Penny Lane

Penny at work...

2012-01-04T11:09:00.002-06:00

Lemon Meringue Tart

Got the world on my finger

2011-11-08T09:22:00.003-06:00

Found these incredible snow globe rings made custom by Szofita. Lust!!

just a clip of some writing...

2011-10-11T14:28:00.007-05:00

Why are you drinking at ten o'clock in the morning?"

I pulled the cheap, plastic cup to my lips and sipped slowly.

That tourist trap of a street vendor saw me coming.

"We're on Bourbon Street. It's practically a mandate." She was right though. I hadn’t realized that mint juleps are mostly Bourbon, a thick alcohol that’s an acquired taste, and precious few people ever grow accustomed. I tossed the half empty cup towards an open trash can and missed. We both sat, watching the sprig of mint leaves slide a few feet before halting - abandoned by the brown bourbon and ice, which soaked into the concrete.

"The ground here must be like, 90 percent alcohol." Kay said, staring at the empty cup until I picked it up and trashed it.

"Of course it is! That's why the water table is so high. It's all grey goose."

Got a secret!

2011-10-09T22:02:00.009-05:00

Peep and donate to the continuation of this upcoming documentary about the secret disease an astronaut, Rich Clifford, held away from the public for years, and his new journey as a voice for those without one.
He's sharing his story with Parkinson's. Yes-like Michael J. Fox. :)

Watch more.
Learn more.
Live Fuller.
The Astronaut's Secret

That's sick!

2011-09-12T17:29:00.003-05:00

I have strep throat today.
I'm sick-like this cake!Just terrible.

2011-08-17T21:13:00.003-05:00

2011-08-17T01:05:00.002-05:00

2011-08-16T02:25:00.003-05:00

Jasmine Nap

2011-08-15T02:39:00.002-05:00

2011-08-05T23:52:00.000-05:00

Katy Perry Concert

2011-07-30T03:00:00.007-05:00

These aren't the good pics and pics of her close up, but the upload is taking a bit, so real pics tomorrow, but until then-here's the Penny/Katy Perry Experience!

Blinking cotton candy and I meet.

Inside of blinking cotton candy!

Teenage Dream opening song! The girl next to me and I jumped up and down and screamed together...thank you fairy god mother for sending me to Candyfornia!

This is just magic!

2011-07-28T04:36:00.002-05:00

Guess where I'm going Friday night!! No, not a ball!

2011-07-26T00:53:00.006-05:00

The KATY PERRY CONCERT!! It's getting close and I'm like a 12 year old on the cusp of puberty before a Beiber fest! All Bonnie Belled out, hyped up on Mountain Dew, and freakin in ALL CAPS!! Can't sleep! Magic Magic Magic Moments!!! Kittens!!

Today I feel a little crazy, and I know what will make shiz betta-

2011-07-20T03:14:00.022-05:00

Jazz Hands!

and making all food rainbow-

all pop stars Katy-

a medical intervention of neon proportions-

leaving us in Wonka Vision-unstoppable and unable to fade.

The glitterati take over-

a tasty new life-loud in the best way-

jeweled, and unafraid of being called pretentious.

Space ship serenades,

and candy landscapes-no fear of cavities.

Marie Antoinette back to life with no furniture decorum.

Unafriad-armed with more than words and spellbound bar stamps-

no ink, all koolaid kitten tattoos leaving no regret.

Techno majesty rising to power- no party allegiance or lies.

Only the good kind of floss,

and candy cakes sans fondant,at our big fat gypsy weddings that end without a trailer or double standard relationship-It's all technicolor love.

Today, Refuse to be taupe!

Walking Heavy: Vietnam War

2011-07-17T01:36:00.004-05:00

Made this video for my dad-best person I know. Had 3 tours in Vietnam-Special Forces, Rangers, and then went to MAC V school and was a Long Range Recon small team soldier. They were behind enemy lines, highly specialized, and very brave.
War seems to write it's terrible name on the heart of everyone it touches, but I know the bonds made between soldiers there are the purest form of trust imaginable. It's an incredible thing inside of something unimaginably heart breaking.
I wish the quality was better thru youtube, but I'm still happy with it.

As to the meaning of "Walking Heavy", here is the origin-
"Heavy Drop" is a system of delivery of supplies in a military setting with a parachute. It was also the nick name of a close friend of my father's from the war who passed away about a year ago.
The term "Heavy" is also used in the military for machines that carry large loads on their own.
The large majority of the military operations done by recon soldiers is all on foot for days at a time.
"Walking Heavy" is a morphed term from all these things. If you walk heavy, you are weighted down by the things you hold inside yourself.

Goin to Harry Potter movie today, Biatches!!!

2011-07-15T17:55:00.005-05:00

Jasmine and I give this 2 paws up!

2011-06-13T01:22:00.000-05:00

Katy Perry's Last Friday Night Music Video from Katy Perry

2011-06-08T04:22:00.002-05:00

CAKE!!!

