3 Tiers 4 Cake

2011 Chicago 3 Day

2011-08-18T23:37:00.000-05:00

A Framed Verse...

2011-05-23T21:39:00.000-05:00

Today I framed a verse.

Easter Cake

2011-04-22T23:52:00.000-05:00

Peeps!!!

2011-04-22T23:46:00.000-05:00

A little something for our Easter Table!

Yellow peeps are the best!

A New Little Sister

2011-04-18T16:52:00.001-05:00

I made these booties for a co-worker. She's expecting a new grand-daughter, so she wanted some booties for the soon to be big brother and big sister.

A Cake for a Cure!

2011-03-20T08:39:00.001-05:00

This is a white cake with a strawberry buttercream filling is all dressed up for a princess birthday. The profit from this cake will go to The Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure, to help reach my goal of raising $2300 for breast cancer.

For more information about the walk visit: www.the3day.org/goto/melanie.heramb

The Final Wedding Cake

2011-02-20T01:32:00.001-06:00

My Daughter is AWESOME!

2011-02-18T12:05:00.000-06:00

My 13 year old daughter is the most thoughtful girl I know.I'm walking in the 2011 Chicago Susan G Komen 3-Day in August. Part of this even it raising at least $2300 for breast cancer awareness. My daughter has been encouraging me and has show great interest in this event. When she found out she was too young to participate she said she still wanted to help. She asked if she could sell something. She remembered a few years ago we made flower pens for mother's day. She asked if we could make Pink Pens. So we went off to the craft store and got some supplies.

That night I took her out to eat, just the two of us. She told me how she was so excited to raise money for breast cancer and how she was a little nervous about asking people if they want to buy her pens. I told her I was nervous too about raising enough money and doing the walk itself. Later on we had a craft night and made the pens. She took them to school and asked the principal. She said she was so scared to ask she made her best friend go with her. I can't express how much this means to me. She is trying so very hard to support me! I'm so proud of her!

Breast Cancer Awareness Cell Phone Cozy

2011-02-16T18:23:00.000-06:00

$10.00 each!

100% of sale goes to the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure!
For more information go to http://www.the3day.org/goto/melanie.heramb

This cozy is perfect for any gadget, cell phone, or mp3 player. Each one is made with a pink metallic yarn and is accented with a flower and a pink awareness ribbon charm.

Measures: 2.25" x 4.0"

Please email me me if you are interested!

"Mom I'm Hungry!"

2011-02-15T10:53:00.002-06:00

Nothing makes you feel like mother of the year then when one of your kids say they're hungry and there's no food in the house. So you didn't make it to the grocery store, and now there's no cereal, no oatmeal, not even a slice of bread. What to do? Make Pancakes! No Mix? No Problem!

I always keep a healthy supply of baking basics. On any given day you will find flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, powdered sugar, oil and shorting on hand. Whenever I can create something that's within these basic ingredients, I consider it nearly free! I especially love this recipe because it's a premix. We can make more later!

Quick & Easy Pancake Mix:

Yields: 6 batches

Mix:

6 cups All Purpose Flour

2/3 cup Sugar

2 Tablespoons Baking Powder

1 Tablespoon Baking Soda

Mix dry ingredients and place in air tight container. Store up to 6 months.

For Pancakes add to each Batch:

Yields: 6-7 pancakes

1 Egg

3/4 cup Milk

1 cup Pancake Mix

Options: Blueberries, Diced Bananas, Chocolate Chips

In a bowl, combine egg and milk. Whisk in 1 cup pancake mix. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes. Cook until second side is golden brown.

I made plan pancakes the first time and decided to add a few drops of vanilla to give it a little extra touch of love. Also try almond extract! Another great idea is to substitute 2 cups of flour with whole grain flour, making it healthier and more filling!

The Chicago 3 Day!

2010-11-19T17:09:00.006-06:00

Dear Friends,

I have taken on an incredible challenge. On August 5th, I'll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking this journey with me.

It's for an event called the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure™. Net proceeds from the Komen 3-Day for the Cure are invested in community-based breast health programs and breast cancer research. The research funded focuses on decreasing breast cancer incidence and mortality in the next decade. Susan G. Komen for the Cure® works hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I plan on raising $2,300 to help bring us closer to that goal.

Please consider making a donation. If you can't give all at once, you can spread it out over four months, using the payment plan option, if you donate online at The3Day.org. Please also ask your employer if they will double your donation with a matching gift.

One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That's why I'm walking in the 3-Day for the Cure. Because everyone deserves a lifetime.

To make a donation, click here or click the donate button below to go to my personal fundraising page. If you don’t want to donate online, please email me and I will send you a donation form and you can mail it directly to the address on the form. Or you can call 800-996-3DAY to donate over the phone.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Melanie Heramb

P.S. Don't wait - donate today!

