool though, huh?

What is that??

2008-06-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

My package from Japan has finally arrived! I'd love to know what my postman thought it was.

Wilmington Garden Day

2008-05-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

Our home was on the Wilmington Garden Day tour this year.

Garden Day is a self-guided tour of Unique, Stylish and Distinctive Gardens and Homes from City Miniatures to Country Estates - in the greater Wilmington area.

Vintage Fabric

2008-04-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

My husband and I took a little trip to Kentuck Knob this weekend and hit a few antique/thrift shops along the way.

Thrifting always comes in themes for me. This weekend: textiles.

Spring Gifts for Teachers

2008-03-25T12:55:00.001-07:00

I made baby chick cookies for the girls' teachers.
I used Martha's Sugar Cookie recipe.

Devil Dog Cupcakes

2008-02-10T07:32:00.000-08:00

I made these for Mia's 7th birthday. I borrowed the recipe from Epicurious. They were really good. I tried to make Twinkie cupcakes too, but they didn't turn out as well.

Goody Bags

2008-02-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

These were the goody bags I made for Mia's 7th birthday party. She had an 80's theme. The drawstring bags are lined and were so easy to make thanks to happythings. I made the roller skate chocolates using the same molds my Mom used for my 9th birthday favors! The most time consuming project was the braided barrettes! The best compliment I had was when one of Mia's friends had the drawstring bag at school the next day (as her purse) and had the barrettes on!!

Green Tea & Coffee Shortbread

2008-01-28T10:19:00.002-08:00

Green tea shortbread recipe is from Martha.

For coffee shortbread recipe:
use the same Martha green tea shortbread recipe but omit the matcha, add a 1/2 tsp of vanilla, add 1 & 1/2 TBS of ground coffee, bake as directed.

House Industries Wife

2008-01-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

I guess my husband figured we would work cheap to help sell the latest House Industries rags. As if I don't already do enough for him.

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T17:51:00.000-08:00

We had our good friends, Kurt, Lisa, Caleb & Matthew over for New Year's Eve. I picked a Tex-Mex menu. We had Goat Cheese Enchiladas with Corn & Red Mole, Green Rice, New Mexican Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Tamale and Pecan Butter, Jarritos sodas, Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes & cheesecake brownies.

I was so nervous about making Tamales for the first time, but they were GOOD and actually not too bad to make. You need to start a day in advance! I could have eaten the Pecan butter alone!

Holiday Cookies

2007-12-26T13:26:00.000-08:00

These are some of the cookies I made for family, teachers and my husband. I also made a few dozen Earl Grey Tea cookies but he and his business associates ate ALL of them in one day!

I L-O-V-E Christmas!

2007-11-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

I think I love it the most because of the all the great recipes for cookies, desserts, meals, hors'dourves and the crafts for the girls & I to make. This year we are working on some small gifts for friends & family that will involve screen-printing, embroidery, sewing, and carving.

The pics above are just some of the many piles of holiday books I have been looking at for inspiration. I promised my hubby I will make them disappear soon.

Pantry peek...

2007-11-21T12:25:00.001-08:00

Since my last post of pre-Halloween goodies, I have made 30+ pumpkin shaped cookies, 60+ Chocolate-Pumpkin cupcakes, 30+ Halloween "mummy" cupcakes, Johnny cake (cornbread) for 30 kids, and had 3 dinner parties, but I forgot to take pictures!!

I thought I'd post a pic of my pantry. I can tell when a fellow foodie/baker walks into my kitchen....I get ooohs and ahhhhs over the pantry!

Halloween Bake Sale

2007-10-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Ava has a bake sale tomorrow at her school dance. It's Halloween themed. She wanted me to mention that she helped with the eyes on the many eyed cupcakes.

The cupcakes were inspired by Martha's Kids Magazine Fall 2005.

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

2007-10-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

I made Chocolate Pumpkins Cupcakes for dessert at my mom's weekly Tuesday night dinner. I've had the fall bug since school started and wanted to try this Country Living recipe. I'm more of a Blueprint girl, NOT Country Living, but while waiting in the Albuquerque, NM airport the cover caught my eye and I thought I could make cupcakes from this recipe!

I changed the frosting a bit. I topped the cupcakes with a dark chocolate ganache and made a cream cheese frosting with vanilla & custom blended pumpkin pie spices.

