Christmas in July

Southern hemisphere seasons are in reverse to the northern hemisphere, with summer falling in December and January and winter falling in June and July. Therefore in southern hemisphere countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Christmas in July or Midwinter Christmas events are undertaken in order to have Christmas with a winter feel in common with the northern hemisphere. 

Fondant & Gumpaste was made and colored

This picture was sketched for a possible design. 

Each section of the design was practiced to see what would work.

As with every design there were adaptions.

Here are some pictures of the finished cake.
Single layer 12 x 18 sheet cake, chocolate cake with buttercream icing.

Crushed candy canes were sprinkled on the top edges.

Mike& Ike's were added to the sides to represent a string of Lights.

An Adirondack chair represented a summer cottage theme.

Candles in the stone fireplace (It is after all July, who wants a roaring fire?)

Fondant popcorn was used for the garland.

A seaside picture was placed above the fireplace.

 The earliest known occasion to make the phrase Christmas in July literal was in July 1933 at Camp Keystone, a girl's summer camp in North Carolina, which celebrated with a Christmas Tree, gifts, and a visit by Santa Claus. In the United States, it is more often used as a marketing tool than an actual holiday. Some people throw parties during July that mimic Christmas celebrations, bringing the atmosphere of Christmas but with warmer temperatures.

Hungarian Torte

 

Tortes are rich, usually multi-layered, cake/confection that is filled with whipped cream, buttercream, mousse, jams or fruits. Ordinarily, the cooled torte is then glazed & garnished.A torte may be made with little to no flour, but instead with ground nuts or breadcrumbs, as well as sugar, eggs, and flavorings. Tortes have a long history originated from many European countries (France, Germany, Hungary, Austria, etc). 

This recipe can be changed to fit anyone's flavor combination. This recipe is not rich.

2 cups finely chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees)

1 (.25 oz) envelope active dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

4 egg yolks

1/2 cup sour cream

1 1/3 cups butter or margarine, softened

4 1/2 cups flour

1 (16 oz) jar of apricot preserves

4 egg whites

2/3 cup sugar

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 11 x 17 inch jellyroll pan (or 12 x 12 cake pan), line with parchment paper and grease the parchment paper. Note: You do not want to skip this step as this will help you get it out of the pan with ease. Mix together walnuts, cinnamon and 3/4 cup of sugar and set aside.

2) In a small bowl, dissolve yeast & 1 teaspoon of sugar into warm water. Stir and let set until creamy, about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, stir together beaten egg yolks, the yeast mixture, sour cream and butter.  Gradually stir in flour until dough becomes too stiff to use a spoon. Use your hands to kneed the dough until it becomes smooth, about 5 minutes. Divide the dough into three (3) equal parts, form each into a ball, cover and set aside for about 15 minutes to rise. 

3) Roll one ball of dough between waxed paper sheets to fit the pan you are using, place in bottom of pan and spread with 3/4 of the nut mixture. Roll out the second ball of dough and place it on top of the nut layer in the pan and spread the preserves evenly over the top. Roll the third ball the same way and place it on top of the preserve layer.

4) Place torte in oven for 40 minutes. Place the egg whites into a clean bowl, whip to soft peaks. Gradually add 2/3 cup sugar while beating the egg whites to stiff peaks to make a meringue. Spread meringue over top of torte and sprinkle remaining nut mixture on top. Bake the torte for an additional 15 minutes. Cool and cut.

Here are a few examples of rich tortes:

Rich Hungarian Torte

Dobos Torte

Napoleon

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

Boston Cream Pie is a cake that is filled with a custard or cream filling and frosted with chocolate. Although it is called a Boston Cream Pie, it is in fact a cake, and not a pie. Created by Armenian-French chef M. Sanzian at Boston's Parker House Hotel in 1856. This pudding and cake combination comprises two layers of vanilla sponge cake filled with vanilla flavored custard/creme. The cake is topped with a chocolate glaze (such as ganache), and sometimes powdered sugar or a cherry.

Each one is filled with custard, topped with ganache & sprinkles

Cupcakes were kept refrigerated until delivered

Two dozen Boston Cream Cupcakes - Yum....Yum!!!

The Boston cream pie is the official dessert of Massachusetts, declared as such in 1996.

Happy Birthday Gumball Cake

History: 
Although there were vending machines for stick or block shaped gum as early as 1888, the first machines to carry actual gumballs were not seen until 1907 (probably released first by the "Thomas Adams Gum Co." in the United States). 

Patented in 1923, the Norris Manufacturing Company produced their "Master" line of chrome gumball machines during the 1930s. These machines could accept either pennies or nickels.

Many clubs & organization's would use gumball machines to raise money.

This was a fun cake to make. 

I did not take enough pictures of the process and will have to make this again with more pictures. 

Gumball Machines are nostalgic to me, a thing of the past. 

There are a few still around, look for them. 

