Killer Cakes – Issue 32
Welcome!
November is a food-lover’s month. So let’s get this issue of Killer Cakes started with a dessert recipe from Killer Sweet Tooth. This month on Fatal Foodies, I’m doing a series of dessert recipes from the latest Daphne Martin mystery. The first–Pat Tolbert’s Banana Pudding–was posted on Friday. Another recipe will be posted on November 11.
Spotlight: Pumpkin
Here are some yummy pumpkin recipes for you to enjoy!
New York Pumpkin Creme Caramel
3-Step Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake
Glazed Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake
If you try any of these, please let us know how you liked them! Happy baking!
Killer Cakes – Issue 30
Welcome!
Thanks to the incomparable Kerry Vincent, Killer Sweet Tooth debuted at the 2011 Oklahoma Sugar Art Show in Tulsa this past weekend. (Pictured is Karen Portaleo’s entry at last year’s show.) Ms. Vincent was instrumental in getting some pre-publication buzz for Daphne’s third adventure among the premiere cake decorators in the country. Both Gayle and I appreciate Ms. Vincent’s kindness and generosity!
Please note, we’ll be having a contest prior to Killer Sweet Tooth‘s release on October 11 (next Tuesday). So please stay tuned for details. There will be lots of great prizes to be won, including, of course, copies of Killer Sweet Tooth.
Killer Cakes – Issue 27
Welcome!
I’m hoping that by the time the next newsletter rolls around, I’ll have a cover for Killer Sweet Tooth to show you. In the meantime, I had some of the sweetest strawberries the other day. And that made me think a strawberry cake would be really good. Don’t you agree? I found a receipe for Paula Deen’s Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake and I also found one for Strawberry Shortcut Cake courtesy of the Neelys. If you try either one, please comment below and let me know how it turned out!
Site Spotlight: My Cake School Blog
If you’d like to learn some cake decorating techniques or get fresh decorating ideas, check out My Cake School Blog. The blog is available for everyone and is usually updated 2-3 times per week with cake decorating tutorials and ideas. The author, Melissa Diamond, also has a site called MyCakeSchool.com, which is a members-only site. A membership in the school costs $30 per year and gives the member access to over a hundred online cake decorating videos. Again, the blog is available to all. But $30 is a small price to pay for a year’s worth of instruction! (And, no, I’m not an affiliate of MyCakeSchool.com. 
Killer Cakes – Issue 26
Welcome!
Happy Independence Day, America!
In honor of the occasion, I’ve found some cute Fourth of July-inspired cakes for you:
I found the star cake at Wilton and the eagle cake at coolest-birthday-cakes.com.
Sneak Peek: Killer Sweet Tooth
[This scene is from Chapter One. Myra has come over to play Scrabble with Daphne.]
I had the Scrabble board set up on the island with the two stools set on opposite sides of the island. The cashew brittle and chocolate-covered raisins were plated and on a tray to the right side of the board along with a large bowl of popcorn. The Scrabble tiles were to the left.
“What would you like to drink?” I asked.
“Something hot. That wind chilled me to the bone on my walk over,” she said. “How about a decaf café au lait?”
I smiled. “Sounds good to me.”
Myra sat down and began choosing her tiles. “Great. Nearly all vowels. How am I supposed to make a word out of this mess?”
“Just put those back and draw some new letters.” I have a single-cup coffee maker, so I began making Myra’s café au lait.
“No, now, you know I don’t cheat,” she said. “I’ll make do with the letters I have. Maybe some of this cashew brittle will help me think.”
The next sound I heard was a howl of pain.
“Myra? What is it?”
“Owwww, my toot . . . my filling…fell out!” She rocked back and forth on the stool.
I turned the coffee maker off. “Who’s your dentist? I’ll call him and ask if he can meet you in his office.” Don’t think I was being sexist when I said “him.” There are only two dentists in Brea Ridge, and they’re both men.
“Bainworf.”
I got “Bainsworth” out of the mumbled word and rushed into the living room to retrieve my phone book from the end table. I called the dentist’s office and then dialed the emergency number left on the answering machine. Dr. Bainsworth answered the call immediately.
[Little did I know what I was about to get myself into. Stay tuned....]
Killer Cakes – Issue 25
Welcome!
It has certainly been a while, hasn’t it? Sorry for the extended absence (the last newsletter issue was posted on March 28!), but Gayle and I have been really busy. Gayle has been penning a novel, and I’ve been making lots of cakes. Good for business, but not so great for keeping in touch with my friends.