2011-06-02T01:50:00.006-05:00

This was a vanilla bean cake with layers of marshmallow cream, marscapone cream, vanilla meringue buttercream, and white chocolate ganache.
There are rainbow and dark chocoalte morsels on the sides, and macarons around the bottom and crown.
Macaron flavors: Vanilla beam, lemon, cherry limeaide, strawberry, chocolate, red velvet, and blueberry.
The ones on top got a little lopsided after delivery, but they still look great.

...I think he's kinda sweet

2011-06-01T03:18:00.000-05:00

Katy & I from Olly Newport on Vimeo.

Portrait of a Queen

2011-05-24T01:04:00.004-05:00

...and her slave girl, Penny.

Answer me THIS

2011-05-23T02:56:00.006-05:00

The apocalypse has come.
If you're not dead cuz of Jesus, Kool-Aid, or giant chocolate bunnies, you've got to make contact with the alien leaders. How will you tell when the conversation is finished?
Penny's Answer: ...when Tom Cruise tells me it is.

And You?

Waitress Fail

2011-05-22T00:04:00.008-05:00

Waitress: "Would you like a side of chips?"
Me: "What kind?"
Waitress: "Salty."
Me: ".....oh. Is that the end of the sentence?"
Waitress: "What?"
Me: "The sentence. Is that the end of the sentence?.........about the chips?......salty chips?......that's it? Any other type of chips? Or, Is there anything else that can come with the sandwich?"
Waitress:"Regular chips? With your sandwich."
Me: ".......I can't believe this conversation has gone on this long......"

Hello-Chocolate Cakes, Katy Kats, and Kittens!

2011-05-21T23:46:00.004-05:00

Mac-a-rons, Chocolate Cake, Cotton Candy, Marilyn Monroe! Ryan started the Fire!!

2011-05-16T02:33:00.009-05:00

The reason I fell in love with french pastry was the colors!Who WOULDN'T walk by a window of macarons and stop?It's like seeing a room filled with electric butterflies.
A pastry wrapped to look like a classic candy?! Two right down here, please!!
Rainbows don't even look this good.
Eat the flowers!
...okay...this one is from a Tokyo street cart, but I feel the cotton candy bags go with pastry in the quirkiest way.
If wonka would do it, I say YES! And that loon would do anything!

Giant chocolate cake! Pierre Herme!
Gourmet popsicle!
Large cakes like the chocoalte dome at PH-Fabulous!!
Isaphans!!!
St. Honore!
Macarons tree at Laduree. French pastry chefs are so unafraid of color! Make it pink! Make it hot pink! Make ALL of those!!!
WHOOO!
Beignets! Shout out to all the New Orleans babes that have beignet powdered sugar dusting their shoes!
Chocolate Bunnies--and crazy lookin eggs at Lenotre.
PH-The chocolate section.

Combat Carlton

2011-05-11T19:56:00.003-05:00

I love that there's rockets going off. So wrong, but so right. :)

Macarons For Easter and a Crowned Ganache/Mousse Cake

2011-04-26T01:24:00.004-05:00

The cake inside is chocolate fudge cake/ganache/chocoalte mousse/vanilla bean cake/vanilla buttercream/chocolate mousse/chocolate fudge cake/chocolate cream/vanilla bean cake-covered in chocolate buttercream-then ganache stars with macarons
I dunno why the cake looks shiny-it wasn't shiny in person...I'm thinking it's the flash or something...kinda bothers me. :)

ET Video Inspired Nail Art

2011-04-19T18:36:00.002-05:00

Katy Perry ET Video

2011-04-19T14:05:00.002-05:00

Cat naps super serious

2011-04-12T22:25:00.001-05:00

Watch this cat get just a little over dramatic when the dog interrupts her nap.

2011-03-30T02:09:00.002-05:00

My nails aren't "appropriate" for work?
...What kind of sick, cruel world do we live in?!

2011-03-28T01:32:00.007-05:00

Soldiers

We were simple soldiers both He and I
Serving our country with fire in our eye
We chose to serve because we believed
Oh how young men can be deceived
We suffered the heat, we suffered the rain
We suffered the stress
As our governments continued to press
We watched our friends come, we watched them die
We watched as our governments continued to lie,
As the years passed then until now
I sit and wonder how, circle after circle
Man continues to travel, fighting for this
And fighting for that, we should ask ourselves
Fighting for what,
We met on the battlefield, he and I
Now he is gone and I constantly wonder why
We were used to carry out some others folly
Now he is gone and I am left alone to wonder
And cringe when I hear the thunder
My thoughts go back to long ago times
I see the faces of people that really mattered
My friends, My comrades, My fragile spirit tattered
We take stock of what we have and where we are,
And I thank God for my Wife and my children.

Ranger Roberts

2011-02-05T03:21:00.005-06:00

Guess who's going to the Katy Perry concert on July 29th!!

No...not the pope.
ME!!!

The love of my life, Jason, got tickets for me. It was selling out as we were on the phone, so the seating choices were jumping back and up as the moments ticked by. We got seats to the left of the stage on the second level. But-We'll actually be closer than many that are right in front cuz of the shape of the venue.
I'm gonna video tape the whole day, and hopefully they won't take the camera from me at the venue-they DO have a no camera policy there, but I don't have a problem trying to smuggle it in. I dunno why I can't bring in a camera if every other person in the place will be filming with their i-phone!

