Author Archives: amylandini

Including Your Pet On Your Wedding Day..

I have a soft spot – family pets. I was brought up with all sorts of pets. The normal – cats and dogs, but at one point we even had pet ducks. I know weird…but they became a part of our family for a short time and we named them Mr. and Mrs. Quackers. Until one day they waddled away, never to return. tear.

When I set up a cake consultation, I recommend to the couple to bring anything and everything to the table that they would like to incorporate into their wedding cake. This will ensure that all ideas are discussed to create a unique and memorable cake. This weeks order included a very nice couple that wanted to include their Chihuahua. Instead of adding to their wedding cake, they decided to have cookies for the hotel welcome bags.

This was a note from the Bride: “Amy thank you for so much for the cookies they came out fantastic couldn’t imagine them coming out any better they taste great everybody loves them thank you so much again. The cookies came out so phenomenal I can’t wait for the cake”

Here are some other past cake designs that include the family pet somewhere on the cake. Luv It!!

If you would like other ideas, view the following blog post by Jessica Probus for 29 Perfectly Adorable Ways to include your Pet in your wedding (love the pics!): http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicaprobus/perfectly-adorable-ways-include-your-pet-in-your-wedding#3auzgs5

The Secret to Caramelized Hazelnut Crunch…

It’s no secret….my clients speak highly on reviews of their favorite flavor combination of Chocolate Sour Cream Cake with Caramelized Hazelnut Crunch. This combo provides different textural combinations of a soft moist cake paired with a crunchy, caramel filling that has a bit of salt in it. Triple Threat…

Preparing Caramel can be highly dangerous, burns from sugar reaching 320-350°F temps can send you screaming to the Doctor/ER. Extreme Caution must be taken when handling this technique. Now that you have been warned, watch my Haiku Deck Presentation for making Caramelized Hazelnut Crunch to add to your next batch of buttercream. Enjoy the Deliciousness!

Step 1: Roasting the Hazelnuts – Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

3rd Birthday Party

What elements can inspire a little boys birthday cake? favorite toys, decor for the party, favorite candy or treats, pets, maybe even favorite places if the child likes to spend the entire summer on the beach building sand castles.

This particular birthday boy loves Trains and the Zoo, Giraffes are his favorite. Working with his mother we pulled ideas around this theme and she sent me all the elements of the party decorations.

Decor for the Birthday Party

Let’s just say the cake was a huge hit at the party. The mother emailed me later “Everyone adored the cake!!! Not only that they were in awe with the decoration but also the taste of the chocolate cake with strawberry filling. Neal was starring, hovering in admiration of the cake for about 20-30 min. He looked at each animal and the pin wheels. I could see how much he liked the cake. He made sure that everyone was aware of his Birthday cake. Before his music teacher left after sing a long, he said, “I wanna show Michael my birthday cake!”

If you are looking for a kid’s party event space definitely check out The Moxie Spot – 81 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY http://www.themoxiespot.com/

Upon delivery I happened to notice that a tv had Miss Spider and the Sunny Patch Kids on. Too bad I had another delivery, maybe I would have stayed and watched an episode….next time.

Sugar Flower Display Box – Part Deux

Last year I shared a short tutorial on making a DIY display case for your sugar flowers. https://metoocakes.com/sugar-flower-display-box/

Recently I had a bride share her creations with me on how she preserved her sugar flowers. She made a display case for herself and her mother by visiting a local craft store and picking up some unique glass enclosed containers. Thank you for sharing your pictures, this will help others be inspired to keep their sugar flowers as memories of their wedding day.

Key Notes in preserving your sugar flowers:

Ask your reception site to keep the flowers. If you have a buttercream exterior ask them to remove as much buttercream from the flowers as possible. After the wedding, take care and do a more thorough job. Discard the ones that you cannot clean off properly.
Sugar flowers will keep for a lifetime if they are not exposed to extreme humidity and a plastic or glass case will keep them dust free.
Do not store in the refrigerator as this will cause the dried sugar flowers to collect condensation.

If you have any further questions, shoot me an email – amy@metoocakes.com

Travel will inspire cake design…

Recently, I had a Sangeet cake. The Bride really loved Indian folklore prints and we were looking to incorporate those threaded designs onto a cake. We steered a little bit more in the direction of another pattern when she sent me pinterest pics of the detail of the Taj Mahal. I recognized it instantly from my travels to Agra in 2007. With the pics I took up close of the intricate inlay work and from google images…we were able to come up with a unique cake. To top off the design, we choose a lotus blossom candle holder. Since the candle holder was no longer available for sale, I made this out of sugar, airbrushed in gold and put a LED flickering candle in there. I love to add these kind of elements that may be a bit of surprise to the guests when they see their cake light up a little bit.

Sangeet.TajMahal 7.3.14

And the best part, may have come when they cut the cake and enjoyed the flavor of Chai Tea Spice Cake infused with flavors of Cardamom, Vanilla, Cinnamon and Ginger paired with Cream Cheese Buttercream.

