I don't do anything fancy, just buttercream, baby. There is no rolled fondant or sugar roses. I don't use chocolate ganache filling. I have a book of cakes I have made, but there is no guarantee that the next one will turn out the same. If you don't want perfection, than I am your girl. All I ask is the price of ingredients unless you invite me to the party. Then its free!
This little company of mine started a few years ago and really hasn't grown much! The idea came to me when Ashlyn volunteered at St. Joe's Family Shelter. I couldn't really get past the idea of having to celebrate a birthday in a shelter. Store bought cakes are fancy and all, but nothing is quite like a cake made just for you. So I asked the shelter if I could make cakes for celebrations that they had. The shelter bravely said yes and I made my first cake for them to celebrate the graduation of one of their guests! Here's how it works: I get an email with the details. I bake the cake, deliver, sign the volunteer clip board and am gone. But what I do, lingers just a little. I remember when Ashlyn was sick and I had an order. This girl was about Ashlyn's age and didn't know that a cake was coming for her. She was there the day I delivered and she couldn't believe that someone would do this for her. No one should ever feel like that. A few days later, I got a thank you note from her. (And I love thank you notes!) She was praying for Ashlyn and was so thankful for the cake. And I was thankful for the distraction and thankful for this small connection that I had made with this girl.
I had been making cakes long before I got a name. I had acquired the Wilton supplies while in high school. I never took lessons so don't ask for a rose! I started out making the kids' cakes and then when we moved to Germany, it actually became a semi regular gig. I did the neighbor's cakes and even did a couple for pay.
When we came back to Iowa, I had several years of steady work in October making cakes for our friend's little girls. There is also a young man that has some pretty awesome parties and always challenges me with a cake. This year it was Yoda with a baseball bat.
I have another client (that sounds so business like!) that trades me egg rolls for cake. Such a deal!
Tonight I am working on two orders! One for a friend who is surprising her boyfriend with a custom cake. Her idea, my frosting. The other is for The United States Marine Corps 236th birthday party at a local bar. This is the 5th year that I have done this cake and it is an honor. I am no Marine baker, but I will say that I have made some pretty spectacular cakes compared to the one they bought from Dahl's in 2008.
Two years ago, I entered a cake at the Iowa State Fair. I took third. It might have been out of three, but lets not get bogged down in the details. I took third in the Iowa State Fair! I also was recognized by Bishop Charron for my work at the shelter. That was better then third place at the fair.
Truly Scrumptious Cake Company
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