Summer Cake

I made this cake two years ago for a relief society party. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of the process, but it is pretty easy to explain. It is actually really easy - just a little time consuming - but way worth it!


What's a burger without fries? (and fry sauce!)

WHAT YOU NEED:
*3 cake mixes. 1 chocolate (burger) 1 yellow (bun) and 1 angle food cake (fries)
*Frosting (I used homemade)
*Fondant (for cheese and lettuce)
*Strawberries
*Cool Whip
*Rice crispies (sesame seeds)

HOW TO:
1. Bake yellow cake as directed in two 9 or 8" rounds (this will be your bun) Fill one pan more than the other (this will give you a nice mounded top for your bun top - and a thinner bun for the bottom. (I cut the rounded top off the bottom only)
2. Bake one 8 or 9" round for hamburger patty (use the same size pan as your buns) - if you want it extra thick bake two and stack together. I only used one.

3. Frost: Add yellow and red die to frosting until desired bun color - frost bottom bun.
4. Mix extra chocolate cake crumbs into your chocolate frosting so it is lumpy, this will give it the burger texture, and frost it on top of your bottom bun. Make sense?

5. Fondant time (this only takes a very small amount) mix in yellow die (and a tiny drop of red) to get the cheese color. Roll it very flat and cut into squares, then cut the squares in half crossways to make triangles.(you don't need a whole square because it wont show)
To make the lettuce die your fondant green and roll out randomly. I tore the edges and just kind of crinkled them till it looked like lettuce.
Put these on top of burger patty.

6. Put yellow and red frosting in tubes and squeeze around edges for mustard and ketchup.

7. Put on the top bun and frost, then add rice crispies for sesame seeds.

8. FRENCH FRIES: Mix the angel food cake according to directions. Add yellow food dye (just a little) you might need a drop of red. Bake it in a sheet pan (large cookie sheet with a 1" edge on it) I can't remember the bake time - but it is shorter than the time for a 9x13. Just watch it. When it is done, cut the cake into 1"x 4" rectangles. I did mine different lengths - like fries! :)
9. For the "ketchup" and "fry sauce" (for us utah and idaho folks)
Ketchup: put strawberries in a blender and puree them. Then add desired amount of sugar. I bought cheap bottles at walmart (dollar store has them also) and cut a larger opening.
Fry Sauce: coolwhip with yellow and red food dye (EASY!)
When you eat the fries put the strawberries and coolwhip on them - so yummy!!!
10. Sit back and enjoy the yummy cake and all the "ohhhs" and "ahhhs!" You will get them!

Thanks to BRIDGETTE and REBEKAH at All Thingz Related for picking this as one of their Favorites! I am honored!!!

Summer Porch

For 4 years now, I have had a dream of what I wanted my porch to be like, I wanted it to be an extension of my home, and I wanted it to be beautiful. The front of your house is the first thing people see, and I wanted it to make a good impression. Here is what it looked like before, not bad, but no WOW factor.


After years of dreaming, I finally have my porch the way I want it!!!



I Bought my oval wreath at Tia Pan - it was pricey but I had a rare coupon, so I splurged!

I wanted a wreath to match my door one, so I bought a boxwood garland for $6 at Tia Pan, and wrapped and wired it to a $1 wire frame from Hobby Lobby (TOTAL = $7!)

I bought this table on KSL for $7.50:

I used some leftover red spray paint to beautify it. I also added some black glaze to darken and antique it a bit, but I took this photo before I did that. oops! Here's the after:

I bought $12 worth of fabric at JoAnnes for the pillows, used my serger to sew a 16x16" square, then I stuffed it with stuffing I have had for years and stitched them closed!

It was a long time coming, but WAY worth the wait!!! My husband and I spend so much time in our little rockers, (funny, I always thought we would be old when we would sit on rockers on the porch - maybe we are getting old?) Those rockers have already had miles rocked away on them, LOVE it!!! (Just one more look!)

Now I can sit back and enjoy a warm summer in the shade of my lovely porch!
Happy Summer!