Una Torta Autunnale… An Autumnal Cake…

We celebrated Jody's Birthday at Tami's.  The  theme was " An Autumn Affair ".  I was in charge of the cake.  It had to be delicious,  and beautiful so I came up with this Soft Gingerbread Cake… I made candied pecans,  salted caramel sauce,  and cream cheese frosting,  then put all three between the soft gingerbread layers .  I did a crumb coat on top of the entire cake,  then covered it with fondant.  The leaves and pumpkins were made of  gum paste,  and fondant,  then painted with food colors,  and luster dust.  Very Autumnal…and delicious,  perfect flavors for the Holiday Season.  I need to make this cake for other Holiday Gatherings…

Una Torta Per Franca… A Cake For Franca…

Franca is never in America on her birthday,  so we don't  get to celebrate it with her.  I thought that I would surprise her with a Birthday Cake,  even though her Birthday is in November.  She and Mimmo were spending the day with Paul and Edy,  so I had the time to make the cake without her knowing.  We met at Anna and Nicola's for dinner and surprised her with a little celebration in her honor…  The cake was an Amaretto cake,  filled with Vanilla Pastry Cream,  a little Apricot Jam,  and finely chopped Candied Walnuts… the outside was Fondant , with a flower design which I hand painted with food colors.

Una Torta Per Una Cara Amica… A Cake For A Dear Friend…

Another Birthday party / lunch with "The girls".  As always,  we had lots of laughs and so much fun. This time,   I was in charge of the Cocktail  and the  Cake.  The Cocktail was a Champagne and St. Germain Gelee topped with more Champagne and Pomegranate Seeds.  It was beautiful,  a little unusual,  and delicious.  The cake was an Amaretto Cake layered with my Vanilla Pastry Cream and Almond,  wrapped with Fondant and topped with  hand made Gum Paste Flowers . The party decor was all very girly in various shades of pink so I lightly  painted my flowers with Pink Luster Dust…As a little finishing touch,  I wrapped the cake with a delicate,   slightly shimmery ribbon.