Weapons Of Mass Destruction

2010-11-13T00:00:00.000-06:00

I love these guys!

I can't seem to stop crocheting little Mario Guys. There's so many cute little characters to choose from! It's only a matter of time til I get to Mario!

What to make today?

2010-11-01T13:01:00.000-05:00

Feeling kinda hungry.

Let's make some pretzels!

These were lots of fun to make!

I want to share this recipe with you. This is a copycat recipe of Auntie Anne's Pretzels.

They taste and smell like the real thing. My pretzels a little fat. I'm sure if you rolled them a little thinner they'd come out like the real thing. I've seen the pretzels made in the mall, where one flick of the wrist results in the perfect pretzel. That was far from the case in my house. After a long time of awkward rolling and twisting the results were these little knot balls. The recipe does call for both bread and all purpose flour but I only had all purpose flour on hand, but they came out very tasty anyway!

Now I need to come up with some dipping sauces!

Here's the recipe... if you like to give it a try!

This recipe can be found at Copykat.com

Auntie Anne's Pretzels - Copycat

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups water
1 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup bread flour
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups water
2 tablespoons baking soda
kosher salt
2-4 tablespoons butter (melted)

Directions

Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water (about 105 degrees) in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve
Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic
Let rise at least 1/2 hour
While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 tbsp baking soda. Stir often
After dough has risen, pinch of bits of dough and roll into a long rope. (1/2 inch thick or less) and shape.
Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet
Allow pretzel to rise again
Bake in oven at 450 for about 10 min. or until golden brown (8 min. for dark pans)
Brush with melted butter
Sprinkle with kosher salt or a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Fancy Fun Purse!

2010-10-29T16:01:00.000-05:00

Finally!

I've been working on this for a while. It all starting with wondering in the craft store. I got this great idea to make myself a purse. So I grabbed some materials to make a watermelon purse and I was on my way. Not even half way though completing the first purse, I knew I need one in black too! So off shopping again. Now after 3 months they're done! To clarify, it didn't actually take me 3 months to make them, but for those who know me, I got distracted here and there with other projects. Honestly, it should have taken under a month. What can I say? I like to create and when the mood hits me I start a project.

So much to create and so little time!

These are available for sale at my Etsy shop.

Super Mario!

2010-10-24T21:45:00.005-05:00

Mario is my favorite game! I remember when we got our first Nintendo. We played Super Mario Bros til our thumbs were soar! Not to mention Duck Hunt! That dog still makes me laugh.

Now as a mom, my love of the game has only grown. Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 and Super Mario Bros: Wii are our favorite games. My children have learned to love the game as well. So it was only a matter of time that I would end up creating something from the Mario world.

The little blue mushroom was a new addition in Super Mario Bros: Wii. This miniature mushroom turns you mini too. You can squeeze into tiny spots, your practically weightless and can jump longer then ever before. Not to mention it's so cute!

The Luma is a pudgy little star that helps Mario along the way in Super Mario Galaxy. They come in many colors, they spin and dance and are my favorite little characters in the game. Especially when you feed them star bits.

I plan on making more Mario characters so stay tuned!

Beautiful White Crochet Queen Bedding Set

2010-10-19T18:24:00.007-05:00

Beautiful White Crochet Queen Bedding Set

This one of kind was hand crafted by Marla. It was inspired by our "girl road trip" this summer when we went though a quaint little town called Franklin in Tennessee. We fell in love with the shabby chic homes! We left our hearts in Tennessee!

More photos and info are available at our Etsy shop:
www.3tiers4cake.etsy.com

Comming Soon!

2010-10-19T11:43:00.002-05:00

Hey Friends,

Soon I will be including other crafts on my blog. I have found that I've been spending more time crafting in materials other than cake lately and I plan to start sharing these creations as well. I'm also happy to announce that my partner in crime, best friend since birth, and mother, Marla will be joining me. I'll be showcasing some of her work as well. She is my number one crafting buddy and I'm thankful to her for giving me the gift to create and teaching me along the way. So please enjoy and thank you for following me along this journey.

- Melanie

Wedding Cake Test

2010-08-20T22:52:00.002-05:00

Just a little sample for a bride to be....

It's a Boy!

2010-05-24T08:33:00.002-05:00

This cake was for my cousin who is expecting a new little man in her life!

Happy Birthday Dona!

2010-03-01T12:18:00.003-06:00

Last minute birthday cake. Decided to have a little fun with it. However after a successful 40 minute trip to my Grandma's house, I smashed it into my car seat getting it out. So, I did my best to redo some of the pipping and we ate it!

Lions Cheer Leading!

2009-11-04T22:48:00.011-06:00

Well I haven't been making a lot of cakes lately because I've spent the past couple of months coaching 5th and 6th grade girls cheer leading.