The HORROR!!

2011-02-04T00:34:00.003-06:00

Found out something about my incredible friend, Cora, last night between 9pm and 3am.
She was on the ground, BLACKED OUT, swollen, and throwin up cuz....

She's allergic to hamsters!!
And, I think someone has sumethin to say to you, Cora!

Valentine's Day Macarons

2011-01-31T04:16:00.005-06:00

Tart Bakery

Look Closely

2011-01-28T02:23:00.004-06:00

Look at this cake.
Now notice the top of the cake.
What is that?
yes...It's a creepy doll/monkey child.
The end of the world is near-Evil is taking over.

Are you there, God?

2011-01-26T02:33:00.007-06:00

Glowing cotton candy to be at the 'Katy Perry' tour venues?!

If you're new to this blog, know that I'm a little be over the line of what is healthy in my admiration for Katy Perry.
See this post.
and this post.
She'll be in my home town of Houston for her 'California Dreams Tour' on July 29th. The tickets I want are like...$600 a piece. You get to meet Katy and a bunch of other things. But-I have no money, so I'll get stuck with the nose bleed seats-that are around $100.00 a piece-if I can get the money to buy tickets in time at all.I'm very nervous. It's strange, but I will be heartbroken if I can't go or don't have the cash before it sells out. I'm not sure why I feel so strongly about her as an artist. She's a pop tart who bounces around stage and sings the musical equivalent of a roll of SweetTarts.
But, I love her fun music, her style, her slightly opressed Christian background, her silliness, her love of cats, her crazy clothing choices, and her hilarious personality, her love of candy/fruits/cute things like Hello Kitty/things that light up, bold colors, explosive personality, and her refusal to give up on her dream.
She's an electric gum drop.
My mom has always loved John Denver, but had never seen him in concert until he came here years ago, and she missed the show. Soon after, he died in a plane crash with her never getting to be there and experience the magic.
She regrets it to this day.
I must see her perform before she dies or goes crazy on me like Britney Spears(I had tickets to her show here that were canceled when she first got together with K-Fed, and "broke" her ankle-having to cancel the rest of the tour. The real Britney is kind of gone now.
Please, God! I need a picture of me with my glowing cotton candy, crazy fan outfit, and goofy grin at her concert-Embarrassing the hell out of my boyfriend.

OMG! OMG! OMG!

2011-01-20T02:31:00.003-06:00

July 29 Houston, TX Toyota Center

Gonna faint! Gonna freak! Never thought I'd find a celeb that I'd be so...obsessed with. I'm one of those people. A screaming Beatles fan...and I like it. I like it a lot.

Basil the Cat

2011-01-18T22:52:00.003-06:00

HI!!

Just like mommy!

2011-01-14T02:24:00.003-06:00

Katy Kat got some pink nail covers(Soft Paws) that stop her from scratching furniture so she doesn't need to be de-clawed. And she looks FABULOUS!
Jasmine has some too, but her's are clear.

Lily, Black Swan! Now!

2011-01-10T03:08:00.002-06:00

Adorbs!

2011-01-06T02:16:00.002-06:00

Watch this little vanilla bean of a baker show you things I didn't learn until I was like 20 in the world of pastry-and all with an adorable accent!
Here's her youtube channel: liccymjlover

New Years Macaron Video

2010-12-30T01:36:00.001-06:00

French Macaron Orders and Brownie-Chocolate Bear Snowglobes

2010-12-24T01:57:00.004-06:00

Lemon French Macaron

2010-12-23T03:23:00.002-06:00

Mother Load

2010-12-22T04:51:00.002-06:00

Just a few of my 120 french macarons for today. These are red velvet.

Just like MY baby!

2010-12-11T03:37:00.002-06:00

My mom says I'm gonna be one of those mom's that laughs when their kid breaks something cuz I smile when Jasmine attacks trees, snow globes, pictures on the wall, furniture, and such then looks at me with the "innocent eyes"...I think that's probably...correct... :)

just doesn't stop being funny

2010-12-09T02:55:00.001-06:00

For some time...

2010-11-29T02:06:00.004-06:00

For some time, I've suspected Jasmine of wrong doings. Now I believe my own life to be in danger.

Evil to muggle abuse

2010-11-22T04:05:00.001-06:00

...wow!

2010-11-21T04:01:00.001-06:00

Penny Candy!

2010-11-13T04:56:00.002-06:00

Shall we Buche?!

2010-11-10T01:05:00.007-06:00

A Buche De Noel is a traditional cake made to look like a Christmas fire log made in France, Belgium, and other locals. The traditional bûche is made from a Genoise or other sponge cake, generally baked in a large, shallow Swiss Roll pan, frosted, rolled to form a cylinder, and frosted again on the outside. There's usually small meringue mushrooms as well.
Here's a traditional design from Williams Sonoma -tho this one is from last year-I don't like ur one for this year as much, WS!
Many famous pastry masters go off on a fabulous cake tangent with the designs like...
This cake named “Rêve” ("Dream"),by Kenzo Takada for Lenôtre.
The cake-La bûche 2000 feuilles- by Pierre Hermé.
...or this INCREDIBLE Buche De Noel by Canelle et Vanille.

