Weddings The Bridal Show

Come see The Cakes By Shara booth at Weddings the Bridal Show Jan 3rd from 10:00 to 4:00 Show specials, Rental Cakes, and free samples. looking forward to meeting all the lovely brides and grooms. Be ready to make your cake appointment date and or book your rental cake. Special deals will apply to show bookings from 10% off to deeper discounts. We will have new flavors to try as well.
See you in less than a week.
Shara Lunn
www.cakesbyshara.net

Chocolate bark

My creation, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Step One: Get your favorite candy coating or bark.
Step two: Melt the chocolate according to the package directions.
Step three: Mix in toffee bits or nuts.
Step Four Spread out the chocolate
Step Five: Melt a little white chocolate.
Step Six: Drizzle over the chocolate mixture.
Step 7: Take your fork and marble the chocolate.
Step 8: Let the mix set up.
Step 9 cut the chocolate with a pizza cutter.
Sept 10 Break apart and package for Christmas gifts.
yeild: Makes about 1 pound 8 ounces.

AshleysBrideGuide.com Best of Nashville Weddings Vote for Cakes By Shara

Nashville Newlyweds:

AshleysBrideGuide.com is searching for Nashville’s best wedding vendors according to you, Nashville newlyweds. We know you’ve been asked this before - by The Knot, Wedding Wire, etc - but this is the real Nashville award, given by people who really care about Nashville brides and the Nashville businesses that make their day magical. ABG seeks to honor the best in Nashville weddings…and we need your help.

If You feel Cakes By Shara was Nashville best in Cake Vendors please vote for us here

If your wedding took place between December 1, 2007 and December 1, 2008, we want to hear from you!

Even better, you will be automatically entered to win a $100 VISA gift card. Voting ends January 31, 2009.

Thank you to all the wonderful brides and grooms we served this year and we are looking forward to a fabulous 2009 wedding season.

One 5 Teir Rent A Cake and 7 new looks all for the low price of 250.00 Plus a Refundable Damage Deposit. Total savings over 1000.00

DOES THE ECONOMY HAVE YOU DOWN ABOUT YOUR WEDDING BUDGET?

Rent A cake of your dreams this year and save. This cake will rent for $250.00, you can get Sam's sheet cake to feed 100 people for about $30.00 that is .30 cents per serving. NO one in Town can beat that price and on a cake this large. I would retail real cake at no less than $1200.00. You can also custom design rent a cakes starting at $300.00. Each cake in addition to the rental price has additional security damage deposit that is fully refundable most damage deposits will be $200.00. Damage is deducted if necessary from this deposit. If you decide to keep the cake, no problem, it is yours for the $200.00. No Shipping is available at this time, but we are checking into how to ship these for your use.

We will have at least 8 cakes that can be rented at Weddings The Bridal Show January 3rd. Get ready to book on January 3rd for your wedding. If you book at the Show you will receive a special show price. You can reserve your rent a cake with a 100.00 retainer fee. The security deposit and remaining balance will be charged 4 weeks before your wedding. We will have cakes renting as little as 150.00. See you at Weddings The Bridal Show.

Gray Photography Studio warming

Gray Photography Studio warming, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Cakes by Shara was asked to make cupcake for Gray Photography's Studio warming party. Such a cutting edge couple in the world of Photo Journalist! they really are amazing. Check out there website at.
http://www.grayphotograph.com/

Happy Birthday Ellie

Happy Birthday Ellie, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Love cupcake tree's in a nice beach theme.

Under the Sea for Ellie

Under the Sea for Ellie, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

I cannot help but think of Stacey now when I do under the sea and ocean themes.
I really wish I lived on the beach somewhere also good for weddings birthdays and just because!

And the Winner of the CMA song of the year 2008 is..... We hope Lee Miller!

And the Winner of the CMA song of the year 2008 is..... We hope Lee Miller!
Originally uploaded by CakesByShara

Good Luck Lee! This is a personal project from Cakes By Shara.

New Crazy Daisy Cupcakes

New Crazy Daisy Cupcakes, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Happy Colors For Birthday cupcakes Or a fun spring wedding as well.

Dark Chocolate frosting on Dark chocolate cupcakes, And Vanilla buttercream on dark Chocolate cupcakes. Fondant flower toppings. $3.00 each per 20 for small and $4.00 each per dozen. Prices for weddings may receive a price break based on volume orders.

James and Jena Story Wedding of the week

Cakes By Shara is honored to be mentioned in the Tennessean news paper today as the Wedding of the week.
Congratulations again to James and Jena Story. Read the Story here and a special thank you to Tracy Pulley. http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081026/FEATURES01/810260311/1004/FEATURES



Here are pictures of there cakes as well.