We competed at two separate competitions this year. I made a deal with the girls that if they brought home two 1st place trophies, I would make them a cake.

Well... They did it!
1st place TWICE!

So for my girls...
Here's your cake! The best part... I even made the inside blue and white!

The LIONS rock the house!

Go Cubs Go

2009-10-17T20:42:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday

Grandpa Ron!

Notre Dame

2009-10-02T19:22:00.004-05:00

Don't you just love football season?

Chocolate mocha.

Lansing Lions

2009-09-26T09:44:00.004-05:00

Lansing Lions requested a cake for their Homecoming Festivities...

Since I coach cheer for the Lions, I just had to say yes. This cake is a 14", 12" and 10" round and contains both Chocolate and Yellow Cake. Used that good old fashioned butter cream and fondant. So yummy!

I just have to say, this thing has to weigh 100 lbs!

A football cake will be displayed as well by special request.
My previous football inspired the idea. After all we are talking Football. You can never go too big!

Bridal Shower

2009-09-26T09:27:00.006-05:00

This was a busy cake week!

I made this cake plus two others in three to four days. Wow I'm tired!

But so worth it!

This cake was for a shower. The bride's color was light green.

This cake was so much fun to make. The hangers are even royal frosting! I made up the design of the dresses as I went and couldn't be happier. My favorite is the back of the dresses.

The flavor? Well of course Chocolate and Coffee.

It's everything a girl needs!

Feedback:

"The cake was such a big hit, you did such a wonderful job. Thank you. Thank you. I could not have asked for more. The bride said it was much nicer than her wedding cake, ha!" - Carrie B.

"Da Cake"

2009-09-07T21:54:00.004-05:00

My Dad's Birthday cake couldn't have been more appropriate than this. You have to understand that every fall we grew up with the word "ball" randomly shouted by my father at the televised NFL games. These burst would rattle the house like fireworks. We came to learn that as a young football player he was trained to yell "ball" to notify his teammates of a fumble on the field. Despite the fact that the players on the television can not hear him, he continues to do his part for every fumble. Therefore, these recent Bear's seasons have left my family nearly deaf from these sudden blast of sonic boom. It's for this reason that the word "ball" is synonymous with football and my father. So this is for you Dad. "BALL!!!!"

The Challenge!

2009-08-15T19:22:00.008-05:00

Swedish Princess Cake

I decided to make a Swedish Princess Cake this week. I saw this cake last week and wondered how did I not know about this. I'm Swedish! But this cake was a little more work than I thought. It required several steps and a couple of days to make. There are three layers of cake. The first is a simple white cake with a simple-sugar/rum soak and topped with raspberry jam and homemade whipped cream. The second layer is the same cake topped with a homemade custard. The final top layer is the same cake topped with a large dome of homemade whip cream. The entire cake is covered with homemade marzipan. All I can say is oh my this was not easy!

My struggles with this cake result from working in mediums I'm not familiar with. The custard and whip cream put a lot of pressure on me to work quickly. My usual butter cream and fondant are much more stable and forgiving. I'm able to work until I'm satisfied. However this cake was not forgiving all!

The cake will be eaten tomorrow for a nice Sunday afternoon get-together.

Rock On!

2009-07-24T22:51:00.006-05:00

My Sister's Golden Birthday!
In order to celebrate the unique person that is my sister ... well I just had to make this cake! She's very artistic and musical. When she picks up a musical instrument, it doesn't take long for her to excel at it. As for me... Not so much! Recently her adventures have featured the drums. Well, I can't afford to buy her an actual set, so I suppose this is the next best thing.

The best part of this cake is what's inside. This cake is a mocha devil's food with a rich mocha chocolate butter cream filling. Heavenly! Bottom line... Happy Birthday Sis!

Castle Cake

2009-07-15T21:43:00.007-05:00

Happy Birthday to My Little Girl!

This cake is for my daughter's 12th birthday tomorrow! I can't believe it, 12 years! What are you gonna do? Make a cake!

This cake is a Strawberry cake, made with real strawberries, and a strawberry cream cheese frosting. Mmmm... so good. The best part of this cake is my daughter helped me. She helped bake, make frosting, and cut all the little pink flowers out of fondant! Okay, so she made only three times as many as I needed but she had fun! I guess I have a little apprentice already. The cake takes up only half my fridge! Yep, Half!!! It is most definitely bigger than a bread box!

Let's Party!

4th of July!

2009-07-04T00:03:00.007-05:00

4th of July Cakes!

Yep... It's good old fashioned Red Velvet with homemade Cream Cheese Frosting. Yummy! So I didn't leave out the red. You'll find it when you eat it! And it is RED! This first one was a star that I cut out of a round cake. Not too easy. I guess that's why they sell star shaped pans. Go figure.

Well after fighting with how to make a star from a round cake and cutting and re-cutting and eating lots and lots of scraps the other two cakes ended round. They also sport a red interior!