Butternut Squash Risotto

2007-10-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Dinner tonight was a Butternut Squash Risotto (Martha Stewart Every Day Food October 2004 recipe) and Tuscan Bread Salad (Vegetarian Times recipe). Although the weather was NOT Fall-like tonight, it was still yummy.

More Pillows....

2007-09-16T19:03:00.001-07:00

Made pillows for the dogs today. I'm working on a scrim for Mia's room to match her new pillow, napkins, and another smaller pillow.

Up Late Pillows...

2007-09-04T14:43:00.001-07:00

I spent a few hours this weekend making pillow cases for our dog's pillows in our living room. Although, they were too pretty for the dogs and will be used in my girls rooms. Luckily, the girls have the same size pillows and I can swap the covers.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2007-09-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

I needed a quick snack for my hubby, his business partner and their head sales ninja. I made Martha Stewart's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from her Baking Handbook. I subbed the raisins with chocolate chips. They were yummy. They were gone by lunchtime the next day!

The Cutest Cookies & Packaging

2007-08-31T08:06:00.001-07:00

I have a policy against buying packaged cookies. Maybe, Joe Joe Cookies once in a while, but while I was waiting in line at the cheese shop and spotted these adorable "biscuits'. They were a little price-y, but too cute not to pick up. There was one other style that I didn't find as cute. But the completest in me will have to go back and get the other one too.

Each box has a classic tale printed on it.

www.artisanbiscuits.co.uk/site/twobytwo.htm

Funny, I did a little research on them later that night and the New York Times did a little blurb on them, the same day!!

www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/dining/29stuf.html?_r=1&or...

First Day of School Cupcakes

2007-08-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

I made cupcakes for Ava & Mia's teachers for the first day of school. The were Cappuccino with Cream Cheese Icing with a hint of finely ground coffee mixed in. (Label courtesy of my hubby.) No, I'm not buttering them up. I'm just a nice Mommy.

Ava's 8th Camp Out Sleepover Party

2007-07-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

Ava had a few friends camp out at our house. I made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla ice cream in the center with chocolate cream cheese icing. We roasted marshmallows for s'mores, caught fireflies & frogs and slept out on our screen porch. I made goody bags out of pink bandanas. I filled them with a compass, a mini flashlight, a journal, Hershey bars, gummy worms & frogs, and lip gloss (a girl has to look good on the camp site).

Ava's 8th Birthday

2007-07-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

Ava requested my cappuccino cupcakes for her "family" birthday party. My hubby is stingy with the air conditioning, so my icing was a little soft.

Pony Party Goody Bags

2007-04-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

Inside the burlap goody bags were handmade chocolate horses, handmade plastic horse in soap, bubbles with a custom label, and lollipops. Mia helped me make the chocolates & the soap. Each "feed bag" had the party guest's name on the tag. When I bought the burlap for the bags, I found a PINK burlap which I used a table cloths.

Mia's Pony Party Cupcakes

2007-04-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

Vanilla cupcakes for the kids. Green tea for the adults. Mia's party was at Carousel Park. We had a private covered area next to the stables. The pony took each child around for a pony ride. The guests could walk around the stables and pet the horses.

Decoupage Eggs

2007-04-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

The whole family joined in the fun with decorating Easter eggs. We decoupaged, dyed eggs with natural items-onion skins, tumeric, and coffee. We also cut up old silk ties and used them to make the crazy patterns.

Not Enough Shoes!

2007-04-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

I know shoes do not have anything to do with cakes, but I could not resist this shot. My husband is usually the repeat offender with at least 2 pairs of Vans at the back door. Although, the girls are following right along in his...ahem.....footsteps!!

2007-02-14T10:54:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Goodies

When the girls woke up, I had the heart shaped cookies waiting for them. (My house must have been too humid, the plastic wrap smushed bow. The bow was there to cover & mend a crack.)
Smaller heart shaped cookies were for friends, teachers, and MomMom & PopPop.
Valentines & Cookies.
Cupcakes for Ava's class.

2007-02-12T21:25:00.000-08:00

Swirly Cupcakes

We decided to celebrate Mia's birthday with her friends in April, so that she can have a Pony party with real ponies. These are the cupcakes from the family party.

2007-01-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

More cakes to come....

Mia's birthday is just around the corner. She has chosen a horse theme. Hmmmmm...a horse head cake or a Palamino lying down. Time to get to work. I already have an idea for Ava's cake. But that's not until July.