Iron Cupcake Challenge Cheese: Spice Cupcakes with Dulce De Leche filing Frosted with Real Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Cheese

Vote For me No one puts cupcake in a corner

Spice Cake with Dulce De Leche Filling and Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Cheese frosting.

Spice cake recipe
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup milk
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
I like a lot of cinnamon so I added 2 tablespoons

¼ teaspoon ground cloves maybe a tiny bit more if you like these.

A dash of all spice
3 eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350

Cream butter and sugar together then add eggs one at a time mixing completely after each addition

Sift all dry items together

Add dry a little at a time alternating with the milk until it is mixed.

Scoop into cupcake liners with a ice cream scoop filling a little over half full.

Bake for 20-25 minute or until a toothpick comes out almost clean.

Cool in the freezer.

When cool cut a core out of the top of the cupcake fill with Dulce De Leche then replace the tops.

Frost with Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Cheese and top with your favorite fondant toppings.

Filled Middle with yummy gooey Dulce De Leche Caramel

Dulce De Leche Recipes:

Easy way:

boil a can of sweetened condensed milk for three hours on medium heat to low heat keeping the can covered with water. Let cool then use the caramel.

Frosting Recipe:

Vanilla Bean Mascarpone Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cold Mascarpone Cheese it will soften in the mixer

8 ounces real butter at room temperature

One teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Powdered sugar until the icing is thick about one to 2 pounds if the cheese is really gooey like mine was.

A couple of dashes of salt to enhance the flavor and cut some of the sweet taste down.

Place in piping bag and swirl up.

My Daughter said MOMMY I just tasted October MMMMMMM this is what fall should taste like.


Prizes to be won:
ETSY artist ART ON THE MENU with her awesome little cardboard cupcake, her link is: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5738002
and a pair of cupcake earrings from Lots of Sprinkles at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281.
As an added bonus for October only we have a sassy and sweet T from Bakelove Bakewear, http://www.bakelove.com/cupcake_t-shirt.html. Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers:
HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com,
HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com,
JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; the CUPCAKE COURIER http://www.cupcakecourier.com;
TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com.
Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com .

Womens Final 4 Site Visit at The World Famous Wildhorse Saloon

Womens Final 4 Site Visit at The World Famous Wildhorse Saloon, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Site visit at the World Famous Wildhorse Saloon.

Purple topsy turvy

Purple topsy turvy, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

A fun purple topsy turvy cake with dulce de leche caramel and ducle de leche buttercream.

Poodle Wedding cake for Dog Lovers

Poodle Wedding cake for Dog Lovers, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

This is a non traditional wedding cake with to cute poodles as the bride and groom created for a wonderful couple. Chocolate cake with keepsake dog topper.

Rivas Wedding

Rivas Wedding, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

We would like to thank Wes Libby and Staff at the Gaylord Springs for making our cake set up easy and seamless.
www.gaylordsprings.com

Michelle's cake was a delight. It was the first time I worked with cake charm pulls. Ladies they are neat. I have never used them in a wedding cake but I have made pulls for bridal shower cakes or baby shower cakes.
Matt Andrews Photography was on site to take pictures of the day. www.mattandrewsphotography.com
Michelle and Mathew I hope your day was fabulous!

Halo 3 x box

Halo 3 x box, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Grooms cake for a gamer.

Melanie cake

Melanie cake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

For a modern Bride who keeps up with the current New York Trends and colors. Going to Mackey's In Green Hills TN.

A fall wedding

, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Strawberry Cake with vanilla buttercream and Red Velvet cake with cream cheese icing.

Fall Cupcake

Fall Cupcake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Fall Line of cupcakes for special occasions or weddings.

Ninitendo Entertainment System Cake

Ninitendo Entertainment System, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

More gaming cakes for grooms. Look for our Halo X-box on the 20th.

This is a dark chocolate cake with dark chocolate buttercream frosting enrobed in fondx fondant. All details are handmade By Cakes By Shara.

Shelly and Vince August 23rd 2008

Shelly and Vince contacted us in March 2008, They wanted a all buttercream cake that tasted out of this world, Shelly loves amaretto cake with almond frosting so we did two layers of this cake with a vanilla bean cake and vanilla buttercream for the bottom layer. Shelly wanted a Martha Stewart design as well. Here is our version of the cake.






We also created Mini Cupcakes for the candy bar they were setting up. The colors were based on a color she emailed me. The flavors were chocolate and strawberry with vanilla bean icing and tiny blue flowers with pearl centers.
We want to thank Mary Alice and her team of event planners from a Delightful Day for the beautiful presentation for the cupcakes.







Shelly And Vince Congratulations to you both on your wedding and new life together.