Shall I make one? Shall we Buche?!

YouTube drama continued...

2010-11-05T00:08:00.004-05:00

As you know, from the post below this one, I'm in the middle of a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
After claiming she would "block me" if I responded to her message, 'meagan5cat8' has not only failed to follow through with her threat, but has regressed even farther into a state of child speak. What's worse than toddler babble? ...newborn wailing?!
Anywho- This whole Voodoo Cupcake thing just cracks me up.
This is her response after the exchanges in the last post(AND- She's not messaging me to respond with her jibberish instead of responding to comments...probably so others can't see her go down in flames)-read here to catch up.
Red:Her
Green: Me
The last two exchanges:
'meagan5cat8'
hahahaha iyattyaabhaihy means if you are reading this you are a but head and i hate you. p.s. if you send me a message i will block you
Snoopypumpkin1
I'm sure you will block me. People who can't think of substantial ways to defend themselves usually do resort to blocking others -whether it's on-line or in life. XOXO :)

New Stuff-- 'meagan5cat8'
ssa a dna bmud era uoy hahahahhahah
'Snoopypumpkin1'
Don't worry. Not everyone is able to understand how to use a computer. Just go find an adult, and ask them to help you follow through on your threat to block someone on youtube. Be sure to ask for a dictionary too-or to be enrolled in a toddler speech class.

WHY is this so funny to me?! ...I need help. :)

If you don't warn your kids about cupcakes, who will?

2010-11-03T02:11:00.013-05:00

I've had a couple of crazy comments on the video tutorial I made showing red velvet cupcakes.

The cupcakes were for a client that had chosen the voodoo theme.
But-I had NO idea that lighting candles for special touches in a video, and filling a client's cupcake order was a step towards the dark side.Read the exchanges I have down below. I'm interested in what ya'll think. The purple is the original person who implied I might have a "voodoo problem" because I made this cupcake tutorial, the green is me, and the red is a recent person who made their own assumptions about the original commenter and me. It just got crazy...
Watch the disputed tutorial HERE.
And now...I give you...

The YouTube Cupcake Massacre

Purple:original commenter
Green: me
Red: commenter with some sort of vendetta
This is the full exchange:
information213

Hello. I can see that you are very talented in baking and decorating but I would like to suggest that you don't even fool around with stuff like this (Voodoo) especially if you don't know what it's all about. We are living in a world that has both the physical realm and the spirit realm and you are inviting these spirits into your life through these seemingly harmless cupcakes. Voodoo is not a joke. I am Christian and I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, my culture has exposed me to...
This kind of stuff. The Bible warns us that our words and actions have meaning and have greater affect than we may be aware of. I pray you take this advice and stay away from stuff that may seem fun but can be very dangerous. God bless you.

snoopypumpkin1 @information213 Seriously?! What an offensive assumption!...this was an order for my bakery. You assuming that something made by someone represents their beliefs is not an action you should take without speaking to the person first. I was raised Baptist, and accepted Christ when I was 12. You know that's a cupcake and NOT a real voodoo doll...right? I got an order of Mafia themed cupcakes today-I'll be sure to put a disclaimer on them that states, "I'm not in the mob," just for you.

meagan5cat8 @information213 and@snoopypumpkin1 i dont believe in god but voodoo is no joke i think @information213 i trying to save you and if you hate me for not believeing in god then fine but you are heading down the wrong path and p.s. @information213 did not say you where in the mob but if you are this way then you may be in the mob.

snoopypumpkin1 @meagan5cat8
None of what was said had anything to do with you and whether you believe in God or not. My rebuttle concerning the mob was sarcasm meant to shed light on the fact that-tho the other party was trying to "save" me- they were doing so because of an incorrect assumption connected to the theme of a baked good which had nothing to do with personal beliefs.
p.s.-Let me know if you need any other help understanding the conversation that had nothing to do with you, or this one.

meagan5cat8
iyartyaabhaihy
hahahaha iyattyaabhaihy means if you are reading this you are a but head and i hate you.
p.s. if you send me a message i will block you

snoopypumpkin1I'm sure you will block me. People who can't think of substantial ways to defend themselves usually do resort to blocking others -whether it's on-line or in life.
XOXO :)

What have we learned?Chicks underestimated just who they were dealing with! Who sits on youtube and jumps to conclusions like that?! For seriously!! Get a job...or a dictionary so you can use real words as opposed to toddler babble.

Let me know what ya'll think!

Kittle!

2010-10-19T02:50:00.002-05:00

My sis took this photo of her cat, Socks. Looks professional, right?!

