Hello Sweet Friends!

If you read our blog, then you know that I have this thing with kids’ birthday cakes. In fact, the whole reason I bake today is because ten years ago, when I knew nothing about baking, I baked my daughter’s first birthday cake.  Looking back, that cake was such a mess, but something about that little gesture of love triggered my interest in baking, forever.

These days, I use birthday cake baking as a chance to teach my children about visualizing your goals in life, and how hard work, team work, and creative problem solving can transform those goals into reality.

Below you will see our youngest daughter’s birthday cake design and actual cake.  As you can see in her drawing, she wanted a cat and dog themed cake with a half cat half dog on the top, (because why wouldn’t you want a half cat half dog on your cake)?  I guess it was like a Centaur (half man, half horse) but cat and dog?  Yikes!  Anyways, that was her little vision, so we went with it.

For the cake itself, I used a boxed mix.  Normally, I would go with my basic vanilla cake recipe, but I had so much to do last week that I had to go for the mix.

For the fondant, I used our never-fail easy fondant recipe.  This time, I tried a new trick with the fondant that made it so much easier to work with.  Instead of refrigerating the fondant, I left it at room temperature and covered the cake on the counter.  I know that seems strange, but it kept the fondant from sweating, and if you have ever worked with fondant then you know that a damp cake is THE WORST!

Finally, we used candles, a paper cocktail umbrella :),  and gum balls for decorations.  Instead of gum balls, you can always cut your fondant into the same sized circles and roll each one into a round fondant ball.  I just used gum balls to, once again, save time.

To my relief, the final product was the cake my daughter was looking for.  I hope she remembers not just the cake itself, but the lesson in visualizing your goals in life, and working towards making them a reality.

We hope you gain a few new ideas from this crazy kids’ birthday cake project.  If you have baked a crazy birthday cake, please email photos to me here at piecrustandpixiedust@gmail.com.  I love to see (and post) your sweet works of art!!

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Do you know the difference between Italian gelato and ice cream? I bet you do, but until two weeks ago, I really had no clue. While they are both cold, creamy and delicious, I thought of gelato as being like the complicated, bilingual, well-traveled, private school cousin of ice cream.  Either way, I wanted to learn more about the difference between the two, so I set out to Italy to (celebrate my sweet mom’s birthday) and to interview the absolute authority on Italian gelato, Andrea Fassi.  And friends, let me tell you, in a beautiful century-old gelato shop, on an ancient road in the heart of Rome, not only did I learn about what makes gelato extraordinary, but I also had an unexpected revelation about what makes people extraordinary.  This was a sweet little story that I was eager to come home and share with my children….

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Andrea Fassi is the great grandson of Giovanni Fassi, one of the first gelato artisans, (gelatieres) in the world. In 1880, Andrea’s family started the first gelateria (gelato shop) in Rome, Italy, called Palazzo del Freddo di Giovanni, (say that ten times fast)!  Generation after generation the Fassi family has been holding true to their traditional and well-perfected gelato recipes, while pushing the creative envelope with new innovative flavors, each year.  Now as CEO of Palazzo del Freddo de Giovanni, Andrea Fassi is managing not only the current business, but also the imminent expansion of Fassi Gelato around the world.

So there I was in Rome, with a six o’clock meeting set up Andrea Fassi himself, at Palazzo del Freddo di Giovanni, (the gelato lab).  I’m not exactly sure why, but upon arriving, I was expecting a small, quaint gelato shop tucked away in a hidden Rome alley. However, to my surprise, Fassi Gelato Lab was anything but quaint. I walked into a large beautiful old building that was absolutely packed with  customers. The walls were adorned with century old Fassi ads, and beautiful antique gelato equipment.  Take a look at this dreamy place…

Then as I stood in this Italian gelato shop that was like something out of a Nancy Meyers film, here comes Andrea Fassi himself, floating into the shop like he was fresh off a Vespa ride with some super hot Italian lady.  It was one of those moments where everything was like a slow motion music video from back in the day.  He waved his hair out of his face, put his sunglasses on his head, and kindly introduced himself.  Within moments it was clear that we were in the midst the ultimate gelato aficionado.