And a close up.

Remember!

2009-06-29T20:09:00.002-05:00

There's a difference between not forgetting something and truley remembering it. We always say never forget, but take 5 minutes and truely remember! Independence Day is just around the corner. Let's take this time to not let our guard down! God Bless America!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv4s3fn8jDc

I DID IT!

2009-06-26T21:41:00.009-05:00

I passed Wilton Course I! Not as easy as you would think. My thanks goes to Renae (our instructor) who spent a lot of time over my shoulder trying to get these roses out. I have to say I got frustrated with them. So I'll photo shop them later (once I learn how). Little secret,

Renae made one of my roses to help show me and I stole it for my cake, he he. Can you tell which one? Ha! I'm not crazy. They're hard to make. And if you can tell, LIE TO ME!

Girls Night Out

2009-06-25T18:26:00.003-05:00

I made this cake for a girls night out, bachelorette thing. My friend Stephanie saw the purse I previously made and was hoping to have something that says that's cute, let’s eat. The cake itself is my coffee chocolate cake with a coffee chocolate mousse filling. Umm good! I made the cake board from some scrapbooking supplies to give it a little something special and I made a tube of lipstick out of left over fondant. Why? Because I had left over fondant! Enjoy girls!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T13:39:00.001-05:00

Happy Father's Day!

I made this cake THIS morning. It took 3 hours and I was rushing. That's from bake to cake! It didn't go with out it's problems... My cake was too warm (you know rushing) and it began to fall apart. My poor husband had to help me and keep me from crying over a cake I'm making for him. Well it all ended okay. I guess you can't call yourself a baker if you don't know how to face adversity, which happens quite often in cake making!

Special note: Ironically, my husband doesn't eat cake! So, Happy Father's Day to ME!

Graduation Cake

2009-06-19T22:08:00.001-05:00

This is the graduation cake I did for my cousin. Her school colors are yellow and black. This was a 8", 10" and a 12" cake and feeds approx. 90 people. The top and bottom layers were chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream filling and the middle was almond white cake. The delivery was about an hour away and was about as scary as when we first drove my kids home from the hospital. Every bump was a jolt to my heart. I spent about 20 hours on this cake over the course of 3 days, loosing it would have been devastating! Well it arrived safe and looked good. We devoured it!

1st Cake Sold!

2009-06-19T22:03:00.000-05:00

This is an almond white cake with almond buttercream and homemade fondant. Thanks Gerda for my first sale! This was a birthday cake for her daughter. The reviews came back good. Gerda said they all enjoyed it.

It Continues....

2009-06-19T10:53:00.000-05:00

While the perfect cake recipe remained a MIA, I decied to work on decorating and made this...

I made this shoe from fondant. It was really fun to make. I first questioned myself if I could actually do this but never-the-less here it is.

This is a chocolate coffee cake with chocolate coffee icing covered in my homemade fondant. I made this cake for my sister. The was her welcome home cake. She had just returned from a mission trip in Nicaragua. This was really yummy! At last a really good recipe, now on to the white cake!

I had a new recipe that I really wanted to give a try. So I came up with the excuse to make my mother's dog a birthday cake, eventhough his birthday was still weeks away. Well you might be asking, what does bowling have to do with a dog? Answer: Nothing, I just wanted to make the cake. The funny thing is the dog is a boy, so why pink? Well it was left over from the previous purse cake.... I can't waste it! Bottom line here is I found a White Almond Cake recipe. It is to die for. Is dense enought for tiers, moist and really really good!

So now I have an awsome chocolate cake recipe and an awsome white cake recipe. I will be exploring more flavors. A pritty cake is nothing if it doesn't taste good. Cake should make people happy, and I want to make people happy.

And So It Begins...

2009-06-18T17:25:00.000-05:00

It all started when this full time mom and part-time banker decided to make her brother's wedding cake this August. Well, time to start practicing. So I began with some small 4 inch cakes. First i need a recipe...

First cake, well it was a horrible. The cake was dry and the store bought fondant was yucky! This is a bummer. So we try agian...

Second Cake. Well it was Champaigne cake. Well it makes a great bread. Cake... not so much. Not to mention the fondant is still a no go.

Round 3! So I cheeted... I used a cake mix. Let's face it Pillsberry has got it down when it come to a moist cake, but it's too soft. I can't make tiers with this. I can just see it now, me crying over my brother's wedding cake on the floor. But hey, on the plus side, I made my own fondant, and buttercream... It's wonderful!

Yep, another Mother's day Cake. Well, Mother's deserve a lot of cake, right? Well, I think so! But maybe not this cake. Although my decorating skills have improved in only a week or so, the cake is incredibly dry. We had to dunk this in our coffee. Um... not good. This is proving to be more difficult than planned.