Sunday, September 15, 2013

Free and Discounted Cake Decorating Classes on Craftsy!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking these links. All opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own. 

Did you know Craftsy has FREE cake decorating classes, as well as paid ones? Before you read further to hear about a few of my favorite classes, if you're not in the market for some awesome sales, you can entertain yourself by checking out a few FREE classes here.


But, if you’re like me, you’ve been desperate to watch a few that aren’t free - and with all classes up to 75% off, our time is NOW! I've been holding out for a sale like this for ages, and quickly nabbed up this one first thing this morning!

If you're looking for a heads-up on what to buy or a good place to start, I have some personal favorites to recommend.


Best Value:  This is a GREAT wallet-friendly choice at only $15! It's “Design Your Own Cake Castle by Sharon Wee." Regularly $40, this is a fantastic bargain. Imagine an opportunity to "virtually" sit face-to-face with Sharon Wee. And for $15! Insanity! You can grab this class here.

Most Technically Impressive:  I just TODAY ordered (and immediately watched) (and immediately LOVED) the “Art of Airbrushing with Lisa Berczel.” This class is AMAZING. Any other time, it would be a pricey $60, but this week it’s reduced to around $40 - and it’s worth every dime. Grab it here.

Best All Around:  A HUGE favorite of mine is “Clean and Simple Design with Jessica Harris.” At nearly 4 hours long, this is as close as I could ever hope to be to Jessica of the infamous JessiCakes Blog, and trust me, the class is almost as good as being in her kitchen. Discounted to just $29, this is a killer bargain. Grab it here.

Best Flowers:  Say “sugar flowers” and immediately one person comes to mind. Check out “Handcrafted Sugar Flowers with Jacqueline Butler,” an absolute steal at just $25 (marked down from $40). Grab it here.

Best Specialized Niche:  I loved “Cake Design Made Simple: The Wedding Dress by Rachael Teufel.” You’ll especially want to sit through this class if you’re into design and want to learn more about varied texture techniques. Grab it here.

On my wish list:  Not sure if I can wait until the next sale or not, but either way, here’s what's next on my wish list; it’s “Elegant Lace Cakes with Zoe Clark.” Check it out here.  (I’d LOVE to hear any reviews on this one – feel free to leave a comment!!)

Do YOU have a favorite Craftsy class? If so, please leave a comment and let me know what I’m missing out on! I've told you guys, now YOU tell me!

Oven’s on – I’ll be back soon!


Peggy



Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Peggy Does Cake Winners!



Congratulations to my 30K Facebook Fan Appreciation winners!

·        Prize Package #1 - Entry #5913 - Cy A.
·        Prize Package #2 - Entry #9288 - Stephanie W.
·        Prize Package #3 - Entry #5176 - Anna M.
·        Prize Package #4 - Entry #4892 - Elysia S.
·        Prize Package #5 - Entry #1382 - Olivia W.
·        Prize Package #6 - Entry #2585 - Lucie W.
·        Prize Package #7 - Entry #2186 - Tara O.

And a special “thank you” to my giveaway sponsors. This fun giveaway could never have happened without THEM!

Alison Lawson Cakes
Cakes by Angela Morrison
Cakes Décor
Camille's Cake Boutique
Captain Leisure
Casey's Confections
Chatas Bakes
Cuteology Cakes
Cynthia’s Custom Cakes
Dakota's Custom Confections
Desolation Cakery
Dillicious Cakes
Eat My Words
Elle's Cakery
Frosted Sensations
G Sweets by Sarah
Gateaux, Inc.
Halfpenny Cakes
Heavenly Indulgence
Iced Jems
Jasi Cakes
KC Cakes
Lick the Bowl
Little Cherry Cake Company
Little Devil Cupcakery
Mandy's Sweets
Michelle's Party Plan-It
Moybella Cakes
Ni Cakes
Not Just Cakes by Annie
O Taste and See Treats, Inc.
Oh Sugar!
Origami Owl (Independent Designer Jo Cartee)
Paige Simple Studio
Pastry Portal
Perfect Indulgence Cakes
Polkadot Cupcake Shop
Rose Bakes
Royal Bakery
Shereen Bakes and Cakes
Sugar and Spiked, Inc.
Sugar High
Sugar and Spice Celebration Cakes
Sweet Blossom Cakes
Sweet Catastrophe Cakes
Sweet Proposals
Sweet Shop Natalie
SweeTack Shack 
The Baked Equation
The Cake Artisan
The Frosted Cake Boutique
The Green Elephant Bakery
The Icing on the Cake by Jo
The Little Salmons Bakery
The Sweet Flour (Cake Art by Rabia)
Way Beyond Cakes by Mayen
Whisk Me Away
Wild-Flour Cakes by Heather