Andrea was kind enough to take us back to the gelato lab where each day their team of gelatieres make massive quantities of fresh and even seasonal gelato.  Here is a peek a the lab…

As we walked with Andrea through the gelato lab, I was met with a few surprises along the way.  Andrea explained how the process used to make gelato a century ago, is quite similar to how Fassi gelato is still made to this day.  I was also surprised at how little equipment was required to produce such diverse flavors, and vast quantities of gelato.  I was expecting a huge array of mixers and machines, and while the equipment they did have was huge and state-of-the-art, it was minimal.

The biggest surprise however was when I began to ask Andrea about what goes into gelato, and the differences between ice cream and gelato.  It turns out that while I thought of gelato as being the complex, extra fancy version of ice cream, it’s quite the opposite.

What makes gelato so great is actually the low quantity and high quality of the ingredients, (the Fassi family even sources cows from far in the Italian Alps because their diet produces such delicious milk).  Simple ingredients + best quality possible + love (of course) = extraordinary gelato.

Hmmmm.  This got me thinking.  Don’t you think that some of the best things in life are like gelato?  They aren’t fussy or complex, but simple and of really good quality.  See, when something is truly good, it doesn’t need a lot of extras.

In fact, as a mom, I was eager to share this little revelation with my children.  I want my kids to know that what makes them so great is the goodness they have on the inside.  They don’t have to try hard to be great.  They don’t have to be like someone else, wear fancy clothes, or have certain things.  They have the best quality ingredients on the inside, and that is more than enough.  Any other bells and whistles are just the whipped cream on top!

Anyways, after our tour of the Fassi Gelateria, Andrea Fassi was kind enough to let us try any of the gelato flavors they had in the store.  DREAM COME TRUE!  We were obsessed with the fruit flavors which were like nothing else I’ve ever tried.  This gelato tasted as if the berries were picked that day, (and they quite likely may have been).  We also tried various rich flavors like, mocha, chocolate and several others.  This gelato was so extraordinary that we found ourselves sitting at a table with tons of melted gelato, because we were savoring each bite so slowly.  Quality problem, you guys!  It is just…that…good.

In the end I was left with an experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life.  Not only was the experience that Andrea gave us beyond anything imaginable, but I was reminded that the best things in life are like gelato.  Sweet, simple, made with love, and of great quality.

I want to give my most sincere thanks to Andrea Fassi and the Fassi family for their generosity and hospitality.  You truly welcomed us like family.   We will be waiting to have your fabulous Italian gelato here in the United States sometime very soon!

Palazzo del Freddo di Giovanni

Principe Eugenio street, 65
00185 Rome
Phone +39 06 4464740
Fax +39 06 49383354

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Happy National S’mores Day!

I know this isn’t one of those serious holidays where schools close and the post office shuts down, but I absolutely think it should be.  Imagine for a moment how happy and peaceful we would all be if we could take off work for a day and celebrate the chocolatey, marshmallowy goodness of one of the most beloved desserts of all time?  I mean this is the dessert that brings people together, y’all.  This is the dessert that we all have great memories making and eating with our loved ones.  If National S’mores Day were an actual federal public holiday, our country would be a better place.  It would be like the “We are The World” music video all up in the streets.  Okay well that’s a stretch, but you get the idea.

Anyways, we celebrated National S’mores Day in a big way at our house today, thanks to our friends and brand partners at Smashmallow.  In case you haven’t heard, Smashmallow marshmallows are the very best marshmallows on the market.  They come in flavors like Cinnamon Churro, Cookie Dough, Strawberries and Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip, and more.  You can snack on these little babies by themselves, throw a couple in your coffee, make Rice Krispy treats with them, or of course make s’mores!

Today we made three different types of s’mores with Smashmallows, for National S’mores Day.  Take a peek at these fun recipes….