Photos from our travel to Agra in 2007

Anniversary Photo Album

Recently my husband and I celebrated our 9th Year Wedding Anniversary.
Since Vik and I initially eloped – Hawaiian Beach Wedding.
We skipped over the whole engagement process, which means no engagement photos. It’s never too late to celebrate special memories with beautiful photos. ok, so we are not as young as we used to be…but my highly talented photographer friend made us feel and look 9 years younger, as if we were newly engaged couple.

Let me introduce you to my Favorite Wedding Photographer – Tatiana Valerie of Artvesta Studio. She is not only talented beyond words, she is also super friendly and a joy to work with.
Check out this Haiku deck below with my favorite pics from the photo session:

Wedding Anniversary Album – Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

SmallTatiana_Headshot

Tatiana Valerie – Artvesta Studio

Phone: 212.300.3897
Email: artvestastudio@gmail.com

At the end of the deck did you notice the recipe for love? I share this with all my wedding couples.

Cake Toppers: To Cake Top or not to Cake Top?

Figurines of the Bride and Groom were quite traditional back in the day. Then sugar flowers swooped in and stole the show. But in the past couple of years rising artists have emerged producing incredible Cake Toppers that can really add personality, character to the cake by customizing to the couples imagination. So the question you may ask yourself, “should I use a cake topper in my cake design or not?” I say GO FOR IT! If it suits your personality and the couple can agree on a design. It is so much fun to add character to your wedding cake and let it shine – be unique – have fun with your wedding cake.

Some of my favorite companies are Lulu Amour, Angel Devil Land and now Kokeshi Clan… after this weekends cake.

Wedding Cake by Me Too Cakes
Kokeshi Dolls by Kokeshi Clan

I can remember back to my own reception (long, long time ago)… On the dessert table along with the wedding cake, I included Designer Vynl “Puppydog of the Dead and Pussycat of the Damned” (by Angel Devil Land) as my topper on a pyramid of profiteroles. My take on the classic French Croquembouche. Keep in mind that I was getting married and made this a day ahead. Let’s just say a lot of the caramelized sugar melted in the walk-in that night and looked less desirable. But still tasted yummy!

pyramid

You can view more cake toppers I have pinned on Me Too Cakes – Pinterest board. If you are wondering which has been repinned the most – it would be the Vinylmation Bride and Groom. If you have a favorite Cake Topper company you would like to share, please comment below.

Thanks!!

Karen Brown New York – Wedding & Event Planner

Are you a believer that there are good people out there? I am! Allow me introduce you to one…Karen Brown New York – Wedding & Event Planner

Not only is she a passionate Wedding & Event Planner that will create a memorable event for your special occasion, she also donates 5% of the planning fee to a charitable organization of your choice. So when she calls me up saying she has a client for me, I am super excited to be working with her.

Recently she was planning an event for Chelsea Therapeutics to celebrate their 10th Anniversary, the FDA approval of a new drug & their participation in the Parkinson’s Unity Walk. Not only did she cater to the needs of the client for the event planning details, she walked with the Chelsea Team in honor of her Father. Please consider donating to this cause – 2014 Donation page for Karen Brown.

For the event, Chelsea Therapeutics ordered a cake with logo & cupcakes with custom toppers for the new drug Northera. Flavors consisted of Chocolate Sour Cream Cake with Caramelized Hazelnut Crunch Buttercream and Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Buttercream.

Go Team Chelsea Therapeutics – 2014 Parkinson’s Unity Walk

How can the couple get involved in their cake design?

Recently, I had a couple that were very creative individuals. The groom is a graphic designer that created all of the invitations with an art deco design stamp. Check out his work at 43DPI Creative http://43dpi.com/. Christos can bring your ideas to life designing wedding invitations, website, logos…anything digital and print for business or social. The Bride took a class to learn how to make sugar flowers and wanted to use them on her wedding cake. Putting these elements together, we created a beautiful cake to showcase their Classic New York, Art Deco themed wedding. Using Christos’s invite design, I hand piped the design and brushed with a silver luster dust on bottom and top tiers. Middle tier silver course sanding sugar complimented the silver sequin tablecloth Emilie hand picked and Emilie’s sugar flowers showcased on top for all her friends and family to admire.

Alexandra Meseke Photography

The Bride also handmade sugar cookie wedding favors. Adding the sparkly sanding sugar to the middle tier coordinated perfectly with her wedding cake. We all know the endless hours of hard work she put into them.

Happy Ending to all their hard work and check out the little girl peeking around the cake during the cutting ceremony. Too cute for words.

Congratulations and enjoy many years of wonderful memories!

All photos provided by Alexandra Meseke Photography http://www.alexandrameseke.com/

Inspiration for 30th Birthday Cake..

When designing a cake for Birthdays its always fun to incorporate hobbies, sports or activities. This Birthday Girl was making a trip to New York City and one of her items on the to do list was shopping at Tiffany’s. That’s were this fun cake came into play. A lot of the time, I get inspiration from invitations. This allows ideas to flow for color concepts, patterns. I loved this stripped bow paired with pearls and wanted to incorporate that into the cake as well.

Please view Me Too Cakes Haiku Deck Presentation for all the ideas and final creation of the cake.

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app

Link to Haiku Deck: