snowflake-cake-2

It’s always hard for me to switch gears after the Holidays. Just when I really start to get in the groove – they’re over. I hate taking down all of the festive decorations and packing them away. And, boxing up the tree ornaments is even worse. I hate doing that more than I hate ironing. But time marches on, and so must we all. So, I tuck away the memories of each Christmas past in wads of tissue paper, and reassure myself that in about 325 days, I get to do it all over again.

There were many things that I wanted to share with you these past few weeks, but I was too busy “living in the moment” and never quite found the time. Take this Red Velvet Snowflake Cake, for example. I served this lovely cake on Christmas Day and it was a showstopper. It took me more than two days to make, and I barely had time to slide it onto a pretty cake stand before my hungry Holiday revelers were chasing me around the dining room with forks in hand! I propped it on a coffee table in front of the Christmas tree to hurriedly snap a few pictures while Mr. SGCC ran interference for me. Honestly, this was probably the most beautiful cake I’ve ever made. I wish I’d been able to snag a few more glamour shots before it was reduced to crumbs.

snowflake-cake-5-bw

I got the inspiration for this cake from the December issue of Southern Living magazine. There it was on the cover, in all its pristine glory - and I was instantly smitten. I knew then that I would have to recreate it for our Christmas celebration. The original was a white cake slathered in vanilla buttercream. The outside of the cake was garnished with a mass of “snowflakes” carved out of white fondant.

Of course, I couldn’t leave well enough alone. As gorgeous as that cake already was, I had to put my own spin on it. In honor of Christmas, I decided to make a moist and fluffy red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. I knew that the deep, ruby-colored cake paired with pillowy, white clouds of cream cheese frosting would make a striking contrast when cut. And, did it ever! read more >>

more of what\'s cooking...

Wednesday, December 21, 201116 Comments

When Mini SGCC was a little girl, there was one Christmas Eve ritual that we never missed. We would always bake one special kind of cookie for Santa Claus to enjoy as a snack when he stopped by our house during the night. We had a special plate designated …

Sunday, December 11, 201130 Comments

Every year, long before the Thanksgiving dishes are even dried and put away, the Christmas rush is on. That’s when so many of us find ourselves racing around, spending money we don’t have on lots of things we don’t need. It’s crazy! One way that I’ve found to minimize …

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Saturday, December 25, 20107 Comments

Sending you all my best wishes for a merry Christmas filled with peace, joy and love. A little cheesecake would be nice too! I’ll see if I can arrange that.
XOXO

Tuesday, December 30, 2008164 Comments

Have you ever decided to tackle a complicated and time-consuming project and announced it to family and friends, only to be met with stares of wide-eyed horror and echoed strains of “Are you crazy or something!”? Well, that’s pretty much what happened when I shared my plans to make …

TWD Double Header: Linzer Sables and Sugar Cookies

Tuesday, December 9, 200839 Comments

Everybody loves a good bargain, don’t they? My favorites are the “Buy One, Get One Free” deals. Sometimes, I’ll buy something that I don’t even need, just because I can’t resist the “BOGO”. Well, today, dear readers, you are getting two of Dorie’s terrific cookies …

Saturday, December 22, 200728 Comments

.

Well, here it is, my very first Daring Bakers challenge. I’d been waiting a long time for this. I was so excited when I first got the recipe and my instructions for this challenge from this month’s co-hosts, Ivonne and Lisa. A Yule Log. What could be …

SHF #38: The Proof is in the Pudding (Panettone Bread Pudding with Scottish Cream Custard Sauce)

Wednesday, December 19, 20079 Comments

This month’s installment of Sugar High Fridays is being hosted by Zorra of Kochtopf. I’d never had the pleasure of visiting her blog before, but I’m so glad that I finally did. Most of it is written in German, but she’s got some mouthwatering recipes on …

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

Monday, December 17, 20079 Comments

I heard the bells on Christmas dayTheir old familiar carols play,And wild and sweet the words repeatOf peace on earth, good will to men. .And thought how, as the day had come,The belfries of all ChristendomHad rolled along the unbroken songOf peace on earth, good will to men…Till ringing, singing …

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Rose Water Almond Tea Cookies)

Sunday, December 9, 20079 Comments

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Ev’rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Toys in ev’ry store,

kiss the cook!

Hello and welcome to SGCC! I’m Susan, a professional writer, food columnist, recipe developer, wife, mother, daughter and sister, who used to be a lawyer in a previous life. My love of food comes from a long line of wonderful and creative Italian home cooks who didn’t always have a lot, but knew how to make a lot out of what they had. I hope that you enjoy yourself while you’re here, and visit often! read more >>

Just Browsing?
55 Knives
follow me!

    Follow Me on Pinterest



    Friday Food Lust



    Fine Cooking