If you haven’t already, you can visit them on Facebook here:


Phew!  That was a mouthful.  Errr handful.  I'm grateful to all who sponsored and all who entered.  Your support means the world to me!

Oven’s on; I’ll be back soon!

~ Peggy


Sunday, February 24, 2013

30,000 Facebook Fan Giveaway!


Peggy Does Cake “30,000 Fan Appreciation Giveaway” is underway!

Contest has ended.  Congratulations to our lucky winners (see Rafflecopter widgets below):


Prize Package #1 - Entry #5913 - Cy A.
Prize Package #2 - Entry #9288 - Stephanie W.
Prize Package #3 - Entry #5176 - Anna M.
Prize Package #4 - Entry #4892 - Elysia S.
Prize Package #5 - Entry #1382 - Olivia W.
Prize Package #6 - Entry #2585 - Lucie W.
Prize Package #7 - Entry #2186 - Tara O.


Like to bake?  Like to decorate?  Like to eat?  Like to wear clothes? Live on planet Earth?  You've come to the right place!

Enter here to win seven (7) separate prize packages, each valued at over $400!!  


OPEN WORLDWIDE
Everyone can enter, regardless of where you live!

It’s fast and easy to enter! Just follow the simple directions using the Rafflecopter widgets on this page! 

Enter to win the packages you like best or enter to win all 7 packages!


Giveaway Dates (Central Standard Time):
Giveaway opens 12:01 a.m. Monday, February 25
Giveaway ends midnight Saturday, March 2


PRIZE PACKAGE #1
This prize contains over $400 worth of loot including $100 worth of cake decorating supplies, custom baked cookies and cake pops from TWO (2) different bakers, chocolate brownie pops, t-shirt, cookie cutters, personalized chef jacket, and $45 in Amazon gift certificates!


PRIZE PACKAGE #2
This prize contains over $400 worth of loot including a Beater Blade, a custom tutorial, custom baked cookies from THREE (3) different bakers, and $275 in gift certificates!


PRIZE PACKAGE #3
This prize contains over $400 worth of loot including magnetic "Cake Delivery on Board" car sign, Living Locket™ cake-themed necklace, custom baked cookies and cake pops from THREE (3) different bakers, and over $100 in gift certificates!


PRIZE PACKAGE #4
This prize contains over $400 worth of loot including a 3 month membership in a "Cupcake of the Month" club, custom baked cookies and cake pops from TWO (2) different bakers, "My super power is baking" t-shirt, book entitled "Cupcakes Year Round: 50 Recipes for Every Season and Celebration," cupcake wrappers, cupcake picks, cupcake corer, sprinkles, and $150 in gift certificates!


PRIZE PACKAGE #5
This prize contains over $400 worth of loot including cookie cutters, Bakels fondant, gel food coloring, a rolling pin, sugar pearls, nonpareils, sanding sugar, custom baked cookie wands, and $255 in gift certificates!


PRIZE PACKAGE #6
This prize contains over $400 worth of loot including a custom-drawn portrait*, a mother-daughter vintage apron set, a set of metal ball tools, finest Belgian white chocolate, 4 custom tutorials, custom rose cutters, rose centers, autographed Party Cupcakes book, and $75 in Amazon gift certificates!