Gayle has added “Monday’s Cake Series Quote” to her Facebook page. Check it out each Monday for a quote from the series. She’s also doing “Sneak Peek Saturday” where she gives readers a glimpse into upcoming books.
Site Spotlight: Cake Decorating Events
Nothing says “summer” like a road trip, right? And what better road trip than going to a cake decorating event? Hopefully, one of the following will be taking place near you:
June 24-26, 2011: Celebration of Cake, Gilbert, Arizona
June 25-26, 2011: ICES June Day of Sharing, Marlborough, Massachusetts
July 10, 2011: Capital Confectioners Annual Day of Sharing, Round Rock, Texas
July 10, 2011: Veterans Benefit Cake Show, Toms River, New Jersey
August 20, 2011: Cove Country Cake Show & Challenge, Bedford, Pennsylvania
September 11, 2011: Cake Decorating EXPO, Houston, Texas
For more upcoming cake events, please check out the American Cake Decorating website.
Killer Cakes – Issue 24
Welcome!
Murder Takes the Cake launches tomorrow, March 29! Gayle is planning lots of fun events in conjunction with the launch.
Tuesday, March 29: Virtual Book Launch Party on Facebook – If you don’t already, please “like” Gayle’s author page and then stop by on the 29th (starting at about 8 a.m.) to win some terrific prizes (books, gift cards, cookies, tote bags, etc.). If you’ve been to one of Gayle’s virtual launch parties before, you already know how much fun they are. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!
If you live here in the Southwest Virginia/East Tennessee/Northwest North Carolina region, here are a couple events you might enjoy:
Friday, April 1: Book Signing and Cupcake Decorating Competition at Babycakes Cupcakery in Kingsport, TN – The first 25 people to arrive for the book signing will receive a free Babycakes cupcake! Entrants in the decorating competition must bring their decorated cupcake(s) to Babycakes by noon. Winners will be determined by visitors to the shop. First prize is a $25 Amazon gift card.
Saturday, April 2: Book Reading/Signing at Barnes & Noble in Johnson City at 2 p.m. – Gayle would love it if you’d stop in to say hello!
In addition, PocketBooks is sending Gayle on a huge virtual book tour:
Thursday, March 31 – Mega Blog Tour:
I hope you’ll join us!
Guest Spotlight: Regina Shinall, Little Inspirations by Regina
During Gayle’s virtual book launch party, she’s planning to give away a regional prize pack. This prize pack will not only contain Murder Takes the Cake prizes but will also showcase local talent. One of the prizes will be a framed photo contributed by Little Inspirations by Regina. (She made the photo to the right for me!) I spoke to Regina about her work:
Daphne: How did you get interested in photography?
Regina: I have always been interested in photography! When I was in elementary school, I had one of those cameras with the snap on flashes. I was always the one to take the pictures at family outings. I sort of got out of it and got back into it last year when I finally got a digital camera. Now I have two!
Daphne: Do you take all your own photos or do you find some online?
Regina: All the photos I offer as Little Inspriations are original work. I have begun to take appointments for photo sessions also.
Daphne: How long have you been doing Little Inspirations by Regina?
Regina: Little Inspirations is only a few months old. I started taking photography classes and field trips by Sam Bass who lives in Kingsport. He is an award-winning photojournalist and has his photography displayed in galleries all over. I guess you can say he has really caused my love for photography to intensify lately.
Daphne: What do you like best about photography?
Regina: The best thing about photography is it is an outlet for creativity. No matter what you are photographing, it isn’t wrong. It is about what you like. The more you work at it, the better you become. And I love the Sam Bass field trips because you get to meet others who share your passion for photography. So it’s a lot of fun!
Daphne: Thank you for being with us, Regina, and for being a part of the Murder Takes the Cake launch party!
Killer Cakes – Issue 23
Welcome!
If you’ll recall, in my last issue I mentioned Gayle was hoping to do a book signing at a local Barnes & Noble to coincide with the release of Murder Takes the Cake. She has been scheduled for a reading/signing at the Barnes & Noble in Johnson City, Tennessee, on Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m. If you’re in the area, please stop by! She’d love to meet you.
Even if–or maybe especially if–you aren’t in the Southwest Virginia/East Tennessee region, be sure to mark your calendar for the Facebook virtual release party on March 29. That promises to be a fun day as well.