Halloween Macarons

2010-10-13T02:19:00.012-05:00

This is the sample of my French Macaron Box for Halloween for my bakery, Tart. I'm making a limited amount, and I'm selling the boxes as a package deal for $26.00 for 16 macarons.
If ur gonna be in the Houston area, send me a e-mail, and I'll set aside one for you, my bloggy jelly beans!
Sorry you can't see the box-I'll have more pics up by Friday. It's a black heart shaped box with inspiration from the Nirvana song, Heart Shaped Box. and the book by Stephen King's son-Joe Hill(alias).The lyrics below are from the song will be on the inside cover as well, I just don't have it on this sample. I've always thought of the song as a kind of "anti-valentine", or a Jack the Pumpkin King's theme music for taking over Valentine's Day. There's also a guide on the inside cover like those in a Valentine's day chocolate box labeling the flavors. The 'Tart' name is written across the lid top in red paint that's dripping-it's morbidly fabulous. I tie each with a sheer red ribbon, and the inside has red cellophane, and a small info booklet with info on each flavor(I'll take some pics).
The flavors are: Fleur De Sel Caramel, Fudge, Candy Corn(white cookie top-orange filling-yellow cookie on bottom-the colorings of actual Candy Corns) , Cotton Candy, Absinthe, Pumpkin Spice, Vanilla Bean, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and Red Velvet.
The Absinthe one is made with real Absinthe that has had the alcohol cooked away, and I found a decorative pastry cream liquid that I put on them that actually glows in the dark-FANtasmic! There will be some really incredible pics up on Friday here and on my Tart Bakery site, so come back to see!
Is anybody gonna dress up for Halloween?

XOXO Penny

Announcing the adoption of our new baby!

2010-09-28T20:05:00.003-05:00

It's Katy Bear! We just got her from the SPCA, and she's a tiny furball of energy and oreos!

Vintage Jasmine Macaron

2010-09-21T02:08:00.002-05:00

How to Stop Depression

2010-09-08T22:04:00.001-05:00

"No we mustn't dwell...no not today...we can't...not on Rex Manning day!" -Empire Records

2010-08-24T21:41:00.006-05:00

"The first record I ever bought was 'Ace of Base'. I snuck the tape into my mondo religious household, and listened to it till the rewind button broke . My mother turned me over to the county when I was 12- not for being a base head- but for being a bad seed. Anyways, 13 years went by, then Katy Perry showed up. I threw away the 'Ace of Base', and I became the well adjusted person I am today."

I got my new Katy Perry 'Teenage Dream' album today!! The packaging even smells like cotton candy!!! There is a Santa Claus!

2010-08-14T04:22:00.001-05:00

Sneak Peek: French Macaron Tutorial

2010-07-14T02:14:00.001-05:00

EAT ME!

2010-07-08T01:40:00.004-05:00

French Macarons!
Above: Lemon, TART Blue Raspberry, Strawberry, Milk Chocolate

WHY does photo quality go lower when I post pics on here?! I mean...for REALS!!! NOT Kosher!
ANywho- I have quite a few photos of macarons and cupcakes I've done in last couple weeks-ish to put up(including some custom cupcakes that are each dedicated to the look, likes, and quirkiness of individual people)!
I'm ALSO doing this topsy turvy cake for a friend's going away party this weekend. It involves skiing bears, chocolate mountains, pulled sugar, and hand made cotton candy(U didn't know I could make cotton candy from home with no machine, did you?! ...That's right! I know things! Maybe I'll send u some one day! :)
Below: Almond w/Orange cream, Strawberry, TART Blue Raspberry, Milk Chocolate, Lemon, Grape.
Also, I HAVE started to sell macarons in custom orders locally for about $1.75/each(don't freak! They average $2.00 to $3.00 anywhere due to ingredients and difficulty to produce).
Anywho-I've done local orders where they were picked up, but not mailed. I'm trying to find out about the ways to send them without having them show up in pieces. Sucre(my personal heaven) in New Orleans ships them, so I'm thinking of ordering and checking out the package they mail in. It worries me-These are meringue based cookies, so they're fragile.

If ur in the Houston area, check out my listings at my 'TART' Bakery Blog: click here

You can't stay in there forever!

2010-07-01T04:52:00.004-05:00

Candyfornia

2010-06-17T16:23:00.001-05:00

YAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Katy Perry - New Music - More Music Videos

"The strawberries taste like strawberries, and the snozzberries taste like snozzberries."- Willy Wonka

2010-06-13T03:11:00.005-05:00

I made more French Macarons! And I tried new flavors!!
Like: Strawberry, Blackberry, Blue Rasberry, and Lemon.
They are filled with an Italien Buttercream or Chocolate Mousse.

Here are just a few photos with my current lack luster camera. Here's hoping I get a new one soon! :)

Chocolate with a Chocolate Mousse Filling

Strawberry

'Tart' Blue Rasberry
*'Tart Bakery's' Signature Flavor
It can be made with a mild touch of tart flavoring, or it can be "Lip Puckering"(MEGA TART!)
This is the most popular flavor with kids.

Blackberry

Lemon

Now- I've just found out that it's possible to SHIP macaroons. I can't do it as a "business", but for friends(YOU!) and family-I can give you some only asking for the cost of shipment and ingredients.

Let me know if you want to taste some! :)

Oh So French!

2010-06-10T03:24:00.009-05:00

Someone buy me a beret and pea coat cuz my French Macarons are improving each time I make them!They're Dark Chocolate Macarons with Chocolate Mousse.