Strawberries and Cream S’mores

Fresh strawberries, whipped cream, Strawberries and Cream Smashmallows, white chocolate ganache covered graham crackers, and sprinkles!  GREAT for brunching!!

Apple Pie S’mores

White chocolate ganache covered graham crackers with Cinnamon Churro Smashmallows, fresh baked apples, caramel drizzle, and whipped cream.  Topped with white chocolate covered pretzels for a pinch of salty with all of that delicious sweet.

Lavender Mint S’mores

Lavender infused dark chocolate with Mint Chocolate Smashmallows and mint chocolate chips.  White chocolate ganache covered graham crackers, with gold sugar-dust and chocolate covered Gummy Bears, (why not :)).

We hope you love these playful twists on traditional s’mores!  Have a great National S’mores Day!!

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Happy summer, everyone!

Last week my daughter asked if we were baking anything for July 4th.  Instantly, I had visions of our laundry pile, the loads of suitcases that needed to be packed for our family beach trip, and the slime that someone smeared inside the back window of my minivan.  How do you get that stuff off, and when is this slime fad going to be OVER with, by the way?!!

I thought about responding to my daughter’s baking query with a simple, “no way in hell,” but I suppose the sweet spirit of Jesus came over me and instead I made her a deal.  I said, “If you draw a picture of what you want to bake for July 4th, we will give it a shot.  The only catch is that everything has to come from a mix, a box or a can because mommy is busy, and there is slime to be dealt with.”

My daughter agreed, and quickly began whipping up her July 4th baking concept.  Here is the drawing:

A few days later I had literally 4 minutes to run into the grocery store for ingredients, in order to make it to my girls’ gymnastics camp pick-up on time.  I bought two boxes of Betty Crocker Red Velvet Cake Mix, two cans of cream cheese frosting, a fresh pack of eggs and a bottle of vegetable oil.  

With those simple ingredients and a little time together in the kitchen, my kids and I turned my daughter’s sketch into this super-easy, fun and festive July 4th cake.  Voila, y’all!

If you have a little down time this week and are looking for a stress free recipe, you will love this no-nonsense red velvet cake.  Give it a shot and send us pictures!

Now, back to the packing and slime drama.

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Boo!

Around our house, we prefer to make Halloween a little more kooky than spooky.  This week, we got into the kooky Halloween spirit by baking monster themed sugar cookies with inspiration from one of our favorite artists, Ed Emberley.

If you and your kids have any interest in learning how to draw, you must grab one of Ed Emberley’s drawing books.  These art instruction books teach the reader how to draw faces and all kinds of characters using basic shapes and squiggles.  Ed Emberly’s teaching method is basic enough for a child to enjoy, and the characters you draw are just fantastic.  So fantastic, that when we decided to bake sugar cookies with monster faces, we knew we  absolutely had to use this particular book as inspiration.  Oh, and it’s under $5.00, so how perfect.

For the cookies themselves, we went with classic cut-out cookies with royal icing for decoration. These cut-out cookies are great because you can bake them and freeze them for decorating at a later time, (Maybe grab those Christmas cookie cutters while your are at it)!  When decorating these cookies with kids, you may want to consider a few of our favorite royal icing tips and tricks:

1. Pipe royal icing around the border of each cookie

2. Add a tablespoon of water (or more if desired) to a bowl of icing to make it easier to spread

3. Using a teaspoon, spoon the icing from the bowl onto the cookie and use the back of the  spoon to gently spread the icing to the borders

4. Let the icing set for about thirty minutes before letting the kids decorate.  This will ensure the base icing is set and won’t mess up their great decorations.

One thing that I really loved about this baking project, is that you usually see cookies with royal icing being so perfect and fancy, but in this case the crazier they turned out, the better.  We were making silly monster faces, so I encouraged the kids to just relax have fun “drawing outside the lines.”