2006-12-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Holiday Baking

The girls made Christmas cookies for Santa today. Tons of sprinkles ended up on the floor, in Olivia's tummy and in their mouths...yes, some did make it to the cookies. Santa will be impressed. Sugary cookies and a little something to take the edge off.

2006-10-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

Halloween Pumpkins

Just going with the Halloween theme. Not too many cakes lately.

2006-10-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

Halloween Goody Bags

Here are the goody bags I put together for my daughter's Kindergarten Halloween Party. This time, I have enlisted the help of both of my daughters. They cut out the pumpkins and wrote each child's name. They even filled the bags. I purchased black "lunch" bags, filled them with the usual Halloween stuff-Dracula teeth, spider rings, Halloween pencils & erasers, Halloween pretzels, Starburst candy, Smarties candy, & Halloween stickers. I used my sewing machine to stitch the bags closed. For the craft, I made big pumpkin shaped sugar cookies that each child will decorate and eat at the party.

2006-07-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

No cakes...just tiki's

Once you have the inspiration for a theme (ie.-tiki's), the location, the props and a group of great friends, you have the making for a entertaining party. We had our Semi-Annual Tiki Party this summer. We had over 50 of our friends attend donning Polynesian attire and supplying a bounty of amazing polynesian food & desserts. Side note as a hostess: any party over 20 people, make it a covered dish affair. After renting a margarita machine, we disliked the stock "parrot head" signage, so my husband customized it. He hand lettered the drink names on all of the beverages. He also has a collection, ahem...HUGE collection, of tiki mugs. As a guest, you chose your beverage of choice-Zombie, Mai-Tai, and Non-alcoholic Kona Punch (for the kiddies). My daughter, Ava, has a Hawaiian Shave Ice machine and decided to entertain her friends with a refreshing treat. Besides all of the fabulous food, our guests came bearing gifts. Katie supplied every guest with a silk lei that our girls handed out, Hank brought a surfboard for the kids to play and hula on, and Mike, our neighbor, supplied a few logs of cherry wood from his private stock for our fire pit. We had a live band play a few Don Ho & Martin Denny tunes. It helps when your husband, a good friend and brother-in-law throw together a band at the last minute. The clean up was long but worth it. I can't wait til' next year!

2006-07-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

Koi Party

For Ava's 7th birthday, she wanted a Koi themed party. Luckily, she has a summer birthday and Mom Mom Terri & Pop Pop Bob have a pool. Once we decided on the theme, we planned a trip to NYC to one of our favorite stores, Pearl River in Soho. We purchased Koi windsocks for each guest as a goody bag, tied the end and filled it with different Japanese candies, and a set of chopsticks for fun. On the way home from New York, I sketched out the plan for the Koi cake. We used about 3 sheet cakes, sculpted the shape of the cake with a knife, lots of buttercream icing, and fondant. Ava was okay with cutting the cake, although it was filled with strawberry cake, which is not her favorite. I made chocolate cupcakes with pink icing, red swedish fish and a tiki drink umbrella. I tried to make all of the food either red (tomato pie, M&M's), pink or asian. All paper goods were plain pink and the table linens were a red marimekko print. The children swam, hula hooped, and had a great time, especially Ava.

2006-02-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

Barbie Sleepover

After asking my soon-to-be 5 year old daughter what type of birthday party she desired, she wanted her friends to come over, play Barbie's and have a sleepover. Knowing that most 5 and 6 year olds are not ready for a "sleepover" at a friends house, I came up with the idea that we could have a mock sleepover. On the invite, we requested that they bring their favorite Barbie and to wear pj's. We invited her girlfriends AND their Mommies at 7pm. I had pizza & goodies for the girls and goodies & cocktails for the Mommies. The evening started out with manicures by my mother, Pin the "Sleepmask on Mia" (my husband blew up a head shot of Mia, we cut out "sleepmasks" large enough to cover her eyes & wrote the guests names on them). I made the cake out of 2 sheet cakes cut up and fondant icing. My husband helped carve the "hardwood floor" on the platform of the cake and the "quilting" of the bedspread. Mia did not want to cut the cake, so I made pink with orange sprinkles cupcakes for all the girls. I purchased pink with orange polka dot paper goods from Caspari. For the swag bags, I purchased small canvas tote bags, applied the first initial of each guests name on each bag, and filled them with heart shaped glycerine soap with Mia's name that I made, a washcloth, a toothbrush & toothpaste, hair elastics, and candy, all color coordinated with pink & orange, of course. The party was about 2 hours and the best part was that the girls were already in their pj's!