Cake

2010-06-03T23:05:00.014-05:00

Say hello to the Earth-Sky-Space birthday cake I made for my boyfriend!
There's a layer of Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake, and a layer of White Chocolate Fudge Cake with a filling of chocolate mousse. The frosting is a Italian Meringue Buttercream. The bottom layer has edible flowers and strawberries made with gum. The second layer has a white "chocolate collar"(learned to make these from hdblissbomb on youtube-Thanks for sharing ur knowledge with me!!! U rock chika!!-click HERE to see her tutorial on it!:). I used blue dye and swirled it to look like swirling clouds. The clouds are made using Royal Icing. The top layer has another "chocolate collar" that is supposed to represent space, and is made from Guittard Milk Chocolate. The topper is in a style called a "solar burst", and I've seen food artists use the technique to represent flames on the sun. I made the spun sugar, and it tasted like a mild praline.
I don't have pics of the inside, but I wish I did.

Here are links to all the recipes I used!

Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake
White Chocolate Fudge Cake
Chocolate Mousse
Italian Meringue Buttercream Icing
Royal Icing
Spun Sugar

First Macaron Attempt Status: FAIL

2010-06-02T01:46:00.015-05:00

(Sorry about the bad coloring! They're really pink.)
My strawberry macarons came out burnt and stained with oil. They made "feet"-which define macarons, but it went down hill right after that. They came out of the oven and deflated like they were depressed and had no will to live- They're Sad Macs.
I'm not upset tho-It took David Leboitz a few tries to make macarons.
You have to account for a 5 batch learning curve. If it takes you less, go apply to Harvard School of Medicine and look in the mirror cuz ur Doogie Howser!
Potential Reasons why the macarons go post nuclear.
1) I mixed the batter more than 15 times in the "macaronage" stage.
2) They baked too long
3) Humidity
Get out of the amateur fails, macarons!
WHY can't you be more like your siblings below?

I'll get you next time, Macaron!
I got my recipe from this book-'I Heart Macarons'

You complete me!

2010-06-01T03:29:00.007-05:00

Cake Journal is the SHIZ!!!

This Italian Meringue Buttercream Icing Recipe changed my life!
Smooth, light, AND it holds it's shape! It's like the breath of God! :)
All I need now in life is a sheep dog and a lesbian wedding!

Katy Perry 'California Gurls' inspired nail art

2010-05-25T04:36:00.014-05:00

Album out August 24th!

How To Video uploading to my YouTube channel as I type!

Please Remain Calm. There's Enough Info To Go Around.

2010-05-23T02:16:00.009-05:00

I'm going to upload my tutorial for nail art(kawaii) tomorrow!
They're going to be Katy Perry/cupcakes nails.
(The ones below are not mine-just a sample.)

Ya'll come back now!...well, come back tomorrow. :)

Win a Chance to Tour Sex and the City HOTSPOTS

2010-05-21T00:23:00.009-05:00

I know that the origins of the New York City cupcake craze kinda got its start from one screen at Magnolia Bakery on "Sex and The City". I know that the movie Sex And The City 2 opens next week and it will feature cupcakes. 'On Location Tour' in New York is offering a swoon worthy prize-(U gotta be in New York to win-I say that's LAME!!). The prize is a free ticket for their SATC Hotspots Tour, I knew some of you would want a chance to win. Submit your entry today. Contest ends Thursday, May 27.

Go enter or you'll be a nobody...and that just ain't kosher!

...the glass vase is broken?!

2010-05-18T22:42:00.008-05:00

...Who do you think did it?

Jasmine in a Box

2010-05-17T01:10:00.009-05:00

Jasmine loves to stand on objects. If there's a piece of paper on the floor, she'll go over to it and sit on it with her tail and feet FULLY on. The room is totally empty-she could sit anywhere-but NOPE! on the paper!

She also likes to be IN things-like the box above. You can even pick the box up and walk around with her and she'll still be snoozing-blissful in the box.
You should have been here to see that little nugget squeeze herself into the shoebox. One day she'll walk into Santa's bag and wake up in the North Pole.

Anybody else have a pet that lives in crazy town?

The BEST so far!

2010-05-10T00:31:00.008-05:00

I didn't do these samples!

I'm doing some cupcakes/cake for a friend's son's birthday tomorrow, and they are 'UP' movie themed!
I've wanted to use my balloon decorations for a long time now, and this will be perfect.
The only other theme I can think of with the balloons would be that creepy sewer clown-Pennywise- in 'It'!
........maybe I'll do a few of the clowns and bring them to the party with the 'Up' ones. ..Kids today are too soft! A good, old fashioned scare session will prepare them for the world. That's what clowns do! It's their job! ...minus a 401K ...

I've Been Waiting SO Long!

2010-05-09T00:24:00.004-05:00

Oh YEAH, Gumdrops!

There's a BRAND NEW Katy Perry single out! 'California Gurls'(ur listening to it!)
Makes me want to go the the beach!Her new album should be out by the end of summer! And- you KNOW I'll be forcing my loved ones to sit through the new music over and over until they hear the lyrics in their sleep! :)

Jasmine vs. Treat Bottle

2010-05-08T01:30:00.001-05:00

WOWSA!

2010-05-07T02:30:00.000-05:00

Reminds me of...

2010-05-05T23:14:00.012-05:00

Miley's 'Can't Be Tamed' video reminds me of...