I called it right in the last issue when I told you about Gayle becoming a blogger for Killer Characters. Myra Jenkins was the very first one of us to blog. But that’s okay. She said some really nice things about me and my cakes.
Project Spotlight: Floral Petits Fours
Actually, I suppose you could call these petits fleurs. ((giggle)) This is just a quick batch I made to test the new Nordic Ware baking pans, but I think they turned out really well. With the huge bundt cake mix that came with the pans, I had enough to fill both cake pans and a six-inch round pan.
I decorated the cakes using icing tubes like you’d use for cookies, rather than take the time to use a decorator bag and tips. I see a lot of possibilities for these, though, don’t you? For example, I could dip them in various colors of candy melts to create a colorful, completely covered bouquet. Or I could drizzle them with a vanilla glaze. Or I could decorate them like tiny cupcakes.
Just the way they were, they were delicious. Leslie, my niece, especially loved them. I even gave her mom a few to put in her lunch.
Sew Deadly Preempted
Today, Marcy was supposed to post a Sew Deadly newsletter. But instead, I’m using her space to tell you about some upcoming events.
First off, please join me at the Gayle Trent/Amanda Lee Facebook page on March 29 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. for the virtual launch party for Murder Takes the Cake! There will be prize giveaways all day long, including copies of the book, tote bags, and gift cards. For this launch, there will even be a regional prize pack giveaway for readers in SW Virginia and East Tennessee.
Please also join me at Barnes & Noble, 3030 Franklin Terrace Drive, Johnson City, TN on Saturday, April 2 at 2:00 p.m. for a reading and book signing. It should be a LOT of fun!
I’ll keep you posted of other events as they are scheduled. Thanks, as always, for your encouragement and support!
Killer Cakes – Issue 22
Welcome!
I’m getting excited about the rerelease of Murder Takes the Cake on March 29. As a matter of fact, I was so wired, I forgot to post yesterday! But here I am today.
You’ll be seeing more of me as Gayle begins blogging at Killer Characters. Gayle’s blog date is the 12th of each month, so I’ll be there. I imagine Myra will put in an appearance, too. You know how she loves to be in the thick of things. Amanda Lee’s character Marcy Singer, as well as other Tallulah Falls denizens, will be there as well.
Look for Murder Takes the Cake on the trade paper front of store new release table at Barnes & Noble stores from April 5 – April 8. Gayle is hoping to do a BN signing or two. If she can’t make it to your area, but your BN is interested in signed bookplates, please let her know!
Also look for Murder Takes the Cake in the April e-newsletter of BookClubCookbook.com, Buzzing About Books, and in Mystery Scene Magazine and Suspense Magazine. Plus, you won’t want to miss the Facebook launch party on March 29! If you’ve attended Gayle’s virtual new release parties in the past, then you already know what all the excitement is about. If you haven’t, be sure and “like” her FB page and then visit the page first thing on the morning of March 29 to get in on all the giveaways!
Item Spotlight: Nordic Ware Bakeware
I recently bought some Nordic Ware baking pans (my first from this company). I took them out of the box yesterday and was absolutely delighted! I got the 3D Easter Bunny pan and the mini flowers pan. They came with vanilla bean Bundt cake mixes, so I’m eager to bake up some flowers and see how they turn out. I’ll be sure and post photographs.
Have any of you used Nordic Ware bakeware? If so, please give me some product feedback!
Killer Cakes – Issue 21
Welcome!
Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope all of you are having a great day. As a special treat, I’m including a video Deb Smith made from some photos I took at the Oklahoma Sugar Art Show a couple years ago.
Site Spotlight: Great Cake Bake
Imagination Library in East Tennessee is holding its 2nd annual Great Cake Bake on Saturday, March 26, 2011. All local bakers and cake makers are invited to participate. Am I planning to participate? No…. But I would love to go check out the fantastic cakes. The event will take place at the Tennessee Terrace in UT’s Neyland Stadium, and funds raised will be used to support Imagination Library. The library sends free books to Knox County children through the mail until they are five years of age.
Entries will be accepted for:
All Occasion Cake
Wedding Cake
Single Cupcake
(New this year, the All Occasion and Wedding cakes will be separated into different groups: buttercream frosting only and fondant/gum paste/mixed sugar art.)
Entry divisions include junior decorator, beginner, intermediate, and professional. The entry fee is $10, and the entry must be received by March 14.
Complete rules and photographs of last years’ cakes may be seen at the event’s website.