The Beach I love the Beach!

The Beach I love the Beach!, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

White Chocolate buttercream with vanilla bean cake and dulce de leche caramel with pastry cream filling. My favorite cake :)

Chef Shara 1975

Chef Shara 1975, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

I always knew I wanted to cook someday. I can remember in Kindergarten that was my favorite thing to do. I had the privilege of going to kindergarten on a farm, That year Ms. Madina taught us about eggs, baby chickens, making pancakes and jelly, peanut butter cookies, home made butter where you put heavy cream in a jar and everyone shakes it until you have butter, Crank ice cream, and so many other foods. I remember she had red clay she heated in the oven for us to play with. We also learned about planting and harvesting, onions, potatoes, and many other kind of fruits and vegetables. I believe then I knew I wanted to work with food, I continued to cook all through my life up to this very day. I still enjoy it as I enjoy art. I am grateful for the experience I had as a child. In 1995 I graduated from Culinary school and have specialized in baking and cake decorating from there.
So there you have a little glimpse into my life as a child.

LaFever

Amaretto cake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Sometimes you meet two special people and it helps when they are from you birth state and home of many years, Dallas Texas. This special couple Shelly and Vince came to me in March to meet we talked about her ideas and select a very special wedding cake.
Today they were married at the Beautiful Hermitage Hotel in Downtown Nashville with friends and family. Thank you so much to Mary Alice with A Delightful Day for making the Set Up quick and easy and to Amy from The Hermitage Hotel for being so kind and professional.
Most of all I hope you day was wonderful Shelly and Vince!

Weddings The Bridal Show

Reworked cake dummy, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

This cake will be in the Hermitage Golf Course booth Please Ask for one of my cards when you visit them. A Cakes By Shara Cake.

Birthday cake

Birthday cake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Topsy Turvy for Timi

Bee Cake

Bee Movie Cake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

So I was asked to do the bee cake so far no one sells the kits close to me so I sculpted this from scratch. Hope you like it.

Buttercream 101 and foodborn illness

It has come to my attention from my dear friend Master Pastry Chef Huebner that the icing popular chefs here in the Middle TN are using are playing a dangerous game with your health. The popular swiss meringue buttercream is possibly dangerous: If your baker claims to use this buttercream no matter how yummy it is it is like playing russian roulette with your health, unless the cake is chilled when it arrives at your wedding event, and with fondant icing chilling causes condensation beads to form which can leave pits in the fondant can interfere with your overall look of your cake or it can break down the fondant and the design on your cake can bleed.

Taken from Pastry 911
QUESTION: I've been told that Italian and Swiss Meringue Buttercream can be left out from 6 hours, all the way to 2 weeks. Does anyone know for certain the answer?

ANSWER: To refrigerate or not: There are many conflicting answers as to whether you need to refrigerate this frosting or not. Normally, meringue frostings made with EGG WHITES (no egg yolks or whole eggs) do not need refrigeration, but with the salmonella concerns of today, I recommend keeping it refrigerated. (Food Safety). Professionals are cautious because of the concerns about egg safety and that is playing into the answers you get. See Pantry: Eggs.

Italian Meringue Buttercream (IMBC) This is more popular than Swiss Meringue Buttercream. After the meringue is whipped to stiff peaks, and in the case of the Italian Meringue, cooled to room temperature. is made with softball (240 degree F) sugar syrup poured into whipping egg whites. Once whipped, add softened butter to the bowl, little at a time and whip until a fluffy consistency is reached. You can make the icing in advance; keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week. Italian Meringue Buttercream can be frozen for up to 3 months (some baker's have reported that it has kept longer). NOTE: In the book, ON FOOD AND COOKING, by Harold McGee, he says that "Because much of the syrup's heat is lost to the bowl...the foam mass normally gets no hotter than 130 or 135 degrees F, which is insufficient to kill salmonella", page 108.

If your baker is using this buttercream make sure they have proper training on food safety and are holding this buttercream at proper temperatures. With wedding cakes set up sometimes as much as 4 hours before your event it would be very warm by serving time.


Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

An infectious dose of Salmonella is small, probably from 15 to 20 cells. Typically, non-typhoidal Salmonella produces a self-limiting febrile gastrointestinal illness that is indistinguishable from that caused by other bacterial enteric pathogens. Dehydration is the principal clinical concern. The incubation period – the time between ingestion of Salmonella bacteria and the onset of illness – varies from six to 72 hours (Mayo Clinic, 2007, April 12; MMWR Recomm Rep, 2001).

Salmonella can cause three different kinds of illness: gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, and bacteremia.

Symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. In mild cases diarrhea may be non-bloody, occur several times per day, and not be very voluminous; in severe cases it may be frequent, bloody and/or mucoid, and of high volume.