Must find sheep!

2010-05-04T23:35:00.014-05:00

...as in-one's to count!
...Shall I apologize?...Yep- I shall!

I'm sorry that my posts have been...erratic.
I now have two jobs-each in a 24 hour facility-and the ever shifting schedules have my sleep patterns going postal! I hope it won't be so intense in the near future, but I FREAKIN MISS AND LOVE ya'll! I'm going to do my best to do a post every day. I LOVE blogging, so I refuse to divorce it. :) WHY can't I quit you??!!

OH! And get ready for my video tutorial on French Macarons! They are probably the most difficult cookies to master, but they will cause you to say "AWW!! So cute and fun!" SO much, you'll give in and search for them in your town or make them yourself!

MUCH LOVE!

Mary Kate: Moving Day

2010-04-30T00:02:00.003-05:00

Very Mary-Kate: Moving Day from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

FABULOUS.

Red Velvet VooDoo Cupcakes

2010-04-24T13:53:00.005-05:00

I got my Voodoo Cupcakes video up! NO THANKS to YouTube!!! I had to export the video and then upload the thing after I spent FOREVER trying to figure out why I wasn't able to get the video onto my YouTube channel! UGH!!!
But-I finally prevailed! I hope you like it! :)

WHY would she do this to me?!!!

2010-04-22T02:18:00.009-05:00

After a long battle with YouTube, I've finally gotten my 'VooDoo Cupcakes' video tutorial uploading! It'll take a few hours to process, but I WILL have it up today...unless I'm sabotaged by You Tube yet again...but you wouldn't know about it then cuz I would have thrown the computer...so no worries! :)

In the meantime, I want to share something that's REALLY bothering me today...
WTF, Katy?! U smoke?....Is this the 50s?...All your designer clothes are gonna get saturated with the smoke smell!!

STOP IT!

VooDoo Cupcakes!

2010-04-18T00:46:00.013-05:00

"Double, double toil and trouble
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."
- The Scottish Witches, Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1

HOLA!! :)
Here are some pics of my VooDoo cupcakes!

These are jumbo size cupcakes.

It's a red velvet cake with a combo of cream cheese frosting and a whipped white frosting.

The skulls are made from chewing gum that I shaped.

And-I made some little bite sized ones!

BABYCAKES!

VooDoo Inspiration Chart

The video tutorial will be up later today!! I'll have recipes and directions in the video.

VooDoo. -Who Do? -WE Do! -You Do? -No, VooDoo!

2010-04-16T04:10:00.008-05:00

Get ready for my VooDoo Cupcakes coming this afternoon!

Above is my inspiration board for the soon to be baked and gussied up Black Magic Beauties!

Flower Pot Cupcakes: Violets

2010-04-15T12:09:00.005-05:00

Sugar Coma Not Included!

2010-04-14T02:24:00.000-05:00

"Jersey, We have a situation!"

2010-04-13T02:03:00.009-05:00

I can't wait for the new season of 'Jersey Shore'!
I can't wait for Katy Perry's new album coming out this summer-songs to hold hands and roller skate to!
I NEED one of these shirts she's rocking!!!
GTL!! Gym Tan Laundry!!

Penny's Couture Cupcake Collection

2010-04-09T23:04:00.021-05:00

Vanilla Violets Cupcakes

French Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Icing, a milk chocolate pot, and sugar violets.

Sweet Honey Bee Cupcakes

French Vanilla Cake in a pastel pink wrapper, with bright green vanilla buttercream, and a pink sugar rose with a sugar bee.

Wonka Cupcakes: Rainbow Fun Dip

Vanilla Cake in a bright green wrapper, with Rainbow colored Vanilla Buttercream icing, a dusting of Blue Rasberry and Red Cherry Wonka Fun Dip Powder Candy-the lick and dip stick included.

Wonka Cupcakes: Everlasting Gobstoppers

Vanilla Cake coated in white chocolate with sprinkles, and a rainbow colored vanilla buttercream icing, and decorated with Everlasting Gobstoppers.

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Cake with a tart pumpkin buttercream icing, a gum paste pumpkin and spider in a "Beware" wrapper.

Cotton Candy Cupcakes

Light Strawberry Cake in a purple wrapper with purple Vanilla buttercream icing, and a tuft of Pink Cotton Candy.

Vanilla "Ice Cream" Cupcakes

Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, Melted Chcocolate and Sprinkles.
The bottom of the cake is iced in Vanilla Buttercream Icing, and covered in crushed graham crackers.

I've started making my cupcakes for friends/family/friends of friends and family, so I'm going to have a second blog showing just my cupcakes with info on them/pricing(cupcakes are my hobby-not my business, so my prices are mostly made up of product cost :). You can check it out any time HERE: 'Cupcakes By Penny'. I'll have a permanent link up at the top right of my blog. They don't ship due to the fragile nature of cupcakes :(, BUT I love every single one of you reading this right now, and please send me an e-mail if you'll be in the Houston area-I'd love to make you some!

Hugs, Starlets! YAY! :)

Wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend!!

