Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake

      At long last.......after two years of residing here in the Philippines I finally got to taste fresh strawberries topped in my cheesecake.  I have been waiting seemingly for eternity some good fresh strawberries, it's rare here in Davao since we don't grow them locally.  Although,  in Baguio, northern part of Luzon, grows them typically the variety yields tiny fruits.  The ones I got were slightly larger and very red as you can see in the photos.  
   

        I was doing some groceries that day and I came across the produce area and surprised to see these awesome fruit.  Without hesitations, I asked hubby if I could have some and promised to make a cheesecake for us.  

        I have to asked hubby since it wasn't on our grocery list, good thing is, he also loves cheesecake.....(wink wink).  I know it was also hard for him to resist. Anyways, it immediately put a big smile on my face!  .....Love you, sweetie!    

             Seriously, I have not eaten cheesecake in awhile since I got here.  I made some but not so crazy about them except for this one here.....it's my FAVOURITE!  .....and oh, it is to die for!!! ...(trust me on this!) 

       Hmmmp....I just don't know when I can buy good red strawberries again.....as you all know it's not a regular item in the grocery aisle here.

      So, ladies and gentlemen, this is how I served my strawberry cheesecake that day......lavished with dark chocolate sauce.....soooo yummy.....sooooo good the best dessert day ever!!!  Thank you, God for those wonderful strawberries!

Golf themed fondant cake

 Whatta week!  [Big grin!]  Thanks be to God for His awesomeness!!!  Anyways,  I finally delivered my recent creation two hours ago.  It was very challenging I would say in making this particular order.  

    First reason why?.... is the base. It's a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting....yumm! It wasn't hard to make it, actually love making this.  It was the frosting I was worried, I just hoped that it would not melt like crazy in this weather, all I know it wont be that stable, clever right?!  Carrot cake won't be the same without the cream cheese that I guarantee, so I really didn't have much choice regarding the frosting. But I think the buttercream frosting would be the ideal icing under a fondant.

   

  

           Second reason why???.....is the gum paste!  Have no clue how to make it and which recipe would be the best one for my project.  It is actually my first time to work with gum paste. Although, gum paste is available now at some specialty store but it is still way too expensive here in the Philippines!  It really didn't leave me much choice but to make it from scratch....So far, looks like I made it!  I actually mixed mine with fondant, I just thought it would be better if it will be in the softer side since I 'll be making a figure model.  

  

          Third and final reason???......is the figure model.   I panicked a little bit when Ms. Cecil gave her specifications about her order.  Although, she is always very helpful as she sent me an image of the cake she would like me to make. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakegirl/4094248877/ This time she ordered a cake for her lady boss, golf themed!  I actually liked the photo she sent me, it was cute and simple!  I almost didn't want to make the topper, I felt like it was too hard to do.  I honestly don't have any idea how to mold it worst of all I don't have any tools that would helped me make it.  So we looked at a slightly different design but still with a figure topper. And we found it and agreed about the changes.  At some point, I contacted a friend of mine who makes cakes also.  I have asked her if I can order just a topper from her.  She said she would do it for me but declined this time as she was also booked with several orders for this week herself.  So it left me again with no choice but to make it from scratch!  Earlier during the week, I've gone to the malls and check out the figurine stores hoping to find some lady golfer topper.....negative!!! 

   As you can see, the topper is not all gum paste, I opted to use some parts of the barbie doll since I don't have all the tools that I needed to make the head and hands.  But I really am dying to make nice figures someday when I have all the necessary tools and the right recipes to make them.  But for now, I am very happy with the outcome, barely satisfied though but the good thing is that...there's always room for improvement!  I am only self taught and have not had any professional training but how I wish someday I could enroll to some classes 'coz I know those additional knowledge will get me farther in my craft.

  Thanks again Cecile for your order...looking forward to make Mark's birthday cake soon.  I hope your boss liked the cake!

Elvie's Order

     Another day of busyness for me.  I almost turned down Elvie's order because it was sort of a last-minute thing.  She called last night and ordered a birthday cake for her daughter Abigail and a blueberry cheesecake.  And needed them by 3pm the next day...and I didn't have the cream cheese in stock that night....so I couldn't make it in advance.

             It was very challenging today, not having my "kasambahay" around to look after my son Zach. She took off to see her mother so I was left with two crazy babies and two cakes to make. But good thing that hubby was there to help out. He took some time to get the rest of the supplies I needed for my projects and did also the babysitting. Thanks Honey, I love You!

   Abigail's choice of color for her cake was very nice.  She mostly wanted yellow and a princess themed. I thought the pink accent would look great so I did put some.  But I think she was hoping for perhaps a princess in the castle with stairs in the front.  I just didn't have the time at all to exactly meet her wishes.  I just hoped she liked this one.  I think she didn't want a store bought cake, so thanks to her mom Elvie for remembering me.

            We were actually invited to her birthday party but we could not make it due to some more busyness.  Anyways, I wish she had a wonderful birthday together with her dad, they actually have the same birth date.  Thanks again to the Barner's for your orders!  Blessings to your family!!!