Cake Ball Contest!

Don't forget to try your hand at naming my new dessert catering business!  You could win a cake ball catered event! I've had several submissions that are awesome and it's going to be a tough choice!  Email your name and your business name idea to awagnercakeballs@gmail.com.  Also, if you're interested in reviews from people who have had them all you really need to know is the following a) they couldn't quite give a review because they were too busy shoving their face with cake balls and going "Mmmmmm!" b) I rarely have ANY leftovers (unless I set some aside for myself:-) and c) I can't remember what c was anymore, oops, guess it must not have been too important!  But seriously I can give you some reviews if you want them :-)  Ooooo I remember c now: c) whenever there is a work function involving food it is just assumed that I will bring cake balls and my co-workers want very much to be my proving ground for new flavors such as Coffee Toffee!

If you will kindly turn your attention to my blog....

You thought I forgot didn't you!?  Well I didn't.  I'm just a master procrastinator and this brought back my fondest college memories (much to my mother's chagrin, right mom?)

And much to what I perceive will be the disappointment of many, no I am not pregnant.  But that doesn’t mean you should stop reading because I have a job for you!  I will shamelessly admit that my Facebook post was a little stunt to get people to come to my blog.  Why you may ask?  Because I need business for my new business! “New business??!!” I hear you incredulously inquire.

Yes I am starting a business.

A cake ball business to be precise.

As you can tell from my previous post I love cake balls. A lot. They are so much fun to make and decorate!  Every time I make them more and more people tell me they would pay me to make some for a party or get together. Which got me thinking…maybe I should start a business that caters cake balls?  I decided to commit my idea to prayer.  I began to pray that God would show me which way I should go, whether I should move forward or wait, and that He would open doors for me if I were to proceed. 

After several weeks went by amazingly doors began flying open presenting me with unique opportunities. These particular doors are ones I never would have come across on my own.  So I began preparing a list of flavors and prices and started my journey!  My flavors are as follows:

• Funfetti
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Vanilla Chai
• Pink Lemonade
• Cherry Cordial
• Coffee Toffee
• Banana Split
• Double Fudge Delight
• Cheescake (Strawberry, Cherry, or Chocolate)
• Grasshopper
• Orange Sherbet
• Pumpkin Spice
• Lemon Meringue

I'm still working on the price aspect but that should be coming soon.  On to the part which requires your assistance.  Unfortunately my creativity in cake balls does not extend to naming things.  That's where you come in.  I need a name for my new business.  Therefore I propose a competition.  I would like any and all of you to submit your name along with a name for my business to me via email (awagnercakeballs@gmail.com).  Options submitted as a comment on FB or this blog will not be considered, but that doesn't mean you can't leave general comments :-)

I know, I know, you're all wondering what the prize will be for this little competition.  Besides recognition on my internationally read blog (I have visitors from Canada, Taiwan, and Singapore, so says my ClustrMap, no that's not a typo, it's really called ClustrMap) I will provide one event of your choice with cake balls (any flavor and design) for free.  I do have one small rule.  Eventually I would like to extend my business beyond cake balls so please try to refrain from using the word cake balls in the title unless it was being used in conjunction with something else.  For example Cake Balls & More.  Also, using my name in business name is acceptable but not required.

Alright, have at it.  I will officially close the competition one week from today at which point the suggestions will be perused by myself and my esteemed panel of judges to choose a delightful name.  Once I have a name I will be able to come up with some more marketing type stuff.

And for those of you who persevered to the end I apologize that my announcement wasn't as exciting as you might have hoped...  I'll have "that other" announcement to make some day, God willing :-)

My Funny Valentine, Sweet Comic Valentine...

As today is Valentine's Day I thought I would write a mushy post about how I have the most wonderful husband in the world on so many fronts.  Seriously!


First of all he fears and loves God and serves Him faithfully.  I am so very thankful for this fact and could not have asked for a better spiritual leader for a husband.  He has been a constant encouragement to me as well as source of conviction when there are changes that need to be made in my life.


Secondly he plays the cello.  And I like it. Alot :-)  Today he was playing "The Swan" from "Carnival of the Animals" by Saint-Saens.  This just happens to be one of my favorite pieces for cello and it made me sigh. He also tells bad jokes. I told him, "I think The Carnival of Animals is at my office (meaning our cd)" to which he responded "That's an interesting way to describe your co-workers"


Thirdly he's tolerating and even getting into the spirit of my coupon craziness.  Case in point, today he sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  I was surprised and delighted and was the envy of my female co-workers.  When I told him this do you know what he said?  He told me that the reason he purchased the flowers from Pro-Flowers  was because he could get 900 Swagbucks for doing so.  That's the equivalent of a $10 Amazon gift card!  I love this guy!


Fourthly (is that even a word?)  he's always doing spur of the moment sweet things.  A week or so ago he brought home potted tulips for me to enjoy now and plant later and I LOVE tulips!  Today he fixed the lamp I recently bought with no prompting from me.  He always opens my car door and holds open doors for me.  


Fifthly he cuts a dashing figure in a suit!  Ok this one is a little shallow, but isn't a girl supposed to think her husband is handsome?  In short he is a gentleman of a kind that is nearing extinction in this day and age and I love him for it (while other girls dislike me for it).  I am so glad that God saw fit to bring us together almost 6 years ago.  It's been a wonderful ride and I'm greatly looking forward to God's plan for the rest of our lives!  