All in all, these cookies were a blast to make and the project as a whole was quality time at it’s finest.  I can promise you that when you bake these cookies with your kids, you will have a sweet and kooky memory that no one will forget.  Let us know how your cookies turn out!

Happy Halloween!

Print

Basic Royal Icing

Adapted from Lorann Professional Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1/4 cup meringue powder We used Loranne
• 4 cups confectioner's sugar

Instructions

• Whisk cold water and meringue powder in stand mixer until stiff peaks form  
• Sift confectioner's sugar
• Add confectioner's sugar to other ingredients in mixer, and combine until smooth.
• Add food coloring as needed

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Sponsored post:  We only work with brands we truly love.

I can’t believe our house is still standing, (and I’m still standing for that matter) after the wild and wonderful week we’ve had at our home.   With tons of family and kids visiting, as well as an epic sleepover last weekend, I’m starting to feel like we run a loud and messy B&B.  I have loved (almost) every minute!!  So while I had the chance, I decided to bring these kiddos into the kitchen to help make some amazing breakfast goodies with the help of super-fun cookware from Mastrad Paris.

Crepes Two-Ways:

If you have family or friends visiting, you may find that setting up a crepe buffet is a really fun way to feed a group.  I have a simple crepe recipe that you can pin at the bottom of this post. I also used a crepe pan for this recipe, and I have to say it make a huge difference.

What I like about using an actual crepe pan like this one  that it has a lip around the circumference of the pan.  This lip allows you to pour your batter into the center of the pan and swirl the pan until the batter hits the lip and forms a perfect circle. This technique will give you delicious, uniform crepes every time.

We also used these fun silicone Egg Shapers ( to make sunny side up egg toast as well as delicious heart-shaped pancakes. These silicone shapers are my new favorite baking obsession.  They are non-stick, non-BPA and serve as versatile tools for baking new creative recipes with kids.  Take a look, y’all!

Take a peek and get inspired… 

Print

Basic Crepe Recipe

www.piecrustandpixiedust.com

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbsp melted butter

Instructions

• Sift flour into a bowl.  
• Add salt, eggs and half of the milk.  Whisk until smooth.
• Add remaining milk, butter, and combine.
• Spray Crepe pan and pour one cup of batter in pan.  Swirl into a circle and flip when bubbly.
• Add desired fillings, fold, and enjoy!

Print

Cherry & Blueberry Compote

www.piecrustandpixiedust.com

This easy berry compote is great for toast, crepes, popovers and more!

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped and hulled fresh cherries
• 1 cup blueberries
• 2 tbs cornstarch dissolve in a tablespoon of water before combining
• 1/2 cup cherry juice
• 2 tbsp sugar

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a saucepan on medium heat.  Stir until combined and bubbly.  May serve warm or store in the fridge.

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Maybe it’s just me, but I find it pretty difficult to explain the significance of national independence to a child. Be that as it may, I think it is important for kids, (and adults for that matter) to have an appreciation for what it fundamentally means to be independent as a nation, and free as a people. Creating an independent nation built on democratic principles took big dreams and unbridled courage. Moreover, to ultimatley have the freedom to be who we want to be as individuals, is an absolute privilege. Whether we are blue, red, left, right or purple, being free totally rocks; So be brave, be bold, and cue the fireworks because we have to CELEBRATE!! Okay, I’ll hop off the soap box, now. Whew. You’re welcome.

So in preparation of Independence Day, I decided to whip up a silly little project to teach kids about the value of independence. And if like me, you will be surrounded by loads of kiddos during the Fourth of July holiday, this may be a really fun (and super yummy) activity for your family as well.

Here’s the scoop…

I baked 24 homemade Angel Food cupcakes. You will love this recipe because it is quick and ridiculously delicious. Next, I put piping bags of whipped frosting, cups of sprinkles, and bowls of blueberries and strawberries on the counter. Then, I asked my 9 year old nephew, 9 year old daughter and 6 year old daughter to come “help” me in the kitchen. Needless to say, the kids were so excited to see all of these toppings and started thinking up ideas about how they could create cupcakes of their own. Finally, (this is so mean) I told the kids that despite their ideas and abilities, they needed to make their cupcakes exactly like the ones I had decorated…..