PRIZE PACKAGE #7
This prize contains over $400 worth of loot including custom t-shirt, apron, one year membership to "My Cake School," 8-bit geeky chic bag, striped ribbon and message medallion screen, and $280 in Amazon gift certificates!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Up to three people per portrait, based on photograph.


We are excited about accommodating our winner, but design and delivery of custom baked prizes such as cookies, cake pops, cupcakes, etc., will be determined at the sole discretion of our sponsors.



BORING STUFF (Contest Details):

Winners will be chosen randomly and will be contacted via email on March 3, 2013
If any winner doesn’t respond within 36 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

See Terms and Conditions HERE.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Recipe: Gee's Apple Dumplings


I got this recipe from my then mother-in-law more than a decade ago.  It's been a family favorite since the first bite!  I've made tons of substitutions over the years and basically every sub has worked ("baking Splenda" for sugar, diet soda, light crescent rolls, half the butter, etc.), but the BEST result is from the following recipe IMHO.  No more comment needed. These things are GOOD.

Gee’s Apple Dumplings
by Peggy Does Cake

1 ½ sticks butter (170 grams)
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp vanilla
2 granny smith apples (peeled, cored, and cut into eighths)
2 cans (8 count) crescent dinner rolls
12 to 16 oz. Mountain Dew 

Core and peel apples. Wrap 1 piece thoroughly in crescent roll and arrange in baking dish.

Throw first four ingredients into a heat-safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes.  Stir well and microwave another 1 minute or so, until gravy-like consistency.  It’s fine if it’s still grainy.  Pour sugar mixture over apple dumplings.  At this point, you can cover with saran wrap and refrigerate until later.

Pre-heat over to 350 degrees.  Pour 12 to 16 oz. Mountain Dew over dumplings (it looks like a lot of liquid, but that's ok) and pop in the oven.  I usually measure out about 2 cups of soda from a 2 litre bottle, but if you can find a 12 or 16 once can or bottle, that would work great.  It doesn't have to be a perfect amount.  At about 30 minutes in, take them out and baste well.  I just use a spoon.  I stir the sauce a bit first in between the dumplings to get it a bit thicker.  Then cover each dumpling generously.  Continue baking until nicely golden brown.  I’ve been known to baste more than once.  Or more than twice.  Total cooking time at my house is about 50 minutes. 

Great served warm with homemade no-churn ice cream found here.   
Dumplings are VERY rich, so I often cut the recipe in half.  

If you try these, I'd love to hear from you!  Until then, oven's on - I'll be back soon!

~ Peggy

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Recipe: Super Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies



These super easy chocolate chip cookies are DELECTABLE.  Just because they're easy, doesn't mean taste will suffer.  These are our household favorites for chocolate chips.

I love my Kitchen Aid, but we make this with our Viking hand-held mixer.  Trial and error has proven that works best.  ;)

Ingredients
2 cups self-rising flour (*gasp*)
1 and 2/3 cups firmly packed LIGHT brown sugar
1 stick (113 grams) of room temp salted butter
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 ounces)
Directions
1.  Preheat Oven to 350 F
2. Toss butter into a large glass mixing bowl and beat with hand held mixer until it begins to lose its yellow color a bit.
3. Add brown sugar, mix briefly with mixer to incorporate – don’t overmix.
4. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well with mixer. Now put the mixer away.  The rest is done by hand. (Don’t worry, it’s easy.)
5. Add about half the flour, mix in by hand – batter is soft, so this is easy.  Don’t overmix.
6. Add remaining flour, mix in by hand – mix well, but don’t needlessly overmix.
7. Add chips, fold to incorporate.
Roll into 1" balls and bake about 10 minutes or until your desired level of “doneness.”  We like to do a batch really soft and gooey, and then we like to do a batch a bit more brown and crispy. That way we have cookies for all our moods!  
These warm up beautifully in the microwave for about 13 seconds each for that "just baked" taste.

Oven’s on – I’ll be back soon!

~ Peggy
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