Cake Balls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Note to my readers: I've been in the process of writing this post since before Christmas.  That being said some of the references are a little old.  IE the 5 hours I spent making cake balls was for a Christmas Party at church.  Just so you know!*

This post title deserves an innumerable amount of exclamation points to show my love for making cake balls!  Considering the fact that my blog is called As The Kitchen Burns I figured I should post some more about my hazardous baking habits.  Thankfully the 5+ hours I spent in the kitchen making these babies didn’t result in too much pain.  But first, before I get into that, a little about my cake ball history…

I had my first cake ball at my dear friend’s wedding.  It was one of the most deliciously delectable dessert delights I have ever had (how’s that for alliteration!) and not to mention so classy looking! I immediately HAD to know how it was done! I have a DEEP love of baking, it helps me relax, and someday I would love to have my own little bakery, but anyway, I was so excited to get my hands on a recipe and try them out on my own.  My first opportunity was for my wonderful cousin/friend’s baby shower.  I decided that they would be perfect for a baby shower because they were so little and adorable!  I used strawberry cake with funfetti frosting (the best in my humble opinion) and vanilla candy coating.  I was doing really well with the cake balls when I did a most horrendous thing!  I made the grievous mistake of using regular food coloring in candy coating.  GASP!  The water based food coloring immediately started separating the oil based candy coating, creating a grainy, gross looking candy coating.  I also overheated the candy, causing it to become hard and chunky.  Thankfully I was able to salvage some of the candy coating and the cake balls were a hit!

After that the botched baby shower batch I kind of took a cake ball hiatus/early retirement through the spring and summer.  I did pull out of retirement for a bridal and baby shower for two of my co-workers.  I thought they were rather unmemorable but my co-workers must have thought otherwise because when the Thanksgiving Potluck sign-up sheet at work made its way  around the office I was told that I must make cake balls.  And I came up with the Pumpkin Spice Cake Ball! It sure was yummy, but not my favorite by far.  No, my favorite thus far has been, wait for it, wait for it…..Triple Fudge Cake with Double Fudge Frosting, dipped in Peppermint Flavored Candy Coating!  Oh yes folks, it is just as delicious as it sounds.  I don’t mean to sounds prideful, but have you tried one of these babies?  In all seriousness though, I can’t stop eating them.   So now you have it, my short cake ball history.  So now for some pictures

This picture represents my preparations for battle (cue victorious battle music please)

Next you have my post-dipped, pre-decorated balls taking up crazy amounts of space in my fridge….

And finally, the finished product!

Now on to the kitchen burning part.  No I didn’t actually burn the kitchen at all.  But I got burned while dipping the cake balls.  And how can one burn themselves dipping cake balls you ask?  Let me tell you.  I spilled peppermint oil on my hand and didn’t immediately wipe it off.  And ya know what, when you don’t wipe off peppermint oil on your hand it starts to burn, like Icy Hot, but a whole lot worse.  And it makes your hand red.  And it makes your hand dry.  And it makes your hand chapped.  And it hurts. Did I mention that already?  Cause it did :-) But after a week I’m better now so no worries, my hand will live to make more cake balls again soon. 


Update:  I took a brief  break after Christmas but picked up my Cake Ball mantle for a Super Bowl Party.  Below are my pictures of the Steeler and Packer themed cake balls!

I apologize for my rather inferior photography skills... I'm saving up for a new camera! Also of note, my Packers cakeballs were not quite as pretty due to not cutting the right size hole in my frosting piping bag thingy (yes, that is the technical term).

Of Bloody Hands And Cookie Jars

Ahhhhhhhh!

Ahhhhhhhh again!! 

Just kidding!

So I went to organize my Cake Ball decorating drawer and lo and behold I found my red candy coloring had leaked in the drawer so I decided to have a little fun.  If ever you need to use fake blood I would really choose red candy coloring.  It looked so real!

On a wonderful note two of my co-workers talked me into going to a Goodwill on our way to lunch and I picked up this adorable cookie jar!  I've been looking for a red(ish) cookie jar since before Will and I were married and all I could find was strawberry, cherry, or apple shaped cookie jars.  Not my cup of tea thanks.  But this one is PERFECT!  Thanks ladies!  I wouldn't have gone but for your dragging me! Of note: Will was pleased with my purchase because it means I now have to keep the cookie jar full :-)

Proverbs 31 Woman

Today as I was pondering a tag line for my blog banner I kept going back to the Proverbs 31 Woman.  Could I draw my tag line from this wonderful passage of scripture?  As I was reading and mulling I kept coming back to verse 14, "She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar."  When I read this I kept thinking, "Pfft I do this all the time, that must mean I'm doing pretty well!" I mean, come on, Jimmy John's isn't exactly next door (unless I have them deliver, which I've yet to do, even though delivery is only $0.25 per item!).  It's a least  2 miles away, and in Biblical times that was pretty far away right?  And while we're at it how about verse 16, "She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard."  Didn't Will and I just buy the lot next to our house and aren't I planning to plant a garden there this spring (though not a vineyard per se)?  Check!  And listen to verses 17, "She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms." and 21, "She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet."  I'm pretty sure two days ago my shovel and I challenged the snow on our sidewalk to a duel and I won!  AND! I wore a red (scarlet) scarf whilst doing so!  I'm practically halfway to being the Proverbs 31 Woman!


While I jest about my so-called accomplishments I know that I have a long way to go, and quite frankly I'll only get there with the help of my gracious and merciful God! It is only through Him that I can come even close to being the Godly wife my husband needs and I'm learning more about that every day.

If there Was A Kitty Heaven…..

It would consist of the following for each of my kitties: 

For Tallulah it would be eternal head scratching 

And endless toys with feathers attached

For Maisie it would be plastic grocery bags galore

And twist ties.  Lots and lots of twist ties!