2010-04-08T02:28:00.006-05:00

Breaking Dawn is one step closer to having a director! Summit Entertainment is currently trying to get a REAL/reputable/no suckage director on board so they can try not to look like my younger cousin filmed the movies/wrote the HORRIBLE scripts. 'Breaking Dawn' is the next Twilight movie to be filmed .

Dreamgirls director Bill Condon is reportedly "in negotiations" with Summit Entertainment to direct the upcoming Twilight flick, which the studio has announced they will split into two parts.

Don't do it, BILL!! Some things you can never take back!
AND- FYI, Summit, a burnt cupcake wrapped in expensive chocolate is STILL a burnt cupcake.

Baking Bloopers!

2010-04-06T03:22:00.002-05:00

Easter Cupcakes

2010-04-03T02:15:00.009-05:00

I'm gonna have to work over Easter, but you KNOW I couldn't let the Pastel-Sugar-Day of Rejoicing go by without some cupcakes!! :)
These are a yellow cake with a whipped, vanilla buttercream icing.
The Bunny(King Solomon) is gum paste...
...as are the flowers/curly stems.

Here's the video tutorial on how I made these!

Happy Easter, Lovelies!

Dreams really DO come true!

2010-04-01T23:43:00.008-05:00

Katy + Cupcakes = Oh, HELL YEA!

2010-03-29T22:02:00.018-05:00

This is my inspiration board for the Katy Perry Cupcakes I want to do!
I'm thinking...Metallic Pink Wrappers, Strawberry cake, hot pink vanilla icing, gum paste cats,
rock candy that looks like diamonds(look at her shoes!),
heart shaped glasses,
and strawberries with faces on them.

Shes The Fierce, Gum Drop Queen of Wonderland!

'The Runaways' Movie Cupcakes

2010-03-25T02:48:00.008-05:00

This is a video tutorial for my cupcakes that celebrate the first all girl rock and roll band-'The Runaways'-as well as their movie based on the band's real life experience- 'The Runaways'.

“When buying a used car, punch the buttons on the radio. If all the stations are rock and roll, there's a good chance the transmission is shot.”-Larry Lujack

"That look on your face says, 'I could kick the s!#$ out of a truck driver!'"-Manager to Cherie Currie

2010-03-24T00:00:00.022-05:00

So-I felt the cupcakes I made for the release of the movie 'The Runaways' needed something. I thought about it for days, and settled on this design! The first all girl rock band deserves an edgy set of cupcakes! And THESE are just that!
They're vanilla cake dipped in chocolate-
Iced with a cherry/vanilla frosting that swirls between crimson red and white.
My R-Rated decoration-A black gum paste heart representing 'The Black Hearts'(the band Joan Jett was in after "The Runaways"). I added powdered sugar in lines of cocaine as a shout out to the drugs the band took in the 70s!
Gum paste cherries represent 'Cherry Bomb'-the most popular Runaways song.
I duplicated Joan Jett's Gibson Guitar for another topper, and made gum paste black crowns to represent 'The Queens of Noise'-another Runaways classic!
Here's my Runaways inspiration board. I tend to collect all the pics and info I can about the cupcake theme I'm working on, and I put it all in a collage to pull ideas from.
Stay tuned for my video tutorial on these! I'm editing now! :)

A Muffin is Just a Ugly Cupcake

2010-03-22T00:22:00.008-05:00

These are some old pics of my Jasmine Macaron Bennett chilling with some cupcakes! They're probably my favorite photos of her.I didn't make those cupcakes(a talented teenage baker made them)-but I DID tie that bow!

Me and Jasmine-We're a cupcake loving two-some. We're practically the same person! ...or kitten...I mean person/kitten...a Pitten!...except her fan base is wider, and she's named after a Disney Princess/French cookie/Jane Austen character, while I was named after...a coin...Kisses, Lovebugs!!

Cupcakes That Rock

2010-03-17T01:40:00.016-05:00

So- Instead of finishing the edits of my cupcake tutorial videos, I got distracted and started on a new batch inspired by 70s all girl rock group, 'The Runaways', and the new movie about them.
I thought I'd share a bit of my process in designing a cupcake batch.
I usually start with an inspiration board with all the pics I like pertaining to the theme I want to do.
At the top is mine for 'The Runaways' Cupcakes.

Next, I pick the icing based on any pics that remind me of a certain flavor...like-If I had a pic of a black high heeled shoe, I'd do dark chocolate icing with sharp edges.For 'The Runaways', I chose a Bourbon Vanilla Icing with a little bit of cherry flavoring in it.
I then decide on what will top the cupcakes. I'm really into Gum paste figures right now, so I chose to do 4 items to go on on this project.
1) Gum Paste Cherries with shimmer dust.

Here's one of mine.

2) Gum paste mini replicas of Joan Jett's guitar.
3) Flat squares of dark chocolate with lines of pixi sticks powder to look like cocaine.
4) Black crowns with dragees that look like metal studs on Joans leathers/rock looks and reference their song, 'Queens of Noise'.
Then, I let the figures dry overnight-and I put the toppers on the next day.
My tutorial will show how to make the figures, and how to make and apply the icing.

I can't wait for ya'll to see these tiny guitars! I don't want to show them till I have the video up, but it's worth the wait-So get ready for THAT cherry bomb!