Ooh Ooh OOH, Look What I Made!

I know there are people out there who loathe bloggers using their blog to show off their creations and toot their own horns and what not.  If you are that kind of person, then this post is not for you.  Generally, I would never have even posted something like this, except my mother in law took pictures of my efforts and made me feel really good about it.  So, if my self-accalades bother you, you can blame her.  But at least look at the pictures first.  And at least know that I wasn't motivated to bake so that I could put something on my blog.
Really, I wasn't.  I'm not that bad.
Yet. 

I was in charge of the dessert for Easter dinner with Sam's family.  On the way to his folk's house, I was vocally lamenting my goof ups on the dessert:

- "I think I may have cooked it too long, it seems kind of dry."
- "I tried to do it the way they do it at the bakery, but the frosting came sputtering out and so it looks weird."

- "Yeah" Sam says (looking it over).  "Why didn't you just spread the frosting on the top, like it's normally done?"

[I am instantly in defensive mode]

- "Normally done?  You don't just 'spread' frosting on a bundt cake.  How would one 'spread' frosting on a bundt cake anyway?"

And then I sighed.  I should have just spread it like he said (but I'm certainly not going to say that out loud).


Of course the first thing Sam's mom says when I walk in the door:  "Oh. My. Heck!  It looks just like the real thing from the store!  It's beautiful!"  Sam and I exchanged sideways glances and raised eyebrows.  Really?  "We need to take pictures of these."  She's so awesome.  She pulled out the camera and it turns out she posesses some mean photog skills.  Her photos dramatically improve what the desserts actually looked like....I mean, look at them.   They look so good! 

See?
 
Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting  (Sounds better than they actually were):

And the Chocolate "Nothing Bundt Cakes" knockoff: also with cream cheese frosting. 

(Mary.  This should be called the Mary-Cake, it's everything you love in a dessert. When you come to town I am making it for you).