Tractor Cake

This was a unique idea for a man's 50th Birthday.
The request: A John Deere Tractor pulling a Massey Ferguson Tractor
Quote: "Getting Older but getting by with a little help from friends" "Happy 50th Birthday John"

"Happy 50th Birthday" . . . Remember the past, enjoy the present and embrace the future. You can't turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again.

This tractor cake lets the inner child come out: Don't be so full of adult that there is no room for the child within!

It all starts with a quick sketch of the cake design.

Fondant and gumpaste are dyed to match the tractors.

John Deere & Massey Ferguson Logo's for the sides of cake.

The deer for the John Deere Logo was made into a stencil and then cut out by hand. The Massey Ferguson Logo was fairly easy - Triangles on top of triangles, all cut out by hand. 

The John Deere and Massey Ferguson tractors and the barn are made out of fondant and gumpaste.  I made the tractors in 2 days. All fondant/gumpaste pieces need a few days to dry out.

Cake - 12 x 18 sheet cake, 1/2 chocolate & 1/2 vanilla, with buttercream icing.

This is a picture sent from the party.

20 years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the ones that you did do.
So throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor,
catch the Trade Winds in your sails,
explore, dream and discover.
(Mark Twain)

Remember, birthdays are good for you. 

Statistics show that people who have the most

live the longest :-)

LEGO Cake

The name 'LEGO' is an abbreviation of the two Danish words "leg godt", meaning "play well".
The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder.

It has come a long way over the past almost 80 years - from a small carpenter’s workshop to a modern, global enterprise that is now, in terms of sales, the world’s third-largest manufacturer of toys. The LEGO brick is their most important product. They have been named twice – “Toy of the Century”. Their products have undergone extensive development over the years – but the foundation remains the traditional LEGO brick.

The brick in its present form was launched in 1958. The interlocking principle with its tubes makes it unique, and offers unlimited building possibilities. It's just a matter of getting the imagination going – and letting a wealth of creative ideas emerge through play. 

I have wanted to make a LEGO Cake for a very long time. :-)
This LEGO Cake start with homemade marshmallow fondant & gumpaste. They are made a month to a few weeks prior to the time I will need them for decorating.

 Gel food coloring is added to replicate the traditional LEGO colors.

Traditional colored Lego blocks are made using a form. They need to be made days ahead of the  cake so they can stiffen up for decorating.

I decided to add colored blocks to the bottom edge instead of an icing edge on this cake.

Next comes making the LEGO Logo. This is also how I made the name of the birthday boy. Each of the four layers are glued together with edible gumpaste glue.

Here is a shot of the very large bowl of green buttercream icing.
 

Now comes the fun part - The finished LEGO cake!!! 

I added some molded LEGO People in the same traditional colors to match the bricks & placed them on the top. I added the "Birthday Boy's" name to the front. Happy Birthday Alex!!!

 Here is another picture with some old LEGO's that were my children's. LEGO's were one of their favorite toys & I saved lots of them. They are always surprised when I show them some of their toys that I saved from their childhood.

LEGO TRIVIA: 

  1961

LEGO Sales start in the US and Canada.

1978

The first LEGO Road Show takes place in Dayton, Ohio. 

Later, this becomes the LEGO World Shows. 

1980

According to a survey, 70% of all Western European families with kids under 14 now have LEGO bricks in their home. 

1992

The world's largest LEGO Castle is built on Swedish television. Over 400,000 LEGO bricks are transformed into a castle 4.45 m x 5.22 m castle, measured for the Guinness Book of Records.  

2002
The brand statement "Play On" replaces "Just Imagine...".

The LEGO DUPLO brand is replaced by the LEGO EXPLORE brand covering all pre-school activities. 

2011
LEGOLAND Florida opens. The world’s largest LEGOLAND Park.

2014

The LEGO name celebrates its 80th birthday. 

In the beginning of February, The LEGO Movie premiered in a number of countries. The movie was written by Phil Lord and Chris Miller and produced by Warner Brothers. It is the first time the LEGO universe has been pictured in a movie.

"Play On" LEGO fans. . . . . . . . "Play On"

Easter Cakes

You won’t find them in the Bible, but many cherished Easter traditions have been around for centuries. The most prominent secular symbol of the Christian holiday, the Easter bunny reportedly was introduced to America by the German immigrants who brought over their stories of an egg-laying hare. The decoration of eggs is believed to date back to at least the 13th century, while the rite of the Easter parade has even older roots. Other traditions, such as the consumption of Easter candy, are among the modern additions to the celebration of this early springtime holiday.

Easter is a religious holiday, but some of its customs, such as Easter eggs, are likely linked to pagan traditions. The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, according to some sources. One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the Lenten season, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration.

Easter, Easter Everywhere

Rabbits soft and cuddly

Baby chickens, too.

Easter eggs for baskets

White, pink, green and blue.

Easter cards of greeting,

Music in the air,

Lilies just to tell us

It's Easter everywhere.

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