Bubbles = burst.

After a few minutes of unbearable whining, I told the kids that they were free to decorate however they wanted! Once given the independence to execute their own ideas, they were totally thrilled. The kid’s cupcakes were as bold and bright as the stars and stripes, and so much better than the one’s I had prepared on my own. In the end, we made great memories, amazing cupcakes, and the kids had a newfound appreciation for life, liberty and the pursuit of silliness.

Happy Fourth, y’all!

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This week, my girls and I baked homemade dog treats for our furry friends at The Charleston Animal Society…

Since 1874, The Charleston Animal Society has been a leading force in animal advocacy and the prevention of animal cruelty.   The CAS campus is absolutely incredible, their staff is top-notch, and my goodness, their dogs and cats are so adorable and ready to find loving homes.  It was a real honor to bake a little love for these sweet animals, and learn about the camps, volunteer opportunities and programs here at The Charleston Animal Society, .  By the way, this is not a sponsored post, we just genuinely love these folks!

The homemade dog treat recipe we pulled together was easy and required few ingredients.  In fact, the recipe was so wholesome and simple, I gave my kids a dog treat for breakfast just for fun.  Is that bad-momming?  Oh, who cares… The dog treats were super wholesome and we were baking some great memories!

Baking for animal shelters is one of the most unconventional yet highly rewarding baking projects you can do.  These animals really need our love, and our shelters need our support.  If you have any room in your home and any room in your heart, please consider rescuing a pet.  If you don’t have room, please consider baking a little love for your furry friends at a shelter near you.

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Tagged Under: Homemade Dog Treat Recipe

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Whether success is defined as happiness, financial growth, humanitarian impact or something more, many of the most successful people in history credit the power of visualization as a key component to their achievement.   In fact, the enormously successful and inspiring founder of Spanx, Sara Blakely has been quoted as saying that visualizing her own success was one of the critical factors to building her billion dollar business empire.  Visualizing what you want to achieve provides your mind with a pathway that your actions can subsequently follow.

Okay, so read that last paragraph to your kids, and look at how they react.  I’ll wait…………….. See!  The reaction I got was a glassy look in their eyes followed by my nine-year-old asking me if I would make her a grilled cheese.  Glad that soaked in.  Hopefully you received a better response.

Telling kids about the power of visualization isn’t an easy task, yet it’s so very important for children to know that if they dream big, they can achieve big.  So as an alternative, I decided to bake this concept into their brains.  Here is the story.

My five-year-old was recently telling me about what kind of cake she wanted for her upcoming birthday.  In great detail, she explained to me that it needed to be three tiers, “purpley-pink,” have hearts, circles, and a big sparkly six on top.  So in the spirit of helping her learn how to visualize her goals, I handed her a dry-erase board and markers, then asked her to draw the cake she had described.

Five minutes later, this is what she handed me….

Next, I told her that if this cake was her goal, we would have to do a few things to make it happen.

1. Research
2. Work as a team
3. Try our best
4. Not give up
5. Have fun!!!

So that is what we did….

In the end…. Molly got her cake. It wasn’t perfect, but it totally rocked!!  Most importantly, I think by working through the concept of visualizing goals versus just talking about the idea, these kiddos will remember that if they dream big, they can achieve big.

For more birthday cake ideas from our blog, check out this link!

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Earth Day is almost here, and in the spirit of keeping it real, I will admit that our big family could do more to help the environment.  You could build a school out of the amount of recyclable trash just inside my minivan at this very moment.  So, in honor of our planet, we decided to take time out to bake some Earth Day cookies, and compose a list of things our family could do to get a little greener.

First, we made no-fail super quick sugar cookies. We used Ready-to-Bake sugar cookie dough from Pillsbury  and the kids used pre-piped frosting from Betty Crocker, for decorating   This baking project could not have been simpler.

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