Fever generally occurs in the 100°F to 102°F (38°C to 39°C) range. Vomiting is less common than diarrhea. Headaches, myalgias (muscle pain), and arthralgias (joint pain) are often reported as well. Whereas the diarrhea typically lasts 24 to 72 hours, patients often report fatigue and other nonspecific symptoms lasting 7 days or longer.
Complications of Salmonella Infection

Typhoid fever, also known as enteric fever, is caused by Salmonella serotype typhi. The onset of symptoms usually occurs between 5 and 21 days after ingestion of Salmonela typhi bacteria. Symptoms may include constipation, cough, sore throat, headache, and a rash on the infected individual’s chest, as well as the slowing of the heartbeat and enlargement of the liver and spleen (Mayo Clinic, 2007, April 12).

Bacteremia is characterized by infection of tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and infection within the bloodstream (sepsis). This condition occurs when Salmonella enter and circulate within an infected individual’s bloodstream, and is accompanied by few symptoms (Mayo Clinic, 2007, April 12).

Reiter’s syndrome, which includes and is sometimes referred to as “reactive arthritis” is an uncommon, but debilitating, result of a Salmonella infection. Reiter’s syndrome is a disorder that causes at least two of three seemingly unrelated symptoms: reactive arthritis, eye irritation, and urinary tract infection (Hill Gaston & Lillicrap, 2003). The reactive arthritis associated with Reiter’s develops when a person eats food that has been tainted with bacteria. Reactive arthritis is characterized by the inflammation of one or more joints following an infection localized in another portion of the body, commonly the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms of Reiter’s Syndrome usually occur between one and three weeks after the infection.

The three most common symptoms of Reiter’s syndrome are arthritis, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. The arthritis associated with Reiter’s syndrome typically affects the knees, ankles, and feet, causing pain and swelling. Wrists, fingers and other joints can be affected, though with less frequency. Patients with Reiter’s syndrome commonly develop inflammation where the tendon attaches to the bone, a condition called enthesopathy. Some patients with Reiter’s syndrome also develop heel spurs, bony growths in the heel that cause chronic or long-lasting foot pain. Arthritis from Reiter’s syndrome can also affect the joints of the back and cause spondylitis, inflammation of the vertebrae in the spinal column. The duration of reactive arthritis symptoms can vary greatly. Most of the literature suggests that the majority of patients recover within a year. The condition, can, however, be permanent. One study found nearly 50 percent of patients with post dysenteric reactive arthritis continued to have symptoms roughly one year after onset (Inman, et al., 1998).

The involvement of the eye in Reiter’s syndrome is most commonly manifested as conjunctivitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane that covers the eyeball, or uveitis, an inflammation of the inner eye. Conjunctivitis and uveitis can cause redness of the eyes, eye pain and irritation, and blurred vision.

The third site for Reiter’s syndrome symptoms is the urogenital tract. This includes the prostate, urethra, and penis in men and the fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina in women. Men may notice an increased need to urinate, a burning sensation when urinating, and a discharge from the penis. Some men also develop prostatitis. Symptoms of prostatitis include fever, chills, increased need to urinate, and a burning sensation when urinating.

Gold Cake

Gold Cake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

This cake was created for the non traditional bride. Very high style and lots of pampering of the cake, 6 hours of gold painting alone adorns this cake. Vanilla and chocolate cakes are enrobed with wonderful fondx fondant.

Engagement cake

Engagement cake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

We do more than Weddings. This is a Tiffany Blue Engagement cake fashioned after out green cake we did in the spring.

Black and white fun cake

Black and white fun cake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

modern wedding cake design in black and white the hottest wedding color next year.

Jena Cake

Final look Wedding Cake, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

The Cake

The cake that took forever!, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Brides this cake is a once in a lifetime cake. Vanilla with vanilla buttercream. Piping and lovely X's

Bright and fun just how I like them

Bright and fun just how I like them, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Vanilla Caramel with pastry cream filling and vanilla buttercream.

The New Logo

The New Logo, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

We have a new logo and I am very excited about it as I have been looking for a new logo for some time. I worked with Kismet creative to get my vision for the logo into a format that can be used by printers and sign makers. This group also owns Relish a cutting edge stationary company here in town. www.getrelish.com go see them and tell them I sent you.

bee guy

bee guy, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

So this is one for all the people who love the Bee Movie Guy..

The Beach cupcake wedding

The Beach, originally uploaded by CakesByShara.

Tiffany Blue and edible seashells make these cupcakes worth every minute. Done for The Fabuless Bride that has been blogging her journey here in Nashville http://daisysfavoritethings.wordpress.com/